The Latchkey Kids: Recent Episodes
The Latchkey Kids
Relive the magic of growing up in the American suburbs during the 1980s with siblings Aaron Selbig and Dr. Amy Besler. Every week, Aaron and Amy shine a spotlight on cultural artifacts from the era while processing what it was truly like to grow up a latchkey kid. And maybe they'll talk about their parents' divorce. Things could get weird.
In the rec room of 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in The Bronx, New York City ... that's where hip hop began in the 1970s with pioneers like DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash. But it was in the 1980s when hip hop music and culture really started to permeate the mainstream, even reaching the suburbs of Mesa, Arizona, where young Aaron was spinning around on a piece of cardboard in the driveway. Join the Latchkey Kids this week as we dive into the early history of hip hop.
Luck favors the bold! Or at least that's what a bunch of CEOs convinced themselves when they launched big new products that would ultimately fail. Of course everyone remembers the "Classic" product fail of the 1980s (unless that whole controversy was just an ingenious marketing campaign) but do you remember Harley-Davidson cologne? Colgate frozen dinners (gross)? How about the Smith and Wesson bicycle?
Do you remember the OG sex tape? It wasn't Pamela Anderson or Kim Kardashian ... it was none other than 80s "Brat Pack" superstar Rob Lowe! And the resulting humiliation caused his career to disappear for a while, until his big comeback as the villainous TV producer in "Wayne's World" in 1991. It's Celebrity Comebacks on this episode of The Latchkey Kids!
GNARLY! Quick, what's the first thing you think of when we mention the 1982 teen raunch-fest movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High?" Is it the EXTREMELY uncomfortable sex scenes involving very young high schoolers? Or maybe Phoebe Cates and the famous pool scene? Nah, we all know the real hero - and comedic genius - of Ridgemont High was surfer burnout Jeff Spicoli! I'M SO WASTED!
How much was your mom like Aaron and Dr. Amy's mom? Did she have shoulder pads and velour track suits? Did she balance her career with sewing buttons on Girl Scout uniforms? Did she LOVE LOVE LOVE Bruce Willis in "Moonlighting" in the 1980s? Listen to this week's episode to learn about the life and career of Detective John McClane (aka Bruce Willis) and learn who our mother's REAL boyfriend was on "Moonlighting."
Are you familiar with the Care Bear Stare? Not to be confused with the "thousand yard stare" that haunts soldiers returning from the horrors of war, the Care Bear Stare - according to Dr. Amy who researches these things - involves getting together with your shirtless buddies and shooting love out of your tummies in order to defeat your enemies. Sounds fun, right?
Following its bold and memorable origins in the 1970s, NBC's sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" found its footing in the 80s with stars like Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman and EDDIE FREAKIN MURPHY COME ON! We all loved the Church Lady and Mr. Robinson and Wayne and Garth back then ... and we still do!
It's hard to believe there was ever a time when the plot of "Porky's" was a totally acceptable thing to portray in a mainstream movie, but in the 1980s, things were ... different. Even some of our favorite films of the decade - like "Sixteen Candles" - are filled with moments that, upon rewatch today, seem WILDLY inappropriate! Let's dive into a few cringey movie moments, this week on The Latchkey Kids!
It's finally time, latchkey kids! Time for a VERY SPECIAL episode about very special episodes! Remember when Mr. Drummond would occasionally open "Diff'rent Strokes" by looking straight into the camera and warning you that you were in for a VERY SERIOUS TOPIC that would not include any of Arnold's typical antics at all, and may very well leave you traumatized? Well THIS is exactly that kind of episode! Join Dr. Amy and Punky Brewster as they mourn the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger astronauts, completely oblivious that Aaron has locked himself inside an abandoned refrigerator.
People, do you remember how excited we all were back in 1985 when the gloriously star-studded song and video for "We Are the World" came out? Dr. Amy was so inspired to fight famine in Ethiopia that she convinced mom to drive her to Milano's Music to purchase the sheet music so she could play it ENDLESSLY on the piano for several weeks! But now, nearly 40 years later, we have questions ... like where are Madonna and Prince? And is Bob Dylan even singing? And most importantly, what the heck is Dan Ackroyd doing there?!
Perhaps in celebration that 1984 didn't turn out quite as bleak as the book, the music industry gave us dozens of memorable hits that wonderful year. From Tina Turner's big comeback, to EVERY SINGLE SONG on the "Footloose" soundtrack, to Metallica's thunderous "Ride the Lightning" album, music in 1984 had a little something for everyone. Sing along with Aaron and Dr. Amy!
With the platinum hairdo, the dazzling rhinestones, and the million-watt smile, Dolly Parton has truly been America's sweetheart for the last 60 years or so. She's an amazing songwriter/musician, a hilarious jokester, an actress, philanthropist, businesswoman, and one of Dr. Amy's personal heroes ever since she used to sing along with "Islands In the Stream" on the way to Mary Moppet's Preschool in dad's 1967 Chevy pickup truck. Join us this week in celebrating all things Dolly!
