Things That Made Us (Pt 4): Bowl Cuts, TGIF Sitcoms, and the Top 5 Things We Want Back with Mark Hewitt and Danny Smith

Travis is joined by guest host Danny Smith and Mark Hewitt for a follow-up conversation that starts with tipping culture and quickly turns into a broader reflection on generational values, consumer habits, and what feels different about growing up then versus now.

They also get into a nostalgic list of things from the 80s and 90s that have made a comeback and then each shares 5 things they want to see make a comeback. There's a final stretch on 90s basketball, team identity, and how sports culture has changed.

Book--Generations 2026: The Great Convergence

https://a.co/d/0htzToI5

In this episode:

• The crew compares generational attitudes toward tipping, especially the jump from 10 percent to 20 percent and the pressure of tip prompts at places like Five Guys, Culver’s, Great Clips, and Subway.
• Mark shares a story about being at a Badgers game with all-you-can-eat club seating, where his instinct was to take one trail mix tin while older folks were loading up multiple bags and tins.
• Danny argues that tipping should make sense based on actual service, not just on the existence of a card reader or countertop interaction.
• Travis points out that no-tips restaurants might be the cleanest solution if businesses simply paid employees directly and didn’t push the burden onto customers.
• The group compares boomer and Gen X deal-seeking behavior with their own generation’s more collaborative, less combative approach to pricing and service.
• Mark talks about childhood contrasts across generations, including hotel toiletries, condiment packets, and how normal it felt to live off small free extras.
• The list of comeback items includes Surge, square-body trucks, 90s fashion, baggy jeans, high socks, Crocs, mom jeans, skater clothes, analog media, and camcorders.
• Mark shares how his kids are embracing retro style, including baggy jeans, rolled socks, and old-school audio and video formats.
• Danny brings up the return of physical media and the appeal of listening to a whole album front to back instead of skipping around.
• The conversation shifts to what should come back next, including boom boxes, summer pop songs, fire pit conversations, family dinners, and the old Friday-night TV ritual.
• Mark highlights the family dinner at the classic Pizza Hut restaurant as a near-perfect example of a shared experience that used to feel central to family life.
• The final stretch focuses on 90s basketball, dynasty teams, long player tenures, rivalries, and the shift toward superteams and constant transfers in both college and pro sports.
• Mark reflects on watching the Bulls during their 90s run, including a triple-overtime game against the Pistons and the drama around Jordan, Rodman, Pippen, and the rest of that era.