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Need a summer laugh while we take a quick breather? Lesley's holding down the fort this week as Megan vacations with the mouse at Disney, and she's got some hot recommendations from our back catalog to keep you entertained.

The summer heat is no match for perimenopausal hot flashes, and Lesley candidly admits she's feeling a bit exhausted this July. Rather than cobbling together new content, she's pointing listeners to some gems from last summer – specifically Episode 5, "Life, Death and Disney" (perfect timing with Megan's vacation), and the hilarious Episode 6, "Desperately Seeking Ron Popeill: An After School Special," featuring our infamous call to a 1-800 number that's been "transitioned for other middle-aged women." Trust us, it's worth revisiting just for the laughs.

While we're on break, there are plenty of ways to stay connected with the Gen X Women community. Our LYLAS (Love You Like A Sis) membership program keeps this podcast running for just $10 a month. We've got merch available on our website and Etsy store, and Lesley's even uploading a YouTube short featuring our first-ever fan mail from "super fan Sue" – complete with trinkets and snacks referencing past episodes. We'd love your stories for our "Five Minutes of Fame" segment too – just call 1-888-GEN-X-POD or submit through our website. The world may be on fire, but we're still groovy, and we'll be back with fresh content in two weeks! Leave us those five-star reviews while you wait – we promise we check them all.

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Remember when your parents smoked in the car with the windows up? When teachers could paddle students in front of the class? When asbestos was in our schools and lead was in our paint? Megan and Lesley strip away the nostalgia to examine the genuinely problematic aspects of growing up in the 70s and 80s that shaped our generation.

Following their catch-up on recent life changes, the hosts pay tribute to recently departed musical icons Sly Stone and Brian Wilson, then celebrate the 50th anniversaries of both Rocky Horror Picture Show and Jaws. But the heart of this episode confronts the darker realities behind Gen X childhoods—from environmental hazards we somehow survived to educational practices that would be considered abusive today.

The conversation weaves through vivid memories of corporal punishment in schools, public shaming as a teaching tool, and the complete absence of mental health awareness. They explore how these experiences shaped our generation's characteristic resilience and skepticism, while acknowledging the trauma that often accompanied it. From smoking being permitted virtually everywhere to the casual dismissal of abuse allegations, this episode serves as a reality check about the "good old days" that weren't always so good.

Rather than simply criticizing the past, Megan and Lesley emphasize why acknowledging these truths matters—without confronting history honestly, we risk repeating it. As they note while discussing current regulatory rollbacks: we've been here before, and it wasn't pretty. Join us for this unflinching look at the experiences that defined a generation and continue to influence Gen X perspectives today.

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Jan-Feb 2025 - Center for Reproductive Rights

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May-June 2025 - Indy Pride

July-August 2025 - WFYI

September-October - ACLU

November-December 2025 - Second Helpings

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Remember when summer lasted forever? Megan and Lesley take you back to those glorious days when school let out on Memorial Day and didn't resume until after Labor Day—a true three-month break that today's kids can only dream about.

The hosts share their wildly different summer experiences, from Megan's structured daycare and camp life to Lesley's rural gardening adventures and theater camps. They reminisce about the sensory touchstones of Gen X summers: the distinctive sound of approaching ice cream trucks, orange sherbet push-ups that defined childhood happiness, and those plastic sleeve popsicles that inevitably cut the corners of your mouth (but you'd still eat ten of them).

Food memories dominate the conversation as they recall homemade ice cream in giant electric makers that "they don't even make that size anymore," fresh strawberry shortcake, and corn so sweet it needed cross-pollination by hand (which Megan admits to facilitating while serenading her corn plants with Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On").

The conversation wanders through drive-in movies, State Fair adventures, and the incredible freedom children once had—being sent outside until dinner with minimal supervision. Both hosts lament how summer break has shrunk over the decades, with schools often starting in late July and stealing away weeks of traditional summer freedom.

Whether you spent your summers at camp, working a summer job, or just riding bikes until dusk, this episode will transport you back to a time when summer meant freedom, discovery, and seemingly endless possibilities. What summer traditions do you miss most? Connect with us and share your memories!

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Get your hands on our MERCH!!!
DONATION SCHEDULE! We donate $1 per item sold with a minimum of $200 to each organization!

