Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

LIfe is a constant adventure for Michele Kurlander, 79. She lives in Chicago, yet her heart is in France. A fluent francophile, Michelle spends much of her life traveling between Chicago and Paris. There she has met dear friends who live all across the world. When she becomes interested in an artist, an author, a performer, Michele’s obsession with art and music icons takes over and she devotes that period of her life to understanding all she can about the person. Spending years reading and discussing all 7 volumes of Proust is a perfect example. Sometimes that means traveling across the world to meet them, attending their concerts, involving friends in the obsession with her. She is also obsessed with her family.No stranger to challenge, Michele reinvented herself to make every moment count. Through it all she has maintained her love of writing and literature. And, continues to practice law while, somehow, she making it all work. Michelle will tell you, “There is no resemblance today to who I once was.”"Nobody promises you anything in life, except this minute."CONNECT WITH MICHELEEmail: [email protected]: https://www.kurlanderlaw.com/

Dr. Pamela Meyer is a prolific author, international consultant and keynote speaker, and college teacher whose areas of focus are leadership agility, organizational change, and adult learning. In her most recent book, Staying in the Game: Leading and Learning with Agility for a Dynamic Future, Pamela draws on her experiences as an amateur, gold medalist ski racer and on extensive interviews with older ski racers who keep coming back. Staying in the game is an apt metaphor for women who strive to remain innovative in their later decades. Pamela identifies play, purpose, passion, and pleasure as key elements of innovative living. And she discusses four interconnected dynamics of staying in the game that are applicable to professional and personal contexts and that are particularly relevant to women as we age: meaningful identity; community; learning; and commitment. Connect with PamelaContact Page: https://pamela-meyer.com/pamela-meyer-contact/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelameyerphd/Website: https://pamela-meyer.comSelected Books by PamelaStaying in the Game: Leading and Learning with Agility for a Dynamic Future.The Agility Shift: Creating Agile and Effective Leaders, Teams, and Organizations

Sheila Solomon’s career in mass media arts spans 50 years. She was among the first African American women to work in the newsrooms of regional and national newspapers. Sheila became a dedicated advocate for affirmative action—bringing people of color into the news business and reporting on race issues in professions outside of journalism. While working as a journalist, Sheila was diagnosed with a very rare, incurable illness that is still being managed. She was allowed to work from home for six months, a unique arrangement in those times. Currently, Sheila volunteers her leadership expertise as Co-Founder/Vice Chair of the Board for Journalism Funding Partners and as President of the City Bureau Board of Directors. She is a proud legacy member of the oldest African American sorority in the United States.Connect with SheilaEmail: [email protected]

As the founder of AGEIST Magazine and Super Ager podcast, David Stewart is a passionate champion of the modern 50+ lifestyle. While interviewing David is a departure from interviewing women 70-110+, we feel that what he has to say contributes to our mission of aging reimagined.Women are the ones who are changing things. Men never experienced ageism, while women experienced sexism throughout their careers and understood ageism as a form of discrimination.Super Ager podcast focuses on how we age and live optimally for who we are. We’re all different. The podcast brings on people who have resources for those in this age group. Ageist Magazine is a natural progression from David’s previous work in magazines, with advertising. This mag is for people over 50 and to offer options for peoples’ current lifestyles. We have a poverty of imagination. The magazine helps overcome this.His work is gender neutral. He talks about functional age, not biological. He wants to know, “What can you do?” How can you be as strong as possible? As useful as possible? How are you engaging? Be in touch with yourself. Be centered with who you are. Email: [email protected]: AGEIST.com

