The Setlist of Life

Leslie, Kirsten, Christine, & Aaron
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Music Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

Four former members of the band “Dolly4Sue” reunite to give a witty personal account their cool, and not so cool, adventures over the last decade as musicians in a “Mom band”. Listen in as they lean on each other while balancing life, family, and music. You just might find yourself finding yourself along the way.

  1. 3d ago

    151 Friends

    In this episode of Setlist of Life, band members Aaron (guitar), Kirsten (keys), and Christine (drums) are joined by college roommate Neepa, who traveled from North Carolina just to hang out. That kind of friendship is what this conversation is really about. We dive deep into what made college friendships actually stick in the pre-internet era: random roommate assignments, phone booth closets, dorm doors left wide open, and the "seven-minute conversation dip" rule that somehow made you closer. Christine and Neepa share 40 years of history, and their story challenges every assumption about how modern college students form bonds—especially now, when dorm doors stay closed and everyone's on their phones. We also talk about parenting in the digital age, why kids today struggle to socialize the way we did, and why Rob Thomas is legitimately one of the best live performers. Plus, the band plays a rousing game of Mount Cleverest—trivia that covers everything from fingerprint science and Viking funerals to the real cost of fueling a jumbo jet. There's also the legendary "Screwed Campus" prank, microwaved Thanksgiving turkey, and Aaron's surprisingly extensive plant collection (50+ plants). Leslie is home sick—we miss her—but her absence highlights just how important these friendships are. Perfect for: Gen X nostalgia lovers, musicians balancing family life, anyone curious about why their college friendships (or lack thereof) shaped their adult lives, and trivia enthusiasts. "THE SETLIST" 0:00 – Track [0]: Welcome to Setlist of Life — Friends & Bandmates Reunite 1:45 – Track [1]: "Never Surrender" & Corey Hart: Why '80s Icons Still Matter 3:45 – Track [2]: What Makes Matchbox 20 Different? The Rob Thomas Effect 5:53 – Track [3]: How Random Dorm Assignments Created 40-Year Friendships 8:04 – Track [4]: The "Seven-Minute Conversation Dip" — Gen X Icebreaker Wisdom 10:10 – Track [5]: No Rooms Left: The Housing Lottery Story That Changed Everything 12:07 – Track [6]: Tiny Phone Booths & Notepad Hooks — How We Communicated Before Texts 14:15 – Track [7]: Why Kids Today Don't Hang Out in Hallways (And Why That's Creepy) 16:29 – Track [8]: The Dorm Room That Time Forgot: Massive Spaces vs. Tiny Boxes 18:45 – Track [9]: "We Screwed Campus" — The Prank That Became a Memory 20:53 – Track [10]: Friendsgiving Before It Was a Trend: Parties with Personality 23:11 – Track [11]: The Turkey We Made in a Microwave (And Why It Actually Worked) 25:13 – Track [12]: "Neepa Wants It" Invitation Card: Why Mailbox Surprises Mattered 27:10 – Track [13]: Aaron's Green Thumb — 50+ Plants While Everyone Else Aspires 29:03 – Track [14]: Blue Stars Are Hotter Than Red Ones: Trivia That Surprises 31:47 – Track [15]: Do Identical Twins Share Fingerprints? The Biology Answer Box 33:50 – Track [16]: Viking Funerals & Space Camp Stories: Fact vs. Fiction 37:19 – Track [17]: Hagendaaz: Marketing Genius or Scandinavian Scam? 39:13 – Track [18]: Serena & Venus Williams: Grand Slams (Not 12) 41:02 – Track [19]: Why the South Pole is Actually Colder Than the North 43:14 – Track [20]: How Much Does a Cloud Really Weigh? The Physics Surprise 45:32 – Track [21]: Superman's Original Creators Got $130 — Intellectual Property Reality 47:43 – Track [22]: New York's Real Origin Story: From New Amsterdam to Empire 50:00 – Track [23]: Blue Whale Heartbeats Heard 2 Miles Away — Myth or Ocean Fact? 51:32 – Track [24]: Pokemon Cards, Adult Dealers & the Nostalgia Economy 53:44 – Track [25]: Birthday Paradox: Why Your Class Reunion Wasn't Random 55:37 – Track [26]: Greta Thunberg vs. Malala: Who Actually Won the Nobel Prize? 57:23 – Track [27]: Jumbo Jet Fuel Costs $120K to Fill — Why Aviation Margins Matter 59:33 – Track [28]: Great Wall of China Visibility Myth: What Astronauts Actually See 01:01:29 – Track [29]: Stonehenge Took 1,500 Years? The Real Timeline 01:03:48 – Track [30]: The Lightning Strike Survivor: Roy Sullivan's 7-Hit Record 01:05:35 – Track [31]: Hiking Bears Den & Ravens Rock — Virginia Trail Guide 01:07:52 – Track [32]: Keeping Friendships Alive: Leslie's Absence & What We're Missing 🎸 BACKSTAGE WISDOM "Friendships that last 40 years weren't built on perfect communication—they were built on boring proximity and the willingness to show up anyway. That's parenting, marriage, and music all at once." "How do college friendships last 40 years? Real stories from Gen X""Why Gen Z kids don't socialize like college students did in the '80s and '90s""What was it really like living in college dorms before the internet?""Matchbox 20 Rob Thomas live: why he's an unforgettable performer""Why don't college dorms have dorm life like they used to? Open doors, community spaces"

