Loving Later Life

Welcome to the first Encore episode of LLL. You are about to hear the first episode ever of LLL that was recorded almost exactly 2 years ago in 2022. (With a current intro and new info) In this episode, I share how LLL came to be born. It's a true tale of following the breadcrumbs that included the implosion of an abusive relationship, followed by finding myself in a scary seat at Disneyland for a life-changing ride, which led to traveling thousands of miles to begin a new life adventure only to be interrupted by the pandemic. This is a story of how listening to your inner knowing can lead you to incredible personal growth, creativity, and discovering resilience that you didn't know you had. Annnnnnd how it's possible to do, no matter how old you are!

This episode is me, emotional at times, speaking my mind, dropping a few tears, sharing milestones, announcements and concluding with a few more thoughts that I think I needed to hear so I just said them in my outdoor voice. And who knows, maybe you need to hear them too. Join me?

This week's episode was inspired by a conversation with a dear friend as we were planning something special to do together, and it led me to some questions… Is it the longing for what we desire that gives us satisfaction, or in getting it? Do we lose the art of longing as we get older? If so, do we miss it? What do you do when your partner is no longer interested in longing to do things, and you are? Should we hope that we don't actually get what we desire so that we don't lose that sense of longing? I'm longing to share my thoughts with on all of this and I hope you'll join me and share with others if you think it would resonate.

How many of us lose a part of ourselves over time, either not realizing it, being in denial, or making the choice to allow it to happen because it was seemingly easier to go with the flow, or to appease a spouse or a parent or someone in our lives. I went to see the Broadway touring show of Funny Girl recently, and so many feelings came to the surface, including the feeling of my younger self rumbling beneath. She was feeling a bit overlooked, and I also saw a part of myself in Fanny Brice; perhaps a part of me that has been ignored at times over the years. It was an emotional day. Why are so many of us willing to give up our passions, our preferences, our dreams?? And why are we so afraid to ask for what we need and want? In this episode I share a very personal story in hopes that if you can relate, perhaps it will help you take some kind of action on your path to finding peace in your heart, your mind and soul so that you can live life the way you wish to live it. No matter your age.

Hello Loving Later Life Listeners! For those of you just joining for the first time, you are welcomed with open arms, and I hope you decide to visit on the regular, which is every other Monday! Before I read you the bio of my most, most, most special guest, I have to tell you that this is the fastest hour you may ever experience. It is good till the last drop so you must hear every last word. And I'm not saying that because my more than special guest is my daughter! In our conversation we talk about her 3-step creation to having challenging conversations and we role play one about wanting more sex in a relationship. You will learn about her non-monogamous/polyamorous life; what its like, and its challenges. We discuss shame, jealousy, societal 'shoulds,' affairs, and a tonnnn more juicy and important topics! Now for her bio: Rachel Wright, MA, LMFT (she/her) is a distinguished psychotherapist and renowned speaker with expertise in modern relationships, mental health, and sex. With a Master's Degree in clinical psychology, Rachel has worked with thousands of clients worldwide, has a podcast, The Wright Conversations - about Sex, Relationships, & Mental Health with over 100K downloads. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, PIX 11 (NYC), Women's Health (online and print), Cosmopolitan (online and print), and NBC News Radio, among others. And as she says in her bio, when she's not working, you can probably find her in her pajamas, eating gluten-free food and belting out show tunes. This episode will truly get you thinking. Press play now. Do it for yourself and all those you care about.

Ideas for these episodes come from a variety of sources and at different times of the day and night. This one came flowing out of me from my personal experience, from a movie I love, and some hard facts. And I share all of it. The moments in our lives when we meet, connect and share with someone create meaningful relationships that are not only etched in our hearts and minds, they also have a profound effect on our quality of life. Based on research, the connection we feel for certain people and the relationships we have are crucial to our physical and psychological well-being. After you listen, I believe you will be motivated to make time to create more meaningful relationships and spend more time (IRL) with those whom you feel safe, seen and supported. I hope you'll join me.

Today my guest is Allie Hill. Allie has been featured on national television, she is a Certified Life Coach and speaker, and used her 15+ years' experience as a journalist to author the book, The Girlfriend's Guide to Empty Nesting. At first when Allie first reached out to me, I thought that maybe the subject of navigating the changes in life when becoming an empty nester may not be applicable to you all. And I'm here to tell you that I was wrong! I recently had a month filled with lots of people from my life coming to celebrate my mom and her artistic partner's accomplishment of having their musical produced. There was so much love, support, and so many delicious hugs and conversations. And then it ended, and my 'nest' felt empty. We all deal with so many changes in life. The emotions we feel and the skills needed to go through such changes are all very similar. So without further adieu, let's get into it!

The past month has been one of a lot of feelings and experiences from one end of the spectrum to the other, some anticipated some not. From the saddest moments to the most exciting. From feeling disconnected, irrelevant and sad to the point of my face breaking out (which nevvver happens) to feeling embraced by the most loving hugs; both literally and metaphorically. It seems like it's the big moments in life that attract most of our attention and anticipation. They are the times that embed themselves as memories in our mental film library. There's no question that our huge accomplishments are huge and important. AND, so are the moments in between that fill our hearts and life experience. This got me thinking more about moments in between (the good ones of course)…an exercise I highly recommend doing. Remembering past good in between moments also reminds you that you had them, even when perhaps there were other not such good things happening at the same time. And that can be true again. Many of us are afraid that in later life there are to be fewer of these moments. And I say, if you believe that to be true, it will be. What do you choose to believe? I hope you'll join me to also hear which moments in between of mine came to mind.

