Zestful Aging

Sustainable Art; Rethinking Toxic Art Supplies

<p dir="ltr">Holly Greenberg is a professor of Art at Syracuse University specializing in printmaking. She’s long been aware of how toxic some art materials are, but has recen...

How My Rescue Dog Taught Me to Fully Love at 65

<p dir="ltr">Rona Maynard found happiness at 65—a story she tells in her new memoir Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World. Rona capped a stellar career ...

I Tried to Deny My Dad’s Dementia

<p>This episode looks at the difficulty of realizing that a loved one is experiencing cognitive decline.  I met Darlene Mahoney at a recent podcasting conference and was struc...

Now is the Best Age to Travel and Make Friends

<p dir="ltr">Anyone else need an adventure? Here in Upstate NY it’s been grey as usual, and I need something to look forward to.</p> <p dir="ltr">Today we’re going to talk abo...

The Guru of Healthy Aging

<p dir="ltr">Over the past 40 years, Dr. Ken Dychtwald has emerged as a foremost visionary and original thinker regarding the lifestyle, marketing, health care, economic and w...

From Wheelchair to Weightlifting Champion

<p dir="ltr">Kim Rahir is a 60 year old mother of three who was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago and was in a wheelchair. She ignored her doctor's advice and slowly began liftin...

Camp Reinvention is Rocket Fuel For Women Over 50

<p dir="ltr">I think we all are searching for a more meaningful and joy filled life, but don’t quite know where to start. Many of my clients experiencing empty nest and all of...

“The Golden Girls Have Nothing on the Trailblazing Bringle Sisters”

<p dir="ltr">Twins Cynthia and Edwina Bringle are 84 year old artists and legends at the renowned Penland School of Craft in North Carolina.  The new documentary, "Bringle: A ...

The Midlife Mentors Share Their Wisdom on Midlife Health and Well Being

<p>Claire and James Davis are the British dynamic duo of midlife health and well being. They are experts in, among other subjects, menopause and hormones. They are also multi ...

The Middle Aged Hip Hop Viral Sensation

<p dir="ltr">She was uninspired, out of shape, and longing for the younger version of herself. She thought a hip hop dance class might solve some of her problems.</p> <p dir="...

Dog Mountain–Heaven for Your Dog

<p dir="ltr">Dog Mountain is set on 150 acres on a private mountaintop spot in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The grounds are always open to people and their dogs. Artist <a href= "h...

Diane Jones–From the Corporate World to Carnegie Hall

<p dir="ltr">We’ve all heard midlife reinvention stories, and I’ve got a special one for you. I’ve wanted to interview this guest for years, and I finally got to meet her rece...

Mary’s Nest: Making Food Delicious, Nutritious and Affordable Resonates with Viewers

<p>Mary Bryant Shrader is the host of “Mary’s Nest”, a Youtube channel with over a million subscribers. She teaches the simple pleasures of cooking highly nutritious and affor...

Considering Using the New Weight Loss Drugs?

<p dir="ltr">There’s been a lot of buzz about the new weight loss drug like Ozempic. Celebrities are singing their praises. But are they appropriate for midlife women who are ...

Using Nature and Art to Process Grief

<p dir="ltr">After a particularly painful break up and the death of his father, artist Day Schildkret began using materials in nature to make designs–what he calls "morning al...

Award Winning Author Champions Writers Over 50

<p>Julia Daily calls herself a late bloomer, but that’s really not the case. Instead, she bloomed throughout her life with various careers, from teaching to public relations a...

Addressing Quality Health Care in Indigenous Communities

<p dir="ltr">Dr. Peter Rohloff is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer for Maya Health Alliance, a primary care organization working with indigenous Maya communities in ru...

Walking Vacations; A Better Way to Travel

<p dir="ltr">Have you ever considered hiking in Europe but think of hiking as too strenuous? Well, it doesn't have to be. Cassandra Overby is the author of "Explore Europe on ...

A Life in Progress -- Finding Joy, Even in Unbearable Loss

<p>Krista O’Reilly-Davi-Digui is a writer and holistic mind-body coach and the voice behind “A Life in Progress” community. She helps people navigate profound loss (her son wh...

Emme -- Supermodel Dismantles Unrealistic Beauty Ideals

<p dir="ltr">Known for over two decades as an iconic American supermodel and a two time “beautiful person” by “People” magazine, Emme is a trusted voice in the beauty, wellnes...

Kim Scott -- Author of Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want By Saying What You Mean

<p>Kim Scott is the author of "Just Work" and "Radical Candor" and co-founder of a company that helps people put the ideas in her books into practice. Kim was a CEO coach at D...

