What’s on your bucket list?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "What’s on your bucket list?"

Podcast: But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
Host: Jane Lindholm (with Melody Beaudet, Sarah Bake)
Date: December 26, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this special, end-of-year episode, the But Why team turns the tables on their usual format: instead of answering kid-submitted questions, they ask their young listeners a big question—“What’s on your bucket list?”
The team listens to a variety of audio responses from children all over the world, sharing dreams and goals ranging from the imaginative to the ambitious. The episode celebrates curiosity, dreaming big, and the wonder of childhood—reinforced by warmth, encouragement, and a sense of fun from the hosts.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflecting on the Year & Introducing the Bucket List Theme

• Hosts recall some of the podcast’s topics from the past year, highlighting the variety and curiosity at the heart of their show. (01:36–02:18)
• Jane describes the twist for this episode: kids answer the question for once, sharing what they most hope to do, see, or be in their lives—a “bucket list.”
• Melody explains the difference between fantastical dreams and realistic goals, noting that either kind is valid and worth imagining. (02:35–02:58)

2. Hosts Share Their Own Bucket List Items

• Jane wants to run another half marathon, a goal complicated by recent foot injuries.

  “It's gonna take a lot of work to get back up to that distance. 13.1 miles. So that's on my bucket list.” – Jane Lindholm (03:28)

• Melody wishes to finish hiking the Long Trail in Vermont, which she started years ago but hasn’t yet completed.
• Sarah still dreams of seeing koalas and kangaroos in Australia.

3. Listener Dream Highlights – Physical and Athletic Goals

• Hannah (10, Washington, D.C.): Wants to climb a V10 in bouldering.

  “A V10 is a really hard level that a lot of climbers never reach. Wow.” – Melody Beaudet (04:06)

• Jack (8, Cincinnati, OH): Aims to finish a Thanksgiving 10K race.

  “A 10K is a great dream, Jack. That's running 10 kilometers. ... a little over six miles.” – Jane Lindholm (04:38)

4. Bucket List Travel Dreams

• Disney Dreams:
  • Matisse (6, CA): Visit Disney World and all the parks.
  • Henley (7, IL): Disney World OR Disneyland—either will do!
• Global Adventures:
  • Emerson (9, IL): Ireland.
  • Charlie (9, NJ): Visit Greenland, Russia, all 50 states, and hike snowy Colorado mountains.
  • Memo (5, CA): Greece.
  • Gio (6, CT): Go to the Amazon Rainforest and jump off a cliff into the water.
  • Lucy (6, TN) & Harvey (6, VT): See the Statue of Liberty and visit NYC.
  • Dom: Japan for sushi and Antarctica for penguins.
• Other travel wishes:
  • Eleanor (9, Mayo Island): Swim in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
  • Beau (Germany): See a shark and go to Hawaii.

  “My bucket list is to go to Hawaii and see all the beautiful nature.” – Levi (6, MD) (14:15)

5. Career Aspirations

• Isabella (6, Germany): Wants to be a singer.
• Florence (10, Australia): Aspires to be a special effects makeup artist for movies.

  “They can make young people look older, or make someone look like a zombie or an alien. They do all kinds of cool things.” – Sarah Bake (06:20)

• Penny (12, MS): Build a “rubber band bracelet business” and collect school stickers (short-term goal).

  “Penny, you’re an entrepreneur. Someone willing to go out on a limb to start a new business.” – Sarah Bake (10:54)

• Nico (8, CT): Wants to be an NBA player and enter the Hall of Fame.
• Sophia (7, D.C.): Aspires to be a ninja.
• Hallie June (7, TX): Archaeologist—hopes to find dinosaur bones.
• Bradley (8, Germany): Dreams of becoming a zoologist.
• Lucy (6, VA): Wants to have 10 babies and be a mommy.

6. Imaginative and Playful Dreams

• Julian (4, Germany): “Drive a Raycon over a rainbow.”
• Henry (5, MA): “Fly to the sun in the magic school bus.”