Back when Aaron and Dr. Amy were growing up, it was all fine and good to have "real" friends but what we REALLY wanted was to be friends with the hilarious, beautiful people we saw on TV! And who wouldn't want to hang out in that fabulous South Florida kitchen, sharing quirky anecdotes and witty one-liners with the Golden Girls?! It's part three of our very special podcast extravaganza on TV sitcom friendships, this week on The Latchkey Kids.
You know who should've won ALL the Emmy awards? Whomever was in charge of casting for the classic, hilarious, and bawdy sitcom Three's Company! The show featured such memorable characters and actors such as Mr. Furley (Don Knotts), Mrs. Roper (Audra Lindley), Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers), and of course Jack Tripper, played by the great John Ritter (RIP). Come and knock on our door this week as we drop in on Janet, Jack, and Chrissy!
Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated! How excited did you get for Laverne & Shirley when that absolute banger of a theme song come on your TV? And if you thought Lenny and Squiggy were hilarious as the oddball neighbors, how about Cousin Larry and Balki Bartokomous from the tiny island nation of Mepos, as featured in Perfect Strangers?! It's all about TV sitcom friendships, this week on The Latchkey Kids ...
Did you spend your Sunday nights like Aaron ... huddled under your blankets with an ear pressed to your radio, waiting to hear the silly, nutty, goofy, and extraordinarily wacky music on the Dr. Demento show? If you did, you're in for a treat with this in-depth look at the man who brought Weird Al to the world, and continues to entertain audiences to this day. If you've never heard of Dr. Demento, get ready to hear Aaron positively geek out for 43 minutes!
When you showed up to homecoming or prom or Sadie Hawkins or the annual Hello Dance at Kino Junior High School, did you roll up in a limo? Did you automatically jump out onto the dance floor to strut your stuff and get the party started like Dr. Amy? Or were you more like Aaron, standing awkwardly over by the bleachers with all the other nerds, watching the fun from a safe distance?
Happy Halloween, all you hellraisers! Do you have a favorite horror film from the 1980s? Do you prefer slasher films like Friday the 13th? Or are you more of a monster movie kind of person? Listen to this Halloween extravaganza episode of The Latchkey Kids to find out which classic 80s horror movies still haunt Aaron and Dr. Amy to this day.
You can't reminisce about the fabulous boy bands of the 1980s without recognizing the many successful girl groups that decade brought us. From the Go-Gos to the Bangles to the Queen of Rock Joan Jett, the 80s were full of chart-topping female rockers who were unafraid to be themselves. Sing along with Dr. Amy as we remember their hits!
Though the "Boy Band" phenomenon may have kicked off in the 1960s with the British Invasion Beatles, no decade defines boy bands quite like the 1980s - a glorious time when there was a boy band behind every tree! Relive the magic of the cutest, best choreographed, most outfit-coordinated boy bands of the 80s on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
At the dawn of the 1980s, actor and comedian Paul Reubens finally got his big shot: an audition for the upcoming season of Saturday Night Live, a career-making gig that would've thust the then-obscure Reubens into the national spotlight. And ... he was rejected. But rather than retreat into obscurity, Reubens doubled down; he KNEW this new character he was working on would one day take the world by storm. On this episode of The Latchkey Kids, we revel in the silly, weird, fun world of Pee-Wee Herman, and we celebrate the life of his creator.
The ubiquitous Hot Wheels car: it's flashy, fun, and affordable! The popular little model cars were an overnight sensation when they first came out in 1968 and they're still making grocery store toy aisles more fun for kids today. But what about Matchbox cars, you say? Learn all about the bloody, decades-long war between Matchbox and Hot Wheels on this episode of The Latchkey Kids!
Do you remember Rainbow Brite (or Regina Regenbogen, as she was known in Germany)? She was the yarn-headed, moon bootin' Punky Brewster of dolls and she was Dr. Amy's absolute FAVORITE! Why? We're not exactly sure. Perhaps it was the rainbow-themed wardrobe. Perhaps it was the awesome responsibility of controlling the world's supply of colors. Perhaps this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids will shed some light on the irresistible draw of Rainbow Brite.
Your favorite 80s nostalgia podcast has big plans for the future! Tune in to this week's Very Special Announcement to learn what's in store for our hardcore Latchkey Kids listeners ...
Aaron and Dr. Amy are here to pump you up with muscular icons of the 1980s! From Sly Stallone to Mike Tyson to a certain Austrian bodybuilder-turned-action hero-turned-governor, the 1980s was a glorious time of pumping iron, being sweaty, and taking copious amounts of steroids! Let's get physical, everyone!
What better way to celebrate the 100th episode of The Latchkey Kids than with a long-promised deep dive into our parents' divorce? Tune into this episode to hear how it all unfolded, the different ways we reacted, and how the events of that fateful day in 1987 shaped the rest of our lives. It's a divorce-themed "Very Special" episode!
Of course, the Wonderful World of Disney has been around for 100 years (even longer then The Latchkey Kids!) and is going stronger today than ever before. But did you know that during the 1980s, The Mouse actually went through a bit of a "dark" period, when experimental Disney films, often with darker themes, failed to excite audiences? Listen to this week's Happiest Podcast Episode On Earth!
