Two Jersey Js: If I Could Turn Back Time

Summary

Summary of "Two Jersey Js: If I Could Turn Back Time" - Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge

Release Date: March 17, 2025

In the poignant and nostalgic episode titled "Two Jersey Js: If I Could Turn Back Time," hosts Jackie Goldschneider and Jen Fessler delve deep into their formative years, sharing heartfelt memories and reflections that shaped who they are today. Skipping the initial advertisements, the conversation kicks off around the [02:35] mark, focusing on their unique childhood experiences and the cultural influences that defined their upbringing.

1. Introduction to Their Worlds

Jackie and Jen introduce themselves as "two Jersey Js," immediately establishing their shared identity and setting the stage for an intimate conversation about their past. Jen begins by expressing their mutual desire to explore cherished childhood memories, highlighting the universal appeal of nostalgia.

Jen Fessler [02:47]:
"We were talking and reminiscing, and we were like, let's do an episode about all the things that made our childhood so memorable and special."

2. Childhood Narratives

Jackie recounts a tumultuous childhood marked by frequent moves and family upheavals. Born in Louisiana, she moved to Texas at age nine after her parents' divorce and experienced multiple relocations before settling in Sugarland, Texas. Despite the instability, Jackie fondly remembers her close-knit relationship with her cousins and the artistic environment of her magnet performing arts high school in Houston.

Jackie Goldschneider [03:44]:
"I had a very tumultuous childhood... We were always back and forth visiting my cousins on Long Island, and I was always so envious of that."

Conversely, Jen shares her magical yet gritty upbringing in Staten Island. From playing manhunt with numerous friends to sneaking cigarettes as a child, Jen paints a vivid picture of a vibrant neighborhood life contrasted with personal family challenges.

Jen Fessler [07:21]:
"Staten Island was so fun. We filled up garbage cans with water and played outside, and I even believed in Darth Vader chasing me every night."

3. High School Experiences

The hosts discuss their high school years, highlighting the differences in their environments. Jackie thrived in her artistic high school in Houston, surrounded by like-minded peers who embraced diversity and creativity. This contrasted sharply with the more conservative atmosphere of her junior high, leading to feelings of being a fish out of water.

Jackie Goldschneider [05:14]:
"Living in Sugarland, Texas... my high school was a land of misfits, and we all just accepted everybody."

Jen, having moved from Staten Island to New Jersey during high school, struggled with fitting in. She reminisces about hosting large parties and dealing with the emotional fallout when friendships didn’t go as planned.

Jen Fessler [21:19]:
"My sweet 16 was such a miserable experience... I invited the whole school, but things didn't go as I hoped."

4. Pop Culture Influences

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the pop culture that defined their childhoods. Jackie and Jen reflect on the books, TV shows, and music that provided solace and joy during their formative years.

Books:
Jen shares her love for Sweet Valley High and Judy Blume’s novels, which were a staple in her reading list. Jackie, on the other hand, fondly remembers devouring Wendy and Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume.

Jen Fessler [24:30]:
"I was absolutely obsessed with the Beatles. Every inch of my room was covered in Beatles posters, and I knew every song by heart."

TV Shows and Movies:
Both hosts recall watching shows like The Wonder Years, Sound of Music, and Happy Days. Jackie expresses her admiration for Sound of Music, while Jen fondly remembers specific episodes that resonated with her, such as the pilot of The Wonder Years where a character’s kiss evoked personal memories.

Jen Fessler [26:57]:
"My favorite episode was the pilot of The Wonder Years where Winnie and Kevin kissed. It felt like I was having my first kiss."

5. Music and Fashion

The conversation shifts to the music and fashion of their youth. Jackie reminisces about attending Duran Duran concerts and her fascination with fashion trends like fluorescent jumpsuits and scrunchie socks. Jen echoes similar sentiments, highlighting her Bon Jovi poster collection and her unique take on styles like hot doggers and scrunchie socks.

Jen Fessler [38:05]:
"I loved Bon Jovi. I had a life-sized poster of him on my bedroom door, and he was the first concert I went to."

Jackie Goldschneider [38:42]:
"I remember those fluorescent hot doggers and piling on scrunchie socks with my Champion sweatshirt. It was weird, but it was our thing."

6. Reflections and Lessons Learned

Both hosts reflect on how their challenging childhoods and high school experiences shaped their resilience and outlook on life. Jackie emphasizes the importance of adaptability and embracing change, while Jen discusses the lingering effects of her high school struggles and her journey towards healthier habits.

Jackie Goldschneider [53:22]:
"Today, I love New Jersey and where my kids got to grow up. Our roots are here, and I'm grateful for the experiences that made me who I am."

Jen Fessler [54:57]:
"I had a really miserable high school experience, and while it shaped me, it also traumatized me. I wish I had learned healthier habits earlier."

7. Future Episodes and Closing Thoughts

Towards the end, Jackie and Jen express their excitement for future episodes, particularly considering a dedicated pop culture discussion. They highlight the timelessness of certain cultural elements and their desire to revisit and analyze contemporary trends through the lens of their experiences.

Jen Fessler [53:29]:
"Let's do a pop culture episode about today's movies and TV shows. This was really fun, let's do it."

Jackie Goldschneider [53:10]:
"Yeah, let's explore how today's trends compare to our childhood favorites."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jen Fessler [02:47]:
  "Let's do an episode about all the things that made our childhood so memorable and special."

• Jackie Goldschneider [03:44]:
  "We were always back and forth visiting my cousins on Long Island, and I was always so envious of that."

• Jen Fessler [07:21]:
  "Staten Island was so fun... I even believed in Darth Vader chasing me every night."

• Jackie Goldschneider [05:14]:
  "My high school was a land of misfits, and we all just accepted everybody."

• Jen Fessler [21:19]:
  "My sweet 16 was such a miserable experience."

• Jen Fessler [24:30]:
  "I was absolutely obsessed with the Beatles..."

• Jen Fessler [26:57]:
  "My favorite episode was the pilot of The Wonder Years where Winnie and Kevin kissed."

• Jen Fessler [38:05]:
  "I loved Bon Jovi. I had a life-sized poster of him on my bedroom door."

• Jackie Goldschneider [53:22]:
  "I'm grateful for the experiences that made me who I am."

• Jen Fessler [53:29]:
  "Let's do a pop culture episode about today's movies and TV shows."

Conclusion

"Two Jersey Js: If I Could Turn Back Time" offers listeners a heartfelt journey through Jackie and Jen's past, blending personal anecdotes with cultural reflections. Their candid discussions not only evoke a sense of nostalgia but also provide insights into how early experiences and pop culture shape one's identity. This episode serves as a testament to the power of shared memories and the enduring impact of childhood on our present selves.

Transcript

[Jackie Goldschneider]

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[Jen Fessler]

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[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh wow, you're kidding. Stop it.

