That's Pretty Dark: An '80s & '90s Nostalgia Podcast

Sleep paralysis demons, snake oil salesmen, and one shadow’s dreams of show business… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Jumping back into their Season Binge, these ‘90s kids spend some time learning terrifying lore about shadow people, confront the reality that not all medical practitioners can deliver on their promises, and relive many of the moments that established key elements of the sho...

Nervous appliance breakdowns, Peter Lorre impersonations, and the legend of Narcissus… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Wrapping up their most requested Movie Night with a DOOZY of an episode, these ‘90s kids pay tribute to the talented voice cast, rant about planned obsolescence, and find answers to their generation’s lingering questions about this not-so-merry band of appliances including...

The intersection of sci-fi and poetry, storied CalArts secrets, and palpable existential dread… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In their most requested Movie Night yet, these ‘90s kids begin to confront their own repressed memories of Sundance’s first animated film as they learn its harrowing production story, unpack its notorious ties to Disney, and dive into the life experiences of the a...

Zeitgeist contributions, fan theories answered, and a love letter to the horror genre… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! To wrap up an exciting hangout, these ‘90s kids continue to gush about fiction with their favorite Courage the Cowardly Dog alums - head writer David Steven Cohen and co-composer Jody Gray. In this installment, they learn what went into some of Courage’s most memorable com...

Lyrical lifestyles, spooky synchronicity, and the importance of creative collaboration… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In their first ever hangout episode, these ‘90s kids wax poetic with two Courage the Cowardly Dog alums—head writer David Steven Cohen and co-composer Jody Gray. Join them as they reminisce on behind-the-scenes memories, share lifelong influences, and tell the stories (in...

Criminal underworlds, tales of a tomboy, and Disney villain violence… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Continuing their discussion on this shining gem from Disney’s dark age, these ‘90s kids learn way more about the mob than they expected, bemoan wealth inequality, psychoanalyze some of the era’s most memorable characters, and revisit the emotional damage caused by their good company. Have...

Dickensian sentiments, carefree ne’er-do-wells, and sparkly '80s songs... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Diving headfirst into the notorious Disney Dark Ages, these ‘90s kids tell the production story behind this surprisingly dark adaptation, seek to understand the years just before Disney’s fated Renaissance, and ponder how it always manages to rip our heartstrings to freakin' shreds. Ha...

A smooth talking cat, Loony Tune-y antics, and some Psycho parallels... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In the first episode of this much anticipated Season Binge of everyone’s favorite cowardly dog, these ‘90s kids leave no vacancies as they refresh our collective core memories of two iconic Courage villains, and appreciate the blend of classic horror references, chilling sound design, di...

Inappropriate headstones, murder ballads, and schoolyard sexism... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Returning to the familiar urban legends of Hey Arnold!, these ‘90s kids seek to dig up and understand the chilling lore that potentially inspired one of the darkest episodes of millennial television. Join them as they hack away at their own ignorance and walk through the history of true crime...

Eccentric ideals, fan theories, and lessons in emotional intelligence... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! As a preamble to their upcoming season binge, these ‘90s kids dip their toes into the mature, macabre, and downright depression-era themes found within the fabric of John Dilworth's slanted stories. Designed to subvert expectations both visually and psychologically, learn how the ripple...

Laugh attacks, infected eggs, and some otherworldly dilly-dallying... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In preparation for a much anticipated Season Binge, these ‘90s kids pull back the curtain on one of the darkest shows in millennial memory by exploring the history of Cartoon Network (plus it’s philosophy compared to Nickelodeon’s), the pseudo-pilot episode of Courage, as well as the minds...

Infinite guilt trips, innocence lost, and a donkey trafficking scheme... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In their first episode of 2023, these ‘90s kids close the book on pop culture’s most renowned puppet (through both the novel and the Disney film), explore the social and political context from which the original story emerged, and follow the threads of its impact all the way through our...

Listener questions, recapping some favorites, and pranks that got too real… Oh lawd, it’s about to get pretty dark as the sun sets on 2022! Gather ‘round the campfire with these ‘90s kids for an unscripted, barely filtered chat about life in 2022 and where things are headed (with the show and with their mental health) in 2023. Here’s wishing you and yours a safe and happy new year. Remember, you’r...

