Podcast
Pop Culture Yearbook
Join lifelong friends Pete, Brad, and Giff on a nostalgic adventure with Pop Culture Yearbook! Delve into the 1980s to the present as they explore the movies, TV, music, and sports that shaped their lives. Each episode of PCY contains diverse opinions and entertaining stories, sure to spark your own cherished memories along the way!
- Episodes
- 281
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 1 hr 18 min
- On air since
- 2021
- Latest episode
- 1 day ago
Episodes
281 episodes, newest first
-
1 hr 9 min
2019: The Best Music, Movies & TV of the Year
Season 6, Episode 36
Show notes
Take a trip back to 2019 as Brad and Giff welcome a special guest: Giff’s son Paul, who was 10 years old that year. Together, they look back at their personal memories of 2019 and revisit the music, TV shows, and movies that made the year memorable.
From Taylor Swift’s Lover and the biggest songs of the year to Star Wars and the Avengers to the TV shows everyone was talking about like Ozark, the guys draft their favorite pop culture picks from 2019. With Paul bringing a younger perspective to the conversation, expect some generational differences, a few surprises, and plenty of debate over what deserves a spot in the yearbook.
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1 hr 7 min
The Brady Bunch Movie (1995): Groovy Nostalgia & the Best Movies Based on TV Shows
Season 6, Episode 35
Show notes
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! We’re closing out our look back at 1995 with The Brady Bunch Movie—the hilarious big-screen take on America’s favorite blended family. Brad and Giff revisit a movie that somehow manages to lovingly celebrate the original TV show while making fun of just about everything that made it so wonderfully cheesy.
We’re talking perfect casting, unforgettable cameos from the original Brady Bunch cast, and the genius of dropping the squeaky-clean Bradys into the very different world of 1990s Los Angeles. From nonstop double entendres to classic episode references, Davy Jones, and that iconic Brady family charm, there’s a lot to love—and a surprising amount that probably went over our heads back in the day!
Plus, we dig into behind-the-scenes trivia, debate what makes a great movie adaptation of a classic TV show, and draft our favorite movies based on TV shows. Which ones made our lists, and which picks deserve a spot in the pop culture hall of fame?
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49 min
Friday: A 1995 Comedy Classic & Rappers Turned Actors
Season 6, Episode 34
Show notes
This week we take a look at the cult comedy Friday, the movie that gave us Craig, Smokey, Deebo, “Bye Felicia,” and one very memorable day in South Central Los Angeles.Brad and Giff break down the movie from their very different perspectives—one longtime fan and one first-time viewer.
We talk about the cast, F. Gary Gray’s direction, the connections to movies like Boyz n the Hood, House Party, and Clerks, the soundtrack, memorable scenes and characters, John Witherspoon’s legendary Craig’s Dad, Bernie Mac’s unforgettable cameo, and why Friday has remained such a quotable comedy.
Then it’s time for another draft: our favorite rappers who became actors. From Ice Cube and Will Smith to Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Ludacris, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Mark Wahlberg, Donald Glover, and plenty more, we debate which rappers made the most successful jump from the microphone to the big screen.
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1 hr 8 min
Heavyweights: A 1995 Cult Classic Gets Its Due + Young Casts Draft
Season 6, Episode 33
Show notes
Pack your bags, grab some contraband snacks, and whatever you do, don’t let Tony Perkis take over! In this episode, we revisit the 1995 comedy Heavyweights, a movie that may not have been a huge hit when it was released but has developed a loyal following over the years.
Brad and Giff are joined by Alicia Morelli, a lifelong fan of the movie, to talk about why Heavyweights has remained such a memorable part of ’90s childhood nostalgia. Alicia shares how the movie opened her eyes to the idea of summer camp when she was a kid—and how she and her siblings still quote the movie decades later. We talk about the movie’s great cast, Ben Stiller’s unforgettable performance as Tony Perkis, the early involvement of Judd Apatow, and the many scenes and lines that have become part of the Heavyweights vocabulary.
Then we draft our favorite movies and TV shows with young casts leading the way. Think Home Alone and The Goonies plus a lot more!