When Sandy Gordon retired at 70, from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, Illinois as Director of Public Relations, a colleague gave her a toast. It said in part: “Sandy has the kind of talent that startles people. Really. Her co-workers and colleagues often sit around wondering how she comes up with her ideas. Ideas that seem to just sort of float out of her brain. It’s as though Sandy can produce life from a primordial soup that for everyone else is just a bowl full of amino acids. Sandy has that magic.”Sandy began her career as a special education teacher and immediately became an advocate for people with disabilities. Learning that then President Hubert Humphrey’s grandchild had Down Syndrome, she found a way to approach him and urged him to do something for ‘handicapped’ people. He hired her on the spot to work as Executive Director of Friends of the Handicapped for the Humphrey/Muskie campaign."Getting recognition is less important than getting the job done" - Sandy GordonAll of Sandy’s jobs have come about in similar fashion starting with the National Easter Seal Society. With no background in communication, public relations or HR, she uses her talents and skills to find her way. Her colleague goes on to say “It would be enough to comment on Sandy’s talent and imagination, but that is actually the smaller part of her whole person. The bigger part is her heart and her humor. Sandy has the type of personality that makes everyone around her better. Happier. Funnier. Brighter. Smarter. She just makes the day better. Her energy and spirit is irrepressible.” CONNECT WITH SANDY:Email: Sandy [email protected]

Coleen T. Murphy, Ph.D is Director, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, James A. Elkins, Jr. Professor in the Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, and LSI Genomics, Princeton University. She is also Director, Paul F. Glenn Center for Aging Research at Princeton and Director of Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain. As a researcher, Coleen studies aging and the quantitation of “quality of life with age,” including the decline of cognitive and reproductive capacities with age. She is author of How We Age: The Science of Longevity. It is surprisingly readable and understandable. Coleen has had her own lab since 2005. She finds society’s obsession with nutrition and dieting limiting for her research and has, instead, questioned what else can we do to preserve our health and cognitive aging. She has won numerous awards for her research including being named a Pew Scholar. Coleen was awarded the New Innovator, Transformative R01, and two Pioneer awards from the NIH Director’s office. Effective research stems from knowing the right questions to ask. Coleen MurphyConnect with Coleen:Email: [email protected]: http://www.molbio1.princeton.edu/labs/murphy/ ORCID: 0000-0002-8257-984XBook: How We Age: The Science of Longevity(AddLink)

Dr. Tracey Gendron is an internationally recognized gerontologist with almost 30 years of experience as a grant-funded researcher. She speaks to audiences globally about the real world impact of age bias. She is determined to change people’s negative views about aging. “Ageism, she says, is complicated - more nuanced than most people think it is. Anytime we discriminate against a person based on age, it is ageism. And, since we are all aging all the time, it can be a younger or older person who is being discriminated against.”Tracey serves as Chair for the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology, and as Director for the Virginia Center on Aging.As a child, her grandparents were an important part of her life and she believes that influenced her decision to enter gerontology. “Aging is beautiful, aging is living”, she says. We shouldn’t talk about it as older people, aging is what everyone is doing.External and internal ageism are equally discriminatory. Internally, if we have dread about getting older, it affects us physically, mentally, and socially. Internalized ageism is a risk factor for suicidal ideation among older people And younger people who have dread of aging, and carry that with them, are more likely to have a cardiovascular event.Dr. Gendron has a master’s degree in gerontology and psychology and a Ph.D in developmental psychology." Aging is Living. Think about how we can continue growing through all stages of our life." - Dr. Tracey GendronCONNECT WITH TRACYEmail: [email protected]: TraceyGendron.comBook: Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Bias and How to End It1)- "will most likely have a cardiovascular event" - please change to are more likely to have a cardiovascular event.2) "there is a higher rate of suicide in older people who fear aging" - please change to "internalized ageism is a risk factor for suicidal ideation among older people"

