The Nostalgia Test Podcast

Dan, Manny, & Billy put the 2026 micro-vertical series Autnomous to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST (NOW)!

“What do you do? I drive Uber and kill f***ing people."

What better way to celebrate Spooky Season than with a horrifyingly insane conversation about a possibly possessed autonomous car. In this episode, the boys dive deep into a 16-episode micro series by the creators of ZombieCon Vol.1 (168. Nostalgia Test Now! ZombieCon Vol.1 & 169. Nostalgia 101: Making ZombieCon Vol. 1 w/ Erin Áine & Kyle Valle) on Screamify Autonomous. Director Kyle Valle & writer/actor Erin Áine are courageous filmmakers, actors, and writers, and their latest indie endeavor ventures into the wild west of verticals, which according to a Creative Screenwriting article from June 2, 2025, “A vertical drama refers to a narrative that is specifically created and formatted to be viewed on mobile devices in a vertical (portrait) orientation. This format is a direct response to the increasing dominance of mobile platforms in everyday media consumption.”

This is uncharted territory and Autonomous takes a huge swing bringing horror to the vertical world.

The boys breakdown their skepticism of autonomous driving, Waymos, and one of the main character’s, Derek, age. There’s a detailed conversation about how Autonomous was filmed, the advantages and disadvantages of the vertical aspect ratio, and some of the practical aspects of the “GoMo” (the autonomous car), like how many were used, if they used a regular camera in the car to create that claustrophobic feeling, and why couldn’t they just jump out of the car. There’s also questions about how the script might have been written, where Dan, Manny, & Billy feel there could’ve been some heightening for scare factor, and they pitch several ideas for sequels and an expansive cross-over universe between Autonomous and ZombieCon.

Before they put it to the test, the guys give high praise for Erin Áine’s power acting and how they need to find her a co-star that can match her command of each scene, and make sure you listen for the extra horror film conversation that happens as Dan signs off.

So, bow to your AI overlords, get drunk in a Waymo like it's a limo to your prom, and throw caution to the wind while being driven into the woods by a possessed machine because what else are we going to do?!

Watch Autonomous on Screamify: screamify.com

Check out Kyle and Erin’s other projects at Big Squid Productions: bigsquidproductions.com

***

Rep Your Nostalgia @ Our Merch Shop.

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test:

***

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 Cold Open Chaos

00:24 Welcome Back Check In

01:56 No Edits and Support Plugs

02:47 What Is a Vertical Micro Series

05:26 How They Shot It

06:04 Autonomous Premise and Cast

07:09 Waymo Talk and Safety Fears

11:19 Story Setup and AI Job Loss

12:18 Spoilers and What We Wanted

13:39 Monster vs Serial Killer Debate

20:49 Character Drama and Exposition

23:08 Bigger Themes and Horror Craft

25:06 Ending Fixes and Jake Theory

25:41 Open Ending and Final Girl Twist

26:46 Demon Hand or Scooby Doo

27:34 911 Call and GOMO Conspiracy

28:59 Vertical Storytelling Challenges

35:20 Flash Fiction and Vine Lessons

37:42 Horror Genre and Future Sequel

38:53 Tech Horror and Better Kills

42:09 Cast Praise and Universe Ideas

47:33 Final Thoughts and Support the Show

49:51 Low-Budget Horror Success Stories

51:09 Poltergeist Talk and Wrap Up Episode Quotes

***

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. Other music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected

Dan & Manny have an old school show & tell and put some nostalgic toys to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“Come to Toys "R" Us and spend all your parents' money”

Oh man! This is a fun nostalgic hangout all about toys, water fights, toy stores, candy, and classic Nostalgia Test Tangents. Dan & Manny bring a bunch of toys to surprise, show & tell, and put to the test. No one knows what the other is bringing, so you know this always leads to some fun nostalgic chaos. Some of the toys are plastic water guns, balls, sticky hands, and Silly Putty even makes an appearance! While all of this is going on, Dan takes it upon himself to have a side Nostalgia Test putting Life Savers and Bubble Tape to the ultimate test, and you can imagine how that goes.

In a time where all our fun is becoming more and more intangible, our imaginations are under attack, and our third spaces are being erased, talking about childhood toys and fun is more important than ever. We need to take these things back and engage in real messy fun. One of the moments in this episode that proves this is when Dan & Manny reminisce about having water fights in their yards. If you don’t know what a water fight is, get on looking it up, grabbing some friends, and having some old fashion wet and wild fun.

