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Ever wondered what happens when an entire cruise ship full of Gen Xers decide to relive the greatest decade? Wonder no more.

In this week's episode, we're taking you aboard the 80s Cruise - where the fanny packs are unironic, the hair is big, and the hits just keep on coming.

We're talking live concerts, old-school heartthrobs, neon everything, and a crowd that still knows every single word to every single song. Whether you're a die-hard cruise lover or someone who swore they'd never set foot on a ship, this episode may have you reconsidering your stance fast.

Plus we have a kick ass guest sitting in with us who just came back from her second 80s cruise and is already signed up for her third (and planning for her 4th so she can offically “graduate”.)

So is the 80’s cruise totally rad or totally bogus? Listen now and you can be the judge.

Episode links

• 80’s cruise official website
• Best Moments of the 2025 80’s cruise
• The 80s Cruise: Why A Music Theme Cruise is the Best Party at Sea
• Videos from the 80’s cruise
• Instagram for #The80scruise

Reada Kessler info

• Instagram
• Threads
• Facebook
• WTOP Radio
• WTOP Profile
• Telling the traffic story with Reada Kessler

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Before Google Drive, Gen X processed artifacts the way we handled most everything else: by burying it and hoping future people would care. Yup, you guessed it - this episode is all about time capsules — a concept so ironically Gen X it practically comes with a side of Twinkie and the sense of impending doom. From bicentennial school projects we definitely forgot about, to NASA flinging a gold record into deep space like 'here, aliens, have some Chuck Berry,' to Nickelodeon's pop culture treasure trove sitting somewhere underground until 2042, get comfy. We have a ton to talk about. Tune in like, NOW.

Episode links

• A Brief History of Time (Capsules)
• Time in a Box
• Blasts from the Past: 7 Cool Historical Time Capsules
• 30 Interesting And Cool Historical Time Capsules
• Time capsules are more popular than ever, as Americans take history into their own hands
• How to create a time capsule
• Andy Warhol’s Time Capsules
• For America’s 250th Year, a Time Capsule to Stay Buried for 250 More
• How engineers designed the America250 time capsule to last a quarter millennia

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Subscribe to GenX Stories in your favorite podcast app
Buy some kickass merch
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Visit our site

Send a FanMail to the GenX Stories gang via text message!

From Lorde going full existential on Tears for Fears to Johnny Cash making Nine Inch Nails cry to Luke Combs taking us for a ride, it's time for some real GenX talk about cover songs.

This week we're going deep on interpretations of the music we grew up on. and duuude. We have opinions. Beacause what do you mean the songs we love were ALREADY covers?

Be a fly on the wall as the podcast gang debates what makes a cover work (or spectacularly fail), while trying to figure out if these songs are tributes, travesties or nostalgia with a new coat of paint.

Episode links

• All songs referenced in this episode
• Do Cover Bands Pay Royalties: Bringing the Truth to Light!
• QUIZ: Is This ‘80s Song An Original Or A Cover?
• Classic ’80s Songs You Didn’t Know Were Covers
• Tracy Chapman & Luke Combs at the Grammys
• Dolly Parton hearing Whitney Houstom singing “I will always love you”
• The Best '80s Music Covers You'll Play on Repeat
• Top 20 80s cover versions
• 10 alternative artists who gave iconic '80s classics a modern update
• The Top 10 best metal covers of 80s pop songs

Other Playlists

• Indie covers of 80’s songs
• Best 80’s covers

Connect with us
Subscribe to GenX Stories in your favorite podcast app
Buy some kickass merch
Write us a review
Visit our site