Carol Stitzer, 80, lives life in the moment. All you have to do is listen to her and you immediately understand that she is positive, talented, energetic and happy. From early childhood education to development professional, fundraiser, artist and volunteer, Carol never lacks for the next big thing. She fine-tuned her skills at the Center for American Archeology and learned early on that planning travel for the Board of Directors offered her unique opportunities to tag along. This applied to her work at the Chicago History Museum,The Admiral at the Lake, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Along the way, she developed her own unique opportunity: her vision for producing art. Never satisfied to be ordinary, Carol thinks outside the box and is an asset to all who come in contact with her. Still teaching family workshops at Lill Street Art Center, she makes time to volunteer as a participant in other’s art and personal projects, fundraise for The Boulevard (a respite care facility for Chicago’s ill and injured homeless) and spend quality time with her husband of 43 years.I live very much in the moment, always asking Why Not? - Carol StitzerEMAIL: [email protected]: https://carolstitzer.wixsite.com/mysite

A life of social service requires a deep commitment to reaching out, helping out and finding those paths that have meaning to you. Throughout Nancy Hanson’s entire life, she has been doing just that. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Nancy knows no other way of being.Early on, she joined the League of Women Voters and in each of the cities in which she lived, when she and her husband moved multiple times, Nancy found causes she could learn about, study and advocate for through the League. Growing up in the 60s, Nancy believes her story is no different from others in her generation. They were the transitional generation that blazed the trail for women to come.“Social work embodies advocacy - helping the underserved is how I live my life.” - Nancy HansonNancy remains active . She volunteers for the Boulevard, a shelter for unhoused people who have been hospitalized and have nowhere to go when they leave the hospital; has created a community garden so the Boulevard can cut costs and serve residents healthy meals; used her social work experience to change public policy and fights for civil rights and climate change.She recognizes how lucky she is to have health insurance that covers serious illness. "I could be right there with all these people I advocate for. Stereotypes wash away and disappear." CONNECT WITH NANCY:Email: [email protected] Boulevard of ChicagoChicago League of Women Voters: https://www.lwvchicago.org/

Catherine (Kate) Saccany was born to run. She took up jogging and ran barefoot for her first 30 months because there were no running shoes for women. A career banker, Kate joined LaSalle Bank. Coincidentally, LaSalle sponsored the Chicago marathon. She bought her first pair of running shoes, qualified for the marathon and has not stopped since. Yes, long covid has cramped her style. And, she is now 72. Kate believes it's never too late to become a runner. With the proper coaching and the right pair of shoes, anyone can learn. There is now a group for marathon runners over 100.QUOTE: Just getting here is a privilege not to take lightly or abuse.Kate’s interests are wide and varied. From ham radio to learning Spanish, her drive and perseverance are inspiring to all who know her.CONNECT WITH KATE:Email: [email protected]

Joy, love, compassion - the foundation of Eme’s life and her stories. Eme McAnam was a singer-songwriter who charted in the top 100 in Country Music. Her career has taken many turns: Singer/songwriter, novelist, art photographer.Her newest novel, Freefalling: A Novel of Senior Romance, is based on a topic she knows well from her 91/2 years serving at an assisted living facility. Lewy Body Dementia is the central theme. Seniors, she says, are “us”. She wants her legacy to be seen as understanding that no matter what comes down our path, it is our job to find joy.Change and loss is part of life. She saw people who were very sad. Eme reflects, “By the time you’re in your nineties you’ve lost a lot of people close to you. How do we keep a sense of self amid our losses? If something is not working it’s our responsibility to change it. Let’s live this life. We are not done. If we struggle with how to love ourselves, it’s not too late. Even in the most troubled story lines in the book, by the time you get to the end of the story, compassion can be found.”She is a big fan of all the sensual ways of staying alive. Eme is working on two more books I’m tired of hearing that people get invisible. They are visible if you keep your eyes open. - Eme McAnamConnect with Eme:Email: [email protected] Website: emespirit.com Book: Freefalling: A Novel of Senior Romance

