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

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.

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)

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