Post Reports: "The group diving for beer cans and baby doll heads"

Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Maggie Penman
Main Guests: Susan Bauer, Members of OLOG (Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage), Richard Huskey

Episode Overview

This episode follows a group of women aged 65 to 85, known as "Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage" (OLOG), as they dive into Massachusetts ponds to clean up decades of trash. The episode is both an adventure story and an exploration of the psychological benefits of "flow," the immersive state of focus many divers experience. The reporting is optimistic and celebratory, focusing not only on community and environmental action, but also the happiness and fulfillment members gain from their unique hobby.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Introducing OLOG: An Unusual Environmental Crew

• OLOG’s Origin:
  • Susan Bauer, now 85, started OLOG after noticing trash while swimming in local ponds.
  • At first, she used trash as landmarks to orient herself underwater, before realizing she could remove it.
• Name & Identity:
  • The name "Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage" was coined by a friend as a joke, but stuck.
  • The group embraces their "old" identity:

    "We are old and we are against underwater garbage, and we do something about it." – Susan Bauer [04:02]

• Group Evolution:
  • What began with five members exploded to 21 after tryouts in 2023. OLOG now boasts 30 regular divers and a waitlist of 45.
  • The group's growth led to more formal organization, including "beach bosses" and scheduled dives.

2. The Mechanics of a Dive (07:02)

• Organization:
  • Each dive is meticulously planned for safety, including a designated "beach boss," equipment checks, and buddy systems.
  • Quote:

    "I boss everybody around, organize them, tell them when they can go into the water. They can't come out of the water until I check you out." – Mary Alice Moynihan, Beach Boss [05:20]

• Safety First:
  • Past incidents enforced strict safety protocols. One top swimmer was saved after a heart attack during a practice swim thanks to the vigilance of a kayaker. [06:27]

3. The Surprising Finds Underwater (07:44)

• Types of Trash:
  • Discoveries range from the mundane (beer cans, dog toys, golf balls) to the bizarre (baby doll heads, a blue toilet home to an eel, a private property sign in a vintage font).
  • Besides cleaning, the group invents imaginative backstories for the items they find, adding to the fun.
  • Quote:

    "A lot of baby doll heads. Something about little girls. They lose their baby doll heads." – Susan Bauer [08:06]

• Intergenerational Reflections:
  • Pond local Mike Kanata admits some trash might be his from his youth, jesting:

    "I'm probably guilty in my teens of placing some of it... Trying to set my place in heaven." – Mike Kanata [07:23]

4. Why It Matters: Flow and Well-Being (09:15)

• Psychological Inquiry:
  • Host Maggie Penman and Susan Bauer, a retired psychologist, delve into why the group’s work is so satisfying.
  • Susan describes the joy as "flow," a state of total immersion and freedom from everyday concerns.
  • Quote:

    "...you have no thought for your past. You have no thought for your future. You have no thought for your aches and pains. As William James said, you break free from the page of self..." – Susan Bauer [11:15]

• Scientific Insight:
  • Maggie introduces Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the psychologist who coined "flow," and interviews UC Davis professor Richard Huskey on how flow is achieved:
    • Flow requires clear goals, immediate feedback, and a balance of challenge and skill.
    • Too easy or too hard, and flow doesn’t occur.
    • Quote:

      "One of them [the requirements] is the thing that you're doing should have really clear goals. Another should have really immediate feedback... So those two things need to be really high." – Richard Huskey [13:30]

• Cultivating Flow:
  • Huskey notes that flow can be cultivated with practice and applies to countless activities—from art to business to cleaning underwater ponds.
  • Encouragement to listeners: find what you enjoy and lean into mastery; flow is attainable for everyone.

5. The Broader Impact

• Community & Camaraderie:
  • The group’s efforts benefit their environment and foster meaningful friendships, adventure, and a sense of purpose.
• Mental and Emotional Health:
  • Regularly entering flow protects against anxiety and depression and builds resilience.
• Joy in Service:
  • For OLOG, physical labor and environmental activism become vehicles for happiness, engagement, and mental clarity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Oh thank God, an Adirondack chair, because I knew exactly where I was." – Susan Bauer, on using trash as underwater landmarks [02:54]
• "You should never call yourself old... [but] it has actually really set the tone. It's been a very good name because it surprises people and it's funny." – Susan Bauer [04:02]
• "You just boss." – Mary Alice Moynihan, on the 'beach boss' role [05:31]
• "Where did this garbage come from and how did it get in the pond?... It's an entire leash, but there's no dog." – Susan Bauer [08:36]
• "...the relief, the happiness to get rid of yourself for a short period of time and you see the world in a new way." – Susan Bauer [11:15]
• "Practice matters. Find something that you're either already good at or that you have a commitment to practicing at that can help you build up the skills necessarily to start finding flow." – Richard Huskey [14:46]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to OLOG & their mission: 00:27 – 04:33
• How the group organizes and prepares for dives: 04:41 – 07:02
• Highlights from a typical dive (finds, teamwork, fun): 07:02 – 09:15
• Why they love it – The science of 'flow': 09:15 – 11:54
• Interview with Richard Huskey (explaining flow): 13:17 – 15:55
• Takeaways & closing reflections: 15:55 – 16:50

Conclusion

This episode joyfully chronicles the adventure and deeper meaning behind a group of older women’s quirky brand of environmental action. With humor and heart, it highlights how scrubbing the bottom of a pond can uncover both literal and figurative treasures—trash, stories, companionship, and the invaluable psychological state of flow. The key takeaway? Finding happiness might just be about immersing oneself in purposeful, challenging, and enjoyable activities no matter how unconventional they may seem.