Today I have a very special guest, Terrah Bennett Smith who I heard on another podcast and knew immediately I had to try to have her on Loving Later Life. She is so dynamic, and wise and captivating…and I can't wait for you to hear our conversation. We bonded immediately and had so much fun. Her desires and her drive overrode her circumstances and her fears, and after listening you will be energized and motivated! Terrah, a Native New Yorker, has enjoyed a rich and multifaceted career in the entertainment industry, as an award-winning director and actress, as well as a producer, writer, and executive. A few of her behind-thecamera credits include: her directorial debut with the feature film FLIP THE SCRIPT, and has gone on to direct the feature film, THE NEXT GIRL, the pilot SLEEPING WITH STRANGERS, and is currently producing a new series, CANDY RAIN, and the feature film; BROKEN. She is also Executive Producer/Co-Writer and Star of, THE WRIGHT TURN, an 8-episode TV series. In front of the camera, a few of her TV Recurring/ Guest Star credits include STUCK WITH YOU, DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, BOSCH, GAMES PEOPLE PLAY, 9-1-1 and more. Terrah has also performed on Broadway and was a Billboard top 40's recording artist on RCA records. Terrah served as Executive Director for the C&C TEEN HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL, worked with HOLLYWOOD BLACK FILM FESTIVAL in their media department, and is currently CCO for INYANI CORP, a global media production company and CEO/Founder of Reclaim Haven a wellness platform for women. Join us!

Hello and welcome back to the 68th episode of Loving Later Life, and I have to say that you are in for such a very special treat. You're about to hear a story proving the fact that it is never, ever too late to see your dreams come true. This is a story of two incredible women in their 80's…one of whom is my mother. It is a story of friendship, of courage, tenacity, resilience, love, and passion. It is a story that comes full circle spotlighting relationships, perseverance, and timing. I am so excited to say that due to a change in their schedule while my mom was in town for a presentation they were doing about Sarah at Dominican University, I was able to grab them for 30 minutes for an impromptu recording at a small park sitting at a picnic table. You all met my mom Elaine Lang Ockner in episode 35 of LLL and if you haven't listened to it yet, you must check it out after you listen to this episode. She is is a pianist/composer, and Musical Director. She has composed the music for many musical stage productions and created original music for Bravo's TV documentaries on the lives of Sarah Brightman, Jackie Chan and Nathan Lane. She was also pianist and Musical Director for Princess Cruises, Royal Viking, and Sitmar Cruise Lines. My mom met June Richards in 1979. June is a professional actress, theatre director and emeritus professor. June created theatre programs for Dominican University, Contra Costa College, and served as Chair of Visual and Performing Arts at San Diego City College, and has directed more than 100 productions. Since they met, they've been dear friends and artistic partners. Over the years their collaboration created many theatrical projects and wacky adventures behind the scenes. As single mothers they persisted even as they experienced heartache and sadness with relationships and loss of loved ones; choosing not to be taken down but instead to focus on their creative passion. One constant thread in the quilt of their creations was a musical they wrote in the 1980's of the story of Sarah Bernhardt, the renowned French actress who also defied the odds and never gave up. Fast forward 40+ years later to right now, their musical "The Divine Sarah" has been selected out of over 40 submissions of new works by the Ross Valley Players in Marin County, California to be produced this month, March 2024. Ironically, 100 years after Sarah's death, Paris recently had a Sarah Bernhardt exhibition. Vogue magazine had a spread, and Barbra Streisand is a super fan, talking about Sarah in her new book. (And if you're listening Ms. Barbra, there is a ticket waiting for you at the theatre!) Loving Later Life listeners, if you want to be moved and inspired, you must listen to these women tell their story. Annnd, be sure to listen all the way through because I got special permission to share with you a one-minute sneak preview of one of the songs played by my mom, the composer, Elaine Lang Ockner. So now, picture if you will, I'm sitting at a picnic table with these two beautiful and talented women in the warm sun, birds chirping, (the occasional car driving by), and my phone resting on the table to record their incredible story….

In this episode you will hear how my son's mindset, humor and radical acceptance got him through not one but two potential life threatening events. I actually considered dropping the idea entirely of staying on schedule for this episode simply because I wasn't able to have one prepared as my focus has not been on loving later life…literally. However, I think that on some level I knew I would feel the need to debrief after this experience…even if it meant it wasn't as perfect as I could make it. I think I also knew on some level that there would be some important take-away's that I would want to share with you since we all at some point or another go through difficult times. I deeply believe that sharing our stories and vulnerabilities opens the door for others to do the same. Please join me.

In this episode I share some of my very own, very personal thoughts I wrote on the day of my birthday at the end of January. Why did I decide to share them? Because I believe that much of what we feel is shared by so many and that we can feel more connected and supported by sharing. And maybe even glean things from each other. So, I'm going first. I hope you'll listen and share so that more of us in later life can connect and learn and grow together!

