A Boomer and GenXer Walk into a Bar

Jane Burt
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Wit and wisdom, some smart assery, and a Mother and Daughter questioning “Are we even related?”

  1. 6D AGO

    From Polio Scars To Parent Choice: Vaccines, Schools, And Risk S:2E:27

    What happens when personal choice meets a hallway full of kids? We take on the push to remove vaccine requirements for public schools and follow the question wherever it leads: from polio scars and school nurse lines to modern data on measles, HPV, and mRNA. Along the way, we compare the backbone of childhood immunizations—MMR, polio, DTaP, Hib, and varicella—with the messy reality of exemptions, access, and trust. This isn’t a shouting match; it’s a grounded look at risk, benefit, and what we owe each other in shared spaces. By the end, we map out a pragmatic middle ground: maintain core protections for high-consequence, highly contagious diseases in schools; preserve clear medical and narrowly defined religious exemptions; ensure vaccines are easy to access and no-cost; and commit to transparent reporting when rare harms occur. It’s a conversation built on stories and stats, skepticism and goodwill, with a simple goal: safer classrooms and informed parents. If this resonated, share it with a friend, follow the show, and leave a quick review—then tell us where you stand on school vaccine rules. Your take might shape a future episode. email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

    32 min

  2. MAR 31

    Inside The Rack: Family, Leagues, And 26 Years Of Pool With Guest Dusti Bushbaum S:2E:26

    Ever walk into a pool hall and feel the room buzz with purpose? That’s the energy Dusty carries as a 26-year billiards veteran, league owner, and tournament director at the Rack Billiard Club in Clive, Iowa. We dive into how a great room is built—38 tables, diamond setups, a Rasson tournament table—and why culture, fairness, and flow matter as much as cloth and cues. We trace the path from early days of sneaking practice to competing across the Midwest and taking a national title in Las Vegas, now a world-stage event that draws players from dozens of countries. Dusty breaks down the essentials: why players invest in a shooting cue, break cue, and jump cue; how carbon fiber shafts changed consistency and deflection; and the quiet gear that keeps you steady, from chalk to cases to gloves. Then we get tactical—what English really is, how shape wins racks, and why jump angles at 45 versus 75 degrees are the difference between a prayer and a planned escape. There’s a human story here too. Dusty runs leagues with clarity and care, balancing schedules, rules, and player development so newcomers stick and veterans stay sharp. We explore the rise of training tech—interactive projectors that trace lines and cue-ball paths, with AR and VR promising even more—and what these tools can and cannot replace. Most powerful of all, we talk about benefit tournaments that mobilize a community at speed, raising funds for families in crisis and proving that a game can hold a city together when it counts. If you’re curious about billiards gear, want to understand spin and position, or just love stories of local leaders who build something bigger than themselves, this conversation hits the pocket clean. Come tour the Rack Billiard Club when you’re in Des Moines, ask for Dusty, and see a model room in action. If you enjoy the show, follow, rate, and share it with a friend—what shot or skill should we break down next week? email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

    27 min

  3. MAR 24

    My Mom’s Clowns Stared At Me And Now I Collect Teeth. What Collections Are Now Worthless and What Are YOU Still Holding Onto? S:2E:25

    What do our shelves say about us? We dive into the strange, sweet, and sometimes spooky world of collecting—why we start, what we keep, and when the market loves us back. Are your collections worth a fortune or are they just unfortunate? We map the winners and losers of nostalgia economics. Cabbage Patch dolls still charm but don’t command the old prices. Beanie Babies and most Happy Meal toys? Mostly dust, with rare exceptions. Stamps slipped hard; coins, especially bullion and select mints, still shine.  Then we get weird, because collecting often does. Baby teeth tucked away for a craft or DNA; guess which of our hosts still have all of these from when their children were little? Yes, from their own children, so not to worry! If this conversation hit your nostalgia nerve, or even a creepy one, tap follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review. And we want to hear from you: what do you collect, and what’s your strangest find? email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

    30 min

  4. MAR 17

    From Pain To Policy: A Mother–Daughter Debate On Cannabis S:2E:24

    What happens when a Boomer mom and her Gen X daughter take on the cannabis debate without flinching? We start where policy meets pain: fibromyalgia, daily function, and the search for relief that doesn’t wreck a life. That lived reality pushes us to ask better questions about reliance vs addiction, the real impact of today’s higher-THC products, and where responsible adult use ends and risky daily habits begin. Safety runs through the whole conversation. We put teen brain development center stage, separate tested, regulated products from mystery vapes, and call for harm reduction that actually protects kids. Then we confront the equity gap: similar usage across races but very different arrest rates, plus licensing and capital structures that can squeeze out small operators while big brands scale up. The “green rush” brings tax dollars and new jobs, but we weigh those benefits against social costs like impaired driving and workplace incidents, and we look at early signals that violent crime can fall when legal markets displace street sales. Our takeaway lands in the hard-won middle: adult freedom with real guardrails. It’s not about hype or fear—it’s about building a framework that respects people in pain, protects kids, and reduces harm while acknowledging that cannabis is neither a miracle nor a menace. If this conversation made you think, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review telling us where you stand on national legalization. email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

    42 min

  5. MAR 10

    We Weigh Masculine And Feminine Cultures While Swapping Stories About Grit, Skills, And Roles S:2E:23