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1 hr 37 min
1995: The Year We Grew Up — Music, Movies & TV Draft with Totally 80s and 90s Recall
Season 6, Episode 32
Show notes
It’s time to open the Pop Culture Yearbook to 1995! Brad and Giff are joined by Dave and Rob from Totally 80s and 90s Recall to revisit a year that was a major turning point in all of their lives.
For each of the guys, 1995 meant something different — from high school and college to joining the Air Force, discovering new independence, meeting future spouses, starting careers, and figuring out what adulthood might look like.
And while the personal memories are different, the pop culture of 1995 brings everyone together. We draft our favorite music, TV shows, and movies of 1995, covering everything from Alanis Morissette, Oasis, Everclear, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Coolio, and Shania Twain to ER, The Simpsons, SportsCenter, NewsRadio, and the rise of the WB and UPN.
We also revisit some of the big moments that made 1995 feel like the beginning of a new era — Windows 95, the early internet, Amazon, eBay, Michael Jordan's return to basketball, and plenty of other memories from a year when the '90s were in full swing.
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1 hr 22 min
Michael J. Fox’s 1985: Back to the Future vs. Teen Wolf + Draft of BIG Years
Season 6, Episode 31
Show notes
1985 was a very good year to be Michael J. Fox. In this episode, we take a double dose of Michael J. Fox and revisit two very different movies from his unforgettable 1985: Back to the Future and Teen Wolf. Both are coming-of-age stories about young guys trying to figure out who they are—and both feature Fox at the center of the action—but that's about where the similarities end.
We dig into the stories, characters, production, cast, box office, and plenty of behind-the-scenes trivia before putting the two movies head-to-head. Which Michael J. Fox character is better? Who has the best supporting character? Which movie has the better villain? And what about the love interests?Rather than simply declaring one movie the winner, we break down Back to the Future vs. Teen Wolf category by category and see how they stack up.
In honor this massive year for Fox, we then draft the biggest years actors have had. Sometimes two huge movies, sometimes even 3-4 in one calendar year, we name most of the big ones and pick our favorites.
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1 hr 7 min
Artist Spotlight Countdown of 1985’s Biggest Hits & the Ultimate Mellencamp Draft
Season 6, Episode 30
Show notes
1985 was packed with huge songs, and in this episode of Pop Culture Yearbook, we take a trip through the year’s biggest hits with a series of artist spotlights. From Bryan Adams to Prince and Howard Jones to John Parr, we revisit the songs that made 1985 such an unforgettable year in music.
Then we turn the spotlight to John Mellencamp and his 1985 classic Scarecrow. We talk about Mellencamp’s evolution as a songwriter, his small-town and working-class perspective, and the songs that helped make Scarecrow one of the defining albums of his career.
And because Mellencamp had way too many great songs to simply pick a favorite, we draft the best of his catalog. Fifteen songs go on the board and it's banger after banger right to the end!
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1 hr 10 min
Clue (1985) & the Year We Lost Some Legends
Season 6, Episode 29
Show notes
It’s time to head back to 1985 and one of the most gloriously ridiculous murder mysteries ever made: Clue! Brad, Giff, and special guest Pete revisit the cult comedy that has only grown more beloved over the years — and Pete may be its biggest fan.
We talk about our memories of first seeing Clue, why the movie didn’t exactly set the box office on fire in 1985, and how it eventually found its audience. We also dig into the movie’s stacked cast, including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Leslie Ann Warren, and Colleen Camp.
And because Tim Curry's death brought us back to the movie in the first place, we spend the second half of the episode remembering some of the other celebrities we've lost in 2026. We hold our own draft of favorite celebrities who died this year, with picks including Dolly Parton, James Van Der Beek, James Burrows, and Chuck Norris.
🔎In This Episode
• Revisiting Clue (1985)
• Tim Curry's unforgettable performance as Wadsworth
• The incredible ensemble cast
• All three theatrical endings
• Favorite scenes and funniest lines
• Madeline Kahn's legendary improv
• Why Clue has become a cult classic
• Siskel & Ebert vs. the Clue fans
• Drafting the celebrities we lost in 2026
• And one final accusation you won't want to missSupport our show and join our Patreon!
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1 hr 25 min
Remembering 1985: Drafting the Music, Movies & TV That Defined the Year
Season 6, Episode 28
Show notes
We are teaming up with the Children of the 80s Podcast to revisit 1985, share our memories, and draft the best music, movies, and TV shows from one of the most iconic years of the decade.
