In the late 90s, a new genre of music rose from the ashes of grunge. Labeled nu-metal, it was different from anything anyone had heard - it had loud, aggressive guitars, funky and jazzy beats and samples, electronic backgrounds, and hip hop vocals that evoked similar angst to punk and grunge. To the chagrin of many metal purists, it was often lumped within their diverse genre - but we know the MTV-fueled fanbase went wider than that. And thus - the basis of our nostalgia as we close out a year t...
May 15, 2024•54 min
For 51 days in 1993, the FBI and ATF were in an increasingly tense standoff with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, an extreme far-right religious sect, outside of Waco, Texas. After a search and arrest warrant led to a gunfight leaving 10 dead, negotiators and tactical teams squared off about how to get the Branch Davidians out safely for nearly two months. Ultimately, the Waco siege culminated in tragedy, reframing how America looks at paramilitary responses from the government and reinfor...
May 15, 2024•48 min
HAPPY PRIDE! If there’s anyone that embodies the principles of Pride, it’s RuPaul, America’s most famous and commercially successful drag queen. She burst on the scene in the 90s in New York City, catapulting the community into the spotlight and making drag a more mainstream lifestyle. From her talk show to her MAC cosmetics campaign, RuPaul has ALWAYS been unapologetically herself, authentic in her self-expression and striving to make the world a better place through loving yourself first so yo...
Jun 02, 2021•43 min
The office landscape looks a LOT different 22 years after Mike Judge’s 1999 comedy Office Space . It was changing even BEFORE Covid hit, and this last year has accelerated its change even more - but we love the movie just the same. This week we’re discussing the cult classic, our favorite characters and scenes, and the fate of the 90s office as portrayed in media all those years ago. So let’s head over to Chotchkie’s for coffee, but make sure you have enough flair and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD do not ...
May 12, 2021•35 min
90s kids, FIND YOUR SEATS - Mama Spurlock is in the house. This week, my mom - the queen herself, Shelley Spurlock - is joining me to talk all about what it was like to be a parent in the 90s. From art docent-ing to leading the Brownie troops to rescuing injured, sick, or orphaned birds, my mom’s experience of the 90s was NOTHING short of spectacular. Which is not surprising if you know her. So jump into our 90s minivan-shaped time machine and travel back to the Sacramento of thirty years ago wi...
May 05, 2021•49 min
What do Anna Nicole Smith and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have in common? RBG, ever the women’s empowerment champion, wrote the majority opinion in Anna’s Supreme Court case, allowing her to go after her fair share of her late husband’s estate in the 2000s. So that’s pretty cool. This week I’m by myself discussing the 90s bombshell herself and how she paved the way for women and femmes to own their bodies and their sexualities in a way no one had ever seen before. So grab that coffee and settle in as we...
Apr 28, 2021•41 min
When American Pie was released in the summer of 1999, movie theaters weren’t prepared for the onslaught of underage kids sneaking in to watch the raunchy sex jokes, gross stunts, and heartwarming friendships. The film was an instant hit among teens, because a movie FINALLY depicted how awkward it was to be a teenager learning how your body works - and how embarrassing it seemed for others to witness those lessons. This week, we are talking about the beloved late 90s films American Pie 1 and 2 an...
Apr 14, 2021•45 min
GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL! If you played Pokémon in the 90s at school, you knew it was practically an underground economy. 10-year-old card slingers, if they were smart and savvy, operated like drug kingpins. Except instead of illicit drugs, they were trading pieces of cardboard. And it was so much more than a game - it was a community, a unifier, a way of life. Even if you didn’t play Pokémon - and even if you know NOTHING about Pokémon (like me, Sarah) - you will TOTALLY enjoy this episode with our ...
Apr 07, 2021•51 min
Settle in for Part 2 of our chat with Henry Rollins! In our humble punk rock opinion, Henry Rollins is one of the most prolific and inspiring artists of all time. Vocalist and frontman of Black Flag and the Rollins Band, actor, author, essayist, spoken word performer, activist - it would probably be easier to count how many artistic mediums he HASN'T tried. He had a wild 90s between being the first note of the first song of the first Lollapalooza in 1991, winning a Grammy in 1995, traveling to a...
Apr 01, 2021•45 min
In our humble punk rock opinion, Henry Rollins is one of the most prolific and inspiring artists of all time. Vocalist and frontman of Black Flag and the Rollins Band, actor, author, essayist, spoken word performer, activist - it would probably be easier to count how many artistic mediums he HASN'T tried. He had a wild 90s between being the first note of the first song of the first Lollapalooza in 1991, winning a Grammy in 1995, traveling to all seven continents and 92 countries, and writing boo...