    151 Friends

  2. Sep 22

    150 Eat It

    The Setlist of Life celebrates 150 episodes with a deep dive into taste perception, cultural food experiments, and the psychology of risk—all while the band members taste their way through an international snack buffet. What Happens: Flavor Pairing Game: The band discovers that lemon + cinnamon = Coca-Cola, and how human brains predict taste before taste buds activateInternational Spreads Tour: From German slaw-based Slawsa to Turkish pistachio cream, the group decodes what makes foods iconic in their culturesThe Vegemite Moment: A unflinching taste test reveals why Australian yeast extract feels like "sucking on metallic pennies"—and whether cultural conditioning overrides flavor chemistryRisk & Decision-Making: Leslie connects food experiments to bigger life patterns—why runners flood half marathons, why neighbors bike through swollen creeks, and how humans rationalize dangerGeographic Tongue Discovery: A casual revelation about fissured tongues triggers a deeper conversation about body variance, taste sensitivity, and medical literacyBroader Themes: The episode weaves together nostalgia (Necco Wafers, Arrow Bars), parenting wisdom (homemade dog food, supervising risk), and the unspoken contract of creative collaboration. Why do people keep showing up to make music together? Why do bands last? Leslie reflects on loyalty, playfulness, and the unexpected moments that make a 150-episode run meaningful. The Setlist: 0:00 – Track 1: The 150th Episode Welcome & Band Dynamics Why Creative Collaborators Keep Coming Back 2:28 – Track 2: The Flavor Perception Game How Your Brain Predicts Taste Before Your Tongue Does 10:51 – Track 3: Mail & Gratitude Moments Why a Podcast Game Changed a Family's Vacation (First to Worst Impact Story) 13:12 – Track 4: International Chip Blind Taste Test Honey Butter vs. Barbecue: What Your Snack Preference Says About You 17:33 – Track 5: The Tikka Masala Lamb Verdict Why Unexpected Food Combinations Are Less Risky Than You Think 21:36 – Track 6: The Vegemite Experiment (And Why Australians Love It) What Metallic, Salty Foods Reveal About Cultural Taste Adaptation 25:19 – Track 7: Leslie's Pilates Truth Bomb The Dad Who Mows Barefoot: Risk Assessment in Everyday Life 29:38 – Track 8: Spreads Around the World How German Slaw Slaw & Turkish Pistachio Cream Challenge American Palates 35:25 – Track 9: The Nostalgic Candy Test Why Arrow Bars & Necco Wafers Taste Better (or Worse) in Memory 43:34 – Track 10: The Flavor Pairing Science Lemon + Cinnamon = Coke? Why Taste Synergy Works (or Fails Spectacularly) 47:12 – Track 11: The Amazing Race Water Slide Ethics Debate When Contestants Quit: Fear, Accountability, and Signed-Up Consequences 51:19 – Track 12: Geographic Tongue Revelation What Your Tongue's Topography Says About How You Taste Food 56:52 – Track 13: Dog Food, 400 Degrees, and Marketing Lies Why Pet Nutrition Companies Misuse Science (and What Homemade Dog Food Actually Requires) 1:03:08 – Track 14: The Flooded Half Marathon Decision Why 250 Runners Chose Chest-Deep Water Over Cancellation (and What It Costs) 1:09:01 – Track 15: The Neighbor Who Defied Physics Why Some People Live Without Fear (and Why Their Kids Still Survived) 1:15:02 – Track 16: Pilates, Abs, and the New Studio Dilemma Why Exercise Classes Trigger Complex Friendship Dynamics 1:21:52 – Track 17: Lola's Lamb & The Podcast Wrap 150 Episodes: What It Means to Show Up, Mess Up, and Keep Playing 🎸 Backstage Wisdom"We've played 150 gigs in this living room because we stopped expecting it to be perfect—the chewing sounds, the digression, the dog eating lamb backstage. Turns out, that's what people actually need to hear." "What foods taste like other foods when combined? Weird flavor pairing experiments""Why do people hate Vegemite? What does it actually taste like?""Can you actually make dog food at home? How to cook dog food safely""How do you know if a half marathon is too dangerous to run? Flood safety decisions""What is geographic tongue? Do I have it? Why do some people have textured tongues?"