I am so excited for you to hear this episode, which is a full circle moment for me. Alison Armstrong is my guest. I took Alison's series of workshops in 2006 for several years, and she changed how I looked at men and at relationships. Little did I know that one day I would have the honor of having her as my guest on my podcast almost 20 years later! Alison is a true expert in human behavior. In 1991 she began to study men to find out how she was bringing out the worst in them. Her success in understanding men led her to studying women's behavior and making vital connections between the two. Bottom line dear Loving Later Life listeners: she will shock and surprise you with what she says about dating, sex, her own experience of losing her incredible husband in 2019, her current relationship, and how both men and women behave in ways that contradict and undermine our own purposes, goals, values, needs and relationships.

How good are you willing to let life get? The idea for this episode came in a moment when I felt a weird combination of that feeling of the first day of school after summer vacay and beginning a new year. A new year that has challenges which are carrying over from the previous year….both on a personal and global level. I turned, as I often do, to music. This time specifically to a song that began going through my head, as one often does, to show me what is going on in my subconscious. As the train of thoughts ran on full speed, I had an epiphany. Please come with me as I share what it is, how it led to this episode and an idea for an alternative to a new year's resolution.

Karen Cheong is an international transformational speaker, writer, champion for self-empowerment and healer who has worked with thousands of people worldwide. She is sharing with us how frequency work can change our lives. After a health crisis in her early 20's catalyzed her spiritual journey, she was driven by curiosity to explore the mystical and energetic systems that govern our experience—of ourselves, of others, and of life itself. Karen felt like something was missing—and that is when what she refers to as "frequency work" discovered her. By intensively releasing unconscious blocks she calls distortion patterns, she transformed not only the way her life looked, but the way her life felt. Momentum really started kicking in, and life became so much richer, so much fuller, and so much more expansive. Today, Karen guides others, helping them to start to experience the true richness of life, embrace their power as the intentional co-creator of their reality, and develop a deep connection to the Divine within. By providing step by step tools to self-realization, and releasing their distortion patterns at frequency level, her clients are able to rewrite their "spiritual blueprint," truly living in the abundance of the present moment. This will open your mind, do not miss this conversation!

Is there a secret to finding love after 60? Join me in this final wrap-up of the Golden, well perhaps slightly tarnished Golden Bachelor, plus another kind of rap I created that tells the story of my most recent bachelor adventure. Lastly, a comment or two on a big feature in the Wall Street Journal entitled "The Secret to Finding Love After 60," which led me to discover and create what possibly could be actual secrets. Hint: They're hidden in the downsides. Please join me on this journey as we take another crack at understanding that intangible thing we call love, in later life.

Welcome bk to a very special episode of Loving Later Life, and if you are new, I hope you will continue to join me moving forward by clicking to 'Follow' LLL wherever you get your podcasts! Today, I have an incredibly special guest joining us! Now, before I tell you all about her, you must do yourself a favor and make it a priority to listen to the entire 50 minutes. If you can't do it all at once, be sure that you make the time to finish the episode! My guest today is Dr. Stephanie McClellan. Dr. McClellan has a 30+ year career as a practicing, board certified OBGYN advocating and caring for the needs of women while integrating the world of research and academia with frontline care delivery. Trained at the University of Southern California, she quickly began creating innovative care models for women as she founded the Doctor's Office for Women in Orange County, CA in 1987. Dr. McClellan practiced in this setting for 17 years, before starting another private practice bearing her name in 2004. As a result of the success of the Doctor's Office for Women model, she collaborated with Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, CA to design and develop a premier women's healthcare program. Her evolving interest in good health and vibrant aging led to co-authoring a book on the science and clinic effects of chronic stress published by Simon & Schuster called "So Stressed: The Ultimate Stress Relief Plan for Women". Recently Dr. McClellan served as the Chief Medical Officer of Tia, and the first practicing OB/GYN at Tia's NYC Clinic — an outpatient gynecology, primary care and wellness practice. Following Tia she served as Co-Founder and CMO for another growing tech-driven, women's health start-up, Plenish. Dr. McClellan continues to see patients in her private practice, while serving as a consultant and Medical Advisor for companies across the country. She is sought-after on both the speaking and consulting circuits for her expertise in women's health, hormone therapy and menopause. And, last but not least, she is my very own gynecologist! You are going to learn so much and also be very surprised by some of what she has to say!

Welcome back to the 60th episode of Loving Later Life! 60! And this was recorded hot off the press after the airing of the most recent Golden Bachelor. But first, before I share the spoiler alerts (if you haven't seen Thursday's episode be warned!) and my observations about our Golden Guy Gerry and the ladies, I have my own not-so-golden updates to share with you! The messages, the date that never actually happened because I am strengthening my boundary lines muscles and not tolerating shit I don't need to tolerate! All of the above inspired me to share a quote from Brene Brown that ties this all together. I hope you'll come with me!

