Culture Dumps

In the fourth installment of our “Banned Toys” series, Ryan discusses some of the most tasteless and controversial video games of all time. The one thing all these games have common? SEX! Yes, the games discussed are all notorious for their blatant sexual themes. They are not as hot as they sound. 

This edition of SQUIRTS! is all about memories. Ryan is joined by frequent guest host and avid listener of Culture Dumps Bret Berg to discuss their favorite episodes of Culture Dumps in attempt to construct, MT. DUMPMORE.

This is a preview of the latest episode of our Patreon exclusive side-series, Dumps Revisited. For the full episode visit patreon.com/culturedumps

On this edition of Dumps Revisited we revisit episode 20 which was all about the book “Go Ask Alice. ” The notorious y/a novel that has become required reading in some schools and banned in others has been the center of controversy for decades. In more recent years, the controversy has become centered around the book’s author, Beatrice Sparks. On this episode Ryan discusses the books “Unmask Alice” and more importantly, “Jay’s Journal.” Hail Satan.

As we conclude our coverage of the notorious Dr. Kevorkian we dive into his treatment of over 130 terminally ill patients, his imprisonment, his run for congress, his art, and as always, what it all means. 

This week on Culture Dumps we begin our series on Dr. Jack Kevorkian, aka Dr. Death. While he is best known for his work in the field of physician assisted suicide, this man was truly a jack of all trades and what some might even call a renaissance man. Kevorkian may be one of the most misunderstood public figures of the 1990s, but his story begins long before that so beloved decade. 

This is a special preview of “The Jared Letters.” This is a Patreon-exclusive episode where Ryan reads actual letters from Jared “The Subway Guy” Fogle. How and why he got these letters is something you will have to listen to the episode to find out. To hear the complete episode and watch the video version visit Patreon.com/culturedumps

Ryan is joined by returning guest Adam Papagan to discuss his new book “Behind the Scenes in Los Angeles, A Pop Culture Tour.” This is a guide to some of the most well known Los Angeles landmarks as well as the best and weirdest hidden gems. Come see Ryan and Adam perform live August 24 at the Philosophical Research Center in Los Feliz!

On this episode e conclude the saga of the ill-intentioned and ill-fated television network known as Spike TV. We dive into their selection of programming and find that Spike wasn’t SO bad. But not being so bad is not enough to thrive in the world of television, and we will learn that lesson in this episode.

This is part one of our coverage of the “network for men” Spike TV. From the ashes of The Nashville Network came a new television channel that aimed to cater to the world’s biggest douchebags. With borderline x-rated content a la Maxim magazine, Spike TV gave guys a place to be guys, for better or worse. This episode also marks the return of Freaky P himself, Parks Miller!

It had to happen, we are dumping the most infamous piece of fitness equipment of all time, the Shake Weight. The Shake Weight, like most things we dump, was created with the best of intentions. Its creator wanted to help women sculpt their arms in order to keep up with the fitness trend of the day, but what happened became one of the most viral sensations of the last 15 years. Endlessly parodied but rarely studied, this is the Shake Weight.

Today’s special guest interview is with musician, author, artist, and adult superstar Chad Fjerstad, aka Chad Alva. Chad has released dozens of albums with various projects over the years, he threw the first Nu-Metal club night in Los Angeles, and he has appeared in over 1,300 pornographic films. This interview gives us a rare glimpse into the adult film industry through the eyes of one it’s most humble and multi-faceted stars.

WARNING THIS EPISODE CONTAINS EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

Ryan sits down with prolific video creator and juggalo icon Sean Barrett aka Uncle Juff. Sean not only is a well of knowledge of internet trends, but has also been brought into the fold of the Dark Carnival. Having MC’d at multiple Gathering of the Juggalos festivals, let’s just say he has seem some things… Oh yeah, ERIC D of Methsyndicate joins us at the dump table.

This episode marks the conclusion of our dump of Gary Coleman. Gary finds himself in court, sitting opposite his parents in an ugly financial dispute. After an attempt at leaving the spotlight, Gary learns that fame is forever, no matter how ugly. Finally, after a highly publicized arrest, he finds love in Utah, and unfortunately, that is where the story ends.

