You Had To Be There

You Had To Be There

Iconic Moments in Pop Culture History! Each episode, You Had To Be There gives our host, Julia Thompson an assignment: Find and interview an eyewitness to a specific iconic moment in pop culture history…in just 48 hours. Listen to the inside stories on the biggest moments in pop culture history from the people who were there!

Episodes

Introducing Media Moguls with Web Barr

April 8, 2025 • 108 mins
We'll be back in a bit, but in the meantime, we wanted to share Episode 1 of Hi Barr's newest podcast: Media Moguls with Web Barr. Listen here! To get new episodes, just follow Media Moguls with Web Barr on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. -------- Introducing Hi Barr's Newest Podcast: Media Moguls with Web Barr They’re risk-takers, rule-breakers, and empire builders. These are the stories of the visionar...
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CNN Launches the 24/7 News Cycle

March 25, 2025 • 80 mins
On Sunday, June 1st, 1980, Ted Turner pressed a button—and CNN went live, beaming 24/7 news into homes across America and changing the media landscape forever, while shrinking time and space forever. In this episode, we sent Julia Thompson to track down and interview people who were at CNN’s Atlanta headquarters on day one. What follows is the story of a visionary who dared to build a 24-hour news network on a tight budget—in a wo...
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Garry Kasparov vs. Deep Blue: The Chess Match That Changed Everything

March 4, 2025 • 76 mins
In May 1997, the world watched as Garry Kasparov, the greatest chess player of all time, faced off against IBM’s supercomputer, Deep Blue. It was man vs. machine—a defining moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence and a turning point for chess. To revisit this historic showdown, we’ve given producer and director Julia Thompson a 48-hour challenge: track down and interview someone who was there when technology changed the ...
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Miracle on Ice

February 18, 2025 • 79 mins
To celebrate the 45th anniversary of Team USA’s stunning ice hockey upset over the Soviet Union, better known as the ‘Miracle on Ice,’ we’ve given producer and director Julia Thompson a 48-hour challenge: find and interview someone who was at that historic game in Lake Placid on February 22, 1980. This episode features interviews with: Curt Chaplin Gerald Eskenazi John Harrington  Denice Fredericks  CREDITS 'You Had To Be The...
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Jaws: On Set of Steven Spielberg's Groundbreaking Blockbuster

February 4, 2025 • 57 mins
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws, we've given producer and director Julia Thompson a 48-hour challenge: track down and interview someone who was on set during the famously chaotic production of Spielberg’s groundbreaking film on Martha’s Vineyard between May and October 1974. This episode features interviews with: David Bolen Bill Petrotta Jude Villa CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr production. Created by Hi...
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Parental Advisory: Frank Zappa, John Denver, & Dee Snider vs. the PMRC

January 21, 2025 • 64 mins
Producer and director Julia Thompson takes on a 48-hour challenge to track down and interview someone who witnessed the iconic September 19, 1985 Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing where Twisted Sister's Dee Snider, Frank Zappa, and John Denver defended their lyrics before Congress and the PMRC. This episode features interviews with: Larry Stein Mark Weiss Chuck Eddy Kembrew McLeod  CREDITS 'You H...
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Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance" and The Birth of a Meme

December 17, 2024 • 64 mins
Producer and director Julia Thompson sets out on a 48-hour mission to track down and interview someone who attended Fleetwood Mac’s iconic reunion concert, The Dance, on May 23, 1997—the show where Stevie Nicks’ unforgettable Silver Springs performance became a meme for the ages. This episode features interviews with: Maureen Ryan  Bruce Rodgers  Stacy Burcham Analese Alvarez  CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr prod...
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1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final: Brandi Chastain’s Iconic Moment

December 3, 2024 • 69 mins
Producer and director Julia Thompson embarks on a 48-hour mission to track down and interview someone who was on the field for the historic 1999 Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl, where the United States defeated China in a dramatic penalty shootout, capped by Brandi Chastain’s iconic game-winning shot. This episode features interviews with: Michelle Akers Robert Beck Anthony DiCicco Lindsay Bruno CREDITS 'You Had To B...
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DJ Kool Herc and the Birth of Hip-Hop

November 12, 2024 • 73 mins
Producer and director Julia Thompson goes on a 48-hour journey to find and interview someone who was at DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell's Back to School Jam at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx on August 11, 1973—a moment that is commonly known as the birth of hip-hop. This episode features interviews with: Frantz Barosy Paradise Gray Joe Conzo CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr production. Created by Hi Barr. 'DJ Kool...
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The Blair Witch Project Premieres at Sundance in 1999

October 29, 2024 • 62 mins
Producer and director Julia Thompson embarks on a 48-hour journey to find and interview someone who attended the midnight premiere of The Blair Witch Project at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 1999. This episode features interviews with: Allison Rose Carter  Michael C. Williams Rachel Cohen Hilary Brougher CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr production. Created by Hi Barr. 'The Blair Witch Project Premieres ...
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Steve Jobs Introduces the Macintosh in 1984