  “Going anywhere on the magic school bus would be amazing... but going to the sun ... would be even cooler. Or, I guess, hotter.” – Jane Lindholm (07:01)

• Charlie (6, MO): “Go to outer space.”
• Lucia (5, CA): “Go up to Pluto.”

7. Animal and Nature-Related Bucket List Items

• Sebastian (9, Canada): Help sloths in Costa Rica.
• Ty (6.5, Mayo Island): Go whale watching.
• Lily (3): Wants to see an “auto labor play” [possibly ‘otter, or butterfly’? Audio unclear].
• Nina (MD): Wants a bunny.
• Dom: Wants to see penguins in Antarctica.

  “Jane, going to Antarctica is on your bucket list, isn’t it?” – Sarah Bake (16:01) “Sure is. ... seeing them in Antarctica would be different level.” – Jane Lindholm (16:04)

8. Foodie and Culinary Goals

• Mary (5, NY): Wants to “be a cooker” to help people’s bodies with healthy food.
• Ogot (6.5, Norway): Wants to become a rich, traveling chef.

  “Being a rich travelling chef would be a pretty cool life.” – Jane Lindholm (09:55)

• Dom: Wants to eat sushi in Japan.

9. Hobbies and Tech

• Maddox (7, WI): Wants to get better at origami.
• Emmett (6): Wants to build a computer.
• Logan (11, Victoria, AU): Hopes to be a successful YouTuber and have a room just for Lego.
• Silva (7, Ontario): Wants to visit Mario Land, Legoland, and play Roblox.
• Sophie (4, VT): Wants to do an airplane race in the sky.

  “That's very adventurous, Sophie.” – Jane Lindholm (17:00)

10. Short-Term and Everyday Goals

• Penny (12, MS): Collect stickers and start a bracelet business.
• Nova (6, Springfield): Stay up all night before college.

  “I can remember wanting to stay up all night too. But the funny thing about getting older is ... most adults would like to never stay up all night again.” – Jane Lindholm (11:19)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with timestamps)

• On bucket lists and imagination:

  “Sometimes people refer to these big dreams as their bucket list, the things they really hope to do in their lifetime. Sometimes these big dreams are ... true dreams, a kind of fantasies that might not ever happen.” – Jane Lindholm (02:35)

• Celebration of youthful energy:

  “Oughta be young.” – Melody Beaudet, in response to the “stay up all night” goal (11:34)

• The show's philosophy:

  “We are inspired by all of your goals and if you’re listening and didn’t send in a bucket list item, maybe you’re inspired by this list too.” – Jane Lindholm (17:00)

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 01:36–02:18: Hosts set the theme and reflect on the format flip.
• 02:35–03:43: Hosts share personal bucket list goals.
• 03:56–05:51: Listener physical/athletic bucket lists and travel dreams.
• 05:58–06:34: Career ambitions from young listeners.
• 06:44–07:51: Imaginative, outlandish dreams (rainbows, space).
• 07:59–08:47: Nature and animal-related aspirations.
• 09:08–09:55: Culinary ambitions.
• 10:29–11:34: Shorter-term and personal goals.
• 11:39–13:40: Careers, animals, becoming a parent, and hobbies.
• 14:00–16:14: Travel and exploration dreams, including Antarctica.
• 16:21–17:00: Hobbies and tech-focused goals.
• 17:00–end: Closing encouragement and gratitude from hosts.

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Takeaways & Tone

• The tone is warm, playful, and encouraging, with hosts and contributors exchanging supportive comments.
• The episode paints a portrait of kids’ dreams as vibrant, daring, creative, and sometimes touching or funny.
• The hosts remind listeners that aiming high—whether it’s outer space or a business in middle school—is worth celebrating.
• The diversity of replies mirrors the global and inclusive DNA of the podcast.

