x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast

Kalyn Andrews & Christian Baxter Mott

Here for the "80s & "90s kids who still long for the safe, spooky glow of the TV screen in a dark room, Kalyn Andrews and Christian Baxter Mott take a nostalgic look at the grittier side of the children"s entertainment that ruled our adolescence and moulded our generation. Our show features every-other-weekly discussions ranging from movie nights and season-long binges, to spooky specials of shows and other traumas... (ahem, memories). So, grab your flashlights and join us as we go searching for

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

01:24:11

Episode 113 | Dark Origins of Santa Claus

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/12/21

Ancient gift-bringers, corporal punishment, and Santa’s manna… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids for a long overdue folkloric account detailing the traditions that brought our most recognizable Christmas character into the mainstream. From spectral horsemen and old world saints to cautionary characters and medieval stage plays, this Pretty Dark version of Christmas cheer is sure to bring a chill to your spine and a Ruprecht to your door. Just trust us.Email us at

en

01:58:22

Episode 112 | Movie Night — Return to Oz — Part II

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/12/19

Electroshock therapy, egg allergies, and sentient furniture… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Journey with these ‘90s kids through the most confusing, labyrinthian corners of either a far-off, fantastical world,or a traumatized young girl’s psyche. With haunting whispers of early 20th century quack psychiatry and multiple, varied dissections of self and identity, the idea that there’s “no place like home” takes on new meaning not only for Dorothy Gale, but any child willing to read between

en

01:09:10

Episode 111 | Movie Night — Return to Oz — Part I

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/11/23

Talkin' fowl, prosaic protection, and the importance of mannequins… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids for a culturally-relevant trip through the life and times of 'The Wizard of Oz' originator L. Frank Baum, then peek behind the production curtain on what might be the darkest Oz adaptation to date. With ethereal grit only found in a kids’ film of the 1980s, it’s safe to say 'Return to Oz' confounded yet comforted your Ghost Hosts – and changed a generation of child

en

02:04:56

Episode 110 | Movie Night — Halloweentown

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/10/30

Pubescent parenting perils, ancient cycles, and the real trick to magic… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids for a double-stuffed Halloween celebration as they unpack both the production details and plot behind of one of the finest DCOMs of the mortal world. They’ll revisit their own coming-of-age criticisms with new perspective, and by way of the witchy, underscore the importance of developmentally appropriate education. It’s a heavy helping of Halloween nostalgia and a

en

01:26:38

Episode 109 | Movie Night — The Addams Family — Part II

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/10/28

Annual seances, proverbial outcasts, and an undying sense of dark humor… Oh lawd, it’s about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids on a romp to remember as they reacquaint themselves with the 1991 Addams Family, whosegruesome yet affectionate nature has perplexed, delighted, and influenced audiences for a nearly a century, earning their macabre place in the annals of pretty dark history.Email us atthatsprettydarkpodcast@gmail.comGive to our Patreon for extra content:patreon.com/tpdpodcastFollow

en

01:08:10

Episode 108 | Movie Night — The Addams Family — Part I

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/10/24

Death iconography, spooky satire, and mid-century screa-ums… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids for the history behind everyone’s favorite ooky, spooky family. Straight from the morbidly curious mind of Charles Addams, these characters and their macabre sensibilities sent shockwaves throughout the 20th century. They and their disquieting hospitality evolved (along with the public) all the way into our ‘90s living rooms, paving the way for alternative thinking,

en

01:33:13

Episode 107 | Hey Arnold! — Arnold’s Halloween

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/10/14

Otherworldly invaders, radio Tricks, and Well(e)s of Treats… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they investigate one of America’s most notorious Halloween hijinks—the 1938 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast—through the lens of everyone’s favorite Football Head on All Hallows Eve. With a harrowing recap of the myths and realities of this historical “alien invasion” entwined with a walkthrough of Hillwood's own recreation, they’ll raise all kinds of questions about what

en

01:55:19

Episode 106 | Movie Night — Mighty Morphin Power...

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/10/03

Wicked purple ooze, violent programming, and enslaved parents ... Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids getting real about the silliest and most sinister(?) sides of the Power Rangers prism. Come tie together the loosest ends, bemoan missed opportunities, insert more euphemism than ever thought possible, and round it all out with the realization that maybe a dose of accessible empowerment and planetary preservation wasn’t the worst thing to feed your child-self.Email us

en

01:07:41

Episode 105 | Movie Night — Mighty Morphin Power...

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/09/21

Capitalistic considerations, Morphin mythos, and erotic planets… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they learn the layered history behind one of the biggest franchises (complete with infinite merchandise) their show has ever seen. Whether you were, yourself, a childhood Mighty Morpher or you’ve always wondered where all of its colorful chaos originated - the complex cultural overlap and monetary motivation are plentiful… and pretty dark.Email us

en

02:20:32

Episode 104 | Movie Night — Jumanji — Part II

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/08/30

The Law of the Jungle, ripples of consequence, and a childhood lost…or gained… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they STAMPEDE through a recap – and reevaluation – of Jumanji’s darkest truths, traipsing through the strange comfort and coping found in urban legend, the enduring-if-harmful performance of “masculinity,” and the unraveling of a town’s legacy…. Society’s games may have been established long ago, but if there’s anything this sentient tabletop teaches us, it’s

en

53:10

Episode 103 | Movie Night — Jumanji — Part I

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/08/08

Imposter syndrome, improbable illustrations, and Robin’s legacy… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids for a JUNGLE of a time as they dig up long buried lore around Jumanji’s original author and its picture-book beginning, hit harrowing production highlights, and pay homage to one of the greatest comedians and thinkers the world has ever known. Like most good fiction, it turns out Jumanji was born from a reserved mind with a chaotic craving… A sense of wonder, a curious “what

en

01:23:38

Episode 102 | AYAOTD S2E10 — The Tale of the Shiny...