Jane Delury -- Author of HEDGE, a Gorgeous Book About Midlife Longing

<p dir="ltr">"A midlife landscape historian in an unhappy marriage, a handsome fellow scientist, a lost garden in the Hudson Valley....." </p> <p>Award winning author’s book H...

Janice Costa -- A Total Career Pivot, She Created Canine Camp Getaway

<p>Janice Costa is a lifelong dog lover who spent more than 30 years in the publishing field before trading corporate life for camp life with Canine Camp Getaway, a one-of-a-k...

Carrie Jarosinski -- How Can We Make Our Lives Invigorating As We Age?

<p>Good health is a lot more than diet and exercise. Although we all would like a quick and easy program to attain good mental and physical health, achieving wellness is a lif...

MT Connelly -- Authored the Elder Justice Act, Champion of Restorative Justice

<p>What is elder justice and why is it so important? And how does harm reduction play into keeping our elders safe from abuse? M. T. Connolly, is a  <a href= "https://usw2.nyl...

Debbie Weiss -- Surviving and Thriving After the Loss of a Loved One

<p>Loss of a loved one can turn our world upside down. How can we recover and how can we recreate ourselves without them in our lives? Debbie Weiss turned to writing in 2013, ...

Dr. Greg Hammer -- Making Happiness and Resilience Accessible to All of Us

<p dir="ltr">Our medical professionals are really suffering. Burnout is at new highs, causing serious problems including medical mistakes, addiction, depression and even suici...

Ellie and Sandy -- Zestful Travelers and Media Stars

<p dir="ltr">Many of us love to travel or dream of traveling now that we have more time. But imagine going around the world in 80 days at 81 years old with your best friend? D...

Michela Di Carlo -- Irreverent, Stylish and Decidedly Anti-Ageist

<p>Michela Di Carlo is an award winning lifestyle journalist and a late bloomers' advocate. Founder and chief editor of the popular digital illustrated magazine ‘CrunchyTales....

Pinch Me! My Interview With Tennis Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez

<p>When I received Gigi's newsletter talking about turning 60, I jumped at the chance to invite her to be a guest on the Zestful Aging Podcast. In addition to being a tennis s...

Dr. Gaby Longsworth -- To Dye or Not to Dye

<p dir="ltr">I stopped dying years ago. The expense, the time, the toxic chemicals– just didn’t seem worth it. And the gray streaks are fine with me, although they are coarser...

Dr. Patrick Hill -- How Does Your Personality Affect How You Age?

<p>Have you ever wondered how your personality affects how you age? Do some kinds of personalities age better than others? What is the effect of having a sense of purpose? Pat...

Sophie Poldermans -- Dedicates Her Life to Documenting the Experiences of Young Dutch Women Resistance Fighters in WWII (On location in Haarlem, Netherlands)

<p>Many years ago, I interviewed Sophie Poldermans, author of “Seducing and Killing Nazis”. Her book documented the experiences of three Dutch girls who became resistance figh...

Gregg LeFevre -- Accomplished Artist and “Compulsive Storyteller”

<p dir="ltr">Gregg LeFevre is a celebrated artist who has completed almost 200 public art commissions in the streets and sidewalks all over America and overseas. His unique wo...

Building a Beautiful Urinal for Boomers -- Dr. Valerie Ulene and Byrdie Lifson Pompan

<p>Have you ever noticed that the home medical equipment industry is outdated, ugly and more than a little depressing? Dr. Valerie Ulene and Byrdie Lifson Pompan are two women...

The Grandmother Collective -- “Grandmothers Hold Up the World”

<p>Do you have a story about how your grandmother was an important part of your life? Many of us do. The importance of grandmothers can be seen all around the world, and they ...

Carl Landau -- Inspires 50-plus-year-olds How to Build Their (Un)retirement Good Life

<p>Carl Landau was a niche magazine publisher / entrepreneur / event organizer. He launched and sold 5 national niche magazines and two shows: Computer Language and AI Expert ...

Heli Mende -- Why is Finland So Happy?

<p>You may have heard that Finland has been named the happiest country for 6 years in a row. What is their secret? And how can we learn from them? Heli Mende, the head of Visi...

Michael Clinton -- Former President of Hearst Publications Asks “What Will You Do With the Rest of Your Life?”

<p dir="ltr">Michael Clinton is the former president and publishing director of Hearst Publications, which includes Cosmopolitan, Esquire, O The Oprah Magazine, Redbook and Wo...