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Closing Thoughts from the Hosts

“Thank you for sharing all of your big dreams with us for our end of 2025 special episode. We are inspired by all of your goals and if you’re listening and didn’t send in a bucket list item, maybe you’re inspired by this list too.” – Jane Lindholm (17:00)

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For next time:
Listeners are encouraged to keep their curiosity alive and to keep sending in questions for future episodes.

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Transcript

[Jane Lindholm]

But y had a pretty cool year.

[Melody Beaudet]

We learned about colors, candy, horses, volcanoes.

[Sarah Bake]

Glaciers, oysters, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, wildfire, smoke, puffins, English language, math, spicy food.

[Jane Lindholm]

Sunscreen, horseshoe crabs, walruses, sea lions, atoms, records, tacos, tariffs, tapeworms and wildcats.

[Sarah Bake]

And that was just one year of shows. What we do in 2026 really depends on you.

[Jane Lindholm]

In July, our station, Vermont Public lost $2 million when federal funding for public media was taken away.

[Melody Beaudet]

We'll be without federal funds for the foreseeable future, so support from our listeners is more important than ever.

[Sarah Bake]

Contributions from listeners like you help keep but why going and freely available to kids everywhere.

[Melody Beaudet]

If you're able, please consider making a gift to support our show. You can make a one time gift in any amount or you can join our but why Fan club memberships start.

[Sarah Bake]

Just at $7 per month.

[Jane Lindholm]

Head to but whykids.org donate to make your gift today.

[Melody Beaudet]

And than.

[Jane Lindholm]

This is but why? A podcast for curious kids From Vermont Public, I'm Jane Lindholm. On this show, we take questions from curious kids all over the world and we find answers. Well, that's usually what we do here at but why? We have a tradition. For the last episode of the year, instead of having you send us the questions, we send you a question and have you send us answers. The but why Team joined me here in the host chair to listen to all of your submissions. I mean, technically we don't all share the host chair. We all sit in separate chairs, but you know what I mean. So here with me in the studio today is Melody Hey. And Sarah, who joined our team earlier this year.

[Sarah Bake]

Hey everyone.

[Melody Beaudet]

In previous years, we've asked you about what you would like to invent, what kind of superhero you would be, and what your New Year's resolutions were. This year we asked a question that's kind of like a New Year's resolution, but bigger. Instead of something you want to accomplish in the coming year, we asked you to share your dreams for your whole life.

[Jane Lindholm]

Sometimes people refer to these big dreams as their bucket list, the things they really hope to do in their lifetime. Sometimes these big dreams are like true dreams, a kind of fantasies that might not ever happen. But you know, you want to be able to imagine this cool, fantastic idea because it's fun. Like maybe you'd say, I hope to win the lottery. I mean, you can't really control that.

[Sarah Bake]

But more often these bucket lists have things that you might actually be able to do or see or eat or feel. When I was little, my dream was to go see koalas and kangaroos in Australia. I still haven't been to Australia, so that's still a bucket list item for me.

[Melody Beaudet]

Ooh, that's a good one. I kinda wanna go there too. But I think my bucket list item would be to finish hiking the Long Trail, which is a long distance hiking trail in Vermont. I started it a couple decades ago and I still haven't finished it yet. It's not that long.

[Jane Lindholm]

One goal I'm working towards is running another half marathon. I did one a couple years ago, but I've had some foot injuries and I'm slowly getting back into running. So it's gonna take a lot of work to get back up to that distance. 13.1 miles. So that's on my bucket list.

[Sarah Bake]

Go, Jane. Well, let's get into the answers you've sent us about what you want to do in your lives. Jane, you just mentioned an athletic goal. Very impressive. And Hannah has a physical goal too.

[Children/Listeners]

I'm 10 years old. I live in Washington, D.C. and something that's on my bucket list is climbing a V10.

[Melody Beaudet]

Wow. I'm not a rock climber, so I had to look up what a V10.

[Sarah Bake]

Is and what is it.