Grab your junk food, Ouija board, and Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bag, latchkey kids, because it's time to head over to your bestie's house for an all-night binge of MTV and Domino's Pizza! It's sleepover time on this week's episode. Or is it called a slumber party?
Marco ... Polo ...... Marco ........ fish out of water! It's summertime, latchkey kids, and it's time to hit the pool! What kinds of pool games did you play? Beach ball toss? Diving board shenanigans? An elaborate system of poolside basketball fashioned out of a lawn chair and a bucket of water? Well, if you were Aaron and Dr. Amy, you did ALL of those things AND you played ... bumper butts?
WOW WOW WOW. There is a point in this podcast episode (we're not going to tell you where; you'll have to find it for yourself) where Dr. Amy belts out an absolutely soaring, majestic rendition of the classic Poison tune "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and ladies and gentlemen, Dr. Amy DOES NOT HOLD BACK. It's inspirational. You're not going to believe it.
Eighties dads were the coolest! They all had mustaches, chest hair, and red Ferrari Testarossas that they drove home form their cool jobs at the high-paying advertising firm. It's hard to pick the best 80s dad with all the great competition - Jason Seaver, Cliff Huxtable, Phillip Drummond, and many more - but for Aaron and Dr. Amy, there's only one King of the Dads - Kenny Selbig!
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ... there was a guy named George Lucas who had one of the most brilliant, creative minds the world has ever known but ALSO had a terrible penchant for making dumb decisions regarding the space world he created ... like almost cutting Yoda OUT of Return of the Jedi! Can you imagine?! Listen to this episode to hear Aaron once again go completely nuts over the Star Wars universe.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ... there was a movie studio that needed to capitalize on a surprise hit space opera film that featured light sabres and weird creatures and perhaps the greatest, scariest movie bad guy of all time. So what did they do? They made a sequel where the bad guy is THE DAD OF THE GOOD GUY! Can you believe that?! Isn't that ridiculous? Tune into this episode to hear Aaron completely lose his mind over this movie that came out 43 years ago.
WE MUST! WE MUST! WE MUST EXPRESS OUR LOVE AND ADMIRATION FOR JUDY BLUME IN THIS EPISODE OF THE LATCHKEY KIDS!
The 1980s truly was a golden age for great gadgets and gizmos. Did you ever send a fax while listening to your Walkman? Return a call from your beeper only to get an answering machine? Clap off your lights after you're done using your Dustbuster? If you know what these things are, this episode is for you!
Were you an early bird like Dr. Amy or a night owl like Aaron? If you stayed up late, you probably remember when TV used to actually SHUT DOWN at midnight every night. But before midnight, we would be entertained by the kings of late night TV — woof woof-ing with Arsenio Hall, doing stupid human tricks with David Letterman, or getting tucked into bed by Johnny.
From Phil Donahue running frantically around with his microphone, to the salacious spectacle of Geraldo Rivera and Jerry Springer, to The Queen herself, Aaron and Dr. Amy recount the rise of the daytime talk show during the 1980s. So if you're home sick from school and there's nothing else on right now, give this week's episode a listen!
Of course everyone knows about Madonna and Sean Penn, or Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, but thanks to the tireless, painstaking research of Dr. Amy we now know that for a little while in the 1980s, Tom Cruise dated Cher! I mean HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?! Isn't she like a foot taller than him? Did he need a stepladder to kiss her?!
Are you - like Sheena or Judy from Ramones fame - a punk rocker? Who was your favorite punk band back in the day? Did you mosh to the political satire of the Dead Kennedys? Did you pogo to the gritty sounds of The Clash? Do you know what "gobbing" is, or do you even want to know? Then listen to DJ Aaron and Dr. Amy reminisce about the punk rock movement of the 70s and 80s.
In part two of our "Battle of the Sexes" toy competition, G.I. Joe is coming in hot! The Joes are sweaty, muscular, and ARE DEFINITELY NOT DOLLS! They have supercool tanks, Jeeps, and helicopters, and they ARE ACTION FIGURES, NOT DOLLS!!! Anyway, enjoy this episode, which covers the history and legacy of G.I. Joe (which is definitely not a doll).
She's blonde. She's plastic. She's 5'9" and 110 lbs. (not making that up). She's a former flight attendant, fashion editor, astronaut, surgeon, military officer, and presidential candidate. She's Barbie! The most popular doll of all time that has been going strong since she first arrived on the toy scene in 1959. Listen to this week's episode for facts (fun and otherwise) about the American cultural phenomenon that is Barbie.
Did lawn Jarts ever put you in the emergency room? What did you do with all your Shrinky Dinks? On this week's episode, Aaron and Dr. Amy remember all the bad toys of our childhoods — the disappointing, the creepy, and the downright dangerous.
Do you remember your first VCR? The awesome power that came with the ability to rewind, pause and fast forward? When Aaron and Dr. Amy were first introduced to the mind-blowing concept of the neighborhood video store, they knew what to do — watch "Howard the Duck" and "The Neverending Story" on loop for an entire weekend. Get your popcorn and listen to episode 47.
