Rad History

You might know him from... but did you know he had a flourishing career before comedy designing 70's album covers? Did you know that he co-wrote the movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure? How did he become "the glue" at Saturday Night Live, but also, the guy everyone wanted to write for on The Simpsons? This is the first part of the Phil Hartman story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did the 1980s look like the 1980s? Nickelodeon, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Miami Vice, Saved By The Bell? I'll tell you why: The Memphis Group was a short-lived but highly influential Italian design and architecture collective, founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1980. They radically challenged the era's prevailing minimalism and functionalism by creating postmodern furniture and objects with bold colors, geometric shapes, and playful, clashing patterns. THIS IS why the 1980s looked the way it did. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's one of the biggest, unsolved mass-murder/serial killings of the 1980s. It changed how every product you buy appears in a store. It changed how crisis management happens. The 1982 Tylenol murders/poisonings is one of the craziest/most tragic stories of the 1980s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores how MTV's Total Request Live changed the evolution of teen culture in media, how engagement with fans and the impact of social media have transformed entertainment for young audiences. The dynamic interaction between producers and fans and artists, laid the groundwork not only for reality television, but for social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2 of the Bo Jackson legend. The glory years with the Raiders and the Royals. The ubiquitous ads. The injury that ended his career. What Bo has been up to in recent years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode delves into the remarkable early part of the legend of Bo Jackson. His hardscrabble early life. His discovery of his remarkable athletic prowess, excelling in football, baseball and track-and-field. His extraordinary performances and the impact he had on Auburn football, including the unforgettable Iron Bowl against Alabama, and his recruitment first into professional baseball and then the NFL, ending with his unique deal with Al Davis: baseball first, football second.Part 2 will go into his professional career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did America’s Funniest Home Videos not only predict YouTube and social media, but did it invent reality television as well? How did Bob Saget feel about the show? And how did producers make sure that video of Dad getting hit in the nuts was real and not staged. We’ve got laughs from coast to coast because today, Rad History is taking a look at America’s Funniest Home Videos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is maybe the one moment of tragedy where most 80s kids remember where they were when it happened. Today, RAD! 80s90s History is looking at the Challenger disaster.Our guest is @fmanjoo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many possible permutations are there on a Rubik’s Cube? How did the Rubik’s Cube come out of the Soviet block before even Tetris did? And did the creator get rich off of his investment or not? It’s the 50th anniversary of its creation so today we’re looking at the history of the Rubik’s Cube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that we could have had the answering machine decades before we actually got to buy one? Why the 1980s and 90s was an unusual time for an innovation explosion in communications technology. The history of the whole AT&T/Ma Bell breakup by the government. And how much did YOU beg your parents to get your own phone line in your bedroom?The guest this episode is the actress Toni Trucks. @tonitrucks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why was Fernando Valenzuela’s screwball so difficult to hit? Why did he have that crazy pitching motion that batters initially laughed at? And was he the first great Mexican American baseball icon? We’ve got Fernandomania today, because Rad History is tackling the legend of the recently departed Fernando Valenzuela. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Calvin And Hobbes the greatest comic strip ever? Or maybe a great work of art of the 20th Century? Why did Bill Watterson disappear? Was Calvin "good" (morally)? Was Hobbes "real"? Why were there never any toys? Would we ever really want Calvin and Hobbes to come back?With special guest @kibblesmith! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Nintendo try to kill GoldenEye 007 before it was completed? Why did Shigeru Miyamoto keep telling the development team to tone down the violence. And why did the famous multiplayer aspect of the game almost didn’t happen? It’s slappers only on Rad History, because we’re diving into the history of THE game of the late 1990s, GoldenEye 007.With Special Guest: John Gruber Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why was Blockbuster so successful? Was it the DVD that killed Blockbuster? What was the deal with late fees? Is there any way Blockbuster, not Netflix, could have won out in the end?Special guest: Venture Capitalist and Writer MG Siegler! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Among other things, learn how Miami Vice inspired the Golden Girls, how the Golden Girls helped finance the making of the movie Reservoir Dogs, whether or not Betty White and Bea Arthur hated each other, where the Golden Girls house was, and the real ages of the actresses when they were playing Golden Girls.Special guest, Christina Warren, @film_girl! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Announcing the new history podcast, RAD! 80s90s History! Coming October 9.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.