Older Women & Friends: Stories of Aging Well
Award-winning author Jane Leder hosts this podcast celebrating the wisdom and experiences of older women. Through honest conversations and storytelling, she and her guests explore aging, healthspan, identity, purpose, and relationships. The show challenges age-related stereotypes and highlights the contributions of women over 50. It offers inspiration and insight for those interested in aging well and personal growth.
Episodes
How Do We Age Well? Social Gerontologist Sharon Rose on Creating a Home, Life & Community That Work for You
Real women. Real experts. Real conversations about what it actually means to grow older—and why the best parts of life may still surprise and excite us.What does it really mean to age well, and how can we prepare for the life we want in the years ahead?In this episode of Older Women & Friends, Jane Leder talks with Sharon Rose, a social gerontologist who specializes in aging in place, age-frie
My Single Mom Never Quit: Neither Have I: Eva Kennedy on Growing Up Black, Finding Her Purpose, Finding Her Voice
What happens when the career, identity, and titles that once defined your life no longer feel like enough? In this powerful episode of Older Women & Friends, Jane Leder welcomes empowerment speaker, leadership development professional, author, and life coach Eva Kennedy for an honest conversation about purpose, resilience, self-discovery, and remembering who you are.Eva spent 29 years building
Reclaim Your Creativity: Claudine Marchand on Reconnecting With The Joy In Your Life
It's amazing, but research shows that 98 percent of five-year-olds rate themselves as a creative genius. But that number drops to two percent by adulthood. Creativity gets trained out of us, and we need to figure out how to get it back. Today's guest, therapist, coach, and wisdom sharer Claudine Marchand has a toolbox filled with science and ancient traditions. She was born in Morocco, now lives i
From Geology Professor to Global Explorer: Dr. Tamie Jovanelly on Reinvention, Adventure, & Purpose
In this episode of Older Women & Friends, I welcome geologist, author, educator, entrepreneur, and world traveler Dr. Tamie Jovanelly for a fascinating conversation about reinvention, purpose, adventure, and creating a life without limits. After nearly two decades as a successful geology professor, internationally funded researcher, and Fulbright scholar, Tamie made the courageous d
Reinvention & Creativity: Judy Norton on Life Beyond The Waltons
In this inspiring episode of Older Women & Friends, Jane Leder sits down with actress, writer, producer, director, singer, and lifelong creative Judy Norton, best known for portraying Mary Ellen Walton on the iconic television series The Waltons. Together, they explore how creativity, resilience, and a willingness to reinvent yourself can lead to a meaningful and fulfilling life at every age.J
Good Grief w/ Jane Leder
The older we get, the more loss and grief we experience. For me, my brother's death by suicide when I was 33 and he was 30 turned my life upside down.I turned to writing a book to help me work through my grief. Dead Serious: A Book For Teenagers About Teen Suicide tells the stories of parents who lost a child to suicide, teens who attempted suicide, and friends of teens who took their own lives.I
Living Without Limits: Evelyn Kelly Shares Her Life of Purpose, Travel & Curiosity at Age 91
Evelyn challenges many of society's assumptions about aging. She explains why curiosity, lifelong learning, resilience, and purpose matter far more than the number of candles on a birthday cake. Jane Leder sits down with Evelyn Kelly, a 91-year-old author, world traveler, professor emeritus of genetics, and passionate advocate for healthy aging to explore what it truly means to live a vibrant, pur
From Widowhood to Reinvention Diane Heiler on Grief, Healing & Finding Joy Again
Jane sits down with Diane Heiler to talk about her memoir, A Widow's Fire. Diane shares the remarkable story of losing her beloved husband of 25 years to lung cancer and the emotional reality of becoming his caregiver during the final years of his life. She speaks openly about anticipatory grief, caregiver burnout, and the overwhelming loneliness that followed his passing, while revealing ho
Crafting Your Best Later Life with Erika Andersen
In this episode of Older Women & Friends, Jane Leder welcomes bestselling author, leadership expert, and aging well advocate Erika Andersen for a thought-provoking conversation about what it truly means to create your best life after 60.Drawing from her acclaimed book, The New Old: Crafting Your Best Later Life, Erika shares a practical roadmap for aging well, finding purpose, embracing change
From Fashion Maven to Pro-Aging Advocate w/ the "Queen of Jeans" Diane Gilman
Jane Leder sits down with legendary fashion designer, entrepreneur, breast cancer survivor, and pro-aging advocate Diane Gilman for an unforgettable conversation about women over 50, aging well, reinvention, purpose, confidence, and creating a meaningful life at every age.Known worldwide as the “Queen of Jeans,” Diane Gilman transformed the fashion industry after age 60 by designing jeans specific
Mother-Daughter Relationships After 50: Healing, Purpose & Aging Well | Debra Mandel, Ph.D.
