Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast

Love...exciting and Retro! Come aboard, we're expecting yo! On this Valentine's Day, you may need an idea for a date night. What better place to look than 80s movies? Jay and Shua offer up a plethora of ideas for a great movie themed date night. Immerse yourself in love while you Enjoy Stuff!

Feel the love on this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re more of a romantic that likes to show your feelings with a boombox over your head, or a scary night in the dark, we have a variety of 80’s inspired dates for any couple. 

News

-Get ready for a Toxic Avenger reboot with Peter Dinklage and a variety of other big stars

-The new Lightyear trailer is out and it definitely goes to infinity and beyond!

-Season 3 of Orville is finally coming, but not until June

What we’re Enjoying

Zhōujiélún yīzhí zài liànxí kōngshǒudào, yǐ xīnshǎng yīxiē jīngdiǎn de jīlèi diànyǐng, lìrú 1972 nián de jīngdiǎn wǔxiá diànyǐng “wǔzhǐ sǐwáng”. Tāmen fēicháng yǒuqù! [dubbed version]  Jay has been practicing karate to enjoy some classic chopsocky movies like Five Fingers of Death, a classic martial arts movie from 1972. They’re great fun!  Shua has also been revisiting some old movies on Disney+, but these star Kurt Russell as Dexter Reilly. The silly, classic trilogy of The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Then Strongest Man in the World, and Now You See Him, Now You Don’t helped set up Russell to become the icon he is today. 

Enjoy Life!

Need some Valentine’s Day date ideas? Look no further than 80’s movies. Listen in to this week’s show to see exactly what is involved in setting up the perfect date. 

Choose from these themes, or mix and match!

The John Cusack

The As You Wish

The Matthew Broderick

The Molly Ringwald

The Top Gun

The Slasher

Whether you have a close significant other, a furry lovable companion, or are making your way through this Hallmark Holiday by yourself, come have fun with us. 

Are you celebrating V-Day? Do you have any more ideas? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

Who ya gonna call? Everyone knows that one! Ghostbusters of course! Enjoy Stuff straps on the proton packs and look back at the Ghostbusters franchise and review the latest outing. We're ready to believe you!

In 1984 a legendary movie brought us a group of misfits that protected New York from g-g-g-ghosts! Ghostbusters ushered in a new era of scary comedies, but it wasn’t the first one with that name. Join us as we remember the ones that came before and share our opinion of the latest release.

News

-A live action He-Man is coming to Netflix

-The Dungeons & Dragons movie will be followed by a streaming series in the same universe

-Fraggle Rock - Back to the Rock is available now and tons of fun!

-Michael J Fox just discovered a little movie called Back to the Future, and he actually likes it

What we’re Enjoying

Shua and his daughter were excited to sit down and watch the return of the SyFy series Resident Alien, starring Alan Tudyk. It’s a fun sci-fi comedy with an intriguing story. Season 2 shows weekly now. Jay has been doing some underwater research by revisiting some movies of the ‘Underwater Ocean Dramas’ from 1989. Deep Star Six, Leviathan, and The Abyss may not all be on the same level as each other, but it’s always fun to see what was hitting the theaters of the past.  

Enjoy Movies!

Bustin’ makes us feel good! Ghostbustin’ that is. In 1984 Ivan Reitman teamed up with writers Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis to bring us a classic comedy that started a legendary franchise that answered the age-old question, “Who ya gonna call?” In addition to the writers, it stars Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Ernie Hudson. But this wasn’t the first movie that featured somewhat brave hunters of ghosts. 

In 1940, the iconic comedian Bob Hope starred in The Ghost Breakers. It showed Hope in a rarely seen heroic role as he saved Paulette Goddard in a Scooby Doo-like mystery. 

Then in 1975 we saw The Ghost Busters TV series with two guys that teamed up with a gorilla (yes, we said gorilla) as a group of misfits that helped people with ghost problems. Later, following the popularity of the Reitman film, Filmation adapted this series as a Saturday morning cartoon. 

Speaking of cartoons, the powers that be saw an opportunity to adapt the ‘84 movie into animated form as The Real Ghostbusters. This one became popular and even spawned a collection of toys. 