My special guest in this episode of Loving Later Life is Cathi Colas. Costco magazine did a cover story on 2nd chapters of life. It was about people, as they said, had one thing in common: a mindset open to opportunity. Cathi was one of those people featured. So, because I'm a lifelong proponent of the "it never hurts to ask" club, I looked her up and reached out to her asking if she'd join us on Loving Later Life! I am very happy to report that she said yes. Cathi has done many things in her life but it wasn't until about 8 years ago that she found what lights her up. And then she made it a reality. Cathi is a professional Audiobook Narrator, Coach, and Voice Actress. She currently has over 60 audiobooks on Audible that include everything from Self-Help to Horror. She also has many notable voiceover credits on TV and video games. I hope you'll join our conversation because you will be inspired by her journey to finally finding her passion and purpose in later life. And then we went even deeper about what keeps us from believing, trying, seeking, and doing anything that may give us joy in this chapter of our lives. Don't miss this!

With all that is going on in the world right now I was second guessing whether doing an episode on dating and all the comedic aspects of the process is somehow disrespectful or tone deaf. However, as I thought about it a bit more, I remembered that we can feel sad, we can feel scared, and we can feel joy and still laugh. So, this episode is what the title says! My first Golden Bachelor review with some of my thoughts and observations. Then, I have an update for you on a few of the experiences I have had thus far in the dating pond, and the frogs in said pond who I absolutely did not kiss! If you could use a fun distraction, I hope you'll join me! And if you know someone who would enjoy this, or any episode, please share!

Dr. Laura Ricci has a doctorate in Physical Therapy. She specializes in women's health and pelvic floor PT, she's a National Board Certified health and wellness coach specializing in women's health and functional nutrition. She is also a DoTerra (essential oils) wellness advocate with an international team. In her words, Laura is a wounded healer. She had a rare cancer journey, lots of orthopedic surgeries for adult hip dysplasia, she's had chronic Lyme disease, a hysterectomy in her 30's, and various auto immune issues. She went on a journey to heal, and found that when you help others you heal in turn. Laura reclaimed her health and wellness, found weight training, "became a beast," and has become the heroine of her journey. You will learn and be inspired. Please join us and listen in on our conversation. I promise you'll be glad you did.

With the premiere of the Golden Bachelor starting later this month, I thought I'd start my own parallel experiment of dating right here and now (even though the very idea makes me queasy) and report back to you. I will also be commenting on the Golden Dude and all that goes on with is bevy of women. It promises not to be boring, so please come with me! I also want to say Shana Tova, to those who celebrate the Jewish New Year. I'm sending wishes for a year of good health, love, peace of mind, fulfillment, and joy. Lastly, I want to tell you how exciting it is to see so many women joining in community in the new private Facebook Group: Loving Later Life Listening Community! If you are a woman over 50 listening to this and would like to have a safe space to connect with other women, to feel a part of a community to feel seen, heard, understood and connected please join us! Just go to loving later life listener community on Facebook!

Welcome back to Loving Later Life! This is the first episode after the first ever break after 54 episodes. This was not the episode I had already recorded and planned to drop on this the first Monday of September 2023. What happened? I got Covid. This was my first experience with this virus, and it was not fun. However, while I was down for the Covid count, I was inspired by an older movie I was watching and picked up my phone to record what was resonating with me and how it relates to later life. I also share with you some news regarding Loving Later Life moving forward, so I hope you will listen. I thank you for being here, for listening, sharing, for your ratings and reviews. If you haven't yet, please do so?!

