The pumpkin spice latte arrived in 2003, but does that match your memory of when it became unavoidable? Ed Conroy helps connect the drink’s early days to the boots, photos and fall rituals that followed.
You might remember 2003 through 50 Cent, the Iraq war or a passing PT Cruiser, rather than a Starbucks menu. The familiar pumpkin spice stereotype feels later to both sides of this conversation. Ed has an explanation for what happened between the launch and the cultural takeover.
Halloween once meant a homemade costume or a plastic mask, with the excitement packed into a few weeks. Now the season stretches much further. What did pumpkin spice add to that change, and why does Ed welcome part of it?
Topics: pumpkin spice, 2003, social media, Halloween, nostalgia
GUEST: Ed Conroy | http://retrontario.com | @retrontario
Originally aired on2026-10-01