[Melody Beaudet]

A V system is a difficulty scale to give you an idea of how hard it's going to be to climb a root, either indoors or outdoo. A V system is for bouldering, where you're trying to climb a big boulder, usually without a rope. A V10 is a really hard level that a lot of climbers never reach. Wow.

[Jane Lindholm]

I hope Hannah can reach it. That's a really good goal. Here's another big physical goal.

[Children/Listeners]

My name is Jack. I am eight years old. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio, and on my bucket list, I want to finish the Thanksgiving 10K.

[Jane Lindholm]

A 10K is a great dream, Jack. That's running 10 kilometers. Or if you live in a place that tends to measure in miles, it's a little over six miles.

[Sarah Bake]

I don't do a lot of running myself, but I do love to travel. So I was really excited to see some of the bucket list items you've sent us about cool places you want to visit. Here's a couple.

[Children/Listeners]

Hi, my name is Matisse and I'm six years old. I live in Lemon Grove, California. On my bucket list, I want to go to Disney World and see all of the parks. Hi, my name's Henley. I'm seven years old. I live in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. What's on my bucket list is I want to go to Disney World or Disneyland in California or Florida. Whichever one is fine with me because they're both like the same thing. My name is Emerson and I am 9 years old, and I live in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. Something that I would like to do on my bucket list is go to Ireland. My name is Charlie. I am 9 years old, and I'm from Old Bridge, New Jersey. Some things on my bucket list are that I want to go to Greenland, Russia, and every state in America. I also want to hike up tall snowy mountains in Colorado.

[Melody Beaudet]

Those are really cool, Charlie. I want to climb some tall mountains, too. Lots of you sent us things that you want to become when you grow up.

[Children/Listeners]

My name is Isabella. I'm six years old. I live in Germany. My biggest dream is to be a singer when I grow up. Hi, I'm Florence. I live on the central coast, New south Wales. I'm 10 years old. On my bucket list is to be a special effects makeup artist and do makeup in movie scenes.

[Sarah Bake]

Those makeup artists are amazing. They can make young people look older or make someone look like a zombie or an alien. They do all kinds of cool things. We'll keep our eyes on the movie credits for your name, Florence.

[Jane Lindholm]

Remember at the beginning when I said we sometimes include things on our bucket lists that are maybe not all that likely to actually happen? Well, Julian's got one of those.

[Children/Listeners]

I'm four years old. I live in Germany. My biggest dream is to drive a Raycon over a rainbow. My name is Henry and I'm five years old. I live in Wheeling, Massachusetts. I want to fly to the sun in the magic school bus.

[Jane Lindholm]

Going anywhere on the magic school bus would be amazing, Henry, but going to the sun, which is 15 million degrees Celsius or 27 million degrees on the Fahrenheit scale, would be even cooler. Or, I guess, hotter. A few others of you are hoping to go to space, too.

[Children/Listeners]

Hi, boy. My name is Charlie and I'm six years old. I live from Independence, Missouri. My bucket list item is to culture outer space. Hi, my name is William. I live in East Brunswick, New Jersey. I'm 10 years old, and something that would be on my bucket list is to go to space. I am Lucia. I am 5 years old, and I live in California. And my bucket list is I want to go up to Pluto.

[Melody Beaudet]

I don't have a space travel dream for myself, but earlier this year, my family and I did go on a trip to Costa Rica, much like Sebastian dreams about.

[Children/Listeners]

I'm nine years old. I'm from British Columbia, Canada, and my bucket list Trip is to help the sloths in Costa Rica. My name is Ty. I am six and a half years old and I live in Mayo island and my bucket list is go wheel watching. Hi, my name is Eleanor. I am 9 years old and I live in Mayo island and my bucket list is to swim in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. I'm an Australian. I live in Germany and all I want for my bucket list is I want a hotel and a pool and a beach. I'm four years old, I live in a lot of Puerto Rico and my big dream is going to Germany.

[Melody Beaudet]

So Reese lives in Germany and wants to be able to float in a beachside pool and Remy lives in Puerto Rico and wants to go to Germany. There are a lot of beaches in Puerto Rico. Maybe Reese and Remy could do a swap for their vacations someday.

