The Musers The Podcast – Episode 29: An Appreciation of Women

Date: January 28, 2026
Hosts: George Dunham, Craig “Junior” Miller, Gordon Keith
Theme: A humor-filled, honest, and sometimes poignant discussion among the three hosts about their lifelong perspectives on women, including childhood friendships, cultural expectations, beauty standards, relationships, communication differences, and the mysteries (and misunderstandings) of the opposite sex.

Episode Overview

In this candid and comedic episode, the Musers devote an entire session to "an appreciation of women." With their trademark blend of self-deprecation, storytelling, and playful debate, George, Junior, and Gordo reflect on everything from early childhood experiences to modern pressures on women and the enduring communication gaps between men and women. The trio examines societal norms, personal anecdotes about dating and relationships, and the evolution of gendered expectations—all from their guy-centric, frequently self-aware point of view.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Childhood Encounters and Attitudes Toward Girls (00:33–04:34, 14:59–17:46)

• George and Craig admit they were sports-obsessed as kids, putting less emphasis on girls, while Gordo was more fascinated by “the ladies world”—clothes, toys, even makeup.
• George: “I thought women were interesting, girls were interesting, but sports was more interesting to me.” (01:35)
• Gordo reflects on fond memories of sleepovers and being “girl-crazy at a very young age,” drawing incredulity from the others.
• Discussion about shifting courtship language: “Go steady” of the ‘50s/’70s vs. just “hanging out” or “Netflix and chill” today. (02:54)
• Gordo: “The aesthetics of femaleness were awesome. …Watching my mom do her makeup or later on, you know, watching girlfriends do makeup and stuff. I just thought that that was so cool that girls had all these things that were feminine and girly.” (16:15)

2. Beauty Standards, Makeup, and Body Image (17:02–23:41)

• Debate over makeup’s role in women’s self-perception and societal pressures.
• Craig: “I think the majority of women, not all, look better without makeup.” (17:02)
• Gordo counters: “The problem is that most of the time when guys think that a girl does not have makeup on, she has makeup on.” (17:12)
• Concerns voiced about teens/adolescents seeking cosmetic surgeries due to unrealistic societal and social media-driven beauty standards.
• “Now you had the advent of Instagram…and you’re never going to look as good as the people on [there]...” – Gordo (22:08)

3. Communication and Embarrassment: The “Fart” Digression (04:34–13:16)

• The guys receive a letter about how to handle embarrassing moments in front of women, which spins into a long segment about male vs. female attitudes to bodily functions.
• Gordo’s aversion to the word 'fart' becomes a running joke. (04:39–05:26)
• Consensus: farting and similar humor is best left out of mixed-gender situations, especially in relationships or family dynamics, reflecting their upbringings.
• “You should never do the pull my finger, you should never lift your leg and look right at your spouse.” – Craig (12:25)
• “That is a deal breaker right there.” – Craig, on the infamous “pull my finger” gag from a wife. (12:14)

4. Dating, Relationships, and Social Rituals (23:41–44:44)

• George and Craig share recollections of being too shy to talk to girls, with “paralysis by analysis” setting in when crushes were involved.
• “You’ve got to not care.” – Gordo, explaining his approach to flirting and how humor helped him connect.(27:56)
• Discussion of the “job interview” feeling of early dates vs. organic, friendship-based relationships.
• “Dates could feel that way—because you’re wanting to make sure you put on the best impression, and so you kind of omit the negative parts of your life.” – Gordo (60:48)
• They muse on the challenge (and sometimes comedy) of male-female communication styles:
  • Men’s directness vs. women’s preference for subtle hints.
  • “Women operate in this area of subtlety…and if I have to ask you to do it, it doesn’t feel like you’re doing a romantic gesture.” – Gordo, relaying a woman's perspective (38:03)
  • Craig: “Guys want the obvious. And women want you to kind of read their mind.” (37:07)
• After-date "debriefings": women dissecting details versus men giving a one-word answer (“how’d it go?” — “Great”). (39:21)

5. Societal Double Standards and Gender Differences (28:13–63:49)

• Gordo challenges the notion that women’s beauty standards are dictated solely by men, noting women are mostly in charge of the very magazines that perpetuate them.
• Host agreement that the burden to be “put together” is unfairly heavier on women but also note many women enjoy the creative aspects of makeup and fashion.
• Sound advice: self-awareness, communication, and empathy are keys to better understanding the opposite sex.

