The GenX Book Club is back! Paul, Del, and Suzanne reunite to discuss The Celebrants — a touching, funny, and deeply relatable novel about lifelong friendship, midlife rediscovery, and the pact to celebrate each other before it's too late.

In this episode, the crew dives into the book's themes of connection, mortality, and resilience — and why it feels especially relevant to Generation X. Along the way, they share laughs, personal stories, and a few tangents (including Paul's triumphant Marine Corps Marathon finish 🏅).

📚 About the Book: After the sudden death of a college friend, five classmates make a pact: whenever one of them feels lost, the others will gather for a "living funeral" to remind them how much their life still matters. Years later, as they hit their 50s, the group reunites again — proving that it's never too late to reconnect, forgive, and start over.

💬 In This Episode:

• The unique premise of "living funerals" — and why it hit home for Gen X

• What the book says about friendship and second chances

• Our favorite scenes (no major spoilers!)

• The power of celebrating people while they're still here

• How The Celebrants could make a perfect Netflix series

• A few side trips: marathons, reunions, and even Ouija boards 👻

More from the GenX Book Club Crew

📖 Suzanne Mattaboni (Author of Once in a Lifetime) 🔹 Get her book anywhere books are sold, including Kindle Unlimited and onceinalifetimenovel.com 🔹 Visit her at suzannemattaboni.com 🔹 Follow Suzanne:

• 📷 Instagram: @suzannemattaboni80s
• 🐦 X: @suzmattaboni
• 📘 Facebook: Suzanne Mattaboni

🎙️ Del Roehling (Host of 80s at 8 on 91.1 WEDM FM) 🔹 Tune in to 80s at 8 for all your favorite throwback tunes 🔹 Get your daily dose of '80s news on the 80s at 8 Facebook page

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

💡 Whether you're a die-hard '80s fan, a nostalgia lover, or just someone who enjoys a great book club discussion, this episode is packed with fun, wisdom, and plenty of throwback vibes.

📢 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with fellow GenXers!

On this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul welcomes Shellie Stark—creative entrepreneur, guided meditation instructor, and host of the brand-new Seen & Supported podcast. Shellie opens up about becoming a caregiver for her mom during and after the pandemic, how she gradually lost pieces of herself, and the exact steps she used to find her way back.

We dig into practical tools Gen Xers can use right now—especially those caring for aging parents while juggling everything else.

What we cover

• How caregiving can slowly make you disappear—and how to notice it
• Shellie's 3 core tips to begin finding yourself again:

• • Ask for help (use your voice, say "yes" to support)

• • Regulate your nervous system (simple 5-count box breathing)

• • Small, consistent self-care (10 minutes to breathe, step outside, a routine that makes you feel good)
• Building community when you don't think you have one (family, friends, friends-of-loved-ones)
• Daily non-negotiables: affirmations on sticky notes, short morning meditation, hydration, Scripture, scheduling connection time, getting outdoors
• Shellie's clean beauty brand IHP Beauty (I Have Peace Beauty)—why she created toxin-free products after an allergic reaction, and how beauty begins within

Connect with Shellie Stark

Website: https://www.shelliestark.com/

YouTube: Seen & Supported with Shellie Stark

Instagram: @iamshelliestark

Twitter/X: @iamshelliestark

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shellie-stark-6b493227a

🎧 Listen & Subscribe to GenX Journeys

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

🌎 Connect with Me

📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

💡 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review or share it with a fellow GenXer—let's keep this community growing!

🎤 Until next time—embrace the past, own the present, and build an epic future!

Ahoy, GenXers! This week we're revisiting one of the cheesiest, campiest, and most gloriously over-the-top cult classics of the '80s — The Pirate Movie! Originally released on August 6, 1982, this wild ride mashes up The Pirates of Penzance with slapstick humor, ridiculous musical numbers, and more innuendos than we realized as kids.

Del Roehling and I (Paul Stroessner) first covered this back on January 21, 2022, and it quickly became one of the most popular Return to the '80s episodes. With Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins leading the charge, The Pirate Movie is part musical, part parody, and pure early-'80s cheese. Does it hold up today? Honestly… we seriously doubt it 😂. But that's half the fun!