The year 1985 had the best of everything. It was the year "Back to the Future" came out. It was the year parachute pants became a craze with teenage boys all over the country. And it had some of the biggest music moments of the 1980s. From Madonna to Tears for Fears to "We Are the World," let's explore the auditory delights of 1985.
Put on your puffy vest, slide into your DeLorean, and pop some Huey Lewis and the News into the cassette player because we are going back ... TO THE FUTURE! Join Dr. Amy and brother Aaron for a deep dive into possibly the most 1980s movie ever made. And remember — where we're going, we don't need roads.
Aaron and Dr. Amy wrap up a weeklong visit, during which they discovered In-N-Out Burger's "secret" menu, hit the roller rink for TWO nights of retro fun, mastered the fine art of the mall walk, and spotted an ultra rare silver DeLorean in the wild! All that plus some profound life advice on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
What would you do if your ex showed up on your front lawn in the middle of the night, wearing a trench coat and holding a boom box aloft while staring at your window? Call the police? File a restraining order? Of course not! You would fall madly in love, especially if that ex was the quirky and lovable Lloyd Dobler. It's part two of our series on romantic comedies of the 1980s, this week on The Latchkey Kids.
Happy Valentine's Day, Latchkey listeners! Did your crush make you an extra special Valentine this year, complete with a heart next to their name and a small box of those godawful chalk-like Valentine's heart candies with "Be Mine" or "Luv You" written on them? If not, console yourself with a couple of classic rom-coms from the 1980s, straight from Dr. Amy's cinematic vault.
Are you ready for P.E. class, everyone? Dr. Amy has her clipboard and her whistle, and she will be making sure you can climb the rope, do some jumping jacks, and throw a basketball through the hoop — and only then will you be allowed to experience the whimsical, colorful wonders of the P.E. CLASS PARACHUTE!!!
You take the good, you take the bad, you take 'em both and there you have THE GREATEST SITCOM OF THE 1980s! How badly did you want to attend the Eastland Academy in Peekskill with your pals Tootie, Natalie, Blair and Jo? On this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids, we take you back to Eastland, where you can roller skate around with George Clooney and Molly Ringwald until Mrs. Garrett solves everyone's problems!
It takes Diff’rent Strokes to move the world, yes it does! Not only did this groundbreaking 80s sitcom eschew the second E in the word “diff’rent,” it also gave us the concept of the “very special episode.” Which was your favorite? Was it the one about the dangers of hitchhiking? The one where Arnold’s friends drink alcohol at school? Or how about the timeless classic “Just Say No” visit from First Lady Nancy Regan?
Do you wanna dance with somebody? Do you wanna feel the heat with somebody? Then listen to this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids, featuring the one and only Whitney Houston! We talk about the songs, the movies, the fashion, and the dramatic rise and fall of this superstar icon. Plus ... a TON of singing by Dr. Amy, who happens to believe the children are our future!
Whose poster did you have on your wall back in the day? Was it one of the Coreys? Cindy Crawford and and her perfect mole? Maybe you were like Aaron and had a taste for the tough and slightly dangerous Jo from Facts of Life. Whoever stole your heart, we have you covered on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
What's the quintessential car of the 1980s? Is it every kid's poster car — the Lamborghini Countach? The white Ferrari Testarossa from Miami Vice? KITT from Knight Rider? These are all iconic automobiles but according to Aaron And Dr. Amy, the ULTIMATE car of the 80s was The Tuna Boat, the powder blue Ford LTD Crown Victoria that prowled the suburban streets of Mesa, Arizona back in the day. Fasten your seatbelts.
Who needs Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve when you can ring in the new year with Aaron and Dr. Amy? Just pour yourself a neon-colored cocktail with a sexually suggestive name and get ready to bang pots and pans in the streets at midnight — because tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999!
Get your decoder rings ready and prepare your Ovaltine, people! It's time to join little Ralphie Parker and his family as they prepare for the Christmas season with leg lamps, bunny suits, and Chinese food. Also, Aaron and Dr. Amy settle the debate over whether "Die Hard' is a Christmas movie once and for all.
Every kid who ever wished their parents and siblings would just disappear got to see what that was like with the release of "Home Alone," the 1990 star turn for MacAulay Culkin that puts bratty little Kevin McAllister in that exact position. And it turns out ... it's kind of awesome? Along the way, there are lessons to learn, bandits to bully, and families to reunite just in time for Christmas.
Polish your sleigh bells and deck your halls with boughs of holly, people, it's time to get into the Christmas spirit! And what better way to do that than with the Griswold family, who never EVER give up on the dream of a perfect Christmas. Shitter's full!
It's a beautiful morning in Ponyville, where everyone's favorite ponies — Butterscotch, Rainbow Dash, Bluebell, and Darryl — are frolicking about, enjoying the rainbow-tinted sunrise over Happiness Mountain. All is well ... until the evil Galactic Empire shows up! Who will save the Ponies from the sinister Darth Vader and his super cool red light saber? Find out on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
If you're unlucky enough to live in tiny Cabot Cove, Maine — THE MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD — you basically have two options when it comes to the out-of-control murder problem: you can call in Jessica Fletcher to solve a few murders or you you can call in the A-Team to just blow everything up. Your call.
