A Journey Through Pre-Digital Life and Cultural Touchstones In this nostalgic episode, Sarah and Dr. Elouise take a trip down memory lane, exploring the cultural touchstones, fashion trends, technology, and lifestyle differences that defined the 1980s and 1990s. The two procurement professionals share personal memories and observations about growing up before smartphones, social media, and modern conveniences. From fashion faux pas to entertainment experiences, they paint a vivid picture of analog life and discuss what elements from those decades they'd like to see make a comeback. The conversation offers both humorous reminiscences and thoughtful commentary on how technology and culture have transformed daily life. Key Points: • Cultural Unity Through Limited Media Options: With only 12-20 TV channels and scheduled programming, entire generations shared common cultural experiences like "Must-See TV" Thursday nights, creating unified touchstones that don't exist in today's fragmented media landscape. • Authentic Childhood Independence and Risk-Taking: Children experienced genuine independence, playing outside unsupervised for hours, using "dangerous" playground equipment, and developing real-world problem-solving skills without constant parental oversight or digital distractions. • The Lost Art of Analog Communication: Letter writing, phone calls with busy signals, and face-to-face interactions created more meaningful, memorable connections than today's instant but forgettable digital communications. • Physical Navigation and Geographic Awareness: Using paper maps, Thomas Guides, and asking strangers for directions developed spatial intelligence and human interaction skills that GPS navigation has largely eliminated. ✨Highlights✨ 00:00 Introduction to nostalgia topic: Things we miss from the '80s and '90s in the AI age 04:00 Fashion feels and faux pas: Leg warmers, slap bracelets, Gap everything, and the iconic lipstick-liner combo 10:00 Pop culture powerhouse: Must-See TV nights when everyone watched the same shows, creating shared cultural experiences 16:40 MTV's cultural impact: "Video Killed the Radio Star" and when music videos actually played on MTV 25:30 Hair metal and music evolution: The spectacle of massive concerts before TMZ and internet exposure 32:00 Retail therapy nostalgia: Mall culture, food courts, and stores like Mervyn's and Hot Dog on a Stick 38:00 Before smartphones ruled: Call waiting, pagers, 50-foot phone cords, and the drama of busy signals 50:00 Playing outside and playground culture: Metal slides, dangerous merry-go-rounds, and true childhood independence 56:00 Feral Halloween: Unsupervised trick-or-treating with pillowcases, whole candy bars, and neighborhood-wide freedom 01:02:40 Analog comeback wishlist: Paper maps, handwritten letters, and the lost art of meaningful correspondence Please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and, as always, submit questions and topics suggestions for future podcasts here: https://shorturl.at/PbNi6 Follow us on YouTube for episode video recordings: https://rb.gy/t5hbw8 Hosts: Sarah Scudder and Dr. Elouise Epstein Producer: Sabrina Mougin