Educational equity, intercultural communication, and teacher education are the threads of Dr. Gretchen Wilbur’s 30+-year career as an educational leader. Upon retiring from DePaul University in 2019, Gretchen traded an urban lifestyle in Chicago for the rural mountains in Jamaica where she lives with the Maroon people. As the only resident who is White, female, and highly educated, Gretchen is adapting to living in a culture that tests many of her western world views, including identity, community, relationships, land, money, and time. Her love of the Maroon people inspired Gretchen to apply her organizational and artistic skills in creating the Respecting Culture & Earth Foundation which uses a self-determining approach to advance cultural arts and environmental sustainability for economic independence. Gretchen is working on a book about her deepening understanding of and respect for the Maroon culture. She and her life partner, Oral, share a vibrant home in which they host a commercial bar and guest rooms. Members of the Women Over 70 community have an open invitation.Quote: I live permanently in Accompong Town in the mountains of Jamaica because I fell in love with the Maroon people, lifestyle, and land.- Gretchen WilburConnect with Gretchen WilburEmail: [email protected]: What’s App, +1-876-359-7093Respecting Culture & Earth Foundation What We Do — OneFamily, OneLove, OneEarth (respectingcultureandearth.org)O & G Guesthouse Microsoft Bing Travel - O G Guesthouse

[spp-player]Carol Marin, age 75, is an award-winning television and print journalist renowned for her nearly 50 years of investigative stories on politics, public corruption, and organized crime. In 2016, Carol co-founded and directs DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence where she teaches a two-quarter long course in Advanced Reporting for graduate students “ready to jump into the profession.” Ethical problem-solving is a cornerstone of the Center, guided by key principles such as “no great story is worth doing damage to a human being.” The social impact of Carol’s work asan investigative journalist is legendary. Her multitude of awards and recognitions include three Peabody’s, two national Emmys, the Gracie Award, and the George Polk Award in Journalism. Carol has two books in the planning stages and enjoys a rich personal life with family and friends, cooking, travel, and horses.Connect with CarolEmail: [email protected] for Journalism Integrity & Excellence | Centers & Initiatives | About | College of Communication| DePaul University, Chicago

Sex educator, Joan Price, is the voice for ‘ageless sexuality.’ In her books, webinars, presentations, newsletter, and blog, Joan talks frankly about spicy and satisfying sex for seniors, whether partnered or solo. She is the first to address sex and grief in her recent book, Sex After Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your Beloved. Joan advises that sexuality is always a journey, regardless of age and circumstance. She encourages older adults to see themselves as sexual beings and to care for their sexual health. "Sexual pleasures have no expiration date." - Joan PriceConnect with JoanEmail: [email protected]: https://www.joanprice.comBooks by Joan Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk About Sex After Sixty Naked At Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex Sex After Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your BelovedThe Ultimate Guide to Sex After 50: How to Maintain—or Regain—a Spicy, Satisfying Sex LifeBlog: Blog: https://joanprice.com/blog. Of special interest, “Solo Sex for Seniors: (January 2024): https://joanprice.com/2024/01/solo-sex-for-seniors.html

We love all our interviews. However, meeting Betty Werrenrath in person, and interviewing her in her apartment at the Presbyterian Homes in Evanston, IL was a unique experience that we would not have traded. Betty is inspiring, positive, upbeat and interesting. She was born January 28, 1914 in Harrisburg, PA. The daughter of a progressive preacher’s kid, she says, “I had to act decently because he was so well-known”."“Be more interested in others than you are in yourself. Listen.” - Betty WerrenrathAn athlete, she played field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, tennis and golf in high school and college. With a full athletic scholarship that included a job in the alumni office, she graduated from Wells College with a degree in art history in 1935. Betty and Reinald married in 1937 and remained married for 82 years. They have three children. They moved to Presbyterian Homes in Evanston in 1998. Reinald had a stroke at age 103 and passed away in 2019.Betty's multiple passions and drive for advocacy have stayed undiminished throughout her life. When she sees changes that need to be made she takes action. In addition to church and community volunteer efforts, after Reinald retired they collaborated on over 100-16mm educational films distributed nationwide, staying for weeks in eight different countries to research and film. In the Presbyterian Homes, Betty enthusiastically pursues new friendships and activities.

