Gen-X on Zonk Media

My 52nd Birthday Didn't Go As Planned And It Left Me With One Wish

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I turned 52 on September 12th, and while the day didn’t quite go as planned, it ended up being the catalyst for something more meaningful. Rachel and I had this beautiful day mapped out in Carpinteria with an old friend from fourth grade—wine tasting, sunset, dinner, the whole thing. Some of it happened exactly as imagined, though not without some unexpected allergic reaction drama thrown in for good measure. But here’s the thing: I didn’t get enough footage to make a proper vlog about it, so instead I’m sitting in my dimly lit room the next day with a 3D print of an Atari 800XL running in the background, trying to articulate something that’s been weighing on me.

My Dad Banned Video Games. Then He Bought Us Zork.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

Growing up in the 1980s, my family had pretty strict rules about what I could do on our Atari 800XL computer. Video games were basically off-limits unless I could prove I was being productive and actually using the machine to learn something worthwhile. But there was one glorious exception to that rule: Zork. My dad actually bought us Zork, and it completely changed how I thought about gaming and interactive storytelling. It wasn’t just a game—it was a gateway into understanding what computers could really do.

The 80s Movie I Avoided as a Kid - I Finally Watched Labyrinth

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I finally sat down and watched Labyrinth last night, and I have to admit—I’m kicking myself for avoiding it all these years. Back when it came out in 1986, the whole thing just didn’t appeal to me. Goblins, puppets, all that mystical fantasy stuff? Not my jam as a kid. But watching it now, 40 years later, I found myself completely captivated. There’s something about David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly’s performances, combined with the practical effects and earnest 80s filmmaking, that just works. I get into why I think I needed to wait until now to appreciate what Jim Henson created, and honestly, it’s made me rethink some of the other movies I dismissed back then.

I Dreaded This Goodbye. Then I Understood Adam the Woo.

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

Yesterday, I drove up to Bakersfield for my friend Claire’s celebration of life, and I’ll be honest—I really didn’t want to go. I carpooled with Ryan, my best friend since first grade back in 1980, and the drive gave me plenty of time to sit with my feelings about it all. When we got there, Claire’s parents said something that completely shifted my perspective on why I was even there. They asked me to speak, and even though I didn’t feel like I nailed it, standing up in front of everyone and sharing about Claire ended up being one of the better things I’ve done all year.

The Unexpected Joy of Star Wars Fan Content #shorts

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

It takes a lot of guts to start a YouTube channel covering Star Wars today, when the common narrative is that Disney Star Wars is bad and any opinion that goes against it can draw negative comments. That’s why I’m happy to subscribe to a creator who represents my tribe and my subculture. My takeaway is that there’s no single unified outlook on Star Wars: it’s art, and appreciation of art is subjective. So find your tribe, and tell me in the comments if you have.

Star Wars Explorer: The OG Fan's Dream Channel! #starwars #shorts

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I wondered whether any creators cover Star Wars from the perspective of OG fans like me, and it turns out there’s one: Star Wars Explorer. It’s a relatively new channel with only a few videos, but he’s gaining views and subscribers quickly and earning every bit of it. He’s passionate, entertaining and fun to watch, and he covers Star Wars the way an old guy who loved those movies from a long time ago can really appreciate.

Star Wars Fans: Why Your Generation Hates the Prequels! #shorts

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

Star Wars has been around for close to 50 years, which means multiple generations with different entry points and different things they care about. Plenty of original trilogy fans don’t care for the prequels, while anyone who grew up on them thinks that’s crazy. YouTube reflects this perfectly, because creators gravitate toward what they like and what their audience responds to, so I take a quick tour of a few channels I follow.

There's No Such Thing as ONE Star Wars Fandom - Introducing the Gen X Star Wars Fandom

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

There’s a common narrative that the Star Wars fandom is toxic or divided, but I think it’s more accurate to say it’s diversified. Star Wars has been around for close to 50 years, so there are multiple generations with different perspectives, and YouTube shows this perfectly. I take a tour of a few channels I follow. Star Wars Explained, run by Alex and Molly, is my favorite: the “all of it” crowd who cover canon, legends, comics, shows and films with mostly positive energy and measured critique. Star Wars Theory is the biggest channel in the space and gives voice to fans who feel something was lost in the Disney era. Star Wars Meg is the news desk, covering what’s happening right now.

KROQ Historian - History of 106.7 Kevin and Bean, Jimmy Kimmel, Ralph Garman to Klein & Ally

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

My kids got me thinking that I might qualify as a K-Rock historian. I’ve listened since the late ’80s and with dedication since about 1990. My 16-year-old son asked why he’d want to listen to my “boomer music,” and when we went to the Klein Ally show meetup, my daughter looked at the line and said she didn’t think she fit the demographic. I get it. The music I hear on K-Rock is the oldies to them, just like my parents’ hits from the ’50s and ’60s were to me. I’m bad at song titles and lyrics while Rachel knows all of them. We share a love of K-Rock, though for her the morning show is Klein Ally and for me it’s Kevin and Bean.