Hello Loving Later Life family. Before I tell you about this very special episode in more detail, I must tell you if you don't already know, that today, is a milestone day. Today is June 26th, 2023, and on June 27th 2022, Loving Later Life's first official episode was born, making this the official one year anniversary of Loving Later Life!! I suppose this could be a very good excuse for a cake, yes?! Well, the gestation for this baby took a lot longer than 9 months. If you haven't listened to the very first full episode, I hope you will go back and do so as I share the story of its conception leading up to the date of birth. Click here to listen! Cranking out one episode a week has been so much fun, and pretty intense. You may or may not know that I am a one woman band including writing, recording, editing for sound, sound effects (that episode # 12 was fun to create),… creating a page for each episode on the website: https://nancylanggibbs.com/shownotes/ , submitting it all to the podcast hosting platform, creating visuals to promote each episode, the weekly email and more. On this anniversary day I am cognizant of walking the walk and taking moments to acknowledge my accomplishments without diminishing them by focusing on what could have been better or different. (But you know I'm going to go there for a second!) In my wildest dreams I wanted each episode Loving Later Life to be in thousands of listeners ears by this time, with wanna-be-Loving Later Life sponsors blowing up my phone. I should insert a record scratch sound effect here, because that didn't happen…yet! If I had to grade myself tho, I'd say that I did what I set out to do as far as sharing my experiences, talking with experts, and amazing women telling their compelling stories. And I hope that you have felt heard, understood, valued and connected. The part I intend to continue to grow is the creating a safe place where we can connect, ask questions, get answers and feel inspired, part. What do I mean by that? I want to grow this community of women in later life, both virtually and in real life. Or, IRL as they say! I have some super exciting ideas that I'm working on, and I want to hear yours. What would interest and excite you? Would you like to see in person events, perhaps a monthly or by-monthly virtual way to connect with me and other Later Life listeners where we can share, learn, laugh and grow? What about a trip with fellow Loving Later Life listeners? These are not rhetorical questions. I would greatly appreciate your input. After all, it has been a year now and you know me pretty well, so this is no time to be shy with your thoughts. Please, write me and let me know if you have ideas and/or interest in any of the above! We all need community. Feeling a lack of connection with other women, especially at this age, is a recurring sentiment. Those of us with kids know that they have their lives. The landscape of our friends changes as we get older. Help me create this community with your feedback. It takes a village ladies. When I do episodes myself, I share my thoughts, experiences and stories. We've talked about love, loss, life after loss, and is there life after death. I've shared horrifying/funny dating experiences, my personal challenge of singing with a jazz band, pacifying perfectionism, tweaking the Golden Rule, listening with your whole face, talking with our younger selves, being afraid of joy, accepting the help of others, how the stories we tell ourselves are holding us back, getting out of our comfort zone, how setbacks and quitting may not be a bad thing, and so much more. The episodes with guests have covered topics like reinventing, love stories, death and dying, techniques and insights for better sleep, living with Alzheimer's, Medicare, finding your superpower, hormone therapy/menopause/libido, real estate, and the value of positive affirmations…on your socks! I talk with a TV Emmy winner NYT best-selling author, a financial advisor, real estate expert, a veteran of the stand-up comedy scene, a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent/ author, anti-ageism activist, America's premiere dating expert, and yes, my mom! As you may remember, with each guest, I ask the same 3 questions at the end of each conversation: 1. What for you have been the most rewarding things about getting older? 2. What are some of the most important lessons you have learned in your life. 3. With all that you have learned, what life advice would you pass along? So, I thought it would be neat for today's anniversary episode to do a sort of highlight reel of their answers, taking one question at a time. It's fun to hear similar answers expressed differently, and fascinating to also hear totally different answers. Putting this together was a lot of fun…for the most part! Anyhow, I hope you'll listen to them all because these women are smart, insightful, funny, loving, caring humans. And to all you ladies who gave me the honor to speak with you…I must confes

Hello and welcome back to Loving Later Life! Everyone listening today is in for a very special treat and her name is Jan Kreidman. For those who have been listening to Loving Later Life you know that the episodes will be a combination of my thoughts/stories and experiences, talking with experts, and also brave women telling their compelling stories. Well today, I am talking with one courageous woman. I knew that her story would be an important one to share with all of you. I also knew that Jan met her husband in later life and not long after he was diagnosed with early dementia. What I didn't know is about her incredible journey prior to meeting her beloved Steve. I didn't know about her contagious outlook on life. Her courageous choices that went against the societal grain, her love for taking risks, for embracing the unknown and ability to embrace the valleys. Her skill in listening to what is right for her even when it meant zigging when she was expected to zag, and how she lives her life with a drive to thrive, feeling all the feelings and not letting anything steal her spirit. And then there is her love story. Jan didn't meet Steve until she was 66. And you'll just have to listen to know how long she had been single prior to that. You'll also hear about their unique story of how their relationship escalated, and what has happened since they've been married. This is not a story that will make you sad. If anything, you just might have a more positive outlook about life's possibilities. Please join us. I promise you will be glad you did!!

Welcome back! I'm Nancy Lang Gibbs and I'm back in the podcast chair at the mic to talk about real estate. Why are we talking about real estate on Loving Later Life you may be wondering? Did you know that women make up the majority of home buyers and the majority of realtors; and that real estate is a subject that affects women more than men? I wanted to talk with a trusted source about what is happening in the market and why, and what we might expect in the (near) future. So, I reached out to Jo Ann Luisi, Senior Real Estate Specialist. ….. Jo Ann is an East Bay native and Bay Area realtor with over 20 years of experience. With her extensive expertise in the real estate industry Jo Ann has become an invaluable resource for countless clients, especially seniors transitioning to new chapters in their lives. Her dedication to helping seniors extends far beyond the transaction itself. She understands the unique needs and desires of this demographic and genuinely cares about their well-being. I had so much fun talking with her! She is not just and expert in her field. She is a warm, caring human whose priority is serving her clients. Prepare to be inspired and educated. Take a listen!

Sometimes you just can't control when ideas come to you, and this one was at midnight. So, what else is a podcaster to do than pick up her phone and start recording from a horizontal position?! After a conversation with a friend, I was inspired and reminded once again that it isn't fair to assume that because someone is of a certain age they won't understand or won't evolve or expand the way they look at things. I am specifically talking about 'old dogs.' I also give an honorable mention to one other saying that I don't agree with. So, in answer to the title, I say false. You can teach an old dog new tricks IF they are of open mind and spirit. So won't all you 'old dogs' come and join me and see what you think?!

Today is a shortcast that I hadn't planned on recording while I was on a walk, but the thoughts came through, so I pressed record. Do you also want answers to things you just don't have the answers to yet? This is the common thread to the weaving of my thoughts today, including what I did unexpectedly that loosened the grip on the questioning, which allowed the thoughts to subside and some answers to rise. Also please, on this Memorial Day, let us not forget to honor and thank the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during service and to their families for their great loss.

