PODCAST

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast

Jason Ek

Welcome to Stuck in the Middle - the podcast about the music, movies, and culture of Generation X.

society & culture music history

All Episodes

44:22

Paranormal 80's

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/06/18

Time for some weird tales, Slackers!Step into the eerie underbelly of the 1980s as we unravel five paranormal stories that gripped the nation (or at least the Northeast), blending supernatural intrigue with everyday human drama. From objects defying gravity to a courtroom battle invoking demonic forces, these tales defined an era fascinated by the unknown. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, the choice is yours.We begin with the Columbus Poltergeist Case of 1984, where a troubled teen’s home

51:51

The Books & Magazines of a Gen X Childhood

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/06/11

What's up, Slackers!This week we take a journey through the pages of the books and magazines that shaped our Gen X childhoods!From choose-your-own-adventure stories to fantastical tales of chocolate factories and epic fantasy worlds, we’ll revisit the books that sparked our imaginations. Plus, we’ll flip through the colorful, quirky magazines filled with comics, humor, and puzzles that kept us entertained for hours.The Books: Relive the thrill of interactive adventures, whimsical stories about

44:42

1989 - Billboard, Box Office & News

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/06/04

If I could turn back time—exactly 36 years—it would be 1989!This episode was inspired by the 1989 monster hit by Cher. Yes, that Cher, who was 43 years old and leaving nothing to the imagination!As I’ve done in the past, we’re going to dig into the music charts and major box office hits, along with a few newsworthy events from the last year of the '80s.The music charts featured a mix of hair metal ballads and classic rock bands enjoying a late-career resurgence, with alternative and pop also well

61:35

Cheesy 80's Sci Fi & Fantasy Films

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/05/28

It's about to get pretty cheesy, Slackers!First though, this episode is dedicated to Rick Derringer. Rock legend, producer extraordinaire, and of course the man who brought us the classic wrestling theme song, Real American. Rest in peace, - brother.This week we dive into a selection of 1980s sci-fi and fantasy films that shaped Gen X, including Krull, The Beastmaster, and Flash Gordon. Blending sword-and-sorcery with space opera, these films thrilled audiences with their larger-than-life stories

65:42

1995 - New City, New Sounds

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/05/21

Picture it, Boston, 1995. A young man from Meriden, CT decides to uproot his life and move to a new city. New faces, new friends, and plenty of new music.It has been 30 years since I made the fateful decision to make the move to Boston. It was also a time to expand my musical palette. Thankfully, there was plenty of new music to choose from, with tons of second hand music shops like CD Spins, interspersed with the big retailers like Tower Records.Much of the music on the radio at the time was not

47:16

Summer Concerts & Festivals 2025

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/05/14

Get ready to rock, Slackers! This episode honors ECW legend Sabu and previews the killer music festivals lighting up summer 2025. From metal to alternative, these lineups prove ‘80s & ‘90s music is still very much alive.Tribute to Sabu We salute Sabu, the hardcore ECW icon whose death-defying style defined ‘90s wrestling. His fearless dives and chaotic energy left a lasting mark on Gen X wrestling fans and the entire wrestling industry.Summer 2025 Concerts & Music Festivals The Summer of

57:33

Weird (Gen X) News

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/05/07

Are things getting weirder, Slackers? A social media claim challenges the authenticity of a core childhood memory, sparking passionate responses. Some Gen X men are embracing bold health experiments, raising eyebrows with their approach to aging. Others are playfully disrupting digital music culture with clever tricks, while a few adopt survivalist-inspired lifestyles reminiscent of the apocalyptic films of our youth. Gen X clearly has a knack for blending creativity with an ever-present urge to

46:17

Educational TV of the 70's & 80's

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/04/30

Hello, neighbor, I mean, Slackers!This week we are going to explore the educational live-action children’s shows of the 1970s and 1980s that defined the Generation X experience. These programs were foundational, delivering lessons with creativity and care in an era before digital media. From the community spirit of Sesame Street to the gentle guidance of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, it’s all about the shows that made education engaging and actually fun. My personal GOATs? Fred Rogers and Captain

58:49

Video Games to Blame?

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/04/23

Finish him, Slackers! This week’s episode is all about how PC games like DOOM, console titles such as Mortal Kombat - on Sega Genesis of course - and early games on the first Xbox sparked intense controversy.We dive into the societal fears that linked pixelated violence to real-world crimes, from Senate hearings scrutinizing Night Trap to media reports tying Grand Theft Auto and DOOM’s gory first-person action to youth aggression. It’s crazy looking back on how these games became scapegoats for

51:07

2nd & 3rd Wave Grunge Bands

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/04/16

What is up, Slackers!On this week’s episode we explore the evolution of grunge beyond its iconic pioneers. Sometimes it is easy to forget that grunge had a second (early to mid-1990s) and even third wave (late 1990s to early 2000s) of bands that shaped the genre’s legacy. We highlight 14 second-wave acts, from Seattle’s sludgy core to punk-infused and noise-rock outliers - some initially dismissed as posers who would go on to be massive stars. Then, we cover six third-wave bands, blending "grunge"

