Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast

Are we the bad guys, Slackers? On this week's episode, I dive into the phenomenon of toxic fandom, exploring how Generation X shaped the passionate, sometimes divisive, fan cultures around Star Wars, wrestling, music, and even the DC vs. Marvel rivalry. From gatekeeping in 1980s punk scenes to online harassment in modern fandoms, we examine Gen X’s role in setting early fan standards that can excl...

What'cha gonna do, Slackers!? Another icon of Gen X's childhood has passed away. This time "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan. While Hogan's passing has garnered plenty of social media attention, I would rather focus much of the podcast on his wrestling career. Like many, Hogan was THE superstar that made kids become wrestling fans. Hulkster cartoons, toys, and WrestleMania pay-per-views were all in high d...

The Prince of Darkness has passed away. I had a different topic in mind for this week, but my thoughts were stuck on Ozzy. Like many of us, Ozzy has been a fixture in our lives, particulalry if you love heavy music. Or reality television. In order to give Ozzy his proper due, I asked Justin to join me for this episode. His knowledge of music is astounding and it was through some of our teenage cov...

Burn out or fade away, Slackers? This episode pulls back the curtain on 80s superstars who slipped from the spotlight, revealing that not every story is a tragedy. The 80s were a whirlwind of bold personalities, but for some, fame was fleeting—whether by choice or circumstance. Take one superstar actress who lit up the screen in a cult classic, only to step away to focus on family, trading Hollywo...

Hey Slackers, as promised, here's my review of the new Superman movie. As a kid of the 70s & 80s, I've pretty much seen them all - so what did I think of Mr. Gunn's foray into the world of Superman and the new? Plus, I also dropped this as a video review - my first video content in more than a year - so feel free to check it out over on YouTube, too!

Look, Slackers! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a SUPER week! This Friday, July 11, 2025, James Gunn’s Superman soars into theaters! This week, we’re diving into the legacy of the Man of Steel, looking back and forward. I’ll share my fandom journey from the late 1970s, through the post-Crisis comics era, the iconic Christopher Reeve films, and the Henry Cavill “Snyderverse” portraya...

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends, Slackers! On a quick vacation trip to Omaha, Nebraska, I had the pleasure of catching a FREE concert - none other than Ringo Starr and his All Star Band. Comprised of members of TOTO and MEN AT WORK, this was better than could be expected for a free concert in the park! Not only does Ringo look and sound amazing for 84 years old, the band is spectacular...

Hey, it's war time again, Slackers! This week, we explore the persistent shadow of World War III as a defining theme for Generation X, shaped by decades of global tensions and media narratives. From Cold War nuclear anxieties to modern geopolitical flashpoints, we examine how the press periodically declared global conflict “imminent,” reflecting the uncertainty of Gen X’s formative years. These ap...

Time for some weird tales, Slackers! Step into the eerie underbelly of the 1980s as we unravel five paranormal stories that gripped the nation (or at least the Northeast), blending supernatural intrigue with everyday human drama. From objects defying gravity to a courtroom battle invoking demonic forces, these tales defined an era fascinated by the unknown. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic,...

What's up, Slackers! This week we take a journey through the pages of the books and magazines that shaped our Gen X childhoods! From choose-your-own-adventure stories to fantastical tales of chocolate factories and epic fantasy worlds, we’ll revisit the books that sparked our imaginations. Plus, we’ll flip through the colorful, quirky magazines filled with comics, humor, and puzzles that kept us e...

If I could turn back time—exactly 36 years—it would be 1989! This episode was inspired by the 1989 monster hit by Cher. Yes, that Cher, who was 43 years old and leaving nothing to the imagination! As I’ve done in the past, we’re going to dig into the music charts and major box office hits, along with a few newsworthy events from the last year of the '80s. The music charts featured a mix of hair me...

It's about to get pretty cheesy, Slackers! First though, this episode is dedicated to Rick Derringer. Rock legend, producer extraordinaire, and of course the man who brought us the classic wrestling theme song, Real American . Rest in peace, - brother. This week we dive into a selection of 1980s sci-fi and fantasy films that shaped Gen X, including Krull, The Beastmaster, and Flash Gordon. Blendin...

Picture it, Boston, 1995. A young man from Meriden, CT decides to uproot his life and move to a new city. New faces, new friends, and plenty of new music. It has been 30 years since I made the fateful decision to make the move to Boston. It was also a time to expand my musical palette. Thankfully, there was plenty of new music to choose from, with tons of second hand music shops like CD Spins, int...