Have you ever actually tried a Cap'n Crunch and Pixy Stix sandwich? Did it help you bond with the nerds, jocks, princesses, criminals and basket cases? And, most importantly — what on Earth did Dr. Amy do to get herself a real life Saturday suspension?! On this week's episode ... don't mess with The Latchkey Kids, you'll get the horns.
The year is 1982 — MTV is in its infancy, Aaron is breakdancing in the driveway to "Eye of the Tiger" for some reason, and Johnny Cash is hosting Saturday Night Live with Elton John as the musical guest (TRUE STORY!). Relive all your favorite songs of 1982 (and listen to Dr. Amy sing most of them) on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
What was your favorite video game back in the day? Donkey Kong on the Atari 2600? Omega Race on your sweet Commodore VIC 20? Or were you plugging quarters into Frogger, Joust, and Karate Champ at your local arcade? On this week's episode, Aaron and Dr. Amy take you on a journey through video gaming's most important decade.
Are you ready for Halloween, little goblins? Do your parents let you trick-or-treat on your own and then go hog wild eating as much candy as you want? Aaron and Dr. Amy's parents sure did! Hear how Halloween was different back in the day — on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
In this week's episode, Aaron and Dr. Amy continue their culinary journey through a sea of Cheez Whiz and a mountain of Sloppy Joe meat. Hear Dr. Amy's BRILLIANT solution to the frustration of Sloppy Joe slopping out of your hamburger bun. Plus, not one but TWO True Latchkey Confessions form Aaron. Bon appetit!
What did you have for lunch today? Was it a slice of Oscar Meyer bologna, slathered with Cheez Whiz and piled on top of a slice of Hillbilly Bread? If not, you are missin' out. Tune into this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids for more culinary adventures from our childhood.
Did lawn Jarts ever put you in the emergency room? What did you do with all your Shrinky Dinks? On this week's episode, Aaron and Dr. Amy remember all the bad toys of our childhoods — the disappointing, the creepy, and the downright dangerous.
On this week's episode, let's play a game of "Count the Wows" as Dr. Amy loses her mind over the decades-long career of 1980s pop music icon Madonna. The Material Girl had her laced-glove fingerprints on all aspects of culture — music, fashion, movies, sex, and just about everything else. I mean ... wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow.
If you could work ANYWHERE, which 80s sitcom workplace would you choose? Tending bar with Sam Malone in "Cheers?" Doing TV news with "Murphy Brown?" Maybe waiting tables at Mel's Diner with Alice and the gang? Whatever your workplace fantasy, we've got you covered on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
State and county fairs today are much the same as they were back in the 1980s — the fried food, the barfy rides, the smelly yet adorable livestock ... it's all still there! The only thing different back then was the lack of parental supervision. Tune in to Episode 56 to reminisce about going to the fair (and to hear Aaron's True Fair Confession).
Even when they're chasing pirate treasure through a maze of underground caverns, "Goonies never say die!" Relive the magic of the classic 1985 film "The Goonies" on this episode of The Latchkey Kids. It'll have you walking the plank, doing the Truffle Shuffle, and chasing after One-Eyed Willie's lost fortune with your close-knit gang of friends.
Ahh, who can forget the brilliant musical stylings of 1980s pop legend Tommy Tutone, right? What's that? You don't remember Tommy Tutone? Well, you definitely remember his one humongous hit song (HINT: it's a phone number!). In this (repeat) episode, Aaron and Dr. Amy count down — and sing! — your favorite one-hit wonder songs of the 80s. Come with us and sing along.
Just like roller rinks were nightclubs for 13-year-olds, the mall was THE place to be for teenagers in the 1980s. The fashions, the music, the sweet smell of Cinnabon saturating the air-conditioned atmosphere. And if you were lucky, you could catch a live show of Tiffany and/or Debbie Gibson at your local mall. Were they sisters? Please enjoy this very special (REPEAT) episode devotee to mall culture!
Unless you are a perfect angel like Dr. Amy, you knew that "I'm about to get in trouble" feeling when you were a kid. The sinking pit in your stomach, the wild and desperate ideas to undo what's been done, and then the very worst of possible consequences: hearing your poor mother tell you how disappointed she is in your behavior. In this week's episode, Aaron relives a few of his greatest hits of an ENTIRE CHILDHOOD spent "in trouble" while Dr. Amy recalls the time she had 200 kids over to the house and then stole and crashed the family car. WAIT WHAT?!
The dark lighting, the throbbing beats, the licorice ropes ... were roller rinks really just "nightclubs for 13-year-olds?" Also, how Amy and Aaron spent their summers sucking down juice box slushies and swimming in bathtub-temperature pool water at the Mesa YMCA ... on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
Don't have a cow about this totally tubular list of 80s slang and catchphrases, righteous betties and boy toys. Only a bogus dweeb wouldn't find this list to be most bitchin', bodacious and legit. Duh!
