Steve Spears, creator and co-host of Stuck in the '80s, joins Paul Stroessner and Suzanne Mattaboni to celebrate 20 years of 80s podcasting—and to discuss his new book, Stuck in the '80s: 20 Years of Conversations with Pop Culture Icons Who Defined the Decade. From early podcasting chaos to unforgettable celebrity interviews and the community built along the way, this episode is a nostalgic deep dive into the decade that still connects us.

Steve joins us to talk about his brand-new book:

Stuck in the '80s: 20 Years of Conversations with Pop Culture Icons Who Defined the Decade

The book pulls together stories, reflections, behind-the-scenes moments, and lessons learned from more than two decades of interviewing the artists, actors, and cultural figures who shaped Generation X.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Stuck in the '80s began as a newspaper assignment in the early days of podcasting

• What it was like recording episodes with handheld mics at a cafeteria table

• The nerves (and occasional nausea!) before interviewing legends

• Interview "misfires" and what they taught Steve about preparation and connection

• Why the best interviews happen when you drop the script and just have a conversation

• How writing the book changed Steve's perspective on 20 years of work

• The powerful sense of community built around shared 80s memories

• The wild fun of The 80s Cruise, theme nights, and Steve's legendary trivia sessions

• Why nostalgia isn't about being "stuck" — it's about shared identity and connection

Steve's book is available through major retailers, and fans of the podcast will love the added context, behind-the-scenes reflections, and personal stories that didn't always make it into the original episodes.

Connect with Steve Spears

• 🌎 Website: SIT80s.com

• Stuck in the '80s Podcast can be found on all podcast apps
• Order Stuck in the '80s: 20 Years of Conversations with Pop Culture Icons Who Defined a Decade on Amazon

• Book: Stuck in the '80s: 20 Years of Conversations with Pop Culture Icons Who Defined the Decade

Connect with Suzanne Mattaboni

🔹 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

Connect with GenX Journeys

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