The Wayback Machine

Host(s): 
Justin Grossman
Timeslot: 
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 1:00pm
Length: 
1 hour
Type of Show: 
Talk

Past Episodes

  • The Wayback Machine 7/10/1988 Aired: Thursday, July 10, 2025

    History PhD candidate Elizabeth Sapere and I talk Reaganomics, culture wars, and the Satanic Panic in this 1988 episode of The Wayback Machine. We also play and discuss the rise of gangsta rap, Don Henley's Boys of Summer, and the LA batter-ram.

  • The Wayback Machine 7/3/1976 Aired: Thursday, July 3, 2025

    We celebrate America's bicentennial with some disco, funk, and prime time television. We also talk about a recent Supreme Court decision that expands abortion rights, the Wimbledon Final between Bjorn Borg and Ilie Nastase, and the reunification of Vietnam.

  • The Wayback Machine 6/26/1995 Aired: Thursday, June 26, 2025

    Rose Mournighan from the University of Rochester shares some Brit-Pop and insight into the developments of home computing and video games as we journey back to 1995. We also discuss the release of Toy Story, the Sony Playstation, and Windows 95.

  • The Wayback Machine 6/19/1865 Aired: Thursday, June 19, 2025

    In this special Juneteenth edition of The Wayback Machine we discuss the plight of the freedmen and the country's decisions over the future of race relations in The United States. We also play songs of slavery and emancipation recorded in the 1930s by the descendants of former slaves.

  • The Wayback Machine 6/12/2015 Aired: Thursday, June 12, 2025

    Fellow History PhD Claire Becker joins me as we relive our college years and travel back to 2015. We discuss the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, social media, and the hope of the Obama era. We also dive into digital music and the search for authenticity in parasocial relationships. Songs include tracks from PC Music Volume 1, Kendrick Lamar, and A.G. Cook.

  • The Wayback Machine 6/5/1968 Aired: Thursday, June 5, 2025

    We have our first guest! George Elkind joins me back in 1968 to discuss some of the biggest news in politics and movies. We talk about the shooting of Robert F. Kennedy after the California Democratic Primary, the impact of the Vietnam War on the Presidential race, and the rise of political violence. We also dive into the five movies nominated for the 1968 Academy Awards (shout out to Mark Harris and his book Pictures at a Revolution) and George explains the new direction of Hollywood represented by films such as The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde.

  • The Wayback Machine 5/29/1830 Aired: Thursday, May 29, 2025

    We dive back almost two centuries to listen to some American vocal hymns, spirituals, and Mary Had a Little Lamb?! We also discuss the Indian Removal Act, Romanticism vs. Classicism in the French Theater, and heavyweight boxing.

  • The Wayback Machine 5/22/1993 Aired: Thursday, May 22, 2025

    Its the end of Cheers!, peak of G-funk, and a box office battle between Jurassic Park and Super Mario Brothers in this 1993 edition of the Wayback Machine. We also cover the Clinton administration's debate over healthcare, elections in Cambodia, and the NBA/NHL playoffs.

  • Wayback Machine 5/15/1981 Aired: Thursday, May 15, 2025

    We zoom back to Mo-town, the Reagan administration, John Hinckley and more in this 1981 episode of the Wayback Machine. Other topics include Larry Bird's first NBA championship, Billy Martin's return to New York as manager of the Oakland A's, and the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. 

  • Wayback Machine 5/15/1981 Aired: Thursday, May 15, 2025
    • Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes @ 03:00
    • REO Speedwagon - Take It on the Run @ 08:45
    • Styx - Too Much Time On My Hands @ 10:34
    • Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers - Just The Two Of Us @ 19:03
    • Smokey Robinson - Being with you @ 23:02
    • Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do For Me @ 26:44
    • Stars on 45 - More stars (Abba Medley) @ 36:13
    • Daryl Hall & John Oates - Kiss on My List @ 39:37
    • Blondie - Rapture @ 47:40
    • Olivia Newton-John - Magic @ 54:13

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