Minisode: Payphones, Pagers, and T9 Cellphones, OH MY

In this special bonus minisode, The 90s Rewind Report spotlights a solo episode hosted by Michael Reagan, taking listeners on a nostalgic deep dive into the rise, evolution, and eventual fall of some of the most iconic communication devices of the 1990s. From payphones on every corner to pagers clipped proudly to belts and backpacks, and early cellphones that made texting feel more like decoding than typing, this episode covers it all. Michael also shares a personal throwback story about his very first phone — a model that many teens in the late ’90s will instantly recognize as one they likely owned themselves. Along the way, the minisode tackles the important questions: What’s the real difference between a standalone payphone and a phone booth? Is it called a pager, or is it actually a beeper? And how did ’90s kids manage to text without a touchscreen or virtual keyboard? Whether you grew up with these devices or are just fascinated by how quickly technology evolved, this bonus episode is a fun, nostalgic look back at a pre-smartphone world. Stay tuned for more bonus content as we transition into Season 3!