Tag: Pop Culture

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Episode 108: Fabio

Fabio is a manly man! His luscious long hair and Italian accent made him a sex symbol of the 90s. But what did Fabio even do? Handsome as he was, there was something very silly and funny about Fabio’s appearance. He was the winking joke for the “bored housewife” who dreamed on a shirtless man on the beach to take her away from suburban life. His benign ubiquity and iconic look made him something of a walking meme.

If he looked like the model on the cover of trashy grocery store romance novels, that’s because he was that guy! Fabio even started writing his own sultry pulp fiction. Eventually Fabio transitioned into acting, music and advertising, most famously for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. His tale is truly an American success story, and if we could learn anything from Fabio, it is how to laugh at ourselves, especially if you are super hot.

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Episode 105: Ben Stein

For the final dump of 2023 we are uncovering the story of one of the biggest and worst nerds in history, Ben Stein. Ben cut his teeth as an economist and professor, not to mention presidential speech writer, but what he is best known for is his strange and surprisingly consistent acting career. Through bit parts, spokesperson gigs, and finally,  his time as an emmy award winning game show host, Ben  Stein became one of the most recognizable character actors of the 80’s and 90’s. However, as of late he is best known for racist rants and more than questionable political opinions as well as some really sketchy personal behavior. 

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Episode 100: Anna Nicole Smith part 1

We made it folks, episode 100 (proper)! For this landmark episode we are beginning to tell the tale of Anna Nicole Smith, a true blonde bombshell and icon of beauty, scandal, and tragedy. Join us as we dive into her early days in Mexia, Texas, her fateful meeting with a billionaire oil tycoon, and her introduction to adult entertainment. RIP Anna.

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Special Episode: Interview with Violet Sky

This episode’s guest is Violet Sky. Violet is what we call an “era influencer,” someone who lives their live as though they were in a different decade and gives the public a look into their life via social media. Not only is she a 1980’s historian and revivalist, she is also an amazingly talented artist whose music we cannot get enough of.

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Episode 98: Louie Louie

“Louie Louie” is an iconic Rock anthem that holds a prominent place in American pop culture. Recognized as one of the most famous rock songs of all time, it has been covered over 2,000 times. The song’s enduring popularity, however, was accompanied by controversy due to its widely misunderstood lyrics, which led to investigations by the FBI in the 1960s. The Kingsmen’s shambolic recording of the song, characterized by its raw and gritty sound, played a significant role in shaping the garage rock genre. 

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Episode 97: Banned Toys Volume 1

This is the first installment of our new series within the world of dumps. We have covered many toy crazes over the years but this is going to be a bit different. Rather than focusing on toys that were extremely popular and then faded into obscurity, we are going to tell the tales of the most dangerous and in some cases, deadliest toys to hit shelves. For our first volume of banned toys we are discussing the toxic Aquabeads and the incredibly notorious lawn darts.

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Special Episode: Interview with Dave Sirus

Dave Sirus is an Emmy nominated, Writers Guild Award winning comedian who has written for comedy giants like SNL and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. His latest project is “Bupkis,” a show he created along with his best friend and writing partner Pete Davidson. Ryan and Dave discuss Dave’s career, his new show, what it’s like when your friend becomes one of the most famous people on the planet, and their time together in the LA art-punk scene.

*we ran into some connectivity issues during this interview and there will be some rough patches.

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