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Artwork for The (Mostly) 80s Music Podcast: What Difference Does It Make?

The (Mostly) 80s Music Podcast: What Difference Does It Make?

Dave Sloan and Holly Cantos - 80s Music Podcast
80s Music
KROQ
Music Industry
1980s Music
Los Angeles
MTV
Duran Duran
The Cure
Summer Songs
Country Music
Bruce Springsteen
Record Store Day
1989
One Hit Wonders
Paige Stark
Nostalgia
John Candy
Comedy
K-Rock
Foreigner

Dave and Holly, your 80s music aficionados, talk to the artists and music industry insiders that made it the greatest decade for music.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes303Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusic InterviewsMusic

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Artwork for The (Mostly) 80s Music Podcast: What Difference Does It Make?

Latest Episodes

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As an ’80s music podcast, it’s no secret that we’ve always had a little extra love for Olivia Newton-John. Now, author Matthew Hild takes that appreciation even deeper with his new book, A Little More Love: The Love and Legacy of Olivia Newton-John, ... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Matthew Hild
History and sociology professor, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech
Episode: Matthew Hild Gives Olivia Newton-John A Little More Love
Robert Margouleff
Grammy Award-winning producer, synthesizer pioneer, author of Shaping Sounds
Shaping Sounds (book); Stevie Wonder collaborations
Episode: Robert Margouleff Shapes Sounds
Craig Rosen
Writer and friend of the hosts
Episode: Gen X Summer Song Favorites
Gina Gershon
Actress and author
Author of AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs
Episode: Gina Gershon Survives The San Fernando Valley
Steve Berlin
Producer and saxophonist, associated with Top Jimmy And The Rhythm Pigs, Los Lobos, The Blasters
Los Lobos, The Blasters
Episode: Steve Berlin Is A Rhythm Pig
Steve Spears
Host of Stuck in the 80s podcast and author of the book Stuck in the 80s, 20 years of conversations with pop culture icons who defined a decade
Stuck in the 80s
Episode: Steve Spears Is Forever Stuck In The 80s
Danny Goldberg
Music industry veteran and author of Bumping Into Geniuses
Self-employed / Gold Village Entertainment
Episode: Danny Goldberg Bumps Into Genius
Harold Bronson
Co-founder of Rhino Records
Rhino Records
Episode: Harold Bronson Reconnects With His Savage Young Winos
Steven Blush
Author of When Rock Met Hip Hop trilogy
Author
Episode: Steven Blush Was Raised On Disco, Reggae, Hip-Hop, And Rock

Hosts

Holly Watson
Co-host and interviewer with long-running ties to the show; frequent collaborator with the other host and guests
Dave Sloan
Host and interviewer with deep industry knowledge and storytelling style

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 44 ratings
  • Excellent listen!

    Great listen for fans of music from the 80’s or really any decade.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brainadamant
    United States4 years ago
  • Great Podcasts

    Dave & Holly do an incredible job on this podcast. Great job

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Danny 1432
    United States4 years ago
  • What difference does it make

    What a great podcast !! Thoroughly enjoyed the personal home touch -David Sloan really knows how to carry on a conversation with people and it shows. You must listen to his podcasts and I can’t wait to hear his next one.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    doc low
    United States4 years ago
  • Awesome to the max

    Great chemistry between the host and loads of 80s fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BigDannySmack
    United States4 years ago
  • Seriously impressive podcast!

    As someone who presented an 80s radio show for over 15 years, i can spot frauds a mile off - Dave and Holly know their stuff, and are a blast to listen to as well! Highly recommend you subscribe to this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Not as audacious as Martha
    United Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Community feedback highlights strong interview quality and memorable anecdotes
Guests frequently praised for depth and engaging storytelling
Listeners appreciate the mix of music clips and conversation
Positive reception of hosts' chemistry and knowledge, especially for 80s fans
Shows are described as nostalgic, entertaining, and informative for music historians or fans

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Robert Margouleff Shapes Sounds
Q: Did Stevie ever find a drummer suited to his tracks, or was it mostly him playing the drums?
Stevie played the drums on those recordings; he was the drummer on those tracks, with only occasional outside drummers when touring; the approach emphasized Steve's ability to groove and keep time without click tracks.
JayQuan Is Raising Hell For Run-DMC
Q: How did RUN-DMC come to symbolize a new era in rap, and why did JayQuan think they broke through when others didn't?
JayQuan attributes RUN-DMC's breakthrough to a combination of timing, a stripped-down but powerful beat approach, and a look that connected with the audience. He explains that their minimal, rock-infused production by Larry Smith and later Rick Rubin, plus an image that mirrored everyday fans, made them more relatable and accessible than earlier acts. This created a template for a cohesive album experience rather than a string of singles.
Steve Spears Is Forever Stuck In The 80s
Q: When you decided to write the book, did you already have a lineup of interviews in mind from the transcripts?
Yes, Steve said that certain interviews like Steve Perry and Huey Lewis anchored the book, and the process evolved from building transcripts to adding context and personal reflection.
Paul Rees Was Raised On Radio
Q: How did you determine which musicians and stories to include?
He notes he spoke to about 60 people directly for the book, supplemented by other sources, aiming to present a broad, cohesive picture of the period rather than a single-band focus.
Paul Rees Was Raised On Radio
Q: What inspired you to write Raised on Radio and focus on the AOR glory years?
Paul Rees explains it felt like a story of an era—radio, MTV, and the commercial peak of arena rock all intersected in a vibrant but transitional moment worth documenting in depth.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A nostalgic deep-dive into 1980s music, focusing on interviews with artists, historians, and industry insiders who shaped the decade. Hosts Dave and Holly guide conversations that blend personal memories, storytelling, and contextual analysis of songs, albums, and cultural moments. A standout feature is the mix of music clips and candid anecdotes, often pairing well-known figures with behind-the-scenes perspectives from the industry, which helps listeners understand not just the music, but the era that produced it. The show regularly explores niche histories, cross-genre connections, and the social context of the 80s, making it a strong fit for fans of music history and vibrant, character-rich interview storytelling.

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How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 303 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Matthew Hild
2. Robert Margouleff
3. Craig Rosen
4. Gina Gershon
5. Steve Berlin
6. Steve Spears
7. Danny Goldberg
8. Harold Bronson

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