This is part one of two of our coverage of the tragic life and times of one Gary Coleman. Gary was beloved around the world for his angelic appearance and impeccable comedic timing, but a lifelong illness would forever plague Gary and keep him from reaching his ultimate potential. After landing a starring role on what would become one of the biggest sitcoms of all time, Gary learned a hard lesson about money and the poisonous effect it had on those closest to him. 

For our third installment of our Banned Toys series Ryan is joined by Eric D of Methsyndicate to discuss some of the most controversial board games of all time. From misunderstood attempts at activism to downright racist jokes in game form, this episode is sure to keep your attention more than, well, playing a board game. 

Scoring this interview was MAJOR for us here at Culture Dumps! Roy is a seasoned television producer who worked on such masterpieces as Jersey Shore, Next, Battlebots, Tool Academy, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Date My Mom, and so many more! This episode is really a catchall for so many things we have wanted to cover on this show and we can’t thank Roy enough for stopping by. 

Waterbeds, a harmless, sleazy thing of the past? Or a pit of danger awaiting their next victim??? YOU BE THE JUDGE! Ryan is joined by Shawn Kohne of KFLX Fiction Radio to dive into the pool of nonsense that is the history of waterbeds. 

This episode is brought to you by Magic Mind, for 45% off of the new 24 Hour Pack, visit magicmind.com/CDJAN.

Ryan is joined once again by Museum of Home Video’s Bret Berg to discuss the tragic experiment in reality tv known as “Kid Nation.” This ambitious show put 40 children in a western ghost town in attempt to see if kids could run society better than adults. Spoiler, they could not. 

This episode of Culture Dumps is brought to you by Magic Mind. For 45% off of your order of the new 24 Hour Pack go to magicmind.com/CDJANThis episode marks the epic conclusion of our coverage of American Gladiators. Johnny Ferraro, the eccentric mind behind the show, takes “his” creation on the road and eventually to a dinner theatre. Steroid use runs rampant and the cracks start showing as ratings drop and tensions run high. Eventually, the whole thing comes crashing down. Much like Malibu during the cannonball event in season one. 

This is a special preview of our exclusive Patreon side series “Ryan’s Report!” This is our current events show where Ryan covers current dumps. On this special edition of Ryan’s Report, Ryan is joined by Kyle Rodrick Gridley to recap all of the most dumpable moments of 2024! To listen to the rest of the over hour-long episode go to Patreon.com/culturedumps.

This episode of Culture Dumps is brought to you by Magic Mind. For 45% off of your order of the new 24 Hour Pack go to magicmind.com/CDJAN

We are back with part one of a new double dump! Ryan and Parks dive into the sensation that was American Gladiators. Forged from longstanding down home competition, an Elvis impersonator and arm wrestling champion take their small town dreams to Hollywood and end up creating one of the most talked about shows of the late 80’s and early 90’s. But behind the all American image, there was turmoil and treac...

Mike Diana is the only artist in the history of the United States to be convicted of artistic obscenity. In the early to mid 1990’s Mike’s trial was international news. His story was born out of the ashes of the satanic panic and serial killer craze that held the country, particularly the state of Florida, in its clutches. Mike’s now infamous comic book series “Boiled Angel” landed him in jail and was the catalyst of a multi-decade legal battle, a battle in which Mike would be declared the victor. This is a story unlike any other and is easily...

In our second edition of the banned toys series, Ryan is joined by comedian Liz Hader to reflect on several Barbie mishaps and forgottens. From single mother dolls to NSA threats, this episode has it all. While not all of these dolls were banned, they all call for the proper dump treatment.

On our last dump, we began the saga of Charlie Sheen’s Winning Era, a low yet VERY high point in his lengthy career. After becoming the highest paid actor in television history and also one of Hollywood’s once again most eligible bachelor’s, Charlie found himself drifting back to his old ways, and after a bomb shell 20/20 interview, he reinvented himself to become the Warlock with Tiger’s Blood. Oh, and things come crashing down. Ryan is joined once again by Eric D of Methsyndicate to tell the tale.

Oh to be alive during the great Sheen meltdown of 2011. It was a glorious time for tabloid culture and social media and content hosting platforms. The tale of Charlie Sheen is long and complex with inexplicable ups and downs. Ryan is joined by Eric D of Meth Syndicate to get to the bottom of what was really going on, and they attempt to answer the age old question, “was he actually winning?” 