[Jen Fessler]

Lady Gaga will take home the Innovator award at Monday's iHeartradio Music Awards. Now these iHeart Award winners are teaming up on a brand new episode of Las Culturistas.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Jen Fessler]

Here, but please, please, please don't make.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Me get angry about anything in public.

[Jen Fessler]

Just open the free iHeartRadio app, search Las Culturistas and and listen now. Are you hungry? Colleen Witt here and Eating While Broke is back for season four every Thursday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. This season we've got a legendary lineup serving up broke dishes and even better stories. On the menu we have Tony Baker, Nick Cannon, Melissa Ford, October London and Carrie Harper. Howie Turning Big Macs into Big Moves. Catch Eating While Broke every Thursday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Wherever you get your favor, come hungry for season four.

[Matt Rogers]

Do you remember what you said the first night I came over here?

[Jen Fessler]

Ow. Go slower.

[Matt Rogers]

From Blumhouse TV, iHeart podcasts and Ember 20 comes an all new fictional comedy podcast series. Join the flighty Damien Hirst as he unravels the mystery of his vanished boyfriend. I've been spending all my time looking for answers about what happened to Santi and what's the way to find a missing person? Sleep with everyone he knew? Obviously. Listen to the hookup on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Jen Fessler]

Hey, guys, it's Jackie Goldschneider and Jen Fessler, and we are two Jersey Jays coming at you.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That's so funny, Jack.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Who's saying two Jersey J's? Me or you?

[Jen Fessler]

What?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Can I wait for you to say it?

[Jen Fessler]

You know what? We're two Jersey Js. Whoever says it, so that's true. But we have a special episode for you guys today because we were talking and reminiscing, and we were like, let's do an episode about, like, all the things we were like, all the things that made our childhood so memorable and so special, because people love that stuff, like the nostalgia. And everyone has these, like, shared experiences. Right, Right.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I mean, we also. We were talking about pop culture maybe, you know, and we will. We want to do an episode on just what's going on today. But as we were talking about pop culture, we were, like, really thrown back to our childhood. And that pop culture seems so much more important than today.

[Jen Fessler]

I know, and I've had so much to say about it, because when I was thinking about the pop culture that I loved, like, so many things came flooding back. But let's start at the start. We had different childhoods. You were raised in Texas. I was raised in Staten Island. So let's talk about yours first. What was it?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah, I had a very tumultuous childhood, to say the least. It was. My parents were divorced, and I moved to Texas when I was 9. My mother was remarried. We had actually moved around a lot when I was a baby. I was born in Louisiana. My sister was born in Columbus, Ohio, and so moved to Long island like most of the Jewish friends I have now, it's either Long island or Jersey or the city or Connecticut. But anyway, for us, it was Texas, so we moved to Sugarland, Texas. My sister was 8, and I grew up in Sugarland. I graduated from high school in Houston. It was actually performing arts high school. And then I went to college at UT Austin and graduated and then moved as quickly as I could to New York City. So a little bit of a different, you know, upbringing for sure. And, you know, I had, and I still am best friends with my cousins. My mom is an identical twin, so my aunt has two daughters. And so the four of us always been like sisters, but we're always back and forth visiting them on Long Island. And I think that it's so interesting, and I was always so envious. Like, I wanted to live on Long Island. And. But some of the, like. Some of the songs, some of the, like. I bet that we're going to, like, know a lot of the same stuff or at least, like, reminisce about things that were special to us and it'll be the same. Even though I grew up in Texas. Right. But I also. There. What was it conservative there in Texas?

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yes. I mean, conservative. I lived in Sugarland, Texas. Not when I went. So when I went to high school, I went in. I had to try out to go to the school in the middle of Houston. It was a magnet school, meaning they were pulling from all different areas of Houston. And so the school. It was such a different experience than going to Sugarland Junior High or to, you know, Clemens High School. And, um, so the performing arts school, it was, remember. So we're talking about going back to 1982, when I started high school. And there were tons of kids were. We were all a bunch of, like, performing arts and visual arts freaks. Like, you know, the boys were out about being gay as opposed to, like, Sugar Land, where, you know, things were not at that. Oh, right, right, right. Level. But it was got. Boys were out about being gay. They were like. They. So a lot of, like, very cool kids from all different walks of life. And it was just very granola and very arty and very. We all love each other and.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, wow.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

It was a great high school experience. Very different from, like, your typical high school experience. Right?

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. But even as, like, a kid, when you were a kid, kid, like, was your home, like, sort of buttoned up or was it, like, loud?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

And my home was not a happy place growing up. So whether or not. I don't know what to know, I wouldn't say that it was conservative in any way. It was just very chaotic. And my mom. My dad left my mom when I was, like, three, and then my mom remarried, and then they got divorced and then remarried again and he died. He had a heart attack. But also just. It wasn't. There was no Brady Bunch. If we're going to talk about pop culture back then, it was not that kind of a scenario at all. Quite, quite, quite different.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. Well, I grew up in Staten island, and I moved when I was almost 14 and I moved to New Jersey. But Staten island was the most magical place to grow up. It was just like, the houses were all really close together and all your, like, family and best friends lived, like, on the same block, and everyone was just always together. Like, outside all the kids on my block, there was like 20 of us, we played manhunt in each other's backyards at night. We were. But it was gritty. Like Staten island was a little bit gritty. I was born in Borough Park, Brooklyn, and I moved to Staten island as a baby. And it was just like, I'll tell you, My next door neighbor was my very best friend in the world. And my parents don't know the story and I don't know if they listen to my podcast, but we used to, when we were like 10 years old, we started. We would walk around at 10 years old, walk around the streets and pick up old cigarettes and relight them and smoke.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh, my God, I was so funny.

[Jen Fessler]

To this day I'm nauseous thinking about it. But we. Before I had a pool, my brother and I used to fill up green, big green garbage cans and get it, and we used to fill it up with water from the hose. It was like no one cared. Staten island was just like a free for all. Can I tell you a funny story, though? When I think of my childhood in Staten Island. So my. My parents are, like, a little, like, crazy, right? They're. They're wonderful, right? But anyway, so my dad. I used to not like to go to sleep when I was a kid, and I still don't sleep that well, but outside my room there was like a light, right? Like a street light. And I guess it was controlled by like a city grid or what time the lights come on, what time they go off. And it used to come on every night at 9:00, but I didn't know that that was controlled by another, like, entity, right? So my father used to tell me that the light outside my room was the Darth Vader light. And Darth Vader, when the light came on, it meant Darth Vader was in the area looking for children who weren't sleeping. And that.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh my God.

[Jen Fessler]

If I was awake, Darth Vader. Darth Vader would bite my arm off. So. Oh my God. Every night at 9:00, whether or not I was tired, I was like. My eyes were fucking shut and I was like shuddering because the light would come on. It was terrifying. And then one time my parents took me to somewhat like Atlantic City, Ocean City, whatever, and we went to this, like, they had like a carnival and there was like this little ride. And we went into this ride and it was like a spaceship that shut. And Darth Vader came out and I freaked out.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

You poor little thing. Oh, my God.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, my God. I still remember. It was so vivid. But Staten island was so fun. Geico's motorcycle expertise gives me the coverage I need. Like 24.7claims, I'm on cloud nine.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

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[Jen Fessler]

With Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang Just one podcast of the year at this year's iHeart PODC Awards.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh, wow. You're kidding. Stop it.