Patti Temple Rocks has had a long, successful, and immensely rewarding career in marketing and communications and still she is not done. Her work and her articles and books have been written about in major publications such as Fast Company, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal. Inc.Patti started her career at Dow Chemical in 1981. It was not until many years later that she became obsessed with making sure that age inclusivity is on every company’s D,E&I agenda and that everyone gets to end their career when and how they want to – not when ageist stereotypes say they should. Author of I’m Not Done: It’s Time to Talk About Ageism in the Workplace, she wrote a second edition of the book called, I’m STILL Not Done because she is not, and ageism unfortunately, is still widespread.Every workforce should mirror the population at large.- Patti Temple RocksConnect with Patti:Website: https://www.pattitemplerocks.com/Book: https://www.pattitemplerocks.com/im-still-not-doneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattitemplerocks/Email: [email protected]

Dr. Susan Mazer is a full-time performing jazz harpist and former President, Co-founder, and CEO of Healing HealthCare Systems, producers of The C.A.R.E. Channel, the only evidence-based, 24-hour relaxation channel for patient television. Now in its 30th year, C.A.R.E. is being broadcasted in over 1,100 hospitals nationally and internationally including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Australia, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, and many other locations. The discipline of health care led her to study how we can help patients heal faster. The answer is music. And this led her to create The C.A.R.E channel and, recently, C.A.R.E VRx™ which extends the reach of C.A.R.E., providing a healing virtual environment for pain relief, reduction of anxiety, and increased comfort, through access to stunning natural spaces and places in the virtual world.Dr. Mazer is a national and international speaker and in 2019 was the keynote speaker at the 2019 Virtual Reality in Healthcare Conference in Dublin, Ireland. Her publications and presentations focus on the patient environment. She is also a blogger for The Huffington Post and has her own blog. She is a Fellow of the Center for Social Innovation at The Fielding Graduate University.Connect with Susan:Website:Book Chapter: “Applied Virtual Reality in Healthcare: Case Studies and Perspectives"Book: Patient Privacy: When it MattersBlogger: Huffington Post; blog at www.susanmazer.com

When nearing 50 years of age and recently widowed, Judy sold everything,bought an around-the-world airline ticket, and set off alone on a year-longjourney without a planned itinerary. “The outer journey serves as acontainer” for Judy’s inner “struggle to find her way as a sober, single,independent woman.” A master teacher and published author of fiction,poetry, and nonfiction, Judy’s journey led to her first published memoir,When Your Heart Says Go: My Year of Traveling Beyond Loss and Loneliness(October 2023)."My year-long around-the-world travel adventure became an innerjourney to knowing myself."Connect with Judyemail: [email protected]: https://judyreeveswriter.comSelection of Judy’s books:When Your Heart Says Go (2023)Wild Women, Wild Voices: Writing from Your Authentic Wildness (2015)A Writer’s Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for theWriting Life (2010)

Through Top Sixty Over Sixty, Helen writes articles and speaks at conferences to encourage a reframed narrative of aging, one that reflects the age realities of the 21st century. She emphasizes the need for a longevity focus, encourages an entrepreneurial mindset, and cautions against internalized ageism which undermines the potential of older adults. Top Sixty Over Sixty also provides programs and courses for older adults as well as businesses and companies to help everyone benefit from our aging demographic.Connect with Helen:Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-hirsh-spence-a029a010/Website: https://www.topsixtyoversixty.com