This is the harrowing conclusion of our two part interview with the icon Vanessa “Daisy” de la Hoya. Vanessa explains the origins of Daisy and tells the true story of “Daisy of Love.” Complete with bed bugs, on camera brawls, love, loss, and plenty more that truly makes this series one of our all time best. Her story is complex and not an easy one to tell so who better to sum it all up than Daisy herself.

The dump gods have smiled upon all of us! This is part one of our interview with the legendary Vanessa “Daisy” de la Hoya, yes, Daisy from DAISY OF LOVE and ROCK OF LOVE. This is a true glimpse into the world of some of the most notorious reality television of all time. As Daisy, Vanessa moved to LA specifically to be on Rock of Love season two.  Her charm, humor, and honesty landed her her very own dating show where a house full of hooligans competed for her love and the rest is history.

Our latest special guest is Jeff Uncapher, an accomplished reality tv producer and director with hundreds of episodes worth of credits under his belt. Jeff specializes in home renovation shows which is a realm of reality tv we have yet to dive into on this show. There’s a lot more to it than just fixing houses, there’s also grizzly bears, on site accidents, and deep personal connections to the folks Jeff and his team aim to please by helping them build their dream homes.

The term “found footage” gets thrown around a lot within the world of media nerddom but our pal Bret Berg is definitely an authority on the subject. Bret and Ryan discuss the many facets of the world of found footage and niche media in general.
*this was originally a patreon exclusive but we decided to make it available for all dumpers!

While the entertainer that came to be known solely as “Gallagher” made his name smashing watermelons, he was actually a fully developed comedic powerhouse, until he wasn’t. Gallagher’s signature bit overshadowed much of his other work, which was, in reality, about 95% of what he did on stage. On this episode we breakdown how a silly melon smashing jester became the target of harsh criticism who was washed away in the changing tide of the times.

Scot Sothern is a true outlaw artist. Sothern made his name by photographing society’s most looked down upon, particularly, street prostitutes. Never exploitative and always humanizing, Scot’s work truly shines a light on the dark corners of the city of Los Angeles. His book “Curb Service” is one of Ryan’s all time favorites and his new book “Look at Me” is just as incredible. Whether you love his work or hate it, one thing is for sure, this guy is a fucking bad ass.

For this incredibly bleak dump Ryan is joined by comedian and smoker Ian Fidance to discuss the backwards world of anti-smoking ads. Big Tobacco has a long history of questionable advertising but none more questionable than their “youth prevention” programs. How does one advertise how bad a product is while simultaneously advertising how cool that product is? Tune in to find out!

It had to happen, we had to cover one of the most infamous internet figures of all time, Harambe. Join us as we discover how a tragic day at the zoo became the stuff of internet legends for years to come. Ryan is joined by James Ford to discuss the brief, yet impactful history of the most memeable gorilla of all time.

Following the fall out of 9/11, America turned its guns toward Afghanistan and Iraq. France, a long time ally, did not sanction or support the US’s interest in fighting Iraq and Saddam Hussein. In an effort of Bush era lunacy, Americans started renaming French Fries in “Freedom Fries.” In an act of Patriotic fervor, the trend of Freedom Fries quickly took hold. In true dump fashion, the entire phenomenon seems completely silly in retrospect

Chyna was and is the most recognizable woman in professional wrestling, but she was so much more than that! Chyna aka Joanie showed us that women can be strong, intimidating, and entertaining, The story of Chyna teaches us many things, things we should have known years ago… Maybe through hearing her story we will finally appreciate what we had, and what we lost.

Fabio is a manly man! His luscious long hair and Italian accent made him a sex symbol of the 90s. But what did Fabio even do? Handsome as he was, there was something very silly and funny about Fabio’s appearance. He was the winking joke for the “bored housewife” who dreamed on a shirtless man on the beach to take her away from suburban life. His benign ubiquity and iconic look made him something of a walking meme.

If he looked like the model on the cover of trashy grocery store romance novels, that’s because he was t...

