The Rusty Playground

What up, Rustomonkeys?

Here is the second part of episode 11. What's that, you ask? How is there a part 2 of an episode when all the other part 2s were named after the next sequence of numbers? We had episode 3 part 1, then episode 4 part 2 which is part 2 of the audio we shot for episode 3!?

Easy answer...who cares?! The important thing is that we are now not only releasing the regular audio versions of our fun little Gen-X-centric podcast, but also a VIDEO version which is over on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@therustyplayground. Also check out our website for blogs and other tomfoolery. So if you're driving around or mowing the grass, listen to the audio, and if you're cooking or sitting on the couch or whatever, watch the video. Or don't. We're not your boss!

In this episode we continue our talk about how Gen-X (and Boomers) thought the future would be like, which turned out to be less about how past generations saw the future, and more about us talking about Erin Gray.

So join us as we start off talking about Star Trek and end up talking about The Dukes of Hazzard!

Lil' Cousin tastes like chicken,
Mattyman and Vannyboy

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@therustyplayground
www.TheRustyPlayground.com
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Hello Rustheads!

Well it's a new year and we wanted to start off strong! What's that, you say? It's March? A new year always starts with January?

Of course we know that! More or less.

Anyway, we know this is a tad bit late for a New Year's episode, but we are Gen-X!! We don't play by your rules? We learned our work ethic from MTV, for God's sake! So, in this thrilling episode, we discuss science fiction, technology, and other smart-person stuff that affected Gen-X as a whole. We dive into political assassinations and swim through cheesy late-70s science fiction.

Also, you may be wondering "Episode 11? Wait, where is episode 9 and 10?!" Well...we recorded those but after editing 5 videos for December I said "screw it, I'm tired". So they are buried, unfinished on my hard drive. I'll never make them and you can't make me! There. I've said it.

We worked hard on it. Also, there is now a video version as well. Check it on our YouTube channel HERE.

Thinking your dog don't bite,
Vannyboy and Mattyman

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Hi Rustorians,

We are back with our very next episode numbered in a way to confuse the hell out of you: Episode 8, which is part 4 of our Christmas Toys GenXstraviganza that we've entitled "He-Man Was On Steroids", which, unlike our naming convention, was obvious.

Matter of fact, we could have named it "The 1980s Were On Steroids" but by the time we thought of that cool title, we had named it the first thing and was too lazy to fix it. Why? BECAUSE WE ARE GEN-X, BABY!

So, as mentioned before, we anticipated making TWO episodes this month, first about Gen-X toys of the 1970s, and then about the toys of the 1980s. However, we had too much fun and it stretched into FIVE episodes, of which this is the FORTH. So...one more to go. See?!?! Wasn't that easy to follow?

In this episode Mattyman and Vannyboy outdo themselves as they start the discussion about some of the top toys of the 1980s that we loved, we broke, and then forgot. Much like our brains in the 1990s!

Join us on this journey of rediscovery. And by rediscovery we mean "we had to look stuff up".

Wang-Chunging tonight,
Mattyman and Vannyboy

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
www.TheRustyPlayground.com

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Rustheads: "What the heck, guys?! More discussion about toys?"

Mattyman and Vannyboy: "Hey, we are members of Generation X, the coolest generation! The only thing we had in life was toys! We still play with them!"

So..there you have it, friends! More toys, more silliness, more jokes, more time-suck!

Seriously though, we initially planned on making a 2-parter as usual, one episode for Gen X toys of the 70s and one for the 80s, but we got wordy, plus we had a hell of a lot of cool toys! So sue us! We aren't good at time management and mathiness and stuff.

Please keep with us and join in. If you don't like it, you'll get your money back.

I think we're turning Japanese,
Mattyman and Vannyboy

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
www.TheRustyPlayground.com

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Hey, Rustoligists!

We are back at it again, breaking down the best and most loved toys that touched the lives of Generation X. Or at least the ones we could remember, plus ones that popped up while researching the interwebs.

In this episode, we touch on two very important toys: The Atari 2600, and the Nerf Ball.

Why only two toys in one episode? Simple, they were important, they were detailed, and we got carried away. I regret nothing.

