From a plumbing-free house in post-war Austria to the glamour of Hollywood and the Governor’s mansion in California, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life story is one of the most remarkable in modern history. In this episode, we trace the extraordinary rise of the “Austrian Oak,” a man who didn’t just chase the American Dream — he body-slammed it into reality.

We begin with Arnold’s tough upbringing under a strict father in rural Thal, and how cinema and bodybuilding became his escape. From going AWOL to win his first competition to becoming Mr. Universe by age 20, Arnold’s relentless ambition was evident early on. But it was his leap to the United States that truly set the stage for global superstardom.

Arnold’s charisma and dominance reshaped bodybuilding, but his ambition didn’t stop there. With Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator, he broke into Hollywood, creating an iconic image of the action hero that defined a generation. We explore the peaks of his film career, including T2, Predator, and even his turn to comedy in Kindergarten Cop.

Then came the ultimate plot twist: politics. Arnold’s time as Governor of California was filled with both unexpected accomplishments and public controversy, culminating in a dramatic personal scandal. Yet, like all great screen icons, he refused to stay down for long.

Now in his seventies, Arnold has stepped into the role of public philosopher, environmental advocate, and nostalgia icon. In this deep-dive episode, we explore how one man conquered three careers — bodybuilding, acting, and politics — and redefined what it means to be a self-made legend.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at jimmy@talk2thehand.co.uk or beth@talk2thehand.co.uk

Get Your Own Back wasn’t just a children’s TV show — it was a cultural rite of passage for 90s kids across Britain. This week, we dive deep into the gloriously messy world of Dave Benson Phillips and the BBC’s ultimate gunge-fueled revenge fantasy. Kids nominating adults for silly payback? Check. Giant vats of slime? Double check. A chanting audience and one of the most enthusiastic presenters in television history? Oh yes.

We explore the show’s origins in 1991, its iconic format, and why it resonated so strongly with young viewers. From messy trivia games to pirate ships and “The Gunk Dunk,” Get Your Own Back offered children the power to turn the tables on grown-ups — all in good fun, and with lots of goo.

But the show was more than just slapstick chaos. We reflect on the behind-the-scenes stories, the surprising mishaps, and how Phillips’ charisma turned what could have been throwaway telly into something unforgettable. There’s even a story about how he ended up being gunged himself!

We also look at where the show went post-2003, and how Dave Benson Phillips pivoted into the most unlikely second act — becoming a beloved figure in the UK wrestling scene. Yes, really. It turns out you can take the man out of the gunge tank, but not the gunge out of the man.

Nostalgia is messy, and nowhere is that more true than here. Join us as we celebrate the magic of Get Your Own Back, a show that proved revenge is a dish best served... slime-covered.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at jimmy@talk2thehand.co.uk or beth@talk2thehand.co.uk

In this episode, we explore the explosive night of January 25, 1995, when Manchester United's enigmatic French star Eric Cantona delivered one of football's most shocking moments - a kung fu kick aimed at Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons after being sent off at Selhurst Park. What began as a scrappy match with Palace players targeting Cantona with heavy challenges culminated in an incident that transcended sport, becoming a cultural flashpoint that still resonates nearly three decades later.

Following his red card for retaliating against Richard Shaw, Cantona's decision to launch himself into the stands created instant hysteria in British media, with headlines declaring it "the night football died of shame." While moral outrage dominated the mainstream narrative, with extensive coverage across newspapers and television, reactions were notably divided. Many fellow players privately sympathized with Cantona, United fans stood firmly behind him, and even some journalists suggested Simmons' reported xenophobic abuse made the Frenchman's reaction understandable in context.

The aftermath saw Cantona facing dual punishment - an FA ban until October 1, 1995, far harsher than comparable incidents that season, and a brief prison sentence that was quickly overturned on appeal. It was during this appeal that Cantona delivered his cryptic "when seagulls follow the trawler" press statement, adding another layer of mystique to his already larger-than-life persona. Behind the scenes, Sir Alex Ferguson, initially contemplating Cantona's departure, ultimately made a pivotal trip to Paris to convince his star to remain at Old Trafford.

