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 were in their 90s and 100s.

I asked Melinda what characteristics the wisdom whisperers had in common:

* Interest in others - a very robust social life

* A Purpose - a reason to wake up every day and live it to the fullest

* Gratitude for their good fortune that they have had long, fruitful lives and for the people in their lives, past and present

* Humor - Laughing with others

& Yes, independence. The women were the CEOs of their own lives

Melinda calls these women "old ladies." She got some flak from family and friends. But she was undeterred. "Old," she says, "is just an adjective. It describes me and others in the age group. These old ladies give me hope about aging, and that's such a good thing to have."

The beginning of your life is about making memories. The end of life is about remembering.

Zelda from The Wisdom Whisperers.

https://melindablau.com/

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1640657134?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_E3WDVZDAFZEWP0FKKD7N_2&bestFormat=true

OR your local library.

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 about aging. No subject is off limits.

• In this episode of "Older Women & Friends," Carole talks about the importance of having girlfriends--the value of friendship as we age
• The negative stereotypes about older women & how comedy can open the door to show how ludicrous most of these misconceptions are
• The female comedians like Lily Tomlin, Joan Rivers, and Phyllis Diller, who set the stage for the next generation
• Humor and the importance of laughter that takes us away from physical and mental pain
• Her love of being in the spotlight, she was always funny
• Changes in the industry that now sports a plethora of female comedians.

& So Much More!

Check out the schedule below. There may be a show coming to a city near you.

woacashow@gmail.com

https://www.funnywomenofacertainage.com/

https://www.funnywomenofacertainage.com/podcast

https://www.funnywomenofacertainage.com/tour

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 pursue acting, her mother had a female lover. The tension was palpable.

One can only imagine how all of the stress, confusion, and anger molded Eleanor and impacted her choices in life, including her choice of men.

She met her first husband when she worked as a cocktail waitress to augment her salary from a Montessori teaching job. The marriage lasted just four years. They had one child, a girl. At age thirty-two, Eleanor married again. By her mid-30s, she was a single mom with two children to raise.

Eleanor was single for the next thirty-five years until she met and married for a third time at age seventy-one.

If only her story ended there in a happy, supportive marriage. But Eleanor had unwittingly fallen in love with a man who had Asperger's, a developmental disability (some disagree with that categorization), or a person with different brain wiring from neurotypical brains. Didn't she see worrisome signs when they were dating? Yes. But she chose to minimize or overlook them because there was so much good in the relationship. (Some warning signs included no eye contact, inability to talk about emotions, and social awkwardness.)

"I had no idea what that would look like in a day-to-day relationship with a partner," Eleanor said. "It was upsetting, confusing," she said. "He love-bombed me and fooled me into thinking that being in a relationship with me was something he wanted more than anything."

Eleanor tells the rest of the story in her new book, Disconnected: Portrait of a Neurodiverse Marriage. She talks to me in this fascinating episode about what can happen when two people come together but don't realize that their brains are wired differently and that the ensuing struggle may doom the marriage, no matter how either partner tries.

There are, however, steps couples can take to try to heal and remain partnered. Eleanor outlines those on her website and in her new book. There is hope, but it's a tough road ahead. For Eleanor, the road ended in divorce.

https://www.eleanorvincent.com/author/epvince/

https://www.vineleavespress.com/

https://shorturl.at/mLNVa

& Wherever books are sold

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 may be a surprise: 71 percent of grandparents are still working. So, what can these grandparents do to nurture the relationship? How can they engage? How can a grandparent be the GEO, Grand Parent Officer?

Kerry Byrne is a researcher, collaborator, and entrepreneur in aging, care, and connection. She is the Founder of The Long Distance Grandparent, a mission-driven business, that helps grandparents build strong bonds with their grandchildren – no matter the distance between them.

There is so much to unpack in this episode of "Older Women & Friends." Perhaps most important are the stories grandparents share, stories that show a grandparent facing challenges, floundering, and then succeeding. These stories are important for generations to come. Even if it seems as if a grandchild is not listening, she is.

Kerry outlines many things that a grandparent can do to foster and nurture a relationship that is beneficial for everyone. Among these suggestions is the over-arching importance of a grandchild feeling seen, heard, and listened to. There are many ways to accomplish this goal:

* Engage in what a grandchild does and your activities as well

* If you're still working, share your job. Mail some selfies of you in the workplace. Text or write about some of the challenges.

* If you can't be there for holidays like Thanksgiving, come up with a game like the Gratitude Game. (Listen to the episode to find out how the game is played.)

* Mention qualities of a grandchild that you admire: a good listener, a good friend, a good fill-in-the-blank.

* Relish your high-quality relationships and how your example creates a generation of less ageist generations.

Like any relationship, the one between grandparent and grandchild is a lot of work. You juggle not only that connection but the one with your children and your own. But the payoffs are worth the time, energy, and creativity.

You can assume your role as Grandparent Encouragement Officer (GEO) and create beautiful connections.

https://thelongdistancegrandparent.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thelongdistancegrandparent/p/CcQ-ryLLMj9/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-byrne-phd-20953528/?originalSubdomain=ca

"My favorite species is the human species." ----- Lucinda Sykes, retired MD

Did 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, retired MD and current sleep coach. You may have listened to an earlier episode with Lucinda. This is a Command Performance.

"Millions of older women are being taken from their families," Lucinda says. Her grandmother is a case in point. Every night, Lucinda went to the drugstore

to pick up her grandmother's sleeping pills. She died in her 60s from complications now understood to be partially due to sleeping pills.

When we can't fall asleep, our mind tends to catastrophize. We think of the worst possibilities and ruminate about them over and over again.

So, what are some useful ideas when we can't fall asleep?

*Get out of bed

*Do something that relaxes you, and engages you (puzzles, needlework, reading, etc.)

*Dim the lights - avoid blue lights; instead, surround yourself with amber and pinkish tones

*& More

The key is to avoid stimulation when you sleep and create an uncluttered space outside of the bedroom that calms and relaxes you. Maybe the room is full of fragrances like lavender or maybe there is a sound system that plays calm music.