Julia Verdin -- Award-winning Director and Producer Tackles Homelessness

<p dir="ltr">Veteran filmmaker <a href= "https://www.roughdiamondproductions.net/julia-verdin/">Julia Verdin</a> is an accomplished producer and award-winning Director. She ha...

Dana Griffin -- “Eldera is the Opposite of Eldercare”

<p>Eldera is a health tech company built as a global platform for wisdom sharing and intergenerational connection. They are on a mission to unlock the time and wisdom of 1 bil...

Meg LaPorte -- Art Against Ageism

<p>Meg LaPorte co-created <a href= "https://artagainstageism.org/author/ageinamericablog/">Art Against Ageism</a> as an alliance and media platform for the purpose of identify...

Alice Feiring -- Award Winning Wine Critic and Whistleblower

<p>Today’s interview is with the “queen of natural wine”, Alice Feiring. Among her many awards is the coveted James Beard Award for wine journalism. Alice calls herself “a whi...

Maria Teresa Ferretti -- Women’s Brain Project and The Importance of Gender Medicine

<p>Maria Teresa Ferretti is a biomedical researcher, TED-x speaker, co-founder of the Women's Brain Project and breast cancer survivor. She spoke with us about bridging immuno...

Anne Phinney -- Llamas and Love: Finding Your Way to Moose River Farm

<p>Anne Phinney is a retired teacher who is living her dream in the Adirondacks. She runs Moose River Farm, where she introduces the public to her collection of beloved animal...

Randy Tessier -- ”Geezer Happy Hour” Spreads Like Wildfire

<p>Randy Tessier is a 72 year old University of Michigan faculty member who organizes the “Geezer happy Hour” – a weekly rock and roll show where everyone is 60 or over. Randy...

Barbara Waxman -- What is “Middlescence” and Why Is It Important?

<p>What do you call that murky time between the ages of 45 and 65? What if that time had its own name and we could understand it as a specific phase, with specific joys, expec...

Peggy Orenstein -- Her Brand New Book, "Unraveling", is Resonating With Us

<p>I’m thrilled to welcome back today’s guest. <a href= "https://www.peggyorenstein.com/about1">Peggy Orenstein</a>, a <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author, award-winnin...

Catherine Owens -- How to Navigate the Confusion About Senior Living Decisions

<p>Catherine Owens is a nationally recognized Senior Living industry expert and has worked in a variety of roles in Senior Living including leadership, staff training, sales a...

Angela Mitchell Hill -- Not Your Run of the Mill Nail Salon

<p>Angela Mitchell Hill is an entrepreneur and the owner of Nashville Nails By Na'Sah's, a full service nail salon located in the Nashville International Airport. She actively...

Traci Schubert Barrett -- It All Started with HGTV

<p>Some of you may have heard of a little show called HGTV. Traci Schubert Barrett was one of the founding team members, but after thirty years of experience in corporate Amer...

Chris Brickler -- How Virtual Reality is a Gamechanger for Elders

One of the challenges of older adults is getting enough stimulation. To make things worse, we’re all aware that COVID increased isolation, loneliness and depression. Christ Br...

Janet Reilly -- More Pickleball in the New Year, Please!

Janet Reilly loves pickleball so much that she became a Pickleball Ambassador for Central New York. She sings its praises wherever she can. When she brought me to the local co...

Dr. Joshua Coleman -- The Pain of Parent/Child Estrangement

Dr. Joshua Coleman is the foremost expert on parent/child estrangement. He's been on every media outlet you can think of--including Sesame Street! I think he's the first of ov...

Dr. Bruce Dorr -- Those Weird Symptoms Could Be Menopause

Having odd health symptoms? This episode could help. Dr. Bruce Dorr is a leading expert in menopause and hormonal balancing. He helps women with their hormone issues which can...

Dr. Bill Miller -- Why We Need to Partner with Our Microbiome In Order to Age Well

William B. Miller, Jr. M.D., is an internationally known evolutionary biologist, medical doctor, and author of seven acclaimed books. After a career practicing medicine, Dr. M...

Faigie Kobre -- Reigniting Your Creativity After Age 45

As we age, we often have more time and energy for creativity. And there’s even a theory that after we’re done having babies we need to do something with all of that creative e...

Keri Gans -- The Dietician Who Loves French Fries and Martinis

Keri Gans is the author of “The Small Change Diet”, and a blogger for US News & World Report. “The Keri Report”, her own bi-monthly podcast and newsletter, helps to convey her...

Jeanette Leardi -- What Do I Do About Sneaky Ageism?

It's no secret that in our culture most older people experience ageism– discrimination that's based on a person's age. In fact, in a recent study reported this year in the Jou...