Ferguson's successful intervention preserved what would become one of football's most powerful redemption stories. Cantona's return to action in October 1995 sparked United's revival, culminating in the 1995-96 Double - an achievement that might never have happened had the Frenchman departed. Beyond the trophies, the incident cemented an unbreakable bond between Cantona and United supporters, who appreciated his willingness to defy convention and stand up against perceived injustice.

Three decades later, the Selhurst Park incident remains the defining image of Cantona's career, despite his 82 goals and pivotal role in Manchester United's dominance of the early Premier League era. While many would cite league titles or spectacular goals as their proudest moments, Cantona himself views the kick differently, once remarking it was his "best moment" in football. This paradox encapsulates what made Cantona unique - his unflinching authenticity, philosophical outlook, and what Ferguson called his "defiant charisma" created a legacy that transcends mere statistics or silverware.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at jimmy@talk2thehand.co.uk or beth@talk2thehand.co.uk

In this episode, we delve into the complex life of Anna Nicole Smith, born Vickie Lynn Hogan in 1967 in small-town Texas. From her humble beginnings as a high school dropout and single mother working at Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken, to her meteoric rise as a Playboy Playmate and Guess jeans model, Smith's early career exemplified the classic American dream of reinvention and success against all odds.

By the mid-1990s, Smith had become a household name, but her personal life drew even more attention when she married 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II in 1994. The 63-year age gap between them sparked widespread speculation about Smith's intentions, leading to a bitter inheritance battle following Marshall's death that would eventually reach the Supreme Court. We explore how this legal saga became emblematic of the public's fascination with and judgment of Smith throughout her career.

Despite the controversy surrounding her marriage, Smith continued to build her brand, starring in her own reality show "The Anna Nicole Show" and maintaining her status as a pop culture icon. However, behind the scenes, Smith struggled with prescription drug dependency, weight fluctuations, and the harsh spotlight of tabloid scrutiny. We examine how these pressures affected her mental health and public persona during these tumultuous years.

February 2007 marked both a moment of joy and devastating loss in Smith's life. Just months after giving birth to her daughter Dannielynn, she experienced the heartbreaking death of her 20-year-old son Daniel. Before she could fully process this tragedy, Smith herself died of an accidental drug overdose at age 39, setting off another round of legal battles over paternity rights and inheritance. This episode explores the sad irony that in death, as in life, Smith remained a subject of legal disputes and media speculation.

Anna Nicole Smith's legacy remains complicated—part cautionary tale, part celebration of a woman who defied expectations and created herself anew. Through interviews with those who knew her and cultural critics who've studied her impact, we attempt to look beyond the caricature to understand the real woman behind the headlines and her enduring influence on conversations about celebrity, wealth, and the price of fame in America.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at jimmy@talk2thehand.co.uk or beth@talk2thehand.co.uk

In this episode, we’re shining the spotlight on Henry Kelly, the Irish broadcaster best known for hosting the legendary quiz show Going for Gold. From his early career in journalism to becoming a household name on British television, we’ll explore how Kelly’s charm, wit, and distinctive presenting style helped make Going for Gold a daytime TV classic. While he had a successful career in radio and television beyond the show, it’s his role as quizmaster that cemented his place in 80s and 90s pop culture.

We’ll take a deep dive into Going for Gold—how it was created as part of a European Broadcasting Union initiative, its unique format featuring contestants from across the continent, and why Kelly himself initially thought the idea was “nonsense.” Against all expectations, the show became a massive hit, particularly with students, and even led to Kelly being made honorary president of a student union. From its instantly recognisable theme tune (composed by none other than Hans Zimmer!) to the intense final round where contestants had to answer “four in a row,” Going for Gold stood out from other quiz shows of its time.

We’ll talk about Henry Kelly’s iconic catchphrases, the occasional language barrier mishaps, and the time a Swedish contestant answered “the farmer” instead of “pawn” in a chess question—only to be proven technically correct! With its gold-and-blue futuristic set and its pan-European lineup, Going for Gold was unlike anything else on TV, and Kelly’s enthusiastic hosting style was key to its success.