Jan-Feb 2025 - Center for Reproductive Rights

March-April - Planned Parenthood

May-June 2025 - Indy Pride

July-August 2025 - WFYI

September-October - ACLU

November-December 2025 - Second Helpings

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Remember when a birthday party meant friends, pizza, and a Mylar balloon that floated in your house for months? When financial advice was more reassuring than "we just don't know"? When the sound of race cars echoed through an entire city on Memorial Day weekend?

In this episode, Megan and Lesley dive into the unique experience of growing up as latchkey kids in the 1980s—a generation whose parents were busy "doing shit" and sometimes forgot we existed. The conversation takes a timely turn when Megan shares her recent financial advisor meeting, where the typical reassurances about market stability were notably absent. Suddenly, our grandparents' habit of hiding cash in aluminum foil and cereal boxes seems less paranoid and more prophetic.

Childhood birthday celebrations become a lens to examine generational shifts. The hosts reminisce about simple pool parties, roller skating outings, and Showbiz Pizza gatherings of their youth, complete with Rock-a-Fire Explosion animatronics and Madonna's "Lucky Star" blasting in the background. These memories stand in stark contrast to the elaborate productions many Gen Xers now create for their own children—complete with pony rides and themed extravaganzas. Is this overcompensation for our latchkey upbringing or just succumbing to party competition pressure?

The episode also pays tribute to George Wendt, known to most as Norm from Cheers, imagining his funeral where everyone shouts "NORM!" as the casket enters. As Memorial Day approaches, they explore what the holiday weekend means in Indianapolis—from the unmistakable sound of race cars heard throughout the city to family cookouts marking the unofficial start of summer.

Whether you're planning your weekend, reflecting on your childhood, or wondering if you should start hiding cash in your freezer, this episode captures the unique perspective of a generation caught between analog memories and digital uncertainties. Subscribe, leave a review, and share your own "Five Minutes of Fame" story with us!

Support the show

Get your hands on our MERCH!!!
DONATION SCHEDULE! We donate $1 per item sold with a minimum of $200 to each organization!

Jan-Feb 2025 - Center for Reproductive Rights

March-April - Planned Parenthood

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September-October - ACLU

November-December 2025 - Second Helpings

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Megan and Lesley dive into the surprising disconnect between celebrity ages and our mental images of them, sparked by discovering Kurt Loder recently turned 80 years old.

• Lesley shares her harrowing experience with a stomach virus that left her with a "puke baby"
• Discussion of the new American Pope Leo XIV, his Midwestern roots, and what his selection might signify about America's changing global position
• Revelation that Kermit the Frog is 70 years old while Miss Piggy is only 50, creating a surprising 20-year age gap between the Muppet couple
• Exploration of how MTV VJs including Kurt Loder, Martha Quinn, and Nina Blackwood are now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s
• Call for listeners to share which celebrities' ages have shocked them the most

Support public television! Visit genxwomenpod.com to share your "five minutes of fame" stories or call 1-888-GEN-X-POD to leave a message that might be played on the next episode.

Support the show

Get your hands on our MERCH!!!
DONATION SCHEDULE! We donate $1 per item sold with a minimum of $200 to each organization!

Jan-Feb 2025 - Center for Reproductive Rights

March-April - Planned Parenthood

May-June 2025 - Indy Pride

July-August 2025 - WFYI

September-October - ACLU

November-December 2025 - Second Helpings

Love the pod? Love us? Love GenX? Let us know!

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Remember when Friday nights didn't require checking your phone every five minutes? When plans were made in person at school and then you just showed up somewhere? Megan and Lesley take us back to their teenage weekend rituals in the 1980s and early '90s, and the nostalgia hits like a caffeine rush from those bottomless Perkins coffees (or teas) we all drank at 2am.

With their new vintage bar setup as the perfect backdrop, the hosts trade stories about the weekend social rituals that defined Gen X adolescence. From roller skating parties that required good grades to attend, to midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show (complete with toast, toilet paper, and squirt guns), they map the geography of teen hangouts in Indianapolis. Noble Romans Pizza with its mythical $99 Dom Perignon special, Denny's with "Moons Over My Hammy," and small-town cruising rituals all get their moments in the spotlight.

What's striking is how these memories reveal a different relationship with rebellion and fun. Both hosts confess they didn't drink in high school – not because they were straight-laced, but because they were genuinely having a great time without it. Megan's confession about stealing a velvet rope from a movie theater and proudly displaying it in her bedroom captures the perfect level of Gen X rebellion – just enough to feel dangerous without causing real harm. Whether you were playing Dungeons & Dragons on Friday nights, working at TCBY, or watching MTV's 120 Minutes instead of sleeping before school, you'll recognize yourself in these stories.

