Steve Spears

Steve Spears is the creator and host of Stuck in the ’80s, a long-running pop-culture podcast that began in 2005 as an experimental work project at the Tampa Bay Times. What started as a way to explore nostalgia online turned into a 20-year journey through music, movies, television, and the memories that refuse to fade.

Over more than 760 episodes, Stuck in the ’80s has featured hundreds of interviews with artists and personalities who helped define the decade, including Steve Perry, Huey Lewis, Martha Quinn, Brian Johnson, Kenny Loggins, and many others. The podcast reaches a global audience, with listeners regularly checking in from around the world to share their stories of growing up in the MTV era.

Steve has spent his career as an editor and online producer, shaping stories rather than starring in them. Stuck in the ’80s has been recognized with 11 major industry awards, including top honors from the Online News Association, Editor & Publisher, and the Florida Society of News Editors.

Steve lives in Orlando with his wife, Melissa, and their dog, Benji. He still listens to ’80s music every day, hosts trivia events aboard the annual voyages of The 80s Cruise, and remains proudly, unapologetically nostalgic. He wrote this book to tell the stories behind the interviews—and to finally explain how Stuck in the ’80s became more than just a podcast.