Billy, Joey, & Delta Dawn go to the Copacabana: Story Songs of the 1970s: Join us today for the preservation of songs about car crashes, train accidents, shipwrecks, deadbeat dads, jail time, basic heartbreak and lots and lots of murder -- in an episode dedicated to the story songs of the 1970s. From Joey and Billy to Daddy and the sheriff, not to mention a hundred yellow ribbons and the Harper Valley PTA, people have been telling stories with songs for centuries; but the 1970s took that tradition and turned it into top 40 gold. Tune in to find out which of these songs grabbed us by the ears and stomped on our hearts in every which way. And we dare you not to sing.

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Linger with us as we sing our hearts out to the songs that turned out to be not just beloved but also universal. Whether it was Girl Scout camp, Boy Scout camp, Bluebirds or Brownies, Camp Fire Girls, Bible camp, theater camp or Jewish day camp (whew!) we all seemed to be singing from the same mimeographed songbook around the campfire. We sang about ants, bears, bunnies, hot dogs, Fords, country roads, barges (why???) and we all wished we had a hammer so we could hammer in the morning. After morning has broken, of course. Sing along with us today and see how many lyrics magically trip off the tongue after lying dormant in your brain for forty-five years.

Found a Peanut: Deconstructing a Universal American Tragedy by Linda Boroff

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Today we're saving that very special chapter of small-screen history — the shows you wished you could binge-watch but couldn't binge-watch because that wasn't possible — the TV miniseries. Whether it was the epic battles of Shōgun, the sweeping drama and historical significance of Roots, the misguided and controversial romance of The Thorn Birds, or the deliciously trashy and captivating stories of the romance novel adaptations (hello, Lace), these limited-run sagas were cultural touchstones. Will we mention Richard Chamberlin’s bare bottom? Listen to find out!

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Forget organized sports leagues and structured activities. Today's episode celebrates the original "unplugged" generation: Gen X! We're taking a deep dive into the impromptu, self-governed world of neighborhood games that defined our childhoods. From the chalk artistry of Hopscotch to the frantic dashes of Kick The Can, these weren't just games; they were life lessons in strategy, teamwork, and knowing when to run for cover. We'll share the top 10 neighborhood games according to our society members along with hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy memories of getting dizzy with Swinging Statues (or Statue Maker as Kristin calls it) and the sheer force required to break (or be broken by) a Red Rover chain. Get ready to laugh, wince, and remember a time when the biggest challenge was getting home before dark.

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Today we’ll be saving the precious messages inscribed into our school yearbooks that no one ever imagined would be read aloud PUBLICLY 40 years later. But that's exactly what we did -- welcome to Gen X Yearbook Reader’s Theater! (Sorry, Debbie). There may not be anything that signals the end of the school year more than the distribution of yearbooks. And the signing frenzy that follows..And so – we all spent significant time with the yearbooks that documented our academic experience in the Gen X era. We read every scribbled message from every single person – friends, enemies and complete strangers alike – and we’ve come away with something bigger than we thought. It's a time capsule of not just fashion (neon), hairstyles (big) and culture (everyone's an icon) -- it's also a time capsule of who we were and how people saw us at a particular moment in time. And reading those messages now, with your adult eyes, might just change your whole perspective on high school. Join us for a hilarious, heartbreaking but also humbling performance of yearbook inscriptions recalling government tests, a D in Humanities, mock trial club, CPR fumbles, fetal pigs and, of course, lots and lots of crushes (just ask Carolyn aka 'Mrs. Crosier').

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Get ready to kick off Season 16 as we flash back to the glorious chaos of Field Day! We're diving headfirst into the GenX end-of-year tradition that either filled you with the thrill of victory (and a coveted ribbon!) or the dread of impending physical exertion. We'll reminisce about the agony and the ecstasy of the tug-of-war (remember that glorious rope burn?), the awkward coordination of the three-legged race, and the surprisingly stressful egg-on-a-spoon relay. Join us as we learn why some of our listeners lived for the competitive spirit and sunshine and who is still salty about not winning a ribbon.

Kristin and Carolyn each share some exciting news, too.

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Tune in today as the topics of our Season 16 episodes are REVEALED! Consider this your TV Guide preview issue for the new season of The Pop Culture Preservation Society, full of pithy promos, clever hooks, and even a Season 16 theme song. Before the big reveal, Carolyn warms up the crowd with a walk through an actual TV Guide Preview Issue from 1979 (does anyone else remember Out of the Blue starring Olivia Barash? Or is it just Kristin?). The 1979 fall line-up was full of new shows and big changes -- the Hardy Boys closed up shop, the Ropers moved, and Laura Ingalls got rid of her braids -- and we hope the new season of the PCPS will deliver just as much drama and intrigue. Lace up your roller skates, it's time to get this season started!

Shop our link at bookshop.org to support independent bookstores and the PCPS.

Follow the Pop Culture Preservation Society on Instagram, Facebook an TikTok

Support the PCPS by becoming a patron on Patreon. Check all the extra perks you get here.

Help the PCPS keep on truckin' by making a one-time donation here

Subscribe to the PCPS email newsletter, "The Weekly Reader" here

Send us an email at hello@poppreservationists.com

After a new opening conversation where we give a tribute to an non-M-named icon of our era, Linda Lavin, we are thrilled and honored to be talking to the trailblazing woman who wrote for some of the most iconic shows of the 70s and 80s, Susan Silver. Join us as Susan, the first female writer for The Mary Tyler Moore Show who opened the door for over 20 female writers after her, regales us with her start in the business, shares some juicy behind-the-scenes nuggets about the MTM episodes she wrote, and begs us to find her a husband! We’re also talking about the strong women in TV we grew up admiring and who became role models for we GenXers…thanks in huge part to this legendary woman.

Follow the Pop Culture Preservation Society on Instagram, Facebook an TikTok

Support the PCPS by becoming a patron on Patreon. Check all the extra perks you get here.

Help the PCPS keep on truckin' by making a one-time donation here

Subscribe to the PCPS email newsletter, "The Weekly Reader" here

Send us an email at hello@poppreservationists.com