Mar 30, 2021•50 min
The age old question: were they on a break? Ross Gellar and Rachel Green were one of the most iconic couples of the 90s, fictional or not. A lot of their relationship was problematic in hindsight, but there are some moments that show true and genuine love for each other. And all of it kept us coming back week after week, blunder after blunder, silly sitcom scenario after silly sitcom scenario. This week I’m by myself discussing Rachel and Ross - both the sketchy and the beautiful aspects of thei...
Mar 24, 2021•41 min
Nickelodeon in the 90s was way more than just a TV network - it was a community. Being a kid could be confusing and scary and lonely and sad at times. It could also be totally boring and filled with entertainment that felt toned-down or even pandering. Adults ran the world, and kids had to live by their rules. But not with Nickelodeon. In the 90s, the kids owned Nickelodeon. It was a community where they could do what they wanted and totally be themselves - their true outrageous, goofy, normal, ...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Diana Spencer became the Princess of Wales in 1981 a few weeks after turning 20 years old and she immediately caught the attention of the whole world. People loved her accessibility, her warmth, her community service, and her style. But beneath it all, she was deeply unhappy and lonely, despite her boundless love for her two children and all the others she touched through her charity work. Devastatingly, she wasn’t able to escape it and passed away at 36 years old. Just a few days ago in March 2...
Mar 10, 2021•54 min
ROSEBUD. *cha-ching sound* *windfall of cash in your account* If only life was like the original The Sims when it was released in 2000. Right? You could pull a cheat code out of thin air and give yourself an influx of cash to build the house of your dreams and go on a ton of cool vacations. You could stand in front of your dresser and magically swap outfits. You could paint, read, play chess, work out. As a Sim, you could live easy. But it wasn’t all rosy to be a Sim - the Grim Reaper was always...
Mar 03, 2021•50 min
25 years ago this month, a movie hit theaters that threatened to unseat Caddyshack for the greatest golf movie ever made. Except the main character wasn’t a golfer, he was a hockey player (with a wicked slapshot), and he made sure you never forgot it. This week Eric and I are celebrating the beloved 1996 Adam Sandler classic, Happy Gilmore, on its 25th filmaversary. Arguably one of the best comedies of the 90s, Happy Gilmore (and his iconic rival, Shooter McGavin) imbued a ton of nostalgic memor...
Feb 24, 2021•41 min
If you and your gal pals from the 90s did any of the following, this episode is for you: 1) Made prank calls or obscure AIM screen names to see if your crush liked you. 2) Played MASH and read Seventeen magazine at sleepovers. 3) Did makeovers on each other or, heaven forbid, plucked each other's eyebrows. 4) Swooned over JTT while watching Home Improvement or TGIF. 5) Traded friendship necklaces and bracelets you got from Claire's. 6) Idolized iconic 90s friendships like Cher and Dion, Romy and...
Feb 10, 2021•51 min
In 1995, a bright, beautiful, motivated 22-year-old woman named Monica Lewinsky fell in love with the wrong man and suffered a heartbreak you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Who hasn’t? Although for Monica, the wrong man was the President of the United States, and her heartbreak played out for the world to witness, sending her into a deep depressive spiral that she almost didn’t survive. Fast forward to 2021, after years of therapy and deep healing work, she is now a major force in the activi...
Feb 03, 2021•42 min
There is nothing more instantly recognizable from the 90s than Austin Powers. From the late 90s to the early 00s, Mike Myers and crew took us on a shagadelic ride from the Swingin’ 60s London to a “time where greed and corruption ruled again” (the 90s). With bad teeth, velour suits, and a free love worldview, Myers burned his classic groovy persona into our brains (along with the villainous Dr. Evil, of course). They are hands down still some of our all-time favorite movies and characters from t...
Jan 27, 2021•43 min
In the 90s, the first day of school was the prime moment to show off your new back-to-school swag. If you liked bright colors and cute animals, chances are that swag included products by Lisa Frank Inc., the artist/design company behind the instantly recognizable neon rainbows, unicorns, pink leopards, alien beauty queens, cute puppies, and more. Today, as various 90s aesthetics show up to the current culture in waves, the Lisa Frank vibe has simply never left. And we're NOT mad about it. Join m...
Jan 20, 2021•49 min
Did you know that Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix in 2000 - and turned it down? Did you know there is one last Blockbuster remaining in Oregon, and it’s now an AirBnb that hosts unlimited movie nights? Did you know that you actually had until 3pm - not noon - to get that VHS tape back into the Blockbuster Quik (no c) Drop? Whether you knew those trivia facts or not - if you loved going to Blockbuster in the 90s, this episode is for you. This week I am by myself discussing one of the mo...
