The Musers The Podcast – Episode 21: Eating Your Age in Hamburgers (November 12, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this episode, George Dunham, Craig “Junior” Miller, and Gordon Keith—known as “The Musers”—tackle the subject of the bucket list: what it means, how to make one, the distinction between goals and bucket lists, and what’s still left for them to accomplish at this stage of their lives. Personal stories, humorous jabs, and some poignant moments fill the episode as the trio considers travel, professional ambitions, and the power of writing down your dreams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Letter: The Perils of Podcast Titles (00:43–03:08)

• The show kicks off with a letter from Cameron, a listener who describes an awkward incident involving their previous episode’s risqué title (“Amish Sex Robots”) displayed prominently on his car screen at a drive thru.
• Memorable Moment: Cameron is mortified when the podcast, at high volume, blurts “still humping a Barbie doll” as a sweet elderly employee hands over his food and sees the display. As he later admits, he “cry laughed for at least five minutes afterwards.”
• The Musers riff on the awkwardness, with Gordon hoping “the old woman's eyesight was bad. Maybe she couldn’t make out the words...” (02:33).

2. Bucket Lists: What Are They Really? (03:10–10:57)

• The main theme is introduced: making and maintaining a bucket list. References are made to the movie The Bucket List.
• Definition Debate: Is a bucket list the same as a life goal list?
  • Craig: “I think a goal list, a life goal list, and a bucket list are two totally different things. I think a bucket list… spices up the life, the extracurriculars.” (06:15)
  • George & Gordon: See overlap, but acknowledge writing things down makes a difference.
• Writing Goals Down:
  • George attributes personal and home improvement success to formalizing goals. “The few times that I have written something down… I’ve done it.” (05:33)
  • Gordon jokes that his day planner is more about “writing down everything I’m not going to accomplish.” (09:40)

3. Personal Bucket Lists: Travel, Sports, and Life Experiences (10:58–20:38)

• Craig’s Travel Aspirations:
  • Wants to visit all seven continents—only Australia and South America remain. Specifically, Patagonia and all 50 U.S. states (“I’m at 45, so I need Delaware, Maine, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska.” (13:02))
  • Discusses the risk/reward and how family and age have shifted priorities.
  • “A lot of things that were on my bucket list… were kind of physically demanding or risky. And now… I don’t really need that anymore.” (25:11)
• George’s Reflections:
  • Feels he’s checked off many dreams via his radio career, such as attending Super Bowls, The Masters, and interviewing icons like Tom Landry. “Eight-year-old George would never believe this.” (19:42)
  • Travel used to seem unimportant—famously quipping, “everything you need is already in Texas” (15:32)—but he’s become more interested lately.
• Gordon’s Goals:
  • Main focus is self-mastery: “I hope before I die that I get some semblance of control over myself.” (16:48)
  • Travel and experience—especially seeing “the gorillas in the rainforest” or visiting the Far East.
  • Sometimes lacks drive to act: “I’ll have vacation time and I’ll never get around to booking the vacation.” (18:00)

4. Sports & Physical Milestones (19:47–32:52)

• Stadiums and Events:
  • George and Craig list stadiums and ballparks they haven’t visited: Lambeau Field, the Big House (Michigan), and the Horseshoe (Ohio State).
  • Both are grateful their careers enabled attending many iconic events already.
• Bucket List with Age:
  • Craig plans, starting with his 60th birthday, to ride his age in miles (“Can I ride 70 on my 70th, 80 on my 80th?” (29:46))
  • George aspires to “shoot my age” in golf, a tribute to his father. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do it… my drives get shorter each year” (31:08), but he hasn’t given up.
  • Gordon: “I do that with hamburgers. I eat this amount of hamburgers on my birthday.” (30:00)
• Risk and Aging: The group notes their appetite for physically risky goals has decreased with age and family responsibilities.