This isn’t just a comedic look back on a simpler toy past, it’s a necessary reminder that at one point in our history we were able to have fun with way less, that our lives weren’t a race to monetization, and that time with one another meant sometimes being bored together, going somewhere, and/or thinking up an original game a la Calvinball, shoutout Calvin & Hobbes. We might not be able to go back to these times, though we can make time to be silly; it might just save our lives.

So, call up your best friends, grab some water balloons, cheap water guns, some bouncy balls, and come over and hang out while we celebrate a simpler and more fun time, and who says it can’t be now.

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test:

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 Podcast Intro & Toy Nostalgia

00:18 KB Toys & Mall Memories

00:39 Toys R Us Comeback Talk

02:08 Jingles & Toy Episode Setup

03:47 Shoutout Alisa Reyes

05:06 Five Below Toy Hunt

06:32 What Counts As A Toy

07:48 Bouncy Ball Nostalgia Test

11:25 Koosh Ball Origin Story

13:03 Old School Water Gun Wars

16:33 Water Balloons & Water Fight Escalation

21:03 Life Savers Side Snack

21:58 Sticky Slap Hand Chaos

27:22 Silly Putty Memories

28:23 Silly Putty Bounce Test Chaos

29:45 Silly Putty Stretch Snap Bite

31:11 Life Savers Review

32:24 Sound Machine Buttons

40:16 Mic Malfunction Break

44:02 Bubble Tape Challenge

45:35 Skee Ball Figurines

50:47 Wrap Up and Plugs

***

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. Other music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected

Dan, Manny, & Billy put the 1989 baseball comedy classic Major League (1989) to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“We've been doing a load of dog shit so far and we [were in] need of a win. We needed a definite win."

Oh man! The journey to podcasting immortality starts with the 1989 classic Major League, a comedy that was able to be offensive, heartwarming, exciting, have a love story, easily making it a top 5 of baseball movie. It’s been a rough journey for our hosts and like they’ve been saying for months, they really needed a win. 

With new movies and our lives being sanitized of color watching Major League reminds the audience of a time when films, lives, clothes, and the overall world was a fun place to live. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but the men and woman looked like people. The bodies were real bodies. It was more okay to age. Actors were age appropriate for their parts. Suspending disbelief was so much easier.

The guys talk all about these things while reciting their favorite lines, laughing about the many training montages, giving the late Bob Uecker his flowers, and talking about the power and lasting legacy of baseball movies like The Natural, Field of Dreams, and A League of Their Own. They also talk about how Major League has a killer cast, yet only 2 and a quarter speaking roles for women. What?!

All of this was going on while the New York Knicks were being destroyed in game 3 of the NBA Finals. You can listen to the other episodes where the guys talk about the mall while The Knicks are playing and then hear their reactions to the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.

So, grab your baseball mitt, your best friends, fill a cooler with beer, and fire up the grill because baseball season is underway and this episode will have everyone singing “Wild Thing.”

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test:

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 Major League Kickoff

00:27 Knicks Game Banter

01:08 Why This Movie Rules

01:59 Plot Setup & Ted Lasso

03:31 Personal Nostalgia Story

04:32 Baseball Movies & Misfits

05:46 Team Names & Mascots

08:08 Cast Talk Berenger vs Sheen

09:49 Jumping into the Movie

12:49 Quotes C Iconic Scenes

15:32 Spring Training & Trivia

19:45 Bob Uecker Steals It

23:21 Love Story Complaints

25:46 Winning Streak and Pacing

31:59 Can You Make This Today

35:16 Charlie Sheen Fastball Trivia

35:45 Halftime Superstition Spiral

36:32 Uecker Improvs & Steroids

38:22 Sheen Career Highs & Lows

41:30 Ranking Baseball Movies

47:40 Field of Dreams Road Trip

50:41 Signs and Sign Stealing

53:08 Major League II & Snipes

59:29 Nostalgia Test Verdict

01:00:50 Wrap Up & Plug

***

Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. Other music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected

Dan, Manny, & Billy celebrate 200 episodes of the podcast by putting the 1999 coming-of-age rated-R sex comedy American Pie to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“But I will say, like, if you haven't f***ed a pie, are you really even living?”