From single-handedly rescuing Saturday Night Live to star turns in some of the biggest movie hits of the decade, comedian and actor Eddie Murphy owned the 1980s. But what did the REAL Mister Rogers think of Eddie's humor? Join us for a fun fact-filled look back at the brilliant career of one of the 80s' biggest stars.
Did you go to summer camp as a kid? Did you learn riflery, archery, and how to make friendship bracelets? Or did you — like Aaron — learn how to smoke cigarettes? Are you now married to your summer camp boy/girlfriend? Also, is it true that daddy longlegs spiders could kill you with their venom if they only had bigger mouths? 🤔
Do you remember your first VCR? The awesome power that came with the ability to rewind, pause and fast forward? When Aaron and Dr. Amy were first introduced to the mind-blowing concept of the neighborhood video store, they knew what to do — watch "Howard the Duck" and "The Neverending Story" on loop for an entire weekend. Get your popcorn and listen to episode 47.
Parachute pants, Swatch watches, plastic bracelets, Guess jeans ... what were some of your favorite fashion trends of the 1980s? There's a good chance Aaron and Dr. Amy discuss them here on Episode 46.
"I Want My MTV!" shouted rock icons like Sting, David Bowie, Pat Benatar, and Mick Jagger, in an effort to convince American teenagers to demand their parents get cable TV. And it worked! For decades, the original music channel entertained us with one amazing music video after another, thrilling us with brilliant innovation while shortening our collective attention span at the same time.
The thunderous drumline, the crazy outfits, the sultry saxophones ... what's not to love about marching band, people?! Except for the ungodly early practice times and the overbearing band directors, it's a helluva lot of fun — as Aaron will tell us all about in this week's episode.
What does it take to live your life by the Girl Scout Law? Only to be "honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout." That's it! So simple! Let's get started, shall we?
Get your popcorn and slip on your aviator sunglasses, people! It's time for Dr. Amy (call sign "Little Orphan Amy") and Aaron (call sign "Sparklepuss") to whisk you into the heavens on the wings of an F-14 Tomcat, headed straight down the Highway to the Danger Zone with our bomber jackets, beautiful hair, and endless supply of bubble gum. This episode is GUARANTEED to get you hyped for the new smash hit "Top Gun: Maverick" so buckle up!
In part two of our deep dive into 1980s cinematic delights from the mind of Stephen King, we look at two VERY different movies — the classic coming-of-age tale "Stand By Me," known for it's bangin' soundtrack and future-star-studded cast of young actors, and "Pet Semetary," a story so dark that even King himself wondered if he'd gone too far.
What's your favorite Stephen King movie? Is it the one about the killer Saint Bernard who spends two hours trying to murder two people stuck inside a Ford Pinto? Or maybe the classic Stanley Kubrick masterpiece about the isolated mountain hotel that has many dark secrets to keep. Learn all the backstory, Easter eggs and fun facts about "Cujo" and "The Shining" on Episode 40.
The year 1985 had the best of everything. It was the year "Back to the Future" came out. It was the year parachute pants became a craze with teenage boys all over the country. And it had some of the biggest music moments of the 1980s. From Madonna to Tears for Fears to "We Are the World," let's explore the auditory delights of 1985.
Sing it with us! "Big Mac — Filet-O-Fish — Quarter Pounder — French Fries! — Icy Coke — Thick Shakes — Sundaes and Apple Pies!" The fact that you still remember all the words to that very 1980s commercial jingle stands as a testament to the ubiquitousness of American fast food. Let's dig in to episode 38 ...
We hope you brought your appetite to this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids because it's time to eat! Pull up a chair and loosen your belt as Aaron and Dr. Amy take you away on a culinary journey through the 1980s, featuring hot fudge sundaes, tabletop Ms. Pac-Man, sawdust on the floor, and possibly animatronic mice.
Tune in to Episode 36 for a Latchkey Kids True Confession from Aaron about how he cheated at Rubik's Cube in 1981 and made everyone think he was a genius when actually he is kind of an idiot. Also, hear how Amy used to leave her Lite Brite plugged in all night for use as a night light, creating a hazardous fire danger for the whole entire house!
Did you ever try to seduce your first love at a water park, like Aaron did (using the irresistible combination of licorice ropes and Dr. Pepper)? Did you ever try the Cannonball Loop at "Class Action Park" in New Jersey? Did you see Pink Floyd perform at Big Surf in Tempe, Arizona in 1972? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you are in truly rare company ... and episode 35 is for you!
Join Aaron and Dr. Amy this week as they launch themselves from rickety swingsets, burn their skin off on hot metal slides, and crack their skulls open falling off the monkey bars. Because (old man voice) back in our day, if the playground didn't send you to the emergency room, you weren't playing hard enough!
RULE #1 of the family road trip: DO NOT make dad pull this car over. RULE #2: DO NOT feed the dog French fries in the back seat. It's time to load up the family wagon, boys and girls, as Aaron and Dr. Amy take us for a ride on the open road. Can you tell Dr. Amy to stay on her side of the back seat, PLEASE?!