Janis Clark Johnston is a family psychologist, speaker, and author of several books, most recently Transforming Retirement: Rewire and Grow Your Legacy. When she experienced 9/11, Janis says, she became more sensitive to other’s pain and loss. Planning rituals to honor the person you lost helps you to grow during the grieving process. Keeping a gratitude journal, for example, is a process that is creative by nature and becomes a daily ritual. Janis believes that recognizing the difference between a ‘Growth Mindset’ and a ‘Fixed Mindset’ helps us to understand our own personalities. Life is better if we are more flexible. And when we can develop grit, purpose and passion, with energy as the driver, we are able to live in the present moment, which is the only time we have to make something happen. Our personalities are plastic, not plaster. Living is a gift - this being alive in the present moment. When that’s your daily approach, everything flows from there. Attitude is really important in life.Janis applies her beliefs to her own aging. Exercise, meditation, gardening and learning something new every day form the basis of her self-care routine. Society needs to re-identify aging. It applies to everyone at every age. Janis finds life challenging and invigorating. She loves learning. It’s a wonderful way to age. There are always new things to learn. She has recently written a picture book that deals with bullying.Connect with Janis Clark Johnston, Ed.D.Author: Transforming Retirement: Rewire and Grow Your LegacyMidlife Maze: A Map to Recovery and Rediscovery after LossIt Takes a Child to Raise a Parent: Stories of Evolving Child & Parent DevelopmentWebsite: https://janisjohnston.comBlog: https://janis-johnston.com

Emily Clionsky, MD, and Mitchell Clionsky, PhD, are a physician and neuropsychologist couple who have cared for their own parents with dementia, created a test used by doctors to measure cognitive function, and treated more than 25,000 patients with cognitive impairment. They partner at a private practice, Clionsky Neuro Systems, Inc., based in Springfield, Massachusetts. They are frequent public speakers, podcast guests, and workshop presenters for general and professional audiences.In their recent book, Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your Brain, published earlier this year by John Hopkins Press, they combine the most current scientific findings about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias with their experience to present a practical guide that empowers you to improve your brain's future. The authors guide you through a science-based tour of dementia, including how your brain works and how its function is affected by everything from blood circulation and blood pressure to sugar levels, medications, vision, and hearing. Dr. Emily explains: “So many people who came to my practice, above the age of 55, were having major problems in how they were thinking. I decided to do a 2nd residency concentrating on dementia. They have a full clinic. Mitch does neurological testing. I do comprehensive medical evaluations, which give me a full picture of how that person is thinking. Treatment is incredibly complex. The sooner you start, the more you have to work with.” “Eight out of 10 of us are worried about getting dementia. And that's because most of us don't know that half of the dementia cases can be prevented." Connect with Drs. Emily & Mitchell Clionsky:Book: Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your BrainContact: [email protected]

Diane Slezak is CEO of Age Options, a nonprofit advocacy organizationshe has been involved with since 1976. Age Options caters to older adultsand those who care for them with resources and service options so olderadults can live their lives to the fullest. The explosive demographic of baby-boomers has sparked pressing issues, including home-delivered meals,awareness of scams, suitable housing, and assistance for caregivers. Inaddition to her executive duties, Diane advocates for State and Federallegislation to provide timely funding for benefits and services for olderadults. December 20, 2023 marks Diane’s 47 th year with Age Options.Connect with DianeEmail: [email protected]: https://www.ageoptions.org

Since becoming CEO of The Village Chicago in 2019, Darcy hasoverseen the growth and vitality of The Village—including over500 comprehensive programs that focus on social, emotional, andphysical well-being. She promotes improved quality of life forolder adults and intergenerational collaboration at work, at home,and in the community. Darcy and colleagues delve into the rootcauses of ageism and age bias, including internal and externalageism. She advocates that age must be included in diversity,equity, and inclusion policies and practices. Darcy is committed tojoining hands and voices to empower individuals and enrichcommunities.Connect with Darcy:Email: [email protected]: https://thevillagechicago.org

