The Musers The Podcast – Episode 17: “Riding It Out” (October 15, 2025)

Hosts:

• Gordon Keith
• George Dunham
• Craig “Junior” Miller

Overview

This episode of The Musers The Podcast delves into the frustrating, universal habit of “riding it out”—the ways people ignore, endure, or procrastinate on fixing everyday problems, both trivial and significant. Mixing trademark wit with honest self-reflection, Gordon, George, and Craig swap stories about the little (and not-so-little) things they let linger in their homes, cars, digital lives, and relationships, exploring why inertia so often wins out over action.

Key Discussion Points

1. Letters of the Week & Listener Impact (02:00–06:25)

• Singapore Listener Letter:
  The hosts read a letter from Aaron, a listener from Singapore, expressing gratitude for the podcast and its impact on her connection with family and enjoyment of life.
• Letter of the Week—"Don't Sit On the Sidelines of Your Own Life":
  Craig reads a message about how a simple phrase from a previous episode inspired a listener’s parents to retire earlier and prioritize meaningful experiences.
  • Quote (P1 West):
    “Don’t sit on the sidelines of your own life… [The phrase] hit me like a ton of bricks.” (05:00)

2. Theme: “Riding It Out”—Why We Endure Problems (06:25–10:30)

• The Musers confess to letting minor issues fester for months or years, like broken appliances, car issues, or even digital annoyances.
  • Gordon: “I’m the problem that doesn’t solve all the other problems because I just sit around and think, man, I’ll get to that tomorrow…” (06:48)
• Craig observes this is universal (“Even people who are squared away…ride out a lot.” 28:36), while George suggests it probably gets worse with age and when kids are involved.

3. Personal Confessions: What We’re Riding Out (10:30–32:00)

Headphone and Gadget Procrastinations

• George:
  Has been stuffing foam into his headphones instead of replacing them for two months.
• Craig:
  Uses old, frayed earbuds where “I can barely move away from the microphone.” (09:55)
• Gordon:
  Shares how a simple issue like a leaking faucet has gone unfixed for years, leading to daily inconveniences and a hot, humid bathroom.
  • “It’s been two years that I have to turn on and off the water anytime I want to use the hot water…” (12:39)

Home Mishaps

• Fences & Gates (George):
  Has a broken gate leaning on the fence for “going on two years now.” (13:57)
• Broken Bed Frames (Craig):
  Craig lived with a cracked and collapsing headboard for years before finally buying a new frame:
  • “For probably two years, I got into that bed and thought, oh God, this stupid headboard is busted…” (15:03)
• Complicated Beds (George):
  George has a split comfort bed where one side loses air every night, and tech support is unusable due to language barriers.
  • “I have to get on the app, on my phone and fill it back up to her number and then I leave for work.” (17:13)

Car Problems

• Leaks & Airbags (Gordon):
  His car has water sloshing in the footwell and an airbag module that constantly unlocks the doors:
  • “I just have to listen to this machine gun fire of door locking, unlocking, locking, unlocking…” (22:00)
• Cracked windshields and hail damage are routinely ridden out for years (“…looks like the surface of the moon.” (25:10)).

Refrigerator Follies

• Household Appliances:
  All three admit to riding out faulty ice makers, broken fridge compartments, and missing shelving for years.
  • “So fridges are interesting because…I think we have the same fridge that we’ve had the whole time…but…the ice maker froze into a solid block of ice.” (30:24)

Digital Life Inertia

• Digital Subscriptions:
  The group acknowledges they’re all paying for multiple subscription services they no longer use, sometimes in duplicate or triplicate.
  • “I'm paying for stuff that I used one time eight and a half years ago, and I pay every month on it.” (33:45)
• Forgotten passwords and neglected online accounts are common (“I've been locked out of my Facebook for two years now.” (33:18)).