‘89 brought us a sequel to the movie with most of the characters returning. It wasn’t as well received, but it sure had a lot of fun moments and quotable moments.  

Then the franchise went dormant for a few years until the 2016 reboot where our heroes were recast as women. And while many refuse to accept this movie as entertaining, it featured some great jokes and talented performers, such as Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. 

But in 2021, we were finally able to revisit the classic universe and probably witnessed the future of the franchise. Plus, we got to see the boys again, even digitized Harold Ramis from beyond.  

Do you hope to see more of the Ghostbusters? Do you have memories of the 1984 movie? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

What is the Matrix? Well, take this red pill and we will show you. Or listen to this episode of Enjoy Stuff to hear us look back on the trilogy and discuss the latest fourth film that was recently released. Follow the white rabbit and Enjoy Stuff!

In 1999 the Wachowskis released a groundbreaking film with stunning visual effects and some contemplative themes that still resonate today. In 2021 the fourth movie brought us back to Neo, Trinity, and the Matrix. Did it hold up to the originals? Jay and Shua look back at what they enjoyed and what the film means to them.   

News

-M&Ms is updating their mascots and brand 

-Coke is making changes to their iconic cans 

-Get ready for limited Edition Cinnamoji Toast Crunch Cereal

-There’s a new Peeps line-up in time for Easter

-‘Percy Jackson’ series is coming to Disney+

What we’re Enjoying

Jay has been revisiting an older comic called MiracleMan. This character has been around since 1954, but was revived in 1982 by Alan Moore. It’s an interesting dive into comics history. Shua took a little time to himself and broke out the Super Nintendo Classic and explored the world of The Legend of Zelda- A Link to the Past. It’s been fun exploring this retro world. 

Enjoy Movies!

Have you ever felt you’re living in a world that isn’t quite right? You could be living in a computer simulation for the benefit of machines. Or you could just be watching the 1999 movie hit The Matrix.

Keanu Reeves stars as Neo, a computer hacker that discovers none of his world is real. Once Morpheus releases him and shows him the truth, Neo must discover whether or not he is the One, who is the savior in a prophesy that hopes to save all humankind. 

Throughout the film, we see Neo find his true potential as he battles Agents of the Matrix, virtual computer programs that are seemingly indestructible and dangerous to the humans that have escaped their captivity. 

Lilly and Lana Wachowski used this film to show their extraordinary filmmaking ability and also present a deep story that makes us question our reality and ponder destiny vs choice. After the incredible success of the first film, they followed it up in 2003 with two more stories that completed the trilogy. At least for a little while. 

Before the two sequels showed us what our ultimate destiny would be, the Animatrix told us some of the history of the machine war in a series of Anime stories that laid the groundwork for this world. 

Then, in 2021 Lana Wachowski was told the movie studio wanted to make a new Matrix movie with or without the Wachawskis. Sl she came up with Matrix Resurrections. Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann Moss returned with a few new surprises and ideas that added to the universe. 

So the Matrix has a rich history that continues to give us interesting ideas to ponder. Where will it go from here?  

Are you a part of the Matrix? Would you take the blue pill or the red pill? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

Star Wars! If you've only seen it this way, then you haven't seen it at all. Luckily, in 1997 the Star Wars Trilogy - Special Edition returned to theaters and returned to our hearts. But this was much more than just a re-release! Jay and Shua look back at the anniversary of the biggest resurgence of a franchise in history!

Where were you in 1997? If you were like most of the world, you were standing in line to watch a 20 year old movie. The Star Wars - Special Edition not only gave us the beloved story back on the big screen, it also gave us a cleaned up look, experimental digital effects, and ‘a few new surprises’. This is the Star Wars Trilogy - Special Editon. 

News

-These two new Kit Kat flavors may be just what you’ve been looking for! 

-We are excited to share that a Quantum Leap reboot may actually happen! 

-Daniel Radcliffe is going to be playing Weird Al in a new movie (we’re not even kidding!) 

