The Cold War meets “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” Michelle dives into WHAM!: 10 Days in China, the fascinating documentary about the duo’s historic 1985 tour behind the Iron Curtain—where bewildered teens encounter Western pop for the first time, government officials keep a VERY close eye on the dancing, and George and Andrew bring maximum hair, blazers, and cool factor to a decidedly monochrome scene.

Join us as Michelle shares her experience and what she learned when she saw the documentary during its one-night showing in movie theaters.

Read Michelle's Substack piece about her experience here

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The world lost Dolly Parton, and the Pop Culture Preservation Society is not okay.

In this very un-light PCPS Light, we process the loss of a woman who somehow felt less like a celebrity and more like a favorite aunt. We talk collective grief, childhood memories, Dolly’s quiet activism and extraordinary philanthropy, her unapologetic approach to beauty, and the uncanny way her songs seem to find us exactly when we need them.

It’s funny, heartfelt, a little messy, and very, very Dolly.

Dolly, we will always love you.

Listen to the podcast, Dolly Parton's America here

Purchase "She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs" by Sarah Smarsh here

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Before Coastal Grandma and Grandmillenial, there was Preppy—and in the 1980s, it was practically a way of life. From Izods and penny loafers to monograms, madras, and The Official Preppy Handbook, we’re revisiting the look, the lore, and the aspirational fantasy that defined a certain corner of our Gen X childhoods.

In this episode, we share your hilarious and revealing listener comments and take a look at how the preppy aesthetic went from Ivy League campuses to suburban malls, television screens, and closets everywhere.

Carolyn shares how she deeply, unapologetically loved this book—and it informed far more of her life than she probably realized at the time.

But where did Kristin and Michelle fall on the Preppy Spectrum? Were they true preps, mall preps, reluctant preps—or no way in hell?

So grab your Izod, pop the collar and join us in our Volvo wagon for this trip down Memory Lane.

Find The Official Preppy Handbook here

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They don’t say GenX was raised on hose water and neglect for nothing. Sit your baby in the sun to tan? Yep! Give your toddler a lip of chewing tobacco? Sure (and make sure to snap a picture)! Babysit an infant with a heart monitor when you’re 10 years old? What could go wrong?!? Join us as we save the free-range, often lackluster parenting we experienced in our GenX childhoods by sharing some wild and hilarious stories sent in by many of our listeners ... who we are so glad made it out alive.

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Another episode talking about the songs of 1978 -- because they were just that good! This is where we get deep into the songs, one after another, with Kristin going rogue and read-singing a whole list of favorites at the end. It was the height of disco, the dawn of yacht rock, and the golden era of sweet, soulful ballads that made us cry in the backseat of the station wagon as we drove that ribbon of highway to the gulf stream waters. In 1978 we had radios and we had feelings and that might be the glue that held us together and made us who we are today. Tune in to see if any of our picks give you some big feelings, too.

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Join us on the podcast for another installment of our very popular series, "AM Radio Gold." This time we're celebrating our favorites from 1978 ... so many, in fact, that we split the episode into TWO PARTS! It was the year of juggernaut cultural game changers like Saturday Night Fever, Grease and anything with the name Gibb attached to it. No wonder we couldn’t stop talking! Will your favorite '78 songs be mentioned? (Spoiler: if it's "He's a Dancer" by Jimmy and Kristy McNichol, the answer is yes).

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In celebration of Carolyn’s daughter’s recent wedding, we’re taking you down the aisle with us as we reminisce about our own weddings and how wildly different the ceremonies, receptions, dresses, and all the accoutrements (or lack of) were from the weddings today. Which of us had an ice sculpture? Who made sure “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” was played at her reception? And which of us didn’t really want a wedding at all? Puff up those sleeves, slip on your dyed-to-match pumps, and join us for a fun chat about the days we all said, “I do.”

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What show starred Dixie Carter, Jean Smart, Annie Potts, and Delta Burke? Can you name three of Mrs. Garrett’s charges in “Facts of Life?” Sure you can! But can we? Join us today as we test our GenX pop-culture knowledge — and yours — with one of our most recommended family games, Mind The Gap. Think all the questions are this easy? Think again. And when you’re shouting out answers at whatever device you’re listening on — or just shouting AT us — remember, we can’t hear you.

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Welcome to part 2 of our deep dive on the shows of Sid & Marty Krofft, the pioneers of children's television who put a little psychedelic puppetry in your Saturday morning TV. This time we're counting down the 10 best Krofft-created shows according to YOU, from standalone shows like The Bugaloos and Land of the Lost to the short features on The Krofft Supershow and The Bay City Rollers Show. There were aliens, dinosaurs, genies, bigfoots (bigfeet?), flying dune buggies, flying monkeys, flying cars, flying bikes and, much to Carolyn's horror, lots of inanimate items that can somehow talk and make facial expressions -- and our followers and listeners had opinions about all of them! Which show got -1 votes? And which one landed in the #1 spot? Join us to find out.

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HR Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and so many more giant foam puppet-like things haunt the dreams of our 1970's childhood. The world of Sid and Marty Krofft dominated Saturday morning TV from 1969 until the mid 80's and left a unique and psychadelic mark on television history. The Krofft universe was both drug-induced AND for children and featured things like a faux glam rock band with the unfortunate initials KKK, Gomer Pyle as an alien from outer space, another faux band who could fly (because they were bugs), a flute who could talk, another faux band made up of sea monsters, some enormous hats walking around on tiny feet???? An evil madman with a shrinking machine, TWO LADY SUPERHEROES, a witch who was way too scary for children, and – I only have to say this once to send shivers down the spines of every Gen Xer …SLEESTAKS.

For some, the world of Sid and Marty Krofft is anchored by Krofft Supershow but for others that universe is anchored by HR Pufnstuf. But suffice it to say — this world could only happen once in human history. And it was the 1970s.

Join us today for part one of a two-part deep dive on the shows created by Sid & Marty Krofft and the legacy they left behind.

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