Advertise on podcast: In My Footsteps: A Gen-X Nostalgia Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The unsettling connection between Charles Manson and the Beach Boys. The infamous skyjacking of D.B. Cooper. Some well-known 1960s urban legends. Episode 266 puts a wrap on Spooky Season with a chilling dose of GenX nostalgia. How did one of the most beloved American bands of the 1960s become connected to one of the most infamous 20th-century names? The story of Charles Manson and The Beach Boys is one of fame-seeking, the counterculture world of Southern California, and what happens when evil is denied what it truly wants. We go through the details in a creepy deep dive. It is a story so shrouded in mystery that the name of the perpetrator isn't even correct. In 1971, a man calling himself Dan Cooper hijacked an airplane, got his ransom, and parachuted into the desolate, stormy night in the Pacific Northwest. What happened to the man who became better known as D.B. Cooper? Why has this case been so difficult to solve even 55 years later? Some spooky tales are built to last. In this week's Top 5, we look at some well-known 1960s urban legends. A few of these might sound familiar, as they have been told for generations after. How many of them have you heard of? There is a terrifying new This Week In History and Time Capsule looking back at the awful poisoning murder of his son by the real-life 'Candy Man' Ronald O'Bryan. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comEmma's Musings - SubstackDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyThe Babysitter - Liza RodmanListen to Episode 265 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Order Liza Rodman's book The Babysitter Order Frank Durant's film The Lady of the Dunes Cape Cod is a vacation destination. It is filled with pristine beaches, quaint shops, and ample opportunities to make beautiful memories. But just off the beaten path, Cape Cod has seen its fair share of darkness. Author Liza Rodman and filmmaker Frank Durant are familiar with both the beauty and the darkness of Cape Cod. In this special bonus episode of the podcast, I sit down and talk to them about their experiences. Liza has a unique story in that, as a child, her friendly and kind babysitter was also a serial killer. At 10 years old, she was being watched over by Tony Costa. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1970 for two ghastly murders, with the potential number of victims being anywhere from four to eight. She shares some stories but it is highly recommended to read The Babysitter book for the full account. Frank has been working for years, chronicling some of Cape Cod's most enduring true crime stories. His Lady of the Dunes documentary helped to open doors and light a fire under law enforcement to solve the case. Ruth Marie Terry very likely would still be unknown if not for that film. Now Frank is turning his attention to Sydney Monzon, an alleged victim of Tony Costa. Much like with Ruth Marie, Frank wants to give Sydney her name back. He wants her to be remembered as a person more than a victim. We discuss all of those names and stories, how these crimes impact the appearance of Cape Cod, and much more in this long-form interview. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comEmma's Musings - SubstackDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyListen to Episode 265 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The many confusing timelines of the Halloween franchise. The story behind an early internet mystery. Some of the best horror movies from the 2000s. Episode 265 continues down the horrifying path of spooky season with a fresh batch of GenX nostalgia. We start by going through a maze. That maze consists of the many confusing timelines of the beloved Halloween movie franchise. It all begins with the classic original, then it goes in all different directions. The question is, why are there so many? I might not be able to answer that, but I can try to lead you through them as best I can. Ong's Hat was one of the early Internet mysteries. It was based enough in reality that it gained traction as a potential conspiracy theory story. However, the creators hadn't anticipated that the spark of reality caused an inferno that they could not put out. I will share the entire story of Ong's Hat, a fascinating and spooky early internet rabbit hole. Get ready to binge. This week's Top 5 features some of the best horror movies from the 2000s.  Low-budget classics, paranormal, suspense, and yes, lots of gore; it's all represented here. There is also a brand-new This Week in History and Time Capsule looking at the publication of J.R.R. Tolkein's finally of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comEmma's Musings - SubstackDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyLiza Rodman - The BabysitterListen to Episode 264 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The anniversary of an influential horror film. Some unbelievable stories from an unbelievable amusement park. The best horror movies made for little money. Episode 264 kicks off Spooky Season proper with some haunting GenX nostalgia. It starts with the story of Action Park, an amusement and water park where coming out unscathed was a bonus. For decades, visitors entered the grounds in New Jersey looking for a fun day creating memories. Some got what they paid for, while many left with injuries, and some even lost their lives, earning it nicknames like Traction Park. How was this park allowed to stay open?  45 years ago a group of friends with little money but a lot of talent and drive created a horror film that changed the industry. The Evil Dead lacked a big budget but made up for it in story, creativity, and gore by the bucket. We look back at how the film came to be, why it was so popular, and its legacy and influence.  