[Jen Fessler]

Lady Gaga will take home the Innovator award at Monday's iHeartradio Music Awards. Now these iHeart Award winners are teaming up on a brand new episode of Las Culturistas.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Jen Fessler]

Here, but please, please, please don't make.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Me get angry about anything in public.

[Jen Fessler]

Just open the free iHeartRadio app, search Las Culturistas and listen.

[Matt Rogers]

Now, do you remember what you said the first night I came over here?

[Jen Fessler]

Ow. Go slower.

[Matt Rogers]

From Blumhouse TV iHeart podcasts and em comes an all new fictional comedy podcast series. Join the flighty Damien Hirst as he unravels the mystery of his vanished boyfriend. And Santi was gone. I've been spending all my time looking for answers about what happened to Santi and what's the way to find a missing person? Sleep with everyone he knew, obviously.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Hmm.

[Matt Rogers]

Pillow talk. The most unwelcome window into the human psyche. Follow our out of his element hero as he engages in a series of ill conceived investigative hookups. Mama always used to say God gave me gumption in place of a gag reflex. And as I was about to learn, no amount of showering can wash your hands of a bad hookup.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Now take a big whiff, my bruh.

[Matt Rogers]

Listen to the hookup on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Jen Fessler]

Why would you do that to me when I thought we were friends?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

We are friends. Los Angeles, 2021. A friendly neighbor appears out of nowhere and promises to make all my dreams come true. Let's not forget that David Bloom was a professional con artist. So you didn't stand a chance. But my dreams soon turned into a nightmare. Bloom generally targeted people with money, and I was not alone. He took over a hundred people for over 15 million million dollars. One of the victims was his own grandmother. I was married to David for almost 10 years.

[Jen Fessler]

It was insane.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I was barely functioning. And I just had this realization that he will not stop until he kills me. Getting a con artist to pay for their crimes isn't easy. Charge David blue I'm Caroline D'Amore. Listen as I take down my scammer on Once Upon a con on the.

[Jen Fessler]

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[Jackie Goldschneider]

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[Jen Fessler]

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[Jackie Goldschneider]

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[Jen Fessler]

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[Jackie Goldschneider]

People navigate and find their way.

[Jen Fessler]

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[Jackie Goldschneider]

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[Jen Fessler]

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[Jackie Goldschneider]

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[Matt Rogers]

Listen to building one on the iHeartRadio app, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

The parents like the things that they got away with, quote unquote. I guess I mean I or any of you just like adults. So I went to Sugarland. I started out in whatever elementary school and it was called. I don't remember. Sugar Land Junior High. I don't remember. But anyway, so at this elementary school, I was nine years old, if you were bad, you had to go to the principal's office and you would get popped. He had a big paddle.

[Jen Fessler]

No way.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yes.

[Jen Fessler]

Wow.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Like sitting on and like you have the. Imagine the day, sweetheart, bend over the table because I'm going to smack you with this paddle. Can you imagine this shit?

[Jen Fessler]

I can't believe even back then, like, I can't believe because I never. My. I don't think my parents would ever be okay with like someone hitting me.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I don't think I ever got hit for whatever reason. Maybe my mom wrote a letter. Maybe they had to have permission, but it was always kind of looming. And so this was. We're talking about 1978. I mean, you weren't even born yet.

[Jen Fessler]

No, I was born. I was born in 76.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh, you were. All right.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah, I'm a baby.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

76. I was born in 68. So we're only eight years old.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah, we're eight years apart, so.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

But I mean, imagine like. And also like you. Even in Sugarland, we used to run around, you know, playing war with forts. And I was always outside. I mean, you hear we all have this kind of the same story. I mean, the world is so different now. You have to have organized play dates. My mother never made me a play play date. Are you kidding me?

[Jen Fessler]

I remember all these. These kids, and I wonder what happened to them. A lot of them are not on social media. I was always boy crazy. And so I've looked just to see what they look like now. Like, the boys that I had huge crushes on, a lot of them I can't find. But there was even in kindergarten, I went to Montessori School in Staten island. And I, at 5 years old, was my first crush. And I was just infatuated with this kid Jerome, and I drew hearts all over his picture in my yearbook at five years old, Jackie.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I was in love at five years old. And I was the first. I was the only kindergartner that got into the first grade play to play Susie Snowflake because I had to try out and dance. And all I could think about was Philip Wilner, who I'm now. I Facebooked him years and years later. Is he. Remember I gave him when we moved to Texas. I mean, he was to me then. He was a little guy with glasses. All the girls loved him. And I think I gave him my hamster like, before we moved to Houston. And. Oh, but that's the reason why I got to be Susie Snowflake, because he picked me to dance, like, in choir with him. I don't know. I just remember the obsession. And I was like, you. I was five. Starts early.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. I mean, I guess for some people, it starts early for. I don't know. I. Rachel.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I did. My daughter. My mother used to get upset because Rachel would follow when workers would come in. My mother was babysitting. She would go stand at, like, the window in the back and watch them working in the backyard. Like, we had landscapers. And it would bug my mother. And it bugged me that it bugged my mother. I'm like, what are you Thinking here is happening. You think Rachel wants to, you know, like, gross. But she was just, for whatever reason, she used to like, follow.

[Jen Fessler]

Was there like in Texas there are like different names for like the types of groups. Like in Staten island there was, I guess you would call it now, like their version of goth. They called him a critter. So like, a critter was somebody who was like a cool goth. Like, you wore like the dark jacket and you were all like, emo. You are like leather and like you listen to heavy metal. And like the only thing I wanted out of life was to be a critter and then be. But if you like weren't cool and you were a critter, you were just like a dirtbag. Like, everyone would just call you. Everyone call you a dirt bag.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

We did not just wanted to be a critter.

[Jen Fessler]

The problem is that I had. I was like dark and emo and like had this big hair. And my hair was huge, enormous. And then when I moved to New Jersey my freshman year of high school, people weren't quite so over the top. Like, my hair was really big and my family was really loud and like, I just think that I from the jump did not fit in there and had a really, really hard time in high school. Sounds like you had despite your life.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah, well, yes, but in elementary school, at one point, my mom and my first stepfather, they separated. And so we moved in with my dad in New York City, my sister and I and he had apartment in the city. And we ended up going to private school like Horace Mann. I mean, there was so much moving around for us. And then we went back to my mom when she got divorced and we started Sugar Land Junior High. And I remember it was so. It. Awkward. It was so horrible. I felt so like a fish out of water. First of all, we were like the only Jewish girls in the neighborhood. Much less like the school, right? And I remember like my mom dropping me off at a class and she wait, because this is like how they talked back then. My mother waved. She's like, bye, bye, pussycat. And I had like, you. I mean, this is. These are the days before Caridin. I used to sit behind this girl, Carrie and sugar and junior high. And she would go like she would with the back of her hand, she would just like go her down her hair like this. And it was all smooth and silky. And I would put mine like this and it had like a big frizzy, hard ridge and then another ridge. And I just remember all I wanted was to have like that smooth, silky hair. It was like. I mean, I guess junior high is not easy for anyone. I don't think that my kids would look back and say it was so great, necessary. But I don't remember being very fun. Yeah, we're totally getting into, like our whole childhoods and we're forgetting all about pop culture stuff. But I can't. No, no.