This episode explores how our earliest family experiences—especially the complex bond between mothers and daughters—shape our mental health, emotional patterns, self-worth, and relationships across the lifespan. From childhood attachment and unmet emotional needs to adulthood independence and identity, this discussion uncovers the hidden layers that influence how women navigate life after 50, reti
Financial Independence for Women Over 50: Retirement, Divorce Recovery & Aging Well | Regina McCann Hess
What happens when women over 50 are forced to take control of their finances after divorce, retirement, caregiving, or the loss of a partner? Or what about women who want to be financially savvy at any time in their lives?In this episode of Older Women & Friends: Stories of Aging Well, host Jane Leder sits down with wealth management expert and Super Woman Wealth author Regina McCann Hess to d
Body Liberation After 60: Letting Go of Diet Culture & Rewriting Your Body Story with Deb Benfield
Oh, boy, this is an episode that a ton of older women need to hear, and that includes yours truly!In this episode, my guest is Deb Benfield, registered dietitian, nutritionist, and author . Our focus: how older women can break free from decades of body shame, ageism, and diet culture—and begin rewriting their relationship with their bodies with compassion, dignity, and truth.For many women over 5
Gray Divorce & Second Chances: Why Older Women Are Redefining Love, Marriage, and Purpose After 50 w/ Dr. Becky Whetstone
In this compelling episode of Older Women and Friends, host Jane Leder | Aging Well Advocate for Older Women sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Dr. Becky Whetstone to explore one of the fastest-growing social trends today: gray divorce—and why more older women are choosing to redefine love, relationships, and personal fulfillment after 50.With over two decades of clinical experi
60 Is Not The New 50; 70 is Not The New 60: Redefining Aging Well with Dr. Tracey Gendron
What does it really mean to age well?In this thought-provoking episode of Older Women and Friends, host Jane Leder sits down with renowned gerontologist Tracey Gendron, author of Aging Unmasked: Exploring Ageism and How to End It. We cover a lot of ground: • Why aging is about growth, development, and lifelong learning• How older women can embrace their age with confidence and authenticity• T
The Cure to Loneliness May Be In Your Closet: Aging Well Through Style, Confidence, & Connection with Mollie Kaye
In this thought-provoking and uplifting episode of “Older Women and Friends,” host Jane Leder | Aging Well Advocate for Older Women, sits down with singer, writer, and vintage fashion enthusiast Mollie Kaye for a powerful conversation about loneliness, visibility, personal expression, and the surprising ways older women can create meaningful connections in everyday life.As many women move through
Aging Freely: Rethinking Growing Older As Something to Embrace, Not To Resist w/ Kat Miller
"Without IMPERNANCE There Is No Expansion" - Kat MillerWelcome to Older Women and Friends, where host Jane Leder | Aging Well Advocate for Older Women, meets fascinating women who are redefining what it means to grow older with wisdom, independence, and purpose.In this powerful episode, Jane talks with psychotherapist Kat Miller, who challenges everything that we think we know about aging. While m
Solo Agers: Older Americans Living Alone w/ Sara Zeff Geber
Join me and guest Sara Zeph Geber, an expert on solo aging, as we discuss the growing number of adults 50+ choosing to live independently. This episode explores the opportunities and challenges of aging without immediate family support, offering insights into financial planning, healthcare, social connections, and building intentional communities. Sara and I highlight the positives of solo aging,