6. Sex Education, Anatomy, and the Legacy of Babysitters (47:51–57:43)

• The trio reflects on awkward or lacking childhood sex education—often delivered by school, not parents.
• Infantilized understanding among men of basic female biology persists into adulthood.
• “The amount of guys who don’t know anything about female anatomy is shocking.” – Gordo (55:20)
• Humorous and eye-opening stories about babysitters—a common denominator in misadventures and early “education"—and the perils of being the adult who drives the sitter home alone. (52:16–54:44)

7. Relationship Advice and Lasting Takeaways (58:08–64:21)

• Craig: “The women who are all about drama are the women that I probably should have run from...Just find somebody normal. Find a normal human being that doesn’t want drama 24/7.” (58:08)
• George on finding a spouse: “Just find somebody... that you’re comfortable around...from the first time we were together, just us, I just felt...very natural.” (59:00)
• Friendship before dating as a possible indicator of long-term compatibility, though dating apps may be making this approach rare.
• Fundamental difference in how men and women process issues: women want to talk and process; men want to fix.
  • Gordo: “A lot of times when women are talking about a problem, they’re not looking for a solution. And that short-circuited me.” (61:07)
• The closing plea: Give each other grace; aim for patience and understanding rather than winning the “battle of the sexes.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (selected with timestamps)

• “We were more into sports than girls. I mean, I thought women were interesting, girls were interesting, but sports was more interesting to me.” – George (01:35)
• “The aesthetics of femaleness were awesome...watching my mom do her makeup...I just thought that that was so cool...” – Gordo (16:15)
• “You should never do the pull my finger, you should never lift your leg and look right at your spouse.” – Craig (12:25)
• “I've been in relationship after relationship from…Started in eighth grade, I think." – Gordo (29:56)
• “I think both things can be true. They can look amazing with makeup on…but sometimes...they don’t need all that.” – George (19:01)
• “Women run this for women. But yet somehow men are responsible for these impossible beauty standards.” – Gordo (21:00)
• “Guys want the obvious. And women operate in this area of subtlety, and they want you to kind of read their mind.” – Craig (37:07)
• “The amount of guys who don’t know anything about female anatomy is shocking.” – Gordo (55:20)
• “Guys, patience and listen. And for women on the other side, bullet-pointed list and let's get to a solution.” – George (63:58)
• “Give each other grace...she needs to have patience to understand that it’s hard for him to listen to it...because he's wanting to make this discomfort that you're experiencing...go away.” – Gordo (63:49)

Timestamps for Key Sections

• Opening and Episode Theme (Appreciation of Women, Setup): 00:00–01:03
• Childhood Experiences with Girls: 01:03–03:14
• Language of Dating Across Generations: 02:21–02:58
• Embarrassing Moments and Bodily Functions: 04:34–13:16
• Diverging Upbringings and Gendered Humor: 14:59–23:41
• Makeup, Beauty, and Social Pressure: 17:02–23:41
• Relationship Dynamics, Dates, and Befriending First: 23:41–44:44
• Communication Differences and Storytelling: 37:00–46:08
• Male Curiosity, Sex Ed, and Babysitter Tales: 47:51–57:43
• Advice for Younger Men, Friendship First, Modern Challenges: 58:08–61:07
• Final Reflections on Listening and Grace: 61:07–64:21

Episode Insights & Takeaways

• The Musers demonstrate, with humor and candor, the depth of misunderstanding and fascination men have with women, both individually and as a gender.
• Despite generations of change, the basics—awkward first encounters, societal expectations, the need for empathy—remain the same.
• The hosts argue for “meeting in the middle” and giving each other grace over attempting to determine which gender is “right,” noting that both sides have legitimate, often fundamentally different needs and perspectives.
• Above all, the episode celebrates women while recognizing, sometimes sheepishly, that the male perspective is limited—but not unappreciative.

Listener Note:
If you’ve missed the episode, this summary covers all substantial content, stories, and debates, delivering the heart and humor of The Musers’ always-engaging conversation about “the womenfolk.”