Podcast Summary: "The Assassin's Bathtub" — The Musers The Podcast, Episode 10
Host: Cumulus Podcast Network
Date: August 27, 2025
Guests: George Dunham, Craig “Junior” Miller, Gordon Keith
Episode Theme: Passions and Obsessions—A Deep Dive with Gordon Keith
Overview
In this episode, The Musers dig into the concept of passion and obsession, centering the conversation on Gordon Keith’s eclectic and often hilarious (sometimes poignant) list of lifelong interests. After previously covering Craig Miller’s love for cycling, the spotlight turns to Gordon, whose pursuit of stories, objects, and knowledge leads to a candid, funny, and occasionally profound exploration of what it means to follow one’s curiosity through life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Defining and Chasing Passions
[02:38–04:50]
- The crew discusses what it means to be passionate about something, and how passions shape (and complicate) lives, especially in the context of relationships, time investment, and self-discovery.
- Gordon: “The only way that I've ever learned anything is by chasing my passion... and then just chase to the ends of the earth learning about it.”
2. Gordon’s ‘Obsession with Backstory’
[05:15–13:34]
- Gordon’s true passion emerges: a nearly compulsive need to unearth stories—objects, people, and especially history in the personal sense.
- He describes tracking oral histories of houses he’s lived in, interviewing previous residents, and documenting their stories.
- Notable Quote:
- “I hate that the world is a world in which people's lives disappear into the ether because their stories disappear into the ether.” — Gordon Keith [09:21]
3. Learning Through Passion—ADD, Hyper-focus, and Curiosity
[07:08–10:00]
- Gordon opens up about having ADD:
- Hyper-focus allows for deep dives into specific interests, but makes “regular” learning (and deadlines) difficult.
- Both George and Craig remark on the breadth (but not necessarily depth) of Gordon's skill acquisition, from house repairs to guitar brands.
4. Comedy, Writing, and the Terror of the Blank Page
[13:49–20:29]
- Early passions for comedy (Monty Python, SNL) segue into an obsession with writing, both as craft and as outlet.
- Gordon admits to struggling with the anxiety of writing, especially under deadlines—even as a published newspaper columnist.
- Notable anecdote: Confronting the imposter syndrome and how “fear can be a tremendous motivator.”
- Craig: “Fear has been a great motivator for me to not look ridiculous during a segment.” [19:46]
- Gordon: “I love writing… but I hate writing. I love having written.” [16:41]
5. The Redliner Syndrome—Procrastination and Motivation
[22:44–26:38]
- Group confesses to routinely missing deadlines, especially for tasks that don’t spark true intrigue.
- Craig recounts: Writing a last-minute philosophy paper (while drinking beer), earning an A+, and learning “you can put it off to the very end and still do okay.” [24:39–25:23]
- Gordon discusses “creating your own assignment” as a survival tactic he’s used since childhood.
6. Jack of All Trades—Collection Mania
[31:16–34:54]
- Gordon owns “around 200” typewriters and “probably 100” guitars, mostly in storage at his late parents’ house.
- Reveals an oscillating relationship with his collections; interests fade and return cyclically, underscoring the restless, exploratory nature of his passions.
7. Music as Mathematical and Emotional Obsession
[27:35–30:44]
- Reflection on performing in bands, and the later-in-life appreciation for music theory and the interconnectedness of writing, rhythm, and mathematics.
- Gordon: “Music is a fascinating bit of math that mixes with art... I start seeing, you know, math and, and music are interrelated, and music and writing, prose is interrelated because there's such music that's in good writing.” [28:31]
8. The Quest for Perfect Tools—And What Really Matters
[36:01–38:12]
- Chasing the “perfect” guitar or typewriter is ultimately a distraction from doing the real work: “The perfect one is the one you use.”
- The search becomes a way to avoid confronting the real calling—writing, creating, performing.
- Gordon: “People like me, they'll do anything they can to keep from facing God, which is... what kind of words can I make come out of my mouth?... I'll spend an eternity going to pawn shops to find the guitar that will eventually get me in a position to actually get the assignment done. But just don't make me have to do the assignment now.” [36:01]
9. On Wisdom, Suffering, and Self-Acceptance
[38:19–42:51]
- Wisdom comes through suffering; hard-learned lessons about the futility of certain pursuits, but also the value in lived experience.
- George shares: Gordon’s advice during a period of deep grief: “So is life. And it's up to us to live that life the best we can, man.” [39:06]
- Gordon reflects on self-criticism, existential self-doubt, and the need to “uncrop the picture” of one’s life to see the good with the bad.
10. The Lee Harvey Oswald Bathtub—Obsession with Detail
[47:40–63:33]
- Gordon’s “outsized interest” in the Kennedy assassination is dissected, especially his purchase of a bathtub from an Oswald residence.
- He resists the label of “conspiracy theorist,” seeking a rational, logical approach to high-profile history.
- Gordon: “My passion is just trying to get people to think about it in a new way. But, yes. Guilty, guilty, guilty.” [63:42]
- Personalizes the tale—relating to Oswald’s hardscrabble existence, the tragic ordinariness, and detailing moments like him leaving his wedding ring before the assassination.
- Notable quote:
- “It would be in a landfill, yes.” [On saving the bathtub] [58:19]
- “He was a guy who was trying to patch together a living for his family, who also had these delusions of grandeur...” [59:37]
11. Summary, Self-Awareness, and Wrap-Up
[64:02–64:46]
- Gordon amusingly declares his new passion: “Getting the hell out of here.”
- Next episode: Focus shifts to George Dunham’s passions.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Gordon Keith:
- “I have an obsession with backstory.” [07:08]
- “There's no secondhand wisdom. Like wisdom only can come from you.” [38:36]
- “People like me, they'll do anything they can to keep from facing God, which is... what kind of words can I make come out of my mouth?” [36:01]
- Craig Miller:
- “That taught me a terrible lesson that you can put it off to the very end and still do okay.” [25:24]
- “Fear can be a tremendous motivator.” [19:46]
- George Dunham:
- “You say stuff like that all the time. And I think that's because you have researched and read and written.” [39:58]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Opening Banter & The Burden of Texts: 00:00–02:38
- What Makes a Passion? (Roundtable): 02:38–05:15
- Gordon's Obsession with BackStory: 05:15–13:49
- Comedy, Writing, The Blank Page: 13:49–20:29
- Deadlines & Procrastination: 22:44–27:02
- Music and Interdisciplinary Passions: 27:35–31:16
- Extreme Collecting (Typewriters/Guitars): 31:16–34:54
- The Futility of the ‘Perfect’ Tool: 36:01–38:12
- On Grief and Life Wisdom: 38:19–42:51
- Lee Harvey Oswald/Assassin’s Bathtub: 47:40–63:56
- Outro / Next Episode Teaser: 64:02–64:46
Tone and Style
Absurd, witty, self-deprecating, and at times unexpectedly moving; the Musers’ chemistry allows for playful teasing, deep dives, and raw honesty, with Gordon’s self-effacing delivery driving much of the episode’s charm.
For New Listeners
This episode delivers on the Musers' reputation for mixing off-kilter humor with real insight. Their conversation traverses the ridiculous (bathtub collecting) and the deeply relatable (imposter syndrome, grief, the search for meaning). If you’re new to The Musers, this episode is an excellent introduction to their style: equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and quietly reflective. If you ever wondered how many typewriters are enough, or what impels someone to save a historic bathtub from the landfill, you'll find answers—and much to ponder—here.