When we started this pop-culture adventure in 2020 with episode 1. Cocktail we never thought we’d still be at it in 2026, or that we’d meet so many amazing people and other podcasters, or even that our friends would want to come on and talk s**t with us on random Wednesday nights, or that we’d get the chance to interview creatives, actors, musicians, and academics from all over the world. We never thought that this indie engine that could would bring people joy and laughter, and at times make them angry at us, which that’s cool too, and we’re going to keep at it as long as we’re having fun.

This 200th episode is a classic Nostalgia Test from beginning to end. It’s filled with Mineola High School tangents, personal stories, and dirty jokes. This is what it’s like to hang out with us on a random night in our friend’s basement until 3am talking nonsense about a movie that’s a total reflection of our lives in 1999.

When American Pie came out in 1999, we were all in high school going into our senior year. Over 13 of us pre-gamed before going to the Raceway Movie Theater on Long Island, bought tickets at the door, loudly found an entire row of seats, and laughed our asses off. This movie is a time capsule of the time and became a pop culture phenomenon. Not a single Millennial of a certain age can ever look at an apple pie again and not think of this movie or hear the phrase “This on time at band camp...” and not know what comes next. These moments are burned into our brains.

Are there issues with this movie? Absolutely, and we talk about all of them, because you can’t watch some of these scenes with older eyes and let that stuff slide. At the same time, rewatching American Pie was more than the scenes, it was about what was happening outside the borders of the film. It’s about a time when groups of friends went places with each other, filled movie theaters together, went out after, and didn’t feel the need to post about it on social media or make content about the moment.

Those moments were for us.

Of course, we’re going to get into every detail of this movie, the Eugene Levy of it all, the sadness of Stifler’s reality, why Kevin is the worst character in cinema history, Tara Reid (need we say more), is Natasha Lyonne a ghost, and we have a deep (no pun intended) conversation about the reality of the pie scene and what the filmmakers originally had in mind.

So, call your longtime friends, sneak some Natural Ices down into the basement, turn up some late 90s pop-Punk, and join The Nostalgia Test Podcast celebration.

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test:

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 American Pie Nostalgia Test

00:47 200th Episode Banter

01:07 Quicksand Trope Talk

01:54 Rocky Con Dreams

03:57 American Pie Facts Setup

04:54 Why 1999 Hit Different

07:01 Box Office & Summer 99

09:51 Theater Memories & Opening

12:12 American Pie Franchise & Rated-R Comedy Boom

14:47 Best Bits & Weak Chemistry

17:41 Party Scenes & Band Nerds

20:05 High School Stereotypes Debate

26:20 Stifler Character Breakdown

31:24 Pact Problems & Oz’s Date

32:49 Oz’s Pickup Disaster

33:05 Little Mermaid Joke Breakdown

34:01 Why Oz Is Single

34:51 Finch Is Insufferable

35:35 Stifler IRL Comparisons

36:28 MILF Era & Early Webcams

37:00 Condoms Everywhere

38:44 Lacrosse Rant

40:32 Oz Joins Choir

42:15 Fast Pace & Prank Peak

43:16 Eugene Levy Dad Moments

44:48 Warm Apple Pie Scene

50:31 Nadia & Webcam Fallout

01:00:53 Kevin Sucks as Friend

01:03:52 Oz Chooses Love

01:05:47 What Even Is the Pact

01:06:32 Prom Punchable Energy

01:06:51 The Band at the Prom

01:07:44 Kevin Loses It

01:12:19 Stifler's Mom Debate

01:15:48 Band Camp Michelle

01:21:25 Does It Still Pass

01:27:11 Webcam Time Capsule

01:29:35 Unrated Cut Trivia

01:34:23 Wrap Up & 200 Episodes

01:38:20 Listener Questions Finale

***

Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. Other music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected

Dan, Manny, & Billy share their Nostalgic memories about the mall, specifically their mall Roosevelt Field on Long Island and they put it to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

Yeah, it's like, "Where do you live?" "Uh, well, it used to be Modell's."

This is a special Nostalgic Reflections with all three longtime friends digging into the vanishing malls in the U.S., their memories of hanging out at The Roosevelt Field Mall, some of their favorite stores and some of the most ridiculous ones, how the food court free samples could be gathered into a meal, and how abandoned malls are being turned into apartments. Manny also tells a crazy story about being robbed at the Roosevelt Field mall movie theater and Dan tells a harrowing story about someone trying on hats in Macy’s for hours.

The guys also go off on some hilarious tangents about Christmas and Hanukkah, gifting a star to someone, Dan sending his mom to buy the self-titled Slipknot album, getting baked and doing holiday shopping, and this is all going on as the NY Knicks are mounting the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history (198. 🏀 Nostalgia Test Mini: Reaction to The Knicks’ 29-Point Playoff Comeback).

