Bubba On the Lake – Episode #38: Thanksgiving Special 25 (November 26, 2025)

Host: Bill "Bubba" Bussey
Co-hosts/Guests: Betty Lou Bussey, Stuart Brockwell (Surge Technologies)
Theme: Celebrating Thanksgiving with family traditions, tech talk for the holidays, gratitude, and stories from lake life.

Overview

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Bubba (Bill Bussey) and Betty Lou welcome listeners into their homey "Mello Yella Studio" to embrace gratitude, share holiday food tips (including Betty’s famous cornbread dressing recipe), and chat about the best tech deals for Christmas with resident tech expert Stuart Brockwell. The show is lighthearted, full of fun banter, practical advice, and signature stories that conjure small-town warmth and laughter. A celebration of family, resilience, and community, the episode is packed with both nostalgia and timely tips for the holiday season.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Gratitude & Family Reflections

• Opening Thoughts: Bubba expresses deep thankfulness for family, health, sponsors, and the simple blessings of life. He highlights the importance of appreciating what you have, especially after his struggles with knee replacement and health this year.
  • Quote: “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.” (04:18)
• Family Traditions: Bubba and Betty Lou look forward to family being together again, with their daughter returning from D.C. and son Hunter joining as well (05:00). They reminisce about larger Thanksgiving gatherings and how traditions have evolved.
• Household Banter: The couple’s natural chemistry brings warmth as they discuss their Thanksgiving trees, funny pet stories (like the infamous chipmunk incident), and Betty’s multitasking as both nurse and bookkeeper.

2. Community Happenings: Christmas at the Lake

• Santa at Lake Martin: Bubba shares about the annual Christmas at Crossroads event—Santa will be on the Green Stage Friday, November 28th (9:00–16:00 for bazaar, 10:00–14:00 for Santa photos). He encourages listeners to support local artisans at the Holiday Bazaar for unique gifts (05:40).
• Website Resources: More info at russelllands.com.

3. Tech Talk for the Holidays with Stuart Brockwell ([08:15]–[32:38])

Guests: Stuart Brockwell (Surge Technologies)

Black Friday & Holiday Tech Gifts

• Shopping Trends:
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become less about single-day events and more like month-long frenzies (“Is Black Friday even a thing anymore? I mean, Amazon killed both of them.” – Bubba [09:38]).
• Must-Have Tech for 2025:
  • AirPods Pro, new Nintendo Switch 2, drones, tablets.
    • “Nintendo finally stepped up. They got something new...a little pricey for a handheld. $500. But everything’s expensive nowadays except for TVs...55-inch for $229.” – Stuart [10:07, 11:04]
  • TVs: Brands matter much less now—Hisense brand praised for value; smart TV features not crucial due to cheap streaming dongles (Apple TV, Roku).
    • Recommendation: Don’t connect new TVs to the internet; use a dongle instead (12:01–12:23).

Computers & Architecture

• When to Upgrade:
  • 4–5 years is the sweet spot for most laptops and desktops; longer for light home use.
    • “Nowadays it’s not the case at all...your computer was obsolete twelve months after you bought it—now it’s not.” – Stuart [12:41–13:06]
• Tech Curve Slowing:
  • Discussion on Moore’s Law ending, efficiency now prioritized over power—Apple’s M series chips cited as example.
    • “Apple M5 isn’t faster, it’s 40% more efficient. That’s what matters for battery life.” – Stuart [15:44]
  • Apple MacBook Air M-series and Mac Mini praised for performance and value: “The Mac Mini M4...is the best computer, period, for most people. Under $500 new and will run circles around every PC on the shelf.” – Stuart [18:07]

Tech Supply Chains & Data Centers

• Chip Manufacturing:
  • Most chips still made overseas (TSMC in Taiwan); new US fabs coming but will raise product costs (19:16–20:53).
• Data Centers & AI:
  • Growing electricity use, noise issues, and NIMBY attitudes.
  • Elon Musk considering orbital (space-based) data centers to solve power/cooling issues.
    • “Orbital data centers...are something they’re seriously considering. Maybe not in 10 years, but maybe in 20.” – Stuart [22:07–22:29]
• AI Progress:
  • AI expands rapidly, sometimes to absurdity (“Do we really need AI in everything?” – Stuart [22:52]).
  • Automotive AI: Tesla’s latest software now can reason in tight spaces (like parking garages/drivethrus), with emergent behaviors impressing observers.
    • Quote: “The cars pull up, stop at the speaker, wait at the correct window, hand over the card, take food, and leave—without being programmed specifically to do that.” – Stuart [25:53–27:23]

3D Printing as a Gift & Hobby

• Stuart’s Wish List: Automatic filament changer for 3D printing; praises how 3D printing enables custom home solutions (screen inserts for doors, etc.).
  • Notable anecdote: Getting Grok (AI) to generate CAD specs for a custom door insert—“With a little back and forth, we refined the design...looks factory.” – Stuart [29:10–31:10]
• 3D Printing in Industry: From home gadgets to Apple Watch Ultra’s titanium chassis—additive manufacturing is the future for product design.
• Audience Questions: Betty asks what Stuart 3D prints; he explains practical home applications (31:09–31:28).

4. Thanksgiving Recipes & Kitchen Wisdom ([35:15]–[51:46])

Chipmunk in the Tree: The Hilarious Holiday Story ([35:55]–[37:44])

• Betty’s Tennis Bible Study Derails: Recounts chaotic invasion of a live chipmunk (courtesy of the cat Luna) during a Bible study—chipmunk hides in the Christmas tree, sparking panic and laughter.