October 15, 2024 • 54 mins
Producer and film director Julia Thompson goes on a 48 hour journey to find and interview an eyewitness to Apple's introduction of the Macintosh computer by Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984. This episode features interviews with: Colette Askeland Steven Levy D. Griffin Jones CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr production. Created by Hi Barr. ‘Steve Jobs Introduces the Macintosh in 1984’ was written and hosted by Julia Tho...
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Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York

October 1, 2024 • 54 mins
Producer and film director Julia Thompson goes on a 48 hour journey to find and interview an eyewitness to Nirvana's iconic performance on MTV Unplugged in New York City on November 18, 1993. This episode features interviews with: Alex Coletti Jon Vesey Jim Ahearne Bill Toce  Web Barr CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr production. Created by Hi Barr. ‘Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York’ was written and hosted by Jul...
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2008 Wimbledon Final: Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal

September 17, 2024 • 63 mins
Producer and film director Julia Thompson goes on a 48 hour journey to find and interview an eyewitness to the legendary 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal—a match widely hailed as the greatest in tennis history. This episode features interviews with: Jon Wertheim Donna Floyd Fales Ingrid Löfdahl Bentzer Sally Phillips Elise McCave Scott Milnor Lucy Malone CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr...
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Kerri Strug’s 1996 Olympic Gold Medal-Winning Vault

April 9, 2024 • 67 mins
Producer and film director Julia Thompson goes on a 48 hour journey to find and interview an eyewitness to Kerri Strug's gold medal-winning vault at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. This episode features interviews with: Katherine Lieberson Teeny Lieberson  Alice Thacker Stacy Cook Jon Sigger John P. Lopez Charlie McCullors  Linda Wyatt Molly Wyatt CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr production. Created by Hi...
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1979 NCAA Championship: Bird vs. Magic

March 26, 2024 • 74 mins
Former professional skateboarder and filmmaker Monihan Monihan goes on a 48-hour journey from Seattle to Kathmandu to find and interview someone who was at the 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship game featuring Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. This episode features interview with: Joan Mills Aimee "LeeLee" Monihan Judy Monihan Dan Cherry III  Wez Wezenheimer Dr. Ryan Ernst Mark Perry Mike Clark Sr. Tom Steel CREDITS You Had ...
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WrestleMania I

March 12, 2024 • 62 mins
Artist, actor, writer and musician, River Ramirez goes on a 48-hour journey to find and interview someone who was at WrestleMania I in 1985. This episode features interview with: Keith Elliot Greenberg Brett Davis CREDITS You Had To Be There is a Hi Barr production.  Created by Hi Barr. “WrestleMania I” was hosted by River Ramirez. Produced by Julia Thompson and Web Barr. Story written and produced by Julia Thompson. Edit, Soun...
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Survivor: Borneo Finale

February 27, 2024 • 58 mins
Journalist and writer, Brandon Sneed goes on a 48-hour journey to find and interview someone who was at the final tribal council in the first season of the blockbuster reality show Survivor in the summer of 2000. This episode features an interview with Survivor: Borneo winner Richard Hatch. Timestamps (00:00): Introduction (06:48): Test (14:35): Test 2 (19:09): Test 3 CREDITS ‘You Had To Be There’ is a Hi Barr production.  C...
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John Lennon + Yoko Ono: Bed-ins for Peace

February 20, 2024 • 61 mins
Musician and artist Jen Goma goes on a 48-hour journey to find and interview someone who was in one of the hotel suites during one of John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s Bed-Ins for Peace in 1969. This episode features interviews with:  Jerry Levitan Nico Koster  Hana van der Kolk Jillian Goma Ethan Kiermaier Casey Coleman Louise Mittelman Betta de Boer van der Kolk Linda at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Montreal CREDITS ‘You Had T...
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Pulp Fiction Wins Cannes

February 13, 2024 • 46 mins
In celebration of Pulp Fiction’s 30th anniversary, Hollywood producer, Adam Karp is sent on a 48-hour journey to find and interview someone who was in attendance at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994 when Pulp Fiction took home the Palme d'Or. This episode features interviews with:    Rory Kelly Howie Movshovitz CREDITS You Had To Be There is a Hi Barr production.  Created by Hi Barr. 'Pulp Fiction Wins the Palme d'Or at Cannes' ...
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The Moon Landing

February 6, 2024 • 58 mins
Comedian Naomi Karavani goes on a 48-hour journey to find and interview someone who was in NASA's Mission Control when Apollo 11 landed on the moon in 1969.  This episode features interviews with (in order of appearance): Jeff Simmermon Lois Rosson Rick Sternbach John M. Logsdon Rushmore DeNooyer, Producer-Director-Writer CREDITS 'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr production. Created by Hi Barr. “The Moon Landing” was writte...
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