⚠️ Spoiler Alert: We go deep into the details of the movie, so there are definitely spoilers ahead. The good news? You can watch the full film for free on YouTube — link below!

Why This Movie Matters

Sometimes the best discoveries come from life's little detours. For me, The Pirate Movie was the consolation prize when E.T. was sold out at the theater back in 1982. What could've been a disappointment turned into an unexpected treasure — and all these years later, it's still sparking conversations, laughter, and nostalgia. That's the heart of GenX Journeys: rediscovering the oddities, the quirks, and the memories that shaped who we are today.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Paul's story of seeing The Pirate Movie in theaters after missing out on E.T.

• How this quirky flop built a surprising cult following

• The humor that flew over our heads as kids (and makes us laugh for all the wrong reasons now)

• Musical highlights — including the unforgettable "Pumping and Blowing" 🎶🐟

• Why multiple viewings reveal new gags — even if they're ridiculous

• Final verdict: a cheesy time capsule that's fun… but definitely not timeless

👉 Watch the full movie on YouTube (while it's still up): [The Pirate Movie (1982)]

🎙️ Del Roehling (Host of 80s at 8 on 91.1 WEDM FM)

🔹 Tune in to 80s at 8 for all your favorite throwback tunes 🔹 Get your daily dose of '80s news on the 80s at 8 Facebook page

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

Midlife isn't the beginning of the end — it's the beginning of your encore. 💥

In this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul sits down with Lydia Magnoli, online fitness coach, content creator, and founder of The Magnoli Method app. Lydia opens up about leaving a "safe" tenured job as a school psychologist to follow her true calling, losing 65+ pounds naturally, and helping women over 40 build strength, confidence, and healthier habits without a gym.

You'll hear about:

• 🎭 Reinvention after 40: trusting the inner voice when others doubt you

• 💪 Why fitness after 40 is about energy and confidence, not just looks

• 🧘 The power of discipline vs. motivation (and daily practices that stick)

• 🥗 How small habit shifts lead to big transformations

• 📲 How Lydia's Magnoli Method app and coaching programs empower women to thrive

Plus, stick around for some GenX fun: Lydia shares her favorite artists, her workout playlist go-tos, and her '80s/'90s crush.

Whether you're ready to reinvent your career, your health, or your mindset — this episode will remind you: it's never too late.

Connect with Lydia Magnoli

• App: The Magnoli Method (Apple & Android)

• Website: http://www.lydiamagnoli.com/

• YouTube: Lydia Magnoli

• Instagram: @lydia.magnoli

• TikTok: @lydiamagnoli
• LinkedIn: @LydiaMagnoli

• Coaching: DM Lydia on Instagram for info on the Sculpt 21 Challenge

🎧 Listen & Subscribe to GenX Journeys

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

🌎 Connect with Me

📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

💡 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review or share it with a fellow GenXer—let's keep this community growing!

🎤 Until next time—embrace the past, own the present, and build an epic future!

We're cranking up the anthems for this week's Throwback Thursday with a very special guest—Stan Bush!

Best known for "The Touch" (The Transformers: The Movie) and "Never Surrender" (Kickboxer), Stan has built a career around motivational rock anthems that have inspired fans across generations. In this episode (originally released on December 22, 2020), Paul and Del chat with Stan about his journey from Gainesville clubs to LA studios, from winning an Emmy to being inducted into the Transformers Hall of Fame.

We dive deep into: ✨ The story behind "The Touch" (and how it almost landed in Cobra instead of Transformers) ✨ The making of his 2020 album Dare to Dream ✨ Writing "Born to Fight" for Netflix anime shows Baki and Kengan Ashura ✨ Why '80s movie soundtracks hit different—and how his songs keep that legacy alive ✨ The discipline and healthy living that have kept his voice strong after all these years

And on a personal note, several of Stan's songs are staples on Paul's running playlist—fueling miles, races, and training sessions with pure motivational fire.

The timing of this re-release couldn't be more perfect: Stan's brand-new album Born for Battle drops on September 5, 2025, with the lead single "Invincible" already out now.

Don't miss this inspiring conversation with one of the true voices of '80s rock anthems.

