This episode of The Setlist of Life podcast is a lighthearted and conversational exploration of dad jokes, aging, career paths, and band dynamics, all interwoven with personal anecdotes and humorous banter.
The episode kicks off with the band performing "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band, but quickly pivots to the planned theme: dad jokes. The band members share a series of groan-worthy dad jokes, ranging from puns about rainbows and bagels to chemistry and math jokes. This segment establishes the episode's playful and informal tone.
The conversation then meanders into other topics, sparked by a recent AARP magazine cover featuring Rob Lowe. This leads to a discussion about Rob Lowe's autobiography, his optimistic outlook despite a wild past, and his connection to the "Brat Pack" era. They discuss the Andrew McCarthy documentary and the negative impact the "Brat Pack" label had on some actors, contrasting it with Rob Lowe's seemingly unfazed perspective. A surprising anecdote about Rob Lowe being regularly on the 9/11 "dry run" flight adds an unexpected serious note.
The topic of aging surfaces again when Christine receives an invitation to a "55 plus" community event, sparking humorous outrage about being prematurely targeted. This transitions into discussions about job applications and unusual job recruiter emails, including a particularly absurd offer to become a funeral planning educator in Fargo, North Dakota. This segment highlights the often-bizarre realities of job searching and targeted advertising.
The conversation circles back to humor with more dad jokes, showcasing the band members' personalities and comedic timing. This segues into a discussion about other content shared in their group chat, including videos of musician Jacob Collier. They admire his musical talent but critique his fashion sense and vocal style, leading to a humorous Simon Cowell impersonation. They also touch on the TV show "The Pit," set in Pittsburgh, and its graphic nature and attempts at local authenticity (specifically the Pittsburgh slang "yin"). This showcases their shared cultural interests and critical perspectives.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to personal life updates. Aaron mentions his son's birthday celebrations, prompting a nostalgic trip down memory lane about elaborate kids' birthday parties they've hosted in the past, ranging from Percy Jackson and Indiana Jones themes to sewing and cupcake bake-offs. This offers a glimpse into their parenting experiences and creative party planning.
The conversation naturally shifts to band dynamics and they discuss the challenges of teenage bands, creative differences, focus, and the need for direction. This contrasts with Dolly for Sue's own band history, reminiscing about their formation, past members, and memorable venues like the 9:30 Club. They humorously consider a reunion with past members.
Christine shares exciting news about her library internship at Shenandoah University, focusing on music scores and library science. This highlights her passion for libraries and music and her career progression. This leads into a discussion about books and audiobooks, reading preferences, and the importance of narrator voice in audiobooks. They debate audiobook vs. physical book experiences and preferences.
The podcast genre itself becomes a topic of reflection, with Leslie wondering if "slice of life" is an appropriate description for their meandering conversations. They acknowledge their unplanned, spontaneous style and speculate about their audience. They ponder the unpredictable nature of their podcast and its potential appeal.
Finally, they touch upon holiday traditions, specifically St. Patrick's Day and Easter food. Leslie had planned a St. Patrick's Day food segment which didn't happen, leading to a humorous discussion about corned beef spring rolls and other themed foods. This transitions to Easter candy, jelly beans (especially Brock's jelly beans), Peeps, and the Washington Post Peeps diorama contest. This segment ends with the band enthusiastically deciding to create their own Dolly for Sue Peeps diorama, tying together creativity, humor, and band identity.
The episode concludes with a lighthearted outro and a mention of Lola, Kirsten's dog, who was snoring throughout the recording, adding to the podcast's informal and homey atmosphere.
5 Highly Valuable and/or Thought Provoking Quotes:
- Leslie on Rob Lowe's optimism: "Like he just sees everything through rose colored glasses. Like he talked about bad stuff, cause a lot of bad stuff happened and mostly because he was into drugs and alcohol and running around in Hollywood when he was 20... But he looks at it through such rosy glass, like even when he tells his stories..."
- Value: Highlights the power of perspective and optimism, even when reflecting on challenging experiences.
- Leslie on funeral planning education: "The one service everyone will use is funeral services or at least recession proof. There's not a single person on the earth that can escape that fate. you'll never be out of work. As long as it's a fun environment."
- Value: A darkly humorous yet pragmatic observation about career security in an unexpected field.