Beyond Going for Gold, we’ll touch on Kelly’s broader career, including his early work as a journalist at The Irish Times, his time on Game for a Laugh, and his later years in radio, where he continued to entertain audiences with his signature charm. While Going for Gold ended in 1996 (with a brief revival in 2008), Kelly remains fondly remembered as one of British TV’s great quizmasters.

💬 Join the Conversation! Were you a Going for Gold fan? Did you ever dream of competing on it? Share your memories with us on X/Twitter @talk2thehandpod! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and tune in for more deep dives into classic 90s TV. 🎧🏆✨

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at jimmy@talk2thehand.co.uk or beth@talk2thehand.co.uk

In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the foam-filled, go-kart-racing chaos of Fun House, the legendary kids’ game show that defined after-school TV in the late 80s and 90s. Hosted by the energetic Pat Sharp, alongside cheerleading twins Melanie and Martina, Fun House was the ultimate dream for kids who loved action-packed challenges, wild obstacle courses, and, of course, gallons of gunge! We’ll take a look at how the show was created, what made it so special, and why it remains such an iconic part of British TV history.

We’ll break down the format of the show, from the fast-paced messy games to the epic final Fun House challenge, where contestants scrambled through a giant soft play assault course in search of prizes. The go-kart race, a Fun House staple, added an extra level of excitement and ensured every episode ended with a high-speed showdown. With its bright colors, catchy theme tune, and larger-than-life energy, the show became a must-watch for kids across the UK.

Finally, we’ll look at Fun House’s lasting legacy. From calls to bring it back to special one-off revivals, the show’s popularity hasn’t faded. Could we ever see a full-scale return of Fun House? And if so, would it work in today’s TV landscape? We’ll share our thoughts and, as always, we want to hear from you—did you dream of competing on Fun House? Or will you make Beths dream come true and tell us that you were a contestant? Let us know!

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at jimmy@talk2thehand.co.uk or beth@talk2thehand.co.uk

This week, we’re turning up the nostalgia with a deep dive into Eternal, the powerhouse girl group that brought smooth R&B vocals and unforgettable hits to the 90s. From their breakout album Always & Forever to their chart-topping success, we’re exploring how they became one of the UK’s most iconic girl groups.

We’ll take a look at their rise to fame, the comparisons to American R&B groups, and how their soulful harmonies set them apart. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing—lineup changes, industry challenges, and behind-the-scenes tensions shaped their journey in ways fans may not have realised. Who gets sacked by fax?

Expect plenty of music nostalgia as we revisit their biggest hits like Stay, Just a Step from Heaven, and I Wanna Be the Only One. How did they influence the UK R&B scene? And why do they deserve more credit in pop history? Where are they now?

Join us as we celebrate the legacy of Eternal, their impact on 90s music, and why their songs still hold up today. Whether you were a die-hard fan or are just discovering their music, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at jimmy@talk2thehand.co.uk or beth@talk2thehand.co.uk

Step into the stylish world of The House of Eliott! To Beths immense joy, we’re diving into the beloved 90s BBC drama that brought 1920s fashion, ambition, and drama to our screens. Created by Upstairs, Downstairs duo Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins, the series followed sisters Beatrice and Evangeline Eliott as they built a pioneering fashion house in a world still dominated by men.

We’ll explore what made The House of Eliott such a standout show—from its lavish period costumes and intricate storytelling to the feminist themes woven throughout. The series perfectly captured the excitement and challenges of the Roaring Twenties, blending high society glamour with the grit of two women fighting for independence in the fashion industry.

Despite its devoted fan base, why did it end after just three seasons?

Join us as we revisit this unforgettable drama, relive the fashion moments that defined it, find out what the cast went on to, and celebrate the legacy of The House of Eliott. This episode is one you won’t want to miss!

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at jimmy@talk2thehand.co.uk or beth@talk2thehand.co.uk