Put on your puffy vest, slide into your DeLorean, and pop some Huey Lewis and the News into the cassette player because we are going back ... TO THE FUTURE! Join Dr. Amy and brother Aaron for a deep dive into possibly the most 1980s movie ever made. And remember — where we're going, we don't need roads.
The Drummonds, the Seavers, the Keatons, the Huxtables ... if you could choose one 1980s TV sitcom family to grow up with, which one would it be? Hear Dr. Amy's surprise answer to that burning question — and take a drink every time Aaron mentions Punky Brewster getting stuck inside a refrigerator — all on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.
People! How much does Dr. Amy LOVE LOVE LOVE the classic 1971 film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?" So much that she quoted it in her doctoral dissertation! She really did. It's in the acknowledgements, on page 7 — copy and paste this link to check it out: bit.ly/3HR1jds
If you were an elementary school student in the 1980s, what was your biggest fear? Nuclear holocaust? Satan worshippers? Trickle-down economics? No, silly, it was STRANGER DANGER, the pervasive and crippling fear that a creepy stranger was going to offer you free candy to take a ride in his windowless van (unless you were Dr. Amy and then your biggest fear was E.T., for some reason).
Fred Rogers — who was NOT a Navy Seal sniper during the Vietnam War — made a generation of children feel seen and heard. His grace, honesty, earnestness and calm made us feel safe, and he taught us the importance of our own voices. Enjoy this episode — including Dr. Amy's fun facts — about the American saint in the red cardigan sweater.
Aaron and Dr. Amy had many favorite teachers over the years, of course, but one of their absolute favorites was the TV! Reading Rainbow host Lavar Burton had a hold over Dr. Amy that still exists to this day, and if it weren't for Sesame Street, there's no way Aaron would be able to count to twelve. Who was your favorite Sesame Street character and why was it Mr. Snuffleupagus?
What was the absolute NUMBER ONE television game show to watch when you were home sick from school? (HINT: There is only one correct answer to this question and it involves an elderly, white-haired gentlemen holding a tiny microphone on a stick).
Ahh, who can forget the brilliant musical stylings of 1980s pop legend Tommy Tutone, right? What's that? You don't remember Tommy Tutone? Well, you definitely remember his one humongous hit song (HINT: it's a phone number!). In this episode, Aaron and Dr. Amy count down — and sing! — your favorite one-hit wonder songs of the 80s. Come with us and sing along.
It has been a legend in Latchkey Kids family lore for some 40 years: Dr. Amy's precious Strawberry Shortcake doll — which she loved dearly for its aromatic strawberry scent and its weird Amish bonnet — was defaced by mean old brother Aaron, who took a pair of scissors and gave the innocent little doll a ruby red punk rock mohawk haircut. Aaron says this whole story has been fabricated and exaggerated, and the truth is that Dr. Amy BEGGED Aaron to give Strawberry Shortcake a cool, fun haircut that would set her apart from the other fruit-scented children in Strawberryland. Whom do you believe?
Did you ever pay $29.99 to pose with a fresh makeover — and maybe a feather boa — for Glamour Shots at your local mall? If you did, were you then able to transfer your newfound glamour into a position with a 1980s hair band? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this episode is for you.
Pack your denim shorts and crop tops, and load up the family wagon because we're headed to the Catskills, where we will soon fall into the cool, underground crowd of dirty dancers, led by the tall, suave, somewhat older man with the tight, white T-shirts and bad boy charm.
In this first installment of a two-part celebration of the career of Jennifer Grey, we look back at "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," John Hughes's love letter to Chicago, in which Ferris and Cameron and Sloane set off on an epic madcap day-long dash through the Windy City, fulfilling the wildest fantasies of truant ne'er-do-wells like Aaron. Fortunately for Ferris and Aaron, they had responsible sisters like Jeanie and Amy to keep them from going too far astray.
Have you ever tried to come up with a Top 20 list of all the important events that defined the 1980s? Well, we did! And it was NOT easy, that's for sure. For starters, where do you put Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk on national TV among the Iran/Contra affair and the fall of the Berlin Wall? See?! It's basically impossible.
Trapper Keepers, scratch-n-sniff stickers and four-color pens, oh my! Aaron and Dr. Amy STILL keep organized with some classic 1980s school supplies. But the perms, feathered bangs and ozone-depleting amounts of Aqua Net are, thankfully a thing of the past.
It's a rainy Sunday afternoon and there's nothing on TV except black-and-white Westerns and The 700 Club. What's a latchkey kid to do? Well, clear off the table and pull out your favorite board game, that's what! FUN FACT: Most board games — approx. 62% based on mathematical calculations — were invented by rock superstar David Bowie. True story.
Just like roller rinks were nightclubs for 13-year-olds, the mall was THE place to be for teenagers in the 1980s. The fashions, the music, the sweet smell of Cinnabon saturating the air-conditioned atmosphere. And if you were lucky, you could catch a live show of Tiffany and/or Debbie Gibson at your local mall. Were they sisters?