[Sarah Bake]

That'd be so fun. Melody, Jane, do you consider yourselves foodies? People who are really into food trends and restaurants and cooking?

[Melody Beaudet]

Oh, yeah, definitely. What about you, Jane?

[Jane Lindholm]

I used to be. Now I just try to get food into my family's belly. But I really, really love good food.

[Children/Listeners]

Me too.

[Sarah Bake]

I love good food and trying new recipes. Maybe someday I'll get to try the food of some of our young listeners.

[Children/Listeners]

Hi, my name's Mary and I live in Malvern, New York. I'm five years old and I would really like to be a cooker because it can help people's bodies and it's strong for them. Sometimes my mom makes me healthy food and vegetables. My name is Ogot. I'm six and a half years old. I live in Norway. On my bucket list, I want to be rich. Working as a chef and traveling along.

[Jane Lindholm]

The world, being a rich traveling chef would be a pretty cool life. We're hearing all of your big dreams, the things that are on your bucket list today. It's our special end of year episode where we ask you a question and you send us the answers. More to come, including some really fantastic careers you hope to have. This is but why? I'm Jane Lindholm and today Melody, Sara and I are listening through all of the responses you sent us for our last episode of 2020.

[Melody Beaudet]

We asked you to tell us one thing you hope to accomplish doesn't have to be right now, but something you want to do at some point in your life. Penny has one to check off their bucket list right away.

[Children/Listeners]

Hi, my name is Penny. I live in Bililoxi, Mississippi. I'm 12 years old. My bucket list for next year is that I want to get as many stickers as possible for school. And I want to make my own little rubber band bracelet business.

[Sarah Bake]

Penny, you're an entrepreneur. Someone willing to go out on a limb to start a new business. Good luck to you, Penny. Nova also has a short term goal.

[Children/Listeners]

Hi, I'm Nova. I live in Springfield. My bucket list would be to stay up all night before I go to college. I am six.

[Jane Lindholm]

I have no doubt you can accomplish that one, Nova. I can remember wanting to stay up all night too. But the funny thing about getting older is that most adults would like to never stay up all night again. Lots of us have goals related to getting more sleep, not less.

[Melody Beaudet]

Oughta be young. Here are a few goals that might take a bit longer to accomplish.

[Children/Listeners]

My name is Nico. I'm eight years old. I live in New Hartford, Connecticut. On my bucket list is I want to be an NBA basketball player and be in the hall of fame. Hello, my name is Sophia. I'm seven years old. I live in Washington, dc. My goal is to be a ninja and I want to be as good as it.

[Sarah Bake]

Ooh, that's pretty good. How about these animal related dreams?

[Children/Listeners]

My name is Lily and I'm three years old and I want an auto labor play. Hi, I'm Nina. I live in Silver Springs, Maryland. On my bucket list, I want to have a bunny.

[Jane Lindholm]

I would love to hold a rainbow butterfly too. We actually did an episode about butterflies where I got to go to a butterfly enclosure and some of them landed on my headphones and microphone.

[Sarah Bake]

And we're actually working on an episode about bunnies right now.

[Children/Listeners]

Hello, my name is Hallie June. I am seven years old. I live in Midland, Texas. Something on my bucket list is to be an archaeologist because I want to find dinosaur bones. I'm Bradley, I'm eight years old. I live in Germany Ramstein. And something that I want on my bucket list is when I get older to be someone who studies animals. Hello, my name is Lucy and I live in Fairfax, Virginia. I'm six years old now. My bucket list. I want to have babies in the future and be a mommy just like my mommy and have 10 babies. Hi, my name is Logan. I'm 11 years old and in nine days I'll be turning 12. I live in Mount Martha in Victoria, Australia. And when I grow up, I hope to be a YouTuber, like a successful one. And I hope to have a room that's just for Lego.

[Melody Beaudet]

A room just for Legos would be brilliant. Speaking of Legos, hi, my name is.