Grandma Luge: Olympic Athlete Anne Abernathy on Aging, Resilience, and Defying Limits
#aging #older women #wisdom #resilience #self-care #determination #purpose #courageIf you watch the Winter Olympics, you have seen and heard about luge, a sport where athletes race down an icy track on a small sled, lying on their backs with their feet pointing forward, reaching speeds over 90 mph. At age 34, today’s guest, Anne Abernathy, set the record as the oldest female to compete in lug
Who Is That Woman Behind The Mic? w/ Jane Leder
I've been asked a zillion times to do an episode about me and to answer many of the same questions I ask guests. Listeners (now viewers, too) are curious about who I am, how I started a podcast, the books I've written, the experience of losing a brother to suicide, and life as an 80-year-old. It's taken me three years to get to this solo episode, not because I underestimated the value, but because
Keep The Memories & Not The Stuff: Rightsizing w/ Jeannine Bryant
When I think about moving from a home that my husband and I have shared for 32 years, I break out in a cold sweat. There's the kitchen with its overabundance of antique bowls and gadgets, my great-grandmother's china, my office with decades worth of my books, research materials, and file folders. And then there's my husband's studio with . . . Well, don't get me started. So this is where Jeannine
The Midlife Gals Gone Gray, w/ sisters Kelly and Sally Jackson
Kelly Jackson, 73, and Sally, 75, are sisters who have lived together without husbands or children for almost 20 years. They reconnected as live-in caregivers for their mother, and during the four years they cared for her, they turned to blogging and short videos to keep their spirits up. They used the handle, "Midlife Gal's Gone Gray," and their mission was to ensure that women in their 60s, 70s,
Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up with Patricia Ryan Madson
In this conversation, Patricia Madson, a drama professor emeritus and author, shares her journey from a curious and adventurous child to a seasoned educator in improvisation.She discusses the importance of embracing mistakes, the transformative power of improvisation in personal and professional life, and the significance of findingpurpose and gratitude in everyday experiences. Patricia also intro
Think Cannabis Is Only for Getting High? Think Again. Health Benefits for Women & Men as We Age w/ Kelly Judge Goldberg
Haven't made a trip to your local cannabis dispensary? Haven't talked to your physician about a medical marijuana card? Don't have a clue how cannabis may help with all kinds of health issues, from insomnia to anxiety, from certain serious diseases to focus/concentration? Or, what the hell? Maybe for relaxation and fun. How did cannabis get a bad rep in so many circles? What role has racism play
"Likeable Badass: How Women Get The Success They Deserve" with the author, Alison Fragale, PhD
This episode, "Likeable Badass" with author/PhD Alison Fagale, covers so many bases that I've chosen more of a summary or an outline. As I wrote on another site, Alison is a Dynamo who knows her stuff inside and out because she's lived it, taught it, and written about it.What is it? It is a woman who studies people, the science of people. It is a toolbox that women (and men) can use to hone their
Is This It for the Rest of My Life? Starting Over w/ Denise Taylor, PhD
At 60, Denise Taylor began again: downsized, got a divorce, embraced single living, and set off on a journey that included a vision quest, game ranger training, and time living with a Maasai tribe. At 64, she completed her doctorate exploring how people find meaning after full-time work. That research became the seed for ThriveSpan, one of nine books, a model, a philosophy, and a way of living mor
60 is NOT the new 50: 70 is NOT the new 60 w/ Tracey Gendron, Ph.D.
