This week on And The Year Was 1985, we’re joined by the incredible Raina Douris—host of World Cafe and one of the most respected voices in music broadcasting today.

Raina takes us behind the mic to share her journey from Canadian radio to the global stage, including her time at CBC Music and what it’s like curating and hosting one of NPR’s most iconic music programs. We dive into her passion for storytelling, the art of a great interview, and the responsibility of spotlighting both legendary artists and emerging talent.

We also get into:

• The evolution of music discovery from the 90s to today
• Memorable interviews and behind-the-scenes moments
• How radio still shapes culture in the streaming era
• Artists and sounds that are defining the current music landscape

If you love music, radio, and the stories behind the artists, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

🎙️ And The Year Was 1985 is your weekly deep dive into music, movies, and culture—with a nostalgic twist and conversations with the people who lived it.

This week on And The Year Was 1985, Ryan and Sam go down a serious rabbit hole.

What begins as a discussion about The X-Files and 90s conspiracy culture quickly turns into a wide-ranging conversation about media narratives, UFO disclosure, 9/11 controversies, and even Canadian trade deals.

Before social media, shows like The X-Files helped shape how people thought about government secrecy, alien encounters, and hidden truths. Today those conversations have moved online, spreading through podcasts, forums, and independent media.

In this episode we explore:

• How The X-Files influenced mainstream conspiracy culture
• The difference between 90s conspiracy communities and today’s internet pipelines
• Media control and narrative shaping
• UFOs and the current alien disclosure conversation
• The ongoing cultural debate around 9/11
• Why political and trade decisions can fuel conspiracy thinking

Follow the show and never miss an episode.

All links
https://linktr.ee/theyearwas1985

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This week on And The Year Was 1985, we’re joined by author, podcaster, comedian, screenwriter, and producer Courtney Kocak.

Courtney’s debut memoir Girl Gone Wild drops April 1, 2026. The book traces her journey from rural Minnesota to Los Angeles, detailing her early creative ambitions, her time working on the Girls Gone Wild tour in the late 90s, and the experiences that shaped her voice as a journalist and storyteller.

We talk about:
• Growing up in Minnesota and chasing creative ambition
• Moving to LA and breaking into media
• The reality behind the Girls Gone Wild era
• Building a career in podcasting
• Writing and publishing Girl Gone Wild
• Reporting on sex, psychedelics, and reproductive rights

Courtney hosts Private Parts Unknown, The Bleeders, and Podcast Bestie, and has produced major podcasts including The Bellas Podcast and Never Stand Still.

Pre-order or learn more about Girl Gone Wild:
https://www.courtneykocak.com

Follow Courtney:
Website: https://www.courtneykocak.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneykocak
X: https://x.com/courtneykocak
Private Parts Unknown: https://www.privatepartsunknown.com
Podcast Bestie: https://www.podcastbestie.com

Follow And The Year Was 1985:
All links: https://linktr.ee/theyearwas1985

New episodes weekly.