4. Why Do We Do This? (19:02, 34:17–35:36)

• Craig:
  Wonders aloud if it’s about self-hatred, inertia, age, or simply human nature (“Aren’t we wired to take the path of least resistance?” (08:04)).
• Gordon:
  Confirms having more money hasn’t changed his tendencies—he still rides things out just as long as before. (19:29–20:01)

5. Household Clutter and Storage Units (39:14–48:04)

• Garage & Clutter:
  The hosts describe garages and storage units devolving into “warehouses of unmade decisions.”
  • Quote (Gordon):
    “…It’s a warehouse of unmade decisions is what that place is.” (47:48)
• Discuss the emotional attachments to objects, and how garages accumulate “maybe” piles.
• Storage Wars: Suggestion that the Musers buy a storage unit at auction for a future podcast segment, as a symbolic confrontation with procrastination. (48:39)

6. Noises We Endure (49:22–51:26)

• Door Squeaks, Bike Chirps, and Alarms:
  Everyone admits to riding out annoying noises—creaky doors, garage gates, closet hinges, and smoke detector chirps—often for years, despite how easy they are to fix.
  • Craig: “Ten years on our bathroom door. I still haven't done anything.” (50:19)
  • Collective realization: The designed annoyance of smoke detector beeps is their only true trigger to take action.

7. Clean-Up Challenges & Family Dynamics (41:11–44:54)

• The Musers discuss failed clean-outs and the “maybe pile,” particularly as children grow up and move out.
• Hoarder vs. Purger Dynamics:
  George shares that his wife is a “definite hoarder,” and relates the emotional challenges parents face in throwing away kids’ memorabilia.

Notable Quotes & Humorous Moments

• On Procrastination:
  “I think there’s a special level of procrastination that…has to do with…I don’t know whether it’s self-hatred… why would we put up with something so long?”
  (19:01 – Gordon)

• On Inherited Clutter:
  “Their home has become a storage unit…a warehouse of unmade decisions…”
  (47:48 – Gordon)

• On Garage Organization:
  “You walk around in circles…maybe that’s why you need help from outside.”
  (40:42 – George)

• On Headboard Repairs:
  “I’m just not real smart about anything. And so I rode that out for two, maybe even three years.”
  (15:17 – Craig)

• On Emotional Attachments:
  “I remember that game. You had eight strikeouts. Don’t you want that baseball?…But no, they probably don’t.”
  (42:32 – George)

• On Storage Units/Storage Wars:
  “It is always a money winner if you build a storage unit place because Americans just have so much stuff…”
  (48:15 – Gordon)

• On Home Obstacles:
  “Your mother is doing her best to turn this house into an obstacle course.”
  (39:32 – Gordon, quoting his father)

Call to Action: “Get Right October / December”

• The group jokingly proposes a collective push—like “Sober January” or “Movember”—to commit to fixing these lingering issues:
  • “Let’s make October, November — let’s get right month…Get right October is what we need.”
    (32:32 – 33:08)
• Settles on “Get Right December” as a tongue-in-cheek challenge for listeners (and themselves).

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Listener Letters: 02:00–06:25
• Theme Introduction—Riding It Out: 06:25–10:30
• Personal Confessions – Gadgets/Home: 10:30–18:45
• Home Mishaps/Bed & Gates: 13:13–17:54
• Car Problems: 20:01–25:23
• Refrigerator Follies: 28:51–32:19
• Digital Life Inertia: 33:08–34:55
• Garage & Storage Clutter: 39:14–44:54
• Garage/Storage Unit Reflections: 46:13–48:15
• Riding Out Noises: 49:23–51:26
• Uncle Sam on Stilts Digression: 52:06–54:53
• Conclusion & Pledge to Change: 54:53–55:45

Final Thoughts, Takeaways & Tone

The Musers maintain a tone of self-effacing humor blended with striking relatability, reassuring listeners that everyone—no matter how capable—has a long list of things they’re “riding out.” The episode closes with a knowing wink: even when help is offered and best intentions are stated, true change is always easier said than done, but it’s a universally-shared struggle.

“I think we’ve helped a lot of people.” (55:13 – Craig)
“But did we help ourselves? …No.” (55:16 – Gordon & Craig exchange)

Email for Letters/Feedback:
themuserspodmail@gmail.com

(Summary by podcast summarizer – skipping sponsored ads and meta-podcast chatter as instructed.)