TOPG Ep 87: Backdraft
This week on Too Old or Pure Gold, we bring the Nanoose Bay Fire department to help us manage the heat with Ron Howard’s Backdraft (1991). With firefighters, family drama, and explosions that would never pass modern safety standards—this 90s blockbuster brings the flames and the feelings. With Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, and a very angry fire, we break down whether this fiery thriller still burns bright or has cooled into a smoky memory.
Hosts: Olen van der Leeden & David Purcell
Cast: Michael Peters, Caitlin Holme & Trevor Holme
Hosts: Olen van der Leeden & David Purcell
Cast: Michael Peters, Caitlin Holme & Trevor Holme
Creators and Guests
Host
Olen Vanderleeden
A Gen X creative whose career spans cannabis, clean tech, and media, but his real passion is stuck in a time warp somewhere between a VHS rental and a training montage. As the creator, producer, and co-host of Too Old or Pure Gold, Olen channels his lifelong love of 80s cinema, especially the high-kicking, synth-scored, gloriously weird corners of it, into a podcast that celebrates, critiques, and reexamines the movies that shaped a generation.
Guest
David Purcell
David Purcell is a sharp, funny, and knowledgeable Gen Xer who had a rough start with Gung Ho, but hey, it wasn’t entirely his fault. He more than redeemed himself with his quick wit and golf expertise on Tin Cup. David often steps in for Mathew when the conversation turns to tough topics like sports or Tom Cruise movies.
Guest
Pieter Vanderleeden
At 93, Pieter is the tireless heart of Pieter’s Plot Corner, watching and studying every film we cover, then delivering a brilliant and succinct plot summary for listeners who may not have seen (or survived) the movie in question. He missed a lot of these films in the '80s, but he’s catching up now, and loving (almost) every minute. Equally dedicated to the good and the awful, Pieter is an essential part of the podcast family and a fan favorite in his own right.