So, call up your closets friends, put on your baggiest jeans, your long-sleeved shirt under your short-sleeved shirt, your newest hat, and lace up your cleanest kicks, because it’s time to chill at the Roosevelt Field Mall all day long.

You can read Dan’s short essay on the Substack episode post.

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test:

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 Mall Episode Kickoff

00:21 Hacky Sack Banter

01:48 Roosevelt Field Memories

02:41 Malls Then & Now

04:15 Source Mall Design

05:46 Mall Apartments Talk

08:27 Mall Food & Hangouts

13:42 Catholic Store Tangent

17:24 Back to the 90s Era

17:34 Movie Theater Nostalgia

20:06 Store List Electronics

20:46 Sharper Image Vibes

21:19 Engraved Gifts & Flasks

22:03 RadioShack Panic

22:52 Mall Sports Memorabilia

23:37 Things Remembered Scams

23:58 Naming a Star

25:55 Museum Company Oddities

26:42 Papyrus & Strip Malls

27:13 Mall Restaurants & Clubs

28:34 Basement Record Stores

29:49 CD Cover Shock Stories

31:38 Bookstores 

33:22 Why Malls Mattered

33:56 Macy's Hat Odyssey

35:04 Game Break Chaos

36:08 Mall Memories & Mischief

39:23 Wrap Up & Sign Off

***

Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. Other music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected

On this Nostalgia Test Mini episode, Dan, Manny, & Billy react to & celebrate The NY Knicks’ historic NBA Finals game 4 comeback and put their sports memories to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“Biggest comeback in NBA Finals history.”

On June 10th, 2026, while Dan, Manny, & Billy were recording the Major League & Mall Memories episodes, The New York Knicks were mounting the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history. This episode is an immediate reaction to that win. The guys talk about their conflicting emotions and relationship to The Knicks since they were kids, how Dan hasn’t watched a Knick game since the dreaded Patrick Ewing finger roll debacle, what it’s like suffering as a fan, and Billy unearths a crazy Mineola-New York Knicks connection.

And the episode then goes off the Nostalgia Test Podcast rails (per usual) and the guys talk about diner fights, The World Cup, celebrity fans, The new Meet the Parents, sports fandom and front runners and all the nepo team owners. Dan, Manny, and Billy cover a ton of stuff in under 30 minutes and blurt out all forms of the word f***so many times that they should get an award.

So, put on your favorite NBA jersey, turn up those NY accents, and shout the word f*** at the top of your lungs, because this is a NY celebration.

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test:

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 Knicks Shock Comeback

00:22 Breaking Down the Final Play

00:57 Why This Team Hooks Fans

01:45 San Antonio Collapse Fallout

02:09 Knicks Trauma & History

04:10 Brunson Heart & Doubters

05:56 Cautious Optimism & Choking Fears

06:46 Fans Loyalty & Frontrunners

08:17 Suffering Makes Winning Sweet

09:57 Celebrities Courtside Debate

11:13 Real Fans Versus Bandwagons

12:01 Celebrity Courtside Talk

12:20 Meet the Fockers Sequel

13:00 Why the Original Worked

13:25 Recording & Episode Plans

15:14 Knicks Nostalgia & Curses

16:02 Dolan Drama & Nepo Owners

19:04 World Cup & US Soccer

20:14 LeBron vs Jordan Rant

20:59 Beer League Podcast Idea

21:49 Friend Group Stories Wrap

Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.

Dan, Manny, & Billy put the American Gladiators franchise to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“It'd be a lot more American if they walked in the ring and just shot each other.”

While this episode was being recorded, the orange lunatic who’s technically our “president” was building a UFC octagon on the front lawn of The White House, which was ultimately a disaster (F Joe Rogan). We all should’ve seen the free-fall of America coming in the late 80s when we were all watching American Gladiators on TV. This episode attempts to figure out what this show is, why were people into it, and why was it resurrected, twice! That’s right, there is currently a new version with two seasons hosted by The Miz. Oh, and the first season of the 2026 version WAS FILMED IN FRANCE!?

Now, all credit goes to each and every gladiator that was on this show because in 1989 they were treated like trash. Safety wasn’t a thing, people were being knocked out, and gladiators were being forced to compete injured. Watching the “evolution” of American Gladiators is so interesting, because as the series continued the only thing that got updated were the games and the arena. They made it bigger and got rid of the cardboard cutout audience members. That’s right! They did that. At the same time, the gladiators remained overworked, injured, and forced to literally fight people like they were circus animals in an underground fight club.