[Jen Fessler]

We could talk about pop culture, but I. So I moved in high school. We're going to talk about pop culture in a second.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

But it's all good.

[Jen Fessler]

I moved in high school to New Jersey, and I had a really hard time in high school. I did not fit in there. And I think from the beginning I was sort of, like, lost. And I never. I just never found myself. But I. When I left, I kind of left forever. I don't really go back. But my sweet 16, I just invited like the whole freaking school because I didn't care. I had it in, like a wedding venue. It was so big and fancy. And I invited this guy from, like the next town who I had a huge crush on. And he was older, he was 17. He drove already, and he came alone. And my friend Jen hooked up with him and I got. So you put this.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I feel like I read this in your book. Is this in your book?

[Jen Fessler]

I don't know. I might have just told you, but I had this like, slam book, like a sign in book at my. At my party. And like, you could sign in and write a little message on it. And she wrote me like a chapter at the end of the book all about why I shouldn't be mad at her and why she liked him first.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

And I was just.

[Jen Fessler]

The whole experience was just so, so miserable. And I wore this pink taffeta dress that was so ugly, and I was really overweight and I couldn't find a dress, so I had it made. And like, it was just horrible. It was. It was just horrible. High school just so horrible.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah, high school was my escape, you know, was like. Because again, it was so. We're talking about Houston, Texas, in 1982. And. But it was like, again, I was a misfit, and it was just the land of misfits at my high school. And we all just were. Everybody accepted everybody, you know, and it was just. I'm so grateful for that experience, but it was a total nightmare in junior high and in elementary school.

[Jen Fessler]

Do you still have a lot of high school friends?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

My three. Three of my very best friends. I'm going to Houston, I think. Did I mention that? To you. I'm going to Houston. First time back since I left my. One of the three of them lives in Houston. And we're going to go to rodeo. You call it rodeo, don't call it the rodeo. So I have to go to California, and then I'm gonna go to Houston because I've been wanting to just go to rodeo with her for so long. I want to go see Old Dominion. I am so excited.

[Jen Fessler]

So.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

But again, I haven't been back to Houston. Yeah, it's really. But we all, the four of us get together every year. My friend has a house in. On the western shore of Maryland, Eastern Shore.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, yeah, I remember you going last year.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah, I go over here. My mind is so. Lately, I just can't keep a thought.

[Jen Fessler]

All right, so then let's talk about some pop culture. So when I think of the things that got me through the 80s. So I had. I was very much. My parents worked full time. I'm estranged. I've always been estranged from my sister. My brother I love dearly, he's disabled. And so after. After a certain age, it's sort of like it was. It was hard to, like, socialize together as easily, you know, So I kind of would disappear into my own world and just. I watched a lot of tv.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Me too.

[Jen Fessler]

I read a lot of books. Yeah, I read a lot of books.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

You were Flowers in the Attic. Was that your generation or is it just mine?

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. Yes. And I. And I love that. But what I really loved, when I think of the books I loved, was I would devour the Sweet Valley High and Sweet Valley Trends series. Did you watch that? Did you read that?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That was before my time.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, God. I was absolutely obsessed. And like, I think about it because my kids don't love reading, and they're smart kids, but they absolutely never read a book. Ever since the schools, I guess at a certain age, they stopped, like, making you read a certain number of minutes at night. And I don't think they've picked up a book.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Well, I mean, everything is. Everything goes back to social media. Right? Like, there was no.

[Jen Fessler]

I mean, that's.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

We weren't communicating with our friends at. Unless, you know, you were on the house phone, there was no cell phone, and you had nothing to do if, like, let's say, I mean, I was grounded all the time. And for whatever reason, it was just crazy in my house. And so I would just read. Wouldn't be allowed to watch tv, so I would read and I would really. I'm grateful for that. Right it's like.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah, me too. Oh, and Judy Blum. Did you read?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Obviously. Judy Bloom.

[Jen Fessler]

The best.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

The best.

[Jen Fessler]

I loved reading. I really.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

And then, like, do you. Did you sneak, like, Wifey?

[Jen Fessler]

I don't know.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That was, like, her sexy book. Oh, my God.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, no.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Lover.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, I loved. Yeah, but I also. I loved.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret.

[Jen Fessler]

I loved Sneaking a dirty movie. I loved it. Like, when I saw Porky's for the first time, I was like, what is this shit? I was. I loved it.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Wifey was a Judy Blume book that was, like, spicy. Oh. And then the other one was the one she wrote about the girl. She lost her virginity. Then they broke up. Come on, remember? I don't know. I was. I read everything. Judy Blume, of course.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. I loved it. But TV was really, like. I would plan every night around what was on tv. Different Strokes might have been my favorite.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Okay.

[Jen Fessler]

The episode. When and when I think of it, I think of the episode where Arnold and his friend Dudley went to the bike show. Bike store. Do you remember this one?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Nope.

[Jen Fessler]

And the bike shop owner tried to molest them. Do you. You don't remember this? And it was such a pivotal episode because I was horrified by it. But I also couldn't believe what I was watching on, like, tv.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Do you remember, like, stuff like that would come up, like, Good Times and where Janet Jackson, she was like. She ended up living with JJ and, like, the whole family. Did you watch Good Times?

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah, I loved it.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

And she. Her mother took that iron to her, like, was abusive. They were upstairs.

[Jen Fessler]

I don't remember.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

You don't remember that? I mean, now this is the crap that used to, like, yeah. Keep me up at night, but it was. I just remember being so horrified. I mean, I guess my kids obviously have seen things on TV that I'm sure they felt the same way about, but there's so much that I think go back to. I was so young.

[Jen Fessler]

My other favorite episode from childhood was the pilot episode of the Wonder Years where Winnie and Kevin kissed, and I. I felt like I was having my first kiss. It was the best episode. Oh, God, I. I feel like I want to watch it again today. It was the best. Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

We're so. Yes. So we're eight years apart.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

And that was so past my time. Like, some of this is. Yeah. I mean, I watched. I never watched.

[Jen Fessler]

You probably watched, like, Dallas and.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yes, of course.

[Jen Fessler]

And what was the one with Falcons Crest? What was the. The fancy one.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Falcons Crest.