    150 Eat It

  3. Sep 15

    149 Thank You

    On this episode of The Setlist of Life, the band sits down to explore how small daily practices reshape your entire outlook—and why your garden might be staging a tiny bug war right now. Main Topics: Christine's sharing her gratitude journaling journey and the science behind morning pages (Julia Cameron's technique). Leslie reveals how one mom-to-kid conversation flipped the script on anxiety: instead of lecturing, she asked hes son to find one good thing. Spoiler: it works. Then Leslie takes us deep into her crepe myrtle drama. Scale insects are sucking the life out of her tree, but minute pirate bugs (yes, that's a real thing) are mounting a counter-offensive. Except the ants showed up to protect the scale's sweet sap. It's a three-way garden battle—and Leslie is winning/losing. The crew also digs into Led Zeppelin's "Thank You," reviews the *Becoming Led Zeppelin* documentary, and plays multiple rounds of **Mount Cleverest Trivia**—uncovering wild truths about fleas, hiccups, ancient alphabets, and why Disney World is nearly twice the size of Manhattan. Why This Episode Resonates: Real band members balancing creative identity, parenting, family life, and unexpected hobbies. If you're a musician who gardens, a parent struggling with your kid's anxiety, or someone who loves weird trivia and 80s nostalgia, this conversation hits different. Themes: Gratitude practices, parenting reframes, organic gardening solutions, music discovery, regional dialect, and the joy of learning random facts. 🎵 THE SETLIST00:02 – Track [1]: Welcome to Gratitude Season: Why Christine Is on a Journaling Journey (The Wellness Reset) 04:37 – Track [2]: The Mom Reframe: How One Conversation Changed How I See My Kid's Anxiety (Parenting with Presence) 06:40 – Track [3]: Morning Pages vs. Phone Doom: What Julia Cameron Knew About Starting Your Day Right 08:50 – Track [4]: Deep Dive: Led Zeppelin's "Thank You" & Why Documentaries Matter More Than You Think 13:17 – Track [5]: A Mom's Truth: Why I Can't See My Own Rear End (Self-Awareness, Humor & Marriage) 15:13 – Track [6]: Garden War Decoded: Scale Insects vs. Minute Pirate Bugs (Nature's Pest Control Battle) 19:31 – Track [7]: The Ant Uprising: When Helpers Become the Problem (Systems Thinking in Your Backyard) 21:57 – Track [8]: How Horticulture School Teaches You to Read Nature (Transferable Life Wisdom) 23:54 – Track [9]: Regional Dialect Deep Dive: Why Your Grandma Says "Drawers" (Linguistics & Identity) 28:21 – Track [10]: Mount Cleverest Trivia: Fleas, Pigs & the Physics of Impossible Jumps 33:17 – Track [11]: The Leaning Tower & Bad Architects: When Engineering Fails (And Why We Love It Anyway) 35:23 – Track [12]: Parker Solar Probe > Bullets: Why Space Changes Everything (Perspective Shift) 38:48 – Track [13]: Charles Osbourne's 68-Year Hiccup: Medical Mysteries That Make You Grateful 41:10 – Track [14]: Heart-Shaped Rocks & Scavenger Hunts (Finding Magic in Your Own Backyard) 44:00 – Track [15]: Throwing Baby Teeth on Greek Roofs vs. Keeping Them in Boxes (Cultural Rituals & Memory) 46:18 – Track [16]: Why Redheads Were Called Redheads (The Ginger Truth: Old English Had No Word for Orange) 48:34 – Track [17]: IKEA Isn't an Acronym (And Why We Make Up Answers) 50:47 – Track [18]: Barbie's Real Name & What the 1959 Doll Says About Motherhood 52:51 – Track [19]: Why "J" Is Newer Than "Z" (The Alphabet Wasn't Always Alphabetical) 54:38 – Track [20]: Disney World Is Twice the Size of Manhattan: What That Means for Your Visit 58:27 – Track [21]: Usain Bolt vs. Cheetah: 100-Meter Myths Debunked 1:02:22 – Track [22]: Planning Episode 150: Food Combos, Documentaries & Murder Mystery Rabbit Holes 🎸 BACKSTAGE WISDOM "Your garden's a mirror of your marriage: two systems fighting over the same resources, and the ants always show up uninvited. Water both with intention—or expect chaos." "How does gratitude journaling actually change your brain science" "Why do parents struggle to get kids to find the positive" "What garden bugs eat scale insects naturally" "Led Zeppelin Thank You documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin" "Regional accent words Americans pronounce differently"

