Podcast Summary: Bubba On the Lake

Episode #39 – David Beaman, Betty Bussey, and Thanksgiving Recap
Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Bill "Bubba" Bussey
Guests: David Beaman (NASA), Betty Lou Bussey

Overview

In this lively episode of "Bubba On the Lake," Bubba brings his trademark warmth and humor to a Thanksgiving recap, shares holiday traditions with his wife Betty Lou, and dives deep into NASA's Artemis space program with guest David Beaman, now Director of NASA's Space Launch System. The episode is equal parts family reminiscing, space geekery, and practical holiday banter—offering listeners a comforting fireside vibe and fascinating insights from the cutting edge of moon and Mars exploration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Recap and “Dressing Balls” Saga

• Bubba reflects on a laid-back Thanksgiving focused on eating and football, lamenting not getting to Betty’s board game plans.
• Listener Karen calls in with a “dressing balls” kitchen tip, prompting playful banter on the pitfalls of “butless balls” (03:10).
  • "Grease the pan, because otherwise you will have butless balls... Nobody likes butless balls." – Karen [03:10]
• Bubba and Betty discuss experimenting with “dressing balls” next summer before committing to reshape Thanksgiving tradition.

2. Interview with David Beaman – The Artemis Missions and NASA’s New Era

• David Beaman’s Role:
  • Recently promoted to Program Manager for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS).
  • Formerly handled engineering & integration for SLS. Based in Huntsville, AL.
• Artemis II Launch Update:
  • Artemis I (uncrewed) flew in Nov 2022; Artemis II will send four astronauts around the moon in early Feb 2026 [11:19, 12:14].
  • “...the goal is to go back to the Moon, to carry four astronauts to test out our systems…and get ready to land on the moon in future missions.” – David Beaman [11:19–12:14]
• Artemis III and Lunar Landing:
  • The plan is still to land astronauts on Artemis III, but NASA “lets the technology push us—they don’t push the schedule,” especially with lander delays [12:31].
  • NASA is partnering with both SpaceX and Blue Origin; the lander approach is still being sorted [13:38].
• Why Returning to the Moon Is Harder Now:
  • Unlike the 60s, today’s missions target the Moon’s South Pole for extended stays—much more scientifically valuable and technically challenging [14:50, 15:44].
  • “What we're planning on now is going to the South Pole. That's much more challenging. We're planning on staying for an extended amount of time…” – David Beaman [14:50]
• Benefits to Humanity:
  • Space exploration yields daily-life tech (cell phones, computers, medical advances), as well as pure inspiration [19:00–20:29].
  • Bubba rails against naysayers and “moon landing deniers,” to which Beaman warmly responds [21:11]:
    • “To me there's no question about it, I've spent a majority of my life dedicated to this country and to the space exploration in general. I could have made a whole lot more money doing something else. Why would I sit around and do something that wasn't real?” – David Beaman [21:11]
• Technical Challenges & Reliability:
  • Lessons learned from Artemis I; importance of “learning organization” for taxpayer value and astronaut safety [22:45–23:54].
• Public Launch Viewing:
  • Most on-site passes for Artemis II are already committed, but great viewing is available from public areas near Kennedy Space Center [24:23].
  • Beaman extols the beauty and accessibility of a rocket launch for anyone willing to travel to Florida [25:24, 25:37].
• Spinoffs and Partnerships:
  • NASA focusing on deep-space; commercial partners (SpaceX etc.) are handling more low-Earth-orbit duties.
  • Beaman emphasizes partnership: “We want all portions of the space industry to be successful.” [26:05]

3. Holidays, Family, and Board Game Fails with Betty Lou

• Bubba and Betty recount Thanksgiving, their failed attempts to play board games, and the enduring draw of dressing & giblet gravy [30:07–32:31].
  • "We basically ate and watched TV and slept." – Bubba [31:03]
• Betty dives into Christmas prep, traditions, and more playful marital banter.
• They debate the timing and climate-appropriateness of trying dressing balls in the summer [32:55–34:07], eventually settling to let Bubba try his hand at them, with Betty’s “guidance.”
• The couple share gentle jokes about each other's skillsets, Christmas wish lists, and gift-wrapping acumen (with a cameo from their dog Ruby) [35:14–36:16].
• Bubba reflects on the importance of living in the moment, cherishing family, and remembering those who are gone [41:10–42:13].
• The Busseys plan for their traditional Christmas: steaks on the grill, Christmas movies (especially Hallmark staples), and holiday breakfast casseroles [36:22–37:32].
• Lighthearted discussion of syrup brands and the sad reality of sugar-free alternatives [43:48–44:15].
• Bubba’s affectionate parting: “Thank you for all that you did for the family for Thanksgiving. I know we're going to have a fun Christmas and I'm looking forward to it.” [42:54–43:03]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Moon Exploration Motivation:
  • “Why are we going back to the Moon? …Because it's a different experience. It's a different situation. …The moon is still the same as it was back in the 1960s, but we are different. We're very different.”
    – David Beaman [19:13]
• Defending the Reality of Space Flight:
  • "Why would I sit around and do something that wasn't real?"
    – David Beaman [21:11]
• Thanksgiving Food Philosophy:
  • "Once I've had [dressing] on Thanksgiving, I don't, you know, I don't go for it...But buddy, you and Hunter seem to love, love, love the dressing."
    – Betty Lou [32:14]
• On Christmas Planning:
  • "I'm trying to live in the minute a little bit more this year. And kind of enjoy everything, you know, face value, because we take it for granted."
    – Bubba [41:10]
• Listener Karen's classic tip:
  • “Grease the pan, because otherwise you will have butless balls…”
    – Karen [03:10]

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:47 | Bubba opens the show, Thanksgiving recap preview | | 03:10 | Listener Karen’s “dressing balls” call (comedy gold) | | 09:24 | Introduction of NASA’s David Beaman | | 11:13 | Artemis missions—timeline & goals | | 14:50 | Challenges of Artemis vs. Apollo; South Pole landing | | 19:13 | Why go back to the moon? | | 21:11 | Addressing moon landing denial/conspiracy theories | | 23:54 | How to see a launch | | 30:07 | Betty Lou joins—family, games, and holiday recap | | 34:07 | Culinary skills debate (and division of labor) | | 41:10 | Living in the moment, cherishing family at Christmas |

Overall Tone & Style

• Warm, funny, and conversational—reminiscent of a fireside chat.
• Bubba brings folksy humor and relatable life lessons, occasionally breaking into heartfelt soapbox mode.
• The interview with Beaman is enthusiastic but accessible, offering both technical insight and down-to-earth explanations.
• The segments with Betty Lou echo the real joys and quirks of busy holiday family life.

Useful Takeaways

• Upcoming Artemis II launch is a milestone for returning Americans to deep space, with Artemis III poised to put “boots on the moon.”
• Space exploration, while expensive, enriches daily life and inspires technological and medical advances.
• Holiday traditions, big and small, matter even more as life moves quickly and family numbers evolve—don’t neglect the present for the sake of the “to-do” list.
• Greasing your pan is the secret to avoiding “butless balls” when attempting the latest Thanksgiving trend.

In Bubba’s Words

"Live in the present. ...if you get that in order, it seems like it makes all of your other relationships with your family and friends all that much more richer." [48:18]

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