What was initially promoted as a therapeutic device for kids and adults alike quickly became one of the world’s biggest distractions. Fidget spinners burst onto the scene in 2017 but the history of the stupid little toy stretches back over 20 years before that. This is a classic story of a small idea being misappropriated in a big way. 

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On this very special edition of Culture Dumps Ryan sits down with Leroy Patterson aka The Human Tackboard to discuss backyard wrestling, death match wrestling, extreme videos of the late 90’s and early 00’s, and most importantly, his appearance on the 2000 episode of MTV True Life I am a Backyard Wrestler.

You asked for it, we are dumping it. The McRib is one of the most divisive sandwiches of all time, but why? Furthermore, where did it come from? Why did it come from? And just what in the hell is it made of? Ryan is joined by Eric D of Methsyndicate to find out! 

For the final dump of 2023 we are uncovering the story of one of the biggest and worst nerds in history, Ben Stein. Ben cut his teeth as an economist and professor, not to mention presidential speech writer, but what he is best known for is his strange and surprisingly consistent acting career. Through bit parts, spokesperson gigs, and finally,  his time as an emmy award winning game show host, Ben  Stein became one of the most recognizable character actors of the 80’s and 90’s. However, as of late he is best known for racist rants and more than questionable politi...

This is somewhat of a classic dump. A simple product, a time gone by, and lots of lawsuits. Bratz hit the scene in 2001 and gave Barbie a run for her money, and then Barbie gave Bratz a run for their money, everyone was running for their money. Get your BFFZ and check out our take on BRATZ. 

We have made it to the harrowing conclusion of our Anna Nicole Smith series. Through all of the ups and downs in this story we can safely say that this is the saddest chapter by far and easily one of the saddest episodes of Culture Dumps as a whole. Rip Queen.

In the third installment of our Anna Nicole series we discuss her debut as the wild child spokesperson for Trimspa as well as one of the most notorious Anna moments of all time. Unfortunately, this is the part of the story where things get dark, from the ever tightening grip of Howard K Stern to her unexpected move to the Bahamas, and finally, the death of her first born child. It truly is all down hill from here folks.

As we continue the saga of Anna Nicole Smith we will see her rise to the top of the modeling word and fall to the bottom of the cinema world. There will be a wedding, a death, and a revolutionary television show. There will also be lots of pills.

We made it folks, episode 100 (proper)! For this landmark episode we are beginning to tell the tale of Anna Nicole Smith, a true blonde bombshell and icon of beauty, scandal, and tragedy. Join us as we dive into her early days in Mexia, Texas, her fateful meeting with a billionaire oil tycoon, and her introduction to adult entertainment. RIP Anna.

On Episode 99 we sit back for a minute and relish in the glory of our near approaching milestone: 100 episodes. We appreciate all of the support that we have received thus far. Keep on dumping folks!

This episode’s guest is Violet Sky. Violet is what we call an “era influencer,” someone who lives their live as though they were in a different decade and gives the public a look into their life via social media. Not only is she a 1980’s historian and revivalist, she is also an amazingly talented artist whose music we cannot get enough of.

“Louie Louie” is an iconic Rock anthem that holds a prominent place in American pop culture. Recognized as one of the most famous rock songs of all time, it has been covered over 2,000 times. The song’s enduring popularity, however, was accompanied by controversy due to its widely misunderstood lyrics, which led to investigations by the FBI in the 1960s. The Kingsmen’s shambolic recording of the song, characterized by its raw and gritty sound, played a significant role in shaping the garage rock genre. 

This is the first installment of our new series within the world of dumps. We have covered many toy crazes over the years but this is going to be a bit different. Rather than focusing on toys that were extremely popular and then faded into obscurity, we are going to tell the tales of the most dangerous and in some cases, deadliest toys to hit shelves. For our first volume of banned toys we are discussing the toxic Aquabeads and the incredibly notorious lawn darts.

Dave Sirus is an Emmy nominated, Writers Guild Award winning comedian who has written for comedy giants like SNL and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. His latest project is “Bupkis,” a show he created along with his best friend and writing partner Pete Davidson. Ryan and Dave discuss Dave’s career, his new show, what it’s like when your friend becomes one of the most famous people on the planet, and their time together in the LA art-punk scene.

*we ran into some connectivity issues during this interview and there will be some rough patches.