-Shane the Roving Spoonster found Jay’s long lost Beatles parodies

-Please consider helping some of our neighbors who lost their homes in the Marshall and Middle Fork fires in Colorado on December 30, 2021 [link]

What we’re Enjoying

Shua started the year by revisiting some favorite books. He’s been ‘lazy reading’ Ready Player One and Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, which has prompted him to revisit all kinds of awesome things that were referenced in the story. Jay has been watching the mind-numbing, adult oriented action of John Cena’s Peacemaker on HBO Max. 

Enjoy Movies!

Star Wars celebrates the anniversary of yet another milestone; the release of the Star Wars Trilogy - Special Edition in 1997. But is a re-release of a movie really that big of a deal? You bet your sweet womp rat!

After the success of the re-releases, Lucas was able to do a ton of development which was focused on, but certainly not limited to, the prequel trilogy. 

What was different about the Special Edition (SE)? To begin with, they were able to clean it up significantly. 20 years of degradation of the film meant that we could lose the brilliant piece of art forever. Plus, the company developed new restoration techniques which paved the way for film companies to restore other films. 

Also, George used this as a chance to improve some things that he was never satisfied with because of budget or technology constraints. Some of these changes were exciting to fans, but some made them madder than a Wookiee losing a chess match. What did you think?

The boys share some stories of their experience with the SE back in ‘97. It made some memorable times in their lives, inspired them to get involved in fandom, and eventually led them to each other.  

Was your Star Wars fandom sparked by the Special Editions? Did you join the throngs of people lining up to revisit an old movie? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

Dream a little dream with Jovial Jay and Shua as they dive into the subconscious of Dream Movies.  

Grab a glass of warm milk and get comfortable under that blanket because we are about to explore your mind. Movies that involve movies can sometimes get a little trippy. Do you believe what you see? Let’s look into the world of dream movies. 

News

-What genre fits with giant mechanized robots more than any others? Musicals, of course! And now there’s a Gundam musical just for you!

-Looking to ditch those annoying headphones? Well, get ready for completely invisible ones! 

-We say goodbye to the beloved Betty White and a bevy of other celebrities who we’ve lost this year already. 

-Please consider helping some of our neighbors who lost their homes in the Marshall and Middle Fork fires in Colorado on December 30, 2021 [link]

What we’re Enjoying

Who’s Jay gonna call? Ghostbusters! The boys finally got around to watching Ghostbusters: Afterlife and they were pleased. It was a nice combination of homage and new blood. After watching the Hawkeye series on Disney+, Shua wanted to check out the classic comic series by Matt Fraction that inspired so much of the show. Great art, story, and characters.

Enjoy Movies!

What are dreams? Well, according to the Sleep Foundation, “Dreams are images, thoughts, or feelings that occur during sleep.” There’s a lot of speculation about why we dream, but there’s no arguing that the idea makes for a great movie-making opportunity. Let’s take a look at Dream Movies!

Dreams with actual dreaming-

A classic movie with dreams as the central plot is the 1984 Dennis Quaid thriller Dreamscape. It explored the idea that some could go into your mind with you to control your dreams and even kill you! The same year, Nightmare on Elm Street looked at it from an even scarier point of view. Films like Wizard of Oz and Brazil tell stories that connect our dreams to reality. And Inception created dreams within dreams to give Leonardo DiCaprio opportunities to make us question what we’re seeing. 

Daydreaming-

But you don’t have to be asleep to let dreams affect the way you behave. Ralphie daydreamed about his Red Ryder BB gun until his dream finally came true (and his mother’s nightmare that he’d shoot his eye out). And The Secret Life of Walter Mitty showed how daydreams can be both dangerous to your mental health but also inspiring. 

Was it actually a dream?-

Some of the most thrilling dream movies make us wonder if we’re watching reality or that character’s subconscious dealing with a crazy world. Did Quaid really save Mars in Total Recall? Was Neo really plugged into the Matrix? And did George Bailey ever really exist in Bedford Falls, or is It’s A Wonderful Life just a bunch of bunk?!

Grab your Teddy and snuggle up with Jay and Shua as we take a trip around the world and back, and explore the world in your mind. 

