GenXGrownUp Podcast

We check in on the high profile sporting event that brought the world to the U.S., test drive a self-hosted application to make downloading YouTube videos a snap, and play a retro-inspired first-person shooter that pits you against a sinister cult! Participate in our listener questionnaire & automatically get entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card! genxgrownup.com/podsurvey (genxgrownup.com...

Martial arts. Ancient sorcerers. Monsters. Kurt Russell driving a big rig. Somehow, Big Trouble in Little China managed to cram all of that into one unforgettable movie. This time, we’re revisiting John Carpenter’s cult classic and discussing why Gen X fans still can’t get enough of Jack Burton and the Pork-Chop Express. From its endlessly quotable dialogue to its unique blend of action, comedy, f...

We take a trip to Eternia to see the new big-screen adventures of Prince Adam’s alter ego, test drive a new budget-friendly 4K video capture card, and play the new remaster of fan-favorite ’90s interactive horror-puzzle game! Participate in our listener questionnaire & automatically get entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card! genxgrownup.com/podsurvey (genxgrownup.com/podsurvey) (May contain som...

Before binge-watching and streaming took over, one wisecracking alien from the planet Melmac became a television sensation. In this Backtrack, we’re looking back at ALF, the hit 1980s sitcom that brought an unexpected extraterrestrial into the Tanner family’s home—and into living rooms around the world. We’ll revisit the laughs, the characters, and the memories that made ALF a pop-culture icon. Pa...

We watch a new dark crime comedy with a sci-fi time travel twist, feature a suite of self-hosted solutions for your digital comic book collection, and reflect on that chaotic four-player outer space shooter we live streamed on YouTube just a couple weeks back. Participate in our listener questionnaire & automatically get entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card! genxgrownup.com/podsurvey (genxgrow...

Before multiplexes were the norm and long before streaming, the drive-in theater offered a movie-going experience unlike any other. In this episode, we’ll look back on the traditions, technology, and unforgettable memories that made the drive-in a beloved part of American culture. From giant outdoor screens and crackling window speakers to concession stand favorites and double-feature nights, we’l...

We return to a favorite series to see if an improbable underdog story can become a Premier League reality, test drive a free desktop application to reduce clutter and increase your productivity, and play a game that puts you in the captain’s chair for an adventure in the Final Frontier! Participate in our listener questionnaire & automatically get entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card! genxgrow...

In 1986, a lightning strike turned a military robot into one of the most lovable characters of the entire decade. In this Backtrack, we’re plugging into Short Circuit — a movie packed with Cold War anxiety, mall-era futurism, and a robot who just wanted more input. From Johnny 5 to laser cannons and synth-heavy charm, we’re revisiting why this weird little sci-fi comedy still has a pulse forty yea...

We watch a new star-studded TV series about a young lady struggling with her finances, check out an insanely useful online service that will let you bring your classic games with you anywhere you go, & play a new game that puts you in the shoes of the proprietor of a VHS movie rental store! Participate in our listener questionnaire & automatically get entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card! genx...

Today, life screeches to a halt when your wi-fi goes down, but just three short decades ago, the internet was a brand new thing that we had no idea we even needed. In this episode we look back at the origins of the internet and how we experienced it in its early days as young Generation X’ers. Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook » fb.me/GenXGrownUpTwitter » G...

This edition is all about the Rubik’s Cube! You remember it as that little twisty puzzle that drove you mad as a kid and became an icon of the 1980s right up there with boom boxes, Pac-Man, and leg warmers! With more than 400 million units sold and growing, the popularity of the Rubik’s cube only continues to grow today! Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook » ...

Goooood Morning, Captain! How many of us grew up hearing those cheerful words weekday mornings before school? This episode we take a truly fond look back at a childhood icon: Captain Kangaroo. Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupFacebook » fb.me/GenXGrownUpTwitter » GenXGrownUp.com/twitterWebsite » GenXGrownUp.comPodcast » GenXGrownUp.com/podMerchandise » GenXGrownUp.com/merchTheme: “Grown Up” by Bee...