Mike Branon -- “The Joy of Pickleball”

Have you tried the sport that is literally sweeping the nation? Pickleball is appealing to all kinds of people, at every age. Mike Branon talks to us about why it is the perfe...

Susan Salenger -- Why Do Women Lie to Their Doctors?

Did you know that over 80% of patients lie to their doctors, and women lie more than men do? Why is that so? When the possible consequences are quite serious…like inaccurate d...

Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell -- How Can I Develop My Own Timeless Dressing Style?

Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell is an award-winning fashion historian, curator, and journalist based in Los Angeles. As well as writing books and articles, she does writing, le...

Kip Clarke -- Keeping a “high vibe” As We Age

Kip Clarke has been a multi-sport elite athlete who now, as she turns 60, uses her experiences to coach women in their middle and later years. Some of her accomplishments incl...

Dr. Bill Rawls -- When Antibiotics Didn’t Work, He Discovered the World of Healing Herbs

For over 30 years as a 4th-generation physician, Dr. Bill Rawls has dedicated his life to medicine. When a health crisis in his early forties abruptly changed his quality of l...

Alice Tym -- At 79, She’s the Pickleball Queen

Alice Tym played at Wimbledon 5 times--limo and strawberries included. She began her tennis career before Title IX was enacted, when women athletes were not supported by their...

Donna Kalil -- Hunting Invasive Burmese Pythons in the Everglades (On location)

Meet Donna Kalil. She calls herself and her volunteers "Everglades Avengers". She's an environmentalist/herpetologist whose mission in life is to rid her beloved Everglades of...

Angela White -- The “Running Granny”

Angela White, aka The Running Granny, started running at the age of 53 as part of a series of ‘small steps’ she took to improve her health and quality of life. A friend then i...

Dr. Michael Roizen -- Engineering Your Body to Live Longer

What if you could live another ten, twenty, or thirty years beyond your current life expectancy? What if science could make it possible to engineer your body to slow down agin...

Deborah Slaner Larkin -- “I wanted to be Billie Jean King”

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX. For those who are unfamiliar, TITLE IX is a Federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex or gender in any...

Nancy DeNike -- Giving Women Ex-Felons a Second Chance

Nancy DeNike is part of the LEAP Program (Ladies Empowerment & Action Program), a nonprofit empowering women to put prison in their past. Nancy went through the Program hersel...

Verla Fortier -- Proven and Practical Ways to Prevent Cardiac Arrest

When Verla’s dear friend died from a heart attack–even though she was smart and fit–Verla put her clinical research hat on and investigated what went wrong. In her book “Optim...

Clyde and Nikki Butcher -- Award winning Artists Celebrating the Beauty of the Everglades

What do you get when you mix two celebrated photographer artists who each love the environment and the beauty of the Everglades? Who have lived on a sailboat, mourned the deat...

Jeannette Encinias -- Author of the Poem on Aging That Broke the Internet

Jeannette Encinias is an author whose work has also been published in places like Mindbodygreen, Annapurna Living, The Bitter Oleander Press, and Sivana Spirit. Her poetry has...

Dr Bill Rawls -- What You Need to Know About Lyme Disease Encore Episode

Bill Rawls is an OB-GYN and leading expert in Lyme disease, integrative health, and herbal medicine. In the middle of his successful medical career, Dr. Rawls’ life was interr...

Erica Hornthal— Using Dance Therapy to Help People with Dementia

How can we support our health, and the health of a loved one, especially if that person has cognitive limitations like dementia? Erica Hornthal is a dance therapist who talks ...

Diane Hullet -- Thinking About Your Mortality Changes the Way You Live

Diane Hullet had been an English teacher, but once her children launched she decided to become certified by The Conscious Dying Institute as a Sacred Passage Doula and Conscio...

Alice G. Patterson -- Entrepreneurial Photographer Who Went from Fearful to Fearless

Alice Patterson was going along the conventional college path when she discovered that she wanted to be a photographer. So she pivoted in a big way, and adventures followed. S...

Jonatha Brooke -- Renowned SingerSongwriter and Caregiver to Her Mother

Jonatha Brooke is an internationally renowned singer, songwriter and producer. She wrote the theme to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", and has collaborated with the likes of Katy P...

Chef Dennis Littley -- Easy Cooking For Empty Nesters

Are you an empty nester, and wonder what to cook for yourself? It doesn’t make sense to roast a turkey or make a pan of lasagne anymore, so do you settle for toast, a yogurt, ...

Tracey Gendron -- Rethinking Our “Harmless” Jokes About Getting Older

Have you ever made a little joke about being old? Something seemingly harmless: Something like “I’m too old to wear that”, “I’m over the hill?” One of my tennis buddies says “...