What dream movies do you enjoy? Got any dreams that would make a good movie? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

Come Together as Jay and Shua Get Back to where they once belonged with memories, history, and influence of the Beatles on Enjoy Stuff. 

This week we share our admiration and influence of the Fab Four. For many years Beatles music has been inspiring musicians and fans with their groundbreaking performances. 

News

-George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord gets Star Studded music video

-Apparently George Jetson was born in 2022 

-Please consider helping some of our neighbors who lost their homes in the Marshall and Middle Fork fires in Colorado on December 30, 2021 [link]

What we’re Enjoying

The end of the year brought us a little time off to catch up with some fun stuff. Shua and his family had a great time in Anaheim, California at Disneyland and California Adventure. Plus, he watched Encanto and the latest season of Cobra Kai season 4. Jay has been immersing himself in all things Spider-Man in preparation for No Way Home. And he’s been experimenting with art on his Affinity program. 

Enjoy Music!

The Beatles are generally regarded as one of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century. For Jay and Shua, despite the fact that they had broken up before either of them were born, they became an important influence in their life. 

The guys look at the cultural impact of the Beatles throughout their history, while discussing their discography. And they share how the boys from Liverpool made a difference in their lives. 

Throughout their relatively short history, they made twelve Albums

1. Please Please Me - March 22, 1963
2. With The Beatles - November 22, 1963
3. A Hard Day's Night - July 10, 1964
4. Beatles For Sale - December 4, 1964
5. Help! - August 6, 1965
6. Rubber Soul - December 3, 1965
7. Revolver - August 5, 1966
8. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - May 26, 1967
9. The Beatles (The White Album) - November 22, 1968
10. Yellow Submarine - January 17, 1969
11. Abbey Road - September 26, 1969
12. Let It Be - May 8, 1970

1. Believe it or not, they made five movies
2. 1. A Hard Day's Night
   2. Help!
   3. Magical Mystery Tour
   4. Yellow Submarine
   5. Let It Be
   6. Plus Get Back (3-part documentary on Disney+)

Do you enjoy the Beatles? What stories do you have? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

Join Jay and Shua as they look back at 2021. There was plenty to indulge in, from movies, TV, and the premiere of our brand new podcast! Come along with us as we remember how to find the fun in everything, and how to Enjoy Stuff!

Despite all the challenges in the world, we certainly hope that 2021 has been good to you. If it seems like it may have left something to be desired, we try to look back on all the things that made us smile. This was 2021. 

News

-We said goodbye to Monkee, Michael Nesmith and designer of NES and Super NES

Masayuki Uemara.

-The Library of Congress just inducted some really cool movies this year

-A new Toys R Us megastore is now here!

What we’re Enjoying

Jay has been catching up on some fun holiday movies on his extra time off. Did it help to make a fun Christmas? Shua and his family are currently wrapping up their Christmas in Disneyland. He’ll post some reports on social media. 

Enjoy Everything!

We say goodbye to 2021 by looking back at a bunch of cool stuff that has happened. 

Movies: The Green Knight, Jungle Cruise, and the return of amazing Marvel movies were some notable pieces of entertainment. Some were worthy of returning to a theater, and some were enjoyed right in our homes. 

TV: Ted Lasso, Resident Alien, and The Mandalorian were only 3 shows on a long list of awesomeness. And the great thing is, there are so many more to come. 

Podcasts:  We said goodbye to good friends and a fun history when TechnoRetro Dads came to an end after 8 years. But in May we returned with Enjoy Stuff and are making new kinds of fun with more plans in the future. Jay signed off of Jedi Journals after 11 years of history-making Star Wars literature content. But he fired up some great Sci-Fi articles and a fantastic website called MCU Location Scout. 

Personal Lives: Graduations, college, anniversaries. All the kinds of personal stuff you might expect from 2 dads. But we also started to see some positive results from getting in shape. Jay has actually become a runner! Shua turned the big ‘five-oh’ this year, and he did it by travelling out to see Jay in person! All this and more defined a year like no other. 

So many great things took place in yet another challenging year for the world. We are so grateful that you chose to take us along through your year. 