It’s hard to image that there was a time where you couldn’t get in contact with just about anybody, anywhere, anytime. In this week’s episode, we look at how our lives were different growing up as GenX’ers and how the way we communicated affected our lives. How did we survive? We did — pretty well actually. Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupFacebook » fb.me/GenXGrownUpTwitter » GenXGrownUp.com/twit...

Some legends are born. Others are built one roundhouse at a time. In this episode, we’re talking about the man who went from world?class fighter to action?movie icon to the internet’s first mythic superhero. International celebrity and tough-guy Chuck Norris didn’t just make movies; he made folklore, and we’re looking back at his life and career. (May contain some explicit language.) Patreon » pat...

We head to the theatre for the new Ryan Gosling sci-fi adventure film currently crushing it at the box office, discuss upgrades & accessories to bring MagSafe features to older phones, and test-drive that new 80%-scale crowdfunded pinball machine from Wonderland Amusements. (May contain some explicit language.) Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook » fb.me/GenX...

We had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Spears, founder and host of the Stuck in the ’80s is in its 20th year! To commemorate this milestone Steve has written a book called Stuck in the ’80s: 20 Years of Conversations with Pop Culture Icons Who Defined a Decade. We speak about his book, music, cruises and other topics around what it’s like being Generation X today! (May contain some explicit la...

1986 was a massive year at the movies. Action heroes were larger than life, comedy was firing on all cylinders, and a few films arrived that would become all-time classics. From fighter jets and wise-cracking Aussies to martial arts showdowns and sci-fi horror, the box office was packed with unforgettable hits. Today, we’re counting down the ten highest-grossing films of 1986—the movies audiences...

We review a live theatre production starring everyone’s favorite furry cryptid, test-drive a fully loaded & customizable arcade controller we helped to design, and play demos for two promising new games releasing right around the corner! (May contain some explicit language.) Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook » fb.me/GenXGrownUpTwitter » GenXGrownUp.com/twit...

We’re stepping into the OASIS to talk about Ready Player One—a novel that turned video games, ’80s pop culture, and virtual reality into a full-blown modern myth. Whether you see it as a love letter to geek culture, a warning about digital escapism, or a nostalgia-fueled scavenger hunt, Ready Player One left a lasting mark on how we think about gaming, identity, and the future of virtual worlds. L...

We recap the Muppets’ triumphant return to the small screen, evaluate a feature-rich computing accessory to boost your day-to-day efficiency, and play a bullet-dodging retro FPS game inspired by Wolfenstein! (May contain some explicit language.) Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook » fb.me/GenXGrownUpTwitter » GenXGrownUp.com/twitterWebsite » GenXGrownUp.comPo...

Before the rise of smartphones, voicemail, and texting, the way we avoided missing important calls was with a tape recorder plugged into the wall. Now nearly extinct, the answering machine used to be standard equipment in most every home. In this episode, we remember this abandoned tech and the role it played in our lives. Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook...

Do you remember all the times that Fran, John, and Cathy Lee warned you to “not to try this at home?” Then you’re gonna enjoy our look back at the early ’80s TV variety show, “That’s Incredible!” Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook » fb.me/GenXGrownUpTwitter » GenXGrownUp.com/twitterWebsite » GenXGrownUp.comPodcast » GenXGrownUp.com/podMerchandise » GenXGrown...

We’re revisiting a film that didn’t just redefine the psychological thriller—it crawled under our skin and stayed there. The Silence of the Lambs turns 35 this year, and we’re looking back at what made it so chilling, so smart, and so enduring. From unforgettable performances to its lasting cultural impact, it’s time to open the case file on a true cinematic classic. (May contain some explicit lan...

In this bonus podcast episode, George appears as a guest on The Long Rewind podcast discussing ’80s zombie movies! The Long Rewind (An 80s Movie Podcast) In this podcast, two Gen X-ers are taking a trip down memory lane, revisiting and reflecting on the cinema of the 1980s. They’ll look at the hits and the flops, the studio blockbusters and art-house indies, the critically acclaimed and the univer...

We reflect on our final season with the kids of Hawkins, Indiana, check out some home tech to bring you a bit more security and peace of mind, and play a colorful first-person puzzle game where light is the key. (May contain some explicit language.) Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook » fb.me/GenXGrownUpTwitter » GenXGrownUp.com/twitterWebsite » GenXGrownUp.c...