MALLRATS (1995) gets the full Retro Nostalgia treatment as Chad and Cristina are joined by special guest Milo from  @The80sand90sCom  to revisit Kevin Smith’s cult comedy classic! In this deep-dive movie review and discussion, the hosts break down Jason Lee’s breakout performance, Stan Lee’s legendary cameo, the unforgettable 90s mall culture, the iconic alt-rock soundtrack, comic book references, behind-the-scenes trivia, and why Mallrats has become one of the most beloved cult films of the 1990s. Does Kevin Smith’s follow-up to Clerks still hold up today, or is it purely a nostalgia trip for Gen X movie fans? Whether you watched Mallrats on VHS, hung out at the mall in the 90s, or are discovering Kevin Smith movies for the first time, this episode is packed with retro nostalgia, movie analysis, comedy, and classic 90s pop culture memories.

FOLLOW THE 80S AND 90S UNCENSORED PODCAST👉 https://the80sand90s.com/

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/RetroNostalgiaPodcast

Last week we reviewed the movie Clerks with our new friends Kelly, Steve and Eric from the Gen X Unfiltered podcast. This week the roles are reversed: we guest starred on their podcast and talked about our first jobs as teenagers in the 1990s. Here's how they described the episode:

Remember the smell of deep-fryer oil, the struggle of a predawn paper route, or the "glamour" of 80s mall retail for $3.35 an hour? We’re punching the clock and taking a trip down memory lane to the grit and glory of our very first paychecks!

In this episode of Gen X Unfiltered, we are joined by special guest collaborators Chad and Cristina from the Retro Nostalgia Podcast for a deep dive into the ultimate Gen X rite of passage. In "Minimum Wage, Maximum Memories," we recount the legendary (and often hilarious) first jobs of the 80s and 90s.

From surviving high-pressure food service to navigating the workplace before cell phones, we explore how these formative roles shaped our generation. Whether you were a video store clerk, a lifeguard, or a mall rat behind a counter, this episode is packed with the *80s and 90s nostalgia* you’ve been looking for. Grab your name tag and join the conversation as we discuss why those minimum wage roles left us with such maximum memories.

Watch the video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyxD5KARwLM

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/RetroNostalgiaPodcast

Kevin Smith made his debut in 1993 with CLERKS. This Cult Comedy Classic was made on a literal shoestring budget by a bunch of amateurs and it shows. And that's kind of what makes it so great. It's completely unlike anything you'd ever see in a Hollywood movie: really frank sex talk; pop culture minutia dissection; and a complete lack of a conventional plot. Also, it's hilarious (if you're not a total fuddy duddy, that is)!

We asked Kelly, Steve and Eric from  @GenX_Unfiltered  to discuss this movie with us. This is our first ever international collaboration as they're all from Toronto. That's appropriate considering Kevin Smith went to film school in Canada; has shot movies and TV shows there; and has often said he considers himself an honorary Canadian.

How would we all react to this movie well over three DECADES after its release? Watch (or listen) and find out!

Check our our podcast with Gen X Unfiltered where we discuss our first jobs👉 https://youtu.be/qyxD5KARwLM?si=1QTsN96kwDSBNOnG

Check out our review of MALLRATS with  @The80sand90sCom  👉 https://youtu.be/FQJhv4iYBag?si=E1cB8cAVqH6P_x0I

Check out our review of CHASING AMY👉 https://youtu.be/FxXx6dYcxXs

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/RetroNostalgiaPodcast

Welcome to the newly rebranded "The Retro Nostalgia Podcast"! In this episode, Chad and Cristina dive into this cult classic stoner comedy, its 1970s setting, iconic soundtrack, and why it still resonates with 90s kids. Is Dazed and Confused the ultimate stoner comedy, or a deeper coming-of-age film about teenage life, nostalgia, and growing up?

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/RetroNostalgiaPodcast

⏱️ **CHAPTERS**

0:00 Intro / Podcast Rebrand

1:08 Why the name “Retro Nostalgia Podcast”

2:28 Why we picked *Dazed and Confused* (420 vibes)

3:00 Is it really a stoner comedy?

6:11 What the movie is actually about

7:36 1970s teen culture vs modern life

8:21 The hazing controversy

10:08 Social hierarchy & characters explained

14:16 Iconic characters (Wooderson, Mitch, etc.)

15:39 No plot? Breaking down the structure

22:54 The legendary soundtrack

24:53 Fashion & 70s aesthetic

26:49 Does the movie hold up today?

