1986 | Perms, Popcorn, Panic

from Barely Historical · host Barely Historical

Jo arrives in late 1986 as a six pound ball of chaos while Amanda watches from the cosmic waiting room and together they drag you through one of the wildest years of the eighties. In this Barely Historical episode, we talk Challenger, Chernobyl, Reagan era politics, chaotic 80s parenting, working moms in oversized sweaters, teenage boys saving for cars, mall culture, Aqua Net addictions, Top Gun, Ferris Bueller, Aliens, Madonna and Sean Penn drama, Run DMC, Crocodile Dundee, and the general emotional instability of 1986. If you love dark comedy history podcasts with heavy 80s nostalgia, big hair energy, VHS memories, and extremely medium research, this one is for you. Listen to Jo and Amanda mix gossip with real events as they turn Challenger trauma, nuclear fallout, Iran Contra hearings, and neon consumerism into a messy scrapbook of 1986. Hit follow, rate and review on Spotify, and check out our Patreon for the Chernobyl deep dive plus upcoming episodes on 1924 and the first Macy’s Day Parade. Let's Ruin the Past! Listen wherever you ruin history. Credits Hosts: JoLynne & Amanda Produced by Barely Historical Follow us Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @barelyhistoricalpodcast Patreon: ⁠patreon.com/cw/barelyhistorical⁠ Contact: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Nov 18, 2025

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1986 | Perms, Popcorn, Panic

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