We wanted everything we saw in food commercials in the 1980s. In this episode of Chat and Bother, we're talking about the foods we begged for, tolerated, or absolutely hated—and the aggressive marketing that convinced us we needed them.

From fake butter spreads to questionable "health foods," we break down which products actually lived up to the hype and which ones were straight-up lies sold to our parents during Saturday morning cartoons.

This episode pulls no punches as we roast:

• Carob, the so-called "healthy chocolate" that tasted like brown candle wax

• Black licorice, a candy nobody asked for that somehow still exists

• Whoppers, which may or may not have been chocolate-covered packing foam

• Steak-umms, the after-school DIY cheesesteak staple (ketchup-only households, stand up)

• Sizzlean, the "lean bacon" that disappeared amid claims it was anything but lean

• Pepperidge Farm broccoli & cheese pastries, the breakfast reward worth waking up early for

• Slim Fast, the mysterious shake marketed harder than it ever delivered

• Jell-O Pudding Pops, the frozen treat siblings fought over in the freezer

If you grew up in the 80s, this episode will unlock memories you forgot you had—along with a few foods you're glad no longer exist.

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Remember when the news only came on at 6 and 11—and one scandal could completely dominate the country for months? In this episode, we take a deep (and sometimes hilarious) dive into the most unforgettable scandals of the 1980s and 1990s, back when tabloids ruled, celebrity justice looked very different, and America watched history unfold in real time. We talk about how news spread before 24-hour cable, social media, and citizen journalism—and why scandals from that era hit harder and stayed with us longer.

In this episode:

- Why the 80s and 90s were a TIME for nonstop scandals

- The Menendez Brothers case and the shocking motive behind it

- The O.J. Simpson trial, the white Bronco chase, and "If it doesn't fit…"

- LAPD corruption, Mark Fuhrman, and why the verdict felt bigger than the case

- How Robert Kardashian connects this trial to pop culture history - Celebrities, power, and how fame lets people "get away with it"… sometimes literally

- Why consequences for figures like R. Kelly and Diddy only came after video evidence and documentaries

- How modern media makes an "unbiased jury" almost impossible

- The global shock of Princess Diana's death and the rise of paparazzi culture

- When tabloids like the National Enquirer and Globe controlled celebrity narratives

- A completely unnecessary—but passionate—debate about Delaware, chicken, chemicals, corporations, and questionable scents

This episode is equal parts nostalgia, cultural commentary, and side-eye, with the kind of conversations only people who lived through it can have.

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If you were alive in the 90s, you felt these moments — even if you didn't fully understand them at the time. In this episode of Chat and Bother, we revisit three explosive news stories that stopped classrooms, dominated dinner-table conversations, and reshaped how a generation consumed the news.

We break down the Clinton impeachment hearings surrounding Monica Lewinsky, revisit the Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill confirmation hearings that forced uncomfortable conversations into American homes, and relive the shocking Tonya Harding–Nancy Kerrigan incident that turned figure skating into headline news.

Why did these stories hit so hard? Why were we watching them in real time as kids and teens? And why do they still spark debate decades later? From media frenzy to lasting cultural impact, we unpack how these moments helped define the 90s — and us.

Press play, relive the chaos, and ask yourself the same question we still do: WHYYYYYY?! WHYYYYYY?!

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Where to find us:

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Facebook Page - @chatandbother

YouTube - @chatandbother

Twitter - @chatandbother

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Podcasting Help: Learn about how we make the Chat & Bother podcast and get podcasting tips