In this festive episode of The Setlist of Life podcast, the Dolly 4 Sue bandmates—Aaron, Christine, Kirsten, Leslie, and special guest Andrea—gather for week three of their unique Advent calendar series. The crew samples cheddar with whiskey, chocolate chipotle hot sauce, and various Baileys flavors (with crème brûlée emerging as the clear winner) while tackling two Christmas-themed murder mysteries that range from straightforward to bewilderingly complex.

Leslie shares her exhausting but rewarding experience hosting Thanksgiving and participating in a World Record cookie exchange attempt, making 144 cranberry pistachio pinwheels alongside 80,000+ other cookies. Christine celebrates her final day of school and upcoming graduation, while Andrea recounts her recent bodybuilding competition at Minnesota Masters (age 65, representing the 50+ division). The episode features musical trivia covering Christmas movies and The Zombies' surprising connection to ZZ Top members, revealing how two fake "Zombies" tribute band members became founding members of the iconic beard-wearing trio. Between solving murders (spoiler: it's always the obvious suspect), rating Bailey's flavors, and lamenting disappointing Cadbury chocolates, the band creates their signature blend of friendship, humor, and honest conversation that resonates with midlife music lovers everywhere.

Counterintuitive Advice

• The power of saying "never again": Leslie's cookie exchange triumph proves that sometimes our most memorable achievements come from experiences we vow never to repeat—the exhaustion itself becomes part of the story worth telling.
• Mystery-solving lesson: The simplest answer is usually correct, even when you desperately want to overthink it—whether solving murder mysteries or navigating life's challenges, trust your first instinct before diving into conspiracy theories.
• Age is just a number on stage: Andrea's bodybuilding competition at 65 (competing against women 9+ years younger) demonstrates that showing up and representing your age group matters more than winning—sometimes the bravest act is simply stepping on stage.

3 Key TakeawaysActionable Steps

1. Join community challenges strategically: When participating in large-scale events like cookie exchanges, prepare for the time commitment (144 cookies!) but embrace the shared experience and potential for records—just know your limits for future participation.
2. Create variety in routine gatherings: Rotating special guests (like Andrea's return appearance) and mixing activities (murder mysteries, trivia, tasting challenges) keeps regular podcast or friend gatherings fresh and engaging.
3. Document your journey milestones: Celebrate educational achievements (Christine's graduation), fitness competitions (Andrea's bodybuilding), and career accomplishments with those who've supported you throughout the process.

Conceptual Insights

1. Friendship transcends competition: The band's approach to games and challenges prioritizes fun over winning, recognizing that competitive intensity can "spoil things sometimes"—a valuable mindset for maintaining long-term relationships.
2. Generational resilience in performance: Whether it's bodybuilding at 65 or returning to school while managing life's challenges, the willingness to push boundaries at any age creates inspiring narratives that resonate beyond the immediate accomplishment.
3. Authenticity over polish: The unscripted, meandering conversations—complete with tangents about TJ Maxx allergic reactions and pineapple-flavored cheese—create genuine connection that overly-produced content cannot replicate.

Strategic Applications

1. Content creation balance: Mixing structured activities (murder mysteries, trivia) with organic conversation allows podcasts and gatherings to maintain direction while preserving spontaneity and authentic reactions.
2. Taste-testing frameworks: Rating multiple products simultaneously (cheeses, hot sauces, Bailey's flavors) creates comparative context that helps identify clear winners (crème brûlée Bailey's) versus disappointments (sugar cookie flavor).
3. Managing expectations with recurring elements: When using advent calendars or subscription boxes, be willing to pivot when products disappoint (Cadbury chocolates) and supplement with better alternatives to maintain quality standards.

Additional InformationLinks & Resources Mentioned

• Episode Reference: Andrea previously appeared on Episode 64: "Ragdoll"
• Music Trivia: The Zombies (1960s British Invasion band) - two fake tribute band members later became ZZ Top's Dusty Hill and Frank Beard
• Aldi Advent Calendars: Cheese calendar, Bailey's/Connelly's Irish cream calendar, hot sauce calendar
• Products Rated:
• Bailey's Winner: Crème brûlée flavor
• Bailey's Runner-up: Tiramisu flavor
• Cheese Winners: Mature cheddar, Edam, bruschetta cheddar (from Week 1, still legendary)
• Hot Sauce Winner: Green sauce from previous week
• Disappointments: Cadbury Heroes chocolate calendar, chocolate chipotle hot sauce, sugar cookie Bailey's

Cookie Exchange Details

• World Record Attempt: 80,000+ cookies exchanged simultaneously
• Leslie's Contribution: 12 dozen (144) cranberry pistachio pinwheels

Backstage Wisdom

"Nothing says 'I've arrived' like making 144 cookies you'll never bake again, competing in a bikini at 65, and solving murders while drunk on Bailey's—midlife is just doing hard things for fun now."