S2E11 Surviving the Messy 70s and 80s - A Gen X Reality Check

GenX Women are Sick of This Shit!

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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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Chapters

1. Ladies Catch Up and Life Updates (00:00:00)

2. Women Sick of War and Posturing (00:04:09)

3. Music Icons Lost: Sly Stone and Brian Wilson (00:06:42)

4. Rocky Horror and Jaws Turn 50 (00:12:51)

5. LILAS Social Club Sponsorship (00:18:37)

6. Dangers of the 70s and 80s: Lead and Asbestos (00:21:06)

7. Corporal Punishment and Educational Trauma (00:26:37)

8. Smoking Everywhere and Public Health Issues (00:34:41)

9. TV Channels, Phone Books, and Media Limitations (00:42:19)

10. Abuse, Bullying, and Social Problems (00:55:37)

11. Outro and Contact Information (01:04:23)