[Jen Fessler]

No. Was it Dallas? What am I thinking of with the.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Dallas was fancy. JRUing.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, dynasty, dynasty, Dynasty. That's what I'm thinking of. Yeah. I never watched anything.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

But all those things were also, like. It depends when you ask me. When I was little and we were living in New York still, before we moved to Texas. This is. I don't know, age 7, 8, whatever. Every Saturday night, we'd watch the Love Boat in Fantasy island in front of the tv. I think it was that. And my mom would make us TV dinners or waffles. It was, like, the best part. The night was like, think that. Am I the right.

[Jen Fessler]

You know what I think that childhood, when I think back and I remind myself this of my kids now, it's that. It's the simple things that you really do remember. You don't remember, like, if something cost a ton of money or how fancy it was. You remember just feeling safe. And the things that made you feel safe were the things that made you feel the best, you know?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was such. It was just a simpler time.

[Jen Fessler]

It really was without camera. Although I do like knowing where my kids are and being able to reach them. I do. I love that there were no phones around and there were no cameras everywhere. And you just didn't think like that.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Probably back then, though, you weren't thinking, like, how do I reach them? It was there in the neighborhood. They were playing or.

[Jen Fessler]

Right.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

You know, I don't know. I don't know. But, like, moving to Texas was such culture shock for me because, again, I was at that kind of. They're all kind of pivotal ages, but I was nine years old, and we were plunked down right in the middle of Sugar Land, Texas. And I just remember missing Long island so much. Probably much like you miss Staten Island. Like, for me, long. I mean, parents were divorced when I was three, but my cousins were there. And I had always just wanted to go back. I think that's why I probably ended up moving so quickly back to New York City. After I graduated college, I just was like. It always felt like my home. And it's funny because I've never been back to Houston since I left after I graduated college. And it feels like New Jersey is my absolute home. Like, I've spent more time here than anywhere else. And this is. I just keep looking at my extension sticking out. No, stop.

[Jen Fessler]

Can I tell you two things that I was obsessed with and growing up? Archie comics. I would wait until, I think they were released every Tuesday or Thursday. And my dad would take me to the store and I'd buy every single one and I would just devour them. And actually, the very first time that I was published was in an Archie comic back in. I was just a kid. They had this, like, writing contest in the back and I wrote an article and sent it in how they published that in the back of an Archie comic. And I was. I felt so high. I was so excited. And then in high school, actually, I don't know if I ever told you this. I was, and I still am. I just don't talk about it, but absolutely obsessed with the Beatles. Like, every inch of my room was covered in Beatles posters. I wore this jacket. I still have it. That was an airbrushed picture of John Lennon on the back. It was a turquoise jacket. And it had. I had. I would cover it in pins. I would just go to vintage stores all day. I'd go to Beatlemania twice a year. My mom would just drop me off at the Meadowlands Hotel and I would just roam around all day. And all I wanted to be was a hippie. And I just. I knew every word of every Beatles song. I knew how to play every song on the piano. It brought me a lot of comfort. I was very lonely in high school. Super lonely. And the Beatles were like. As long as I had them, I didn't care. I think I just needed something to escape into. But I, to this day, absolutely love their music.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That is. That's so interesting because I like something that was so important to you right back then that you were so obsessed with. And I mean, now I don't even know that about you. Yeah, I mean, I had a lot of that. Of course. I mean, I remember going to certain movies, like Footloose, My Sister Too. And when it was over, we were. We would cry that Kevin Bacon wasn't our boyfriend. Or how about Sound of Music? Were you a Sound of Music girl?

[Jen Fessler]

Not really.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

So Sound of Music was my all time and still is my all time favorite movie. And I watched it, but they didn't. There was no such thing. Until I was probably in high school. We didn't even have. Forget about, like, we didn't have Netflix. We didn't. You weren't able to watch that movie until it came out on your network TV once a year at Christmas time.

[Jen Fessler]

Right.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Well, speaking of, that wasn't Blockbuster Video. That was like. But I remember just.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. The smell of a video store. Oh, my God, I loved it. I love the smell of, like, the paper boxes. And then you had to ask for the video. But like, no. If the movie was in stock, the black cassette was behind the box.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Right.

[Jen Fessler]

And it was so exciting to like see the movie you wanted. And then the video was actually there.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yep.

[Jen Fessler]

That was the best in Staten Island. It was called selective video. And then Blockbuster took over everything. But you know what I remember so much like these sounds were like the most exciting for me was the intro of an HBO movie when you were a kid. And it was like you go from like a living room and suddenly the camera's like soaring over a neighborhood and then it goes up into the sky. Do you remember this? And it's like the superhero music.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I don't remember there being HBO when I was little.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. And then like the big silver HBO letters were like turning in the sky and then they burst into like a technicolor. You don't remember that? It was like I could punch a wall. I was so excited to watch it. Yeah, it was the best.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I mean, I remember which, which studio is with the roaring, the roaring lion.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, mgm.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Mgm. Like that. Those, those are, you know, that's back when I was a kid, we were watching wizard of Oz, which was. Could have watched it all day, every day. Sound of Music was my absolute, absolute favorite. And again, like you had to wait for the holidays for this stuff to come on. You couldn't just.

[Jen Fessler]

And speaking of the holidays, I used to call that one. There was a 1, 800 number for a 1, 900 number. Sorry. Which charges a lot of money for Santa. And I was like the only little Jewish girl in my neighborhood in Staten Island. Everyone was Italian. And I would just call Santa over and over and over. I didn't know that I was racking up.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That is so cute. That is so cute.

[Jen Fessler]

I remember my childhood phone number, by the way. I don't remember my kids names half the time, but I remember my childhood phone number.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

You want to say it? Or maybe it's. Maybe you don't want to.

[Jen Fessler]

No, no. Somebody's phone number. 948-8561. I doubt it's anyone. Sorry.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I remember the numbers and I said this to my family the other day of this guy who I dated right before Jeff. And like I. I don't know why. I will always know his phone number. It's very strange. I couldn't remember. I couldn't tell you anybody else's childhood.

[Jen Fessler]

Phone number or his cell number.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

No, his, his office number. I think it was cell phones. Oh, and we have down here. I do want to say this. You Watch. This is what it was. Happy Days, Love Boat and Fantasy Island. Oh, my God.

[Jen Fessler]

I really. I watched Saturday Nights, but I was a little young for it. I liked it. I didn't love it. I loved stupid shit. Like, what was the spin off of the Cosby show with Lisa Bonet, where they went to college.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

The college one. Yeah, it was Lisa Bonet. It was Lisa Bonet. I wasn't into that.

[Jen Fessler]

Different world.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Different, different world.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, it was so good.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I was not my thing.

[Jen Fessler]

So good back then.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

There were so many. Like, when I think about Happy Days, you didn't watch your first concert?