Would you believe that the road paved with setbacks can be the way to fulfillment? To love? To joy? To peace of mind? To happiness? To success? To satisfying relationships? Are what we perceive as setbacks, always actually a setback? This week's episode was inspired by one of my recent experiences, and a comment made in the show A Million Little Things. All of this led me to the concept of how our perception of situations can affect the quality of our lives. Things are not always as they appear if we are able to zoom out and be more of an observer of our lives. I hope that you'll zoom in with me to see that possibly what we see as setbacks on our road of life are actually pointing us in the right direction.

Are you where you want to be? This episode was inspired by an article I wrote some years ago that felt very relevant when I re-read it, so I decided to press record and riff on this topic for 11 minutes. I share how I searched for the answers as a younger person, and as I got older. If we choose to be open and aware, we can always be learning how to have what we crave and be happy with what we have all at the same time. We can feel happy and stuck at the same time. What can we do to help move the needle so it will play the soundtrack of our lives that we choose? The answer is simple, and it's in the last 30 seconds. I hope you'll join me!

This episode of Loving Later Life is brought to you from my bed. Yes. My bed. This was the only way it was going to happen. I had to give myself permission to let go of the process and procedure I had held myself to and allow myself to do it in a way that was better for me this time. That is when I discovered that this episode had to be about giving ourselves permission to do what we need to feel our best, forsaking all other plans and forsaking all others, period. Hop in with me as I share my thoughts with you, my very special Loving Later Life listeners.

What stories are you telling yourself? Have you wanted to take a trip but you "can't" because you have no one to go with you. Do you put makeup on before going to the gym because you'll see people you know and don't want them to see you "that way?" Have you wanted to sing at a karaoke bar, but you "know" that people will think you're awful. Do you not wear a bathing suit because you don't want to be seen in public because you think everyone will notice the dimples in your thighs? Are you unhappy in a relationship but "can't leave because you're too old to start again on your own?" Join me as I share how to notice when we are telling ourselves these stories, and what to do about it so we can unlearn them and live a later life we love! How? As vulnerable as it feels, I use one of mine to show you what I'm doing about it in real time.

Laura Schmidt of Notes to Self Positive Affirmation Socks is my guest! This is a must listen if you love being inspired by someone else's story of courage, heart, and incredible success. In this episode of Loving Later Life, Laura tells her fascinating story of how she went from a pre-med degree to building what her family calls a sock empire that is changing the world one positive message at a time. The idea for Notes to Self came to her at age 47. Please join us. I promise that you will be positively inspired!

Are you a planner? Do you schedule everything so you can be organized and proactive, attempting to avoid all possible pitfalls along the way? And if you spend all your time planning, are you missing what is happening in your present moment? Are you living life or just planning it? This is an unplanned episode from the couch before I unexpectedly got on another plane headed to the East Coast. When my daughter breaks her foot and asks me to please come help her for a few days, I just go. Without plans and without over-thinking I'm in each moment making it happen. So many of us seem to be constantly controlling our schedules in advance. I'm wondering if we are also allowing ourselves to enjoy what we're doing when we're doing it. As we get older, I think we become more acutely aware of precious moments and the importance of paying attention to them. I hope you'll join me on my couch as I talk with you as if you are on the other end of the phone. This time, I'm asking YOU for the take-aways, and what will be your mission?! Please email me at [email protected].

How a Sense of Community and a Keychain Made a Magical Weekend…and inspired this episode. For those of you who listen regularly to Loving Later Life know that there was no episode last week as I prepared to go across the country for a workshop. I'm here to tell you that it was an incredible growth experience with many exciting take-aways, some of which I will share another time because there's still so much I'm processing. The experiences I share in this episode include spontaneous adventures, realizations, and stories of the welcoming people in a town I'd never heard of, which culminate in two reminders that seemingly don't go together; and also must. I hope you'll come along with me for the ride!

Hey everybody! This is going to be a shorter than the usual not so long episode…and please stay to the end so I can tell you something fun and important. The reason this is shorter is because I am getting ready for a trip that will be taking me many miles out of my comfort zone. I often talk the talk of how we have to be willing to take a risk or nothing will change; and I try to walk the walk just about every single day. Well, this will not be walking but flying. Literally. In this episode I share with you where I'm going and why, and why I'm nervous and excited. It is also important to listen to the end so you know what is new and different for next week! See you there!

This episode is very important for all of us. Please join me as I share the personal moments and revelations I had one night about the people in my life. I was at the surprise engagement party my son made for his partner. And that wasn't the only surprise. I unexpectedly re-discovered how good it feels to be amongst people who are accepting, loving, genuine, supportive and kind. I felt a vibrational match with this group of amazing humans that I have not yet felt in this season of my life. Just a few days later I was reminded that according to a study done by the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the single best decision you can make to improve your health and happiness is to cultivate warm relationships. These are the people who make you feel warm and fuzzy; and safe. And then I heard a recording from Oprah where she said, "We are responsible for the energy that we allow to be brought into our space. You cannot move forward in your life to the level you want if you allow people in your space who are not supportive of you." This all could not have been timelier for me. I'm confident it will impact you as well.

