What's up, Slackers!

This week we take a journey through the pages of the books and magazines that shaped our Gen X childhoods!

From choose-your-own-adventure stories to fantastical tales of chocolate factories and epic fantasy worlds, we’ll revisit the books that sparked our imaginations. Plus, we’ll flip through the colorful, quirky magazines filled with comics, humor, and puzzles that kept us entertained for hours.

The Books: Relive the thrill of interactive adventures, whimsical stories about magical elevators, sci-fi paperbacks, epic quests with hobbits, enchanting Greek myths, and the timeless humor of Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.

The Magazines: Dive into the world of kid-friendly publications with hidden pictures and quirky characters, plus the irreverent humor of satirical comics featuring iconic mascots and legendary artists.

These stories and visuals resonated with us, influenced pop culture, and gave many of us a lifelong love for reading,

If I could turn back time—exactly 36 years—it would be 1989!

This episode was inspired by the 1989 monster hit by Cher. Yes, that Cher, who was 43 years old and leaving nothing to the imagination!

As I’ve done in the past, we’re going to dig into the music charts and major box office hits, along with a few newsworthy events from the last year of the '80s.The music charts featured a mix of hair metal ballads and classic rock bands enjoying a late-career resurgence, with alternative and pop also well represented. This was an era when New Kids on the Block, Chicago, Rick Astley, and Poison were all played back-to-back on the radio. Back then, radio was pretty great.

The big movies boasted massive hits from directors like Spielberg, Burton, Donner, and Zemeckis. The stars were names like Ford, Keaton, Gibson, and Fox—big movies with big budgets. But non-action films also drew huge audiences, like Parenthood and Dead Poets Society. This was the era when Robin Williams was earning numerous Academy Award nominations.

Plus, it’s crazy to think that this was the year the Berlin Wall fell and the Tiananmen Square protests—and subsequent massacre—took place.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, and major streaming platforms. Connect with the podcast via email at [email protected], or follow on Instagram, X, and YouTube at  @stuckpodx, and on Facebook at the Stuck in the Middle Podcast page. 

It's about to get pretty cheesy, Slackers!

First though, this episode is dedicated to Rick Derringer. Rock legend, producer extraordinaire, and of course the man who brought us the classic wrestling theme song, Real American. Rest in peace, - brother.

This week we dive into a selection of 1980s sci-fi and fantasy films that shaped Gen X, including Krull, The Beastmaster, and Flash Gordon. Blending sword-and-sorcery with space opera, these films thrilled audiences with their larger-than-life stories and practical effects, despite a cheesy charm that could captivate or repel viewers, then and now. Were they “good”? Some were truly great; others were, honestly, gloriously terrible.

We explore how these films, despite their campy flair, connected with young audiences through tales of underdog heroes and fantastical worlds. Their earnest, sometimes over-the-top storytelling captured the era’s spirit, proving good intentions can make a lasting impression. And did you know The Sword and the Sorcerer brought the stars of TV’s Matt Houston and Manimal together on the big screen?

Join us as we celebrate these Gen X cult classics, embracing their cheesy yet endearing qualities that continue to entertain. Ah, the 80s, where bold heroes, mythical creatures, and cosmic battles ruled the screen with distinctive, lighthearted charm. It doesn’t always need to be bleak to leave a mark. Modern filmmakers should keep this is mind!

Picture it, Boston, 1995. A young man from Meriden, CT decides to uproot his life and move to a new city. New faces, new friends, and plenty of new music.

It has been 30 years since I made the fateful decision to make the move to Boston. It was also a time to expand my musical palette. Thankfully, there was plenty of new music to choose from, with tons of second hand music shops like CD Spins, interspersed with the big retailers like Tower Records.

Much of the music on the radio at the time was not for me (except TLC!), but thanfully there were rock friendly radio stations in the city, as well as some of the best clubs to see live music. TT the Bears and The Middle East come to mind. 

Acts that would go on to become huge stars got their big breaks in 1995, while smaller indie, punk, and metal bands were just reaching their loftiest heights. Bands like Shelter and Jawbreaker achieved their biggest commercial successes, while bands like Rancid and Presidents of the United States of America were getting some air time on radio stations like WBCN and WAAF.

Plus, legends like Faith No More, Radiohead and Fugazi added to their legacies in 1995. Oh, and some band called Oasis had a huge record or something.

And everyone was asking the question, "What is a Foo Fighter"?

Get ready to rock, Slackers! 

This episode honors ECW legend Sabu and previews the killer music festivals lighting up summer 2025. From metal to alternative, these lineups prove ‘80s & ‘90s music is still very much alive.

Tribute to Sabu We salute Sabu, the hardcore ECW icon whose death-defying style defined ‘90s wrestling. His fearless dives and chaotic energy left a lasting mark on Gen X wrestling fans and the entire wrestling industry.

Summer 2025 Concerts & Music Festivals The Summer of 2025 is shaping up to be a great season for live music. Leading the charge are bands like Creed, My Chemical Romance, The Offspring, Def Leppard and the final show of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan.

Metallica is continuing the M72 tour, with Pantera, Ice Nine Kills, Limp Bizkit and Suicidal Tendencies in support. Metal is featured heavily on the festival circuit, none bigger than the lineup for Rockville 2025. 