29:28 Indie film vs mainstream appeal

31:40 Realism vs other teen movies

33:04 Behind-the-scenes trivia

34:13 Favorite stoner comedies discussion

35:03 Outro / What’s next

The 1990s saw a massive evolution of rock 'n roll. The 1980s corporate sound of synths and drum machines was replaced by many sub-genres that were all quite experimental and edgy. Entire radio stations were dedicated to "Alternative Rock". It was a Big Tent term that encompassed a wide variety of artists and bands. From Alice In Chains to Dave Matthews Band to Beck to R.E.M. to Radiohead and more One Hit Wonders than you can shake a stick at!

But which songs and artists were our favorites? Since Cristina is on vacation, Chad invited Amy from  @PopCultureRetrospectivePodcast  back on the show along with his sister Jena and brother John to draft a Top 40 list of sorts. Each panelist took turns drafting songs from Apple Music's "90s Alternative Essentials" playlist.

Agree or disagree with out picks? Let us know in the comments!

Check out our 90s Alt Rock playlist👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjQJImU7svTQYN4aTJu_IKD7fAFBQpn8s

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/hisandhersgenx

Metallica's seminal album "Master Of Puppets" just celebrated its 40th anniversary; so what better time to discuss it than now? Even if you're not a headbanger, you're probably aware of the impact this record had on the heavy metal genre and the rock music industry. It proved that bands could make radio UNfriendly music and still sell millions of copies.

This record was quite the milestone at the time as the band had really evolved from short, thrashing jams with rather cliche lyrics; to longer, more complex song structures with poignant themes.

We invited Milo from  @The80sand90sCom  to join us for a track-by-track discussion and to reminisce on our reactions to heavy metal as kids and what we think of it now. Be sure to give his channel a follow if you're not already!

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/MdRqTELBaA4

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/hisandhersgenx

Fleetwood Mac didn't invent soft rock (or "Yacht Rock" as we call it today); but they probably perfected it. If you turned on pop/rock radio in the late 1970s/early 1980s you were pretty likely to hear hits from this album such as DREAMS, YOU MAKING LOVING FUN, THE CHAIN, GO YOUR OWN WAY, etc.

And let's not forget SILVER SPRINGS, which was left off the album and was only available as a B-side single until it was included on their Greatest Hits album in 1988. Cristina says this was probably her favorite song on the record. Chad had never heard it until now.

So yes, this album contains a lot of hits, but what about the deep cuts? Do you know the infamous backstory behind the making of this album? Does it still hold up in 2026? And what was with that album cover? We discuss all these topics and more in this podcast!

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/hisandhersgenx

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/rDVmoX4H084

Chad has been a Rush fan since high school, but Cristina only knew of their popular songs. Could there be a better introductory album to this band than 1981's MOVING PICTURES?

This record was a turning point for the Canadian progressive rock trio of Alex Lifeson (guitar), Neil Peart (drums/lyricist), and Geddy Lee (bass; keyboards and vocals). Each of their previous albums had only one or two radio-friendly songs, but almost every track here could have been (and SHOULD have been) a rock radio staple. In fact, if you turn on a classic rock station you're likely to hear any of the songs from Side A: TOM SAWYER; LIMELIGHT; YYZ; or RED BARCHETTA.

But let's not forget the deep cuts from Side B: THE CAMERA EYE (a progressive rock song if ever there was one); WITCH HUNT (rather didactic in retrospect but it was edgy at the time) and VITAL SIGNS (Chad's pick for the best Rush deep cut track of all time!).

MOVING PICTURES just celebrated its 45th anniversary and Chad says it rocks just as hard now as it did back then. Will Cristina agree? Listen and find out!

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/hisandhersgenx

NOTE: Watch the video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/eYkElqAe324

We're a little behind schedule, so to make up for it; here's a review of BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM Chad conducted with Rob Walker* way back in 2013! This was the first time Batman was given a full length animated film and it was even shown in cinemas (briefly). It's loosely based on Frank Miller's BATMAN: YEAR ONE and Todd McFarlane's BATMAN: YEAR TWO.

Though animation; neither this film nor Batman The Animated Series were strictly intended for children. They're just as entertaining for adults as well... especially adults of today who watched it as children.

*Rob Walker is the brother of Doug Walker aka The Nostalgia Critic aka  @ChannelAwesome . Chad and Rob met way back in the MySpace days and were online buddies for years.

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/hisandhersgenx

We always intended this podcast to cover more than movies, so we're finally going to talk MUSIC for March! Cristina picked one of her childhood favorites: DISINTEGRATION by The Cure. Released in 1989, this was a major shift in tone from a band that started out as post-punk, but wound up as a pop rock single band (much to the chagrin of bandleader Robert Smith).

Chad wasn't familiar with the album aside from its famous single "Lovesong." As a lover of progressive rock and metal, it was a really interesting experience. What's funny is the songs Chad liked the best, Cristina liked the least (and vice versa).

Watch the video version 👉 https://youtu.be/4SIBmjt7ELw

FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE👉 https://linktr.ee/hisandhersgenx