    149 Thank You

  4. Sep 1

    148 I Will Always Love You

    In this episode, the bandmates of Dolly for Sue honor Dolly Parton's legacy, acknowledge a past research mishap with humor and grace, and dive into the "Music Reposition Game" — a creative exercise that asks: If you remixed this song into a different genre or context, what would it become? The crew rates classic artists from Pink Floyd to The Police, Adam Ant to Pink, exploring why liking a band doesn't always mean loving their music. They wrestle with generational taste, discuss why your kids reject your favorite songs, and uncover surprising truths about nostalgia, influence, and artistic reinvention. In between, they share stories from the Iowa State Fair — 130,000 people, pork chops on sticks, and hot tub salesmen who view the fair as their Super Bowl. They tour childhood homes, laugh at cemetery mishaps, and grapple with identity shifts as a band in their fifties. Key Themes: Music appreciation as emotional intelligenceHow creatives navigate family life and agingAuthentic error-correction in podcastingThe joy of reinvention and "second acts"Why analog nostalgia still matters in 2026 Perfect for: musicians, podcast fans, Gen X listeners seeking depth without gatekeeping, parents navigating creative identity with kids. "THE SETLIST"00:02 – Track 1: The Dolly Parton Tribute & Why One Person Changed Everything 02:23 – Track 2: Apologies & Corrections — What Happens When You Get Your Research Wrong 04:07 – Track 3: How Listeners Keep Podcasters Honest (And Why That Matters) 06:24 – Track 4: The Iowa State Fair Road Trip — 130,000 People & One Unforgettable Uber Driver 08:31 – Track 5: Weird Fair Food & Why You Never Eat As Much As You Plan 10:53 – Track 6: The Hot Tub Sales Guys Know Something You Don't 13:13 – Track 7: Family Traditions & Cemetery Day Laughs (A Slab-Happy Sidebar) 17:40 – Track 8: How to Get the Wrong T-Shirt Size & Still Love It (Graziano's Story) 19:38 – Track 9: Scooping the Loop — What Gen X Did Before Smartphones 21:55 – Track 10: The Music Reposition Game — Reimagining Classic Rock & 80s Pop 26:17 – Track 11: Pink Floyd's Dark Side — Why Moods Matter More Than Melody 28:28 – Track 12: Can You Use Pink Floyd in a Commercial? (And What Would It Sell?) 30:46 – Track 13: Jack & Diane Hate — Why Your Kid Might Reject Your Favorite Song 32:42 – Track 14: Measuring Your Vibe — The 1–5 Scale for Life's Soundtrack 34:19 – Track 15: Pink (the Artist) — Why Incredible Talent Doesn't Always Equal Your Genre 36:25 – Track 16: The Police Reunion Nobody Saw Coming (And Why Sting Went Solo) 38:27 – Track 17: Disturbed's "Sound of Silence" — When Heavy Metal Saves a Simon & Garfunkel Classic 42:31 – Track 18: Max Headroom & the 80s Synth Pop Mystery 44:48 – Track 19: Will 80s Synth Pop Come Back? (Spoiler: It Already Has) 48:26 – Track 20: Adam Ant at 72 — Why Your Favorite 80s Idols Still Tour 50:03 – Track 21: Goody Two Shoes & the Strangest Career Pivots in Music 53:20 – Track 22: Planning Episode 150 — What Do Four Music Lovers Actually Want? 55:29 – Track 23: Thrashgrass Dolly — When Genre Mashups Become Real 57:53 – Track 24: Scotcharoos & Advent Calendars — How a Band Bonds Over Treats 59:48 – Track 25: 148 Episodes Later — How Four People Built Something Real 🎸 BACKSTAGE WISDOM"We're not five stars anymore, and that's the whole point. At 50, your taste gets honest, your stories get funnier, and your favorite song doesn't have to be everyone else's." "What should you do if you mix up two different artists in a podcast?""Why does Pink Floyd matter 50 years later?""How do you enjoy music you don't naturally like?""What makes the Iowa State Fair the hot tub capital?""Can you really walk through Hollywood as Dolly Parton in drag?"

