80's Flick Flashback
Ben Carpenter Profile Photo

Ben grew up steeped in 80s movies. His love of film led him to start making his own short videos during his teen years in the late 80s, then he attended the film school at Florida State University in the early 90s. Today, Ben is an aspiring empty-nester who acts in community theater and loves talking movies with friends.

March 28, 2025

#131 - "On Golden Pond" (1981) with Ben Carpenter & Bethany Wells

This Academy Award-winning 80s Flick is a captivating, emotionally charged drama that beautifully captures the complexities of love, aging, and family. Set in the tranquil, golden hues of a New England lake, the film brings together screen legends Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn in a final, unfor…
Guests: Bethany Wells , Ben Carpenter
Jan. 31, 2025

#127 - "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" (1985) with Ben Carpenter & Laramy Wells

In this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast, we dive into the quirky charm of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), a film that not only captured the essence of the 1980s but also became a pop culture touchstone. Blending childhood innocence with the decade’s irreverent humor, it launched Tim Burt…
Guests: Laramy Wells , Ben Carpenter
Dec. 27, 2024

#124 - The Top 10 Episodes of 2024 Countdown

Remember back in the '80s when the end of the year meant tuning into those epic countdowns on the radio? Whether it was Casey Kasem with his iconic 'American Top 40' or Rick Dees bringing the laughs with his countdown hits, there was something magical about hearing the biggest songs of the year cel…
Guests: Gerry D , Nicholas Pepin , Laramy Wells , J.B. Huffman , Bethany Wells , Chad Sheppard , Tyra Williams , Ben Carpenter , Jeff Atkins , Darby Mirocha , Charlie Cotter , Catherine Mary Stewart
Nov. 15, 2024

BONUS - "Six Pack" (1982) with Chris Adams & Ben Carpenter

Rediscover a hidden gem of the 80s! While "Six Pack" (1982) may not be a blockbuster, it holds a special place in the cultural memory of many who grew up in that era. This forgotten flick, perhaps where some first learned about love, life, and the charm of Kenny Rogers, offers a unique blend of hum…
Guests: Chris Adams , Ben Carpenter
Nov. 8, 2024

#122 - "Splash" (1984) with Ben Carpenter and Bethany Wells

Dive into the enchanting world of "Splash" (1984), the iconic 80s romantic comedy that redefined the boy-meets-girl story. This beloved film, where a man falls for a woman who happens to be a mermaid, charmed audiences with its unique blend of fantasy, humor, and heartwarming romance. Join us as we…
Guests: Bethany Wells , Ben Carpenter
Oct. 25, 2024

#121 - "Poltergeist" (1982) with Ben Carpenter and Bethany Wells

Get ready for chills as we revisit a classic that doesn’t rely on superhuman slashers or crazed killers but still managed to freeze audiences in fear. "Poltergeist" (1982) tells the story of an ordinary suburban family haunted by supernatural forces that tap into our deepest fears. From a clown dol…
Guests: Bethany Wells , Ben Carpenter
Sept. 13, 2024

#118 - "Weird Science" (1985) with Ben Carpenter, Darby Mirocha & Laramy Wells

John Hughes is known for making popular movies about teenagers in the 1980s. He started as a National Lampoon's Magazine writer and then began writing scripts in 1979. In 1984, he directed "Sixteen Candles". The next year, he directed two well-known movies, "The Breakfast Club" and this '80s flick.…
Guests: Laramy Wells , Ben Carpenter , Darby Mirocha
July 11, 2024

BONUS - "SpaceCamp" (1986) with Jeff Atkins, Ben Carpenter, and Nicolas Pepin

To the children of the ’80s, the only thing cooler than the idea of space camp is the idea behind this forgotten 80’s flick, in which Lea Thompson, Joaquin Phoenix, and their fellow teen team members must figure out how to land an actual space shuttle after a freak accident at NASA’s Kennedy Space …
Guests: Nicholas Pepin , Ben Carpenter , Jeff Atkins
July 4, 2024

#111 - "The Right Stuff" (1983) with Jeff Atkins, Ben Carpenter, and Darby Mirocha

Before writer-director Philip Kaufman brought Tom Wolfe's best-selling book to the big screen in 1983, astronauts in movies were often just alien hunters or asteroid chasers. But under Kaufman's direction, spaceflight became a deeply human endeavor, focusing on inner strength rather than external t…
Guests: Ben Carpenter , Jeff Atkins , Darby Mirocha
June 14, 2024

#109 - "Mr. Mom" (1983) with Ben Carpenter

Join Tim Williams and Ben Carpenter on the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast as they discuss "Mr. Mom" from 1983. This comedy, starring Michael Keaton and penned by John Hughes, resonated with many due to its portrayal of men tackling domestic duties amid the economic shifts of the 80s. With its rise alo…
Guest: Ben Carpenter
May 24, 2024

#108 - "InnerSpace" (1987) with Nicholas Pepin (from "Pop Culture Roulette" Podcast) and Ben Carpenter

Join Tim Williams with guests Ben Carpenter and Nicholas Pepin as they discuss the 1987 sci-fi comedy "Innerspace" on the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast. Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, this film stars a miniaturized Navy pilot injected into a hypochondriac grocery clerk, leadi…
Guests: Nicholas Pepin , Ben Carpenter
April 26, 2024

#106 - "The Natural" (1984) with Nicholas Pepin (from "Pop Culture Roulette" Podcast) & Ben Carpenter

In the early 1980s, baseball films were scarce until Barry Levinson’s 1984 Oscar-nominated gem revitalized the genre, inspiring over 18 baseball-themed movies in the following decade. While initially seeming like a typical sports biopic, this film, "The Natural," unfolds into a profound American fa…
Guests: Nicholas Pepin , Ben Carpenter
March 29, 2024

#104 - "Jaws 3D" (1983) with Ben Carpenter & Tyra Williams

In this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast, Tim Williams is joined by guest co-hosts Tyra Williams and Ben Carpenter to dive into the thrilling yet tumultuous waters of "Jaws 3D." This 1983 sequel takes the terror to Sea World Florida, where a massive shark turns the park’s underwater tunne…
Guests: Tyra Williams , Ben Carpenter