There is so much more research packed into what is an informative, fast-paced episode of "Older Women & Friends."

https://lucindasykesmd.com/

https://www.joyfulafter50.com/about

https://lucindasykesmd.com/my-story/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucinda-sykes-md-71a25651/?originalSubdomain=ca

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 fascinating. She became a gerontologist in her late 50s after taking care of her older parents for ten years. She was blown away at how poorly older people were treated and decided to try to change people's minds about aging. The way we age is not preordained and in many ways, we can be our stewards and enjoy the complex but magical journey as we age.

There is a fear that permeates the cultural view of dementia or any of its categories.

The facts: Only 10% of people 65 + have dementia

For those 90+, the rate jumps to 33.3%, but that means that two-thirds of much older Americans will not have to confront dementia.

And that's good news!

Another topic Jeanette and I discussed is the lack of rituals for older people. Sure, there are birthdays, anniversaries, and other important events, but nothing specifically for older women and men. Rituals help clarify meaning, and they give us a chance to celebrate. Jeanette suggests a multi-generational ritual when we celebrate aging instead of dreading it. Imagine the benefits: younger generations will love celebrating right along and might not have such a negative, jaded view of getting older. And there is the opportunity for older people to welcome newcomers into the fold. I don't know, something akin to ceremonies we've observed: sororities, fraternities, graduations, professional highlights, retirement, and on and on.

Did you know that our brains continue to create new brain cells and that the super highways help us see the what-ifs, the middle ground between good/bad, yes/no . . . ? Our brains may work more slowly because of the wealth of experiences over a lifetime. I like to liken our memory to a card catalog. Remember those? It took us time to find the book( s) we were after but with patience we were rewarded.

Finally, Jeanette and I discuss creativity in older age and how our creativity differs from that of younger people. She details four characteristics of creative folks and reminds listeners that all of us are creative daily as we choose the words we want to use, and the stories we tell to our friends and family. This is a time to pursue whatever gives us pleasure and stokes our creativity. This a time when we are not so dependent upon what others think about us and how we choose to spend our time. It is freedom to be embraced.

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 seemed like a waste. What was the point if you left the doctor's office confused, frustrated, and angry?

After an episode of "Older Women & Friends" about breast cancer, one about problems associated with the pelvic floor, and other health-related episodes scheduled for the future, I felt it important to have a guest who could help define the steps all of us can take to communicate with doctors and get the care and respect we deserve. We know ourselves and our history better than anyone. It's key that we understand how to share that information and to advocate for ourselves.

Dana Sherwin was a top hospital administrator for thirty-five years. But when she was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, she made the difficult decision to leave her profession. Her cancer treatment included chemo and, eventually, a bone marrow transplant. She was in the hospital for five weeks and spent many more in her recovery.

Along the way, she paid close attention to the care she received. She began to figure out what made a doctor-patient relationship work well and what did not. She admits that she made mistakes along the way and decided to develop the steps for patients of all stripes and health issues and, for that matter, regularly scheduled appointments, that help get the best medical care. "The Thinking Patients" is the result.

There are five important steps that Dana suggests and that she details in this episode:

• Preparation
• Language
• Questions
• Participation
• Courage
• 
  

Dana is a five-year cancer survivor and credits her doctors and her self-advocation. She is grateful for the opportunity to help others become "thinking patients."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/desherwin/

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 this informative episode. Dr. Noor explains how we can take preventative measures like specific exercises to strengthen our pelvic floor and, if those measures are unsuccessful, the simple, fast surgeries that can solve any of the following problems:

• bladder leakage
• "Gotta Go, Gotta Go syndrome
• Frequent Urinary Tract Infections
• Bowel problems
• Sexual dysfunction
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• & More
• 
  

I don't know about you, but I'd never heard of a urogynecologist, a pelvic floor physical therapist, or the scope of problems caused by a weak pelvic floor. So, I was all ears during this episode.

Dr. Noor was born in Bangladesh and came to the U.S. at age 18 to attend Smith College, an all-girls school that encouraged her to focus on women's health. After receiving her degree as an OB-GYN, she spent an additional three years pursuing a urogynecology specialty. It is a relatively new field, about 20 years old, which is probably why many of us had never heard of it.

If Dr. Noor has one message above all others it is that pelvic floor problems can be solved and that no woman should have to deal with any of these often embarrassing, often painful conditions for years without any hope of leading a normal life. Dr. Noor gets so much joy when a patient returns to the office for a post-surgical checkup. They could kick themselves for not having gotten help earlier but are so damn happy to resume a full life.

Dr. Noor is an enthusiastic spokesperson for all that can be done to remedy pelvic floor problems, and she is anxious to spread the word. She has a large media presence, and you can check her out at any of the following:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@drnabilanoor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnabilanoor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557585516981

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-nabila-noor-9b5b2930/

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 their goals instead of temporary or unsustainable hacks, militant discipline, or willpower. "People grow with tiny steps," Ronnie says.

Ronnie was born in the U.S., but she and her mother moved back to where the rest of the family lived. When her parents, her two siblings, and Ronnie returned to the States permanently, Ronnie didn't speak a word of English. Okay, maybe a word or two. She went to kindergarten as a Spanish speaker and quickly picked up English like a sponge.

Ronnie is by nature an adventurous woman who loves to travel. After college, she traveled to France for a five-month program. She stayed for five years. After France, she resided in Los Angeles, where she still lives today.

After suffering from painful back and hip issues and after trying every kind of modality--shots, massage, physical therapy, spinal decompression, and on and on--she gave up. But when her husband suggested that she see a trainer who came highly recommended, she was not gung-ho but gave it a try. Within a matter of weeks, much of her pain was gone. So when her trainer suggested that she become a trainer as a forty-six-year-old, she laughed.

But at some point, she decided to take a chance and `worked her tail off to get her certification through the Certified Life Coach Institute. When she realized that she was spending a lot of her time talking with her clients about their goals and the barriers to achieving them, she explored, studied, practiced, and was eventually certified as a Habit Coach Pro.