- Christine on finding the right musical fit: "And I think that does make like, cause for Joey, this band that he's with, all of the kids are talented. Right. And so it's, It's just a good fit. You just gotta find those people. And the other part of it is finding somebody who is as motivated as you are. Because there are people in a band who just fill seats."
- Value: Insightful advice on band dynamics and the importance of finding compatible and motivated collaborators, applicable to any team or group effort.
- Christine on her library internship: "It's like all your things wrapped into one. That's what I said! because then I'm also gonna get to like learn about like the teaching and the making the instructional guides and everything and I'm like all of my pieces are coming together. fantastic. Every piece of me is the teaching piece and the music piece and the librarian piece."
- Value: Emphasizes the rewarding feeling of finding a career path that aligns with multiple passions and skills, showcasing career fulfillment.
- Everyone on the podcast's unpredictable nature: "But I think part of our appeal is you just don't know what's going to happen. You don't know what you're going to get. It's like a dad joke. It could be good. could be painful. But you keep coming because it might be. And this could be the worst."
- Value: A self-aware and honest reflection on the podcast's charm being its unscripted and unpredictable nature, embracing imperfection and authenticity.
5 Key Takeaways from the Episode:
- Embrace Humor in Everyday Life: The episode highlights the importance of finding humor in daily situations, even in the form of cheesy dad jokes. Laughter and lightheartedness can make life more enjoyable.
- Perspective is Powerful: Rob Lowe's optimistic outlook, despite past challenges, serves as a reminder to choose a positive perspective and find the silver linings, even in difficult or embarrassing situations.
- Finding Your Passion and Purpose is Key: Christine's excitement about her library internship underscores the fulfillment that comes from aligning one's career with personal passions and skills. This episode subtly encourages listeners to seek out work and activities that resonate with their true selves.
- Collaboration and Team Dynamics Matter: The discussions about both the teenage band and Dolly for Sue emphasize the complexities of group dynamics, whether in music or any collaborative endeavor. Finding the right people, shared motivation, and clear direction are crucial for success and enjoyment.
- Authenticity and Spontaneity Can Be Engaging: The podcast's unstructured, conversational style, acknowledged by the hosts, is presented as a potential strength. It suggests that authenticity and a "slice of life" approach can resonate with audiences who appreciate genuine and relatable content, even if it's not perfectly polished or planned.
Links Mentioned:
- Jacob Collier: (While not a direct link, Jacob Collier is mentioned as a musician the band discussed. Listeners can easily search for him on YouTube or music streaming platforms.)
- TV Shows:
- The Pit: (Listeners can search for "The Pit TV show" to find streaming information, likely on Hulu or through Amazon Prime purchase as mentioned)
- White Lotus: (Listeners can search for "White Lotus HBO Max" to find streaming information on HBO Max/Max)
- Books:
- Rob Lowe's Autobiography: (Listeners can search for "Rob Lowe autobiography" on bookselling sites like Amazon or Barnes & Noble)
- Neil Peart's Book: (Listeners can search for "Neil Peart books" to find autobiographies or books by the Rush drummer, although the specific title isn't mentioned)
- Rich Dad Poor Dad: (Listeners can search for "Rich Dad Poor Dad book" by Robert Kiyosaki)
- The Four Hour Work Week: (Listeners can search for "The Four Hour Work Week book" by Timothy Ferriss)
- Someone Else's Bucket List: (Listeners can search for "Someone Else's Bucket List book" - note that the narrator was disliked, so listeners might want to read rather than listen).
Other Important Information Beneficial for the Audience:
- Podcast Genre: "Slice of Life" or "Conversational Podcast" - The hosts themselves ponder the genre, and "slice of life" seems to be a fitting description, emphasizing the casual, personal, and relatable nature of the content.
- Target Audience: While initially unsure, the hosts realize their audience may be broader than they initially thought, potentially including younger listeners interested in their conversations and humor.
- Dolly for Sue Band History: The episode provides glimpses into the band's past, including past members, venues, and even past costumes (Amy Winehouse, Angus Young). This background could be interesting for long-time listeners or those who might want to explore the band further (though no explicit links to band music are provided in this episode).
- Peeps Diorama Contest: Listeners interested in creative Easter projects or humorous online contests can search for "Washington Post Peeps Diorama Contest" for inspiration and examples.
- Nate Bargazzi and Waze: For listeners who use Waze GPS, the episode mentions Nate Bargazzi as a voice option, offering a humorous and personalized GPS experience.
