Click on the episode number to enjoy our most recent episodes.
378 Lynn Larson: Traveling the World—Curious, Confident, and Carefree
For more than five decades, Lynn Larson has followed her curiosity across continents—and she’s nowhere near finished. At 71, she travels light and lives large, forging deep connections everywhere she goes. Her journey began as a Peace Corps volunteer in...
377 Elise Magers: Living a life of curiosity
Elise’s career didn’t follow a straight line—and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. She began as a contract interior designer in Minneapolis before moving to Chicago in 1981, where a friend’s suggestion led her in an entirely new direction:...
376 Ashley Rogers: Reawakening Life Through an Unlikely Conversation with AI
At 75, Ashley Rogers is not reinventing her life—she’s reawakening it. Living in Ecuador and thriving in her latest entrepreneurial chapter in real estate, she began asking a familiar question: What’s next? What is mine to do now? The answer arrived in an...
375 Kathleen Harrison: Project Harambee: Transforming Lives in Sub-Sahara Africa
In 2001, Kathleen (Keen) Harrison, PhD, took a leave from her university faculty position in medical genetics to travel with the Semester at Sea program. A visit to Kenya’s first orphanage for HIV-positive children changed the course of her life. She...
374 Phyllis Mitzen: A Lifetime of Leadership in Aging
At 84, Phyllis Mitzen is still reshaping how communities care for older adults — with curiosity, courage and a fierce commitment to action. Phyllis spent 24 years at CJE Senior Life (formerly Council on Jewish Elderly) and went on to consult with Health...
373 Mariann Aalda: Becoming ‘age-full’: Snapping out of internalized ageism
Mariann Aalda—actor, hypnotherapist, and joyful “pro-aging evangelist”—invites us to rethink what it means to grow older. She interrogates ageism, asking“ Why should youth get all the good press?” And declares, “My vibrancy and vitality are due to my...
372 Sandra Taenzer: Leading the Way In Early Childhood Special Education
https://youtu.be/F7e9w_LM3QQ At 86, Sandra “Sandy” Taenzer reflects on a lifetime of innovation in Early Childhood–Special Education that began in the 1960s in Germany and still resonates today. Working in a large Illinois School District, Sandy helped...
371 Karen Olson: An Undying Passion for Helping the Homeless
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25u4UaeB2Nw Some people discover their purpose early in life. For Karen Olson, 81, that moment came at age 18 when she offered a simple sandwich to a homeless woman outside a New York train station. Decades later, after...
370 Ilana Landsberg-Lewis: Across cultures, older women bring social change and justice to human family
Ilana Landsberg-Lewis went to law school to understand how power works—so she could help transform it in the service of justice, especially for women. Alongside her father, she co-founded and led a nonprofit funding community-based organization in...
369 Arlene Bomer: Living a Life of Adventure with Purpose
https://youtu.be/JaxQJ-ITlHY At 75, Arlene Borner may not be running marathons, but she is still running—and skiing on snow and water and playing pickleball. She may no longer be teaching children how to swim or speak English in places like Sweden or...
368 Diane Heiler: Once a Divorcee, Once a Widow — Now a Partner Re‑Engaged in Life
https://youtu.be/2bVX8SBTOGc Diane Heiler shares her deeply moving journey of caring for her husband during his 20‑month “death sentence” from an incurable disease — a journey she chronicles with raw honesty and artistry in her memoir, A Widow’s Fire: An...
367 Patricia Koko: Turning Ideas into Services with Lasting Impact
When Patricia (Pat) Koko, age 82, reflects on her life’s work as a young homemaker turned consummate volunteer and community change-maker, she often says things like, “that was kind of fun,” or “there just was a need”—-simple phrases that belie an...
366 Suzi K Edwards: A Chaotic Life Reignited by Yoga
Living high throughout the 1960s and early ‘70s filled Suzi’s life with glitter, dazzle, and celebrities who sadly, broke her heart. As a luxury designer of women’s clothing in New York, Suzi was sought after by big name clothiers. This is Suzi’s life:...
365 Reedy Gibbs: Broken Pieces Can Be Mended
In writing her memoir, BROKEN PIECES (and the fun things you can do with them), Reedy is hopeful that her life's missteps might help others. When she began studying Method Writing with a brilliant teacher, “her life's stories came pouring out like a...
364 Debra Morrison: Money Is Energy—-Move Your Financial Needle to Match your Goals and Soul’s Calling
Debra Morrison invites us to reimagine our lives where money takes on new meaning and purpose. Founder of the We Can Do It Women Movement, Debra works with mature women (50+) who are ready to stop defining themselves by financial missteps and start...
363 Franca Zanovello: A Skincare System for Mature Skin Driven by Innovation and Science
Advocate Franca Zanovello shares her deep beliefs about beauty for women of all ages. Growing up in Italy, and living in six different countries, influenced Franca’s earliest experiences with skin care. Experiencing massage by blind people in Myanmar...
Rabbi Jo David: Reformed Rabbi becomes Author of Spicy Regency Romance Novels
Rabbi Jo David grew up in a secular Jewish home in New York. Her mother said, “the woman’s job is to always serve the man”. She didn’t think so and in the ‘80s decided to become a reformed Rabbi. In 2001, when the World Trade Center was destroyed, she was...
361 Phyllis Booth: Forming a Lifetime of Loving and Supportive Attachments
“I continue to educate parents and practitioners about building better relationships through attachment-based play.” - Phyllis Booth Attachment is interwoven throughout Phyllis Booth’s professional and personal life. Now Clinical Director Emerita of...