"We don't want to be younger versions of ourselves: We've worked too hard to get where we are today.""Aging is a process of living." Guest Tracey Gendron, professor, author, and activist, reminds listeners that we don't want to be younger versions of ourselves: We've worked too hard to get where we are today. However, the way we learn about aging is filled with misconceptions. We've never learned
Why More Couples Are Living Apart Together w/ Vicki Larson
It's a new trend, well, maybe not that new. Couples in committed relationships are choosing to live apart. Interesting, eh? The couple might be married, maybe not. Perhaps they are divorced; maybe a partner/spouse has passed away. Whatever the circumstances, these couples agree that they don't have to share the same space to have a happy, healthy relationship. Vicki Larson, today's guest, has wri
Happiness Is An Inside Job w/ Maria Leonard Olsen
Maria Leonard Olsen is a civil litigation lawyer, a journalist, and an author. When she turned 50, she got divorced, got sober, and became an empty nester. For the first time in her life, she was living alone. And for the first time after 15 years as a full-time mom, she had to find a law firm that would hire her. Many women would have folded under the pressure, the loneliness, the Herculean
Staying Sane When The World Is In Turmoil w/ Gina Vild
Join me in this enlightening episode as I sit down with Gina Vild, author of The Two Most Important Days: How to Find Your Purpose and Live a Happier and Healthier Life. I don't know about you, but I've been in a constant state of fight or flight. It feels as if the United States and the rest of the world are upside down and that there is very little we can do to find joy and awe. Enter Gina Vild
Painting with Music, w/ Conductor Roit Feldenkreis
Join me as I delve into the world of classical music with Roit Feldenkreis, a trailblazing conductor and consultant. Discover Roit's journey from a small village in Israel to conducting orchestras worldwide, and how she integrates her musical expertise into corporate leadership. This episode explores the challenges and triumphs of being a female conductor in a male-dominated field, and the innovat
What Are They Up To Now? The Exciting Escapades of Three of Your Favorite Guests
Three of the past guests on "Older Women & Friends" talk about what they've been up to since we last spoke. All three of their stories represent the exciting escapades of older women who continue to smash stereotypes to simitherenes.Melissa Davey: At age 65, she left the corporate world to follow a dream of becoming a filmmaker. And, boy, her story is one of determination, creativity, and succ
Eliminate Assumptions & Listen to Your Gut with Dian Griesel, Ph.D.
Dian Griesel, Ph.D., a renowned perception analyst and hypnotherapist, has dedicated her career to understanding how our conscious and unconscious beliefs shape our perceptions and influence every decision we make, both personally and professionally.The middle of five siblings, Dian grew up doing her best to balance the "uppers" and the "lowers." She tried to be non-disruptive, not to c
My Mother, Her Death, Her Life: w/ New York Times Bestselling Author, Jill Bialosky
The Woman Behind The MotherPoet, novelist, essayist, and editor Jill Bialosky had wanted to write about her mother for some time, but she was busy with other projects, and the timing was not right. But then her mother passed away from Alzheimer's during COVID, and Jill, unable to attend the burial in another city, watched the abbreviated burial on FaceTime. "It was," she said, "very difficult to p
Rewirement, Not Retirement w/ Clare Beckton
"I tell women all the time that embracing one's authentic self in life takes time. It is like peeling multiple layers of an onion," said Clare. "You want to be the same person, no matter where you are."Clare Beckton grew up "very poor." Her family lived in a three-room shack with no running water. What she understood early on was how power was wielded by her father, her brothers, and the men in t
TOO OLD FOR EATING DISORDERS?: THINK AGAIN w/ Michele Mason
"Anorexia of aging" may affect up to 18% of individuals 65+, more women than men.Contrary to popular opinion, eating disorders (EDs) are not just a serious health condition for adolescents. Nope, older women, often during menopause, can develop an ED. If you struggled with an ED as a teen or earlier, your chances of sliding back increase.Today's guest, Michele Mason (60), is a 44-year survivor of
"Wisdom Whisperers:" Women Up Ahead With A Playbook to Share w/ Melinda Blau
Melinda Blau is 81, but many of her dear friends are much older. These women populate her new book, The Wisdom Whisperers, and provide younger women (at 80, I must be a spring chicken!) with a playbook to draw from and relate to our own lives. When Melinda wrote her sixteenth book, she wanted to title it, "I want what she has!" She was deeply moved and impressed by the older women, most of whom w