This episode travels along a zig-zag path to get the controversial conclusion of the 2026 episode they watched, how The Miz is just screaming in people’s faces, some of the best knockouts, faceplants, and announcer quotes, all the way to the guys talking about how they need a 100% win for an episode because this is killing their souls.

So, grab your American flag bandanas, an oversized tank top, scream at the top of your lungs for no reason, and kick your best friend in the face, because it’s time to talk American Gladiators!

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 American Gladiators Setup

01:16 Show Format Challenge

02:18 Main Era Gladiators

03:20 Reboots & Hosts

05:34 Saturday TV Memories

07:44 Early Seasons Chaos

08:47 Games Evolve Over Time

10:17 Joust & Judge Bits

11:18 Reality TV Before Reality

13:12 Behind the Scenes Grind

14:48 Brutal Interviews &Trauma

17:33 Downfall & Exploitation

19:11 Injuries & Rule Nonsense

24:09 America Culture Context

25:38 Does It Pass Nostalgia

26:51 Competition Show Landscape

32:07 Steroids & Wild Stories

35:41 Trash TV Reboot Setup

36:50 Peak Games And 1996

40:10 Rewatch Reality Check

40:25 Hogan Ali Reboot

41:47 Schlock Backstories

43:00 Bad Names Bad Vibes

44:12 Water Hazards

50:32 Why It Failed

51:54 Miz Era Rant

54:45 Finale Disqualification

57:35 Filmed in France

01:06:06 Fixing the Format

01:11:22 Nostalgia Verdict

01:15:26 Next Episode Pick

01:17:10 Major League Storytime

01:19:25 Wrap Up & Plugs

Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.

Manny & Billy go head-to-head in the first Nostalgia Test Quiz Show—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“Please neuter your pets.”

On this special episode of The Nostalgia Test Podcast, Dan puts Manny & Billy up against each other in the new Nostalgia Test Quiz Show ™. Dan did a ton of work, research, and probably still got some of this wrong, and yet it was a ton of fun. Manny & Billy answer questions about movies, music, the podcast’s history, sports, and food. Find out how many times the guys said the word f*** on episode 185. Twinkie Anniversary, if either Manny or Billy have had Dino Nuggets within the last year, and how many baseball players have killed a bird?

There are so many more ridiculously hilarious moments on the episode that you’ll want to invite the podcast to come host a Quiz Show Night at your next party, reunion, online gathering, and even baby shower, just like Billy said.

So, grab your favorite nerds, drinks, and snacks and see if you can out score Manny & Billy.

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, donate to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 Game Show Kickoff

01:03 Rules and Scoring

02:00 Who Goes First

03:09 Wheel Setup and Categories

04:14 Movie Scores Challenge

06:23 Nostalgic Food All Play

12:25 Music Hits Trivia

13:59 Worst First Pitch

17:23 Podcast F Word Count

19:01 DuckTales Crossover

19:36 90s Movie Output Quiz

22:20 Bird Killed By Pitch

24:27 Podcast Guest Stats

27:14 SNL Bans Trivia

28:14 Most Downloaded Episode

30:28 Discontinued Fast Food

36:18 Fresh Prince Aunt Viv

37:10 AFV Bob Saget Years

39:36 Final Spins Countdown

42:28 Biggest Movie Flop

44:09 Deadly Toys And Prices

47:14 Winner Wrap Up

Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.

Dan didn't do a soundcheck because he's dumb, so his mic sounds like it's episode 1!

Dan & Manny welcome back longtime friend & Nostalgia Test Podcast all-star Steve Herrera to put the 1994 Pure Moods CD to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“This music is at a very unsuccessful orgy.”

Oh. My. God! If anyone can describe the mood of this episode, please email [email protected], because wow. There’s really not a language to understand how Pure Moods from 1994 even begins to make sense as music, as an album, and how it went basically triple platinum. Maybe it’s the aura of Kenny G, or the mysteriousness of Enya that creates the “pure” in Pure Moods. It could be the intimate energy of “Lily Was Here” which is on the Saxuality album that creates the mood that Pure Moods was trying to infuse in our 1994 existences. Who really knows, and Dan, Manny, & Steve actually never get to the bottom of this 90s existential portal, and would it even matter it they did?