Ryan is joined by Eric D to discuss the infamous Wendy’s finger in the chili scandal. When a woman found a piece of a human finger in her chili the whole country cringed, but what started as an unfortunate and disgusting mishap became one of the most bizarre scams in tort law history.

This is a deep cut dump for sure. The Barbarian Brothers were the body building identical twins whose string of late 80s and early 90s b-movies launched them into dump stardom. We know many of you might not have heard of these guys, but sometimes we gotta just dump for us! We also announce the launch of our new webstore!

This week we go back to 1990 to discuss one of the most bizarre trials in music history. After an attempted double suicide by two young friends, metal legends Judas Priest were put on trial for alleged subliminal messages in their music that were believed to have caused the tragedy. The trial was as ridiculous as the claim.

This trial was part of an ongoing cultural movement to censor musicians in the 80s (PMRC, 2 Live Crew, NWA, Satanic Panic). The heavy publicity of this trial introduced many to the practice of backmasking; listening to music played in reverse...

Jeff Nucera is an accomplished television producer and documentarian who came to us by way of past guest Eddie Schmidt. Jeff is in the process of making a new documentary about a Weird Al themed burlesque troupe, a dream considering his life long obsession with Weird Al. Besides his latest endeavor, we discuss his work on The Osbournes, Girls Next Door, and much much more!

This week Ryan is joined by Eric D of Methsyndicate to discuss the immensely unfortunate early 2000’s video series “Bumfights.” What began as a shitty skateboard video quickly turned into a global monster. Worse than what was captured on camera for the videos are the many copycats that followed. File this under, really sad and fucked up shit.

On the harrowing conclusion of our Vanilla Ice series we learn that life on top ain’t what it’s cracked up to be! We will witness the fall of Vanilla Ice and the eventual rise of Rob Van Winkle. Be prepared for a ton of dump crossovers folks.

Please subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/culturedumps for the full episode

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The dumpy boys discuss the 25th anniversary of Titanic.

Sup Ninjas, you know we had to do it. Vanilla Ice is a dump like no other. Truly a one hit wonder with his smash hit “Ice Ice Baby,” a song that launch rap music to global ubiquity. The rapper found harsh criticism as quickly as he found mega stardom. Part 1 traces the roots of the 90s rap sensation as he makes his way to super stardom.

Dominos revolutionized the pizza delivery game with their promise, “Pizza delivered in 30 minutes or less or your meal is free.” Unfortunately this led to some deranged attempts to either exploit the rule for some free ‘za. We also discuss the Noid, a Dominos mascot famously attached to the 30 minutes or less campaign.

While her name might not ring a bell to the current generation, in 1987 “Baby Jessica” was known throughout the world. The then 18-month-old Baby Jessica fell into and became stuck inside of a well. What followed was one of the most captivating live television events of all time.

Sinéad O’Connor is one of the most 90s dumps we have ever covered. Between her massive number 1 hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” and her infamous “pope gate” scandal on SNL, Sinéad has always been a polarizing figure. While to some Sinéad remains firmly in a 90s time capsule. Her life has been marked by more than a fair share of tragedy. However, she has continued to have a music career beloved by many devoted fans.

This week on Culture Dumps we cover what is definitely our most modern dump. In 2019 Popeye’s released their now infamous sandwich. The sandwich itself was really nothing to write home about, but try telling that to the thousands of people who waited in line, got in fights with staff, and raved about it online. The Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich is definitely the world’s most dangerous sandwich. 

Ryan sits down with acclaimed documentary director, producer, and podcaster Celia Aniskovich to discuss her latest film “Call Me Miss Cleo.” Besides her latest film, they discuss beanie babies, Woodstock 99, and more! 

This week Ryan is joined by Bret Berg of the Museum of Home Video to discuss the unfortunate life and legacy of Anita Bryant. Bryant made a name for herself as a wholesome pageant gal turned singer and eventually orange juice spokeswoman, however, that would all be stripped away from her after she decided to turn heel and attempt to stop the gay civil rights movement. Anita Bryant could very well be the first cancelled celebrity as we know them today.

