This week, we're not heading to a specific year. Nope. This week is all about reflecting on the totally radical ride that was Season One of this little nostalgia-fueled adventure we’ve all been on together. No time circuits to calibrate, no flux capacitor checks, no flying Deloreans. Just you and me, wrapping up what has been one radical first season of this nostalgia-fueled adventure.

We’ve laughed, we’ve cringed, we’ve quoted movies and TV shows like our lives depended on it… and now it’s time to take a look back—not at one single year, but at the whole amazing ride.

So buckle up, crank the volume, and let’s take one more trip—back through our first season!

… and maybe even drop a few teases for what’s ahead.

This week on Tubular Time Machine, we’re rewinding all the way back to 2001—and I’ve got the perfect co-pilot to guide us through the pop culture of that unforgettable year. Joining me is someone I first connected with through our mutual obsession: reality TV. He’s a full-on reality show junkie—The Amazing Race, Big Brother, The Challenge, and of course, Survivor. If it’s got alliances, tribal councils, or confessionals, he’s there for it.

Kyle Jackson became a Survivor fan in the most legendary way possible—right after the Ravens won the Super Bowl in January 2001, CBS aired Survivor: The Australian Outback, and from that moment on, he was hooked. He was just 14 at the time, soaking in early 2000s pop culture through the lens of a teenager—and today, he’s here to share all those memories with us.

So grab your Buffs and your dial-up connection—because we’re diving into 2001 with Kyle Jackson!

This week's guest on the Tubular Time Machine is none other than the legendary Adam Poch—yes, that Adam from Big Brother Season 13! Known for his unforgettable love of bacon and his devotion to Tori Spelling, Adam became a fan favorite during his time in the Big Brother house. While we've only met in person once—at a charity event over a decade ago—Adam and I quickly bonded over our mutual love of the band Faith No More and the wonderfully weird Mr. Bungle.

Now, we're reuniting to take a totally tubular trip back to 1985—an iconic year in pop culture that just so happens to be the year we both turned 14. From blockbuster movies and MTV to wrestling, Walkmans, and everything in between, you can bet Adam and I have a lot to say. It’s going to be nostalgic, nerdy, and most definitely bacon-flavored. Let’s dive in!

This week on The Tubular Time Machine, we’re flipping the script and taking a break from our usual journey through pop culture's past to do something a little different—and a whole lot special. That’s because joining me in the co-host chair is someone who just turned 14 this year, someone who happens to be an amazing teen and my very own son—Rook Rasmussen.

To celebrate Rook hitting this milestone, we’re dedicating this episode to exploring what life looks like right now for a modern teenager. Rook is one of the most curious and passionate people I know, with interests that are as fascinating as they are unique. He plays jazz bass in his school’s jazz band, dives deep into the science of uranium and radiation—yes, he actually collects uranium glass, radium clocks, and those iconic radiation red plates—and if that weren’t cool enough, he’s also an expert fishkeeper, maintaining both saltwater and freshwater aquariums.

So what better way to understand Gen Z than by hearing it straight from the source? Let’s dive into the world of memes, music, school, science, and self-expression—today’s teen edition. Please join me in welcoming the one and only Rook Rasmussen to the show!

This week on Tubular Time Machine, we’re heading back to 1978 with someone who lived it firsthand—and lived it loud. Joining me is the wonderful Lori Vandermeir, who was just 14 years old that year and soaking up all the pop culture goodness that the late ‘70s had to offer—from bell bottoms and boomboxes to disco balls and debut albums.

Lori is not only a true child of the '70s, but also a mother to three amazing daughters and someone with one of the biggest hearts I know. I first met Lori ten years ago at a charity event in Florida, and from that day on, I knew I was lucky to call her a friend.

She’s insightful, kind, and full of stories that bring the past to life—and I’m thrilled to have her here to help us rewind to 1978.

This week on Tubular Time Machine, I’m stoked to welcome a special guest and a longtime friend—someone I go way back with to the days of BBSs, dial-up tones, and digital mischief before the internet even knew what social media was.

Joining me is Dan Duncan, a guy who knows how to belt out a karaoke tune, hit the gym, and still have room for a cold one on the Old Chicago World Beer Tour. He’s also partly responsible for my son’s love of the bass guitar—yes, Dan’s that kind of positive enabler.

In 1984, Dan was 14 years old, soaking up pop culture like a sponge and living through the radness of the Reagan era, Rubik’s Cubes, and Ghostbusters hype in real time. He brings not only firsthand memories of the year but also a great sense of humor, deep music knowledge, and stories that’ll take us all back.

This week on the Tubular Time Machine Podcast, I take a nostalgic dive into 1987 with a very special guest: longtime friend and fellow band geek, Dianna Hokenstad. Friends since high school, where their bond was forged through the rhythm and camaraderie of marching band, Dianna brings both her musical talent and her love of all things nerdy to the conversation. At 14 years old in 1987, Dianna experienced the era firsthand, and her vivid recollections of teen life during that time—complete with the music, fashion, slang, and unforgettable fads—offer an authentic and heartfelt perspective. Join us as we relive a year full of mohawks, boomboxes, and teenage dreams.

This week on Tubular Time Machine, we’re cranking the dial all the way back to 1995! Today, we’re thrilled to welcome a very special guest to the show. He was once one of my star pupils—sharp, curious, and always asking the kind of questions that made the rest of the class lean in. But Jeremy Craig didn’t stop there. No, he took that passion for the past and ran with it—across the pond, no less! Jeremy went on to study history at university in the United Kingdom, where he managed to surpass even my knowledge of the subject... not that I’m bitter. (Okay, maybe a little.)

But here's the twist: in 1995, Jeremy wasn’t just any teenager. At the age of 14, he was already cultivating a totally unique and bohemian view of the world—equal parts mixtape philosopher and flannel-clad cultural critic. He was living the 90s from the inside out, soaking in every trend, news flash, and pop culture pulse like it was liquid gold.

So buckle up, listeners—today we’re diving into the year 1995 with someone who lived it, studied it, and can now help us understand it better than ever. Please welcome my former student, now fellow historian, and full-time time traveler... Jeremy Craig!