Not every movie can have tens of millions of dollars at its disposal. Some films have to make do with a far smaller budget. In this week's Top 5, we look at some of the best low-budget horror movies. These were made for less than one million dollars (at the time).  There is also a brand-new This Week in History and Time Capsule looking at the life and career of animator Mike Judge, creator of Beavis & Butthead and King of the Hill. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comEmma's Musings - SubstackDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyClass Action Park.comListen to Episode 263 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail A pair of beloved Super Mario Bros. sequels. The premiere of Saturday Night Live. Some famous people singing backup on other famous songs.  Episode 263 kicks off the month of October with a lot of fun GenX nostalgia and pop culture. We begin with a double dose of video game classics. Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3 are so connected that it felt wrong to not talk about both. One was experimental while the other became one of the best-selling games ever for the NES. Both of them were highly influential on games that came after. Get ready for a speedrun through the world of Mario. Saturday Night Live should not have succeeded the way it did. Unknown comedians, unknown writers, creating a show seen as filler for what were reruns of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. Yet, more than five decades later, the show is looked at as the launch pad of dozens of famous stars and is one of the most important television shows ever. We will look at how it all began. In an oddly specific Top 5, we will look at famous singers who also sang backup on other famous songs. Some of these are common knowledge, but others you might not have heard about. Get ready to create a new Spotify playlist. There is also a brand-new This Week in History and Time Capsule looking back at the Broadway debut of the musical Cats. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comEmma's Musings - SubstackDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyListen to Episode 262 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Celebrating 40 years of Double Dare. Some of the worst after-school specials ever. A collection of weird and wild 1980s PC games. Episode 262 ends the month of September with all shades of GenX nostalgia and pop culture. On your mark, get set, go! The show sprints from the start with a look back forty years at the debut of Nickelodeon's sloppy fun game show Double Dare. Every 80s kid who watched the show either wanted to be on it or wanted to find ways to replicate it in our own lives. Slime, physical challenges, flags, and loads of memories are here. ABC's After School Specials were a big part of the lives of 70s and 80s kids. It's where we learned about how to deal with bullying, drugs, peer pressure, and more. On this week's show, we will go to the bottom of the barrel to find some of the worst episodes from the beloved series. This includes a future A-list actor diving out of a window. Not every video game can change the industry. For every Oregon Trail that defined the 1980s, there were also plenty of weird and just plain terrible PC games. This week we look at the Top 5 weird PC games from the 1980s, including one based on a C-level one-hit wonder band.  This week, we also have a brand-new This Week in History and Time Capsule looking back at the debut of the Ford Model T. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyRetro Games.czListen to Episode 261 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The simultaneous success and failure of the US Festival. Pee-Wee's Playhouse hits the Big 4-0. Some famous fictional bands. Episode 261 welcomes fall with a show featuring varying shades of GenX nostalgia. It all begins with what could have been the next big evolution in music festivals. The US Festival had some of the biggest names in music and technology in the early 1980s. In many ways it was a resounding success, but financially it was an abject failure. What happened? We will look into the whole story. This week's secret word is forty, as in forty years. Pee-Wee's Playhouse entertained and, yes, educated 1980s kids. From the mind of Paul Reubens, this mashup of many different types of entertainment took Saturdays in the 80s by storm. We celebrate the 40th anniversary of Pee-Wee's Playhouse this week. The Top 5 is real, but none of the musical acts featured in it are. We are going to look at some of the most famous fictional bands ever. Fun fact: three of these bands scored number one hits. This week, we also have a brand-new This Week In History and Time Capsule looking back at when the fictional cartoon band The Archies scored a #1 hit song. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyPee-Wee ParkListen to Episode 260 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The debut of The Muppet Show. Some of the music fails of the 1970s. A school bus that acts like a dog? Summer is ending, but the Gen-X nostalgia continues with Episode 260. We start off with a look back to the debut of the original Muppet Show, which occurred 50 years ago this month. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and so many more classic characters burst onto television sets and became cultural icons. This segment gives an overview and is only the beginning of the Muppet content. A school bus that acts like a dog? What sort of acid trip created that idea? Who knows. What we do know is that this is the main plot behind the odd 1970s educational short film The Big Yellow Fellow. We will review this insanity and see if there are any valuable lessons to be learned.  The 1970s had some amazing music. From Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd, all four Beatles' solo work, and more. This week's Top 5 will have none of them. Instead, we will look at some of the biggest musical fails of the 1970s. Lots of bad music and bad choices abound. There is also a brand new This Week In History and Time Capsule looking back at the life and career of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur 30 years after his death. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on Etsy9/11 25 Years LaterListen to Mixtape #5 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Happy Labor Day! When this episode premieres, I will be on location producing my first feature film, The Cabin. Thank you to everyone who donated to the fundraiser and helped to get this project made! Being on location means that in place of a new podcast episode, you get Mixtape #5 All of the Blink and You'll Miss It retro segments are here in chronological order. They contain foods, toys, television shows, miscellaneous products, and more that were here and gone in a relative flash. If you weren't around when they came out, you might have no memory of them ever existing.  You will laugh. You will shake your head. Maybe you'll go scouring your basement to see if you have any of the items mentioned, as they might fetch a few bucks on eBay. Enjoy some memories in mixtape form on the podcast. Happy Labor Day weekend, and thank you again for all of the support for the podcast and my other creative ventures! To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyListen to Episode 259 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Back to the Golden Age of toy shopping.  Welcome to the sixth Hidden Track Podcast! For this show, we are looking at a pair of classic toy stores that so many Gen Xers frequented in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Child World and Kay-Bee Toys were staples growing up in those bygone decades. Walking the aisles, trying out some of the toys, and likely left a mess in our wake. It was the best of times. However, times can and do change. Today, both of these stores are mere relics of the past, consigned to the clearance bin of history. We will look at them both, good, bad, and everything in between. These are short-form shows, clocking in at roughly 10-15 minutes. They will cover one or two topics, likely ones previously covered on the In My Footsteps Podcast. These are subjects that were part of Top 5s or other list-form segments and deserve a more in-depth look. Enjoy this podcast snack and make sure to check your attic for anything with the logos on them, as they fetch some cash on eBay! Support me and the show by becoming a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyGoodbye DollyListen to Episode 259 here Support the show Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 259 we're going to have all sorts of fun in 1971. We will be diving into all things music, television, movies, and pop culture. Those were the days. Television in 1971 was a dividing line between the old and the new. Older, safer shows were being shown the door while a new generation of shows changed the landscape of pop culture. All in the Family took the world by storm with Flip Wilson, Marcu Welby, Mary Tyler Moore, and others following along.  Hot pants and leisure suits dotted the dance floors when looking back at Music in 1971. Popular music began splintering into smaller niches. The Beatles were gone but Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Carole King, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, and others filled the gap. The Top 5 is filled with weird and funny news stories from 1971. A vibrating piece of clothing? An emergency broadcast false alarm? A famous plane hijacking? You'll hear about all of them and more. This Week In History and Time Capsule looks at the first transatlantic flight of the Concorde. Stay tuned for some classic 1971 commercials as well!   Support me and the show, by becoming a member on Patreon.  Or support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyGoodbye DollyListen to Episode 258 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The 40th anniversary of Stand By Me. Also, the 40th anniversary of Nintendo's Metroid. Some classes that are no longer taught in school. Episode 258 brings the Gen-X nostalgia in time for going back to school. 