Prince is one of the most famous and successful musicians of all time. In a storied, highlight laden career, one of the strangest moments for Prince came in 1993. The megastar officially changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol. The motivation was to create a loophole around a massive $100 million contract with Warner Brothers. Eventually, the symbol and confusion lead to a more manageable name; The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. The jokes and pop culture references cast a great shadow during his career in the mid 90s

LA Gear was an active wear brand started in the 1980’s that focused mostly on sneakers. What started as a women’s accessory company quickly became one of the most recognizable brands of its time. But how did a company that at one point was said to be the best performing company listed on the stock market become all but forgotten? In this episode we will break down what happened to LA Gear, run into Michael Jackson, and prove that brand visibility doesn’t always equal success.

Parks welcomes back Matt Davis from the Y2K episode and his own ATL Podcast. Matt discusses his time learning and utilizing Pick Up Artist and Speed Seduction techniques.

Faces of Death, the 1978 film that showed audiences scene of gore, animal death, plane crashes, corpses and ritual sacrifice. This movie was hugely successful and created many copycat type videos. We explore the human’s dark fascination with the grotesque. We also cover Rotten.com, Banned from Television, Porsche Girl, ISIS Beheading videos… lots of fun death for your Halloween weekend!

This week we were lucky enough to get Academy Award nominated filmmaker Eddie Schmidt to chat with us. Eddie’s body of work is vast and awesome. We discuss several of the documentaries he produced and directed as well as his time as a writer for the very dumpable show Blind Date. He also gives Ryan a brief history lesson on the middle finger and tells us what it is like to lose at the Oscars.

The rise and fall of Hervé Villechaize. Hervé goes to Hollywood. Hervé makes it big; appearing in a James Bond movie. Hervé keeps drinking like a man 3 times his size. Hervé’s enormous appetite for woman cannot be satisfied. Hervé strikes gold with the TV show Fantasy Island. Hervé gets fully loaded and blows all his money.

Hervé Villechaize was everywhere in the mid 70s. He is most famous for his role as Nick Nack in a James Bond film and as Tattoo in the hit TV show Fantasy Island. Villechaize was born with dwarfism and as an adult stood to be just under four feet. Relentlessly bullied as a child, Hervé was driven to achieve success. Part 1 finds him as the darling of the Paris art scene, as well as the transition to New York as something of a hippie curiosity.

It is our 80th episode (proper) so we decided to kick it off with a bang! A “SHE BANG” that is! Ryan sits down with the legendary William Hung to discuss his rise to fame, his adjustment to normal life, and his love of gambling. Truly inspirational. 

This is from the brilliant mind of Ryan. This book is classic of modern American literature. Ryan hates it. Parks loved it as moody teenager, as did millions others. This falls into a category of influential works that really get away from its creator. Author JD Salinger became increasingly reclusive after Catcher’s success. Mark David Chapman had a copy of the book in his possession when he murdered John Lennon!

This week Ryan is joined by Mike Connelly of Noisextra to discuss the now defunct pro-wrestling giant, WCW. WCW was a powerhouse that dominated the Monday night wars of the mid 1990’s. That was until the inclusion of actor David Arquette. Both the company and Arquette suffered due to what is considered to be the most controversial win in this history of the business. Even if you are not a fan of wrestling, there is something here for you.

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Woodstock 99 just turned 23 years old! To celebrate the event, Parks created a special megamix of his favorite Woodstock 99 moments. WDUMP is a special Patreon exclusive show made by Culture Dumps. But since we are in a festive mood, we are going to share this episode with the public! If you enjoy this type of bonus content, please please please be encouraged to sign up for Patreon to get all the extra culture dumps goodies

This week on Culture Dumps we explore one of the most popular documentaries of all time, “Super Size Me.” Was Morgan Spurlock just blowing off steam or did his experiment truly influence the fast food market? Ryan is joined by Eric D of MethSyndicate once again to dive deeply into the genre defining film. Also, the Filet of Fish is bomb and Spurlock is kind of a creep.

Olean is the brand name of the fat substitute Olestra. The product would add no fat or extra calories to food products, without losing any of the taste! The miracle oil took off in the mid 90s, during a wave of other “low fat” and “fat free” products. Most notable was the Wow! chips brand during this time. However, just as Olean fever started to take off, a very undesirable side effect, was noticed. Welcome to our most literal episode of Culture Dumps yet.