Ronnie is a spirited woman who talks fast and springs into action with ease. You can listen to her episode on "Older Women & Friends" as of 9/26. While you're at it, check out some of the past episodes.

If you like this episode and, hopefully, others, please text someone you think will enjoy the podcast. Word of Mouth is what helps grow "Older Women & Friends."

https://ronnielolifecoach.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnielolifecoach/

ronnie@ronnielolifecoach.com

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 distillation of some of those teachers and the ways they have impacted her life. When she’s not on the road, Deborah blogs about travel and currently writes for the “Ethel” a newsletter for women 55+ sponsored by AARP. She is a certified bilingual yoga therapist and a holistic health coach.

https://thenamastecounsel.com/

https://thenamastecounsel.com/book-from-the-boxing-ring-to-the-ashram/

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Based 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 initial diagnosis was Stage 0 breast cancer. No big deal. But within short order, the cancer had spread to eight lymph nodes and a new diagnosis of Stage 4. Her journey was one hellish ride. Anything that could go wrong, went wrong. During a seven-week hospital stay, she overheard two doctors discussing how she was going to die. Deb is alive and well, thank you. If there is a story that proves the mind/body connection, it is Deb's. She's a warrior with strength, humor, and unwavering optimism. She gladly shares her story and all the suggestions she has for other women facing down breast cancer, or any other serious disease.  My website is under construction. For now, you can find more about Deb at:https://debkrier.com/

"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 the truth; instead, we think of aging as a process of physical decline and don't look at the "growth part." Yes, Tracey says, loss and decline are real. There's no getting around that. But so is change and growth. Research shows that as we age, we tend to focus on things that make us feel better, and we are much more able to "prune" the relationships and things that are not working for us. It's part of the wisdom we gain. We understand that we've wasted a lot of time on people who don't give us joy. "The world gets smaller but richer because it is filled with people and things we love.""Older Women & Friends" is richer with Tracey as this episode's guest.Her book, Ageism Unmasked, has garnered oodles of praise like this:“This book is a must-read for anyone who is aging — and that is every one of us! "Jill Vitale-Aussem, author of Disrupting the Status Quo of Senior Livinghttps://www.traceygendron.com/homeAgeism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It-  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/700435/ageism-unmasked-by-tracey-gendron/9781586423223/OR wherever you buy books

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 Australia when Wendy was twenty. But it wasn't easy to acclimate to the newfound freedoms. It took over two years before Wendy felt relaxed, safe.

This should have had a happy ending. Sadly, it did not. A relationship with an Australian went bad, very bad. The man walked away, leaving Wendy with a mortgage and bills she couldn't afford, a baby soon to be born, and the scars of domestic violence. Wendy was devastated.

This episode traces Wendy's journey from deep emotional and financial depression to a successful succession of high-paying, high-pressure jobs that kept her financially secure until she left it all behind to expand her own business, the Happy Career Club.

What Wendy learned from her own experiences with corporations is shared with her clients, the vast majority of whom have gone on to professional and personal success. She has great advice for planning to "move on," getting to know prospective employers, writing a good resume, and all kinds of other dos and don'ts.

Her winning strategies complement the happiness that she values and the lessons learned.

https://happycareerhub.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyaalexander/?originalSubdomain=au

facebook.com/happycareerhubcoaching

https://www.amazon.com/Internal-Uprising-Reclaiming-Through-Menopause/dp/B0BSD3LRJX

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. Her latest book Ageless Aging: A Woman’s Guide to Increasing Healthspan, Brainspan, and Lifespan, is a call to arms.  In this episode, Maddy talks about the kind of kid she was, her nomadic family that moved every three years and the impact on her personality, her short career as an actress,  and why and how she got into the business of aging and, with her husband, founded Age Wave.  What, she asked, is the back story of active, self-actualized older women?  What can we learn from them and how can we take advantage of the gift of our bonus years to live healthy, happy lives?  You won’t want to miss this interview. 

                  “Wherever you are in your aging journey, it’s never too late to invest in your well-being or to reinvent yourself. It is possible for life to get better and better as you age, especially when you are open to the idea that our longevity bonus can be an ascent, not a decline.”                       ________________________Maddy Dychtwaldhttps://agewave.com/https://agewave.com/contact-us/Ageless Aging: A Woman's Guide to Increasing Healthspan, Brainstan, And Lifespan
Amazon or Wherever You Purchase Bookshttps://rb.gy/fauxni

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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 doesn't get the job done. The clock may say that you slept for six or seven hours, but you feel sluggish and foggy.

Lucinda Sykes, a retired physician and now a personal sleep coach, explains that both her grandmother and mother struggled with insomnia and eventually became dependent on sleep medication. Lucinda saw the writing on the wall, got some therapy, and happily has not suffered from insomnia. Lucinda explains that one of the--if not THE--downsides of insomnia is that the brain doesn't have enough time to refresh; there is no chance for the brain to rebalance. This imbalance can cause problems with everything from your heart to your memory. Lucinda gives listeners strategies for getting better sleep that include mindfulness, a regular sleep schedule, avoiding blue light before bedtime, and much more.If you haven't listened to my other episode that features a conversation with Lucinda about older women and mindfulness (with so much wisdom shared), do yourself a favor and check it out. (March 16, 2023)
http://lucindasykesmd.com

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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 entrepreneurship with her own commercial printing services business. Facing the prospect of an Empty Nest, she didn’t retreat but instead looked forward to new possibilities, emphasizing the critical role of fun and adaptability in navigating life’s changes.In this episode, we explore Jodi’s creation of the Moms Who Dare community, inspired by Luanne Kahn's book, "I Dare Me." Discover how small, daring acts like playing board games or revisiting childhood playgrounds can ignite joy and creativity, fostering connections and lifting spirits. We also dive into the power of self-talk and introduce the practical T.A.L.K. method to combat negative thoughts. Learn about Jodi's Beyond Empty Nest podcast and her supportive network that encourages women to embrace the emotional journey of an empty nest while celebrating the positives of this new phase in life. Tune in for uplifting insights and actionable tips to transform your midlife experience with joy and resilience.