So pour yourself something delicious, settle in, and join us for this journey back to a time when weekend entertainment didn't require Wi-Fi, when malls were social hubs rather than dying institutions, and when the most important thing was just being together with your friends, figuring out this weird thing called adolescence. What was your Friday night ritual? We'd love to hear about it.

Support the show

Get your hands on our MERCH!!!
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Jan-Feb 2025 - Center for Reproductive Rights

March-April - Planned Parenthood

May-June 2025 - Indy Pride

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September-October - ACLU

November-December 2025 - Second Helpings

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We reflect on what we thought the future would be like when we were kids, compared to the reality of our current world.

• Tribute to Val Kilmer, discussing his iconic roles from Real Genius to Tombstone
• Expectations vs reality of technology—where are our flying cars and robot maids?
• Childhood predictions about life in the year 2000 and beyond
• How Gen X believed in a future of improved health, environment, and space exploration
• Memories of nuclear war fears and Disney's optimistic visions of tomorrow
• Five Minutes of Fame: Amy's adventure meeting Henry Rollins in Dublin
• Sharing backstage stories of meeting celebrities after concerts

Join us next time in our newly renovated studio space, complete with a vintage 70s home bar for mixing cocktails on set.

Support the show

Get your hands on our MERCH!!!
DONATION SCHEDULE! We donate $1 per item sold with a minimum of $200 to each organization!

Jan-Feb 2025 - Center for Reproductive Rights

March-April - Planned Parenthood

May-June 2025 - Indy Pride

July-August 2025 - WFYI

September-October - ACLU

November-December 2025 - Second Helpings

Love the pod? Love us? Love GenX? Let us know!

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Tell us your own 5 Minutes of Fame story or call it in at 1-888-GEN-XPOD

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What do breakfast cereals, women's health concerns, and government overreach have in common? They're all part of the rich tapestry of Gen X experiences that Megan and Lesley explore in this wide-ranging, authentic conversation.

The episode opens with exciting puppy news as Megan introduces her new emotional support puppy, Olive! Lesley transparently shares her recent postmenopausal health scare, walking listeners through her experience seeking prompt medical care. The good news? Everything turned out benign. The more important message? Women's health matters, and places like Planned Parenthood provide critical services for those without insurance or primary care access. (PS Lesley does know that 'Waiting for Godot' was written by Samuel Beckett - she does not have to hand in her theater kid card.)

Who died this week? The promoter of the Foreman Grill! (And Professional Boxer!) RIP George Foreman.

Shifting gears, the hosts address disturbing trends in civil liberties, focusing on a Venezuelan soccer player seeking asylum who was detained without due process. Their passionate discussion highlights concerns many Gen X women share about government overreach and the protection of basic rights. Shout out to the beloved Chatterbox Jazz Club! (Don't be an asshole people.)

The conversation then dives into breakfast cereal nostalgia in all its sugary glory. From Wheaties boxes featuring Olympic heroes to character-branded cereals like Mr. T and Pac-Man, the hosts explore how cereal marketing exploded alongside mothers entering the workforce. Remember those miniature cereal boxes that transformed into cereal bowls? Or the excitement of digging for plastic prizes that sometimes ended up stuck to your ceiling? These shared memories illuminate how convenience foods shaped our generation and continue to influence food culture today.

Throughout it all, Megan and Lesley maintain their signature blend of humor, vulnerability, and no-nonsense commentary that makes listeners feel like they're catching up with old friends. Whether discussing serious health concerns or debating which cereal was most likely to "cut your face open," their authentic connection shines through.

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Support the show

Get your hands on our MERCH!!!
DONATION SCHEDULE! We donate $1 per item sold with a minimum of $200 to each organization!

Jan-Feb 2025 - Center for Reproductive Rights

March-April - Planned Parenthood

May-June 2025 - Indy Pride

July-August 2025 - WFYI

September-October - ACLU

November-December 2025 - Second Helpings

Love the pod? Love us? Love GenX? Let us know!

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L.Y.L.A.S (Love You Like a Sis) is our paid membership platform where you can have real-life conversations while supporting this podcast and the work we do in the Facebook group.

Follow us on ...