Connect with Stan Bush

🌎 Website: stanbush.com 🐦 X/Twitter: @stan_bush 📘 Facebook: Stan Bush Music ▶️ YouTube: OfficialStanBush

🎙️ Del Roehling (Host of 80s at 8 on 91.1 WEDM FM)

🔹 Tune in to 80s at 8 for all your favorite throwback tunes 🔹 Get your daily dose of '80s news on the 80s at 8 Facebook page

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

This week we're flashing back to June 25, 2020, when Del Roehling and I revisited one of the greatest sequels of all time — Aliens (1986).

Back then, I had just wrapped up a tough semester in my master's program for Creative Writing, and like so many of us, I was stuck at home during lockdown. Del and I took the opportunity to dive into James Cameron's explosive follow-up to Ridley Scott's Alien, and we had a blast breaking it all down.

We cover: 👽 How Aliens shifted from horror to all-out action 🔥 Sigourney Weaver cementing her place as a true action hero 🎬 The unforgettable performances of Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, and more 🚀 The iconic final showdown with the Alien Queen 💬 Plus, a little 80s nostalgia, some laughs, and even a few digs at the 90s

Whether you're a die-hard fan who's seen Aliens 20 times, or you're watching it for the first time, this episode will take you right back into the heart-pounding action of 1986.

🎙️ Del Roehling (Host of 80s at 8 on 91.1 WEDM FM) 🔹 Tune in to 80s at 8 for all your favorite throwback tunes 🔹 Get your daily dose of '80s news on the 80s at 8 Facebook page

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

We're rewinding to April 2020 for a fun and fiery discussion with the Return to the '80s Brat Pack—Lizzie Newton, Del Roehling, and me—as we take on the 1985 Brat Pack classic St. Elmo's Fire.

Recorded in the middle of lockdown, this episode is full of laughs, unexpected takes, and a whole lot of side tangents—from Rob Lowe's dangly earring and Demi Moore's pink apartment, to the characters we loved (or loved to hate). Lizzie shares why she kept expecting the bar to literally burst into flames, Del questions why anyone liked these characters at all, and I revisit the movie with fresh eyes after not seeing it for decades.

We cover: 🎬 The cast's career highs and lows (and some surprising behind-the-scenes stories) 🤣 The most unlikable characters and why we couldn't look away 🎵 The killer '80s soundtrack, including that unforgettable theme 💬 Side conversations about Troop Beverly Hills, '80s décor trends, and cassette tape nostalgia 🤔 Why none of the characters really change—and whether we even cared

So grab your popcorn, settle in, and join us for a rewatch discussion that's part movie talk, part '80s time capsule, and part comedy roast.

📱 Follow Lizzie on Instagram: @LizzieDNewton

🎙️ Del Roehling (Host of 80s at 8 on 91.1 WEDM FM) 🔹 Tune in to 80s at 8 for all your favorite throwback tunes 🔹 Get your daily dose of '80s news on the 80s at 8 Facebook page

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

💡 Whether you're a die-hard '80s fan, a nostalgia lover, or just someone who enjoys a great book club discussion, this episode is packed with fun, wisdom, and plenty of throwback vibes.

📢 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with fellow GenXers!

📅 Originally aired: April 12, 2019 🎧 Guest: Lizzie Newton (from Liz Laugh Cry)

This week on Return to the '80s, we're throwing it back to one of our most fun and unfiltered episodes — the wild ride that is Netflix's The Dirt, the biopic based on the notorious rise (and mayhem) of Mötley Crüe.

This episode marks the very first appearance of Lizzie Newton, and as listeners know, every episode she's been on since has become one of our most downloaded. We recorded this one together, in person, and the chemistry is off the charts.

🎸 In this episode, we dive into:

• Lizzie's newfound obsession with Mötley Crüe (and her journey from Taylor Swift to Tommy Lee)

• Paul's deep '80s rock roots and cassette tape dilemmas

• The Dirt vs. Bohemian Rhapsody — which rocked harder?