So come have fun in the playground, learn a little about technology, laugh a little about Mattyman's made up games, but most of all, learn a lot about love. But mostly technology and made up games...

Slapping y'all in the butt with a towel in the showers,
Mattyman and Vannyboy

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
www.TheRustyPlayground.com

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It's long been assumed that the best toys ever are the toys they make now. Sure, China makes 99% of the toys, and occasionally they will add some lead to their paint, but have they ever created a successful toy that bleeds? Have they created a toy that is more or less guaranteed to put your eye out? Ever see a Chinese baby doll so realistic that it literally craps it's pants?

No. I think not!

USA! USA! USA!

We started this off thinking we would just bang out two episodes of Christmas Toys for December, but, well...we got carried away. It's probably going to end up being 5 episodes. See! You opened up your presents from Mattyman and Vannyboy and got 5 episodes for the price of 1!

Keep an eye out for the upcoming December goodies, unless you're a GenXer who lost an eye to a GenX toy, in which case...well, still keep an eye out, please!

Measuring up to Andre The Giant's testicles,
Mattyman and Vannyboy

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
www.TheRustyPlayground.com

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Hey Rusties,

Enjoy a second helping of the most 80s of the 80s...1984!

It was THE year of everything big, loud, and dangerous...including Vannyboy's teenage musk.

You'll thrill to tales of glorious abandon as he recounts a day in the life of his misspent youth.

Up is down and orange is left as we get real about alcohol, cars and...comic books?!?
Trust me, you don't want to miss what happens when you mix rice and Vodka.

So put on your Walkman headphones, Monsters of Rock T-Shirt, and parachute pants as we get GNARLY.

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
www.TheRustyPlayground.com

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Hello Rustheads,

1984 was an amazing year not just for Gen-X, but for the whole world, as we FINALLY had someone to call when something was weird and didn’t look good.

And speaking of weird, join Mattyman as Vannyboy breaks down an average day for a 15-year-old in the most 80s of years, in a segment we almost lazily titled “A Day In The Life Of A Gen-Xer: 1984 Edition", but changed at the last second after spending $27,000 on a branding agency.

We’ll explore music, television, and music television while also answering the age-old question "was it necessary to be naked in front of all your friends?"

You’ll have to listen to find out!

This episode is a little bit more mature than the last few. Well...maybe less mature. You'll see what we mean. It's not for kids, we'll just put it that way!

So, let's hop into a smoking hot 1973 Z28 and peel out toward destiny and destruction.

In the name of St. Elmo's Fire,
Mattyman and Vannyboy

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
www.TheRustyPlayground.com

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Hey, you groovy cats and chicks!

Today on The Rusty Playground, Mattyman and Vannyboy reach waaaaaay back in their memories to bring you a slice of what we called "life" in the magical year: 1977.

We discuss everything from an average day, what was on TV, the music scene, mini-series, and something I think Mattyman called "Stan Whats" or "Straw Bore"...err..."STAR WARS"! That's the ticket.

As we mention in the episode, we initially thought this would be a bit too far back to remember, but we somehow pulled a ton of experiences out of our brains. So we had to split it up into 2-parts. Matter of fact, each episode will most likely be 2-parts.

Hey! We are new at this.
See ya' on the playground.

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
www.TheRustyPlayground.com

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Hi, y'all!

Welcome to our very first episode of The Rusty Playground, a Gen-X-centric podcast where we talk about everything involving the coolest generation.

In this episode, Mattyman and Vannyboy set up what you are in for when you visit the playground. Just a simple lay of the land, so to speak. We introduce ourselves and the purpose of this whole thing. And what is the purpose? Well, to remind Gen-Xers what they might have forgotten, show Millenials what we were up to before they were old enough to follow us around, and teach Gen-Z about us, the coolest generation. Along the way, expect some laughs, some gasps, and some snorts.

This is about how it's awesome to be us, not how it sucks to be you.
Now, let's go play!

Thanks for the visit. Play nice in the playground.
Twitter @RustyPlayPod
www.TheRustyPlayground.com

The Rusty Playground: Recent Episodes

Mattyman and Vannyboy