    148 I Will Always Love You

  5. Aug 25

    147 Ramble On (Again)

    In this episode of Set List of Life, the band tackles one of rock's greatest travel anthems—Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On"—while unpacking real conversations about family, books, personality types, and why some people can't stop talking to themselves. It starts with a personality quiz that reveals which band member you actually are. The conversation spirals into The Hobbit debate—why getting kids to read classics requires patience, audiobooks, and the Libby app—before pivoting to the elephant in the room: Leslie's Iowa State Fair adventure. What did she eat? Everything. What was she skeptical about? The butter cow, mysteriously positioned so far behind glass it might be plastic. The band investigates state fairs across America, the secret music scene in Des Moines bars, carnival games rigged with magnets, and why the Intimidator ride at King's Dominion makes people pass out (a phenomenon no one can fully explain). Later, the crew explores whether you have background music playing in your head while you walk, why Dan Fogarty isn't Dan Fogelberg (and why that matters), and the surprisingly normal experience of having an internal monologue that occasionally makes you flinch in public. There's also urgent pet-sitting news, a potential rescue dog matching, and a gentle reminder that creative people in midlife aren't just managing band schedules—they're moving their kids into college apartments, adopting giant cats, and trying to deep-clean their houses. Best for: Classic rock fans, road musicians, parents navigating identity shifts, fair enthusiasts, and anyone who's ever sung the same song for three hours straight. 🎵 THE SETLIST 00:00 – TRACK 1: Introduction & Tonight's Song – Why "Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin Matters to Road Musicians 02:07 – TRACK 2: The Hobbit Debate – Getting Your Kids to Love Classics (Why Your First Read Matters) 05:06 – TRACK 3: Which Band Member Are You? – Taking the Personality Quiz & What Your Results Reveal 10:14 – TRACK 4: The Sneakers Theory – What Your Subconscious Choice Says About How You Live 12:36 – TRACK 5: The Iowa State Fair Deep Dive – What Adults Really Need to Know Before You Go 14:49 – TRACK 6: The Butter Cow Conspiracy – Why This Fair Icon Seems Impossibly Far Away 17:15 – TRACK 7: Fair Food Rankings – Lobster Rolls, Pork Chops on Sticks & What's Actually Worth $70 19:07 – TRACK 8: State Fairs Across America – Why Iowa's Fair Matters & How Yours Compares 21:10 – TRACK 9: The Aldi Adventure – Why You Keep Going Back (It's Just About the Cheese) 23:34 – TRACK 10: Carnival Rides & Passing Out – Why Some Amusement Park Rides Are Dangerous (And Why People Love Them) 25:41 – TRACK 11: The Animals & The Livestock – Why State Fairs Are Educational (Even If You Don't Plan It) 28:01 – TRACK 12: Fair Bars & Live Music – Des Moines' Hidden Music Scene & Why You Should Explore It 30:08 – TRACK 13: Dressing for the Fair – Fashion Fails & Why Heels at a Fair Are a Red Flag 32:22 – TRACK 14: Finding Your Local Fair – Virginia, Pennsylvania & Beyond (State Fair Season Checklist) 34:25 – TRACK 15: The Intimidator Ride Phenomenon – Why Kids Pass Out & What That Means for Your Body 36:29 – TRACK 16: Back to School Chaos – How to Help Your College Kid Move Into Their First Apartment 38:44 – TRACK 17: The Dog Decision – Rescue Dogs, Coonhound Rescues & Making the Right Pet Choice 40:56 – TRACK 18: Music in Your Head – Do You Have a Soundtrack? (And What It Reveals About Your Pace) 42:51 – TRACK 19: The Dan Fogarty Mix-Up – Why You Shouldn't Assume You Know the Artist You're Seeing 45:18 – TRACK 20: Internal Monologue Reality – Why You Might Talk to Yourself (And That's Completely Normal) 49:28 – TRACK 21: The Music Game Setup – How to Discuss Bands, Songs & Swap Favorite Artists 51:32 – TRACK 22: Rhino & Munch – Building a Family Pet Collection (Why Bigger Cats Need Bigger Trees) 55:29 – TRACK 23: Pet Sitting & Travel – Why Hiring Friends as Pet Sitters Changes Everything 57:41 – TRACK 24: Closing & Button Pressing – Why Live Podcast Moments Matter (Even When You Mess Up) 🎸 BACKSTAGE WISDOM"The butter cow is 40 years of mystery behind glass—kind of like parenting teenagers. Worth investigating, probably fake, but definitely a story worth telling." Query 1: "What's it really like to go to the Iowa State Fair as an adult?"Query 2: "How do personality quiz results reveal your true role in a group?"Query 3: "Why do I keep songs stuck in my head while walking?"Query 4: "What's the deal with Led Zeppelin's 'Ramble On'—why is it still so relevant?"Query 5: "How do I talk to my kids about reading classics like The Hobbit?"