53:19

Rainy Day Playlist

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/04/09

I hate rain, Slackers,This week, we’re digging into ten rainy day songs that capture the gray and the heavy. Spanning the late '70s to the late '90s, the list pulls from dark corners and quiet moments—think industrial beats, NY alt metal, acoustic ballads, and lyrics that can get pretty dreary. It’s the kind of music that fits a slow drizzle or a full downpour, perfect for staring out a window, preferably with a hot cup of coffee. Mildly depressing? Maybe. Carthartic? Also, maybe. But probably.Got a

50:04

Gen X & Mental Health

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/04/02

Trigger warning: We’re diving into the heavy stuff related to mental health—stats, struggles, the works. If it hits too close to home, skip it and come back next week. I will not be offended. It’s 2025, and Gen X (born ‘65–‘79, now 45–60) is wrestling a quiet crisis—too many of us are taking our own lives. Gen X men at a rate of 27–29 per 100,000, women at 7–8, both up since 2002. In this episode we unpack why—financial struggles, loneliness, physical & mental health issues—and how to fight

56:22

80's Hip Hop

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/03/26

Hip Hop Hooray, Slackers!Today, we’re diving into ‘80s rap—a new genre that was exploding right before our eyes. We’ll cover the top-selling albums and the pioneers who started it all. Rap kicked off in the early ‘80s in New York City. LL Cool J’s debut record Radio sold over a million units with “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” as the lead single. Then Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell broke huge, selling three million copies, led by the first rock/rap hybrid track - their reimagining of Aerosmith’s “Walk

67:21

Cult Classic Movies

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/03/19

Be kind and rewind, Slackers!This week we take a dive into cinema's cult classics - films that took the long road to legendary status. These films - think dark humored high school flicks like Heathers or demonic, medieval chaos courtesy of Army of Darkness - often stumbled at the box office, barely making a dent with opening crowds.But at Blockbuster, they found their groove, turning late-night rentals into a rite of passage for fans. The question is, what exactly makes a cult classic a cult

68:05

GROK on (Gen) X

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/03/12

It's time for more fun with artificial intelligence, Slackers!During a past episode, we asked ChatGPT to spill the beans on Generation X, but this round, it’s Grok’s turn - unpacking ten ways us 45-to-60-year-olds are handling 2025.Grok says we’re snapping up multigenerational homes to bunk with parents or kids—practical as ever. Gen X women are flipping the script on midlife, dropping bold takes on living fully.We’re stretched thin, financially propping up family above and below, and spending just

56:55

My Most Watched Movies

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/03/05

Let's go out to the lobby and grab ourselves a treat, Slackers!A few episodes back, I dove into my most-listened-to albums. Now, it’s time to switch gears and talk about my most-watched movies of all time. No shocker here: Star Wars ranks high. What Gen Xer hasn’t rewatched those classics dozens of times?The list has all the usual suspects—Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Mad Max—but I’ve also got some newer favorites like John Wick, Tom Hardy’s Mad Max: Fury Road, and smaller gems like Rushmore

59:13

Gen X Guilt

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/02/26

Why do I feel so guilty, Slackers?In a recent podcast, Tom Morello and Billy Corgan discussed a number of topics, but when Billy talked about "Gen X not having a second act” and Tom said he had “Punk Rock Guilt”, this really struck a chord with me.Growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s—amid economic flux, cultural cynicism, and punk’s rebirth via hardcore and grunge — gave us a somewhat strange worldview. In 1989 Family Ties ended while Seinfeld just started to air. We went from wholesome to cynical in

59:51

From Teen Stars to Hollywood Legends

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/02/19

Feeling old yet, Slackers?When we were young, there were so many movie stars—and not just the Brat Pack. Sean Penn, Kiefer Sutherland, and Elisabeth Shue come to mind. Fast forward to today, and these former young heartthrobs and beloved teen idols have become Hollywood royalty, winning some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, including Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Emmys, and Tonys. Movies like TAPS and Fast Times at Ridgemont High boast numerous award winners, including multiple Oscar

38:43

The List Generation

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/02/12

Top 5 all time, Slackers!Ever wonder why we have always been "list" oriented - or maybe that's just me? "Top 5" this or "Top 10" that - from Casey Kasem's American Top 40, MTV's Top 20 Countdown, later TRL, to Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 500 series, lists have been a regular part of our lives.With the advent of the internet, many of us were the early adopters of "listicles" on web forums where we chimed in on "Top 5 Tag Teams" or "Top 5 Video Games". Fast forward 20+ years and the list format

52:36

Grammys Awards (Are You Still Watching?)

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/02/05

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t watch any of this year’s Grammy Awards. This used to be appointment viewing back in the day, but now - not so much. I thought, let’s revisit the ceremonies of 1975, 1985, and 1995. While we might not be tuning in now, these past shows seems to actually matter - and I recognize that is because I am an old man yelling at clouds!While you early Xers may recall the ’75 awards, for me it was 1985. Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, and Lionel Richie were huge

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Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast

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