    A throbbing headache, a flashlight pointed just off the bolt, and two generations arguing about what real competence looks like—that’s our starting line for a lively ride through gender roles and cultural identity. We share how being “tomboys” shaped our sense of self, why changing a tire at midnight still matters, and how those gritty lessons echo through dating, partnership, and the way we judge leadership at home. From there, the conversation widens to a controversial question: can countries feel more “masculine” or “feminine”? Using a rough framework—physicality and outdoor life, military or service expectations, social confidence in debate and eye contact, and protective provider instincts—we explore how culture trains people to act strong or care first. What emerges isn’t a scoreboard but a mirror. Competence is attractive. Care is powerful. The best relationships—and cultures—mix steadiness with empathy so both people can breathe. Listen for the humor, stay for the hard questions, and leave with a sharper lens on what strength really means. If this hit a nerve or made you laugh, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Tell us your top three “most masculine” countries—and why you’d change the list. email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

    22 min

  6. MAR 3

    Why Criminalizing Homelessness Fails - Do You Know What Works Instead? S:2 E:22

    A small-town plane crash set the scene—sudden chaos, blocked roads, everyone scrambling for a way around. That’s how many cities handle homelessness: move it along, push it out of sight, and call it a solution. We take a hard look at the Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling that lets cities ticket people for sleeping in public, and we ask what happens when poverty is treated as a crime rather than a policy failure. We break down what “homeless” actually means, from tents and car camping to RV life without hookups, and why those distinctions matter for law, services, and dignity. Then we get into the gritty details: shelter rules that shut people out, curfews that clash with job hunts, pet bans that force impossible choices, and time limits that keep folks in churn. We talk camp sweeps that bulldoze IDs, meds, and bikes—the very tools needed to stabilize. We call out hostile design—bench dividers, spikes, boulders—and camping bans that criminalize rest. Alongside the stories are the stakes: cities spend millions enforcing visibility fixes that don’t reduce homelessness, while affordable housing proposals get blocked by NIMBY fears about property values and crime. We also trace where donations do and don’t go, urging support for local groups—VFW halls, mutual aid networks, church funds—that get cash and goods directly to people without bloated overhead. At the core is a choice between comfort and conscience: if we can’t stand to see tents, we should demand the homes that make them unnecessary. Join us as we trade myths for evidence, frustration for action, and stigma for straight talk. If this moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with one idea your city should try next. Your voice helps push real solutions forward. email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

    39 min

  7. FEB 24

    Three Generations Tackle Outrageous Would-You-Rathers And Why Their Answers Actually Make Sense S:2E:21

    Ever catch yourself wondering would you rather do this....or THAT? This is the question today with different scenarios, but that's only after Jane gets past the alarming realization that her nose is getting bigger!!!  So get ready! Jane's questions were so unsettling that even Bobbi and Dr. Domain found them repulsive - a perfect, if not disturbing, fit for the shows dark theme and makes everyone wonder: Are they even related? The conversation swings from style signals (pajamas in public or never comb your hair) to relationship realities (bad in bed or bad credit), and then into brainy superpowers (x-ray vision versus speed-reading with photographic memory). When the trio tackle fluency in every human language versus the ability to talk to animals, the tradeoffs sharpen: connection, power, empathy, and the burden of knowing too much. Yes, we venture into the gross-out gauntlet—airport handrails, discarded pads, and other nightmare fuel—but each scenario becomes a quick lesson in risk math, control, and the limits of disgust. We even test identity: would you rather be an unknown hero or a famous villain with a plan to break bad systems for good? The final curveball—lose your hearing or your right arm—grounds the banter in empathy, accessibility, and the ways we rebuild life after loss. Come for the chaos; stay for the clarity. You’ll laugh, cringe, and probably yell your answers at the speakers. Then we want to hear from you: send your best Would You Rather—fun, gross, or wildly philosophical—to boomerandgenxer@gmail.com. If you enjoy the show, follow, rate, and share it with a friend who loves a good dilemma. Your pick: which line would you never cross? email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

    34 min

  8. FEB 17

    Headlines From The Weird Side S:2E:20

    The world didn’t agree to be normal this week, so we didn’t either. We hit the gas on a tour of some pretty strange headlines. Think Mothman pilgrimages in Appalachia, a Wisconsin town “terrorized” by turkeys, and a New York backyard dig that turns into a three‑week epic in search of a missing ring… that wasn’t even hers. From there we lean into the macabre and the moral lines that blur in the dark: a grave robber selling bones online, a viral app that basically asks “Are You Dead” to check on solo travelers, and a Danish zoo requesting small‑pet donations as carnivore feed. We talk about why certain stories spark outrage until context arrives, and how attention economics—from “gay panda” rumors to wildlife selfie fails—keeps rewarding the most reckless behavior. If you’ve ever side‑eyed someone inching toward a bison for the ‘gram, you’ll feel seen. We also wade into bioethics with the scientist who edited embryos to resist HIV, unpacking consent, risk, and the unintended consequences of germline edits. Then we detour into the cultural consumption of true crime at “The Final Meal,” a restaurant plating the last requests of infamous names alongside on‑theme cocktails. It’s part spectacle, part museum, and a perfect example of how we metabolize fear by ritualizing it. By the time we hit a stolen walrus relic and an Alaskan art student literally eating AI‑generated work in protest, one theme is clear: we’re drawn to the bizarre because it’s a pressure valve—humor, horror, and human curiosity all mixed together. Join us for sharp banter, skeptical questions, and a reminder that the news cycle is stranger than fiction. If you laughed, cringed, or yelled “why,” share the show with a friend, hit follow, and drop your favorite offbeat headline for a future episode. We read everything—send yours our way and let’s get weird together. email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

    38 min
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Wit and wisdom, some smart assery, and a Mother and Daughter questioning “Are we even related?”

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