    147 Ramble On (Again)

  6. Aug 18

    146 Foolish Games

    This week on The Setlist of Life, hosts Aaron, Kirsten, and Leslie dive deep into psychological quizzes, nostalgia-driven recipes, and the unexpected power of small details. It starts innocent—planning a trip to the Iowa State Fair and daydreaming about meat sundaes—but quickly spirals into a celebration of midlife creativity, family dynamics, and identity play. The heart of the episode centers on homemade cooking as rebellion: Aaron shares his quest to recreate Chipotle bowls at home for less than restaurant prices (spoiler: it works), while Kirsten unpacks the archaeology of taco pizza—a Midwest regional treasure that disappears the moment you leave Iowa. These aren't just recipes; they're portals to childhood, proof that intentionality beats convenience, and a model for how partners can renegotiate kitchen labor and creative control. Then comes the test gauntlet. A banana-tree logic puzzle. A "90% of people pick carrot" priming effect. A punk-band personality quiz. A historic-prank selection tool. And finally, the vulnerable one: What kind of friend are you actually? The group discovers they're a perfect mix of Planners, Ghosts, and Hype People—each role essential, each with a blind spot worth naming. Woven throughout: why lipstick means you notice details, why sunglasses reveal your relationship with identity play, what a devil's advocate actually is (hint: it involves Saint relics), and why "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" beats your old walk-up song. Perfect for: Musicians balancing family life, Gen X parents rediscovering identity, podcast fans who love unscripted conversation, nostalgia explorers, and anyone who's ever wondered if their personality matches their choices. THE SETLIST00:00 – INTRO: Welcome to Foolish Games (& the Foolish Tests That Follow) 02:19 – SEGMENT 1: Iowa State Fair Chaos – Rod Stewart Cancels, Meat Sundae Dreams Ensue 06:54 – DEEP DIVE: The Evolution of State Fair Food (Fried Everything vs. Local Traditions) 08:43 – "TACO PIZZA ARCHAEOLOGY": How a Midwest Childhood Becomes a Family Recipe 11:04 – THE COOKING RENAISSANCE: Why Making Chipotle at Home Changed Everything 13:14 – SIDE QUEST: Homemade Dog Food, Cleaner Confusion & the Smell Factor 15:29 – RECIPE TRUTH BOMB: The Secret Ingredients Nobody Tells You About 17:35 – KITCHEN CULTURE SHIFT: How Your Partner Learning to Cook Rewires Family Dynamics 20:04 – PSYCHOLOGY TEST #1: The Banana Tree – What Your Animal Choice Says About You 22:13 – THE PRIMING EFFECT: Why 90% of People Say "Carrot" (And Why You Didn't) 24:35 – RECIPE WINS: Succotash, Tried-and-True Folders & the Hype Around Aaron's Tomatoes 26:59 – PERSONALITY QUIZ: Which Band Role Are You? (The Results Get Weird) 32:22 – MUSICIAN DEEP DIVE: Why Guitarists Lead Bands (And Why Merch Slingers Matter) 34:26 – "PANIC AT THE DISCO" RABBIT HOLE: When Band Knowledge Gaps Become Comedy Gold 36:11 – JACK WHITE ENERGY: Why Musicians Choose Their Friends (& It's Not Random) 38:21 – PRANK HISTORY: The Devil's Advocate & Why the Church Needed Relic Fact-Checkers 40:39 – PERSONALITY TEST #2: Which Historic Prank Would You Pull? (& What It Says About You) 44:05 – MURDER MYSTERY SOLVED: The Windowless Room Logic That Trips Everyone Up 49:05 – THE LIPSTICK CHOICE: Why Small Details Reveal Your Entire Personality 53:01 – SUNGLASSES & PERSONAS: Identity Play Isn't Fake (It's Intentional) 55:23 – THE HARD QUIZ: "What Kind of Friend Are You Actually?" (With Room to Grow) 57:42 – GROUP CHAT DYNAMICS: The Ghost, The Planner, The Therapist & The Hype Person 01:10:20 – TEAM ASSESSMENT: How Friends Fit Into Four Friendship Archetypes 01:12:42 – THE PARENTING PARALLEL: Crock Pots, Homemade Dog Food & Letting Go of Control 01:15:02 – WALK-UP SONG EVOLUTION: Why "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" Beats "Shoop" 01:16:56 – OUTRO & ASSIGNMENT: Pick Your Walk-Up Song (Yours Due Next Week) 🎸 BACKSTAGE WISDOM"You don't have to play the lead to keep the band alive. Sometimes the best solo is knowing when to let someone else shine—and making sure the merch slingers get thanked." How do you recreate Chipotle at home for less money?What makes taco pizza different from regular pizza?Why do small details matter more than people think?What's the best walk-up song for confidence?How do you balance being a parent and a musician?

