Everything 80s

• The 75-Cent Mystery: How a Tiny Error Exposed a Cold War Spy

  In 1986, Clifford Stoll -- originally a Berkley Lab astronomer -- had become the manager of their computer department. One day, he noticed something, a small accounting glitch that seemed insignificant, but would become the first great Cold War hacking story. One tiny clue led Clifford Stoll on a real-life digital spy chase that included West Germany, the KGB, and the most top-secret, classified information on earth. In an era of dial-up phone lines and dot matrix printers, computer security wasn't given much priority, but this event would lead to the dawn of modern cybersecurity. Rambo movie review: Patreon.com/80s

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• The 1989 World Series Earthquake

  The 1989 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics ended up being a historic one when it came to stats and records on the field. But this series would be famous for a much more serious reason: The Loma Prieta earthquake. On October 14th, 1989, the highly anticipated cross-town series had created a buzz throughout the Bay Area. This was the first cross-town series in more than 3 decades. But on October 17th, just before game 3, everything changed forever... This is a look back at what has been dubbed "the World Series earthquake," an event witnessed by millions of people watching the live broadcast. At first, those watching -- and those in attendance -- weren't quite sure of the magnitude of the quake. But, in the coming days, everyone learned how deadly serious it was.  Listen to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s  

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• Farm Aid '85: The 1980s Concert That Rocked the Heartland

  The summer of 1985 will forever be known for Live Aid, the charity benefit concert that defined 1980s pop culture. But a few months later came Farm Aid '85, another massive musical event with a very different mission.   This time, the spotlight turned to America's farmers as some of the biggest names in Rock and Country -- Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young -- came together to raise awareness for a growing rural crisis.  Inspired by an offhand comment by the legendary Bob Dylan, the concert came together in just 6 weeks. But unlike Live Aid, Farm Aid kept going, evolving over the decades, still happening to this day.  Today, we look back at how Farm Aid began, the challenges it addressed, and the changes it helped create. And the event itself also gave us some of the most historic moments in 1980s music history... Get early access to new episodes, ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

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• How the Disney Vault Changed Home Video Forever

  Before the 1980s, Disney kept its animated classics in the mythical "vault." The only way to see them was through theatrical re-releases, but it could take years for your favorites to hit the big screen. But when home video began to take off in the 1980s, Disney had to reinvent this strategy for a new era. Today, we look at how the Disney Vault revolutionized home video, and how, if Disney had had their way, home video would have never existed in the first place... But by creating scarcity, the company created huge demand, and it changed the home video market forever.  If you grew up with Disney movies only on VHS for "the last time," or being told your favorite movie was being "put back in the vault," this episode will take you back to a time when owning a Disney classic was like possessing your own treasure.  Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

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• The Golden Age of 1980s TV Commercials

  Growing up in the 1980s, commercial breaks weren't just interruptions--they were cultural events we all experienced together. In this episode, we look back on the golden age of 1980s TV commercials while also exploring the broader history of advertising.  We'll trace how advertising evolved from radio jingles to early television spots, and how those traditions carried into the big-budget, pop culture-driven campaigns of the 1980s.  In this episode, we'll also break down some of the most iconic commercials of all time, including Apple, the burger wars, and the impact of the King of Pop. We also explore how MTV influenced the ads of the 1980s, along with the massive impact of some 1980s commercial jingles -- some of which may still be stuck in your head to this day... Special guest: Cynthia Meyers - profcynthiameyers.com Cynthia's book: A Word From Our Sponsor

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