Here's the story ... of Aaron and Dr. Amy ... who were watching ten hours of TV every day ... but there was one show ... better than the others ... and that's what this podcast episode is about.
Aaron and Dr. Amy never had First Lady Nancy Reagan visit their house for a one-on-one "very special" conversation about the horrific dangers of drugs BUT we did see it on "Diff'rent Strokes" AND we had our weekly D.A.R.E. sessions to fill us with fear. But how effective was D.A.R.E., anyway? Was it a vital part of the War On Drugs? Or an elaborate and expensive way to distribute pencils and stickers to America's youth?
Unless you are a perfect angel like Dr. Amy, you knew that "I'm about to get in trouble" feeling when you were a kid. The sinking pit in your stomach, the wild and desperate ideas to undo what's been done, and then the very worst of possible consequences: hearing your poor mother tell you how disappointed she is in your behavior. In this week's episode, Aaron relives a few of his greatest hits of an ENTIRE CHILDHOOD spent "in trouble" while Dr. Amy recalls the time she had 200 kids over to the house and then stole and crashed the family car. WAIT WHAT?!
Whenever Aaron and Dr. Amy were able to scrape together a dollar or two, there was never any question over what we would do with it. We would immediately ride our bikes down to the local Circle K convenience store and spend every last dime on sweet, delicious candy, of course! Red Vines, Fun Dip, Whatchamacallit ... you name the candy, chances are that we were into it. Also, what it the correct way to consume Pixie Stix? Find out on this sweetest episode of The Latchkey Kids.
BOOKS! Aaron and Dr. Amy LOVED reading so much (Aaron enough to risk the lives of his entire family for a few late night hours flipping through the latest Choose Your Own Adventure book). For Amy, trips to the Mesa Public Library often lead to the same place — The Baby-Sitters Club.
Sing it with us! THE SUN'LL COME OUT ... TOMORROW! BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT TOMORROW ... THERE'LL BE SUN!!! The glitz, the music, the outfits — on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids, it's Annie, the first film that Amy — who may or may not be an actual orphan, who can say? — became COMPLETELY obsessed with.
There was nothing quite like the thrill of waking up EXTREMELY early on a Saturday morning and leaping out of bed, knowing the next several hours of your life would be filled with sugary cereals and ALL of your favorite cartoons. But while we were all geeking out on The Jetsons, Rainbow Brite and He Man: Masters of the Universe, what were our parents doing in their bedroom?
On this week's VERY SPECIAL episode of The Latchkey Kids, it's the King of Pop himself. Regardless of the lens through which you may view Michael Jackson now, there is no question what he meant for all of us latchkey kids back in the 80s, when Thriller was our anthem and everyone (especially Aaron) was trying to perfect their Moonwalk.
What was your go-to shoe back in the day? Did your parents spring for the Air Jordans you so desperately craved? Or were you (like Amy) sporting the cheap plastic Jelly sandals in all their glory? Also, did anyone else spend an inordinate amount of time trying to master the windmill on a piece of cardboard in the driveway, or was that just Aaron?
If you grew up a latchkey kid in the 80s, you most likely consumed a RIDICULOUS amount of television. "TV was our mom," says Aaron. "It was our god. It was the central point of the entire house." This week on The Latchkey Kids, two of our absolute favorite wonderful, terrible TV shows from our childhood; The Problematic Dukes of Hazzard and Jem and Digitally Manufactured Holograms. Get ready to sing the theme song at the top of your lungs, kids!
If you were alive and over the age of five in 1983, you DEFINITELY remember Cabbage Patch Kids. They were hideously ugly, covered in pantyhose (?), and each one was different and very special. You would think Amy would remember the name of her prized Cabbage Patch Kid, wouldn't you? Well, dear listener, YOU'D BE WRONG. Also, what the hell was up with the cinnamon toothpick fad in middle school?
Ahh, the endless freedom of the bicycle ... riding down the street, handlebar tassels streaming in the breeze as you bask in the freedom of movement. And then BAM! Amy goes face first right into a mailbox, and you start to think maybe having her ride on the handlebars wasn't such a good idea after all. BIKES on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids, and what do you remember about school lunches when you were a kid? For us, it's all about the square, greasy pizza.
The dark lighting, the throbbing beats, the licorice ropes ... were roller rinks really just "nightclubs for 13-year-olds?" Also, how Amy and Aaron spent their summers sucking down juice box slushies and swimming in bathtub-temperature pool water at the Mesa YMCA.
What was your go-to latchkey snack after school? For Aaron, it was COPIOUS amounts of cereal. Also, what spurred the sudden onslaught of fitness videos in the 1980s? A deep dive on Get In Shape, Girl!
Do you remember "The Burning Bed," the classic made-for-TV movie starring Farrah Fawcett? Were you traumatized by it? What about E.T. - cute little alien pal or deeply disturbing monster? Let's find out what Amy thinks.
Grab your plastic shovel and get crankin' because in the inaugural episode of "The Latchkey Kids," it's time to rediscover the magic of the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine.