Rad History

It’s the sound, and the look, that makes you instantly think: 1980s. It’s power ballads all the way down, because today we’re starting our look back at Hair Metal.

The 1983 invasion of the tiny Caribbean nation of Grenada was the first major combat operation for the US military after the end of the Vietnam war.

As the 80s turning into the 90s, one sound of young America was Grunge. The other was New Jack Swing. Did New Jack Swing help inspire Pharrell, Bruno Mars, and... KPop?

The second half of Phil Hartman's career. Leaving SNL. NewsRadio. The tragic murder-suicide that ended his life. And what might have been...

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.

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.

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.

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.