In this episode of The Setlist of Life podcast, the Dolly 4 Sue bandmates reunite after the holidays for their signature blend of unscripted conversation, music nostalgia, and midlife humor. The episode kicks off with a discussion about "It Never Rains in Southern California" by Albert Hammond, inspired by Kirsten's rainy California trip, and explores the quirky world of rock flute in classic music.

The gang shares their post-holiday experiences, from keeping Christmas decorations up well into January to embracing the Scandinavian concept of "hygge" (cozy winter living). They tackle the annual debate about New Year's resolutions, with most agreeing they lack the follow-through, and discuss why the start of a new school year feels more significant than January 1st for fresh starts.

A highlight of the episode is a listener-created murder mystery featuring the bandmates as suspects in a pickleball-related poisoning case. The interactive game showcases the podcast's community engagement and playful dynamic. The conversation winds through topics including Diana Ross's impressive New Year's Eve performance, the Brooklyn Bridge TikTok prank that drew thousands, and a discussion about Las Vegas's Sphere venue. Throughout, the podcast delivers authentic conversations about parenting, music, and navigating midlife with humor and relatability—perfect for music enthusiasts balancing family life and nostalgic for classic rock's golden era.

• Skip January 1st for your fresh start - The bandmates reveal that back-to-school season feels more motivating for personal change than New Year's resolutions, which typically fail by "Quitters Day" (January 9th). The rhythm of a new school year—even for adults—taps into decades of conditioning for fresh beginnings.

• Keep your Christmas decorations up longer - Multiple band members embrace extended holiday décor through winter's darkest months, prioritizing coziness and mental health over arbitrary calendar dates. The aesthetic and mood benefits of twinkling lights can outweigh social pressure to take everything down immediately.

• Celebrate New Year's on East Coast time (when you're on the West Coast) - Why stay up until midnight local time? Kirsten's California relatives watch the ball drop at 9pm Pacific, then head to bed at a reasonable hour—genius time zone exploitation that honors the tradition without the exhaustion.

Resources & References Mentioned:

• Wired Magazine's annual game recommendations - Kirsten's cousin discovered "Herding Cats" board game from their year-end best games list
• Hygge concept - Scandinavian approach to embracing winter coziness discussed as alternative to "white-knuckling" through dark months
• The Sphere in Las Vegas - Immersive entertainment venue featuring "The Wizard of Oz" experience with 4D effects (wind, scents, etc.)
• Stranger Things series - Complete watch-through mentioned, with discussion of disappointing finale despite excellent earlier seasons
• Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve - Featured Diana Ross's performance at age 82
• Anthropic Rock prank - TikTok trend involving fake expensive rocks as gifts

Interesting Details:

• "Duper rating" - Pickleball skill ranking system (Leslie proudly maintains a 4.25)
• Quitters Day falls on January 9th (average day people abandon New Year's resolutions)
• Post-Coachella charity collections offer cheap camping gear from abandoned festival supplies
• Brooklyn Bridge New Year's prank drew thousands based on false TikTok claims of celebration

"New Year's resolutions are just elaborate plans to feel bad about yourself by January 9th. Save energy—embrace your chaos, keep the tree up, and remember: realistic is the harshest word of the year."

Join the bandmates of Dolly 4 Sue for their fourth and final advent calendar episode as they celebrate the holiday season with cheese, hot sauce, Bailey's flavors, and murder mysteries. This Christmas-themed episode features discussions about family traditions, gift-giving philosophies, pickleball equipment, and the challenges of maintaining festive magic as kids grow older. The hosts dive into unexpected topics like Swedish crows cleaning up cigarette butts, AI-generated content on social media, and the struggle to find authentic new Christmas music. Between sampling various cheeses (including a memorable bruschetta that set the bar impossibly high), testing ghost pepper hot sauce, and solving holiday-themed murder mysteries, the conversation flows naturally through parenting moments, game nights playing Catan, and the evolution from elaborate holiday preparations to simpler celebrations. The episode captures the authentic experience of midlife—balancing nostalgia with present realities, finding humor in the mundane, and cherishing genuine connections over perfect presentations. Whether discussing homemade skillet pizza, Turkish coffee preferences, or the disappointment of mealy cheese, these friends demonstrate that the best holiday gift is showing up authentically for the people who matter most.

• Let siblings battle it out during game night - Sometimes the best parenting strategy is strategic non-intervention; while your kids compete to destroy each other at Catan, you can quietly claim victory • Stuff your own stocking - Skip the CVS scramble and disappointment; curate your own holiday treats and actually get what you want (nice shampoo beats random tchotchkes) • One exceptional experience beats consistent mediocrity - That single perfect cheese from the advent calendar created more joy and conversation than all the "fine" ones combined; quality over quantity applies to everything

1. Create low-stakes family traditions - Simple activities like homemade skillet pizza or game nights become cherished memories without requiring Pinterest-perfect execution
2. Embrace "good enough" parenting - Release the pressure of elaborate birthday parties and constant engagement; your kids will survive (and maybe even thrive) with less intervention
3. Shift from stuff to experiences - Consider replacing gift exchanges with trips or shared activities that create memories rather than clutter

1. Authenticity trumps perfection - The hosts' willingness to be real about parenting struggles, changing priorities, and imperfect holiday celebrations resonates more than curated content
2. Shared mediocrity bonds us - Testing disappointing cheeses and solving poorly-written murder mysteries created connection through collective experience, not exceptional quality
3. Strategic invisibility has advantages - In competitive situations (games, family dynamics, life), sometimes flying under the radar while others battle yields the best outcomes

1. Curate your digital consumption carefully - Question AI-generated content, verify emotional stories, and recognize that social media requires critical thinking—not blind trust
2. Build collaborative problem-solving - Games like Catan that keep everyone engaged throughout teach negotiation, strategy, and reading social dynamics
3. Create space for organic conversation - Unstructured time with friends over simple activities (cheese tasting, murder mysteries) allows authentic connection without forced agendas

Resources & Topics Mentioned:

• Catan board game - Strategy game that takes 2-3 hours, keeps all players engaged throughout
• Movie recommendation: "This is Christmas" (Amazon Prime) - British film about train commuters forming community
• Swedish crow initiative - Crows trained to collect cigarette butts in exchange for seeds (verified as real, not AI)

Music References:

• "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" - Gene Autry (also covered by Bruce Springsteen)
• "Nobody" - Sylvia (1982 country/pop crossover)
• Paul Anka songs discussed: "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Puppy Love," "Diana"

"You either die a mom who makes homemade pizzas and elaborate birthday parties, or you live long enough to let your kids destroy each other at Catan while you claim victory—both versions are valid."