This week on Chat and Bother, we're rewinding to a time when the news didn't just break—it spilled, fell apart, and in one case… got cut short.

We're unpacking three of the most can-you-believe-this-was-real stories from the 80s and 90s:

- the Exxon Valdez oil spill, when corporate responsibility ran aground and cleanup plans clearly weren't shipshape;

- Milli Vanilli, who taught us that sometimes the music hits… but the truth skips;

- and Lorena Bobbitt, a story so shocking it had America clutching pearls, cracking jokes, and learning way more anatomy than anyone asked for. T

hese headlines dominated classrooms, talk shows, and dinner tables, shaping how we learned to distrust big companies, pop stars, and the phrase "based on a true story." We break down what really happened, how the media ran with it, and why these moments still live rent-free in our Gen X brains.

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Do you remember the Tylenol Murders (now a Netflix movie!)? Where were you when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? What do you remember about the most famous 80s televangelists? Welcome to the season premiere of the Chat and Bother Podcast!

We are kicking off this season with some of the news that Gen Xers remember. Back when news came on at 6 and 11, and the TV went off at the end of the day, remember that? Weigh in and tell us how old you were when these were the top news stories, and how these stories changed how you think about the world today.

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Thirteen tapes for a penny from Columbia House? Win a million dollars if you order some magazines from Publisher's Clearing House? PART of a complete breakfast? Learning to break dance from Alfonso Ribero's BOOK? In the 80's they really went all in on getting our attention—and our allowance money.

Gen X grew up in an advertising wonderland, where every cartoon had a toy line, every cereal had a mascot, and everything we saw on TV was a commercial in disguise. In this episode, Don and Eva talk bout their favorite ads and how marketers targeted an entire generation with jingles, prizes, and pop culture tie-ins that were impossible to ignore. Were we the most advertised-to generation in history—or just the first to know we were being sold to? Let's rewind the VHS and find out.

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For this special Q&A Sunday during Black History Month, we're discussing the unforgettable Black movies that shaped our childhoods and helped define a generation.

From classics like Coming to America, Friday, and House Party, to deeper stories like Boyz n the Hood and School Daze, we're celebrating the creativity, humor, love, and realness that Black filmmakers and actors brought to the screen.

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We're answering your questions about:

• Our favorite Black movies from the 80s and 90s
• Which movies stayed with us (and why!)
• How these films reflected the culture and changed the industry
• Gems you have to revisit

We know you'll love this one, because as you know, Chat and Bother isn't just about nostalgia, it's about celebrating the stories that made us who we are.

Listen, share with friends, and let us know YOUR favorite Black movies from the 80s and 90s!

What is Q&A Sunday?

Q&A Sunday is a weekly segment on the Chat and Bother Podcast where we answer fun, nostalgic, and thought-provoking questions, often inspired by Gen X culture. The questions appear live on our Facebook and Instagram Stories, allowing our audience to participate in real time. If you miss the live questions, you can still join the conversation by answering in the comments on our YouTube Shorts or watching the full episode on our YouTube channel. Listeners can also call in with comments or suggest new topics by visiting ChatAndBother.com and clicking the phone icon. Some responses may even be featured in future episodes!

Where to find us:

Instagram - @chatandbother

Facebook Page - @chatandbother

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This Black History Month, let's take it back to the Gen X era! In this special Q&A Sunday episode, Don and Eva answer questions about the impact of Black culture from the '70s through the early 2000s. From the music that shaped a generation to the TV shows, movies, and historical moments that defined our time, they're bringing nostalgia and knowledge.

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Which Black Gen X icons had the biggest influence? What cultural shifts changed the game? We've got the answers—and maybe a few debates along the way!

Want to catch individual questions from this episode? They're all in our Q&A Sunday playlist on YouTube!

Listen, comment, and tell us your favorite Black history moments from the Gen X era! Don't forget to follow, rate, and share to support the Chat and Bother podcast.

What is Q&A Sunday?

Q&A Sunday is a weekly segment on the Chat and Bother Podcast where we answer fun, nostalgic, and thought-provoking questions, often inspired by Gen X culture. The questions appear live on our Facebook and Instagram Stories, allowing our audience to participate in real time. If you miss the live questions, you can still join the conversation by answering in the comments on our YouTube Shorts or watching the full episode on our YouTube channel. Listeners can also call in with comments or suggest new topics by visiting ChatAndBother.com and clicking the phone icon. Some responses may even be featured in future episodes!

Where to find us:

Instagram - @chatandbother

Facebook Page - @chatandbother

YouTube - @chatandbother

Twitter - @chatandbother

TikTok - @chatandbother

Threads - @chatandbother

Email List - http://eepurl.com/igYlfv

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This Q&A Sunday, we're talking about what it takes to have a successful marriage! From communication and trust to navigating challenges together, we're sharing our thoughts on making relationships last. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to join the conversation every Sunday! You can also check out our Q&A Sunday playlist on YouTube to see all the questions we've answered so far. Drop your thoughts in the comments on Facebook, Spotify, or This Q&A Sunday, we're talking about what it takes to have a successful marriage! From communication and trust to navigating challenges together, we're sharing our thoughts on making relationships last. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to join the conversation every Sunday! You can also check out our Q&A Sunday playlist on YouTube—we'd love to hear from you!

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What is Q&A Sunday?

Q&A Sunday is a weekly segment on the Chat and Bother Podcast where we answer fun, nostalgic, and thought-provoking questions, often inspired by Gen X culture. The questions appear live on our Facebook and Instagram Stories, allowing our audience to participate in real time. If you miss the live questions, you can still join the conversation by answering in the comments on our YouTube Shorts or watching the full episode on our YouTube channel. Listeners can also call in with comments or suggest new topics by visiting ChatAndBother.com and clicking the phone icon. Some responses may even be featured in future episodes!

Where to find us:

Instagram - @chatandbother

Facebook Page - @chatandbother

YouTube - @chatandbother

Twitter - @chatandbother

TikTok - @chatandbother

Threads - @chatandbother

Email List - http://eepurl.com/igYlfv

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Did Baby Boomers create the perfect storm for Gen X anxiety? Or did they accidentally raise the most resilient (and hilariously unbothered) generation ever? In this episode, Eva and Don break down the chaos of growing up Gen X—where every game, playground, and news report felt like the apocalypse was just around the corner.

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In this episode:

• The nerve-wracking games like Operation and the Pop-Up Tic Tac Toe game that made kids sweat!
• Playground warfare: dodgeball, Red Rover, and other borderline-dangerous games that ruptured spleens and dislocated shoulders.
• The rise of 24/7 news and how it turned every headline into a kid's worst nightmare.
• How the Baby Boomer "every man for himself" mentality shaped Gen X into the most anxious yet feral and unbothered generation.

We want to hear from YOU! What childhood games made YOU the most nervous? Do you think Baby Boomers are responsible for Gen X's feral resilience? Call us and tell us what you think at 312-788-7827. Share your thoughts in the comments on Facebook and YouTube, and join the conversation!

Where to find us:

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Don't miss out—subscribe to Chat and Bother on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with our nostalgic and hilariously relatable takes.

This week, we need you to tell us - Is she the a-hole? Here's the dilema.

"I'm a 49-year-old woman dating a great 52-year-old man, but he has a massive figurine collection that I can't see myself living with. Would I be the a-hole for ending the relationship over this?"

Read the full story here - https://chatandbother.com/w/aita-for-thinking-a-grown-man-shouldnt-have-this-many-toys/

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Where to find us:

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Facebook Page - @chatandbother

YouTube - @chatandbother

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