Growing Up in '80s Florida | Author Davida Breier Discusses Sinkhole

Episode 786: This week on the Stuck in the '80s Podcast, Steve talks with author Davida Breier about her novel Sinkhole, growing up in small-town Florida during the 1980s, and how the decade's music, culture and quirks helped shape her story.

The 1980s looked a little different if you grew up in Florida.

Sure, we had MTV, arcades and shopping malls like everyone else. But we also had orange groves, summer thunderstorms, mysterious sinkholes and enough humidity to ruin just about any hairstyle in under five minutes.

This week on the Stuck in the '80s Podcast, Steve welcomes author Davida Breier to discuss her novel Sinkhole, a coming-of-age story that captures what it was really like to grow up in a small Florida town during one of pop culture's most unforgettable decades.

The conversation explores the inspiration behind the novel and why Florida serves as much more than a backdrop. In many ways, it's another character in the story. Its unpredictable landscape, quirky communities and unique blend of beauty and strangeness create the perfect setting for a tale about adolescence and self-discovery.

Davida also discusses how the music, movies and cultural touchstones of the 1980s helped shape both her characters and the world they inhabit. Whether you grew up in Florida or simply remember what it was like to navigate high school during the Reagan years, many of the experiences will feel instantly familiar.

Along the way, Steve and Davida talk about memory, nostalgia and why coming-of-age stories continue resonating with readers long after graduation. While the fashions and technology may change, the challenges of finding your identity, building friendships and imagining your future remain timeless.

The discussion also highlights the growing popularity of fiction set during the 1980s. For many readers, the decade offers the perfect blend of nostalgia and distance—a chance to revisit a world that feels comfortingly familiar while discovering new stories hidden within it.

Like many Stuck in the '80s author interviews, this episode goes beyond the book itself. It's a conversation about place, memory and the strange, wonderful ways our hometowns continue shaping us long after we've left them behind.

And if you've ever lived through a Florida summer, you'll probably recognize a few things that don't appear in most travel brochures.

If you enjoy coming-of-age fiction, stories rooted in the 1980s and conversations about the memories that define us, this episode belongs in your playlist.

The Stuck in the '80s Podcast has spent more than 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.

One of our favorite things about The 80s Cruise is hearing where everyone comes from. Every cruiser has a story about growing up in a different town, a different state or even a different country, yet somehow the music of the '80s connects us all. Whether your memories were made in small-town Florida or halfway around the world, you'll find people onboard who remember the decade just as fondly. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin and come celebrate the soundtrack that brought us together.

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