GenX Journeys

📅 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

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📩 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.

📖 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

🌎 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.

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

📩 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 deeply inspiring episode, Paul is joined by spiritual guide, author, and former Goldman Sachs VP Neal Bakshi, whose bold journey from Wall Street to worldwide healing retreats embodies everything GenX Journeys stands for: reinvention, purpose, and soul alignment.

💻 After narrowly recovering from a laptop disaster (kombucha meets keyboard!), Paul reflects on synchronicity and gratitude—and how sometimes, the universe has your back even when it doesn't feel like it.

From there, Paul and Neal dive into:

✨ Grief and Transformation – How the sudden loss of Neal's mother became a catalyst for his spiritual awakening and personal realignment.

🧘 Meditation, Breathwork & Inner Balance – Why slowing down and going within is the antidote to modern chaos. (Yes, even for those who "can't meditate.")

🌍 Letting Go & Living Intentionally – Tools for releasing what no longer serves you, tuning into synchronicity, and tapping into the power of your own awareness.

📿 From Finance to Faith – Neal's shift from investment banking to energy healing, sacred ceremonies, and writing Banking on Angels, a book rooted in gratitude, alignment, and self-empowerment.

🌀 Energetic Alignment & Chakras in Leadership – A sneak peek at Neal's upcoming book Seven Chakras of Leadership, co-authored with Dr. Zohra Damani, and how conscious leadership can transform not just businesses—but the world.

🎧 Whether you're seeking peace, purpose, or simply a new lens to view your journey—this episode is a powerful reminder: You don't manifest what you want. You manifest who you are.

🔗 Connect with Neal Bakshi Website: nealbakshi.com Instagram: @nealbakshi

TikTok: @nealbakshi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealbakshi/ Book: Banking on Angels – Available now New Release: Seven Chakras of Leadership – Coming soon!

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

📩 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!

Get ready to crank up the volume and rewind the tape as GenX Journeys joins forces with The Long Rewind for an epic crossover episode all about '80s Movie Soundtracks!

This is Paul's first official crossover episode, released both on GenX Journeys and The Long Rewind feeds—so no matter where you're tuning in, you're in for a rad ride through one of the best parts of '80s pop culture.

In this episode: 🎵 Paul and Dustin share their earliest memories of movie soundtracks, and the albums that first hooked them on cinematic music. 🎶 They discuss why soundtracks exploded in popularity during the 1980s, shaping both the music and film industries in unforgettable ways. 💿 They run through some of the biggest-selling soundtracks of the decade, from chart-topping blockbusters to beloved cult classics. 🔥 Finally, they each reveal their personal Top 10 favorite '80s soundtracks—expect some classics, a few surprises, and a whole lot of nostalgia.

The Long Rewind 🎙️ Hosts: Dustin Morrow & Lisa Molinelli 🔗 Listen anywhere you get podcasts!

🛠 Note from Paul: There are a few spots where my audio quality dips a bit because my trusty Blue Snowball mic finally decided to retire after 9 years. RIP Blue Snowball. But don't worry—the conversation is still awesome and totally worth the listen!

Enjoy the episode—and let us know your own favorite '80s soundtracks!

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

📩 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 episode, we're joined by the wonderfully multi-talented Laura Lee, author of Saturn's Favorite Music. Laura's creative path has been as eclectic as her writing: she's the author of 21 books across biography, humorous reference, fiction, and children's literature, and has worked as a professional mime, improvisational comic, and radio announcer. These days, she splits her time between writing and traveling with ballet master class tours alongside her partner, artistic director of the Russian Ballet Foundation.

Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as having "a dry, humorous tone" that makes her a "charming companion," Laura brings warmth and wit to our conversation about her latest novel.

Saturn's Favorite Music takes us back to the summer of 1992, following Clara Jane, an alternative music-loving broadcast graduate starting her first radio job at a small station in northern Michigan. While dreaming of rock-star radio fame, Clara navigates quirky small-town life, morning show banter, and the looming threat of automation replacing the human touch in broadcasting. Brimming with 90s nostalgia, the novel explores music, friendship, and how technology changes creative careers and relationships—a theme that's as timely today as ever.

"Saturn's Favorite Music is a fun voyage back to the days of analog radio with all of its skipping records and clashing egos… highly relevant in the age of AI."

