Show Notes Episode 347: Hold My Hand Across America

This week Host Dave Bledsoe reaches out a hand to his fellow man only to have it smacked down by the bartender who refused to serve him another drink until he paid his bartab. (Again.) On the show this week we link up all the ways people in the 1980’s tried to help people in need because the government didn’t want to anymore. (Same as it ever was.)

Along the way we learn what motivated a young Dave only to discover it is the same thing that motivates an old Dave. (Boobs.) Then we dive right into the history of the various celebrity driven charity events from fighting against nuclear power (because coal could NEVER hurt us!) to famine relief in Africa. (Those songs bought an AWFUL lot of guns!) Then we finally get to the point of the show where we talk about that time America thought hunger could be solved if we all just joined a huge daisy chain of people from sea to shining sea. (Spoiler Alert: It couldn’t and we didn’t.) 

Our Sponsor this week is a Big Dumb Idea, when you’ve got a pressing social problem only government could reasonably solve, try a Big Dumb Idea instead. We open the show with reporting from the Hands Across America line and close with Geargasm who has a plan for YOU!

Show Theme: https://www.jamendo.com/track/421668/prelude-to-common-sense

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The Show Line: 347 687 9601

Closing Music: https://youtu.be/IF7Ct2nAJpQ

We are a proud member of the Seltzer Kings Podcast Network! http://seltzerkings.com/

Citations Needed:

The 80s: The Decade of the Charity Single & the Benefit Concert

https://ifmyrecordscouldtalk.com/2021/07/23/the-80s-the-decade-of-the-charity-single-the-benefit-concert/

The story of Hear 'n Aid, the heavy metal Band Aid

https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-of-hear-n-aid-the-heavy-metal-band-aid

Listen Up

https://www.farmaid.org/blog/willie-nelson-listen-up/

Remembering Hands Across America

https://www.history.com/news/remembering-hands-across-america

Great Shakes: 'Hands Across America' 20 Years Later

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/story?id=2044810&page=1

REAGAN DECIDES TO JOIN HANDS ACROSS AMERICA

https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/24/us/reagan-decides-to-join-hands-across-america.html

8 Gripping Facts About Hands Across America

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/577914/hands-across-america-facts

Uncited Additional Reading: 

https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/hands-across-america-in-jordan-peele-s-us.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hands_Across_America

https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/us-jordan-peele-hands-across-america/

https://www.history.com/news/remembering-hands-across-america

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicians_United_for_Safe_Energy

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