Take a nostalgic trip back to the year with our friends Jim and Lindsay. We start by sharing our personal memories of 1985 before getting into the main event: drafting the biggest and best music, movies, and TV shows of the year. From blockbuster films and unforgettable television to the songs that dominated the radio, we’re picking our favorites and making the case for why they deserve a spot on our 1985 yearbook.
Check out more Children of the 80s here!
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1 hr 3 min
1980: Caddyshack / Top Bill Murray Stuff
Show notes
It's happening! After close to three years, we're finally talking about maybe our collective favorite movie ever: 1980's Caddyshack! No movie has been more quoted, more watched, and more important to bringing us together with our friends than Caddyshack. In this episode, we talk all about what makes it great in our opinion.
One of the reasons Caddyshack is so wonderful is the performance of Bill Murray. While Ted Knight (Judge Smails), Rodney Dangerfield (Al Czervik), and Chevy Chase (Ty Webb) are also at the top of their game, Murray's Carl Spackler stands out as much as anyone else. We cap the episode off by drafting our favorite Bill Murray movies and other credits. Well...we're waiting...for you to listen!
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1 hr 5 min
1980: Trivial Pursuit / Top Board Games of All-Time
Show notes
If there is one thing we love at PCY more than nostalgia, it might be trivia. The arrival of Trivial Pursuit in the 80s took the board game world by storm. At least that's how we remembered it. We talk about our first memories of the game (Spiro Agnew) and even pit Brad against Giff in a quick trivia match.
After the exciting mano a mano, we finish the episode by drafting our favorite board games. Do you like Scattergories, Pictionary, Monopoly, Sorry? Listen now to hear who wins and if your favorite game made one of our lists!
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1 hr 18 min
Two Gen X Dudes and a Gen Z Daughter Discuss Olivia Rodrigo
Season 6, Episode 27
Show notes
What happens when two Gen X parents sit down with one of their Gen Z daughters to talk about Olivia Rodrigo? You get two generations, three perspectives, and plenty of opinions.
In this episode, Giff, Brad, and Brad's daughter Isla dive into Olivia Rodrigo’s you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, talking about the songs, the sound, the lyrics, and what makes Olivia such a massive star with a younger generation. Along the way, we look at how she has also connected many Gen Xers as well by following in the footsteps of many 80s and 90s hitmakers like David Byrne, The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, Madonna and others.
Listen now to hear where our musical tastes overlap and where they definitely don't!
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1 hr 37 min
1980: Flash Gordon / Top One-Time Movie Characters
Show notes
Dave is back! When our sometime host Dave heard we were doing 1980, he requested we discuss one of his favorite movies, Flash Gordon. None of the rest of us had seen this movie, and it is quite an experience. While it may not be the best movie ever made, it definitely has found its way into pop culture still today, thanks in no small part to the movie Ted. It also doesn't hurt that the music was done by Queen. It's a movie everyone should probably see once.
Flash Gordon was pretty clearly thought to be a franchise with multiple sequels, but it didn't work out that way. So our draft in this one is our favorite characters who only ever appeared in one movie. Obviously a very broad topic, we cover a lot of ground and are sure to mention many greats that you will love.
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39 min
1980: Movies, TV, and Music Drafts!
Show notes
Surprise! Instead of cramming so much into one episode, we splitting it up and giving you a special episode. In this one, we remember 1980 and draft all the best movies, TV shows, and music from the year. This is a fun look back you don't want to miss!
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50 min
1980: The Jerk (1979) / Top Quotes from The Jerk
Show notes
We were 4 years old in 1980, so when we started this show we figured that would be as far back as we'd go. But now that we're actually focusing on the year 1980, we are making an exception. And you can ALWAYS make an exception for Steve Martin. The Jerk was released in December of 1979. But it was such a great and important movie (especially for Brad) that we're including it now. It'd a great way to kickoff the new month!
We'll share our memories and break the movie down for you in all its glory. And since this is one of the most quotable movies of all-time, we finish it off by drafting our favorite quotes from the movie. It's a fun draft and a good way to keep us on track! So pop open your thermos and enjoy!
