“This Must Be Pop” (#131)

Following the breakout success of the Backstreet Boys in the mid-to-late 90s, a wave of warbling wannabes took to the airwaves, all vying for coveted poster space on the walls of teenagers across the globe. For many 90s kids, the latter half of the decade is best remembered as a hunky blur of chiseled abs,

“Oh My God, We’re Back Again” (#130)

Are they original? Not a bit. Are they the only one? Certainly not. Are they sexual? Well, that’s up for debate!

“Say Goodnight To The Bad Guy” (#128)

Bright lights, joyful music, expensive baubles, and white powder everywhere! Could it be Christmastime again? Or is it perhaps a sweltering, sweaty drug war in Miami circa 1983? Actually, it’s both, as When We Were Young celebrates the holidays the only way we know how — with narcotics, chainsaws, and expletives galore, all courtesy of

“NOW A Warning?!” (#127)

One of the interesting things about covering pop culture the way we do is remembering what we knew, or didn’t know — or in certain cases, kind of knew — when we were growing up. In many ways, Death Becomes Her went way over its head with its story of a miserable marriage, various infidelities,

“Fat Guy In A Little Coat” (#125)

I never really “got” Chris Farley fandom. His boisterous, bull-in-a-china-shop sketches on SNL didn’t play to my sense of humor, and the few films he managed to headline before his death looked disastrously unfunny. In fact, Farley was the star of the only movie I’ve ever walked out of — Beverly Hills Ninja, which was

“Shall We Shag Now Or Shag Later?” (#124)

Many of the big screen’s most successful comedians got their start on the small screen, and no TV series has launched more comedy all-stars than Saturday Night Live. In 1995, the long-running weekend staple experienced a major shakeup with the exit of many of its most popular cast members, including Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, and Mike Myers

“It’s Not The Years, Honey, It’s The Mileage” (#120)

Why did it have to be podcasters? After seven years of fan requests, When We Were Young is finally getting around to the beloved Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr. franchise — better known to moviegoers by his canine-inspired nickname, Indiana. With Harrison Ford stepping back into the role after a long hiatus for this summer’s

“Don’t Forget To Breathe” (#119)

The Karate Kid features one of the most beloved movie mentors of all time in Mr. Miyagi, who teaches young Daniel valuable lessons about patience (taking time to breathe), efficiency (putting the whole body’s strength into a single punch), and achievement (if you can catch a fly with chopsticks, you can accomplish pretty much anything).

“Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy” (#118)

Following Big from a few episodes back, The Karate Kid is another beloved 80s movie I thought I might’ve seen — until I watched it.

“A Blue Furry Charles Dickens Who Hangs Out With A Rat?” (#117)

Do you feel that chill in the air? This holiday season, When We Were Young’s listeners will be visited by three all-knowing spirits who serve as guides through the past, present, and future of all things Muppet.

“Music To Hug Frogs By” (#116)

It’s When We Were Young’s most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational episode yet! Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Fozzy, and friends may be best known for kid-focused fare these days, but Jim Henson’s world-famous puppets originally had roots in more grownup entertainment, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, the first season of Saturday Night Live, and a

“I’m Your Number One Fan” (#113)

Kathy Bates’ portrayal of Annie Wilkes in Misery is one of those rare turns that rolls actor, character, and performance all into one. There’s no Misery without Kathy Bates. It’s inconceivable. That’s not to slight any other aspect of the film — James Caan’s miserable turn as the victim, Rob Reiner’s nimble direction, William Goldman’s