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The Nostalgia Test Podcast

The Nostalgia Test Podcast

By: Dan Dissinger & Manny Coelho
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Put your pop-culture past to the ultimate test--THE NOSTALGIA TEST! with 🎙longtime friends Dan, Manny, & Billy 🙋‍♂️🤦‍♂️🙆‍♂️Copyright 2020 All rights reserved. Art
Episodes
  • 197.💪 American Gladiators from Past to Present

    197.💪 American Gladiators from Past to Present
    Jun 30 2026
    Dan, Manny, & Billy put the American Gladiators franchise to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “It'd be a lot more American if they walked in the ring and just shot each other.” -Billy D’Elia While this episode was being recorded, the orange lunatic who’s technically our “president” was building a UFC octagon on the front lawn of The White House, which was ultimately a disaster (F Joe Rogan). We all should’ve seen the free-fall of America coming in the late 80s when we were all watching American Gladiators on TV. This episode attempts to figure out what this show is, why were people into it, and why was it resurrected, twice! That’s right, there is currently a new version with two seasons hosted by The Miz. Oh, and the first season of the 2026 version WAS FILMED IN FRANCE!? Now, all credit goes to each and every gladiator that was on this show because in 1989 they were treated like trash. Safety wasn’t a thing, people were being knocked out, and gladiators were being forced to compete injured. Watching the “evolution” of American Gladiators is so interesting, because as the series continued the only thing that got updated were the games and the arena. They made it bigger and got rid of the cardboard cutout audience members. That’s right! They did that. At the same time, the gladiators remained overworked, injured, and forced to literally fight people like they were circus animals in an underground fight club. This episode travels along a zig-zag path to get the controversial conclusion of the 2026 episode they watched, how The Miz is just screaming in people’s faces, some of the best knockouts, faceplants, and announcer quotes, all the way to the guys talking about how they need a 100% win for an episode because this is killing their souls. So, grab your American flag bandanas, an oversized tank top, scream at the top of your lungs for no reason, and kick your best friend in the face, because it’s time to talk American Gladiators! *** If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: Contact For Booking *** Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! *** Approximate Rundown 00:00 American Gladiators Setup 01:16 Show Format Challenge 02:18 Main Era Gladiators 03:20 Reboots & Hosts 05:34 Saturday TV Memories 07:44 Early Seasons Chaos 08:47 Games Evolve Over Time 10:17 Joust & Judge Bits 11:18 Reality TV Before Reality 13:12 Behind the Scenes Grind 14:48 Brutal Interviews &Trauma 17:33 Downfall & Exploitation 19:11 Injuries & Rule Nonsense 24:09 America Culture Context 25:38 Does It Pass Nostalgia 26:51 Competition Show Landscape 32:07 Steroids & Wild Stories 35:41 Trash TV Reboot Setup 36:50 Peak Games And 1996 40:10 Rewatch Reality Check 40:25 Hogan Ali Reboot 41:47 Schlock Backstories 43:00 Bad Names Bad Vibes 44:12 Water Hazards 50:32 Why It Failed 51:54 Miz Era Rant 54:45 Finale Disqualification 57:35 Filmed in France 01:06:06 Fixing the Format 01:11:22 Nostalgia Verdict 01:15:26 Next Episode Pick 01:17:10 Major League Storytime 01:19:25 Wrap Up & Plugs Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • 196. The Nostalgia Test Quiz Show: Manny vs Billy

