The Wayback with Ryan Sickler Episode 98: Mike Vecchione – School Walkers Date: November 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In Episode 98 of "The Wayback," host Ryan Sickler reunites with comedian Mike Vecchione for a nostalgic and lively discussion diving into their childhoods, formative experiences, 1980s pop culture, sports obsessions, and the quirks of growing up middle-class. With the signature warmth and humor of the show, the pair retrace their steps through old neighborhoods, iconic music, legendary boxing matches, and forgotten collections, blending laughs with authentic reflection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Where They Came From

• Mike’s Roots: Grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and Boca Raton, Florida—two vastly different worlds, but both fondly remembered.
  • "I can't speak highly enough about Youngstown area... and Boca Raton, Florida—two very different places but great people in both places." (03:34 – 03:54, Mike)
• Old Addresses & Family Homes: Mike recalls the house at 45 Maple Street in Canfield, Ohio, bringing up vivid childhood memories—his grandfather’s separated garage, the backyard garden, and basement family dinners.
  • "The garage was actually separated... my grandfather used to have a garden out back... kept his beer in the back of the garage, which was like his workstation." (04:11 – 04:28, Mike)

2. School Days & Small-Town Life

• Walking to School & School Memories: Both reminisce about being "walkers," walking to school, and the iconic feeling of being dismissed to walk home.
  • "I could walk to school from 45 Maple Street... just a wonderful [time]." (05:55 – 06:12, Mike)
  • "The buses would come, like, 'walkers are dismissed.' Three o'clock, we're gone." (09:37 – 09:40, Ryan)
• Middle and High School Experiences: Mike shares stories from Canfield Middle and High School, wrestling teams, and the unbeaten football season. A touch of pride for local athletic achievement shines through.
  • "Football team was undefeated. We were 8-0." (05:47 – 05:53, Mike)
• Nostalgia Trips via Google Maps: The hosts track down childhood homes and relive neighborhood landscapes, like the proximity to Sykesville Carnival and freedom firehouse, underscoring the power of place in memory.
  • "Kirsten, go down that street right there, that's where the carnival was..." (08:24 – 08:27, Ryan)

3. The Soundtrack of Youth

• Hair Band Mania: The pivotal role of '80s hair bands—Bon Jovi, Poison, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, and Ozzy Osbourne—in shaping their youth.
  • "That Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet album... every song was a hit on there." (07:12 – 07:17, Mike)
  • "Bon Jovi was so big at that time... if you got a knockoff band to come in and just sing their songs, the kids would go crazy." (09:29 – 09:48, Ryan)
• Music & Parental Anxiety: Reflections on growing up Catholic and the perceived taboo of listening to rock icons rumored to ‘worship the devil,’ as well as 1980s culture wars over "explicit" music labels.
  • "The big thing then was like, worshipping the devil... because I grew up Catholic...is this okay for me to buy this and listen to this?" (13:25 – 14:55, Mike)
  • "Tipper Gore came in, all she did was help... Now I'm finding new bands because they have that sticker." (14:03 – 14:16, Ryan)

4. Sports Fandom & Boxing Legends

• Mike Tyson Era: Deep admiration for the ‘Tyson era,’ with vivid memories of watching his rapid-finish fights and the social phenomenon around Tyson bouts.
  • "Tyson fights for the next ten years were a thing... they had to start building the undercards because he would knock the guy out in the pre-fight fight instructions." (15:03 – 15:38, Mike)
  • "A friend of ours... they go out to get drinks and when they come in, it's over. They spent all this money... and it's already finished." (15:38 – 16:14, Ryan)
• Buster Douglas Upset & Aftermath: The legendary Tyson vs. Douglas fight and its shockwaves through the sports world.
  • "My fantasy football team has been Duster Buglass forever... this guy had no chance to win. And then he wins. It's the biggest upset in boxing." (17:09 – 17:49, Ryan)
• Legendary Moments & Anecdotes: Howard Cosell announcing a street fight, the infamous "fan man" flying into the ring at a heavyweight bout, and George Foreman's epic comeback are recounted with reverence and laughter.
  • Notable Moment: "Suddenly the fight stopped. The kids looked at him dumbfounded... Then he spoke: 'Now listen...' "* (23:18 – 24:41, Ryan reading Howard Cosell’s street fight intervention story)

