Pac-Man Fever Takes Over the 1980s

Pac-Man Fever Takes Over the 1980s

Author: Jamie Logie | 1980s Pop Culture & Nostalgia April 29, 2026 Duration: 50:23

Pac-Man was a solution to a major problem. That problem? The video game industry mainly attracted teenage males; no one else was really setting foot in arcades. Game designer Toru Iwatani believed he had created the right idea to change all that.

Not only did he change the world of video games, but his creation ended up creating an absolute pop culture phenomenon. Pac-Man was such a hit when it first hit arcades in late 1980 that it turned the entire entertainment industry on its head. 


Step back into a world of neon, synth-pop, and big hair with Everything 80s. Hosted by Jamie Logie, this podcast is a deep, affectionate dive into the decade that shaped modern pop culture. It’s less a formal history lesson and more like rifling through a time capsule with a friend who remembers every detail. Episodes explore the films, television, music, and toys that weren't just entertainment-they were the shared language of a generation. You’ll hear specific discussions on everything from the rise of MTV and the cinematic magic of John Hughes to the toy-box revolutions of Transformers and the fantasy realms of He-Man. The conversation naturally spans the iconic, like Michael Jackson’s Thriller era, to the foundational moments of home gaming with Nintendo. This isn't just about listing favorites; it's about understanding why these cultural artifacts from the 1980s still resonate so powerfully today. For anyone feeling a pull of nostalgia or a curiosity about the era's lasting impact, this podcast offers a consistently engaging and insightful listen. Tune in to rediscover the sounds, stories, and sensations that defined an unforgettable ten years.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Everything 80s
Podcast Episodes
The 1980s Stand-Up Comedy Boom: Part Deux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:06
In part one, we looked at the origins of stand-up comedy and its evolution through the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Then, as we head into the 1980s, some big things happen. A strike, mainstream exposure, and the rise of comedy clu…
The Stand-Up Comedy Boom of the 1980s: Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:31
From small, smoky nightclubs to prime time TV and Hollywood, stand-up comedy has gone through many iterations over more than a century. But it was in the 1980s when a true comedy boom took place. In part one of this two-…
Hulk Hogan and the Rise of Hulkamania in the 80s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:10
Before he was Hulk Hogan, he was Terry Gene Bollea. And before Hulkamania ran wild in the 1980s, he was carefully crafting the character that would not only change the world of professional wrestling but also break throu…
ET: The Movie That Stayed at Number One for 11 Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:05
Steven Spielberg was extremely nervous... this was the most personal project he had ever created, and he wondered if he had made a huge mistake. That project was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, a movie that, at its core, is…
10 Pranks & Hoaxes That Fooled the Entire 1980s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:23
Before the internet could fact-check anything, the 1980s were a golden age for famous hoaxes, pranks, and April Fool's jokes. And a lot of people fell for them. Today, we look back at 10 notable 1980s pranks and hoaxes t…
Exxon Valdez: The Neverending Damage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:12
It should have been just another regular journey... but in the early morning hours of March 24th, 1989, the Exxon Valdez was about to embark on a fateful voyage This is a look back on the accident that not only decimated…
29 Things You Missed in Back to the Future 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:39
It had been an agonizing four long years... but finally came one of the most highly anticipated sequels of all time. After Back to the Future became a massive hit in the summer of 1985, everyone wanted to see what would…
The Rise & Fall of Radio Shack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:47
Before Amazon, before Best Buy, there was Radio Shack--and in the 1980s, it was your one-stop shop for all things electronics. Today, we look at the origins of the company--which go back to the early 19th century--then w…
When Cassette Tapes Ruled the 80s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:30
Cassette tapes defined 1980s music. Not only did they give rise to the Walkman and Boombox, but also the art of making a mix tape. Today, we look back on the creation that not only changed music and tech but also pop cul…