    196. The Nostalgia Test Quiz Show: Manny vs Billy
    Jun 23 2026
    Manny & Billy go head-to-head in the first Nostalgia Test Quiz Show—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “Please neuter your pets.” -Billy D'Elia On this special episode of The Nostalgia Test Podcast, Dan puts Manny & Billy up against each other in the new Nostalgia Test Quiz Show ™. Dan did a ton of work, research, and probably still got some of this wrong, and yet it was a ton of fun. Manny & Billy answer questions about movies, music, the podcast’s history, sports, and food. Find out how many times the guys said the word f*** on episode 185. Twinkie Anniversary, if either Manny or Billy have had Dino Nuggets within the last year, and how many baseball players have killed a bird? There are so many more ridiculously hilarious moments on the episode that you’ll want to invite the podcast to come host a Quiz Show Night at your next party, reunion, online gathering, and even baby shower, just like Billy said. So, grab your favorite nerds, drinks, and snacks and see if you can out score Manny & Billy. *** If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, donate to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: Contact For Booking *** Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! *** Approximate Rundown 00:00 Game Show Kickoff 01:03 Rules and Scoring 02:00 Who Goes First 03:09 Wheel Setup and Categories 04:14 Movie Scores Challenge 06:23 Nostalgic Food All Play 12:25 Music Hits Trivia 13:59 Worst First Pitch 17:23 Podcast F Word Count 19:01 DuckTales Crossover 19:36 90s Movie Output Quiz 22:20 Bird Killed By Pitch 24:27 Podcast Guest Stats 27:14 SNL Bans Trivia 28:14 Most Downloaded Episode 30:28 Discontinued Fast Food 36:18 Fresh Prince Aunt Viv 37:10 AFV Bob Saget Years 39:36 Final Spins Countdown 42:28 Biggest Movie Flop 44:09 Deadly Toys And Prices 47:14 Winner Wrap Up Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.
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    52 mins
  • 195. 🎵"Pure Moods" Compilation Album from 1994

    195. 🎵"Pure Moods" Compilation Album from 1994
    Jun 16 2026
    Dan didn't do a soundcheck because he's dumb, so his mic sounds like it's episode 1! Dan & Manny welcome back longtime friend & Nostalgia Test Podcast all-star Steve Herrera to put the 1994 Pure Moods CD to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “This music is at a very unsuccessful orgy.” -Dan Dissinger Oh. My. God! If anyone can describe the mood of this episode, please email thenostalgiatest@gmail.com, because wow. There’s really not a language to understand how Pure Moods from 1994 even begins to make sense as music, as an album, and how it went basically triple platinum. Maybe it’s the aura of Kenny G, or the mysteriousness of Enya that creates the “pure” in Pure Moods. It could be the intimate energy of “Lily Was Here” which is on the Saxuality album that creates the mood that Pure Moods was trying to infuse in our 1994 existences. Who really knows, and Dan, Manny, & Steve actually never get to the bottom of this 90s existential portal, and would it even matter it they did? One thing for sure is this album wormed its way into our brains when we fell asleep on the couch and woke up at three o’clock in the morning wondering why the hell Tubular Bells was playing and why were we scared out of our minds. Maybe Steve is right that this album was being played on a loop at some random orgy in the middle of Sedona. Or Manny is right and this is the soundtrack to our mom’s housecleaning and is the album for crazy Aunts with crystals. There’s a chance Dan’s right and this is the suburban psychedelic CD that adults played when they had too many Zimas and Bacardi Breezers, and that one leftover hippie neighbor pulls a crumpled-up joint they confiscated from their kid the other day so they can all relive their naked-Woodstock-summer-of-love glory days before waking up the next day to sell insurance. Either way, Pure Moods from 1994 is a nostalgic phenomenon that baffles our hosts and their longtime friend. So, fire up some incense, stare into the middle distance contemplating the 5th dimension, and light a movie’s love scene worth of candles because you’re about to get into the mood, Pure Moods with The Nostalgia Test Podcast. *** If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, donate to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: Contact For Booking *** Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! *** Approximate Rundown 00:00 Pure Moods Setup 00:37 Infomercial Vibes 01:23 Movie Soundtrack Talk 02:24 Album Origins Explained 02:56 Who Bought This 04:03 Sales Numbers Shock 04:56 Saxuality Discovery 06:24 Yoga or Orgies 07:32 Return to Innocence Credits 10:14 Moms and Crystal Aunts 11:36 The Infomercial Copy 13:16 Pure Moods Festival Idea 14:16 Kenny G and Pure Moods 14:35 Serial Killer Soundtrack Jokes 15:23 Billys Podcast Sacrifice 16:51 Robert Palmer Dare 18:15 Blink Album Comparison 19:21 Wheel of Bad Movies 20:01 Does It Pass Nostalgia 21:01 Best Tracks Debate 22:14 Three AM Infomercial Vibes 24:10 Wrap Up and Plugs Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected
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    28 mins
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