40 years ago this week, one of the seminal movies of 1980s kids' lives was released. Stand By Me was based on a Stephen King story and gave many kids of the time the desire to go hike the railroad tracks. We do a deep dive into the film, its importance, and the impact it had on kids at the time, like me. Also 40 years ago this week, one of the most popular and influential games for the original Nintendo was released. Metroid was heavily influenced by the film Alien but in turn also blazed a trail for future games. Perhaps the perfect game for Gen-X, it taught you to go explore and find your own way. Were you able to defeat Mother Brain? Did you know the main character was female? It's back to school time. This week's Top 5 ties in perfectly as we look at some classes that are no longer taught in school. Whether totally obsolete or extremely scaled back, these are classes that used to be part of the curriculum but have since faded away. As always, there is a brand-new This Week in History and Time Capsule, looking back at the life and career of actor River Phoenix. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyRetro Games.czListen to Episode 257 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The original music festival. The follow-up to the king of video game consoles. Some favorite 1990s celebrity crushes. Episode 257 has a batch of Gen-X nostalgia, hot and fresh out of the oven like Poppin' Fresh dough. It starts with a look back at the original, and many say, greatest, music festival. Woodstock occurred this week in history in 1969 and changed not only music but the culture of a generation. However, it ended up being a success pulled from the jaws of failure. A larger-than-expected crowd, food shortages, bad weather, and more could have sunk the event before it happened. Instead, it helped make it one of the most important events in music history. Now you're playing with power...super power. How do you follow up the most successful video game console ever made? If you are Nintendo, you take your time. 35 years ago this week, the 16-bit Super Nintendo made its debut in America. Sega Genesis had a two-year head start, so how would the SNES fare? Far better than they could have imagined.  How many of these celebrities adorned the walls of your bedroom? This week's Top 5 is all about the biggest 1990s celebrity crushes. Male, female, actors, musicians, it's all covered here. Of course, there is a brand-new This Week in History and Time Capsule, featuring the ultimate bad-luck story of a person being struck by two consecutive foul balls at a baseball game. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyRetro Games.czListen to Episode 256 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The Cape Cod time capsule that is One Crazy Summer. Some of the movies shot on the Cape and Islands. The creation of the cellular telephone. Episode 256 is a bit of a throwback for the podcast as it is loaded with Cape Cod topics. We start by going back 40 years ago this week. One Crazy Summer is among the best mindlessly fun comedies of the 1980s. It wasn't a major box office or critical hit, but it did have one thing that made it special, and that was a deep connection to Cape Cod. Watching it today is like opening up an old photo album for Cape Codders who grew up during that time. We celebrate the 40th anniversary of One Crazy Summer this week. Today it can feel as though cell phone technology has been around forever. In some ways that is true, but in other ways it's still relatively new. We go way back to the beginning and trace the evolution of cellular telephone technology. From World War II to Y2K and all of the bumps and detours, we look at just how cell phones became the indispensable part of life that they are today.  Cape Cod dominates this week's Top 5. We look at some of the films that were shot on Cape Cod or the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. There are a few obvious ones, and some that might surprise you. We'll go over them all, good, bad, and very bad. As always, there is a brand-new This Week In History and Time Capsule, looking at the creation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyListen to Episode 255 here Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Donate to the GoFundMe for my feature-length film, The Cabin! Who in the world was Mr. Living Corpse? Welcome to the fifth Hidden Track Podcast! These are short-form shows, clocking in at roughly 10-15 minutes. They will cover a topic or two, likely previously covered on the In My Footsteps Podcast. These are subjects that were part of Top 5's or other list-form segments and deserve a more in-depth look. In perhaps the weirdest topic that might be covered, we go back half a century to look at the life and legacy of 'Country' Bill White, aka Mr. Living Corpse. He spent sometimes months at a time voluntarily being buried alive over the course of two decades. Being buried alive cumulatively for over two years is a strange accomplishment, but even stranger was the fact that he once married a woman while she was buried alive. Yes, you heard that right. There once was a Mrs. Living Corpse as well. Enjoy this podcast snack and shake your head at just what some people will do for their fifteen minutes of fame. To support me and the show, become a member on Patreon.  Or you can support my work and Buy Me A Coffee! Helpful Links from this Episode Buy My New Book, In Their Footsteps!Searching For the Lady of the Dunes True Crime BookHooked By Kiwi - Etsy.comDJ Williams MusicKeeKee's Cape Cod KitchenMSFTS CommunityKingfisher Hotels Cape CodChristopher Setterlund.comCape Cod Living - Zazzle StoreSubscribe on YouTube!Initial Impressions 2.0 BlogCJSetterlundPhotos on EtsyListen to Episode 254 here Support the show