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1 hr 26 min
1977 vs. 1987 Top 100 Countdown Battle with The 70s vs. the 80s and Jim Butler
Season 6, Episode 26
Show notes
What happens when three pop culture podcasts collide? A lot of laughs, plenty of friendly trash talk, and a serious test of music knowledge!
This week, Giff joins Jim from the Children of the '80s podcast to square off against Mike and Brian from The 70s vs. the 80s podcast in an epic Name That Tune and Pop Culture Trivia Challenge comparing hits from 1977 to 1987. The competition is fierce as each team tries to prove they're the ultimate champions of the Billboard Top 100.
But that's not all... In a special bonus round, the contestants tackle "Which Big Rig Is It?" Can they identify famous movie trucks from classics Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and Over the Top (1987)? It's harder than it sounds—and the answers lead to plenty of hilarious moments.
Whether you grew up in the '70s, the '80s, or just love classic music and movies, this crossover episode is packed with nostalgia, competition, and fun.
Check out our guests here:
Children of the 80s
The 70s vs. the 80sSupport our show and join our Patreon!
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1 hr 30 min
R.E.M. vs. U2 with Surely You Can't Be Serious: Part 2 - U2 Achtung Baby
Season 6, Episode 25
Show notes
In Part 2 of this special two-part collaboration with the Surely You Can't Be Serious Podcast, we revisit another defining album of 1991: Achtung Baby by U2.Together, we go track by track through the album that reinvented U2 and changed the trajectory of the band. From the emotional power of "One" to iconic tracks like "Mysterious Ways" and "The Fly," we break down what made this album such a bold and unforgettable release of the early ’90s.
Then it’s time for the final judgment! Which of these two landmark albums that helped shape the sound of the 90s ultimately rules: Out of Time or Achtung Baby?
But that's not it! We also have our usual draft. This time, we’re drafting polarizing bands and artists—the musicians people love, hate, or love to hate. Expect some strong opinions, controversial picks, and a little debate.
Check out the Surely You Can't Be Serious podacst here!
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1 hr 27 min
R.E.M. vs. U2 with Surely You Can't Be Serious: Part 1 - R.E.M. Out of Time
Season 6, Episode 24
Show notes
In Part 1 of this special two-part collaboration with the Surely You Can't Be Serious Podcast, we revisit one of the defining albums of 1991: Out of Time by R.E.M..Together, we go track by track through the album that launched R.E.M. from alternative rock favorites to worldwide stars. From the massive success of "Losing My Religion" to all the standout tracks on side B, we break down what made this album such a defining release of the early ’90s.
We also have our usual draft. This time it's the best albums of 1991—a year packed with legendary releases across rock, alternative, grunge, and pop.
And this is only Part 1! Next week, we’ll compare Out of Time head-to-head with Achtung Baby by U2 in a battle between two landmark albums that helped shape the sound of the decade.
Check out the Surely You Can't Be Serious podacst here!
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59 min
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie and the Ultimate Genius Draft
Season 6, Episode 23
Show notes
We’re heading to the Satellite of Love to revisit Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie—the cult classic that brought the beloved TV series to the big screen. With our guest Brian Rappe, we discuss what made MST3K such a unique pop culture phenomenon, why the movie still holds up for longtime fans, and how its rapid-fire humor helped redefine comedy for an entire generation of weird movie lovers (like us).
Then it’s time for one of our most fun drafts yet: drafting the greatest geniuses in pop culture, featuring both fictional brainiacs and real-life masterminds. From iconic movie and TV characters to world-changing innovators, we debate who belongs among the smartest minds of all time.
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1 hr 59 min
Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream & Drafting Rock's Most Unique Voices
Season 6, Episode 22
Show notes
In 1993, the Smashing Pumpkins released Siamese Dream—an album packed with massive guitar tones, vulnerable lyrics, and some of alternative rock's most enduring songs. This week we revisit the 1993 classic and discuss what makes tracks like “Cherub Rock,” “Today,” “Disarm,” and “Mayonaise” continue to resonate decades later. We also complete our rankings of the 90s albums we've been discussing all month.
Then it's time for another draft as we select the most unique voices in rock history. From instantly recognizable frontmen to singers whose sound could never be mistaken for anyone else, we debate the artists whose voices became their signature. Whether it's raw power, unusual tone, emotional delivery, or pure originality, every pick had to pass one test: you'd know who it is within seconds.
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