🎧 Topics We Discuss:

• How Laura's fascinating career led her to writing

• Behind-the-scenes stories from working in radio: splicing tape, voicing commercials, and old-school technology

• Crafting a character-driven story and ensuring cover details match the narrative

• Morning show banter

• Laura's own experience as a morning DJ

• Music genres and how our listening habits have become more individualized

• Meeting music artists in real life

• Paul's Saturn's Favorite Music Spotify playlist featuring songs mentioned in the book

• The humorous chaos of being mistaken for both a pet-loss grieving author and a psychic named Laura Lee

• A nostalgic dive into one of the earliest viral audio rants: Casey Kasem's famous meltdown

Want to hear the music woven through Saturn's Favorite Music? Check out Paul's companion playlist on Spotify featuring songs mentioned in the book! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0PVKnKsAcNKvdSfmwtMUoe?si=c110e9c965b9418a

📚 Learn More About Laura Lee: 🌐 Website: https://www.lauraleeauthor.com/

📖 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

🌎 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: March 22, 2017

It's time to root for the bad guys—just this once.

This week's Throwback Thursday is part of a special crossover event put together by The 80s League, a collaborative effort started by Dave from 80s Reboot Overdrive. The League brought together several blogs and podcasts (including Return to the '80s) to celebrate all things retro—and this month's theme is '80s Movie Villains!

In this episode:

• Paul reviews the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot (Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and crew).

• Robert and Paul discuss Robert's then-controversial article, In Defense of Journey Without Steve Perry, released after Journey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Neal Schon was being bombarded with questions about Perry's return.

• A brand new Play This, Not That segment featuring Survivor—because they're more than just "Eye of the Tiger"!

• And finally, a deep dive into our favorite 80s villains—from Biff Tannen and Hans Gruber to The Kurgan and The Fratellis.

💥 You'll laugh, you'll hiss, and you'll be reminded just how important a great villain is to an unforgettable story.

🕸️ Check out the other 80s League contributors for the 80s movie villains theme:

80s Reboot Overdrive

Killer Kitsch

Old School Evil

Rediscover the 80s

Stuck in the 80s

Weegiemidget

Robert's Return to the '80s article

📩 Got a favorite '80s villain or want to join the discussion? Email Paul at [email protected]

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

📩 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!

📅 Originally aired: February 23, 2017 🎧 Episode (Turn It Up to) 11 of Return to the '80s

Today we're cranking the volume all the way up to eleven as we revisit one of the most iconic and hilarious cult classics of the '80s—This Is Spinal Tap!

In this re-release from 2017, Robert and I are joined once again by our good friend Scott Compton to break down the mockumentary that defined a genre and gave us some of the most quotable lines in comedy history.

🎸 Topics we cover include:

• Our favorite scenes (besides all of them)

• The band's surprisingly catchy music

• Legendary lines like "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever"

• Fun behind-the-scenes facts

• The real-life lawsuit over Spinal Tap merchandising rights

And here's the kicker—at the time of this re-release, This Is Spinal Tap isn't available to stream anywhere. Not even to rent or buy digitally! If you've still got a DVD, hang on to it—it's a collector's item now.

🔥 Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering Tap for the first time, this episode is a love letter to a film that's still turning heads (and melting amps) decades later.

—

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

📩 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 breaking all the rules—and talking about Fight Club. Paul is joined by author and returning guest Suzanne Mattaboni for a deep dive into Chuck Palahniuk's cult classic novel (and the iconic 1999 film adaptation by David Fincher).

💥 In This Episode:

• The book vs. the movie: Why both versions hit hard in different ways

• Breaking down the twist (and how it still lands decades later)

• Themes of identity, consumerism, toxic masculinity, and waking up from the corporate coma

• Suzanne reveals the genius Easter egg of the quick Tyler Durden "splices" in early movie scenes

• Could Fight Club be made today? Would it hit the same in 2025?

• Why this story still resonates with GenX—and what it says about a generation searching for meaning

📖 Book by: Chuck Palahniuk 🎬 Movie Directed by: David Fincher Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: We discuss major plot twists from both the book and the movie. If you haven't read or watched Fight Club yet, you've been warned.

📢 Next Month's Pick: Saturn's Favorite Music by Laura Lee — and she'll be joining us for the episode! 📻✨

📖 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

🌎 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!

🎸 Bon Jovi, Big Hair, and Our First Guest Ever!

Originally aired: December 1, 2016 on Return to the '80s

This Return to the '80s classic is one for the time capsule! Join Paul and Robert as they welcome their very first guest—Scott Compton, host of the now-retired but still legendary podcasts 80s Mixtape Autoreverse and 80s Reboot Overdrive.

We kick things off with some 2016-era Rock and Roll Hall of Fame talk (Scott was literally casting his ballot for Journey mid-show!), reflect on the recent passing of TV icon Florence Henderson, and then crank up the volume for a full track-by-track breakdown of Bon Jovi's breakout album Slippery When Wet. We also share personal stories, memories tied to the music, and plenty of laughs along the way.

✨ Highlights include:

• A nostalgic tribute to Florence Henderson

• Hall of Fame debates: Journey, ELO, Yes, and yes... Pearl Jam 😏

• Track-by-track breakdown of Slippery When Wet

• Stories behind the songs—including one that came full circle in the wildest way

✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

📩 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!