360 Deb Krier: Trying Not to Die
Like most people, when Deb Krier was told she had metastatic breast cancer in 2015, she went into a tailspin. She previously worked for an oncologist and later, the American Cancer society and still was not prepared. What stuck with her was something the...
359 Mary Beth Berkoff: Continuous Care Retirement Communities Offer a Holistic Way of Life
Mary Beth Berkoff, age 82, founded her own PR company in her late 50s—and she still knows how to spotlight what’s good. Long before that, she was a teacher, an injury-prevention pioneer, and a public-affairs leader who helped pass Illinois’s seatbelt and...
358 Denise Poncher: Art as Compass: Following the Pull of Creative Expression
Denise Poncher, 73, has spent her life noticing experiences that call her to create. A multidisciplinary artist—-creative writer, documentary photographer, custom art framer, collagist, fiber explorer—-she treats each medium as a path toward deeper...
357 Lynn Hazan: A Passion for Performance
From the moment you hear Lynn Hazan, 70, speak, one thing is unmistakable: performance isn’t just something she does — it’s the lens through which she experiences the world. Born and raised in Canada, Lynn moves comfortably among French, English, and the...
356 Darlene Norman: Belief in Your Own Advocacy Starts with Faith
Long a member of the Apostolic Church of God in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago, Darlene’s faith has been a constant even as she experiences the inevitable ups and downs of life. At 71, Darlene’s serene manner shines through and she peppers her...
355 Laurel Baer: Caregiving Offers a Deep Sense of Purpose
When Laurel married in her late 50s, she never imagined she’d become her husband’s full-time caregiver just five years later. Now, twenty years into that journey, she calls it a blessing: “He is so easy to care for…. I have released early feelings of...
354 Jody Wilhelm: From Rural Recluse to Global Filmmaker
Jody’s life reads like a movie—one she ultimately wrote and directed herself. Growing up in isolation and surviving severe trauma, she moved through poverty, rape, separation from siblings, and profound loss—the deaths of her mother, grandmother, and...
353 Sophy Burnham: The Inner Experience of Being Old
Sophy Burnham has lived many creative lives—and she’s still expanding. Known as a deeply imaginative and award-winning author, Sophy has written 17 books across genres: novels and nonfiction, children’s stories, poetry, plays and radio dramas, essays, and...
352 Karen Gershowitz: Inspiring Older Women to Travel the World—Solo Too
At 17, Karen Gershowitz caught the travel bug—and never looked back. She’s now explored 100 countries, often returning to dig deeper than the “Disney Lands” most tourists see. Her love of discovery led her from ceramics to international marketing and,...
351 Judy Smith: Discomfort & Humiliation Changed the Trajectory of Her Life
Judy Smith discovered that 70 would be the best year of her life after a devastating public humiliation at 67 by her now ex. Allowing herself to open up to new relationships, social engagement and creative expression, she discovered that life became...
350 Jan Golden: Jokes About Getting Older are Getting Old
Jan Golden is a one-woman force when it comes to changing how the media and greeting card agencies represent aging. For 4 years, Age-Friendly Vibes has featured cards, buttons, stickers and prints that reflect pro-aging sentiments. Active in the American...
349 Phyllis Rubin: Practicing Tikkun Olam—Repairing the World
At 81, Phyllis Rubin embodies tikkun olam—repairing the world. After her husband’s death, and during the pandemic and political upheaval, she stepped fully into activism. A “feet-on-the-ground” leader, with a collaborative style, Phyllis champions...
348 Nicole Smith: Diagnosing Dementia Across the Miles
Nicole J. Smith, Advocate, Dementia Daughter, Certified Senior Advisor and author of Diagnosis Dementia, was living 3,000 miles from her mother and didn't register the “weird things” she had witnessed her mother say and do over the past couple of years....
347 Kathleen Haney: Generous and Responsible Care for Self and Others
At 75, Kathleen (Kathy) Haney embodies resilience, purpose, and care. Family duties once slowed her college path, but persistence carried her to an undergraduate degree in occupational education and a graduate degree in vocational education...
346 Christa Rymal: Metabolic Health for Women: From Brain to Toe
Only 12% of U.S. adults are metabolically healthy—a sobering statistic Christa Rymal wants to change. With her background in nursing and holistic health, Christa brings both clinical expertise and a whole-person perspective to women’s wellbeing. In this...
345 Anna Rappaport: Pursuing Passions Amid Changing Limits
At 85, Anna Rappaport continues to defy expectations of aging. Once uncertain about her relevance, she went on to earn five lifetime achievement awards, including Trailblazers in Actuarial Science. Beyond her groundbreaking work in retirement research and...
344 Jeannine Bryant: Moving in the 4th Quarter of Life: Keep the Memories, Not the Stuff
Jeannine Bryant is expert at helping seniors move. After you have lived in your home for so many years, you accumulate possessions that seem to identify who you are. Losing a partner or spouse certainly changes our lives. Leaving the place that we called...
343 Jacqui Neurauter: Movement Has the Power to Transform Life
"Movement is the thread that weaves Jacqui Neurauter’s life together, even at 80. She believes movement has the power to transform life. Ever curious, her many pursuits often began with a comment, a book, or a conversation among friends. The suggestion of...