    146 Foolish Games

  7. Aug 11

    145 Knock On Wood

    The Setlist of Life: Summer Adventures, Band Life & Raising Kids Without Urgency In this deeply conversational episode, the Dolly for Sue bandmates—Leslie (vocals), Aaron (guitar), Christine (drums), and Kirsten (keyboard)—reflect on summer adventures, parenting paradoxes, and the gap between Gen X intentionality and Gen Z digital passivity. The conversation weaves together personal travel stories: a panic-inducing hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, a beach week of unexpected solitude, Florida kayaking through mangroves, and a stay at the (non-haunted) Stanley Hotel. Threaded throughout are hilarious detours into lip-sync contest history, airplane movie ethics, algorithm-recommended art horror, and sea turtle conservation becoming a passionate obsession. At its core, the episode explores how parenting has shifted post-COVID—kids grew up in isolation and emerged without the deadline urgency previous generations developed. The band reflects on their own coming-of-age (crop tops at lip-sync contests, MTV music, mixtape culture) versus watching their children manage thousands of unread emails with zen indifference. There's genuine warmth here: not blame, but curiosity about how isolation rewires work ethic and attention. Music nostalgia anchors the conversation—from Amy Stewart's "Knock on Wood" (1979) to Z Top's "Legs" to Cruel Summer and Banana Rama. Pop culture meanders through The Princess Bride, Salt Burn, and Breaking Bad co-watching rituals. And a book recommendation emerges: Dungeon Crawler Carl, a genre-bending sci-fi series that hooks readers in ways Harry Potter fans understand. For parents navigating midlife creativity, Gen X identity, and the strange new world of raising resilient (if urgency-free) kids, this episode offers permission to laugh, worry a little less, and appreciate the adventures—and misadventures—that bind families together. THE SETLIST0:00 – Track [1]: The Disco Lightning Song That Started It All (Knock on Wood by Amy Stewart, 1979, and why storms make for great memories) 2:06 – Track [2]: How We Got Disqualified from the Lip Sync Contest (Conservative schools, crop tops, and the licking incident nobody saw coming) 4:17 – Track [3]: Why Methodist Youth Groups Were More Forgiving Than We Expected (Z Top's "Legs," double standards, and what the church actually cared about) 6:28 – Track [4]: What It's Like Watching Classic Movies for the First Time as an Adult (The Princess Bride revelation, airplane etiquette, and why new planes have privacy screens) 8:40 – Track [5]: The Movie Nobody Warns You About on Airplane Wifi (Salt Burn, deviant behavior, and why some films shouldn't be in rotation) 10:50 – Track [6]: When Your Algorithm Starts Suggesting Lamb Baby Art (Weird internet recommendations, curated trauma, and what it says about your taste) 13:17 – Track [7]: The Waterfall Panic: A Parent's Worst Nightmare (and Why Communication Matters) (Hiking at elevation, kids wandering off, the search for Joey, real-time parental anxiety) 15:40 – Track [8]: Elevation, Heart Health & Mountain Adventures After a Heart Attack (Recovery story, training at altitude, why family hikes get complicated) 17:48 – Track [9]: Natural Selection at Yellowstone: Why People Pet Bison & Fall Into Geysers (National park stupidity, Instagram selfies gone wrong, and Darwin's observations) 20:05 – Track [10]: The Stanley Hotel: Ghost Tours, The Shining, and Haunted Condo Mishaps (Colorado adventure, broken hot tubs, ceiling holes, and no paranormal activity—yet) 22:24 – Track [11]: The Beach Week You Actually Got to Yourself (Empty pool days, reading books, no entertaining required—the first solo vacation) 24:43 – Track [12]: Kayaking in Mangroves, Brackish Water & The Alligator You Never Thought About (Florida adventure, airboat tours, and why physical activity overrides predator anxiety) 26:40 – Track [13]: Catching Sharks While Fishing for Reds (And How to Get the Hook Out) (Beach fishing gone awry, bonnet sharks, pliers as essential fishing gear, and why Kirsten's staying poolside) 28:53 – Track [14]: The Toadfish Discovery: When Nature's Design Seems Like a Mistake (What's a toadfish? Frog-fish hybrids, croaking sounds, and the joy of learning something new) 31:19 – Track [15]: Becoming a Turtle-Saving Zealot (One Hole at a Time) (Sea turtle nesting season, beach conservation, sand castle etiquette, and generational differences) 33:31 – Track [16]: Summer School Survival: AP Econ, Physics, and the Parent in the Chair Next Door (Academic pressure, helicopter parenting, deadline excuses, and the "teacher hasn't graded it yet" myth) 35:39 – Track [17]: Why Gen Z Has No Urgency (And Whose Fault That Actually Is) (COVID isolation, late submissions, 1500 unread emails, and the test score excuses) 37:55 – Track [18]: Email Organization: Zero Inbox vs. Chaos (What It Says About You) (Digital habits, spam filtering, family email history, and why Joey missed his deadline) 39:51 – Track [19]: Blaming the Pandemic: How COVID Shaped a Generation's Work Ethic (Inward focus, isolation effects, growing up during lockdown, and parental guilt) 42:07 – Track [20]: The Middle School Reprieve (And Why High School Participation Is Coming Back) (Parent involvement cycles, sports commitments, PTA fatigue, and the nostalgia of stepping back) 44:15 – Track [21]: Kids' Shows Ranked: From Backyard Friends to Peep in the Big Wide World (PBS classics, celebrity guest stars, educational TV that actually holds adult attention) 49:27 – Track [22]: The Mystery Show Nobody Can Remember (And Why AI Can't Help) (Science-based kids' programming, lost media, collective memory failures, Story Bots redemption) 51:45 – Track [23]: What We're Watching Right Now (OA, Ted Lasso, Breaking Bad, Young Sheldon) (Streaming culture, palate cleansing, co-watching with teens, and why some shows trigger) 53:50 – Track [24]: Dungeon Crawler Carl: The Book Series Nobody Expected to Love (Genre-bending sci-fi, audiobook vs. print, addiction reading, and the Harry Potter comparison) 56:10 – Track [25]: Summer Reading & the Library Waitlist (A Parting Recommendation) (Book culture, library demand, what's trending with adult readers, and why this one hooks you) BACKSTAGE WISDOM"Your kids aren't lazy—they're just processing urgency through a pandemic filter. Same bandwidth, different threat assessment. Stop asking them to care like you do, and start asking them what actually makes them move." "How do you handle anxiety when your kids wander off in nature?" "What was 'Knock on Wood' by Amy Stewart about? (1979 disco song)" "Why do kids have no sense of urgency about deadlines and emails?" "How to get kids to fill in beach holes to protect sea turtle nests?" "Best lip sync contest songs for adults + how to not get disqualified?"

