
We remember the incomparable Dolly Parton with music journalist and author Annie Zaleski, whose new book, Dolly Parton: The Stories Behind the Songs, explores the music and remarkable career of one of our most beloved cultural icons.
Sep 10
34 min

Episode 799: Book of Love singer Susan Ottaviano joins the show to look back at the band’s unlikely journey, touring with Depeche Mode, the strange afterlife of ’80s music and what she’d change if she had a time machine. Then Spearsy and Brad celebrate five more synth-pop bands they wish had gotten a little more love: Kon Kan, Cetu Javu, Boxcar, Camouflage and Red Flag.
Sep 3
1 hr 6 min

We all have that one ’80s movie that somehow became our movie. For Steve, it’s always been Streets of Fire. This week, we open the Stuck in the ’80s vault and revisit our tribute to Walter Hill’s unforgettable “rock & roll fable,” originally released 15 years ago.
Aug 31
38 min

Paul Simon’s Graceland turns 40, and we’re going track by track through the landmark album, its South African influences, the controversy surrounding its creation, its massive success and its lasting legacy.
Aug 22
50 min

Grab your Trapper Keeper and meet us by the lockers. We’re picking the fictional ’80s high schools we’d most want to attend — and the ones we’d avoid at all costs. Plus, we talk with two Indiana teachers who actually teach a high school class devoted to the 1980s.
Aug 18
1 hr 9 min

In only our second celebrity interview from 20 years ago, Stuck in the ’80s talks with former MTV VJ and podcasting pioneer Adam Curry about his wild years at Music Television. Curry shares stories about visiting Moscow with Sebastian Bach, appearing in Madonna’s Truth or Dare and the memorable feud that erupted between him and Richard Marx.
Aug 15
54 min

Forty years after its release, Stand By Me remains one of the defining films of the 1980s. In this classic episode, Steve Spears, Brad Williams and guest co-host Michelle Willits revisit Rob Reiner's beloved coming-of-age masterpiece, compare it to Stephen King's original novella, debate the film's unforgettable ending, and share why the movie still resonates with audiences decades later.
Aug 8
56 min

From Roger Moore's eyebrow raises to Timothy Dalton's tougher take on 007, the 1980s gave us six unforgettable James Bond adventures. Hosts Steve Spears and Sean Daly are joined by former St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall to debate the highs, lows, villains, gadgets, theme songs and legacy of the decade that reinvented Bond.
Aug 3
58 min

Haircut 100 is back — and somehow they've managed to sound both timeless and completely refreshed. Steve sits down with Nick Heyward to talk about Boxing the Compass, the band's first album featuring the original lineup in 44 years. They discuss songwriting, rediscovering old chemistry, the upcoming U.S. tour with Adam Ant and Squeeze, and Nick's return to The 80s Cruise in 2027. Plus, Steve and Brad share their review of the new album and why this reunion feels different from so many others.
Jul 25
59 min

The summer of 1986 gave us blockbuster albums from some of the decade’s biggest and most influential artists. Steve and Brad revisit records turning 40 this season from R.E.M., Genesis, the Smithereens, the Cure and more. Plus, a couple of classic “seggies,” the latest news from The ’80s Cruise and an update on Steve’s Stuck in the ’80s podcast book.
Jul 16
54 min
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