Culture Dumps

The world’s biggest metal band is hardly a Culture Dump, but their 2002 documentary “Some Kind of Monster” and the album that followed “St. Anger” are definitely Culture Dumps. A high paid therapist, aging rock stars, a massive societal shift in how music is consumed, what could go wrong???

Live television is risky, especially when gangsters are involved. In 1986 Geraldo Rivera entered the basement of a run down Chicago hotel in hopes of discovering lost treasures of the golden age of gangsters. What he found was a successful career and the biggest joke in live television history. Spoiler alert, THERE WAS NOTHING THERE!

In our most upsetting episode yet we dive into the rise and fall of Jared Fogle aka Jared, the Subway Guy. At one time he was the most recognizable spokesperson in the world, now he is serving a 15 year prison sentence. Warning: this episode deals with sexual abuse, discretion is advised.

This week Ryan is joined by Eric D, the mind behind Meth Syndicate. They discuss one of the staples of 1990’s television advertising: “Pure Moods.” What began as a compilation of the most cutting edge music the easy listening genre had to offer ended as a minor footnote in popular culture. 

You guys like balloons? You like disasters? Well this episode is for you! We dive into the biggest balloon related mishap of all time, Balloon Fest 1986. With two deaths, horse problems, and years worth of environmental damage this episode has it all. Also Cleveland.

Our friend Andy Paz joins Ryan for the third installment of Culinary Dumps. We try and make sense of Heinz’s notorious EZ Squirt line. In the early 2000’s Heinz took major risk by releasing a newly designed ketchup bottle as well as a slew of new colors of the world’s most beloved condiment.  Green, Teal, Purple, Orange, and Pink ketchup? What could go wrong? We also got to talk about Shrek so that is a plus!

The Disco Demolition has gone down as one of the most negative reactions to a seemingly innocent cultural movement. Filled with racial and societal implications, the Disco Demolition is as sad as it is ridiculous. Join us as we revisit the night when thousands of rowdy baseball fans gathered to blow up a giant crate of disco records. 

We go all the way back to a simpler time, when recess was king, when we still felt special, when love came in the form of a purple dinosaur named Barney. Ryan and Parks layout the history of the beloved character as well as the man behind the giant purple mask. Turns out this Dino has been getting busy since the show ended.

The Culture Dumps team (along with guest Audra Isadora) gears up for the most celebrated women’s music festival of all time, Lilith Fair! What started as the brain child of Sarah McLachlan and ended as a now forgotten chapter in popular music has just as many layers to the story one would expect from a Culture Dump. Girls to the front!