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

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

50:55

Diamond Albums of the 80s

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/01/29

Diamonds are forever, Slackers!In this episode we will revisit the Diamond-certified albums from the 1980s that dominated the charts. These weren’t just records—they were the soundtrack for our generation.From Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which owned the airwaves, to AC/DC’s Back in Black, the 80s gave us albums that endure today. Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet gave us new global superstars (and a few timeless hits), while Def Leppard’s Hysteria was the comeback of all comeback records. From MTV

56:33

Conspiracy Theories of the 1980s

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/01/22

Get on your tin foil hats, Slackers!In this episode, we take a look at the wild conspiracies that shaped the 1980s—a decade full of political scandals, social upheaval, and a growing sense of mistrust in authority.Some of the most notable were the Iran-Contra Affair, The Crack Epidemic, Denver International Airport and the Satanic Panic.We dive into how these conspiracies became the backdrop for Gen X's formative years, and how they still influence the way we view power and truth today. We might

61:19

Guns N' Roses

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/01/17

They’re out to get me, Slackers!In this episode, we explore the rise, fall, and enduring legacy of Guns N' Roses, one of rock's most iconic bands. From their formation in 1985 to the release of Appetite for Destruction, we cover their breakthrough into superstardom and the cultural shift they sparked. We delve into key moments, including lineup changes, controversies, and their influence on hard rock and popular culture.We also examine their lasting impact, from the sleazy early days on the Sunset

53:08

A TV Listings Time Capsule

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/01/08

Hey, Slackers!Ever miss the old TV guides? I know I would love to look at that crazy grid and plan on what to watch during the week. Thanks to TVTango.com, you can find pretty much every TV listing going all the way back to 1950.While we were raised on the "Big Three" networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC, there was another network before FOX was launched in 1987 - The Dumont Television Network, which ran from 1946 to 1956. But that's a little before our time.Throughout the episode we will jump around from

59:55

2024 - Year in Review

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2025/01/01

Happy New Year, Slackers!This is a year in review episode, diving into the music, movies, and TV that topped the charts in 2024. Unlike the retrospective shows I do from the 70s, 80’s or 90's, it is amazing how I don’t know very much about new music, I am slightly more aware of current TV shows, but I do have a pretty good handle on the box office.Did I become a cinephile at some point?!How many of the top Billboard artists do you know or listen to? How many of the big blockbusters have you seen

27:39

Krampus & Christmas Reflections

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2024/12/25

Merry Christmas, Slackers!This is a short but hearfelt episode of the podcast.A quick review of Krampus, a surprisingly great Christmas-horror flick with an amazing cast, some reflections on the spirit of Christmas and a series of obnoxious events, and even a recitation of the Night Before Christmas.Wishing you all a Happy & Healthy holiday no matter what you celebrate. Be back next year with a brand new episode!

52:44

Whatever Wednesday - Christmas Edition

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2024/12/18

Jingle, Jingle, Jingle, Slackers!Back with a Christmas themed "Whatever Wednesday"! Topics include:Those we lost in 2024 and the Christmas (or Hanukkah) movies they performed in.Bizzare Christmas Movies like Santa With Muscles or Anna and the Apocalypse.Weird Christmas songs - let's just say that Tiny Tim had a very strange sense of humor related to STDs, while "Weird" Al Yankovic had some feelings about the Cold War and the threat of nuclear annihilation - and both decided that Christmas songs

50:59

Santa in TV & Film

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2024/12/11

It’s the Christmas Season, Slackers!Did you know that Santa Claus first appeared in a short film all the way back in 1897?!Since then, there have been dozens of live action (and animated) movies and shows starring that jolly old elf. Given the iconic nature of the character, finding the right actor is important. And when Hollywood captures lightning in a bottle, you know they are going to capitalize on it!There have been a handful of actors that so nailed the role that they were brought back

52:07

Forgotten Gems or Just Forgettable?

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2024/12/04

Gimme a break, Slackers!Sometimes, things end up lost to time. Great albums. Cult favorite movies. And of course, sitcoms. Some sitcoms are truly forgotten gems, while others are just forgettable - and perhaps best left in the past.This week's episode is dedicated to those sitcoms that might have been huge hits but lacked that rewatchability factor, the solid shows with extra life in syndication, and the shows that never made it past one season. Two shows that we will discuss boasted the earliest

30:40

Giving Thanks In 2024

Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast ·

2024/11/27

Happy Thanksgiving, Slackers!This episode is just me giving thanks for you, the listeners of the Stuck in the Middle Podcast.So, listen to the pod, then go eat some pumpkin pie. Watch Planes, Trains & Automobiles. Enjoy time with friends and family. Maybe listen to Depeche Mode. Or the new Linkin Park.Peace!

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