Planet Hollywood was part of a trend of themed restaurants that really had a peak in the 90s. Patrons could enjoy the feeling of eating on a movie set, while also admiring Hollywood memorabilia on display. With several A-list endorsements, the restaurant quickly became a huge success. The problem was, they took it too far too quick. That, and the food was terrible. On this episode we examine how the most profitable theme restaurant became the biggest joke in the food biz. Ryan is joined by Eric D of MethSyndicate.

Crikey Mate! We explore one of the most sincere and life loving dumps yet. Steve Irwin loved animals, the planet, his job and his family. Truly and influential entertainer that brought the wild outback into our living rooms. Gone too soon, we remember the legacy of the Crocodile Hunter.

Parks is joined by his two friends (Leeza and Hayley) who were both competitive figure skaters. This bonus episode is a fascinating deep dive into the intensely competitive world of figure skating. Leeza and Hayley also shared how the Tonya Harding incident affected the skating community. They also dish on some pretty wild stories from their skating days. A couple bombshell revelations!!! Listen for some in depth insight on one of sporting’s biggest scandals.

We reach the inevitable conclusion on the Tonya Harding saga. The Nancy Kerrigan attack is what most people know Tonya for. We trace the steps to this infamous event, from her abusive relationship with Jeff Gillooly to his crew of wannabe criminal goons. Tonya really did get mixed up with the wrong crowd here. We delve into Nancy Kerrigan and cultural aftermath of the attack. Plus we cover what Tonya Harding has been up to recently. In a good twist of fate, she is still skating and pretty damn happy.

Tonya Harding is a renowned and accomplished figure skater and a two-time Olympian for her achievements on the ice. She was the first American skater to successfully land a triple Axel in competition. However, she is known primarily for her connection to the infamous 1994 attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan. This attack was one of the biggest sporting controversies in the 90s. In part 1, we examine her tumultuous upbringing. Often skating was her escape from a never ending torrent of abuse from her family and her lovers. We discuss a revealing 1986 documentary called “Sharp Edges.” Lace up for Tonya!

To celebrate Ryan and Parks’s reunion they chose the 2005 classic buddy film, Brokeback Mountain. A movie about two cowboys just doing cowboy stuff, the real dump was the huge cultural reaction to the movie. The term “Brokeback” became a meme within itself. Yee haw.

In this episode we welcome Parks back and cover the most successful magicians of all time. Siegfried and Roy came from less than humble backgrounds and dominated the Las Vegas entertainment scene. Performing a total of over 30,000 shows during their career, the duo brought a level of showmanship to magic that the world had never before seen. Oh! And one of them almost got eaten by a damn tiger.

This special episode covers a wide array of the worst and best moments in the history of award shows. Ryan sits down with Adam Papagan to discuss their ill-fated live event “The Award Awards” and the moments they feel are the absolute best award shows have to offer. 

Thomas Kinkade, aka the “Painter of Light” was the most successful commercial artist of his time. At the peak of his popularity it was estimated that one in 20 American homes owned a Kinkade print or product. His whimsical portraits of cottages, lighthouses, Christmas imagery, and overall kitschy shit raked in millions upon millions of dollars, but, underneath the veil of wholesomeness, existed some very non-whimsical demons… Ryan is joined by friend Kailyn Sciberras.

Bo Derek’s appearance in the 1979 film “10” made her an instant star. Running down the beach in a bikini with her hair in braids, the scene was parodied many times and turn Derek in an 80s sex symbol. Her screen time in the movie is relatively short, yet the resulting celebrity status was huge. She starred in a series of 80s movies, directed by her then husband John Derek. These movies contain a combination of terrible acting and a lot of nudity. She has won multiple Golden Raspberry awards for worst acting. The peak of this Bo Derek mania is the...

This is a double header episode. We bring back our friend Adam Papagan to discuss his career as a tour guide and founder of Cool LA Tours and we also seize the opportunity to test his vast knowledge of the most publicized trial of all time, the OJ Simpson Trial. Ryan and Adam take you step by step through the OJ case in true dumps style.