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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 other relatives and friends. 

Martie McNabb is a believer in objects and the stories they tell. She is a "legacy artist" whose nomadic childhood shaped her constant search for deep connections. Martie was born on a military base in Okinawa, returned to the States with her parents when she was not yet two and moved nine times before high school.  “I don’t have long-term friends or a sense of belonging to a place,” Martie says.  "When people ask me where I'm from, I'm never sure what to answer."Martie's search for a "home" and extended family has taken her from a graduate in soil science (Who knew?), a housekeeper (She likes to clean!), a sign language interpreter, and a middle and high school teacher. She loved the students but got burned out by the administration. So, she moved on to found Memories Out of the Box, a one-woman business to help people put their "stuff" in order. It has been wildly successful . . . if success is determined by her love for the deep legacy work she does.Ten years ago, she developed the "Show & Tales" series. (Think "Show and Tell," the game played in elementary school.)  Participants at these gatherings share personal objects and the stories attached to them. An item as simple as a bracelet made of rubber bands or a carton of eggs will suffice.  "It is the power of stories," Martie says. "It's amazing how what seems like a simple activity can tell us so much about others and ourselves."This episode takes listeners on a "ride" in Martie's 21-foot Winnebago named Brooklyn as she travels from New Mexico to Vermont. She is still on a journey but a journey that has led to new friendships, new experiences, and an ever-growing understanding of how the sharing of stories of the Things that matter can build deeper connections, community, and legacy.https://www.showandtales.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/martiemcnabb/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/things-that-matter-with-martie-mcnabb/id1643973318

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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 which you feel passionate ?What do you do when you wake up one morning with a voice in your head saying, "What's wrong with your life is that you're not writing poetry." That's what happened to Lynne Thompson who, at the time, had been a lawyer for  fifteen years.It's no secret that poets don't rack in the big bucks. And it's easy to stroll through a bookstore or browse on an online site without seeing a massive poetry collection. Still, if you're Lynne, you're going to figure out a way to make it all work.She left the law firm and took a less stressful job. She used every spare minute to write, to read, to attend as many poetry readings as she could. "We waste a lot of time in our lives," she said. "The challenge is to carve out sacred time when no one and no thing can take your attention away. If you're patient, you can work around the demands of everyday life."   Today, Lynne is an award-winning poet, the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Los Angeles, and the author of three books, the most recent of which was released earlier this year. (see below.)  Many of her poems celebrate the strength and resilience of women who find joy and wisdom, despite all the forces that can make such a journey an uphill one.Lynne's passion for her creative life is contagious.Don't miss this episode!https://lynnethompson.usBooks available on most online book sitesBlue on a Blue Palette ( BOA Editions, 2024)Fretwork (March Hawk Press, 2019)Start With A Small Guitar (What Books Press, 2013)Beg No Pardon (Perugia Press,  2007)

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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 never going to be an artist or writer or musician. I'm not creative.  Janis would beg to differ. "There are so many things that we can do to be creative: edit photos you take on your cell phone or collect family recipes and try them all . . .   I call these 'little C's,' and they are just as meaningful as the 'big C's.'"Research shows that older adults who participate in creative actions have improved cognition and proprioception, enhanced meaning in their life, reduced loneliness, and recognition/engagement in a social life. Creativity makes brains bloom!  Janis also talks about creating a legacy, a gift we leave for younger people in our life. "I'm not suggesting money, but values or family histories, or a gratitude journal. As seasoned seniors (a term I like to use), we have the opportunity and the experience to share something that will last through the generations."It's never too late to find your creative power!http://janisjohnston.com"Pearls of Passion" BlogIt Takes A Child to Raise A Parent: Stories of Evolving Child and Parent DevelopmentMidlife Maze: A Map to Recovery and Rediscovery After LossTransforming Retirement: Rewire and Grow Your Legacy
 

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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 grandparents live 200 miles or more away from their grandchildren. They are the long-distance grandparents.

Kerry Byrne is the founder of The Long Distance Grandparent, an online learning hub that also speaks to grandparents who live closer to their grandkids.  When her husband landed a new job in Dubai, she and their one child (soon to become two) relocated. Kerry’s experience set the stage for her intense interest in long-distance grandparents and how the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren changes. The research underscores the importance of this connection and the positive effect a close relationship has on a bitter level of life satisfaction and fewer ageist ideas about older people.

Being a grandparent, particularly a long-distance one, takes energy and planning. As Kerry says, contrary to the general opinion, she advises people to “sweat the small stuff.” Find out what your grandchild likes and how you can relate. Schedule your time so that every Sunday, for example, you call. And write a letter. Kids look forward to getting snail mail!  

 If you are currently a grandmother, a soon-to-be grandmother, or someone interested in this connection, you’ll want to listen to Kerry’s insights. 

 https://thelongdistancegrandparent.com/On another note, are you interested in hearing from an expert on sexual wellness?Send me a "Yes" or "No" email:  j.leder@comcast.nethttps://thelongdistancegrandparent.com/

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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 and 73.5 years for men, I give a fist pump and feel even more optimistic about my chances of spending more time creating a legacy and enjoying life.

Katharine Esty will celebrate her ninetieth birthday later this year. For her, being in your 80s hasn't meant focusing on survival. "It is," she says, “a time to enjoy a full life with people we love. Relationships are what matter most in life."