[Jen Fessler]

Not really.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Of all things, I won a concert on the radio. And it was yes. And I didn't even know their music at all. But when I won, I remember, I know that the radio would have a contest and you'd have to pick up your phone and call and call and call and call and call. And I won. And for me, it didn't matter what it was. I remember screaming, I couldn't believe that I won. Oh, and then back. You probably weren't. So it was like a whole New Wave era. Maybe in the 80s you had some of that, but, like, it was Duran Duran and Boy George. So my high school, we had to collect the most Coca Cola tabs or something, and then you could have Duran Duran come to your school. So we were a pretty small school. They came and I remember it was as if, I don't know, the most incredible. It was like out of body that Durand ran this huge. And they're still around. I still kind of hear them sometimes. But that they were coming to our school was. Was just everything.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah, I loved. I did love Duran Duran, but they were more like my older sister loved them more. I loved Bon Jovi. I had a life sized poster of Bon Jovi on my door, my bedroom door. And he was the first concert I went to. And actually, I was really, really, like, enthralled by the idea of hookers when I was little.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Say what?

[Jen Fessler]

And I, I.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

What does that mean?

[Jen Fessler]

I don't know. Like, my parents, when they used to take us to see a play in the city and we used to drive down the west side Highway, I was like, my eyes were peeled for hookers. I thought they were the most interesting human beings in the world. And, like, if I saw a woman standing on the side of the road, I would just ask my parents, is that a hooker? Is she a hooker? And I thought, everyone at this Bon Jovi concert. So I was. I was young and we Went with my mom and my mom's friend and her daughter, who was a little older, and her daughter had some friends there, and they were dressed in, like, skimpy clothes. And I thought all the women there were hookers. I just. I just was so intrigued by the idea of hookers.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I went on a teen tour. I guess I was high school. And we went to Amsterdam and they had the red light district. And I remember that being the most. We went to, like, five countries in five weeks. Something like, ridiculous and. But that was the most. Maybe, like you. I was obsessed with hookers. But that was, like, the most fascinating part of the whole trip was seeing, like, these women in the windows with their red lights on.

[Jen Fessler]

I know. I think because you. You start to realize, like, when you're home, you feel like everyone is like you. Right?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah.

[Jen Fessler]

And then when you step outside and you start to realize there's a bigger world out there, everything is just so interesting, you know?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Jen Fessler]

But I loved. I loved Bon Jovi. I loved Debbie Gibson so much.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh, my God, Debbie Gibson.

[Jen Fessler]

Everything about her. Her perfumes, her music. And she was young. I think she was, like, around.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

See, I had, like, Cher Barbie dolls. Like, I was like. That was my generation. I was.

[Jen Fessler]

I had Michael Jackson trading cards.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Did you have those?

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, God, I love them. I had Michael Jackson trading cards everywhere. All over my room. And the clothing. See, this is why I hoard my clothing now, is because I wish. But I want nothing more than my fucking hot doggers back. Did you ever have.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I know what hot dogger is.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, God. It's like this parachute material fluorescent jumpsuit.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I remember when I'd go to Long island, we would buy it. They were called Hot Doggers. They called. But they were, like, literally fluorescent. Like, they were, like, all as different. Like, as bright as you can with.

[Jen Fessler]

I have a picture of me in mine with my big hair on, like, a phone with, like, a spiral cord in my childhood bedroom. It was the best. We had these pants called skids. Did you have.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I remember. Yeah. Oh, I love them.

[Jen Fessler]

And you French cuff them and wear, like, four pairs of scrunchie socks with them. And then we had. Everyone wore it with, like, a Champion sweatshirt. And it was like, the coolest. Avenue sweatshirts was so, like, hard and stiff.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh, yeah. And used to wear them, like, in college. I was. You know, I was big girl. And the only thing I remember wearing is bu. I started out at Boston like you, but I would wear the BU sweatshirts down to my knees with EEGs. Weren't that's what the socks were. Those scrunchie eegs at the bottom.

[Jen Fessler]

I don't remember if they were called ee gees, but they were like big scrunchy socks. You wore like a bunch of pairs, like, piled onto each other. Big scrunchies.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh my God.

[Jen Fessler]

Such a weird fashion, right?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

But those things. I think I wore one of those to Melissa gorg as the first. I don't know if that was the first scene, but season 13, remember she had that roller skating 80s roller skating party.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

And I think I wore that outfit, but I wore those.

[Jen Fessler]

Like, now I need to go back and look at what you wore. What do you do with all your, like, stuff from the show that, like, is not something you could wear again?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Throw it out or give it away? Give it away. Not really throw it out yet.

[Jen Fessler]

You know what I have a problem with? I know this is taking a totally different turn, but like, in my closet, if I have things that I wore and I had a bad episode, I don't want to wear them again. Even if they're nice.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

All you homeowners have unique needs. Some feel the need to paint their.

[Jen Fessler]

Door a vibrant shade of blue.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Others have the need to decorate their bathroom with fish anchors and other nautical items. And because each homeowner has unique needs, GEICO helps you get the right coverage for your home and what's in it. That way you get exactly what's right for you, even if your needs are unique. Get more with Geico Las Culturistas with.

[Jen Fessler]

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang just one podcast of the year at this year's iHeart Podcast Awards.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh, wow. You're kidding. Stop it.

[Jen Fessler]

Lady Gaga will take home the Innovator award at Monday's iHeartradio musical. Now these iHeart Award winners are teaming up on a brand new episode of Las Culturistas.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Thank you so much for having me here.

[Jen Fessler]

But please, please, please don't make me.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Get angry about anything in public.

[Jen Fessler]

Just Open the free iHeartRadio app. Search Las Culturistas and listen now.

[Matt Rogers]

Do you remember what you said the first night I came over here?

[Jen Fessler]

How? Go slower.

[Matt Rogers]

From Blumhouse TV, iHeart podcasts and Ember 20 comes an all new fictional comedy podcast series. Join the flighty Damien Hirst as he unravels the mystery of his vanished boyfriend. And Santi was gone. I've been spending all my time looking for answers about what happened to Santi and what's the way to find a missing person? Sleep with everyone he knew. Obviously hmm. Pillow talk. The most unwelcome window into the human psyche. Follow our out of his element hero as he engages in a series of ill conceived investigative hookups. Mama always used to say, God gave me gumption in place of a gag reflex. And as I was about to learn, no amount of showering can wash your hands of a bad hookup.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Now take a big whiff, my bruh.

[Matt Rogers]

Listen to the hookup on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Did you know that companies hire the.

[Matt Rogers]

Most in the first two months of the year?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Or that nearly half of workers are worried about being left? I am Andrew Seaman, LinkedIn's editor at large for jobs and career development, and my show, Get Hired brings you all.

[Matt Rogers]

The information you need to, well, get hired.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

People are forming opinions of you even before you log into the zoom or.

[Matt Rogers]

Walk into the room.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

And so you really have to think.

[Jen Fessler]

About, what is it I want to display?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

You don't plant a garden and then just walk away and expect it to thrive. You are in there pulling out the weeds. You're pruning it, you're watering it. It's the same thing with your network. You should always be in there actively managing your network. If you don't feel confident to say a number, even admitting that to a recruiter is going to be far better than saying, well, what is your budget for the role?