[Children/Listeners]

Silva and I live in Mississauga, Ontario. And I am 7 years old. On my bucket list, I want to go to Mario Land, and I want to go to Legoland, and I want to play Roblox.

[Sarah Bake]

Here's one that combines career and travel.

[Children/Listeners]

Hi, my name is Eleanor. I'm four years old. I'm from Santa Clarina, California, and my goal is to become a doctor. And I also want to travel to Hawaii.

[Melody Beaudet]

You're not the only one hoping to go to Hawaii, Eleanor.

[Children/Listeners]

Hi, I'm Levi. I live in Maryland. I'm six years old. My bucket list is to go to Hawaii and see all the beautiful nature. Hello, I'm Beau and I live in Ramstein, Germany. And on my bucket list, I would really want to see a shark in person and go to Hawaii.

[Jane Lindholm]

We have a shark episode too, Beau. You might enjoy that one. And one of our frequent guests on this show lives in Hawaii, so maybe he'll let us go visit and stay with him and someday we can do some Hawaii episodes.

[Sarah Bake]

Let's put that on our but why bucket list.

[Melody Beaudet]

Yeah. Should we do a few more of the travel dreams?

[Sarah Bake]

Yeah.

[Children/Listeners]

My name is Memo. I am five. I'm from Oakland, California, and on my bucket list is I want to go to Greece. My name is Gio. I'm six years old and live in Walford, Connecticut. And on my bucket list is I want to go into the Amazon Rainforest and jump off a cliff into the water. My name is Lucy. I live in Nashville, Tennessee. I'm six years old. Something on my bucket list is I want to see the Statue of Liberty. My name is Harvey. I'm from Bristol, Vermont. I am 6 years old, and I want to go to New York City and see the Statue of Liberty. My name is Dom, and I want to go to Japan and eat sushi. And I want to go to Antarctica to see the penguin. And that's a part of my bucket list.

[Sarah Bake]

Jane, going to Antarctica is on your bucket list, isn't it?

[Jane Lindholm]

Sure is. Luckily, you can see penguins in other places, too. I've seen them in Chile and Ecuador and Australia, but seeing them in Antarctica would be different level.

[Sarah Bake]

Just a few more to go. And they're all related to things you've told us you want to be able to do in your life. Here's a fun one.

[Children/Listeners]

My name is Maddox. I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and I'm seven years old. And what's on my bucket list is being better at origami.

[Melody Beaudet]

If you're unfamiliar with origami, it's the Japanese art of paper folding without using any scissors. Or Gl Send us some pictures of what you're making. We'd love to see your work.

[Children/Listeners]

My name is Emmett and I'm six years old and what's on my bucket list is I want to build a computer.

[Sarah Bake]

What kind of computer, I wonder? Okay, last one.

[Children/Listeners]

My bucket list. I want to do an airplane race in the sky and my name is Sophie and I'm from Mulberry, Vermont and I'm four.

[Jane Lindholm]

That's very adventurous, Sophie. Since we live in Vermont, we'll keep our eyes on the sky in hopes of seeing you win an airplane race someday. Thank you for sharing all of your big dreams with us for our end of 2025 special episode. We are inspired by all of your goals and if you're listening and didn't send in a bucket list item, maybe you're inspired by this list too.

[Melody Beaudet]

That's it for today. Remember, you can send us questions on anything you're curious about. Have an adult help you record your question using one of the free apps that come with their cell phone. Tell us your first name, where you live and how old you are and have your adult send the file to questionsutwykids.org but why is produced by Vermont.

[Sarah Bake]

Public and distributed by prx. Our show staff is Melody Beaudet, Jane Lintel and me, Sarah Bake. Our video producer is Joy Palombo and.

[Jane Lindholm]

Our theme music was written and performed by Lute Reynolds. We'll be back in two weeks with an all new episode. Until then, Happy New Year and as always, stay curious.

[Children/Listeners]

From prx.