Living as an eightyomething today is much different from how it used to be. There are more people in their 80s than ever before. People are healthier and unexpectedly happy.  "The stereotypes of people in their eighties as frail, uninvolved, lonely are so untrue," says Katharine. "The vast majority are doing all kinds of interesting "stuff," living independently, and enjoying the gift of longevity.But what about all the loss that eightysomethings will suffer? How can you be happy with so much heartbreak and with the end zone in view?  How can you make new, younger friends? What about this business of being grateful? Is it a bunch of psycho-babble? Katharine Etsy takes us on a journey of eightysomethings and introduces us to a group of older women and men who are happier now than ever. She shares their secrets and her own. You don't hear many people say, "Oh, I'm so excited! I turn 80 in two weeks!" After listening to this conversation, you might change your mind.www.KatharineEsty.comhttps://www.amazon.com/Eightysomethings-audiobook/dp/B07QG435WJ/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W7QCvKnVBepwHGKDFaKA614cBJ6KZvLDor1aceAgkEv3NDx3skgAQVM4AXDOyNZ_ZT8h48PCmnwLIBgIAcKjtw.KjAJ-Wb9kHSts5mgdju0TNZoe3lOby4bBB6ZxCInKFI&dib_tag=se&qid=1713821841&refinements=p_27%3AKatharine+Esty&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Katharine+Esty

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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 Awakening," not a Mid-Life Crisis.Yvonne began to understand why she'd never been comfortable with the uncomfortable and the steps that lead to emotional and physical health. Three years ago, she launched her podcast, "Late Bloomer Living" and has not looked back. She takes listeners on a journey as she and her guests talk about what it means to try new things in mid-life and beyond.  "It is not about changing yourself," she says, "but about changing how you think about yourself. "You are not too late. It is never too late."Today, Yvonne is not only the host of her podcast but a photographer, speaker, mother, and wife. She is smart, involved, and funny. On a personal note, it is exciting to hear from women a few decades younger than I am (Yikes!) who are getting their acts together and discovering how to age with zest and enthusiasm. There is no dread here, only excitement about the here and now and the future.https://www.latebloomerliving.com/https://www.latebloomerliving.com/communityhttps://www.latebloomerliving.com/community

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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 divides friends into three categories: best, close, and casual. Although there are no hard and fast numbers, she suggests we need one to two best friends, four to six close friends, and, for better or worse, a slew of casual friends like those we meet through social media. But what happens when a best or close friend betrays, abandons, or wounds us? How do we decide if the friendship is salvageable? How can we try to fix things? Or what can we do if the friendship is no longer worth maintaining? Breaking up with a dear friend can be as traumatic as breaking up with a partner, a family member, or a professional mentor.With decades of experience as a sociologist, friendship coach, author, and speaker, Jan is the go-to expert. You may be surprised at some of what she has to say and appreciate the concrete tools she provides.www. Drjanyager.comWhen Friendship Hurts: How to Deal with Friends Who Betray, Abandon, or Wound You  Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our LivesFriendgevity: Making and Keeping the Friends Who Enhance and Even ExtendYour LifeFor a selection of other books by Jan Yager, go tohttp://www.Drjanyager.com

"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 Mickle

While her route was circuitous, as most journeys are, Shelley became an award-winning author and the storyteller incarnate for six years on NPR's "Morning Edition." The story she didn't tell often, though, was how, at age six, she was diagnosed with polio and taken to a hospital for infectious children, where she spent three months in isolation. Even more horrifying was that two of the children in her ward died right alongside her. There was an iron lung next to Shelley, poised to make her even more of a prisoner, but she bravely survived and rendered the iron lung unnecessary.

After such a horrifying trauma, how do you come around to humor? Well, Shelley explained, her mother was straight out of "I Love Lucy," a real hoot. She suffered from depression, and laughter was an elixir. Shelley came home with at least one funny story daily to entertain her mother.

Shelley had dreamed of becoming a cowgirl just like Dale Evans. (I hope that reference rings a bell.) She loved animals and, with her husband, bought a farm stocked full of all kinds of beloved creatures. And then along came Buddy, a neighbor's dog much more interested in spending time with Shelley than her owner.

Buddy became Shelley's beloved companion for ten years and saw so many things about her that she didn't see in herself. Theirs was a love affair.

"I'm 81 years old in this long life. I've had a lot of weird boyfriends, but I've never had the obsessive adoration that Buddy was offering me."

That special connection between a human and a dog is the overarching theme of Shelley's latest book, Itching To Love: The Story of a Dog.

Listen to NPR's "Morning Edition" emeritus and award-winning author as she tells her story of physical challenge, a career as a humorist, a dream realized to be a cowgirl, and the touching relationship with her dog, Buddy.

https://www.shelleymickle.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Itching-Love-Story-Shelley-Mickle/dp/1637633394 or wherever books are sold

https://www.shelleymickle.com/books

https://www.shelleymickle.com/book-clubs

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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 & Celebration for women 50+, & Third Act Quest.  So, what was the young Diana like? Until the age of five, she was a “totally free spirit” who climbed trees, chased butterflies, and put dog poop in holes so that neighbor kids would – well, you get it. She loved art, loved to create, and loved to have fun. But when she started school, she was forced to "color within the lines." And she learned the hard way what you can and cannot say. She told a so-called friend that their teacher had a "wrinkly" face. From that point on, this girl threatened to tell their teacher. Diana made her first interpersonal blip and suffered the consequences.

But that lesson informed the person she has become. She understands responsibility, is excited about life, and is open to possibility. 

 Diana was forced to use all those tools when she faced a serious cancer diagnosis while at the same time dealing with an empty nest and the loss of a business. You’ll love her story of a survivor who put fear in the backseat and found her “calling” to reimagine aging, encouraging other women 50+ to rewrite their stories, and embracing the third act as the best, most exciting times in their lives.www.thirdactquest.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dianadunbarplace/https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7173303695055523840/

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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 there is a method to her madness---or should I say badassness?Bonnie worked in corporate America for twenty years before she left and became a certified executive coach whose clients are professional women 50+. She aims to help women own the power of age and to "stop playing small." If Bonnie has one underlying piece of advice, it is to pay attention and be aware of the potential roadblocks that women of all ages face in the workplace because if you know what's coming, you can position yourself to stay important and marketable.My experiences in corporate America were few and far between. But if I'd chosen that path, I would have wanted a mentor like Bonnie to help pave the way. bonniemarcusleadership.comNot Done Yet: How Women Over 50 Regain Their Confidence & Claim Workplace PowerThe Politics of Promotion: How High-Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead
Podcast: "Badass Women At Any Age." Available wherever you listen to podcasts.Please share your feedback at speakpipe.com/olderwomenandfriends

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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, first when she was 46 after an 18-year marriage. A decade later, she married her second husband, who died five years later.  Those losses would send most of us into a corner, sucking our thumbs. Not Francine. Sure, there were months/years of grieving and heartache. But she stands today as a seventy-seven-year-old living happily with an eighty-one-year-old man.