Jan 13, 2021•36 min
Shania Twain was the leopard-printed, crop-topped, empowered, talented, sophisticated, and sassy older sister we always wanted. She paved the way for a new generation of empowered young women to be themselves and not accept the status quo - or any of the limitations that society puts on them. And she had some amazing country chart-toppers that we can recall at the drop of a sequined cowgirl hat with only three simple words: let’s go, girls. This week, my cousin Candace (a super 90s girl herself)...
Jan 06, 2021•48 min
Arnold Schwarzenegger: to some he was governor, to many he was the Terminator, and to us he was Howard - 90s suburban workaholic dad chasing down the elusive Turbo Man action figure for his son on Christmas Eve. This week, Eric, Sam (travel vlogger and veteran TTTH guest from the McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy episode!) and I take you back to 1996 when Jingle All the Way first hit theaters and Tickle-Me-Elmo was the real-life Christmas toy craze. So spike your eggnog and get cozy as Team Turbo Man sa...
Dec 23, 2020•43 min
Chant it with us: “JER-RY! JER-RY! JER-RY!” Tabloid talk shows were one of the most quintessential 90s transmissions to travel the airwaves. During the talk show decade, thousands of people from all walks of life claimed their time in the spotlight and aired their dirty laundry on TV for millions to see. From paternity reveals to chair-throwing to “my parents think I’m a freak but I look cool” goths, these shows were nothing short of spectacular. Join me and my dear friend and fellow podcaster D...
Dec 16, 2020•45 min
Pirates! Outer space! Wild West! Castles! McDonalds Drive-Thrus! The 90s is often considered the Lego heyday by enthusiasts, collectors, and 90s kids themselves and the nostalgia for them has never been more acute. Considering millennials who grew up playing with Legos are now the most clinically burnt-out generation in history, these tiny blocks and plastic figurines are somehow even more comforting today - and the Lego Group knows that. But don’t worry, they’re here to help. In this episode, t...
Dec 09, 2020•43 min
Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy. Those were the brilliant words of Ms. Frizzle, the eccentric, enthusiastic, bewitching 4th grade teacher who graced our TV sets and led her students on adventures that combined a TON OF REAL SCIENCE with all the fun of being a kid in the 90s. This week, Eric and I are discussing the Magic School Bus - its book-to-TV background, notable episodes and themes, the legacy, and we even go in depth about Ms. Frizzle herself. So grab some chocolate milk and se...
Dec 02, 2020•50 min
There was band camp, there was cheer camp, there was summer camp, and there was SPACE CAMP. If you were one of the lucky kids to graduate from Space Camp during its prime in the 90s, you got to try on a space suit, eat dippin' dots, pretend to be on the moon, and launch and land a simulated rocket to Mars. This week, my dad and I take you on a space mission to Huntsville, Alabama, home to the US Space Camp that churned out famous astronauts, hobbyist astronomers, woo-woo astrologers (like myself...
Nov 25, 2020•45 min
The "musical for the MTV generation.” The “rock opera of the 90s.” The “hope for the American musical.” Get ready to belt some tunes this week with me and the fabulous Broadway and baking blogger, Madame Cheret, as we travel back in time to 1996 in East Village for the world-famous RENT. This week, Madame Cheret is baking some gorgeous beer and maple donuts as her culinary interpretation of RENT - flavored with, you guessed it, plenty of season(ing) of love. Follow Madame Cheret on Instagram at ...
Nov 18, 2020•1 hr
July 23, 1996. The world is GLUED to their TVs. It’s the final event. The final vaulter. The final vault. With this one move, the USA Olympic women's gymnastics team could clinch the gold medal for All-Around Team for the first time in history at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Kerri Strug is about to make history. In this episode, I am by myself covering the Magnificent Seven - the seven young women gymnasts who made up the 1996 Team USA in the Summer Olympics. I will cover the gi...
Nov 11, 2020•38 min
Two things we learned from the famous 1993 Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus: A) do not light the black flame candle if you’re a virgin and B) the parents of Salem know how to get LIT. Most of us 90s kids grew up watching Hocus Pocus every Halloween and/or still watch it every year now. In this episode, I am by myself talking about the film and what we love about it - memorable scenes, funny quotes, silly moments, and I even will give you a drinking game for the next time you turn it on. So come litt...
Oct 28, 2020•39 min
It’s Friday night, you’re home alone starting some Jiffy Pop on the stove and ready to settle in for a cozy night. Then the phone rings. Do you answer it? If you said yes, you either haven’t seen any of the 90s teen horror movies we talk about in this episode, or you have and you’re just a little bit crazy. Either way, you’ll want to settle in for some good 90s-era blood curdling screams and squirms as my NEW HUSBAND Eric and I go through some of the genre-defining films of the so-called “second...
Oct 21, 2020•58 min