Katie Phillips -- What is Self-Love, Really?

By now we’ve all heard the term “self-love”. But what is it really? Is it treating yourself to a mani-peni? Buying an expensive handbag? It turns out that true self love is mo...

Laura Reeder -- An Artist-Activist Using Walking to Connect with Her Environment

Dr. Laura Reeder is an artist, a teacher, and a human who encourages young people and adults to use creativity as a form of activism to make meaningful change in the world. He...

Michelle Olson -- Why Nature is So Good For Us, Especially As We Age

Michelle Olson is the founder of Evergreen Minds, which is on a mission to help create a culture that connects people with natural spaces and de-medicalize and de-stigmatize t...

Sarah Witkowski -- The Surprising Role of Fitness on Menopause and Hot Flashes

Dr. Witkowski is the Chair of the Exercise & Sport Studies Department at Smith College. She researches the role of physical fitness of menopause symptoms, with a particular in...

Pam Victor -- Better Health Through Improvisation

Improvisation is having a moment. People are finding it has tons of benefits for social and mental health. They are stepping out of their comfort zone, which is a key element ...

Carl Honore -- How to Make the Most of Our Longer Lives

Carl Honore is a Canadian journalist who is a best selling author and two time TED speaker. He’s known as “the godfather of the slow movement”. His latest book, “Bolder–Making...

Third Act -- People Over 60 Working for Climate and Racial Justice

Many of us are aware that the over 60 demographic is the fastest growing demographic here in the US and all over the world. We have tremendous power and influence. ThirdAct.or...

Dr. Susan Sands -- How Can I Make Peace With My Aging Body?

Aging has its joys and challenges. One of the big challenges is the changes in our bodies–particularly if you are a woman. Most of us mourn the loss of our younger bodies. But...

Susan Tweit -- If There Was a “Queen of Earth Day” She Would Be It

Susan Tweit is an award winning writer and botanist on a mission “to restore our home planet and help us be our best and kindest selves.” She volunteers at Yellowstone Nationa...

Linda Lowen -- Getting Older Has Been Magical!

At 61, writer and editor Linda Lowen has fulfilled a lifelong dream–-- she's written her first book, a travel guidebook promoting her hometown of Syracuse, NY. Even though she...

Denise Medved -- Brain Health is More Than Doing Crossword Puzzles

Many of us know how painful it can be to watch a once vibrant person lose function in their mind and body. Denise Medved knows this story all too well. She lost her mother to ...

Anna Balthaser -- The Surprising Health Benefits of The “Buy Nothing Project”

We all know that being part of a community is good for our health. We deeply crave a sense of belonging, especially these days. After all, we’re mammals, and we’re designed to...

Isabel Tom -- “The Value of Wrinkles”

Having grown up in a multigenerational home, aging expert Isabel Tom wants us to consider how our attitudes toward aging affect our elders. She’s passionate about helping us d...

David Ekerdt -- "Downsizing: Confronting our Possessions in Later Life"

Unless you are a devout minimalist you have a lot of stuff. We’re surprised how much stuff we have. Where does it all come from? But have we thought about our relationship to ...

Dierdre Wolownick -- The Oldest Woman to Climb El Capitan

The mother of extreme climber Alex Honnold, star of the Oscar winning documentary “Free Solo”, decided to take up extreme sports in her sixties. At age 66, Deirdre Wolownick s...

Dr. Mary Flett -- Mastering Solo Aging

Have you ever wondered who will take care of you as you age? It’s not always pleasant to think about, but the reality is that we may outlive our partners and family members. T...

Carrie Luteran -- Why You Need a Bucket Binder

Carrie Luteran is a professional organizer. She talks to us about the importance of having a place for all of your important papers and instructions for when you “kick the buc...

Dr. Jane Adams -- Expert on Family Estrangement (You are not alone)

Jane Adams, Ph.D., is a social psychologist who is an expert on family estrangement. Her book “When Our Grown Kids Disappoint Us” gets to the heart of the dilemma of having an...

Sian-Pierre Regis -- “Duty Free”: A Son and His Mom Take on Ageism in This Important Documentary

“Duty Free” is a documentary about a son who witnesses his mom get pushed out of her job due only to her age. As a filmmaker, he uses the opportunity to document not only her ...

Deborah Voll -- Want a Side Gig That’s Fun?

Deborah Voll has been an Airbnb “super host” for nine years. She’s the author of the book “The Tell-All Guide To Airbnb Hosting, Tips, and Tricks for Successful Hosting”. Debo...