Were you able to find some good in 2021? What stood out to you? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

It's Claus vs Claus on this week's Enjoy Stuff! Who emanates the most Christmas spirit. Jay and Shua look at 16 Santas from TV and Movies in a competitive bracket to determine the top 2021 Santa Claus. 

Let’s get ready to Jiiiiiiiiiiingle! Jay and Shua rank Santa Claus based on a variety of traits to crown this year’s top Kris Kringle. 

News

-This is the week to grab those Froot Loops candy canes

-Have you been enjoying your holiday cereals? We talk about the kind of variety you can find on the grocery shelves this year. 

-Last minute shopper? We have a few retro ideas for you.

What we’re Enjoying

Shua got a couple early Christmas gifts this year. He has been trying to beat his high score on the new Arcade1Up TRON machine he received from his amazing wife. And speaking of amazing, he opens up his gift from Jay on the show and it was a great surprise. Jay has been revisiting all the Spider-Man movies so he was ready when Spider-Man: No Way Home came out last week. 

Enjoy Christmas

The ultimate showdown of Clauses happens here! As Master Blaster once said, “Who runs Christmas Town? Santa Claus runs Christmas Town!” Check out the rankings below and listen to the show for the final results. 

Who do you think is the best Santa?  Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

Get in the holiday spirit with Jay and Shua on a special, festive, musical episode of Enjoy Stuff. 

When Jay finds out that the AT-AT he wished for one past Christmas is now within his grasp, he and Shua hop in the ‘76 Chevy Vega and head to the North Pole. But will they make it before Christmas? It’s time to Enjoy some Christmas music to get in the spirit of the holidays on the 2021 Enjoy (Stocking) Stuff(-er).

Songs Featured

Merry Christmas Everyone- Shakin Stevens 

The Monkees - Christmas Is My Time Of Year (1976 Fan Club Mix)

Brian Setzer - Jingle Bells 

Mel Blanc Christmas Chopsticks

A Muppet Family Christmas - Sleigh Ride

Seth MacFarlane - Little Jack Frost Get Lost

Tom Lehrer Christmas Song

Jingle Jangle - The Penguins

William Shatner - Feliz Navidad

Miley Cyrus & Bill Murray - Sleigh Ride (A Very Murray Christmas)

Never do a Tango with an eskimo - Alma Cogan

The Royal Guardsmen - Snoopy's Christmas

Duck The Halls - Jing-a-Ling-a-Ling

77 Santas - Glenn Miller Orchestra

Yoda Baby - Mega Couch Media

Star Wars: The Mandalorian Theme x Carol of The Bells - Samuel Kim Music

Spirit of Christmas -  Christmas Chronicles 2 - Kurt Russell

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our Earbuds! Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]

If Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer doesn’t shine bright enough for you and It’s A Wonderful Life isn’t so wonderful, maybe you just need an alternate way to get into the holiday season. This week we dive off the Nakotomi Plaza right into unconventional Christmas movies. 

What makes a Christmas movie a Christmas movie? Everyone likes to Enjoy Stuff around the holidays. But taste is a broad spectrum. While some enjoy wall-to-wall Christmas plot, others find the fun in movies that may have just a pinch of gingerbread sprinkled in. 

News

-We’ve got the Breakin’ action figures you’ve been waiting for since 1984!

-The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes are getting the “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” treatment on December 7

What we’re Enjoying

The Beatles are on the minds of Jay and Shua. Shua broke out some of his old Beatles vinyl albums and has really enjoyed the nostalgic feel of the limitations of albums. It’s been very therapeutic. Jay indulged in the hours long epic Peter Jackson Beatles documentary, Get Back on Disney+. If you’re a Beatles fan, it is worth checking out.  

Enjoy Movies

For the last few years people have been debating whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. So the TechnoRetro Dads break it down once and for all. 

We look at a plethora of films that have some kind of connection to the holidays. Whether they take place around Christmas or they just have a scene where Mel Gibson beats someone up with a Christmas tree, we look at some unconventional films that fit many people’s holiday tradition bill. 

Do you Enjoy any of the films on our list? Did we miss some? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]