342 Ande Lyons: Embrace the Beauty of Your Story
During her tenure as a successful entrepreneur and podcaster, Ande Lyons’ advice to young start-up founders was: “Don’t Be Caged by Your Age.” At age 66, she took her own advice. Ande shifted her focus to older people, especially women, with the mission...
341 Beverley Glazer: Women Empowering Other Women Through Story
Beverley Glazer, MA, is an ICF-Certified Transformational Coach, Psychotherapist, and Strategic Consultant with over 35 years of experience empowering individuals, companies, and communities navigate change. She is the founder of Reinvent Impossible LLC,...
340 Jean Olson: Living an Enchanted Life, with Adventure and Verve
Jean Olson, age 70, describes her 13 years in the Foreign Service as an “odd and torturous path,” that included a successful class action suit against the federal government. Jean left the Foreign Service (stints in Europe and South America) for her...
339 Beverly Schlotte: Farm Life is a Wonderful Way of Living
Beverly Schlotte, age 76, loves living on her farm near Webster, South Dakota, where she and her late husband, married 53 years, “worked and planned together” as they raised their family of four. After retirement from many years of teaching “kids that I...
338 Julie Bach PhD: Activist Gerontologist—Making a Better World for Elders
As a young VISTA Volunteer in the mid-1970s, Julie’s experience working with older adults primed her for a career in Gerontology. She earned the credentials: Master of Science in Gerontology, Master’s in Social Work, and PhD in Social Work. Julie is...
Mary Ellen Jukoski: Servant Leadership: Nurturing the Spirit Through Communication and Collaboration
As a young academic professional, Mary Ellen Jukoski, age 75, wondered: “Where are the female college presidents? I want to become one.” So, she did, serving the first 20 years as President of Mitchell College in Connecticut where she transformed a...
336 Dedrea (Dee) Greer: Boundless Creativity: Alpaca weaving, business launching, interior designing, watercolor painting, and more.
You are in for a special treat as Dee Greer displays her creations of exquisite weavings from Alpaca yarn and amulet bags woven Japanese seed beads. She also enjoys watercolor painting. She learns in order to create. This is bolstered by degrees and...
335 Victoria Rock: Helping Others Tell Their Stories
When you listen to Victoria "Vickie" Rock, now 73, you might think her life has been a smooth path free of challenges. Yet, the truth is, at times it has been rocky. Vickie's ability to turn lemons into lemonade encapsulates her spirit. Always upbeat,...
334 David Horton: Layer Upon Layer: A 32-year Journey of Connection
David Horton approached us to do an interview with him, and we did not know how to respond. We listened and, after hearing his story, it became clear that this was a story we wanted to share with you. David’s wife, DeeDee Horton, died of brain cancer. She...
333 Maria Cristina Torres: I am Vitality: An Alternative Way to Revitalize Your Life
Maria Cristina Torres, born in Mexico, studied medicine there and has three decades of experience in pharmaceutical-oriented medicine. She continues to work with people in the United States, finding solutions for chronic conditions and assisting...
332 Donna Younger: Meeting Spirituality on the Path to Well-Being
Donna Younger, EdD, age 72, has dedicated her professional life to mentoring and teaching diverse people in various higher learning settings. These experiences expanded her world view and fed her “rabid curiosity about what binds us together—the sparks...
331 Polishing the Gems: The Story of an Extraordinary Woman Living Through Hard Times
Josephine (Jo) Alexander (1909-1993) was Nancy Manahan’s dearest friend and Natalya Lukin’s beloved grandmother. The world knew Jo as a prize-winning journalist and photographer, social justice advocate, and author of America Through the Eye of My Needle...
330 Carol Remz: Transforming Sexual Pleasure After Menopause
During 15 years in menopausal transition, Carol Remz, age 80, experienced increased vaginal dryness and decreased libido. She and her younger husband mourned their waning sex life. Upon researching relief from radiation treatment for breast cancer,...
329 Michelle Kalisz: Neuroscience Asserts: What fires together, wires together
Michelle Kalisz started studying piano at the age of 4. Today she owns a piano studio and delights in teaching older adults. She extensively studied chemistry and psychology, all the while playing music which added depth to her understanding of how we...
328 Ann Lousin: More Women in Law Mean more Freedoms for All
Ann Lousin, 82, the first woman in the United States to be appointed staff parliamentarian for the Illinois House of Representatives, as well as the first woman parliamentarian for any American legislature, continues her fierce journey to remove women’s...
327 Gail Straus: The Power of Volunteering
Gail Straus is mostly retired, meaning that in addition to volunteer work, she remains open to the occasional client project. In 2021, Gail joined the Communications Team at AARP Illinois as a volunteer. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Guest...
326 Ginny Maccoll: From Professional Dancer to Ninja Warrior: A Mother-Daughter Team
Ginny Maccoll, 73, has an unusual hobby. She competes in Ninja Warrior competitions. Last year, the Guinness World Book of Records named her the oldest female to compete. Though physically quite active from the time she was born, and a proficient dancer,...
325 Jane Fleishman, PhD: Is it Okay for Grandma to Have Sex?
Jane Fleishman, Phd, a Certified Sexuality Educator, works with people living in senior communities on taboo topics such as intimacy, desire, sexual health, abuse and consent. An accomplished educator, writer, program developer, and researcher, Jane...
324 Mimi Donaldson: From Award-winning Keynoter to Top TED Talk Coach
Mimi Donaldson, 77, is known for her rousing keynote speeches, compelling workshops, and in-house training programs. She has shared the keynote platform with Colin Powell, Katie Couric and Maya Angelou. She is now a speaker coach for TED Talkers,...