 What did Francine learn about herself during her journey? What did she discover about what she calls the required “headwork” to be done before we can hope to find love after fifty? What are suggestions for dealing with all kinds of potential stumbling blocks like finances, adult children from a previous marriage, and differences in culture and religion? 

 Tune in to this episode of “Older Women & Friends.” You won’t be disappointed.

 https://francinerusso.comLove After 50: How To Find It, Enjoy It, and Keep It - Available Online on all book sites

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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, and the Bond girls get younger. And then there's the Going Gray bru-ha-ha when women stopped coloring their hair during the Pandemic and, when they returned to work as, say TV anchors, they were given an ultimatum: Get rid of the gray or leave.But all is not lost, says Susan Douglas, award-winning author and professor of Communication Studies, at the University of Michigan. "Things have started to change in large part because there are more women 50+ than at any time in our history," says Douglas. "Older women want to see reflections of themselves in the media, and A-listers want to keep on working, fighting for better roles. Older women are a market, and for better or worse, our buying power puts pressure on film studios, broadcast media, and advertisers."We are at a turnstile moment," says Douglas. "There are those who want to push forward, while others want to push back. There is progress but not as much as older women want.Do you see more accurate reflections of older women in the media? Do you agree or disagree with Susan's research? https://susanjdouglas.com/If you want to record a question about the portrayal of women in the media or anything else related to "Older Women & Friends," go to:https://www.speakpipe.com/olderwomenandfriends SPEAK TO ME

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         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 my questions than cognitive neuroscientist Emily Rogalski, director of the Super Aging Research Initiative at the University of Chicago?        Emily does a stellar job of talking about the human brain and the many ways our memory can be affected both positively and negatively.  Many people think they have a good memory, but super agers are quite rare.  Less than ten percent of the men and women 80+ that sign up to participate in her studies at the Super Agers Research Initiative meet the scientific criteria.  We’re talking about a memory as sharp as folks twenty to thirty years younger! That leaves me out.        Studying that ten percent is providing keys to successful aging, as well as clues to what goes awry in cases of dementia.         Lucky genes don't fully explain why some older people have the memory of “an elephant.”  Is it a diet that makes the difference? Exercise? Social connections? Good mental health, low stress?  Do the brains of super-agers look and behave differently? You bet.Join Dr. Rogalski and me for a rousing discussion about people who are living long and living well, and why others are not. And, who knows, maybe you're a super ager.          Discover more about Emily and the SuperAgers Research Initiative. https://voices.uchicago.edu/haarc/join/

https://neurology.uchicago.edu/news/emily-rogalski

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-rogalski-phd-642204/

https://twitter.com/ERogalskiPhD

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      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 talent, and for fifteen years, she hosted radio programs like “Light Rock Love Songs. and "Night Magic with Diana Wilde." She adored the job but dealt with sexism and ageism at every turn. “Isn’t it funny how all the rules and regulations that are supposed to protect us are explained away, brushed aside?” she says. These days, Diana, as the “irreverent elder goddess,” hosts the hilarious podcast, “Granny Has A Podcast,” which is unlike any other podcast out there. When I first heard it, I wanted to dump mine and start all over again. Treat yourself to my conversation with Diana and then enjoy her unique brand of humor a la Irma Bombeck. We all need a good laugh!

Diana’s Profile

linkedin.com/in/dianawildeWebsites

• dianawilde.com 
• backstage.com/u/dianabwilde 
• mooretalent.com/sites/default/files/2020-02/Diana%20Wilde_Female_Commercial.mp3  

backstage.com/u/di

• anabwilde 
• mooretalent.com/sites/default/files/2020-02/Diana%20Wilde_Female_Commercial.mp3 
• grannyhasapodcast.com

         www.dianawildevoiceover.com

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     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 Rossetti, business leader and author of Dancing with Disruption, shares more than a few suggestions in this thought-provoking conversation. She encourages us to welcome instability. Yep, welcome the stress and the self-doubt. She challenges us to sit with the instability and to take our time naming and exploring our emotions.  Sit with uncomfortable, often painful emotions? What’s she talking about? Listen as Linda gives listeners a series of steps that can help women (and men) change their personal lives and find their own, true voice.

https://lindarossetti.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/destination-unknown-a-field-guide/id1445942178

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/destination-unknown-a-field-guide/id1445942178

https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?fetchDeterministicClustersOnly=true&heroEntityKey=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAEZgi0BzD6En_b0xG1VZ-crSj9cNn62csw&keywords=linda%20rossetti&origin=RICH_QUERY_TYPEAHEAD_HISTORY&position=0&searchId=17bb1114-d327-4cb6-be89-2ea83c765f99&sid=b%40Q&spellCorrectionEnabled=true 

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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 change how people think, talk, and act about ageism, that has garnered national recognition.  And that’s no easy task because the stereotypes about older people in this country run deep.  This episode is a rousing exploration of what makes Janine tick and how her childhood helped groom her to call out what’s “unfair” and to do something about it.

https://changingthenarrativeco.org/intergenerational-conversations/in-the-news/

https://medium.com/@janine_44604

https://www.ucdenver.edu/change-makers/people/janine-vanderburg

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinevanderburg/

https://twitter.com/encore_janine?lang=en

https://encorenetwork.org/janine-vanderburg/

https://encore.org/janine-vanderburg/

https://www.facebook.com/janine.vanderburg/

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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 much older or much younger person. In this episode, Shannon discusses the many ways and places to make new friends. She talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted the need to be socially connected with each other. Research has shown that being socially isolated can affect our heart health, our brain health, and our longevity. Having friendships, says Shannon, keeps us healthy. Bringing together people from different age groups is a win-win.

