Gen X'er's Attic

Before video games put choices on a screen, kids were flipping pages and shaping their own adventures. In this episode of Gen X'er's Attic, we dive into the phenomenon of Choose Your Own Adventure books—the interactive paperbacks that turned readers into heroes, detectives, explorers, and sometimes spectacular failures. We'll explore their origins, cultural impact, memorable endings, and why Gen X kids couldn't resist peeking ahead to find the "good" ending. Grab a flashlight and your favorite dog-eared paperback—your adventure starts now.

This time on Gen X’er’s Attic, we rip open one of the most iconic school accessories of the 1980s: the Trapper Keeper. More than just a binder, it was a colorful badge of personality, organization, and playground status. We explore its origins, wild designs, classroom dominance, and why every Gen Xer seemed to have one stuffed with homework, doodles, and folded notes. Join us for a nostalgic trip back to the days when being organized had never looked so radical.

In this episode of Gen X’er’s Attic, we dive sword-first into the legendary arcade phenomenon Dragon's Lair — the game that looked more like a Saturday morning cartoon than anything else in the arcade. We revisit Dirk the Daring, impossible quick-time reflexes, and the quarter-devouring LaserDisc technology that blew minds in 1983. From Don Bluth’s groundbreaking animation to the frustration of dying every seven seconds, we explore why Dragon’s Lair became one of the most unforgettable arcade experiences of the Gen X era.

Before CGI hosts, viral glitches, and AI-generated weirdness, there was Max Headroom — the stuttering, sunglasses-wearing digital “future” that somehow became the most ‘80s thing imaginable. In this episode of Gen X’er’s Attic, we dive into the bizarre origins of Max, from British cyberpunk satire to MTV icon, New Coke spokesman, and accidental tech prophet. We’ll explore the infamous hijacking incident, the surprisingly dark themes behind the character, and why a fake computer-generated host became one of the decade’s most unforgettable pop culture glitches.

In this episode of Gen X’er’s Attic, we crack open the toy box rivalry that defined generations: Hot Wheels vs Matchbox. One brought blazing orange tracks, impossible stunts, and pure speed-fueled chaos. The other gave kids realistic cars, working trucks, and tiny worlds built for imagination. We dive into the origins, the marketing war, collector crazes, the playground debates, and how these little die-cast cars became billion-dollar pieces of Gen X childhood nostalgia.

Dive headfirst into summer nostalgia as we slip, slide, and splash through the wild world of water slides! In this episode of Gen X’er’s Attic, we revisit the golden age of the mom and pop water slide parks, scorching-hot concrete walkways, and gravity-defying water slides that somehow passed safety inspections. From scraped knees to chlorinated dreams, it’s a soaking-wet trip back to a time when fun was fast, reckless, and just a little bit dangerous. Grab your mat—we’re going in.

Relive the jaw-dropping, sometimes questionable magic of That’s Incredible!—the 1980s TV phenomenon that blurred the line between amazing and absurd. From death-defying stunts to bizarre human talents, this episode dives into the stories, controversies, and unforgettable moments that had Gen X glued to their TVs, constantly asking: “Wait… was that real?”

Slip into the swish of parachute pants and the sun-faded cool of OP T-shirts as we rewind to a time when style was loud, fast, and unmistakably 80s. This episode dives into the rise, hype, and hilarious legacy of two iconic fashion staples that defined Gen X playgrounds, malls, and dance floors everywhere.

Boot up your imagination as Gen X’er’s Attic explores the legendary world of Infocom. From Zork to feelies in the box, this episode dives into text adventures that turned words into worlds—blending storytelling, puzzles, and early gaming magic with behind-the-scenes trivia, nostalgic laughs, and the legacy of a company that proved graphics weren’t required to blow minds.

Sharp tips, backyard thrills, and just a hint of danger—this Gen X’er’s Attic episode dives into the wild world of Jarts (lawn darts). From their rise as a must-have family game to the controversies that grounded them, we explore the history, surprising trivia, and nostalgic memories of a game that probably wouldn’t survive today.

Step into a time warp of sleestaks, pylons, and Saturday morning wonder as Gen X’er’s Attic revisits Land of the Lost. This episode dives into the show’s groundbreaking effects, surprisingly deep storytelling, and unforgettable characters—while sprinkling in behind-the-scenes trivia, nostalgic humor, and the strange magic that made this cult classic stick with a generation.

Step back into the pixelated dawn of home gaming with the Atari 2600. This episode of Gen X’er’s Attic explores its groundbreaking rise, quirky limitations, iconic games, and unforgettable sounds. Packed with nostalgia, trivia, and humor, it’s a joystick-gripping trip to the era that turned living rooms into arcades.

New podcast coming soon!

Up here, the air smells like old cardboard, vinyl records, and that slight combination of Aquanet and fresh mimeograph paper. Boxes are stacked to the rafters with the stuff that raised us: VHS tapes that were never rewound, game cartridges you had to blow into, mixtapes recorded straight off the radio, and the action figures that never survived “mint condition”. Each time I visit THIS attic, I’ll pull out one specific artifact from days gone but not forgotten, blow off the dust, flip it over, and remember what it felt like to hold i...