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/07/25

Bicycle independence, Blockbuster Fridays, and a revenant paradox… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these rusty ‘90s kids for a crash course through Christian’s favorite 'Are You Afraid of the Dark?' tale, which thrusts us all into the golden, glowing nostalgia of a good ol’ fashioned bike ride, offers a snapshot of how the ‘90s handled PTSD, and chills with the poignant reminder that some friendships reach beyond the grave. Strap on your bike helmets, your fishing boots, and your most

en

01:21:11

Episode 101 | A Hangout with D.J. MacHale, Creator of...

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/06/27

Tower of Terror stories, the great Disney vs. Nickelodeon debate, and a look at modern horror conventions… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they continue to pick the brain of DJ MacHale, Co-Creator of Are You Afraid of the Dark, and get his thoughts on everything from his film projects, to his TV show with Lizzie McGuire producer Stan Rogow, to his honest thoughts on Goosebumps! It’s a far-reaching, nostalgic-as-ever episode culminating in some of DJ’s own worst fears…

en

01:23:15

Episode 100 | A Hangout with D.J. MacHale, Creator of...

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/06/13

Nostalgic Nickelodeon, the schematics of fear, and D.J.’s own haunted house… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids for their 100-episode-extravaganza! Here, they celebrate a cornerstone of children’s horror, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, WITH the mastermind behind its success. Together, they’ll share insights from the show’s conception and excavate societal and psychological ingredients that make up the DNA of AYAOTD. Honored, amazed, and as spooked as ever, your Ghost Hosts

en

01:22:25

Episode 99 | AYAOTD S2E9 — The Tale of the Full Moon

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/05/30

Campy dialogue, stucco surreality, and the history of the Pet Detective… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids for a dose of tongue-in-cheek noir as their season binge takes them back to suburban xenophobia and the fascinating intersections of vampire and werewolf lore. Somewhere between after-school-special and self-aware ‘60s horror, it serves as a unique metaphor within the AYAOTD catalog - not only an early LGBTQ+ pride flag, but a reminder that we shouldn’t judge books by

en

02:45:42

Episode 98 | Movie Night — Drop Dead Fred — Part II

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/05/16

Fractured personalities, toilet humor, and reparenting your inner self… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they apply a heaping helping of psychology and personal reflection to the cringiest and most chaotic parts of adulthood. They get deep about the roles of mothers (and women) in society, pick at their own parental wounds, and thoroughly excavate this Jack-In-The-Box chocked full of everything you repressed... and everything you were socialized to believe….. or not

en

01:13:16

Episode 97 | Movie Night — Drop Dead Fred — Part I

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/04/19

Snot faces, imaginary “friends”, and impending doom… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids to get into the history behind one of the deepest darkest…loudest and most obnoxious… corners of your childhood memory. If ever you (or your parents) wondered how the hell this film came to be, you’re in the right place. Clutch your pearls and hang on to your cobwebs as we find psychological through lines and open the doors for a deep dive into what it means to reparent oneself. We’ll be

en

02:04:22

Episode 96 | Movie Night — The Rescuers — Part II

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/04/09

Man-handed crocodiles, moonshinin’ muskrats, and the building blocks of feminism… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids down on the bayou to examine everything from The Rescuers’ infectious hope and faith (and some real-life messages-in-bottles), to the film’s feminist slant and the ways it managed… or failed… to manifest. So many of these charming (and violent) southern frames have stayed tucked away in children’s minds decades over. It’s high time we hold them up to our

en

01:17:50

Episode 95 | Movie Night — The Rescuers — Part I

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/03/25

Tearful tributes, scandalous snafus, and the birth of Medusa… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids, returning in all their Movie Night glory, to regale you with the history behind this… gem… of a Disney classic. Bridging the gap between the studio’s famed Nine Old Men and a whole new class of animators that would eventually herald the Disney Renaissance, this murky production story, and the PR nightmare that followed, are sure to turn some heads.Email us

en

01:44:17

Episode 94 | AYAOTD S2E8 — The Tale of the Frozen Ghost

That"s Pretty Dark: An "80s & "90s Nostalgia Podcast ·

2025/03/10

Generational grudges, queer-coded aunties, and home-owning horrors… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids for one of Are You Afraid of the Dark?’s most chilling hauntings as they unpack the lasting impression of a singular phrase, raid the corners of the internet for “real” frozen ghost stories, and reminisce on the magical career of Melissa Joan Hart. The day might’ve been saved, but there are still plenty of dark conclusions to draw surrounding the disappearance of this

en

118 results

Similar Podcasts

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Nerd Culture - A Gamekings Podcast

Blammo Media

UPodcast

UPodcast

The Writers Hangout

Sandy Adomaitis

The Sarah Fraser Show

Sarah Fraser