Welcome back to Loving Later Life this is Nancy Lang Gibbs your host and fellow Loving Later Lifer. Whether you're in your car or lounging in a chair at a pool on vacation, taking a walk, on the couch relaxing…just don't be eating for this one! I recently had a very fun 48 hours thanks to being in later life. Let's just say you cannot say I'm full of shit. How's that for a hint? Yes, had a colonoscopy. And I decided that it would be so cool to take you along with me on the journey, so I recorded myself (you can relax, not during any of those moments) as I was going through the time before as to what I was doing and how I was feeling. And then afterward on the ride home…which to be honest, I have no recollection of what words came out of my mouth. Before the entertainment portion of the episode, I remind you all of the importance of getting a colonoscopy and some updated information we should all know. Warning: There are some frequent puns that will roll your eyes! Join me!!

How can you be truly happy? Loving Later Life listeners: join me as I unpack the steps to what will make you happy (and they're likely not what you're expecting) according to Gay Hendricks NYT best-selling author. Gay Hendricks is the author of The Genius Zone which picks up from the work in his book, The Big Leap. Learn about what is holding us back and what we can do about it so that we can live a life we love. He explains that it is within all of us to get there. You are in the driver's seat. It's up to you. If you are serious about enjoying your life, don't miss this episode.

Hello and welcome to Loving Later Life! I am Nancy Lang Gibbs your host, and this month I'm sharing some of my crazy ass dates and relationships. Last week was one of the more intense sagas, so this week, instead of the super soapy saga I was going to share, (I'll save it for another time) I thought I'd share one that had some very funny moments before it became scary. After that, I have some one-liners from dates and almost dates that were so awful and absurd I had to write them down. Then a quick story of one that was actually a fix-up that turned sour, and lastly, to close out the episode and the month on a more positive note, I share about a couple of the good guys, even though they didn't work out. And I want to say again, I'm sharing these because we all have stories and there are numerous benefits of sharing our stories for the storyteller and the listener. In fact, I invite you to please record a voice memo, or write a story of yours and send it to me so I can share it. And if you'd like to be a guest on LLL, let me know so we can discuss that possibility.

It's time for me to share one of my relationship stories. This story took place back somewhere around 2007ish...and I was a very different iteration of myself than I am now. When I look back and see what I accepted as acceptable behavior toward me, it makes me cringe. So without further judgement of myself, it is time to tell you about my first relationship post-divorce, and one of the worst. I can almost guarantee you won't be bored! Sit back, relax, and join me on this hell-of-a ride!

Welcome back to LLL and I am so excited to get right to this episode. Why? Because, my special guest is none other, than my Mom! AKA Elaine Lang Ockner. So, you may be wondering how my mom falls under the category of this month's theme of dating, relationships etc… Let me tell you a little something about my mom, without any spoiler alerts…. My mom is 84 and telling it like it is, and how it was…to be a 19-year-old bride, then divorced and dating in a whole new world. She experienced things in her 40's for the first time in her life, which she shares openly and honestly. She shares some highs (literally) and some lows. Through it all she is driven by her love for her family, her music, and her whimsical zest for life. And now, I am so proud to introduce you to, my mom, Elaine Lang Ockner…

Do you wonder if it's possible to safely date and find a partner online? Andrea McGinty has been named America's Premier Dating Expert and she shares her expertise about online dating and so much more! She has been a leader in dating since 1991 and that's when she founded "It's Just Lunch" which she grew to 110 locations worldwide. The catalyst? Being dumped by her fiancée weeks before her wedding! McGinty estimates she has set up over 33,000 dates, which have led to over 6,000 marriages! With over 25 years of professional dating experience, Andrea founded 33000Dates.com so she could help singles navigate online dating. She knows that in the 2020's the best way to meet people is through online dating using a professional coach. Andrea specializes in singles who are in their 40's-70's. She takes the burden of guesswork out---and makes it fun. She's a dating coach, cheerleader, and entrepreneur who genuinely gets excited when her clients meet someone, and it turns into a long-term relationship or marriage. Her stress-free, practical online dating advice/coaching is based on real-life experiences. She's been featured on numerous media outlets including CNBC, CBS News, People, Forbes, and The Oprah Winfrey Show! You can read more about Andrea and contact her at 33000dates.com . More info can also be found on the shownotes page at www.nancylanggibbs.com

Since the stores start displays for Valentine's Day in December, I figure to start talking about dating and relationships two weeks before the big heart day is totally acceptable. In fact, here at Loving Later Life for the next month or so we're going to wrap ourselves up in conversations about love, the search for love, and the stories of love—the good and the cringe worthy! (That part comes from my experiences!) I also have some very exciting guests lined up so don't miss any episodes! With Valentine's Day approaching, it is a good time to remember to treat ourselves and honor our most important relationship: the one with ourselves! One way to do this, is to be sure we're setting boundaries. Boundary lines are essential to our total health. We are so conditioned not to disappoint and let down those we love. It might also upset, or even anger some people. It can be scary to draw that line in the sand knowing the possible consequences. In truth however, letting ourselves down is the worst option. It's betraying yourself. I hope you'll join me.