Ghostly crickets, the first ever villain song, and a serial that scarred a generation... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Continuing their holiday tradition of honoring far-too-lifelike toys, these ‘90s kids return to the foundations of children’s entertainment with one of Disney’s most beloved (and most harrowing) tales, compare and contrast the film with the novel, and uncover the surpris...

Video game vocabulary, now-defunct shopping malls, and the nefarious nature of pinball... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In the finale of their first Season Binge, these ‘90s kids set out to save the princess, best the baddies, and explore other gaming tropes that have encoded themselves into the millennial mind. Insert your coins here and get your retro gaming fix with Kalyn, Christian,...

Emotional radios, “Brain Draining” powers, and a spectacular circus of fear... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In this Thanksgiving weekend tribute, these ‘90s kids “roll back the rock” of this dinosaur story and time travel with a wish-granting ship captain, learn some lessons from the far future, and explore the psyche of a misunderstood professor and his ravenous murder of crows. Have a...

Prom night perils, graveyard goofs, and vanishing hitchhikers... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In this triumphant return to their Season Binge, these 1990s kids catch a classic 1950s vibe, learn a thing or two about Resurrection Mary, and wax poetic about some of the world’s most enduring urban legends and ghost stories. Have a frightfully nostalgic memory to share or a pretty dark topic...

Black flame candles, witchy revelations, and debates about virginity... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In this special Halloween episode, these ‘90s kids dive headfirst into the plot, characters, and maybe-too-mature themes found in one of the most quintessential ‘90s Halloween films: Hocus Pocus. Nostalgic reflections, newly uncovered trivia, and controversial opinions abound in this spi...

Production stories, talking cats, and witchcraft accusations... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In this special Halloween episode, these ‘90s kids introduce the pop culture phenomenon that is Hocus Pocus. Join in as they learn more about the talented team behind the film and how these spooky folks breathed life into many of our core millennial Halloween memories…and eventually also brought...

Hell Houses, vandalism, and true crime: candy edition... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In the grand finale of their Halloween History, these ‘90s kids finally merge the storied Halloween timeline into their own, air grievances about certain haunted attractions, and fact-check Mandela Effect memories regarding candy tampering. Come along as they learn what the Industrial Revolution, Great...

Jack-O’-Lanterns, soul cakes, and devilish fortune-telling rituals... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In Part II of this Halloween history lesson, these ‘90s kids find the origins of some classic Halloween traditions, follow the Church's influence on Samhain (and vice versa) through the Middle Ages, and learn about the hallowed and romantic mischief that stemmed from embracing death in one...

Celtic mythology, ritualistic bone-fires, and... Julius Caesar??? Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In celebration of ONE YEAR of That’s Pretty Dark, and the official beginning of ~spooky season~, these ‘90s kids begin their Halloween deep dive with an exploration of the facts (and myths) surrounding the earliest recorded Samhain celebrations - from the Celts to the Romans to the Catholic Ch...

Household gods, musical sacrifices, and the worst little sister ever... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In this episode, these '90s kids theorize about the origins of the infamous AYAOTD basement creature while also unpacking the emotional trauma and toxic masculinity hiding within one of the Midnight Society’s most popular tales. Have a frightfully nostalgic memory to share or a pretty da...

Remixed Irish folklore, theater magic, and a chain of toad children... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In this episode, these '90s kids ride the Season Binge wave all the way to Ireland where they dissect the Midnight Society’s interpretation of Irish tales gone by and attempt to add in their own modern pop culture flare (okay, mostly Kalyn). Have a frightfully nostalgic memory to share or...

Liminal spaces, 1950s urban legends, and harmonica blues... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! In this episode, these '90s kids revisit one of the most memorable Hey Arnold! episodes of all time, explore some real-life ghost train lore, and dive in to the in-between spaces (urban and otherwise) where ghosts and legends tend to gather. Have a frightfully nostalgic memory to share or a pretty d...