323 Alice Rose: She Always Treasured Books
Alice Rose, age 78, lived in Europe for 10 ½ years where she worked with childhood centers for military families. Alice’s love of travel and culture led her to Turkey twenty-five times, as well as other fascinating destinations. Upon returning to New...
322 Mildred J. Mills: My Cotton Patch Moment
The third oldest of 17 children, Mildred J. Mills, 73, was raised on a farm in Alabama. At a young age, she began to imagine that she would be going places, even though she had no idea how or where she might go. In high school, one of her teachers...
321 Judy Collins: Grande Dame of Folk Music Legend
Judy Marjorie Collins, age 85, remains a legendary spokesperson for the American folk music scene and for older adults who still have a song to sing. We were delighted to be in conversation with Judy Collins. Folk singer, song writer, pianist, activist,...
320 Gina Orlando: Sharing My Celebration of Life While I’m Still Alive
Gina Orlando, age 72, created and was present at her own Celebration of Life in January 2025. Gina has been living with breast cancer for 11 years, the last three years in stage 4. She calls upon her expertise in holistic healing, voracious curiosity, and...
319 Elizabeth White: Co-living Housing Solutions for Older Women on Modest Incomes
Elizabeth White’s mission is advocating for older women to “lead a richly textured, interesting life on a modest income.” She uses multiple platforms--author, entrepreneur, consultant, international board member, and keynote speaker—to expose gendered...
318 Connie Inuka: Late-life Inventor Finds Success
At 77 years old, Connie Inukai is proving that innovation has no age limit. A former technical writing instructor for engineers, Connie spent years teaching others how to create clear, effective reports. Little did she know that one day, she’d be writing...
317 Becky Blue: Aging is Life – Appreciate the Magic & Mystery
Thoughtful and compassionate, Becky Blue is a geriatric and faith community nurse. Her compassion grew at an early age as she spent afternoons with Grandma, coincidentally the name of one of her magical poems. In her book, Turning-The Magic and...
316 Jeanette Leardi: Make Friends with Your Aging Process to Become Fully Empowered
Jeanette Leardi is a social gerontologist and aging wellness leader who invites us to “cock your head to the side and ask, Am I think about aging in the right way?” Jeanette’s blog, Ageful Living, inspired her recent book, Aging Sideways: Changing Our...
315 Karen J. Marienau: Pursuing Lifelong Adventures in Well-being
At age 70, Karen Marienau’s life is distinguished by a circuitous professional path, world-wide adventure travels, strenuous physical challenges, taxing home improvement projects, and deeply loving relationships—with people, animals, and nature. How does...
314 Barbara Thompson: Moving Through Real Estate Market Complexities
Barbara Thompson is passionate about working with seniors. She holds a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) certification. When her life turned out differently from what she expected, she learned to rely on friendships to fill a gap. That brought her to...
313 Adriane Berg: Ageless Traveler
At the age of 76, Adriane created the podcast Ageless Traveler, a gift for her travel-focused self. She designs the trips she wants to take and, with a supportive team, invites others to join. Adriane advocates ‘voluntourism’—travel with a purpose that involves seeing and doing. She also encourages intergenerational travel—different ages traveling together to the same place, doing the same things.
312 Emilia DiMenco: A Successful Transition: From Commercial Enterprise to a Mission-Driven Organization
After 30 years in banking, Emilia DiMenco joined the Women’s Business Development Organization (WBDC) - first as a board member and then as CEO. WBDC serves all entrepreneurs and particularly women and underserved communities. Emilia understands and...
311 Carol Offen and Betsy Crais: Living Organ Donations: The Insider’s Guide for Donors and Recipients
Carol Offen and Betsy Crais know all too well the exhilaration, separately, of being a living donor and a 2-time organ recipient. Carol’s adult, college-age son was in need of a kidney. Carol became his donor. Betsy Crais’s evaluation for gastric problems...
310 Barbara Ellison: From Striving to Thriving: One Woman’s Journey
Barbara Ellison always wanted to have a TV show. Since waking up from her widow’s fog after her husband died when she was in her early 60’s, she has not stood still. She says, “I had no idea who I was, or what I was meant to do. The labels attached to me...
309 Jane Seskin: The Three A’s of Aging—Acknowledge, Accommodate, Accept
Jane Seskin, a licensed clinical social worker, is a prolific poet who, at age 80, published a collection of 89 poems in the book OLDER WISER SHORTER: The Truth and Humor of Life After 65. With humor and insight, Jane observes how she is learning to...
152 Ricki McKenna: Yes You Can Eat Well & Eat Right
Ricki (mchealthy) McKenna is an entrepreneur, author and functional certified nutritionist who believes healthy eating is the key to a vibrant life. She started her business in Colorado by visiting farmers’ markets to buy ingredients for soup, building an...
151 Vanessa Kettler: Building Better Balance As You Age: Prevent or Overcome Falls
Vanessa Kettler has danced all her life. She became an exercise coach 20 years ago and now focuses on older people so they, too, can experience a higher quality of life as they age. Feelings of fear, depression, anxiety and stress can be controlled...
150 Karen Bennett: Life Experiences as Gist for My Fiction Writing
Karen Bennett, from Baltimore MD, entered adulthood in the 1960s among Beatniks and ‘starving’ artists. After leaving art studies and a first marriage, as a mother of three, Karen became a nurse practitioner working in correctional institutions, including...