Laughing With Your Girlfriends w/ Carole Montgomery
Maybe you've seen the Showtime special, "Funny Women of A Certain Age" or "More Funny Women of A Certain Age," or -- you guessed it--even "More Women of A Certain Age." Today's guest, comedian Carole Montgomery, is the mover and shaker behind the shows and continues to tour with a stellar cast. Women show up in carloads, busloads, campers, and hoot and holler at the uninhibited, outrageous comedy
Letting Go of Should & Embracing Want: The Journey of a Biracial Woman Under Apartheid And Beyond w/ Wendy Alexander
Wendy Alexander grew up under apartheid in South Africa. Until she was seven, she felt like most other kids. That changed the day the police insisted that she and her family get off a whites-only beach. "I was no longer a child," Wendy said. "Once you know racism and segregation, you know it."Wendy's dream was to leave South Africa; while the dream was deferred, she and her family immigrated to Au
Storyteller Shelley Fraser Mickle Talks About Polio, NPR, Humor, and the Love of a Dog
"So the light went off in my five-year-old head, and I said there must be something in stories that we need. Stories are like air or water. So, I decided right then and there that I wanted to be a storyteller, a writer." _______ Shelley Fraser MickleWhile her route was circuitous, as most journeys are, Shelley became an award-winning author and the storyteller incarnate for six year
No Way Out of This: Loving A Partner with Alzheimer's w/ Sue Lick
“No Way Out of This: Living with a Partner with Alzheimer’s.” Sue Lick’s husband was fourteen years older, but that didn’t seem to matter. Yes, she loved the Beatles; he listened to crooners. But they sang together, played music together, and shared a love of reading, travel, and so much more.“I thought he’d live forever,” Sue said.It was her husband Fred who first mentioned that his memory w
The Science of Aging Healthfully w/ Gillian Lockitch, retired MD, Medical Professor Emerita
“You inherit your genetic blueprint from your parents. But you construct the person that you become. Just because you have a birthday every year, your body need not age yearly.” _________ Dr. Gillian Lockitch, medical specialist, pro
A Tale of a Geriatric Physical Therapist: Adapt, Adapt, Adapt with Judith Horn
Judith Horn was a geriatric physical therapist with decades of experience behind her, plus years as a specialist. The specialty is relatively new, but Judith saw the need to work with older patients whose needs differ greatly from others.What is the value of seeing a geriatric physical therapist? Like any health issue, we choose to see a physician who specializes. Someone with a heart problem se
Older Women Living With ADHD w/ Leonie-Ruth Acland
What kinds of changes do you make after a serious health crisis? For Leonie-Ruth Acland the changes after suffering a stroke and taking a year to recover resulted in a recommitment to the mentoring and coaching of women and to her connection with nature on so many levels. Then at age 67, Leonie-Ruth was diagnosed with ADHD. Until then, she'd always wondered why she didn't fit the mold, why staying
Taking Calculated Risks w/ Helen Hirsh Spence
Are you a risk taker? Do you thrive on trying new things, new things that may take you out of your comfort zone?Helen Hirsh Spence knows all about taking calculated risks. She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, among other peaks, reclaimed her life after a bout of depression, and worked in places like Bolivia, and Honduras. She believes in getting out of her comfort zone to "expand, reach, and learn." Oh, d
The Good GoodBye: Talking About Death Won't Kill You w/ Gail Rubin, Thanatologist & Author
What's so damn funny about death? Nothing, most folks would say. But not Gail Rubin, Thanatologist/Death Educator.Let's face it: death is guaranteed 100 percent. It may be the "party that no event planner wants to plan." But don't include Gail among the party poopers.How did Gail become a death educator? That's a long story but suffice it to say that Gail didn't wake up one morning and say, "I wa
Disconnected: Love On The Spectrum with Eleanor Vincent
From the outside, Eleanor Vincent's childhood appeared idyllic. But behind the veneer of a loving, supportive environment was a darker secret: her mother was depressed, Eleanor was abused, and both her parents were same-sex gays and bitterly unhappy. "Our job--my siblings' and mine -- was to protect our parents and not let their secret out." During a year when her father lived in New York to purs
Grandparent Encouragement Officer (GEO): Creating Beautiful Connections with Grandchildren w/ Kerry Byrne, PhD
