A Boomer and GenXer Walk into a Bar

Is Anyone Out There? Breaking The 24/ 7 News Spell S:2E:34

First off, you'll hear what goes on in the studio before we start recording!! The news used to have an off switch. Now it lives in our pockets, follows us across every app, and somehow convinces us we’re “behind” if we stop watching. We get into how the 24/7 news cycle started. From there, we connect the dots to modern cable news, social media, and the algorithm-driven feeds that keep serving more of whatever spikes our attention. We talk about sensationalism, “breaking news” culture, and how a couple of carefully chosen words can tilt a story and shape public opinion.  Then we go practical. We unpack doomscrolling, chronic stress, anxiety, insomnia, and cognitive overload, plus the not-so-fun truth that if you’re not paying for the platform, you’re the product. We wrap with simple guardrails: time limits, curating trustworthy sources, slowing down before you share, and even a privacy reminder for public Wi-Fi when you travel. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck in the scroll, and leave a review if it helps. What’s one news habit you want to change this week? email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

Portion Distortion In America- Supersize Me!! S:02E:33

A pork sandwich that spills over the plate. Fries that look like a pile meant for a whole table. Drinks that feel like a small bucket with a lid. American portion sizes can be so big that visitors are genuinely stunned, and we think that shock is a clue worth following. We’re getting ready to travel, and it kicks off a blunt, funny, and surprisingly practical talk about how the United States drifted into supersize culture. We connect the dots between fast food marketing, the late-70s and 80s push for “bigger is better,” and how “only 60 cents more” can translate into a much higher daily calorie intake over time. We also get into why processed foods make it easier to overeat, why many “single serving” items are nowhere near a single serving anymore, and how oversized plates at home and in restaurants quietly rewrite what we think is normal. What’s the most absurd portion size you’ve seen where you live? Subscribe, share this with a friend who always finishes the basket of chips, and leave a review. Then reply or email us your local portion-size horror story and your best leftover move. email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

Traditions On The Brink-Technology or Geography Changing Things? S:2E:32

A gravel driveway, a motorcycle, and one quiet moment of bargaining with Jesus turns into a low-speed pileup at home and a broken rib for Dr. Domain. We start there because it’s exactly the kind of everyday story that reveals something bigger: the choices we make ripple outward, and life feels different when the old rules of living together start to blur. From that laugh-so-you-don’t-cry opener, we zoom out into generational differences, traditions, and etiquette. We talk about handwritten letters, thank you notes, and why cursive writing is becoming a lost skill. We wrestle with the big question behind all of it: is digital communication simply the evolution of modern life, or is it quietly stripping away effort, tone, and thoughtfulness?  Then we go full nostalgia and reality check: drive-in theaters, rotary phones, Rand McNally maps, and the death of the landline. We connect the dots between technology, cost, and convenience, including how online shopping and disappearing malls change community life. We also talk family dinners, holiday gatherings, long work hours, public behavior, and the small respect rituals that used to be taught, like taking your hat off at the table and thinking twice about what you wear in public spaces. Listen, then tell us what tradition you miss most and which one you’re glad is gone. If you like the show, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

No, I Will Not Donate At Checkout, I'm Not Rounding Up S:02E:31

The cashier asks one tiny question and suddenly you are on the spot: “Do you want to round up for charity?” We get why people freeze, why it can feel like a guilt trap, and why “sure, it’s just pennies” is not always the simple, feel-good move it seems. We get practical about charity transparency and nonprofit overhead. We talk about red flags like vague spending, glossy fundraising events, and leadership pay that feels wildly out of step with the mission, using the Wounded Warrior Project controversy as a cautionary example. We also share how we personally vet organizations by checking annual reports and financial disclosures, plus why scams and lookalike charity names make quick register donations even riskier. We wrap with better options that keep you in control: giving locally, donate directly to a family or a verified program and support local groups . Subscribe, share this with a friend who always feels pressured at checkout, and leave a review with your take: do you round up or hit “no” and why? email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com

Term Limits Could Fix Washington If We Do It Right S:2E:30

People love to shout “term limits” like it’s a magic spell, but the minute you ask how it would actually work, things get messy fast. We start with our usual real-life chaos, including concussions, pickleball injuries, thrift-store living, and a legendary argument about a wildly expensive four-slice toaster, then pivot into a serious question: why do career politicians keep winning if voters say they want change?  We break down what term limits would mean for Congress, the Senate, and the Supreme Court, and why federal term limits require a constitutional amendment. Along the way, we talk about the House as the “hot house” built for fast public reaction and the Senate as the “cool house” designed for stability, plus how incumbency advantage works in the real world through fundraising, gerrymandering, and name recognition. We also dig into the quieter power centers, like lobbyists and special interest groups that keep influence even when elected officials rotate out.  Then we wrestle with the part nobody wants to admit: the debate often slides into age, but the deeper issue is complacency and competence. We ask whether track record should matter more than birthdays, how “succession planning” might translate to government without undermining elections, and why a fixed Supreme Court term limit like 18 years keeps coming up. If you care about political reform, government accountability, campaign finance pressure, and a system that doesn’t reward staying put forever, this conversation will give you a lot to argue with.  Subscribe for more, share the episode with your most opinionated friend, and leave a review so more people can find us. What would your term-limit plan be, and why? email: boomerandgenxer@gmail.com