[Jen Fessler]

A lot is in the follow up, right? Don't wait to follow up.

[Matt Rogers]

Whether you're a new grad, an established professional, or contemplating a career change, get.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Hired is for you.

[Matt Rogers]

Listen to Get Hired with Andrew seaman.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

On the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or.

[Matt Rogers]

Wherever you like to listen.

[Jen Fessler]

Why would you do that to me when I thought we were friends?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

We are friends. Los Angeles, 2021. A friendly neighbor appears out of nowhere and promises to make all my dreams come true. Let's not forget that David Bloom was a professional con artist. So you didn't stand a chance. But my dreams soon turned into a nightmare. Bloom generally talks people with money, and I was not alone. He took over 100 people for over $15 million. One of the victims was his own grandmother.

[Jen Fessler]

I was married to David for almost 10 years. It was insane.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I was barely functioning. And I just had this realization that he will not stop until he kills me. Getting a con artist to pay for their crimes is amazing.

[Jen Fessler]

I'm Caroline de Moray.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Listen, as I take down my scammer on Once Upon a con, on the.

[Jen Fessler]

Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Did you watch the After School specials on abc?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Of course.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, my God. The lead in song to that. If you go back and listen to it, it's so.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Wait, I don't remember it. How did it go? Do you remember?

[Jen Fessler]

It was like instrumental. Was like a trumpet.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Speaking of just songs that opened up, you know, Schoolhouse Rock. Did you watch Schoolhouse Rock?

[Jen Fessler]

I did, yeah. I watched a lot of cartoons, too.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Like Friday morning. How about the comics on Sunday morning and. And cartoons on Sunday morning? Like weekends. Oh, my God, I so excited.

[Jen Fessler]

I used to take, like a mixing bowl and put in every single type of cereal that I had, like an entire bucket of milk and sit one foot from the TV and just watch all morning.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That's what I like.

[Jen Fessler]

Muppet Babies and Fraggle Rock and He man, and she Ra. It was just the best.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah. I did not know there was no sitting with a big tub of cereal. My mother would not have allowed for that. But I just remember, like, just being so happy. It was Sunday morning and the. I'm reading Wendy the comic. Like the comic strip. Did you read Wendy, Wendy?

[Jen Fessler]

I don't remember. I remember.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

We are on such. It's so funny, the difference eight years can make.

[Jen Fessler]

I used to. Kathy.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I met Kathy. I meant Kathy.

[Jen Fessler]

Excuse me. Yeah, excuse me.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I met Kathy. Yes.

[Jen Fessler]

Original housewife Kathy.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I can't. Yes.

[Jen Fessler]

There are comics.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I know.

[Jen Fessler]

I think the comics are gone.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

There are comics. They're in your phone. I mean, the comics are all.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah, right.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah. I mean, it's. Did you ever try to get your kids to watch the movies that you watched? And it's.

[Jen Fessler]

I'm so.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I've always been so frustrated.

[Jen Fessler]

It's so anticlimactic.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka in the Chocolate Factory.

[Jen Fessler]

I beg them so they don't love it the way that you did. And then it's such a disappointment.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I know.

[Jen Fessler]

I was like that, too. Like, my dad used to get so excited to show me movies, and I would watch him and be like, I. Like, I don't want to be watching this. Like, I know his favorite movie of all time is Blazing Saddles. And, like, I just didn't think it was that funny. And also, it's really, like, insulting and, like, it's not like today. It would never fly. And I just couldn't. Couldn't wrap my head around it. He used to love Bridge on the River Kwai and, like, I just didn't care.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Well, I mean, yeah, that would have been a lot, but I. I remember wanting my kids to watch everything from Pippi Longstocking to Pete's Dragon, Sound of Music, Willy Wonka, like all of these that had. They have such a place in my mind and heart, you know, and it was such an escape also. Right. Like, it wasn't like you could always go get into your bed and put on Netflix. It was a. Wasn't like that. It was very special when you were like very into a TV show and you had to wait all week for it to come around or a movie and you actually had to go to the movie theater and, you know, it was such a treat.

[Jen Fessler]

Although I will tell you, my kids do love the original Karate Kid, but.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I showed them, so does my husband. Do you know that Jeff Fessler watches Cobra. What is it called? Cobra Kai.

[Jen Fessler]

Cobra Kai, yeah. Well, so embarrassing movies over and over and over again. And I just read something that said that anxious, he doesn't have anxiety. Like one of the very few people. I know that without anxiety. But I heard that anxious people watch the same things over and over again because they know the outcome and it makes them feel safe. That makes a lot of sense to me. However, this man will watch the Shawshank.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Are you talking about Evan?

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. He doesn't have anxiety, but he will watch certain movies. Like, I think he must have seen this. He watches the Shawshank Redemption probably on a weekly basis. I mean, it's always on tv like every week.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

But amazing movie, but I don't know that I could watch it every week.

[Jen Fessler]

He watches it non stop. Anything with Will Ferrell, he's seen a hundred. That man, oh my God, he's. He's probably the funniest human I've ever.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Seen in real life. I watch. I definitely watch sitcoms on like TikTok like now because obviously, because the algorithm, like, it's a constant barrage of curb your enthusiasm and Seinfeld and so even Schitt's Creek, like, those are the things that I. When I'm like laying in bed at night, I don't want anything too intense. I like for all that, like, and it's true, you know how it's going to end. There's something comforting about it. Right?

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

What are you watching now?

[Jen Fessler]

Are you watching White Lotus?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yes. I'm not that thrilled with it though. Are you really?

[Jen Fessler]

I like it. I'll tell you, I love the storyline about the three friends.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah, of course, that's the only one. The problem with this season's White Lotus, to me, is that it's dark but it's not. I don't. It's nothing else. It's like the other. The other seasons.

[Jen Fessler]

Well, I feel like they're planting the seeds.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

No, I know, but the other seasons were also funny or also touching in some way or a lot about, like, just dynamics, people's relationships. I get that. That is sort of with. But, like, between the father that's so uptight because he's about to get busted for, I don't know, fraud or Monday, whatever he did. And then there is. Then there is the family and wait, there's the family with the father and then that kid. The younger kids, whatever.

[Jen Fessler]

The Schwartz.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

The three girl. I like watching the three girls. Then there's. Oh, then there's the guy with the snakes.

[Jen Fessler]

Yes. And his.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That's all just like. I feel like it's. Yes. I feel like I'm always, like, on the edge of my seat now with White Lotus. Whereas, like, there were breaks from it when Jennifer Coolidge would just be Jennifer Coolidge and you would. It was so much fun to watch. I don't feel like I'm having fun watching it this season.