149 Sue Smith: Sue Talks Trash & Fights Dirty
Sue Smith’s life has educated her as much as she educates others in her position as teacher, trainer and consultant, first for middle school children, and then 30 years for Keep America Beautiful. Sue recently retired from KAB. The love in her voice as...
148 Ilene Dillon: Rethinking Anger & Fear Opens up a World of Possibilities
Ilene’s life is colorful and eventful. Overcoming her own fear and anger has allowed her to experience adventure in unique and satisfying ways. Author, social worker and host of Full Power Living for 12 years, she now lives primarily in an RV and...
147 Margo Morris: Diversity, Animals & Art – An Unlikely Frame for a Spectacular Life
Create diverse communities and better the lives of all people. This one sentence perfectly describes Margo Morris, 78. The communities themselves were diverse: corporate America, education, Lincoln Park Zoo, Garfield Park Conservatory and other...
145 Linda Seger: Prolific Author, Screenwriter, Pianist, Rider of Horses and Feminist Theologian – A Life of Creativity and Spirituality
How do you describe a woman, in a few short paragraphs, whose passions are so numerous, her curiosity endless, and her life filled with joy in all she pursues? This is Dr. Linda Seger. Never satisfied to only do, Linda seeks the best teachers in each of...
144 Defying Gravity: Finding Purpose, Rhythm and Enjoyment in Retirement with Iris Goldfein & Monica Israel
Childhood friends, Iris Goldfein and Monica Israel, are both highly accomplished professionals in male saturated fields, who approached retirement with apprehension and excitement. They co-founded DefyingGravity.life in 2018 with the mission to...
143 Karen Grassle: Reflections on Life, Loss and Love from Little House’s Ma
Many know Karen Grassle as ‘Ma’ on the hit TV series, Little House on the Prairie. She is also an actress of stage and film and now a published author with her memoir (Nov 2021) Bright Lights, Prairie Dust. Meet the real Karen Grassle who talks openly...
142 Dara Marks: Engaging the Feminine Heroic – A Journey of Discovery
Within us all are stories to tell that are relevant and essential. Dara Marks, international script consultant, lecturer, author and workshop presenter has always been fascinated by story. Her newest book and seminar, Inside Story, takes you into the...
141 Pamela Tate: Full-time Activist for a Healthier Planet
Pamela Tate, age 75, did not foresee becoming a full-time volunteer leader of climate reality actions at grassroots and national levels. As a member of the Climate Reality Project-Chicago Metro Chapter, Pam co-chairs the Task Force on Electrifying Public...
139 Pauline Coffman: Justice Ministry for Human Rights
Pauline Coffman’s early involvement in youth ministry evolved into justice ministry during her 20+ years as an advocate for peace and justice in the Middle East. Her first visit to Lebanon was as a student in 1959; her next visit to countries in the...
137 Karla Klinger: Writing Emotional Truths Across the Decades
Karla Klinger, age 87, has been a poet much of her life. However, until now, most of her work has been shared privately. As an early podcast guest, Karla read This Particular Dot in Time. This penetrating poem is the last entry in her first published...
135 Ellen Shubart: Journalism, Preservation, Policy, Architecture – and Still Going Strong
Ellen’s mother died at 101. Like her mother, Ellen’s current life path is filled with enthusiasm and enrichment. She is fueled by the strong community that is the Docent Volunteers of the Chicago Architecture Center. Even before becoming a docent...
119 Margot Wallace: Continue Learning, Take Risks, Do Things Well
Margot Wallace is a marketer, academic, author and life-long learner. Starting out, Margot was a writer and creative director for J. Walter Thompson (now JWT), global advertising agency. At age 62, Margot earned a master’s degree from DePaul University...
118 Nancy Manahan: Philanthropy and Writing in Support of Women
Nancy Manahan, Ph.D., age 75, lives an inspired life with her wife, author Becky Bohan, on the Florida coast in an intentional community of 500 women, aptly called Carefree. Life partners for 27 years, Nancy and Becky have published six books between them...
097 Sunny Fischer: Philanthropy for Women’s Rights
At age 76, Sunny Fischer (Evanston, IL) has advocated for women to be free from violence, exercise reproductive choice, afford their homes and possess financial stability. Sunny’s radicalization for women’s issues began in the 1970s while working directly...
093 Nancy Fuhrman: Goals Drive Your Actions in Retirement
Nancy has always worked hard to keep everyone in her large blended family connected. As she and her husband, Steve, looked far into the future, she brought the family together to discuss their estate plan and guidelines, ensuring they would all be...
092 Ronne Hartfield: Art and Religion in Public Life
At age 84, twenty-some years beyond retirement, Ronne Hartfield continues to make a difference as her commitments and curiosities flourish. Ronne honed her executive management talents at Chicago’s Urban Gateways and in two leadership positions at The Art...
090 Get Real: Gail & Catherine Reflect on 2020
As 2020 comes to a close, Catherine and Gail “get real” while looking back on a year of growth for both the podcast and their personal lives. This year has been a reminder of the importance of staying connected: zoom gatherings, podcast club, and other...
088 Julie Percell: Life in Hawaii when you are not Hawaiin
After graduation, Julie Percell visited friends in Hawaii and has lived there ever since. She has enjoyed a rich entrepreneurial career in sales, training and teaching. Working closely with local associations and government to provide resources to startups and...