One thing for sure is this album wormed its way into our brains when we fell asleep on the couch and woke up at three o’clock in the morning wondering why the hell Tubular Bells was playing and why were we scared out of our minds. Maybe Steve is right that this album was being played on a loop at some random orgy in the middle of Sedona. Or Manny is right and this is the soundtrack to our mom’s housecleaning and is the album for crazy Aunts with crystals. There’s a chance Dan’s right and this is the suburban psychedelic CD that adults played when they had too many Zimas and Bacardi Breezers, and that one leftover hippie neighbor pulls a crumpled-up joint they confiscated from their kid the other day so they can all relive their naked-Woodstock-summer-of-love glory days before waking up the next day to sell insurance.

Either way, Pure Moods from 1994 is a nostalgic phenomenon that baffles our hosts and their longtime friend.

So, fire up some incense, stare into the middle distance contemplating the 5th dimension, and light a movie’s love scene worth of candles because you’re about to get into the mood, Pure Moods with The Nostalgia Test Podcast.

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, donate to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: 

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 Pure Moods Setup

00:37 Infomercial Vibes

01:23 Movie Soundtrack Talk

02:24 Album Origins Explained

02:56 Who Bought This

04:03 Sales Numbers Shock

04:56 Saxuality Discovery

06:24 Yoga or Orgies

07:32 Return to Innocence Credits

10:14 Moms and Crystal Aunts

11:36 The Infomercial Copy

13:16 Pure Moods Festival Idea

14:16 Kenny G and Pure Moods

14:35 Serial Killer Soundtrack Jokes

15:23 Billys Podcast Sacrifice

16:51 Robert Palmer Dare

18:15 Blink Album Comparison

19:21 Wheel of Bad Movies

20:01 Does It Pass Nostalgia

21:01 Best Tracks Debate

22:14 Three AM Infomercial Vibes

24:10 Wrap Up and Plugs

Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.

The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected

Dan, Manny, & Billy report on Gen Z’s recent obsession with Hacky Sacks, their journeys to find them in the wild, and they put them to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“I don't ever remember buying a sack, but I always knew I had a sack. And then you would just, like, play sack, and then the sack would go into someone's pocket, and then you would have that sack. It was like, Dan, you compared it to, like, a lighter. Yeah. Like, did you ever buy that lighter?”

A few weeks ago, Manny called up Dan to tell him that Hacky Sacks were back. He was seeing kids playing with them in the neighborhood, his nephew asked him if he knew what they were, and then there was a random hacky sack in his sister’s basement. All signs were pointing to the resurgence of this stoner activity (shoutout Bajas) by Gen Z so Manny, Billy, & Dan went looking for them in stores (check out the journey on Instagram) and two out of three of the hosts found them!

This episode is like a late-night hack session, there’s no logic, it’s random, there’s a lost sense of time, and in the end, it never was about hacky sack at all. It’s just about hanging out with your friends. The guys talk about Spencer’s Gifts, how Gen Z is messing up hacky sack, the game of Combat, playing catch, Pods, Magic the Gathering, the drinking game Asshole, and so much more.

Oh! And just like any good shroom trip, the guys somehow verbally wander full circle back to hacky sacks and finally figure out why hacky sacks are back. Not to spoil anything, but it’s all Ryan Gosling’s fault.

So, put on your baggiest jeans or corduroy pants, put on a beanie no matter the temperature, grab at least 3 friends, and get hackin, because this episode is classic Nostalgia Test fun.

***

If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, donate to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest

Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: Contact For Booking

***

Email us ([email protected]) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test!

Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest!

***

Approximate Rundown

00:00 Special Report Begins

00:21 Hacky Sack Comeback

01:30 Nephew Sparks Mystery

03:12 Footbag vs Hacky

04:18 How We Learned

07:11 Where to Buy One

08:22 Mall Store Nostalgia

10:40 Three Day Hunt

13:47 Gen Z Hacky Trends

16:56 Will It Last

18:52 Next Nostalgia Wave

21:10 Pogs Memories Return

22:22 Pogs Comeback Theory

23:15 DIY Merch Ideas

23:58 Snap Bracelet Nostalgia

25:02 Hacky Sack Reality Check

28:23 The Movie that Sparked The Trend

30:13 Frisbee and Simple Fun

31:09 Playing Catch Memories

33:32 Backyard Live Game Night

35:24 Asshole Card Game Rules

38:26 Wrap Up and Callouts

Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.

The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected