Waiting for Impact

Waiting for Impact

Dave Holmes is obsessed: What ever happened to Sudden Impact, the R&B boy band whose arrival was announced in Boyz II Men’s “MotownPhilly” video? What happens when you make a big debut, and then…nothing happens? Waiting For Impact is a deep dive into a disappearance that has haunted pop-culture die-hards since 1991. Dave is determined to track the group down and find out what really happened, and along the way he talks to his friends in the entertainment world— comedians, actors, writers— about the twists and turns that led them from where they were in 1991 to where they are in 2021. It's about high hopes, unexpected results, and why sometimes not getting what you want is the best thing that can happen.

Episodes

September 17, 2021 2 mins

In 1991, a boy band called Sudden Impact made a big debut in the music video for Boyz II Men’s “MotownPhilly,” and then... they disappeared. Dave Holmes has been obsessed with this story for decades, and now he’s going to find out what happened. The search for answers will take us into the recording industry of the ‘90s, into Michael Bivins’ East Coast Family, into what life was like before the i...

Mark as Played

Dave Holmes has been obsessed with a pop culture disappearance for decades: what ever happened to Sudden Impact, the boy band who were featured in Boyz II Men’s “Motownphilly” music video and then vanished? Before we dive into the mystery, we’ll need to take a good look at life in 1991, when the music industry was flush, and what it was like to be a pop culture obsessive in a time before the internet. Plus, ...

Mark as Played
October 19, 2021 42 mins

Big dreams require big swings. Dave talks to an unexpected voice about the bold action that changed her life forever. Meanwhile, 1991 Dave Holmes and Karen Kilgariff are leading parallel lives 2,000 miles apart. Dave Coulier is involved. And we are one step closer to finding Sudden Impact.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
October 26, 2021 47 mins

The search for Sudden Impact continues, as Dave meets another member of the East Coast Family, a young singer who was set up for stardom and found something different instead. Plus, music chart journalist Chris Molanphy gives us the fascinating specifics on exactly how popular culture changed forever in 1991. 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
November 2, 2021 44 mins

What’s it like when you reach the kind of super-stardom Sudden Impact was dreaming of, and what happens when it’s all over by the time you’re 21? Dave gets the real deal from a man who lived it. 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
November 9, 2021 47 mins

We have made contact with Sudden Impact. Aaron Kane, the group’s lead singer, tells us how they came together, how they got Michael Bivins’ attention, and where things began to go wrong. Plus, Dave shares war stories with an old MTV colleague about having a normal life one day, and a TV show the next.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
November 16, 2021 41 mins

Sudden Impact’s producer Tim Byrd has entered the chat. He and lead singer Aaron Kane continue the story of the group, through record label mishaps, internal strife, and a changing music scene. Plus, a deeper dive into the ways our culture evolved during the Sudden Impact years.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
November 23, 2021 50 mins

Dave takes a detour into the ‘90s alternative rock journey of Dog’s Eye View: A young man with talent, drive, and a dream. A cultural moment that’s just right for him. A climb from the basement to the mountaintop, a story of big plans and big changes from a man who’s seen it all. And Dave stumbles on the single word that sums up his Sudden Impact obsession and points a way forward.

 

See omnystudio.com/l...

Mark as Played
November 30, 2021 39 mins

A brand-new lineup, a brand-new pop music scene, and a brand-new name. Our guys give the big time another swing, and get closer to a hit than ever before. Dave gets the scoop on the turn-of-the-millennium version of Sudden Impact, and makes contact with one of the most unforgettable faces in music video history. Warning: this episode will put your heart in motion.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
December 7, 2021 39 mins

Dave gets the Sudden Impact story from two original members: Todd White and Alan Healy, and finds out the whole thing started as a promise these guys couldn’t go back on. Plus, a talk with one of the most recognizable pop music voices of the early ‘90s, a man who is absolutely gonna make you sweat.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
December 14, 2021 46 mins

Dave has reeled in his white whale, the elusive Dave Smith. Smith gives his version of events, and we find out once and for all why Dave has had this story on his mind for three decades. Our Sudden Impact journey ends here...or does it?

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    Latino USA

    Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S. centering Latino stories, hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa Every week, the Peabody winning team brings you revealing, in-depth stories about what’s in the hearts and minds of Latinos and their impact on the world. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus

Advertise With Us

Host

Dave Holmes

Dave Holmes

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.