087 Kate Kunkel: Music Helps Us Stay in Tune
Life in Ecuador lends itself to mindfulness, meditation and music. However, no matter where we live, the quality of our lives and our health is intimately connected to our diet and lifestyle. That is what determines how balanced our gut microbiome is,...
086 Kathryn Haueisen: It Takes a Village to Write a Story
Kathy Haueisen first moved to Houston with her family in 1982. After a brief return to her home state of Ohio, she again settled in Texas in 1996. Already a journalist and published writer, she earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1985, intending to...
085: Celebrating 70 Women Over 70
In this special edition of Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined, we celebrate reaching our milestone of interviewing 70 women over 70. Guests Susanne Dumbleton (Ep #082) and Judith DeVeries (Ep #002), who were our 1st and 70th guests (despite the episode...
084 Linda Randall: Sharing Your Stories: Sad or Happy
Feisty and outspoken! That is how we describe Linda Randall - semi-retired psychotherapist, board member of Village Chicago, active and resilient. Linda does not mince words when it comes to loss and grieving. Loss comes in many forms: physical,...
083 Marie Kisiel: Upstaging Time–Creativity in Later Life
At age 91, Dr. Marie Kisiel continues to pursue her passions as a mentor to people of all ages and as a writer about seasons in human life, centering on food, learning and work. The daughter of immigrant parents who had little formal education, Marie...
082 Susanne Dumbleton: The Power of Women as Forces for Human Rights
Susanne Dumbleton, Ph.D., does the research and then creates courses--e.g., Little Women, Joan of Arc, women leaders of social movements--to enlighten adults about the fight for women’s and human rights in the United States and around the world. She also...
081 Elizabeth (Zib) Hinz: Play Involves Activity, Curiosity and Spontaneity
In early adulthood, small town girl Zib Hinz changed her mind about living life by the script. She set out to direct her own path, guided by curiosity and opportunity. In the late 1960s and early 70s, Zib traveled across Europe, the Middle East, and hiked...
080 Dolly Kennedy: Meet ‘Arizona’s Dolly’
Since 1983, Dolly Kennedy has worked to keep the Dolly Steamboat filled with people. A natural-born publicist, she first worked with her husband, creator of the steamboat. They had a dream to put Canyon Lake AZ on the tourist map. They were so successful...
079 Sara Hart: Prime Spark: It’s Our Time
“The red fuzzy PJ’s stood for everything I lost.” - Sara Hart A PhD and professor of communication, successful head of training in the HR division of Pfizer, author, speaker, and coach, Sara Hart is a model of how women are making a difference even as...
078 Cat Parenti: Living in Afghanistan: An Extraordinary Life of Service
“Building bridges of culture, understanding and respect… I thank you for giving voice to the wonderful history and culture of the region.” – Hillary Rodham Clinton This honor by Clinton is only one of numerous accolades that chronicle Cat’s journey from...
077 Lyn Williams: Love Your Space, Love Your Life, Love Yourself
Lyn Williams has moved 25 times throughout her life. She says it was always fun and gave her a sense of adventure. Her mother made it an adventure, too, and each place they lived turned into home. Home, Lyn believes, is the stage for our lives, and it is...
076 Naomi Paulson: Courage, Curiosity and Grace – A Life Well-lived
Growing up during the depression, Naomi Paulson's earliest memories are of living during wartime and experiencing multiple moves. At 9, she moved from New Jersey, where she loved the outdoors and had the freedom to roam, to New York. Always one to make...
075 Let’s Get Real: Catherine and Gail Remember Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Maintaining social distance, Catherine and Gail “get real” as they reflect on the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The duo discuss the impact Ruth had on America, and reflect on how it personally feels to lose a women's rights icon....
074 Rita Wilkins: Live the Life You Love by Design
Rita Wilkins is a nationally recognized interior design and lifestyle design, expert. Her TEDx Talk, Downsize Your Life, Why Less is More, tells it all. The inspiration for her downsizing journey began in Senegal where for the first time in her life, she...
Julie Cook Downing: Caregivers Comfort – Support, Motivation and Inspiration
“Caregivers give the greatest gift of all, with their love, guidance and direction.” – Julie Cook Downing As the President and founder of Caregivers Comfort Creations, LLC, Julie's mission is to empower and support millions of family Caregivers and...
072 Susan Stall: Advocacy for Community Development
Susan Stall highlights transformative experiences that shaped her path as a Community Sociologist and advocate for women’s equity and empowerment and grass-roots community development. While on the faculty at Northeastern Illinois University, Susan taught...
071 Susana Stoica: One Woman’s Story of Healing Brain Injury
Susana was born in Romania, worked in Canada and now resides in the United States. She has a Ph.D. in Computer Design Engineering and over 30 years of experience defining and using advanced technologies. During this time, she experienced two traumatic...
070 Karin Crilly: The Story of the Blue Satin Nightgown
At 85, Karin has been widowed twice, always has a man in her life, and lives out her dreams with passionate reality. She is gutsy and game! Her 2nd husband had passed away from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. After retiring from a career in...
069 Harriett Cholden: Everything to Help and Nothing to Hinder
As a young adult, Harriett visited Chicago from her home in Waterloo, Iowa, and never looked back. She got a job teaching 5th grade at an independent school based on the progressive philosophy of John Dewey and stayed for 40 years. Upon retirement 16...