• The chaos of Crüe: hotel room trashing, drinking contests with Ozzy, and emotional breakdowns mid-tour

• Behind-the-scenes band drama and the tragic stories that shaped their journey

• The 1980s glam metal era, grunge takeovers, and what happened when the hair spray ran dry

• That infamous Ozzy Osbourne ant-snorting moment (RIP, Prince of Darkness 🕊️🖤)

• Why Lizzie would rather drink Tommy Lee's pee than snort ants (yes, really)

• Our love for other rock legends like Def Leppard, Queen, and Heart

• And possibly the only moment in podcast history where Freddie Mercury is compared to Justin Timberlake 🤯

⚡️Plus:

• A nostalgic side rant on Britney Spears, Good Charlotte, and how elder millennials like Lizzie view the '80s

• Why Madonna is still queen

• And how glam rockers somehow still have the energy to tour at 70 (spoiler: oxygen chambers)

This episode is pure '80s-meets-Millennial mayhem — and we wouldn't have it any other way.

📱 Follow Lizzie on Instagram: @LizzieDNewton

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

🌎 Connect with Me

📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

💡 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review or share it with a fellow GenXer—let's keep this community growing!

🎤 Until next time—embrace the past, own the present, and build an epic future!

In this month's GenX Book Club, Paul Stroessner, Suzanne Mattaboni, and Del Roehling dive into Michael Koresky's heartfelt memoir-meets-film-critique, Films of Endearment: A Mother, a Son, and the '80s Films That Defined Us.

Koresky revisits ten female-driven films of the 1980s with his mother, using them as a lens to explore family, loss, identity, and how movies shape the way we see the world. The discussion covers:

• How films like 9 to 5, Terms of Endearment, Aliens, and Baby Boom look different when revisited decades later

• Reflections on workplace inequality, motherhood, identity, and resilience portrayed in these movies

• How generational and personal experiences change the way we view iconic films over time

• Connections to movies like Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and Crossing Delancey

• Why the '80s still feels like a "golden age" for character-driven, female-led stories

The team also shares their own movie memories, from watching creature features as kids to experiencing how VHS tapes and early cable changed the way we consumed film, as well as some emotional connections to the films that Michael Koresky covers in this book.

Next month's pick: The Celebrants by Steven Rowley, a heartfelt story of friendship and second chances that flashes between the '90s and today.

More from the GenX Book Club Crew

📖 Suzanne Mattaboni (Author of Once in a Lifetime) 🔹 Get her book anywhere books are sold, including Kindle Unlimited and onceinalifetimenovel.com 🔹 Visit her at suzannemattaboni.com 🔹 Follow Suzanne:

• 📷 Instagram: @suzannemattaboni80s
• 🐦 X: @suzmattaboni
• 📘 Facebook: Suzanne Mattaboni

🎙️ Del Roehling (Host of 80s at 8 on 91.1 WEDM FM) 🔹 Tune in to 80s at 8 for all your favorite throwback tunes 🔹 Get your daily dose of '80s news on the 80s at 8 Facebook page

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

💡 Whether you're a die-hard '80s fan, a nostalgia lover, or just someone who enjoys a great book club discussion, this episode is packed with fun, wisdom, and plenty of throwback vibes.

📢 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with fellow GenXers!

Originally released: April 13, 2017

In this special Throwback Thursday episode, Paul and Robert are joined by the legendary Doug McCoy—host of the now-retired McCoyCast podcast network, which included shows like Never Seen It, Crazy Creepy Cool Movies, and In the Theater. Doug also wrote the eBook TV in My Time. While none of Doug's past content is currently available online, we're thrilled to preserve this conversation as a tribute to his fantastic contributions to the retro podcasting world.

Inspired by Doug's podcast Never Seen It, this episode takes the same approach: at least one of the three of us had never seen Highlander until prepping for the show. We discuss first impressions, what holds up, what doesn't, and how this cult classic became such a defining piece of '80s sci-fi/fantasy cinema.

Also in this episode: 🎸 Robert gives a concert report on Journey—with Asia as the opening act 🎶 A round of "Play This, Not That," featuring Simple Minds ⚔️ And of course… swords, immortals, and Queen

There can be only one… but luckily, this podcast episode made the cut.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

🌎 Connect with Me

📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

💡 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review or share it with a fellow GenXer—let's keep this community growing!

🎤 Until next time—embrace the past, own the present, and build an epic future!