Nostalgia Nation

🎙️ EPISODE 5 - What I Learned From Binge-Watching Kung Fu Movies In this episode of Nostalgia Nation: The Audio Edition , John Toma (That 80s Dude) shares what happened after diving deep into 1970s and 80s kung fu cinema — and what these films unexpectedly taught him. From Shaw Brothers classics to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan legends, this episode explores: • Why simplicity in storytelling still wor...

🎙️ EPISODE 4 — 2016 Is Nostalgic Now? In this episode, I break down why Gen Z and younger Millennials are suddenly nostalgic for the early 2010s (Especially 2016), how nostalgia cycles are speeding up in the digital age, and why every generation eventually looks backward for comfort. We talk about: - Why 2016 feels “simpler” compared to what came after- How TikTok and constant content changed ever...

Filmmaker Lisa Downs, creator of the acclaimed Life After Movies documentary series, steps into Nostalgia Nation to talk about her newest projects, including Life After Goodfellas , Life After The Goonies , and Life After Grease .We dig into why these films still matter, how she tracks down cast and crew decades later, the emotional weight of revisiting cherished classics, and what it’s like build...

🎙️ EPISODE 2 — Be Kind, Rewind: The Lost Art of VHS Labels We dive into one of the most overlooked but deeply personal relics of the past: VHS spine labels. Those handwritten titles. Those neon genre stickers. Those bossy “Be Kind, Rewind” decals. Let's travel back to the 80s and 90s, when organizing your shelf of recorded TV shows, taped-off-HBO movies, or rental-store treasures felt like constru...

🎙️ EPISODE 1 — “The Last Guy Without a Podcast” Episode Description: In the debut episode of Nostalgia Nation: The Audio Edition , John Toma — better known as That 80s Dude — finally steps into the podcast arena and explains why he held out longer than basically everyone else on the planet. This first episode is a warm reintroduction to the lost art of listening, the mixtape years, and the sweet s...

I fractured a couple of my fingers recently and I’ve been working on a secret Halloween holiday project, so I’ve kept typing to a minimum. Be back soon with a rad deep-dive you all expect every week. In the meantime, enjoy this little gem! If you lived in Portland in 1988, Freddy Krueger didn’t just invade your dreams, he crashed your holiday season. Local station KPDX 49 ran a bizarrely convolute...

⚡Make sure to check out MY GUEST POST about my first car (‘85 Camaro Berlinetta) on one of my favorite publications This Nostalgic Life Few commercials have achieved the legendary status of The Showdown , the 1993 McDonald's Super Bowl spot that paired basketball legends Michael Jordan and Larry Bird in an increasingly absurd game of H-O-R-S-E – all for a Big Mac and fries. The premise was simple...

Do you remember BONKERS!…?? Bonkers Fruit Candy was a popular confection introduced by Nabisco in the mid-1980s, designed to compete with other chewy candies like Starburst. These rectangular-shaped treats featured a chewy outer layer and a tangy, fruity filling, making them a unique addition to the candy market. Bonkers came in various flavors, including grape, orange, strawberry, watermelon, and...

Remember that dystopian thrill ride from the '80s that had Arnold Schwarzenegger running for his life? This cult classic, loosely based on Stephen King's novel, dropped us into a grim 2017-2019 (oh, the irony!) where reality TV took a deadly turn. Picture this: A police helicopter pilot, Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger, his muscular glory downplayed), is framed for a massacre and forced to participat...

In 1989, a new breed of athletic competition burst onto television screens across America. American Gladiators combined the spectacle of ancient Roman arena battles with 80s aesthetic and WWF flair! It just so happens American Gladiators premiered on this day 9/9 in ‘89! One of my favorite aspects of the show were the gladiators themselves and wanting to be like them when I was a kid! It was great...

I drove past a Carl’s Jr. the other day and a flood of commercials popped into my mind. You may remember this one. It’s the The Carl’s Jr. "Sourdough Pepperjack On Call" commercial from 2001 — When you really watch and listen to the commercial you can’t help but notice the sound of the last sips of soda, and the sound of biting into the burger... so crispy 😋 These commercials unintentionally pion...

Enjoy the funniest video I’ve seen this week… Oh, and… had coffee with a friend this morning… Every time I do that I’m reminded how important it is for friends to spend time together (Coffee helps too). Especially dudes. Dudes need other dudes to talk about whatever, learn from each other, and just talk about things dudes talk about. I realize I overcommitted on the dudes part— My best advice toda...

What was it really like growing up in The Eighties? I get this question a lot… There is a fascination with growing up in The Eighties, and you may find this surprising, but so many from the younger generation have become so intrigued by the decade as a result of all of the superhero films and streaming shows that pay homage to the decade (Stranger Things being one such show, and Cobra Kai being an...