What can grandparents do to foster a strong relationship? How can a grandparent be the GEO, Grand Parent Officer?Are you a grandparent who will spend time with your grandchildren, particularly around the holidays? If not, how will you share and engage with your grandchildren from a distance at any time of year?There are 47 million grandparents in the United States, with an average age of 67. This
Sleep Talk For Women: Sleeping Pills, Dementia, Mortality with Lucinda Sykes
"My favorite species is the human species." ----- Lucinda Sykes, retired MDDid you know that new science links prescribed sleeping pills to an increase in your chances of dementia and Alzheimers?Sleeping pills don't put you to sleep; they sedate the brain and prevent it from giving itself a power wash that gets rid of material ultimately connected to disease.This episode's guest is Lucida Sykes, r
"Aging Sideways:" A New Way of Looking at Getting Older" with Jeanette Leardi
Did you know that sometime between 2030 and 2035 it will be the first time in American history that more people will be 65+ than people 18 years and younger?Crazy!Today's guest, gerontologist Jeanette Leardi, is one of this podcast's favorite guests. We first talked in June 2003, and since then she has a new book out, Aging Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives on Getting Older.Jeanette's story is f
The Thinking Patient: Empowering Patient-Physician Communication for Better Health with Dana Sherwin
How did your recent doctor's appointment go? Did you get the care you needed? Were all your questions answered? Did you feel as if you were a valued patient whose health mattered?If you're like many patients--often older women--the answer to some of these questions is "No!". Everything was rushed. You were in and out too quickly—the time you spent jotting down questions before your appointment see
All About Your Pelvic Floor: w/ Nabila Noor, MD
What is the pelvic floor? Where is it located in the body? What does it do? What are the potential issues created by a weak pelvic floor?You might be surprised to learn that millions of young and older women experience problems--many of them uncomfortable and embarrassing--with their pelvic floor.Dr. Nabila Noor, a urogynecologist and physician specializing in pelvic floor problems, joins me in t
Changing Those Damn Habits That Get In Your Way with Ronnie Loaiza
Yep, we are all caught up in habitual ways of thinking and acting. We turn on our default programming to autopilot and more often than not talk to our boss, partner, or child the same way we have forever.Ronnie Loaiza is a certified life coach and a certified habit coach. Who knew there was something called a habit coach? Ronnie explains that she helps people create doable habits that get them to
From the Boxing Ring to the Ashram with Deborah Charnes
Deborah Charnes has been a solo traveler since she was sixteen. She has been around the world on a quest of sorts to learn as much as she can about the cultures, traditions, and people of other countries. During her travels, she has met mentors and gurus, each of whom taught her something important about achieving health and happiness. Her book, FROM THE BOXING RING TO THE ASHRAM, is a distillatio
Trying Not To Die: A Breast Cancer Warrior with Deb Krier
Send us a textBased on the most recent data available, 272,454 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2022, 42,211 women died from the disease..Deb Krier got the call that most women over fifty dread. She’d barely made it home from her annual mammogram when the phone rang, and her doctor told her to return for a second mammogram and biopsies that thankfully came back negative. The initi
The Gift of Longevity with Maddy Dychtwald
Send us a Text Message.Women over 50 are a force to reckon with. There are 63 million of us. On average, we women live six years longer than men, yet, sadly, many older women spend on average the last 14 years of their lives in a cascade of poor health. “Men die quicker, but women get sicker.” Maddy Dychtwald, national best-selling author and co-founder of Age World, is out to change that. H
Insomnia and Women Over 50 with Lucinda Sykes, MD
Send us a Text Message.THIS IS A REPOST OF AN EPISODE THAT FIRST RAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2022. IT HAS HAD MORE LISTENS THAN ANY OTHER EPISODE on "OLDER WOMEN & FRIENDS." ENJOY!If you have a sleep problem, you’re not alone. More than 30 percent of women over 50 are dealing with sleep issues. You’ve probably tried any number of solutions. Sadly, nothing has worked, or the sleep you get do
Moms Who Dare with Jodi Silverman
Send us a Text Message.How can playful dares and simple activities transform your journey, no matter your age? Join us as we chat with the vibrant Jodi Silverman, who shares her inspiring path from playful childhood adventures in Northeast Philadelphia to becoming a beacon of joy for midlife women. Jodi takes us through her career transitions from retail to outside sales, and finally to entreprene
A Search For Deep Connections with Martie McNabb