5. Sharing Rooms, Childhood Collections & The Value of 'Stuff'

• Sibling Dynamics: Mike details sharing a room with his older brother, describing their amicable relationship and quirky disputes (like who should vacuum).
  • "I was in a cleaning-my-room phase... I was like, let's vacuum the room. And he refused to take turns doing it, so I just remember vacuuming half of the room." (25:12 – 25:54, Mike)
• Beer Cans & Soda Cans: Both hosts laugh about collecting beer and soda cans, convinced they’d be valuable one day—a belief later dashed by evaporation and reality.
  • “We as idiots thought that they’d be worth something someday, like a 007 beer can is gonna be worth a lot of money.” (25:55 – 26:04, Mike)
• Defining Richness: As kids, having an in-ground pool, above-ground pool, or the right Matchbox cars became cultural markers of wealth.
  • "If you had an in-ground pool, man, you all were Russian. You're rich." (27:03 – 27:19, Ryan)

6. Cars & Pop Culture Symbols

• Muscle Cars: Reminiscing over coveted vehicles of their youth—Trans-Ams with T-tops, classic Corvettes, Ferraris.
  • "My father had a Corvette... it was all made of fiberglass. So if you get into an accident, you're dead. But you’re living flashy." (27:34 – 28:44, Mike & Ryan)
• TV Favorites: 1980s sitcoms like The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, Good Times, Taxi, and Miami Vice discussed for their influence, diversity, and unforgettable characters.
  • "The Jeffersons was a very underrated... brilliant, brilliant show... character, Sherman Hemsley's character, George Jefferson, is one of the iconic characters of television history." (29:42 – 30:06, Mike)
  • "What's Happening, Good Times, Sanford and Son... I would say 50/50 on diversity." (31:08 – 31:31, Ryan)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Youngstown, OH roots:
  "Originally Youngstown, Ohio. But then I spent half of my childhood in Boca Raton, Florida. So two fantastic places... great people in both."
  — Mike Vecchione, (03:34)

• On music experiencing and cultural taboos:
  "I didn't go to a Catholic school, but was raised in the church... the quandary of like buying an Ozzy Osbourne album... while you're Catholic... it was not like we don't look at it like we do now... we thought that was real."
  — Mike Vecchione, (14:16 – 14:55)

• On 1980s shared experiences:
  "When you would come home... MTV would have their countdown on, right, and ‘Home Sweet Home’ was number one every day... So big they eventually retired it."
  — Ryan Sickler, (10:41 – 11:22)

• On the Buster Douglas/Tyson upset:
  "This guy had no chance to win. And then he wins. And it is the biggest upset in boxing... probably sports history."
  — Ryan Sickler, (17:44 – 17:49)

• On Cosell narrating a street fight:
  "Now listen. It's quite apparent to this trained observer the young southpaw does not have a job requisite for the continuation of this fray... confrontation is halted post haste."
  — Ryan Sickler (as Howard Cosell), (24:23 – 24:41)

• On collecting things that turned out worthless:
  "We as idiots thought they'd be worth something someday, like a 007 beer can is gonna be worth a lot of money."
  — Mike Vecchione, (25:55 – 26:04)

• On TV’s diversity in the 1980s:
  "We watched all the black sit... I wouldn't call them black sitcoms—they were just for everyone back then. We all grew up on that, all of us."
  — Ryan Sickler, (31:40 – 31:48)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introductions & Promotions: 02:49 – 03:30
• Youngstown, Childhood Home Stories: 03:34 – 05:36
• School Days, Wrestling Memories: 05:36 – 07:01
• Hair Bands & Music Nostalgia: 07:05 – 11:39
• Catholic Guilt, Devil in Rock: 13:25 – 14:55
• Boxing & Sports Fandom: 15:02 – 22:22
• Howard Cosell Story: 22:30 – 24:48
• Sibling Room Sharing, Childhood Collections: 25:12 – 26:59
• Defining "Rich" & Car Talk: 27:03 – 29:39
• 80s Sitcoms & TV Pop Culture: 29:42 – 32:14
• Wrapping Up & Final Promotions: 32:25 – 32:41

Closing Thoughts

Brimming with laughter, “the way back” memories, and cultural touchstones, this episode is a vivid snapshot of the humor, anxieties, and small joys that shaped a generation. Whether dissecting the mythos of Mike Tyson, trading band stories, or marveling at childhood collections that never paid off, Sickler and Vecchione deliver a warm invitation to relive those formative years.

Mike Vecchione's plugs:
Follow at @ComicMikeV on all platforms. Watch his latest special “Low Income White” on the Nateland YouTube page.

Ryan Sickler:
@RyanSickler on all platforms – look for more nostalgic journeys every week.