The term “frivolous lawsuit” gets thrown around quite a bit, however, the number one go-to example of a frivolous lawsuit was not frivolous at all. In 1992 a 79-year-old woman spilt some of her McDonald’s coffee onto her lap causing third degree burns of six percent of her body. The media completely flubbed the story and painted the woman as a shady grifter who was attempting to scam the Golden Arches out of millions of dollars. We crack open this case file to prove that, yes, the coffee was too damn hot!

Heroin Chic is the term used for the rise of nihilistic, drug influenced pop culture in the early 1990’s. While most of the trend was gravely misunderstood, there were some long lasting negative effects that are worth reviewing in our special dump way. Music, film, and fashion are all involved. PLUS we will hear first hand from our return guest Dinah Rankin (aka @beautifulsupermodelgenius) about the realities of modeling and the indie sleaze movement that is creeping its way back into the mainstream.

The yellow silicone bracelet. Worn by many to signify they cared enough to stand up against cancer. The real dump (and reason why you don’t see them anymore) is because their creator, Lance Armstrong. The 7 time champion of the Tour De France, Armstrong had all of his titles stripped in a huge scandal involving performance enhancing drugs. Also a medical procedure called Blood Doping. Metal AF

Valarie Jones is a legend in the world of true crime. In 1992 the notorious “True Crime Trading Cards” were released to the public and a wave of backlash followed closely behind. Valerie found themselves at the center of a media firestorm, being blamed for the decline of society and was deemed responsible for perpetuating the celebrity profiles that notorious murderers often acquire. Never to be one to listen to the mainstream they kept at it, creating another important trading card set the “AIDS Awareness Trading Cards.” The career of Valerie Jones is as eclectic as it is interesting and Ryan sit...

Tiny Tim was a true American folk hero. His distinct falsetto and ukulele playing found him the unlikely celebrity in the late 1960s. He was both a singer and a musical archivist; forever in love with the music from the 1930’s and before. Tiny Tim was often misunderstood; his love for the past could easily manifest into unintentional comedy for TV audiences. While some saw took his androgynous appearance as signs of queer empowerment, in reality he was a staunch catholic whose views on marriage were about as dated as the music he loved so dearly. The Dumpy Boys go...

Smoking cigarettes is bad for you… unless you make it look as good as Joe Camel did! In the early 90s, images of this anthropomorphic bad boy, leather jacket, cig smoking camel were everywhere. Donning a range of costumes, from James Bond-esque tuxedo to recently divorced dad on a motorcycle, this ad campaign was a huge success. Funny thing is, kids love cartoons. Studies showed that the Joe Camel ads created a strong brand recognition with cigs and the cartoon in children. Was Big Tobacco trying to get kids to smoke? If you had to guess, it seems pretty ob...

Gary Glitter is a British Glam Rock star. His most famous song is “Rock and Roll Part 2” a song that probably have heard but might not have known who sang it. That ubiquity came in part from the song being adopted as a chant at major sporting events. Glitter established himself as a major UK celebrity in the 80s and 90s. However, the superstar had some dark secrets. His fall from grace has been spectacle due to his multiple convictions of child pornography, child sexual abuse and sex with underage women.

The Passion of the Christ is a highly controversial 2004 biblical drama directed and produced by Mel Gibson. Gibson at the time was a huge A-list celebrity and had enjoyed success directing and starring in Braveheart. Yet with no prior Christian affiliations, his decision to depict the brutal crucifixion of Jesus Christ seemed odd. The film garnered controversy for its extreme violence and anti-Semitic themes. While the film shocked and offended some, it managed to be a blockbuster success. Passion remains one of the top 10 highest grossing rated-R films.

The 1996 release of the Tickle Me Elmo doll created an outrageous consumer frenzy. Supply could not meet up with demand, causing fights and stampedes in department stores. Scalping occurred, even John Gotti had to pull some strings to get a box of these to fall off the back of the truck. The Dumpy Boys also dive into the disturbing allegations of Kevin Clash, the puppeteer in charge of Elmo.

Sean Beard owns the World’s largest collection of Beavis and Butthead memorabilia. From whoopie cushions to toilet seat covers and even after shave, Beard’s collection is impressive. Ryan conducts an interview that gets to the heart of this collector’s obsession. Plenty of pop culture to learn here; from the show’s early controversy to Beard’s very personal story of his fandom. Essential listening for the you Dump heads.