Send us a Text Message.Are some or most of your precious memories stuffed in a box (boxes) and stuck in a closet? Have you sworn you’ll organize the photos, keepsakes, and letters from an old boyfriend but just haven’t found the time? It’s understandable. You’ve been crazy busy. But you’re not getting any younger, and in those boxes are stories you want to share with your children and o
From Lawyer to Poet with Lynne Thompson
Send us a Text Message.This episode is the first of several that celebrates older female artists. If you or someone you know fits the bill, please email me at j.leder@comcast.net.What makes an artist tick? How can she find the time to create, given all the demands of everyday life? What barriers do female artists face that many men do not? How important is having a purpose in life about whic
Finding Your Creative Power At Any Age with Janis Johnston
Send us a Text Message.As older women and men, we have seen a lot: suffering, miracles, and so much more. "And we're not finished yet," says guest Janis Johnston, retired therapist, author, and blogger. "We can ask ourselves what is the next thing we might learn. What is meaningful? Answering questions like these helps us find creativity in our lives." Okay, I can hear the rumbling: I'm neve
The Long Distance Grandparent with Kerry Byrne
Send us a Text Message. Here's a whopper: there are approximately 67 million grandparents in the U.S. today. Slightly more than twenty-six percent of them in the U.S. are mid-lifers. That's crazy, right? Many grandparents are still working, many have older children living in the house, and many may be taking care of their parents. While there is little research, millions of grandp
Eightysomethings: Letting Go, Aging Well, Finding Unexpected Happiness w/ Katharine Esty
Send us a Text Message. For some of us, turning 80 is right around the corner; for others, 80 might seem a lifetime away. No matter your age, listening to the stories of older women and the wisdom they’ve earned can be instructive and uplifting. I don’t know about you, but every time I read about someone who has lived beyond the current life expectancy averages of 79.3 years for women an
Late Bloomer Living with Yvonne Marchese
Send us a Text Message.I believe in the power of stories, and Yvonne Marchese's story is a doozy. She is what she calls a "serial pivotal," person, a person who has changed course many times in her life. For many years, she was filled with frustration, anger, and even depression. The future held little promise. But when she was in her late 40s, she had what she calls a "Mid-Life Awaken
Friendships That No Longer Work & What To Do About Them with Jan Yager
Send us a Text Message.In the late 70s, Jan Yager was single and convinced she'd never find a life partner. So, she turned her attention, research, and writing to the importance of friendships and the many ways friends impact our lives. Studies show that a network of good friends makes our lives more satisfying and that, as we age, it is important to replenish our circle of friends.Yager div
Life As An All-You-Can-Eat Buffet with Diana Place
Send us a Text Message. One of the first questions I ask a guest is to describe her childhood. It never fails that the child they describe is in so many ways the older woman they’ve become, As either a Jesuit or Aristotle said, “Show me a child until he (she) is seven and I will show you the man (woman.)” Diana Place is the founder of the 333 Collective, QUEST Gathering & Celebratio
Badass Women In The Workplace with Bonnie Marcus
Send us a Text Message.If you read Bonnie Marcus' second book, Not Done Yet, and listen to her podcast, "Badass Women At Any Age," you'll discover a woman who knows her sh-- and isn't afraid to tell readers and listeners that she's pissed, real pissed, because older women in the workplace continue to be overlooked and passed over. Bonnie may have you laughing with her sassy, savvy approach, but th
Love After 50: How to Find It, Enjoy It, and Keep It with Francine Russo
Send us a Text Message. Either you or someone you know is single for the first time in decades. Add to that the number of older adults, particularly women, who have been widowed, and you are in a tsunami of people 65+ who are looking for love. Author, journalist, and relationship expert Francine Russo knows more than most about the loss of a partner. She has been widowed twice, fir
Older Women In The Media w/ Susan Douglas, professor of Communication Studies, University of Michigan
Send us a Text Message.It's become a cliche: older women in the media are portrayed as mothers, grandmothers, washed-up lovers, mother-in-laws. Think of the invasive mother-in-law in "Everyone Loves Raymond." And the same goes for "Steinfeld." And then think of how men in their 60s, particularly in movies, are paired with women in their late 20s or early 30s. James Bond gets older every year
SuperAgers with Emily Rogalski, Director, SuperAgers Research Initiative