068 Bobbi Wilsyn: Leaning, Learning & Leading: Music with a Message
Jazz/Blues performer, educator, actress and Professor Emerita at Columbia College Chicago, Bobbi Wilsyn, 72, has lived a life of purpose. Now in her 3rd act, she is redesigning her career and looking forward to new adventures and opportunities to serve,...
067 Martha Holstein, Ph.D.: Own Your Own Age
Dr. Holstein, a vocal advocate for women aging, speaks both to individuals and the larger politic. She urges women to own their age—if you are old, acknowledge it. Live by your norms, not those for people far younger: Intergenerational conversations are...
066 Sallie Reynolds: An Uncommon Life
From childhood, Sallie longed to communicate with creatures different from her - human and otherwise. Her difficult upbringing and early adulthood influenced the paths she chose in her life. A white woman growing up in the south, guided by a black...
065 Diana Appell-Kassler: Life is a Puzzle – Families are a System
Living in 9 places in 11 years taught Diana how to adapt as a young woman. She had to figure things out. First an art therapist and then a school adjustment counselor, Diana realized she would need multiple degrees to further her career and provide her...
064 Nancy Reid: Born to Sell – How Natural Ability Drove Her Career
Nancy Reid started her career as a greeter at a television executives conference in Miami, FL. The executive who hired her was so impressed by her innate ability to sell that he asked if he could professionally mentor her. That launched her into 30 years...
063 Lydia Denworth: Friendship The Best Remedy for Aging
Lydia Denworth shares stunning revelations about the importance of friendship for humans and other species, drawing on her recent book, -Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond. Science tells us that...
062 Emily Axelrod: Appreciating Life Through Multiple Lenses
These days, Emily Axelrod, age 77, uses the camera to record significant aspects of life, from photos of birds in natural habitat to survivors of the holocaust. She looks for new ways, whether guiding transformational change in large organizations,...
061 Sandy Rogers: From Adoption Reform to “Ask Sandy Rogers”
Pregnant at 15, Sandy gave up her baby for adoption. 20 years later, she and her son were reunited, in no small part due to her advocacy efforts and work with Concerned United BirthParents and American Adoption Congress. "My joy comes in working with...
060 Let’s Get Real: Disruption, Time and Connection
Maintaining social distance, Catherine and Gail “get real” as they reflect on their lives in light of the global pandemic. They discuss what disruption looks and feels like, the meaning of time left, the need to connect with family and friends, and the...
059 Susan Halverson Westerberg: Using Professional Know-How for the Social Good
Susan, age 71, reflects on the life steps that brought her from farm life in Minnesota, to advanced degrees and licensures in Virginia, to a faculty position in Oregon—a new Ph.D. at age 50. While on sabbatical from her work in marriage and family...
058 Marion Giles: Adventure, Independence & Social Connection at Any Age
Marion, age 103, is a long-time resident of Plymouth Place Senior Living in LaGrange Park, IL. For her 100th birthday, Marion threw a cocktail party for 100 people and 3 animals from the Brookfield Zoo. She also gave up her car that year. Marion reflects...
057 Lydia Manning: Gerontologist, Educator and Entrepreneur on Aging
Lydia Manning’s formative years include fond memories of relationships with elder members of her family. Her experiences put her on a path to create a unique set of skills to work both in academia and entrepreneurship to help people think about aging. “I...
056 Mary Reckhemmer-Meyer: Life Taught Her to Dream and Visualize
Mary Reckhemmer-Meyer grew up in North Dakota on a farm. Today she lives in Surprise, AZ. Experiences like being divorced after 26 years of marriage and dealing with a serious cancer illness led her on a journey to find herself. “Life sometimes isn’t...
055 Dianne Michels: Possibility Partner Workplaces Where Everybody Matters
At age 76, Dianne Michels continues to reinvent herself, having explored several careers before finding her passion in Human Resources as an HR Futurist. She believes retirement is an outdated concept that implies work is a burden you survive rather than...
054 – Chris Hauri: Bringing Creativity, Fun & Intuition to Life
Chris Hauri lives with the spirit of creativity and fun. As an entrepreneur and intrapreneur, Chris leads individuals and groups—e.g., The Human Company (currently), The Grand Group, Girl Scouts, Crayola -- to tap into their creative and intuitive...
053 – Pat Honiotes: Equal Part Irreverent Rascal and Kick-Butt Coach
A voice for the voiceless, Pat’s life-long career has focused on finding tools she can use to support the voiceless until they gain a voice of their own - children in special education, people with disabilities, the behaviorally disordered and more. From...
052 Sky Bergman: Lives Well Lived: Secrets, Wit and Wisdom of Age
Sky Bergman set out to pay tribute to her very active 99 year-old grandmother. She soon realized that “everyone has a story to tell if we just take time to listen.” Sky’s listening project evolved into a documentary feature-length film starring 40 people...
051 – Mary Gray: Poetic Justice is Sweet Revenge
Active writer, and published author, Mary Gray graduated from Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University in 1955. A long career in public relations, then as a corporate travel agent, led Mary to ghostwriting and worldwide travel. She always...
050 Frances Fuller: Helping Yourself Grow Old
Frances Fuller grew up in poverty. All of her books belonged to the state of Arkansas. Her mother had a 4th-grade education. It is a wonder, then, that Frances became a writer and publisher and left a legacy in the form of an entire body of literature in...
Mari Frank: Conflict Management — Helping Women Win
Master mediator, attorney, author and professor, Mari Frank is a bundle of energy and information. Her primary focus is conflict management and she helps women (and men) get what they want. Mari believes in emotional intelligence and how having it...
