Nostalgic Memories From the 80s with Pete Kleinjan
In our recent discussion with Pete Kleinjan in Nostalgia Street Episode 2, Jeff begins the podcast with a hypothetical scenario involving three iconic individuals: Mike Ditka, Mike Tyson, and Michael Jackson.
"If Mike Ditka, Mike Tyson, and Michael Jackson, at any age, walk into a ring, what happens?" The hosts agree it's a bit of a stalemate. While many might assume that Mike Tyson would knock out the competition, there's a humorous notion that Michael Jackson would dance around the ring. It's also suggested that it's impossible to knock out Mike Ditka, the legendary football coach. This fun scenario sets the stage for an engaging conversation.
We introduced our guest, Pete Kleinjan, a long-time friend of the studio and an SEO expert with a wealth of experience.
Childhood Memories: Pete reminisces about growing up on a farm, surrounded by four brothers and numerous cousins. Their days were filled with hard work and fun, and they played with square bales, a common sight on the farm. It was a time filled with togetherness, bike rides, and baseball in the yard. The hosts share a laugh about childhood memories, such as that one sibling who always cheated in games.
Creative Childhood Games: We discussed how we’d combine various sports or activities to invent their own unique games, even if they didn't make much sense in hindsight. The atmosphere of childhood creativity and the joy of making up games is fondly recalled.
Growing Up Without Cable TV: Pete shares his upbringing on the farm, highlighting that they didn't have cable TV. He humorously mentions that he grew up with just four channels, known as the "big three" – ABC, CBS, and NBC, along with PBS. He explains that he often served as the "remote control" for the family.
Cuffed Pants and Strange Fashion Trends: The conversation turns to the strange and intriguing fashion trends of their youth. We discuss the phenomenon of folding up the hems or cuffs of our pants, a trend that, even to this day, is somewhat baffling.
With a sense of amusement and curiosity, we contemplate whether it came from the East Coast, West Coast, or perhaps even a famous figure like Cindy Crawford. Peer pressure and the desire to fit in with friends at school seemed to be the driving force behind this fashion trend.
We mention that we wouldn't be surprised if the trend of cuffed pants made a comeback. Indeed, the cyclical nature of fashion means that trends from the past often find their way back into the present.
The podcast segues into a conversation about Pete’s life-size Michael Jordan poster, soggy cereal and A-Tracks.
Vince then shares a story about falsely accusing his brother and using his language skills to escape grounding, and it’s quite relatable. Many of us have childhood memories that involve a bit of mischief or a clever way to avoid consequences. These experiences shape us and teach us valuable life lessons.
Jeff and Pete also share memories of growing up, getting in trouble and punishments used by their parents.
We often look back on these memories from our youth with a mix of nostalgia, amusement and the occasional blush of embarrassment. These anecdotes remind us of how our formative years have shaped our present selves.
We continue the conversation by reflecting on how we shopped from catalogs, our favorite 80s music, including the Super Mario Bros theme song.
Jeff then decides to take the conversation to a deeper level where he asks the other two if they could go back, if there’s anything they’d change. This leads into a conversation of whether you’d want to change what happened in the past or if it is something to be grateful for because it’s what brought you to where they are today.
The conversation then turns to how childhood felt like the “good old days” and how there are aspects that we wish had stayed the same, for example, how small communities come together during hardships.
This podcast episode really brings out an appreciation for the lessons learned and the value in sharing cherished memories.
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To learn more about Pete Kleinjan and his business, Tiger29, visit tiger29.com.
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