[Jen Fessler]

Well, I think season. I thought season one was okay. I think season two of White Lotus is one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life because I felt like I was in Italy. Yeah, I loved it. I loved it.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah. And also that's the other piece of it. Is that Thailand? Right. It's in Thailand this season, which is so beautiful, but they just have it set. Everything looks so delayed and scary.

[Jen Fessler]

Yes, it does. I will say you don't see as much of the beauty of Thailand as I would have hoped, but gonna give it some time. I did not watch the latest episode yet, so I have. Did you watch last night? I have to watch that. I didn't.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Also, I think Real Housewives of Atlanta. Wasn't that on last night? The premiere episode.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, did you watch.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

No, but I will watch Atlanta.

[Jen Fessler]

I don't watch that many of them anymore. I don't know. I don't know why.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I do.

[Jen Fessler]

I watch.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I do.

[Jen Fessler]

I love Potomac. I didn't want. I watch OC And Potomac. I didn't watch anything else.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I don't love Beverly Hills this season. No, I don't. It's okay. I don't know. I'm just a little bored.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Okay. I like to do. To read, but.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah. I'm not. I'm not as into it. I don't know.

[Jen Fessler]

Is she different now that she's getting divorced?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Dorit yeah, she's very different this season. That's, like, the whole kind of theme of it is Dorit comes back with a vengeance. So she sort of was, you know, the villain for the past few seasons, and now she's like, I'm not having it. You and the train you rode in on. And she's, like, lighting her cigarette in the car and, like, kind of fun to watch.

[Jen Fessler]

Well, you know what? Maybe we'll do a pop culture episode of, like, today's stuff, like what we consider the best today and the movies and the TV shows. But really my expertise is, like, the 1980s pop culture. Oh, man. I just spent so many hours just watching TV and watching movies over and over. Flashdance and Flash Dance and everything was just so amazing. And I just. I loved all, like, the character. I just. Molly Ringwald gave me so much hope.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That I could be there, of course.

[Jen Fessler]

Make my own background. I just saw that.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

That they're getting together. Did you see that. That the. Oh, St. Elmo's Fire cast is about to get together.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, really?

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Or something. They're reuniting. But Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire, all of those.

[Jen Fessler]

I loved it. Andrew McCarthy. There was, like, no one cuter than him.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Not to me. I had never. I never got the Andrew McCarthy thing.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, really? Oh, it was Rob Lowe.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Rob Lowe. Rob Lowe. That's, like, the only.

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, my God, he was gorgeous, but he's still gorgeous.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

A little Emilio Estevez.

[Jen Fessler]

Yes.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Loved Judd Nelson.

[Jen Fessler]

Such good movies.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah, I know.

[Jen Fessler]

Let's do it. This was really fun. Let's do a Pop Culture of Today.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yeah.

[Jen Fessler]

For another episode.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

But there's one question I know, that we wrote down that I think.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Is very interesting. There's one thing about your childhood. I mean, this is kind of a deep question that you would change. What would it be?

[Jen Fessler]

Oh, God.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Which I actually. I think I probably thought of that question because it's kind of stupid, but because there's, like, so much stuff. Looking back, that you would maybe think this was a sad time, this was a tragic or traumatic, you know, period of time, but the truth is, now we are who we are because of those things that happen. I definitely wouldn't change the fact that we moved around. I moved not only to Sugar Land, then I moved to Greater Houston. Then we like. But I feel like today I am. At any given moment, I could move and I would. I love New Jersey, and I love where that my kids got to grow up in the same town. And this is places or. No, this is really where our roots are. But I always felt like if, let's say, Jeff got transferred, it wouldn't throw me that much. I could make it work. And I think that part of that was being such a fish out of water. I mean, you probably felt that way from Staten island to Jersey, but. Yeah, like, there are things that were so uncomfortable and sad, but again, I mean, as long as we're here to talk about them, I guess. But, yeah, there's a lot of nostalgia.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah. I think I had a really miserable high school experience, and I think even though it shaped me, it did traumatize me, and pieces of that are still definitely left over. I think I would have. Well, God, I wish I would have learned that dieting is not all or nothing. I really had no role models when it came to healthy eating. And so when I decided that I wanted to lose weight, I, like, really did unhealthy things. And I think I would go back and maybe.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Well, everybody in my family was. We are all. It was all about weight all the time.

[Jen Fessler]

Yeah, we need everybody about that.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yes.

[Jen Fessler]

That's a lot. But all right. This was so much fun. I love so much fun. I'm gonna go back and watch some old TV now. I feel like nostalgic, but this was fun.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

It was fun. I'm gonna go back and watch White.

[Jen Fessler]

Lotus when I was young.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Yes.

[Jen Fessler]

But. All right, guys, I hope you enjoyed it.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

We will see you next time. Here I was like, Sunday, Monday, happy days. Tuesday, Wednesday, happy days. All right, you guys, see you soon. Bye, guys. Bye.

[Jen Fessler]

With the American Express Platinum card, you can unlock over $1,500 in value annually with statement credits on select purchases and other benefits. That means getting access to even more more of your favorite things, more jet setting, more trend setting, and more resetting and downward dog. The stage is set for you to do even more with the American Express Platinum card. Learn [e-mail] us Explore Platinum Terms. Apply Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang just won podcast of the year at this year's iHeart Podcast Awards.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Oh, wow. You're kidding. Stop it.

[Jen Fessler]

Lady Gaga will take home the Innovator award at Monday's iHeartradio Music Awards. Now these iHeart Award winners are teaming up on a brand new episode of Las Culturistas.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Jen Fessler]

Here, but please, please, please don't make.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Me get angry about anything in public.

[Jen Fessler]

Just Open the free iHeartRadio app. Search Las Culturistas and listen now. Are you hungry, Colleen Witt here. And Eating While Broke is back for season four every Thursday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. This season we've got a legendary lineup serving up broke dishes and even better.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Stories on the menu.

[Jen Fessler]

We have Tony Baker, Nick Cannon, Melissa Ford, October London and Carrie Harper. Howie turning Big Macs into big moves. Catch Eating While Broke every Thursday on the Black Effect podcast network. IHeartRadio app, Apple podcast Wherever you get.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Your favorite shows, come hungry for season four.

[Matt Rogers]

Do you remember what you said the first night I came over here?

[Jen Fessler]

Ow.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Go slower.

[Matt Rogers]

From Blumhouse TV, iheart podcast and ember20 comes an all new fictional comedy podcast series. Join the flighty Damien Hirst as he unravels the mystery of his vanished boyfriend. I've been spending all my time looking for answers about what happened to Santi and what's the way to find a missing person. Sleep with everyone he knew? Obviously. Listen to the hookup on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

Dressing. Dressing. Oh, French dressing. Exactly.

[Matt Rogers]

Ah, that's good.

[Jackie Goldschneider]

I'm A.J. jacobs and my current obsession is puzzles, and that has given birth to my podcast the Puzzler. Something about Mary Poppins? Exactly. This is fun. You can get your daily puzzle nuggets delivered straight to your ears. Listen to the Puzzler every day on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.