Get ready to rock, Slackers!  This episode honors ECW legend Sabu and previews the killer music festivals lighting up summer 2025. From metal to alternative, these lineups prove ‘80s & ‘90s music is still very much alive. Tribute to Sabu We salute Sabu, the hardcore ECW icon whose death-defying style defined ‘90s wrestling. His fearless dives and chaotic energy left a lasting mark on Gen X wre...

Are things getting weirder, Slackers?  A social media claim challenges the authenticity of a core childhood memory, sparking passionate responses. Some Gen X men are embracing bold health experiments, raising eyebrows with their approach to aging. Others are playfully disrupting digital music culture with clever tricks, while a few adopt survivalist-inspired lifestyles reminiscent of the apocalypt...

Hello, neighbor, I mean, Slackers! This week we are going to explore the educational live-action children’s shows of the 1970s and 1980s that defined the Generation X experience. These programs were foundational, delivering lessons with creativity and care in an era before digital media. From the community spirit of Sesame Street to the gentle guidance of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood , it’s all about...

Finish him, Slackers!   This week’s episode is all about how PC games like DOOM , console titles such as Mortal Kombat - on Sega Genesis of course - and early games on the first Xbox sparked intense controversy. We dive into the societal fears that linked pixelated violence to real-world crimes, from Senate hearings scrutinizing Night Trap to media reports tying Grand Theft Auto and DOOM ’s gory f...

What is up, Slackers! On this week’s episode we explore the evolution of grunge beyond its iconic pioneers. Sometimes it is easy to forget that grunge had a second (early to mid-1990s) and even third wave (late 1990s to early 2000s) of bands that shaped the genre’s legacy.  We highlight 14 second-wave acts, from Seattle’s sludgy core to punk-infused and noise-rock outliers - some initially dismiss...

I hate rain, Slackers, This week, we’re digging into ten rainy day songs that capture the gray and the heavy. Spanning the late '70s to the late '90s, the list pulls from dark corners and quiet moments—think industrial beats, NY alt metal, acoustic ballads, and lyrics that can get pretty dreary. It’s the kind of music that fits a slow drizzle or a full downpour, perfect for staring out a window, p...

Trigger warning : We’re diving into the heavy stuff related to mental health—stats, struggles, the works. If it hits too close to home, skip it and come back next week. I will not be offended.  It’s 2025, and Gen X (born ‘65–‘79, now 45–60) is wrestling a quiet crisis—too many of us are taking our own lives. Gen X men at a rate of 27–29 per 100,000, women at 7–8, both up since 2002. In this episod...

Hip Hop Hooray, Slackers! Today, we’re diving into ‘80s rap—a new genre that was exploding right before our eyes. We’ll cover the top-selling albums and the pioneers who started it all.  Rap kicked off in the early ‘80s in New York City. LL Cool J’s debut record Radio sold over a million units with “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” as the lead single. Then Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell broke huge, selli...

Be kind and rewind, Slackers! This week we take a dive into cinema's cult classics - films that took the long road to legendary status. These films - think dark humored high school flicks like  Heathers or demonic, medieval chaos courtesy of Army of Darkness - often stumbled at the box office, barely making a dent with opening crowds. But at Blockbuster, they found their groove, turning late-night...

It's time for more fun with artificial intelligence, Slackers! During a past episode, we asked ChatGPT to spill the beans on Generation X, but this round, it’s Grok’s turn  - unpacking ten ways us 45-to-60-year-olds are handling 2025. Grok says we’re snapping up multigenerational homes to bunk with parents or kids—practical as ever. Gen X women are flipping the script on midlife, dropping bold tak...

Let's go out to the lobby and grab ourselves a treat, Slackers! A few episodes back, I dove into my most-listened-to albums. Now, it’s time to switch gears and talk about my most-watched movies of all time. No shocker here: Star Wars ranks high. What Gen Xer hasn’t rewatched those classics dozens of times? The list has all the usual suspects— Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Mad Max —but I’ve al...

Why do I feel so guilty, Slackers? In a recent podcast, Tom Morello and Billy Corgan discussed a number of topics, but when Billy talked about  "Gen X not having a second act” and Tom said he had “Punk Rock Guilt”, this really struck a chord with me. Growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s—amid economic flux, cultural cynicism, and punk’s rebirth via hardcore and grunge — gave us a somewhat strange worldv...