In today's episode, I'm talking about Joy. Why? And why now? Well, my birthday is coming up this weekend. So what does the topic of Joy have to do with my birthday you may be wondering? When you listen you will hear me share some very personal thoughts and feelings that explain why and how for the longest time, I thought there was something wrong with me; until I heard Brene Brown talk about this. It was the first time I felt understood and not to mention relieved. Did you know that Joy is the most vulnerable emotion we experience? Join me, and please share with others who you think need to hear this.

I recently watched a series on Hulu called Fleishmann's in Trouble with Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, Lizzy Caplan and Adam Brody. In my humble opinion, this series should get nominated for a plethora of awards, and I would like to thank my son for recommending I watch it. Taffy Brodesser-Akner the showrunner of the show (and author of the novel upon which it's based) described it best: "It's a story about middle age and marriage and divorce, and getting older and nostalgia and lifelong friendship, and parenting and career and ambition. There's no category of middle-class, middle-life that it isn't about. But ultimately, Fleishman is a story about storytelling." And yes, while this show focuses on mid-life and most of us here are in later life, one of my biggest take-aways is that no matter what age we are, we are all human and experience many of the same feelings and challenges. So much of what happened in this show resonated with me even though I'm 2 decades older than the characters. After I watched all 8 episodes I went back and hand-picked some of the quotes that stood out most to me so I could share them with you; and I think they may resonate with you too. Join me?!

Happy New Year, a week or so late, everyone! Last week's episode was recorded prior to New Year's so I wasn't able to officially greet you in the New Year! If you are a LLL regular, you know how passionate I am about this being a place to share our stories…the little ones and the bigger one's because when we do there are proven scientific benefits, which I will go into more on another episode very soon. Most of us grew up with stories. Bedtime stories, stories from parents and maybe grandparents. Stories shape our view of life and what's possible. Sometimes that's a good thing, and sometimes not; depending on the stories we're told. Especially the ones we tell ourselves. Please join me as I share how my thoughts over the holiday's made me suffer, how we can become more aware of what we tell ourselves, and what we can do about it.

What is Ageism? Ableism? What are everyday ageism's? What can we do to liberate ourselves from the challenges of aging? Hello and welcome back to Loving Later Life. I am so excited for you to hear this conversation that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't said what the f*ck! I've always said, it never hurts to ask, and I am walking that walk these days. About a month ago on a Sunday my mom sent me a clip of a segment from CBS Sunday Morning that she happened to see and thought I'd find interesting. Not only was she correct, I was also pulled to reach out to one of their featured guests even though I feared it would be a long shot. Loving Later Lifer's, I am beyond happy to say that Ashton Applewhite said yes. Ashton is an internationally recognized expert on ageism, and the author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. A co-founder of the Old School Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse, she speaks widely at venues that have included the TED mainstage, the United Nations and is at the forefront of the emerging movement to raise awareness of ageism and to dismantle it. In 2022 the Decade of Healthy Aging, a UN + WHO collaboration, named Ashton one of the Healthy Aging 50: fifty leaders transforming the world to be a better place to grow older. I know without a doubt that you will find this a compelling conversation. Treat yourself to this 47-minute episode to gain awareness about this 'ism' that can be used as a catalyst for change.

Hi there and welcome back to Loving Later Life! I've been in Arizona for the weekend to spend time with my Dad and his wife to be together for his 88th birthday. I remember like it was yesterday throwing him a surprise 50th …38 years ago! So crazy. We had a wonderful relaxing time talking and talking and eating and eating. I feel so grateful at my age to still have both my parents around and available for quality time. Birthday's, like holiday time, are milestones marking the passage of time. Sometimes these milestones are joyous and sometimes they can be stressful, painful, difficult and challenging to name a few. Am I right? I actually had another episode all cued up and ready to go for this week, and I realized I can't skip over this 'most wonderful time of the year' without calling out what so many of us feel, think… and don't say. So I am sitting here on the airplane in the middle seat, the day before this is to drop, writing down my thoughts to make this episode happen. As soon as I get home around 8pm, I will record, edit, write the shownotes (which I hope you check out on occasion at nancylanggibbs.com/shownotes), and then I'll hopefully upload it in time for it to drop tonight at midnight PST. It would be much easier to let the scheduled episode land in your queue, but I've gotta follow my gut on this one. There is also a very special part to this episode because…. some listeners wanted to chime in with their thoughts regarding the last episode, which warned against getting bugs in your eyes. And if you didn't listen to it yet you must, in order to know what that means! So yes! You will hear recordings from women sharing their thoughts on how they feel about asking for help. I want to thank you ladies for sharing...and for your help! So be sure to listen all the way through to hear what they have to say!

Welcome back to Loving Later Life! I think I mentioned to you that there will be times when I want to share some of my previously published articles, or portions of them. As I peruse these older pieces, they are giving me a little insight into what I was going through at the time. In a way they're kind of like reading my diary, only they were published! The article I wrote that I'm going to read you in this episode coincides with the idea that we all need one another; not only at this time of year, but all the year round. This point is driven home (another pun intended which you'll understand once you listen) in a TV show I was watching some years ago, using an analogy with the help of a term that bikers use. It's very powerful, and I hope you'll come with me on this road trip as I am certain it will have an impact.