Lollapalooza is still a…thing. Check it out - it gets weird. 80’s synth/new wave is featured prominently in California with the Cruel World Festival. That lineup is crazy good. Plus, many more!

Summer and music. A perfect combination.

Are things getting weirder, Slackers? 

A social media claim challenges the authenticity of a core childhood memory, sparking passionate responses. Some Gen X men are embracing bold health experiments, raising eyebrows with their approach to aging. Others are playfully disrupting digital music culture with clever tricks, while a few adopt survivalist-inspired lifestyles reminiscent of the apocalyptic films of our youth. Gen X clearly has a knack for blending creativity with an ever-present urge to push buttons.

Serious challenges also take center stage. Growing anxiety about retirement security looms large as Gen X faces an uncertain financial landscape. Innovative social gatherings offer a nostalgic yet practical way to reconnect, reflecting a balanced lifestyle—and the need to be in bed at a reasonable hour!

The creative job market presents hurdles, with Gen X professionals adapting to new technologies and younger competitors. Additionally, our cautious approach to online commerce highlights a generational gap, as stats show we’re more than a little skeptical of social media-based commerce. Are these products even real? And are any of you actually using TikTok?

Share your thoughts at [email protected], follow @stuckpodx on Instagram, X, and YouTube, or visit the Stuck In The Middle Podcast page on Facebook. Suggest future topics and subscribe for more insightful discussions.

Hello, neighbor, I mean, Slackers!

This week we are going to explore the educational live-action children’s shows of the 1970s and 1980s that defined the Generation X experience. These programs were foundational, delivering lessons with creativity and care in an era before digital media. From the community spirit of Sesame Street to the gentle guidance of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, it’s all about the shows that made education engaging and actually fun. 

My personal GOATs? Fred Rogers and Captain Kangaroo! 

The Electric Company used characters like Morgan Freeman’s (!) Easy Reader to teach reading to older children, while Romper Room’s Miss Nancy instilled manners through her Magic Mirror. Reading Rainbow, hosted by LeVar Burton, encouraged a love for literature, and Mr. Wizard’s World made science accessible with Don Herbert’s experiments. Each program contributed to a foundation of curiosity and empathy.

There are also a ton of lesser-known shows like Zoom, which empowered children to create their own content, and The Big Blue Marble, which introduced global perspectives. Villa Alegre promoted bilingual learning, and 3-2-1 Contact brought STEM to life. These shows were more than entertainment; they were trusted sources of knowledge and connection for a generation.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, and major streaming platforms. Connect with the podcast via email at [email protected], or follow on Instagram, X, and YouTube at  @stuckpodx, and on Facebook at the Stuck in the Middle Podcast page.

Finish him, Slackers! 

This week’s episode is all about how PC games like DOOM, console titles such as Mortal Kombat - on Sega Genesis of course - and early games on the first Xbox sparked intense controversy.

We dive into the societal fears that linked pixelated violence to real-world crimes, from Senate hearings scrutinizing Night Trap to media reports tying Grand Theft Auto and DOOM’s gory first-person action to youth aggression. It’s crazy looking back on how these games became scapegoats for violence, while also embodying our generation’s embrace of new technology, set against a backdrop of parental advisory stickers and early internet culture. 

Long before there was WiFi and Xbox live, there were LAN servers - we have had this kind of online gaming culture far longer than we sometimes recognize! Fun? Yes! Toxic? Probably!

There were some wild true crime connections amid widespread cultural debates surrounding PC and console gaming. These controversies continue to influence modern gaming culture today. Whether gaming is good, or bad, or otherwise -  who knows? I mean, who didn’t play Halo into the wee hours of the morning!?

What is up, Slackers!

On this week’s episode we explore the evolution of grunge beyond its iconic pioneers. Sometimes it is easy to forget that grunge had a second (early to mid-1990s) and even third wave (late 1990s to early 2000s) of bands that shaped the genre’s legacy. 

We highlight 14 second-wave acts, from Seattle’s sludgy core to punk-infused and noise-rock outliers - some initially dismissed as posers who would go on to be massive stars. 

Then, we cover six third-wave bands, blending "grunge" with more alt-rock and indie rock influences. Who knew there were this many grunge bands not named Nirvana, Soundgarden, or Pearl Jam?! 

Oh, and I fully blame a certain early 2000’s band with completely taking down guitar driven rock music - possibly forever.

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I hate rain, Slackers,

This week, we’re digging into ten rainy day songs that capture the gray and the heavy. Spanning the late '70s to the late '90s, the list pulls from dark corners and quiet moments—think industrial beats, NY alt metal, acoustic ballads, and lyrics that can get pretty dreary. It’s the kind of music that fits a slow drizzle or a full downpour, perfect for staring out a window, preferably with a hot cup of coffee. 

Mildly depressing? Maybe. Carthartic? Also, maybe. But probably.

Got a rainy day song I missed? Hit us up on X, Instagram, and YouTube @stuckpodx or head on over to the The Stuck in the Middle Podcast page on Facebook. Drop a comment wherever you stream this podcast.