Episodes

  • The Cuban Rafter Crisis and the Fight for Elian Gonzalez | 155
    Apr 15 2026
    In November 1999, a 5-year-old Cuban boy was found clinging to an innertube in the waters off the coast of Florida after surviving a tragic boat journey that took the life of his mother and ten others. Elian Gonzalez and his mother were among tens of thousands of people who attempted to escape Cuba on small rafts and boats during the 1990s. In this episode of History of the 90s we look back at the Cuban Rafter Crisis and the international custody battle over Elian Gonzalez. Guest Info: Lillian Guerra, Professor of Cuban and Caribbean History at the University of Florida Show Info: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: 1995podcast@gmail.com Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠ Substack: @historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • The Long Hunt for the Unabomber I Revisited @ 30
    Apr 1 2026
    It’s been 30 years since FBI agents finally captured the man who mailed more than 16 bombs to unsuspecting victims in the US, killing 3 and injuring 23 others. For two decades officials searched for the elusive terrorist known as the Unabomber. His victims appeared random, his motives unclear and the only sighting of him resulted in a now famous composite drawing of a man in a hoodie with aviator sunglasses. In this episode, originally broadcast in 2021, we explore the investigation and capture of Ted Kazinski. This is The Long Hunt for the Unabomber. Show Info: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠@historyofthe90s⁠ GUEST INFO: Max Noel, retired FBI Special Agent Terry Turchie, retired FBI Special Agent and former Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division They co-authored with their colleague Jim Freeman; Unabomber: How the FBI Broke Its Own Rules to Capture the Terrorist Ted Kaczynski Capturing The Unabomber: The FBI Insiders' Story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Phish and the 90s Jam Band Explosion I 154
    Mar 18 2026
    In the 1990s there was a new wave of improvisational rock groups known as jam bands. By far the biggest was the genre defying foursome Phish from Burlington, Vermont. In this episode of History of the 90s we look back at their rise from college band to a touring sensation capable of attracting tens of thousands of obsessed fans to far flung locations. This is the story of Phish and the 90s jam band explosion. Guest Info: Brian Weinstein: Host of the podcast Attendance Bias which invites Phish fans to talk about the band’s most memorable concerts. www.attendancebias.buzzsprout.com Mike Ayers: Journalist and author of Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the 90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene that followed. www.mike-ayers.com Show Info: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠@historyofthe90s⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins
  • The Testimony of Anita Hill I 153
    Mar 4 2026
    In July 1991 President George HW Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to the US Supreme Court. Initial reaction to the nomination suggested there would be a contentious Senate confirmation battle that would probe Thomas’s conservative views on issues such as abortion and affirmative action. But there was no real concern that Bush’s pick might not be approved. That is until one woman’s testimony threatened to derail the entire process. In this episode of History of the 90s we look back at the moment when the little know concept of workplace sexual harassment was catapulted into public consciousness. This is the testimony of Anita Hill. Guest Info: Rev. Dr. Traci C. West; Professor of Christian Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University Theological School in Madison, NJ www.traciwest.com Show Info: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠@historyofthe90s⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Ross Rebagliati and Snowboarding I Revisited
    Feb 18 2026
    Snowboarding exploded in popularity during the 1990s, but its road to legitimacy was anything but smooth. On this episode of History of the 90s, Kathy Kenzora traces the rebellious roots of snowboarding, from outlaw status at ski hills to its mainstream breakthrough and eventual Olympic debut. Joining the show is Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati, who made history at the 1998 Nagano Games by winning the very first Olympic gold medal in the sport. Together they trace snowboarding’s wild early days, the cultural clashes with the skiing establishment, and what it was like to stand at the center of a sport redefining winter athletics. It’s a deep dive into how the 90s helped turn snowboarding from counterculture to global phenomenon. Guest info: Ross Rebagliati Instagram: ⁠⁠@rossrebagliati98⁠⁠ Show Info: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠@historyofthe90s⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan I 152
    Feb 4 2026
    In one of the most shocking scandals in sports history, figure skating collided with true crime. This episode dives into the bitter rivalry of Olympic skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, and the 1994 attack that stunned the world just weeks before the Winter Olympics. Kathy Kenzora unpacks what really happened, how the media shaped the narrative, and why this story still sparks debate more than 30 years later. Guest Info: Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz host the podcast: Keep the Flame Alive www.flamealive.com Show Info: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠@historyofthe90s⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Top 10 Stories of 1996: Part 2 I 151
    Jan 21 2026
    The 90s delivered iconic moments year after year and 1996 was no exception. It was a year marked by tragedy and triumph at the Atlanta Summer Olympics -- as well as high profile murders that continue to be surrounded by questions and conspiracy theories decades later. In this episode of History of the 90s we pick up where we left off at the end of the last episode as we continue counting down ten of the most unforgettable events from 1996. Show Info: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠@historyofthe90s⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Top 10 Stories of 1996: Part 1 I 150
    Jan 7 2026
    Like every single year in the 90s, 1996 was jam packed with unforgettable events and cultural moments. It was an era when the world seemed smaller and slower because without social media, news stories lasted longer and dominated headlines for weeks and months as information came to us in dribs in drabs. In this episode of History of the 90s we are going to dig a little deeper into the stories that captured our attention thirty years ago. These are 10 of the most memorable stories from 1996. Show Info: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠@historyofthe90s⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins