Booyah! 11 podcasts to amp up your ’90s nostalgia trip

It’s 1998, and you’re a force to be reckoned with. Rollerblading home at top speed, tamagotchi in hand, beeper clipped to your hip, rollin’ on by in time to catch MTV’s TRL. Because, if you miss the premiere, when are you going to catch it next? As if! Hole’s Celebrity Skin is blasting through your CD Walkman, zipped inside your mini JanSport backpack bursting with your GameBoy color, Lisa Frank spiral agenda book, and milky gel pens.

You’re absorbing any lyrical inspiration and cannot wait to log on to your Bondi Blue iMac, wait for that dial up to connect, and draft the perfect song-based away message on AOL’s Instant Messenger. “All the stars explode tonight,” sings Courtney Love. And many shooting stars were like fireworks, in terms of ’90s culture and music and carry through in the vintage-themed world of podcasts.

The 1990s were a golden zeitgeist. If you were around then, we “hope you had the time of your life.” If you’re relishing in nostalgia, or feel like learning about culture’s bygone trove of gems, we’ve rounded up some ’90s podcasts for you! Slip on your favorite colorful, oval-rimmed shades, cargo pants and pleated skirts, adorn your space buns with butterfly hair clips, and get the ’90s 4-1-1 with this list. Podsauce’s picks include TV podcasts that review favorites like Friends, movie commentary shows, and music shows that highlight the raddest songs and artists.

My 90s Playlist

Hosts Akoto Ofori-Atta and Tracy Clayton composed a glorious ’90s mixtape on “My 90s Playlist.” Episodes share bangers from divas, pop stars, girl groups, boy bands, and Hip-Hop artists. The episodes unpack the song, artist, and the greater impact the music continues to have on the world. Featured songs include TLC’s “No Scrubs,” Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy,” The Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” A Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It?” and more. Did you know Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” was recorded in one take?!? Whew! Multitude and Sony Music partnered to present this podcast. Tune in to learn facts about some throwback tracks and perhaps add some tunes to your ’90s playlist.

In VOGUE: The 1990s

“In VOGUE: The 1990s” explores pre-aughts fashion, art, and cultural milestones. Delving into the abundant era of stories, interviews, and some incredible moments, each episode lets the nostalgia rain down. Topics include NYC’s downtown culture, queer visibility through cultural landmarks like Madonna’s “Vogue” song and music video, grunge trends, and American designers. Other episodes explore Hip-Hop’s indelible mark on the fashion industry, and how supermodel influencers à la Kate Moss ruled pre-social media. Designers Miuccia Prada, Isaac Mizrahi, Marc Jacobs, and John Galliano are interviewed on how their work changed the runway.

PEOPLE in the ’90s

For pop culture remembrance of the ’90s and new interviews with our favorite ’90s stars, “PEOPLE in the ’90s” is where it’s at. People’s Deputy West Coast Editor Jason Sheeler and Style and Beauty Director Andrea Lavinthal remind us of our favorite ’90s celebs, their wildest moments, and pivotal pop culture variety at its finest. The episodes delve into People Magazine‘s massive interview archive and also speak with ’90s celebs on their iconic roles. Jamie Lee Curtis shares she won’t write a tell-all memoir to betray others for money. Julia Stiles reminisced about how respectful Heath Ledger was when they co-starred in 10 Things I Hate About You. Actor and comedian Bill Bellamy appeared on the podcast to share one of his greatest regrets in life: that he didn’t trademark “booty call” after using the term in his skits.

Filmshake

Get your Blockbuster membership card ready and head to “Filmshake” to hear about the vibrant archive of ’90s films. Hosts Jordan and Nic will dig into films such as Titanic, Alien, Cruel Intentions, and The Crow. Jordan and Nic bring listeners through the film’s plot. They engage in lively debates over the films, and share their opinions. Did you know that the cult favorite, The Crow‘s set, was allegedly cursed? In production, the film suffered from tons of setbacks and disasters: midway through, actor Brandon Lee got shot with a loaded prop gun, a hurricane destroyed the majority of the set, and many crew members sustained injuries, just to name a few of the horrible things that happened while filming. Tune in for more about film history.

History of the ’90s

From the Spice Girls to Seinfeld, Columbine to the Unabomber, “History of the ’90s” will take you back to the era’s defining moments. This CuriousCast podcast is hosted by writer and journalist Kathy Kenzora. Have you wanted to learn more about rave culture, grunge music, and ’90s gadgets? How about the L.A. riots, serial killer Paul Bernardo, and Doomsday cults of the 1990s? This podcast is super informative.

Dig Me Out

“Dig Me Out” features roundtable, deep-dive discussions into ’90s indie rock. Since 2011, hosts Tim Minneci and J Dziak have spoken with artists, journalists, musicians, producers, and more. Episodes often select and unpack one influential album from the ’90s. A recent episode explored double albums, leveling up in the 1990s with releases from Wilco, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, and Tupac. New episodes are available on Tuesdays.

1990s Problems

We’ve got 2021 problems, but the 1990s aren’t one. Comedians Ross Drummond and Ali Plumb host “1990s Problems,” a podcast about films, TV shows, and pop culture trends from one of our favorite eras. They’ve recapped Friends, DuckTales, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Rugrats, and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, among their awesome episode list.

To the ‘90s and Beyond! Film Podcast

Vince Leo presents “To the ‘90s and Beyond! Film Podcast,” sharing vault faves from the 1990s and exploring new films whose ’90s influence clearly rings. Vince also shares classic films and their modern interpretations, such as his five-episode arc on Mortal Kombat, going from its first 1995 film to its latest reboot in 2021. Vince provides no-frills recaps then analyzes the movies. In addition to the podcast, Vince writes for the review site, Qwipster.net.

Big Orange Couch: The 90s Nickelodeon Podcast

Brace yourself for the slime! Because Andrew, Joey, and Melissa have a blast for you in the form of past TV show recaps and nostalgia with “Big Orange Couch: The 90s Nickelodeon Podcast.” Besides reviewing Nickelodeon TV classics like Rocko’s Modern Life and The Ren & Stimpy Show, they also do year-in-review episodes covering everything from culture to news. On a recent episode, hosts Andrew, Joey, and Melissa played a Nickelodeon trivia game, and you can test your knowledge along with theirs. Special guests call in to episodes. In March, the hosts created their own concept for a ’90s Nickelodeon show in case they get to time travel back and pitch their idea. New episodes are available monthly.

TFGIF: A 90s TV Podcast

Friends Drew & Katie present “TFGIF: A 90s TV Podcast,” digging into shows and select films from the ’90s. They discuss life-changing content they felt Buffy the Vampire Slayer was responsible for, how All That was the coolest comedy show, the style cues we can take from the movie and TV show versions of Clueless, and more. We’ll hear about the dangerous conditions and low pay The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers had to work through while stuntin’! Listeners will also learn about The X-Files, Friends, and Are You Afraid of the Dark.

CNN’s The Rewind: ‘90s Edition

Michaela Pereira hosts “CNN’s The Rewind: ’90s Edition,” a 6-part series covering politics, pop culture, and news that rocked the nation. Listeners will hear about the trial of O.J. Simpson, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, Bill Clinton’s sex scandal, and Titanic. We’ll look back at the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997, and other cultural moments that impacted the world forever. All episodes are under 35 minutes long.