Send us a Text Message. I’m a big fan of the AARP Bulletin and was particularly taken by a cover article titled Super Agers. I’d never heard that term before. Is a Super Ager someone whose appearance belies their age? Or is it someone who can do the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle in pencil? Or are we talking about something much bigger? Who better to answer
No Joke: Getting Older Can Be A Hoot with comedian, Diana Wilde
Send us a Text Message. Diana was that bookish girl who sat in the front of the classroom and always had her homework done. A self-described latch-key kid with a lot of time on her hands, she loved to record bits of Disney and other cartoons in many different voices and then sit back and listen to herself. It’s no surprise that years later, she landed a job as an on-air music t
Giving Oxygen to Your Wonderful, Untapped Self with Linda Rossetti
Send us a Text Message. We all have bumps in our lives ranging from not-so-major (Think: a fender bender or a lost credit card) to the big stuff, like divorce, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job. The challenge is navigating life’s biggest changes and coming out stronger and happier on the other side. How the heck do we do that? Linda Rossett
Slaying the Ageism Dragon with Janine Vanderburg
Send us a Text Message.Janine Vanderburg is one of those women I’d want to be on my team. I don’t know if she can play pickleball, but I do know that her commitment to, as she says, “slaying the ageism dragon” is vital—some might say all-consuming. She does a lot of great stuff, but it is “Changing The Narrative,” the organization she founded in 2018 that has been the leader in working to ch
The Joys of Intergenerational Friendships with Shannon Jarrott, Ph.D.
Send us a Text Message.Shannon Jarrott’s grandmother never lived in the family’s home but played a big role in Shannon’s and, eventually, her younger brother’s lives. Her grandmother was there when she got off the school bus. She was there for the long, carefree summer days. She is, says Shannon, why she became a gerontologist and expert on intergenerational relationships—relationships between a m
Kicking Stereotypes to the Curb with Ashton Applewhite
Send us a Text Message.Ageism does its best to stereotype older women (and men) as invisible, unhappy, and dependent. The message is: "If you think life sucks now, just wait because the longer you live, the worse it's going to get." Yikes!But Ashton Applewhite, age advocate and author of "This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism," shakes down the myths of ageism and showers listeners with the
The Secrets, Wit, and Wisdom of Age with Filmmaker Sky Bergman
Send us a Text Message.“Your decisions should be based on your curiosity, not your fear.” Are you curious why older people are the happiest demographic in the country? I know I am, which is why Sky Bergman, photographer, professor, and documentary filmmaker, is my guest in this not-to-be-missed episode. Sky’s first documentary, “Lives Well Lived,” is based on interviews with forty olde
Why Menstrual Equity Matters with Celeste Mergens, Founder of Days For Girls
Send us a Text Message. We’re so beyond periods. Hell, it’s menopause and post-menopause that we care about. And as for changing the world . . . well, we’ve got a lot on our minds that does not include young girls and their periods. Hold up. There’s a story here that reads like fiction. Millions of girls have no idea what is happening to their bodies an
Perfection and Control: No Can Do with Joanne Greene
Send us a Text Message.Joanne Greene was the take-charge mother, wife, professional who never saw a challenge she couldn't meet. Busy, busy. Constantly on the go. No time to take a breath and consider what was driving her to live her life at break-neck speed. And then a traumatic accident forced Joanne to give up total control and depend on others for everything. During her recuperation, which too
The Fitness Gourmet with Patricia Greenberg
Send us a Text Message.Patricia Greenberg was on a track to be a dentist. But her path changed when she took a home economics class in college and fell in love with dietetics and wellness. Since then, she has been a dietician, a chef, the owner of a vegetarian restaurant, and now a sought-after spokeswoman for taking care of ourselves from the inside out—what she calls “an Inside job.” Patricia is
Overcoming Trauma and Embracing Love: A Journey with Judy Foreman
Send us a Text Message.Judy Foreman is a survivor of physical and emotional abuse from both her mother and father. Her dad – she had to call him by his first name only—was an alcoholic, a bully, and the perpetrator of unending abuse until Judy left home for Wesley College. Her mother could not or would not express love and affection. Judy can’t remember a time when her mother hugged, kissed, or su
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