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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 facts. You may be surprised and definitely encouraged. Here are some facts that may surprise you:  

• Only 2.5% of Americans 65+ live in nursing homes
• Older people enjoy better mental health than the young or middle-aged
• Serious mental decline is not an inevitable part of aging.

So, put in your earbuds and listen to my interview with Ashton Applewhite. 

“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 was slipping. Sue shrugged it off and blamed the trauma of his mother dying and the chore of cleaning out her house.  But things spiraled down from there.

Sue, a journalist and semi-professional musician, journaled daily during Fred’s illness. It was the some thousand-odd pages that served as the basis for her memoir, No Way Out of This: Living with a Partner with Alzheimer's. She shares the heartache, the guilt, the loneliness but also the good times, the laughs, the happiness.

In this episode of “Older Women & Friends,” Sue and I take a deep dive into this horrendous disease, the challenges, and the tools to use for the caregiver to carry on. Unlike other memoirs about Alzheimer’s, Sue is not a self-sacrificing wife who gives up her life to care for her husband. She understands the necessity of maintaining her connection with friends and the importance of time away to, in her case, write and play music.

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“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 older women and men with a combined 3,000 years of life experience. The film celebrates the incredible wit, wisdom, and lives of these older adults whose stories are about perseverance, the human spirit, and staying positive. 

Currently, Sky has two films in production: “Mochitsuki” about an intergenerational family that prepares Mochi to celebrate the Japanese New Year, and  “Prime Time Band,” about a group of older men and women who pick up instruments that they haven’t played for years, even decades, and who make music together.

What are you waiting for? Listen to this conversation on “Older Women And Friends.” And when you're done, please take a minute to participate in the questionnaire below. Email your responses to j.leder@comcast.net.POLL* Please rate this episode on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest.★★★★★* What question(s) would you like to ask Sky?*  Will you watch the film, "Lives Well Lived?" by using one of the links below?*   What are subjects that you'd like to be discussed in future episodes?THANK YOU

https://www.skybergmanproductions

https://www.lives-well-lived.com/

https://cogenerate.org/people/sky-bergman/

https://www.lives-well-lived.com/

https://www.lives-well-lived.com/upcoming-airdates

https://www.lives-well-lived.com/stream-the-film

https://www.skybergmanproductions.com/mochitsuki

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 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 and what to do about it. All they know is that every month, they have to stuff themselves with feathers or rags or anything else they can find. Or they sit on a piece of cardboard until the bleeding stops so they can return to school or work. Some girls are desperate enough to exchange sexual favors for one single pad. The shame is overpowering.

      Then along comes Celeste Mergens who while visiting an orphanage for girls in Kenya is shocked by the stories she hears and overnight decides to help provide these girls with the supplies, education, and encouragement they deserve.

 And Days For Girls was born.

      Why Celeste? How did her sparse childhood and years of working with non-profits groom her to launch an organization that has reached more than 3 million young women and girls in 145 countries? 

      You won’t want to miss her story and how she overcame a challenging childhood, survived serious health issues, and created an unlikely global movement for menstrual health.

http://celestemergens.com

http://www.daysforgirls.org

https://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-mergens/https://www,hello@celestemergens.com

The Power of Days: A Story of Resilience, Dignity, and the Fight for Women's Equityhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/731292/the-power-of-days-by-celeste-mergens/

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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 took over a year, Greene learned the vital lesson of letting go, the importance of gratitude, and the realization that “This, too, shall pass.” She understood deep in her gut that control is an illusion, and that none of us can dictate the twists and turns our lives will take. What began as a book for Joanne's family and friends turned into By Accident: A Memoir of Letting Go,  a moving, sometimes funny, always truthful tale about loss, positive thinking, and counting our blessings.I love this interview and hope you will, too! By Accident: A Memoir of Letting Go – available in paperback and audioJoanne-greene.com – sign up for her newsletter“In This Story” Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-this-story-with-joanne-greene/id1672680342

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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 the author of Eat Well, Live Well, Age Well and teaches wellness seminars nationwide. You’ll want to hear what Patricia, dubbed the FitnessGourmet, has to say about diets,--restricted eating doesn’t work, aging peacefully, and how women can change the narrative about aging.POLL - Please answer and email to j.leder@comcast.netDo you embrace your age or "pretend" that you are younger?*   I embrace my age*   I pretend that I am younger whenever I canwww.thefitnessgourmet.comEat Well, Live Well, Age Well - https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Well-Live-Age/dp/0578602725 or wherever you buy bookshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/patgreenbergthefitnessgourmet/https://www.instagram.com/thefitnessgourmet/

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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 supported her in any way. Only when Judy stayed with a Danish family for a summer did she begin to realize how dysfunctional her family was. But Judy’s journey toward healing took years of therapy and self-introspection. Her new book, Let the More Loving One Be Me: My Journey from Trauma to Freedom, is a testament to her inner strength and her refusal tolead a life of fear, anxiety, and mistrust.The book is available on Amazon and on most other book sites.You can find out about her other books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Judy-Foreman/author/B00E7GSZ8M?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=truewww.judyforeman.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-foreman-88a0272/

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You might wonder what a 31-year-old woman in her thirties knows about fashion for older women. I had the same question. Who is Londoner Jacynth Bassett, and why, as a late twenty-something, did she leave her law studies behind to launch an online women’s clothing boutique—an all-inclusive boutique that has older women in mind? Bassett explains that she has always been a fashionista and that when accompanying her mother on shopping sprees, she realized how frustrating it was for older women like her “mum” to find clothes that fit and reflected their sense of style. Thus, the idea behind the Bias Cut (a brilliant entendre) was born. Today, Bassett’s online women’s clothing site flourishes.  And her Ageism Is Never In Style®, the campaign, movement, and consultancy arm of the company, leads the way in calling out ageism and changing the narrative. As testimony to her commitment and accomplishments, Bassett was named "One of the Evening Standard’s 22 Londoners Changing The World in 2022.”Check out www.thebiascut.com and see for yourself.www.thebiascut.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jacynth-bassett-b3872aba/thebiascut.com/pages/jacynth-bassett-ageism-fighting-trailblazerhttps://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ageism-is-never-in-style%C2%AE/https://ageing-better.org.uk/news/age-positive-image-library-launched

