Episodes

  • Big (1988)
    Oct 29 2025

    It's the penultimate episode of Ruined Childhoods SEASON THREE and this one's a banger. Dan and Jon celebrate the 1988 comedy sensation, Big, the story of a boy who becomes an adult overnight and the grown ups he impacts while he and his best friend find a way to turn him back into a kid. They also share their thoughts on how the movie could be thoughftully brought back in the present day.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    • Bosom Buddies opening credits
    • Red Red Wine music video
    • Big movie novelization
    • Robert Loggia Minute Maid Commercial
    • William Devane Rosland Capital Gold Commercial


    Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Next episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arachnophobia (1990) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.

    Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RuinedChildhoodspod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Ruined Childhoods is produced & edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Richardson

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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Copycat (1995)
    Oct 22 2025

    The mid-90s were a huge era for the presence of serial killers in pop culture. With this element combined with the star power of Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, and Harry Connick, Jr, the film Copycat would certainly be a smash box office hit. Dan and Jon celebrate it's unique mark made on cinama and imagine new ways it could be revisited in the present day.

    Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Next episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big (1988) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.

    Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RuinedChildhoodspod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Ruined Childhoods is produced & edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Richardson

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    55 mins
  • Darkman (1990)
    Oct 9 2025

    We are almost through our third season, a 52-episode year-long journey up and down the cinematic alphabet. This episode is our final D episode and we are thrilled to discuss 1990's Darkman, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Liam Neeson. Dan remembers his first time seeing the film and Jon shares childhood experiences encountering Darkman ephemera in 1990. And of course, they share their ideas on how the movie could be brought back today.

    Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Next episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Copycat (1995) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.

    Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RuinedChildhoodspod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Ruined Childhoods is produced & edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Richardson

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • The Electric Horseman (1979)
    Oct 2 2025

    RIP Robert Redford (1936-2025)

    Dan and Jon pour one out for legendary actor, Robert Redford AKA Fort Red Border (iykyk). They honor his life by celebrating his career and gabbing about Sydney Pollack's 1979 anti-capitalist film, The Electric Horseman. Though it's not remembered as one of Redford's best, it is another pairing with the iconic Jane Fonda and also features Wilford Brimley and Willie Nelson. Dan and Jon also make note of how they would revisit the film in the modern era.

    Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Next episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Darkman (1990) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.

    Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RuinedChildhoodspod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Ruined Childhoods is produced & edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Richardson

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    55 mins
  • Freejack (1992)
    Sep 24 2025

    With a screenplay by Dan Gilroy and a above average supporting cast, (Rene Russo, Anthony Hopkins, Mick Jagger, Jonathan Banks, Amanda Plummer, Frankie Faison) Freejack should have been a home run. But questional direction and a lackluster performance from Emilio Estevez make the film fall short. Nevertheless, the story is smart and it's a hell of a good time to watch. Dan and Jon, as always, share their thoughts on how this movie can be revisited today, but want to know what YOU think - email ruinedchildhoodspod@gmail.com to share your take.

    Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Next episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Electric Horseman (1979) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.

    Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RuinedChildhoodspod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Ruined Childhoods is produced & edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Richardson

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    59 mins
  • Giant (1956)
    Sep 17 2025

    Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean take over Marfa, TX in this film that would become a treasure for the state. For a film that spans 30 years and runs for 3 hours, it feels relevant as always...but there's always room for a revisitation. Dan and Jon share their thoughts on how it could be brought back today.

    Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Next episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Freejack (1992) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.

    Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RuinedChildhoodspod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Ruined Childhoods is produced & edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Richardson

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
    Sep 10 2025

    It's EPISODE 300 and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than by honoring this symbol of 80s family cinema greatness, Harry and the Hendersons. In our 3rd season, a cinematic yo-yo going up and down film history's alphabet, we're doubling up on the H with this story of a Seattle family who befriends Bigfoot. Dan and Jon celebrate its weirdness and wonder, focusing on the stellar cast, sitcom follow-up, and imagine new futures for this 80s classic.

    Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Next episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Giant (1956) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.

    Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RuinedChildhoodspod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Ruined Childhoods is produced & edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Richardson

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)
    Sep 3 2025

    When Richard Stanley was a kid, he was enamoured by the bright red cover of a book on his parents' bookshelf, an original copy of H.G. Wells' 1896 science fiction novel, The Island of Dr. Moreau. What he didn't realize is that this very material would lead to the most harrowing years of his life as he adapted the novel for screen, sold the screenplay to New Line Cinema, and set on a course to direct one of the most disasterous productions in film history. Dan and Jon marvel at Stanley's path of destruction and how director John Frankenheimer would replace him and perhaps make things even worse. They also discuss how the 1996 film could be revisited today, though it may be the one film in history to truly live up to this podcast's name.

    Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Next episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Harry and the Hendersons⁠ (1987) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.

    Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RuinedChildhoodspod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Ruined Childhoods is produced & edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jon Richardson

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    1 hr and 20 mins