    145 Knock On Wood

  8. Jul 28

    144 Thank You For Being A Friend

    The Setlist of Life returns after its longest hiatus to celebrate reconnection, resilience, and the messy reality of midlife summers. In this candid band reunion, Leslie, Aaron, and Kirsten catch up on everything summer threw at them: mysterious injuries that appear overnight, pets discovering their warrior instincts, close calls with tornadoes, and the quiet comedy of being invisible to airline staff. The session kicks off with an exploration of the high-low game—a deceptively simple family communication tool—before spiraling into stories of extreme weather, family weddings, barn power outages, and the peculiar humiliation of being physically outmatched at an escape room designed for teenagers. Beyond the laughs, this episode maps the invisible terrain of midlife: how bodies change without warning, how identity gets refreshed through small choices (vintage sunglasses, retro music), and how showing up for family priorities sometimes means missing your own commitments. There's grief for an absent bandmate, celebration of kids becoming adults who out-athlete their parents, and honest reckoning with aging memory, responsibility, and the pressure to consume holidays before we've finished the current season. For audiences seeking: authentic midlife conversations, family dynamics that actually reflect real life, Gen X nostalgia without saccharine framing, and permission to laugh at your own limitations. THE SETLIST | **0:00** | **Intro: Thank You for Being a Friend** — The Band Returns After Their Longest Break | Nostalgia anchor (Golden Girls theme); band identity; reconnection ritual | | **1:37** | **Track 1: The High-Low Game — A Simple Tool for Family Conversations** | Parenting hack; family communication; dinner table ritual | | **2:45** | **Track 2: Fashion Reboot at Midlife — Retro Sunglasses & Finding Your Icon** | Personal reinvention; aging identity; Gen X nostalgia (Tom Selleck) | | **4:02** | **Track 3: Waking Up Injured — Why Bodies Betray Us in Our 50s** | Midlife health; mysterious joint pain; accepting physical changes | | **6:15** | **Track 4: Cat as Warrior — When Your Pet Finds Their Second Act** | Pet behavior; instinct; personality transformation; pride & purpose | | **8:45** | **Track 5: The Smell of Death in the Carpet — A Problem No Clorox Can Solve** | Dark humor; home maintenance nightmare; unresolvable messes (life metaphor) | | **10:20** | **Track 6: Caught in a Tornado Without Knowing — Surviving Extreme Weather Obliviously** | Climate resilience; close calls; gratitude reframe; barn power outages (recurring theme) | | **16:30** | **Track 7: Airboats, Gators & Raw Chicken — Adventure Tourism Gets Weird** | Travel stories; risk & thrill; humor under absurdity; Everglades tourism | | **21:15** | **Track 8: The First-Class Luggage Incident — When You're Not Welcome in Someone Else's Space** | Class dynamics; travel etiquette; boundary crossing; airline gatekeeping | | **25:10** | **Track 9: Level 99 — Why Ninja Warrior Humbles Midlife Moms** | Physical challenge; aging ego; laughing at limitations; mother-son dynamics | | **32:10** | **Track 10: Iowa State Fair Planning — Nostalgia as Life Event** | Generational return; ritual; Americana; butter sculptures & fried food culture | | **34:25** | **Track 11: The Wrong Jacket at a Wedding — A Comedy of Miscalculation** | Family shenanigans; tall-kid problems; reconciliation; grace from strangers | | **41:00** | **Track 12: Holiday Scaling & Seasonal Anticipation — Can We Please Enjoy Summer First?** | Consumer culture criticism; seasonal marketing; mindfulness; pacing life | | **50:15** | **Track 13: The Gas Tank You Already Filled — Senior Moments Get Real** | Aging memory; responsibility gone sideways; self-awareness & humor | | **52:30** | **Track 14: A Scar Story (Not from a Knife Fight)** — Vanity & Recovery After a Fall | Midlife injury; healing; reframing scars; window-shopping while walking | | **59:20** | **Outro: As Long as There Are Highs, We'll Be Back** | Resilience framing; podcast commitment; Gen X authenticity | 🎸 BACKSTAGE WISDOM"Your band won't die from summer breaks—it dies from pretending the breaks don't hurt. Show up when you can, say goodbye when you can't, and always keep the light on for the ones who wander in late." "How do parents stay connected with grown kids during summer schedules?" "What's the high-low game and how do you play it with family?" "Why do midlife women injure themselves doing normal activities?" "What happens when you accidentally put luggage in first-class overhead bins?" "How to talk to kids about anxiety in extreme weather events?"

    144 Thank You For Being A Friend
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Four former members of the band “Dolly4Sue” reunite to give a witty personal account their cool, and not so cool, adventures over the last decade as musicians in a “Mom band”. Listen in as they lean on each other while balancing life, family, and music. You just might find yourself finding yourself along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Leslie, Kirsten, Christine, & Aaron
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Setlist of Life