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“I'm too old to start a new career”“I shouldn’t exercise a lot because I can easily injure myself.”“Both of my parents died young, so I guess that’s my fate, too.”“I’d better give up driving now, even though my eyesight is good.”Sound familiar? Have you heard these gender myths bandied about, and maybe deepdown, you actually subscribe to some of them? That’s where Helen Hirsh Spence foundherself in her mid-sixties. She’d been an accomplished teacher, principal, andsuperintendent, yet she was stuck. She wanted to move forward toward something newand rewarding but had lost confidence in herself. She’d hit a wall—a wall she mistookfor depression. Helen started talking to her peers and discovered that many felt thesame way. What was going on? It took a while before Helen understood that she hadinternalized the negative myths about older women as “over the hill,” invisible, andincompetent. But she was none of those things. Listen to how the founder of Top SixtyOver Sixty found her way and what she is doing now. You might be surprised.helen@topsixtyoversixtyhttps://www.topsixtyoversixty.com/our-people/https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-hirsh-spence-a029a010/?originalSubdomain=cahttps://www.facebook.com/helen.hirshspence/

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Listeners have asked for an episode about sex—how to have good sex, problems and solutions post-menopause, and how to talk to partners about what we need and how to get it. Laurie Mintz is a professor emeritus of human sexuality whose book, Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters—And How to Get has been praised as a book that “will change how we think and talk about female sexual pleasure.” Any book that begins with an Introduction titled “Hello and I Want You To Orgasm” is bound to be fun, entertaining, and empowering. At the forefront of orgasm equality, Laurie Mintz provides dozens of helpful suggestions to increase women’s pleasure. You won’t want to miss this episode of “Older Women and Friends.”https://www.drlauriemintz.com/https://www.ted.com/talks/laurie_mintz_a_new_sexual_revolution_for_orgasm_equalityhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-mintz-a3972615/https://www.facebook.com/DrLaurieMintz/

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There is so much to unpack in my interview with Jeanette. Did you know that our brains improve with age? Hmm . . . . And did you know that the population is growing older, with a 50/50 chance that someone born today will live until she is 100? Why should we be “put out to pasture” when we’re 65: there is so much that older people can add to the workplace and to society as a whole. But ageism is alive and well. By the time kids are three, they are already conditioned to see older people as wacky, limited, and infirm. Jeanette explains why and offers steps we can take to change the narrative. She writes on her website, “There are some really wonderful assets to getting older. And it’s about time everyone hears that story.”  www.jeanetteleardi.com

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What does a Gen Zer think about aging and older women? As it turns out, plenty. Young women in their twenties are focused on careers, potential partners, finances, and friendships--just as it should be. But they are burdened with the expectations of our youth-obsessed culture, in many ways, just as older women are. I hope you’ll listen to my 23-year-old guest, Lia Kahan, as we talk about her ideas about aging women, the media portrayal of older women, the stereotypes, the hype around self-care, and so much more.

“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, professor, and international speaker

In her new book, Growing Older, Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and Retiring (Comfortably), Gillian cites New research that reveals that what you think, how you move, what you eat, how you interact with others, stimulate your mind or challenge yourself, can modulate the expression of your genes.

In this episode, listeners follow Gillian’s journey from a happy woman who “had it all” to a depressed, isolated, overweight widow who, with time, research, and desire, took control of her life and changed her physical and mental health.

Gillian suggests a road map to help us as we age

• Make the choice to age healthily
• Create a roadmap and set goals
• Maintain a positive mindset, be mindful, and exercise your brain
• Evaluate your genetic risk factors and whether you can change them
• Ensure your living environment promotes healthy sleep, activity and nutrition
• Prevent falls and fractures
• Maintain a healthy body weight and avoid the metabolic syndrome
• Ensure you have good antioxidant protection
• Keep your bones strong, your joints mobile, and your muscles flexible
• Love your family
• Nurture your friendships
• Challenge yourself

Gillian explains the differences between genetics and epigenetics. It’s a heady distinction, but she is a pro at breaking this down and suggesting ways to live longer and better.

Growing Older Living Younger podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/growing-older-living-younger-about-longevity-wellness/id1562021011

Get to know Dr. Gillian Lockitch linktr.ee/askdrgill

Gift: the url is  https://bit.ly/3DfjdtM The resource is called The 7 Keys to Growing Older Living Younger.

The book at www.gillianlockitch.com

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In her new book, Not Too Old For That: How Women Are Changing the Story of Aging, Vicki Larson adds her voice to the growing conversation of older women taking control of the narrative. Larson, 66, tackles topics like online dating, sex, and changing living arrangements for older women who value their independence. She champions “postmenopausal zest” and the value of women figuring out what they really want. You won’t want to miss this interview!

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Are you a woman in mid-life? Are you dealing for the first time with feeling invisible? Are you trying to beat the clock of aging? Do you look toward the experiences and wisdom of older women to help show the way? Join Ann Douglas, author of “Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women,” in an engaging discussion for both younger and older women.

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NextTtribe is an online magazine for women 50+ that has expanded into a source for women-only trips to fabulous places like Paris and the Scottish Isles. The bonds between women, especially as we age, are cemented in these trips. Listen to Jeannie and two other women who have traveled together as they talk about their trips and their friendships.

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The authors of Not Dead Yet: Rebooting Your Life After 50 and Suddenly Single After 50, share their stories about divorce, death, dating, friendship, and much more. Barbara Ballinger and Margaret Crane have been friends for decades, drawn together by their love of writing and the shared life experiences of older women. Both Barbara and Margaret are now in their 70s.