5. Professional & Creative Ambitions (33:04–37:59)

• Music & Venues:
  • George wants to perform at legendary venues like Green Hall and see or play at the Grand Ole Opry and Red Rocks.
• Broadcast Dreams:
  • George once wanted to broadcast an NFL game—still on his list, but not a burning desire anymore.
  • Craig jokes: “The only thing I have left on my professional to do list is… to be part of a real professional, successful podcast. I’ve never done that.” (37:44) (Cue laughter and some self-deprecating acknowledgments.)
• Changing Values Over Time: Gordon observes, “You get to these points in your life where you look back at your old goals and you go, why did I ever even want that?” (36:24)

6. The Power and Purpose of Travel (39:57–47:28)

• Why Travel Fills Bucket Lists:
  • Gordon wonders why people travel when media can show us everything: “Why does that fill up most people's bucket list?... What is it about going and standing in front of… the Mona Lisa?” (40:31)
  • George describes his emotional experience at Gettysburg: “I could feel the power of it, the emotion… the death in that beautiful Pennsylvania valley.” (42:57)
  • Gordon: “That's the same feeling… I can't believe I'm walking in the same streets that Caesar walked…” (43:14)
  • Craig: Less about sites, more about everyday life: “I go [to Paris] to sit at a cafe… and watch life… I want to know what it's like to live in this town… experience, not really to see things.” (44:38)
  • Gordon enjoys both iconic sights and connecting with locals off the tourist path.

7. Iconic Moments & Object Magic (48:01–51:50)

• Combining History & Quiet:
  • George recalls a VIP White House tour during the Clinton years, including the Oval Office: “It was just us. And there is something to that… you can put in your own thoughts and your own questions.” (49:31)
  • Discusses the magic of being in places or seeing objects that carry historical or personal significance—ex. standing at the President’s podium, seeing the Kennedy (Resolute) desk.
  • Gordon asks about photos; George notes restrictions and the pre-phone-camera era.

8. Conclusions: Do You Need a Bucket List? (51:28–52:34)

• Final Reflections:
  • George: “I don’t think you have to do a bucket list, but I think it’s an interesting exercise.”
  • Gordon: “...maybe it will help you appreciate where you have been, what you have experienced…”
  • The value is in reflecting on accomplishments and using momentum to check off new experiences—“Never underestimate the power of momentum. Momentum is a huge thing in life.” (52:21, Gordon)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A bucket list are basically unnecessary experiences. Not in a pejorative sense unnecessary... they're the spice.” – Gordon (07:00)
• “With me, there is... the magic of writing it down.” – George (05:44)
• “My day planner... it's not a to-do list. It’s what I’ll never do.” – Gordon (09:40)
• “Eight-year-old George would never believe this. I’m watching the Cowboys play the Steelers in the Super Bowl.” – George (19:42)
• “I hope before I die that I get some semblance of control over myself. That's my biggest one.” – Gordon (16:48)
• “Can I ride 70 on my 70th? 80 on my 80th?... How long can I do that?” – Craig (29:46)
• “That's the same feeling I got… I can't believe I’m allowed to actually be here…” – Gordon (43:14)
• “For me, it's about experiencing life in that location... what's it like to live here?” – Craig (44:38)
• “Maybe something else will follow, and then another thing.” – George (52:14)

Important Timestamps

• Awkward listener letter and the “Amish Sex Robots” story: 00:43–03:08
• Bucket list vs. life goals debate: 06:15–07:51
• Writing things down and accountability: 05:33–09:40
• Personal bucket lists and travel discussion: 12:24–20:02
• Reflections on experiences from careers: 19:42–21:31
• Professional ambitions and career reflections: 33:04–37:59
• Purpose and motivation for travel: 40:29–47:28
• White House and the Oval Office story: 48:01–51:28
• Closing reflections and tips about living with a bucket list: 51:28–52:34

Episode Tone and Style

• Language: Candid, warm, and a mix of humor and introspection.
• Tone: Conversational and rich with personal anecdotes, gentle self-deprecation, playful banter, and moments of genuine reflection.

Summary

Episode 21 of The Musers The Podcast dives deep into the idea of bucket lists, offering comical stories, vulnerable admissions, and thoughtful debate over what it means to set life goals—whether in your head or scribbled in a planner. The team reflects on their privileged access to sports and cultural events, shifting priorities with age, the magic of experiencing places and history firsthand, and the persistent human need for purpose. In the end, they encourage listeners to balance ambition with appreciation, and to maybe, just maybe, write down a few aspirations—if for nothing else, the joy of crossing them off.