048 Rebecca Sive: Women Engaging Civically and Politically
For the past five decades, Rebecca Sive, age 70, has built coalitions—across lines of age, ethnicity, race, gender, and political persuasion-- to address a range of social issues. Her primary focus is advancing women’s rights in all fronts, especially...
047 Dinah Lin: Daring to Follow Your Dream – It’s Never Too Late!
Dinah Lin began life in Shanghai, China. She, along with her mother and two siblings, escaped on the last boat out of Shanghai in 1949, just before the Communists closed the borders. Her father was already in the United States on a research grant. Dinah...
046 Susan Ross: Living Solo with Verve
Sue Ross, age 74, took 8 years to transition from her full-time faculty position in Social Work to “being done” in 2018. Even though Sue taught gerontology and retirement transition, she needed plenty of time to “find my way” through the process. A...
045 Gail & Catherine: The Many Ways We Embrace Our Age
Amid a global pandemic, from separate locations, Catherine and Gail reflect on themes that emerge from the inspiring and provocative stories of our guests. In this retrospective episode, we highlight women who have experienced spiritual awakenings and now...
044 Jennifer Grainger: Reinvention Through Spiritual Awakening
Jennifer is an inspiring advocate of aging. A horrific accident that fatally killed all members of a friend’s family, plus her own bout of unremitting pain from a shingles attack, completely shook her faith. The path she embarked on resulted in authoring...
043 Jackie Walker: Walk Out of Your Closet with a Dose of Self-Esteem
As soon as the conversation starts with Jackie Walker, you are drawn in. Here is a woman who has spent her entire career in mainstream fashion, first on the retail floor, then in HR. And then she had an AHA. She reinvented herself and became known as the...
042 Linda Schaefer: Finding Your Happy Place
Come springtime, you will find 70-year-old Linda Schaefer at the Minnesota Twins ballpark, where she works as an usher about 55 days of the season. Linda’s love of the Twins spans over 60 years, starting in grade school when she listened (yes, listened,...
041 Cordelia Ryan: Retired With A Smile On Her Face
Cory Ryan is a former nun of the Congregation of Maryknoll Sisters in Maryknoll, New York. She saw it as a way to pursue a life of exploration and service. She participated during a period of time when the church began to recognize that sisters were...
040: Ginger Littleton: Bravery is Conscience in Action – We Just Have to Act.
Would you want your claim to fame to be that you attacked a mysterious shooter, at your monthly Board Meeting in 2010, by smacking him in the head with your small (Brahmin) purse? At this Bay District school board meeting, with 300+ people attending,...
039 Heather Booth: Organizing Can Change the World
At age 74, Heather Booth thrives as a visionary leader who makes big change happen. Ever since her teen years, Heather has championed social movements and built organizations—civil rights, women’s rights, labor rights, and others. She describes her entry...
038 Yukiko Iino: Lost Identity Leads to Passion Work
Born and raised in Kobe, Japan, Yukiko moved to the United States in the 9th grade when her father accepted a job in New York. After 4 years, her family returned to Japan. She was determined to complete her education in the States. Graduating from City...
037 Jania Aebi: Finding Life’s Purpose at 75
In this episode: Jania Aebi, age 86, lives and works in Switzerland as a healer. Challenges have always shaped her. Born in Poland before World War II, she was sent to England at 11 years old to continue her studies. She had no language, no family and a...
036 Jacky Grimshaw: Transportation Advocacy Changes Peoples’ Lives
In this episode, Gail and Catherine talk with Jacky about her long career advocating for equitable transportation and environmental justice. She has worked with the nonprofit Center for Neighborhood Technology since 1992, currently in a part-time role as...
035 Pam Culley-McCullough: Transformational Healing From the 3rd Realm
Pam’s life has unfolded in unpredictable fashion. Her experience, and practical work, as a counseling psychologist, led her to understand she was a healer. As she began to rely more and more on her intuition, she could access, through her clients,...
034 Peggy Keonjiian: Mastering Life with No Regrets
Peggy’s love of life caused her career to move across many paths. She never expected to travel, live in unexpected places or have the life experiences she did. A graduate in biological science/zoology, it was only as field editor for Better Homes &...
033 Rita Corley Baker: Lifelong Advocate, Therapist and Activist
Growing up in a patriarchal Irish Catholic home, Rita followed her 2 older siblings into the convent, believing a life of service was only available inside a religious community. 12 years later she had come to understand that she could be a witness and...
032 Gerda Meyer Bernstein: Bearing Witness to Man’s Inhumanity to Man
In this episode, Gail, Catherine and Gerda discuss her lifelong commitment to creating art that bears witness to human experiences of conflict, disruption, loss, prejudice, and violence. Gerda chronicles her early life history as a Jew in Germany,...
031 Donna Marie Scheifler: Crone Wisdom Shining Brightly
In this episode, Gail, Catherine, and Donna Marie discuss: What happened when Donna Marie hit a wall and how she emerged whole. How blindly joining a Women’s Circle completely changed her life. How difficult life can get and how exhilarating it is to get...
030 Gail & Catherine: Reflections on Episode Themes
Periodically, Catherine and Gail will reflect on themes that emerge from the inspiring and provocative stories of our guests. In this first retrospective episode, we highlight four themes that emerged during 2019: living by choice; reinventing oneself;...
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