Betty Lou’s Cornbread Dressing (With Freezing Tips)

• Listener Email: Nancy from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, asks about make-ahead cornbread dressing ([38:43]).
• Recipe Guidance:
  • Uses a mix of homemade cornbread ("pone"), leftover breads/rolls/crackers.
  • Mix, bake for 15 minutes at 350°F, then freeze in 9"x13" pans; on day-of, thaw and bake another 25–30 minutes.
  • Full recipe will be posted on the podcast website.
  • Quote: “Whatever you got on hand—if you got rolls, use that. If you got saltines, use that. But I always use a pone of homemade cornbread though.” – Betty [39:00]
• Giblet (or “giblet/giblet”) Gravy:
  • Cream of chicken soup, chicken stock, cut-up turkey, and hard-boiled eggs—no real giblets used.
  • “I always thought I’d never be able to replicate it—turns out it’s a can of soup and some stock.” – Betty [41:12]

Thanksgiving Evolution & Community

• Family Traditions:
  • From large gatherings to intimate dinners with their kids; the passing down of recipes for future generations.
  • Nostalgic about lost loved ones and the movement through generations.
    • “When you're a kid...it seems like they're going to live forever, and they don’t, you know...it’s the next generation.” – Bubba [43:45]
• Neighbor Fran Saves the Day: Credit to neighbor Fran for teaching Betty how to make dressing when she first had to cook it herself.

The Ball About Dressing Balls ([46:18]–[47:51])

• Dressing Balls: Kentucky tradition of dressing cooked as balls (crispier all around), as opposed to casserole; discusses possibly trying “dressing balls” next year.
  • “I like getting the corner piece...because it’s crunchy on both sides. When you have dressing balls, they're crunchy all the way around.” – Bubba [47:25]
  • “I’ll ask old Grok—how do you fix dressing balls?” – Betty [47:59]

5. Holiday Shopping, Betty’s Wish List, and Shopping Nostalgia ([54:00]–[57:28])

• Black Friday/Christmas List:
  • Betty’s looking for a new laptop (“Stuart says I need a new one”), On Cloud 5 sneakers, E. Newton bead bracelets, and her favorite self-tanner (Peta Jane).
  • Debate about Amazon vs. supporting brick-and-mortar stores: “I have a real heart for the brick and mortar retailers...but people just go home and buy it on Amazon anyway.” – Bubba [54:55]
  • “They’re the self-tanner people...she used to be on Dancing with the Stars, Peta Jane or whatever.” – Betty [56:37]

6. Looking Ahead: Family, Gratitude & Games ([57:54]–[61:51])

• Family Updates: Bubba and Betty happy to have the kids home, anticipate watching football (Jack State Gamecocks vs. Western Kentucky), and plan (half-jokingly) to play board and card games (Rummy, Uno, “Golf”).
  • “I’ll believe it when I see it, folks. Stay tuned. I bet you a dollar they'll weasel out of it.” – Betty [59:02]
• Board Game Memories: Reminiscing about lost game pieces, babysitter traditions, and how board games have become more challenging due to missing parts over the years.
• Reflection on Hard Years:
  • The couple discusses the ups and downs (health struggles, end of Bubba’s radio show, tornado, cancer), and longing for a peaceful year.
    • Quote: “I’m ready for a year of in the valley because it seems like we have been topsy turvy for the last two or three.” – Bubba [49:35]
    • “Peace that surpasses all understanding...I’m ready for some of that peace.” – Betty [50:33]

7. Final Thoughts & Notable Quotes ([63:47])

• Bubba closes by wishing the audience a safe, grateful Thanksgiving, encouraging them to focus on blessings rather than holiday stresses.
  • “We have so much to be thankful for. Please try to enjoy it for that and don’t get caught up in all the other things...God loves you and we do too.” – Bubba [64:37]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Health:
  • “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything. Doesn’t matter.” – Bubba [04:18]
• On Dressing Balls:
  • “There is Betty Lou Busse! Yeah. No, where’s the drums when you need them?” – Bubba [47:18]
• On Technology:
  • “The Mac Mini M4...is the best computer, period, for most people.” – Stuart [18:07]
  • On Tesla AI handling drive-thrus: “The cars pull up, stop at the speaker, wait at the correct window, hand over the card, take food, and leave—without being programmed specifically to do that.” – Stuart [26:24–27:23]
• On Gratitude:
  • “For many years, I really felt like we were skating on ice...we didn’t have a lot of upheavals. Maybe someone slipped up and prayed for patience. I’m not praying for that anymore!” – Bubba [51:14]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Thanksgiving gratitude & Santa event info: [00:22]–[06:25]
• Tech talk with Stuart Brockwell: [08:15]–[32:38]
• Thanksgiving recipes & stories with Betty: [35:15]–[51:46]
• Holiday shopping & Betty’s wish list: [54:00]–[57:28]
• Family games & reflective close: [57:54]–[61:51]
• Bubba’s closing remarks: [63:47]–[65:45]

Summary

Episode #38 delivers a playful, warm, and informative mix of lakeside living, holiday traditions, and real-life resilience filled with laughter and gratitude. Whether you’re curious about Black Friday tech tips, in need of Betty’s coveted cornbread dressing recipe, or just want a taste of genuine family humor (chipmunks, dressing balls, and all), Bubba on the Lake invites you to slow down, be thankful, and remember the simple joys at the heart of Thanksgiving.