Back to the 80s Radio presents: Battle of the Bands — 1986.This week, Toscano and Chang go head-to-head in an all-out 1986 music showdown featuring some of the biggest rock, pop, New Wave, and alternative songs of the year.Three rounds.Three bands each.Three songs per battle.From massive arena anthems and synth-driven classics to songs that instantly take you back to cruising on a Friday night with the radio turned all the way up, this episode is packed with the music, memories, arguments, and ridiculous commentary that made 1986 unforgettable.Of course, Chang still claims he hates New Wave music… despite somehow knowing every lyric anyway. Who had the better picks?Who won each round? And why was Chang reportedly seen in 1986 standing motionless inside a record store listening to alternative music for three straight hours? Turn it up and find out. If you grew up with cassette tapes, MTV, mall record stores, late-night radio, and waiting by the stereo to record your favorite song off the air, this episode is for you.Back to the 80s Radio — Keeping the 80s Alive.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.

Step into the year of big hair, bigger hits, neon nights, arcade lights, and some of the most unforgettable moments of the decade! This week, Toscano & Chang take you on a ride straight back to 1986 — a year when MTV ruled the world, movie theaters were packed, comedians pushed the limits, and the soundtrack of our lives blasted through boom boxes and FM radios everywhere.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.

This week on Back to the 80s Radio, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the way it felt back then—simple, social, and unforgettable. We’re counting down our top five 80s-inspired St. Patrick’s Day activities and drinks, taking you back to a time when the night was planned around great music, good company, and just enough mischief to make it memorable.From neon-lit parties to the sounds that filled the air, this episode blends the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with the energy of the 1980s—where every song meant something, and every moment felt earned. Turn it up, take the ride, and relive a St. Patrick’s celebration the way it used to be.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.

Back to the 80s Radio Presents: One Vision of Queen feat. Marc Martel – Live in Los Angeles This week on Back to the 80s Radio, we spotlight one of the most spectacular Queen tribute productions touring today — One Vision of Queen featuring Marc Martel. Marc Martel has been praised by The New York Times as a “vocal doppelganger for Queen frontman Freddie Mercury,” and Rolling Stone calls his vocal resemblance “astonishing.” If you close your eyes, you’ll swear you’re hearing Freddie himself. Experience the music that defined a generation — including:We Will Rock YouCrazy Little Thing Called LoveWe Are the ChampionsBohemian RhapsodyAnd many more legendary Queen anthems📍 Live at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre4401 W 8th StreetLos Angeles, CA 90005🗓 Saturday, February 28, 2026 Special Guest: Mike Masse With theatrical production, powerhouse vocals, and a front-row energy that captures the spirit of Queen’s golden era, this show brings the magic of arena rock back to life. If you love the sound, the spectacle, and the unforgettable experience of 80s rock at its peak — this is a night you don’t want to miss.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.

This week on Back to the 80s Radio, it’s just Toscano — and a deep dive into what made the 80s more than just a decade. It was the experience. Walking into Blockbuster.Spending an hour in the mall. Getting lost with a Thomas Guide on your lap.Choosing a VHS tape and committing to the night. In a world built on convenience, we revisit a time built on participation. If you’ve ever missed the ritual, the anticipation, or the feeling of being fully present — this one’s for you.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.

SUPPORT THE PROGRAM If Back to the 80s Radio brings you comfort, joy, or a sense of connection — and you’d like to help keep the show going — you can become a supporter here: 👉 Support the show: Send a cup of coffee Your support helps sustain the time, care, and craft that go into each episode and allows the show to continue creating a space where music, memory, and meaningful connection still matter.Inspired by John Mellencamp's 1982 hit single "Jack and Diane," Life Goes On: The Lessons We Learned From Eighties Music is a book filled with a collection of the life lessons we learned from 80s songs. Within these pages, members of the latchkey generation share how a particular 80s track formed a tenet of their philosophy-and how it continues to guide them today. Get it now at:Life Goes On: Lessons We Learned from 80s Music

Today on Back to the 80s Radio, today’s show is a little different. It’s just me behind the mic—no co-host, no banter—just a moment to slow down and revisit one of the most powerful songs the 1980s ever gave us: We Are the World.This wasn’t just a song. It was a moment in time. In 1985, the biggest voices in music came together—not for fame, not for charts—but to remind the world that compassion still mattered, that unity was possible, and that helping someone you’ll never meet was worth doing. On today’s show, I talk about what that moment meant back then—and why it feels even more important now.We’ll reflect on the heart behind the song, the humanity in the room that night, and how the 80s had a way of bringing people together across styles, egos, and backgrounds for something bigger than themselves. This is one of those shows you listen to a little louder…and maybe think a little deeper. If you lived through it, you’ll remember exactly where you were.If you didn’t, you’ll understand why this song still matters. Let’s go back to a time when the world sang together.  Back to the 80s RadioReal music. Real memories. Real heart. IBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.

Back to the 80s Radio: When Radio Was a Friend, Not an Algorithm. What if the thing we miss most about the 1980s isn’t just the music — but the way we lived? In this episode of Back to the 80s Radio, Toscano takes you back to a time when radio wasn’t background noise; it was a companion. When songs arrived, instead of being demanded. When moments had space to unfold, when freedom and experience mattered more than convenience and control, this isn’t a countdown show.It’s not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s a conversation about:What the 80s gave us — freedom, patience, discoveryWhat we traded away for convenienceWhy radio once felt personal, steady, and humanAnd how we might reclaim a little of that space againAlong the way, you’ll hear iconic 80s music, thoughtful reflections, and a reminder that some of the best moments in life don’t need to be rushed, shared, or optimized — they just need to be lived. If you grew up in the 80s, this will feel familiar.If you didn’t, this will help you understand why it still matters. Slow down.Listen closely.The signal’s back on.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.

This week on Back to the 80s Radio, Toscano & Chang crank up the 80s cover tunes—the hits you know, redone the 80s way. Expect loud guitars, louder opinions, nonstop laughs, and ridiculous studio skits as we spin the songs you forgot were covers.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.

In this special edition of Back to the 80s Radio, host Toscano steps out from behind the console and takes you on a deeply personal journey through the decade that defined him.It’s the story of growing up in Southern California in the 1980s—the sounds, the streets, and the song that changed everything: U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.” More than a memory, it’s a look back at how music can shape a life, heal a heart, and ignite a purpose.This is one man’s story of faith, family, and the soundtrack that made it all possible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/back-to-the-80s-radio--5883226/support.