For much of her life, Susan Cartland-Bode has shared her gift ofmusic-- as a soloist and choral singer, voice teacher, player ofpiano and violin and, most recently, fiddle. A resident of PlymouthPlace in LaGrange Park, IL, Susan performs solos, sings with thePlymouth Place Singers, and directs the Singing Sages, a groupthat offers sing-along programs for residents in the upper levelsof care. The joy of music has sustained Susan throughchallenging times in her life; she is writing her memoir in fouracts. Susan and her husband, Hank, have been living happily atPlymouth Place since 2019—"the best decision we ever made.” Intheir spare moments, they enjoy sharing time with their“blended” family - 5 married kids, 10 grandchildren (3 married)and 2 “Greats!”"I believe in the power of music for the aging mind." - Susan Cartland-BodeWomen Over 70 thanks Plymouth Place for sponsoring this episode.Connect with Susan:Email: [email protected]

Rhea Zakich, age 88, touches human hearts as an author, speaker, workshopand seminar leader, and creator of the world’s popular communication gamethe UNGAME (1973)—5 million sold and still selling. Her dramatic story ofthe UNGAME has been told on TV and radio programs as well as in majornewspapers and publications such as Readers Digest, Redbook, andPsychology for Living. Rhea resides in a Christian Senior Community in SantaAna, CA where she teaches Bible study, serves as editor of the Newsletter,and plays ukulele in Sing-Alongs for residents. During the past 40 years,Rhea has lead hundreds of workshops, seminars, and retreats (over 500 bynow) on topics such as Prayer, Discovering Your Purpose, and Inner Healing.She has written two spiritual autobiographies, the most recent is He CalledMe Rhea.I invite honest sharing of feelings and experiences in anatmosphere of love and acceptance. - Rhea ZakichConnect with Rhea:Email: [email protected]: http://rheazakich.comBooks: Everybody Wins-The Story Behind the Ungame (1979) He Called Me Rhea: My Journey from Feeling and Dealing to Healing(2019)

Catherine Hiller is inspired to write against the grain. In her current novel, Cybil Unbound, (her 10th book and 6th novel), she delicately characterizes an older woman and her new-found sexuality. Catherine believes the capacity to fall in love can strike at any age. "It is a rare depiction about sexual adventure in a woman's later years. Cybill is 42 when the book begins, 72 when it ends." An award-winning writer, Catherine’s pioneering work has been challenging social mores for decades. What she writes about is known in the real world and her descriptions seem to pose a philosophical interest. She seeks to find a language to describe our sexual emotions and is always on the quest to discover new ways to express things. Catherine asks: “Monogamy vs non-monogamy - can we be monogamous throughout our entire married lives?” Her last novel, The Feud, is about women competing in the workplace, and the book Just Say Yes: A Marijuana Memoir, was groundbreaking. A section of it was published in the New York Times, which also interviewed her about it. Hiller graduated summa cum laude from Brooklyn College and got a PhD in English from Brown University. She has lived in Brooklyn and Greenwich Village. She now lives with her husband in Westchester County and Sag Harbor, NY. She has three sons, two granddaughters and a dog. "Fiction can show us life's possibilities." Connect with Catherine:Email: www.catherinehiller.net Substack: The Pleasure Principle: Savoring Life After Fifty https://catherinehiller.substack.com/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Hiller

Taru Fisher coaches women to make aging fearless, fulfilling, and fun. She encourages women to fully respect their own aging process and be vibrantly visible. Taru is a certified NLP Health Practitioner and NLP Coach specializing in aging. She also is a Healer Certified Medical Cannabis Wellness Advisor and a provider of Health and Wellness Coaching and Medical Cannabis Education. Taru’s coaching practice is called Seasons of Life Coaching. She writes a blog and newsletter, teaches workshops online, and is writing her autobiography. Taru describes herself as “an irreverent, wise Elderwoman with a quirky sense of humor.” Connect with TaruEmail: [email protected]: www.tarufisher.comNewsletter: http://bit.ly/3XeX6lKCall-a-Crone: http://bit.ly/3GEKV1h for a free 45-minute virtual session Facebook: https/www.facebook.com/seasons.of.life.coachingHealer.com

In her role as a certified Death Doula (also known as an End-of-Life Doula orDeath Midwife), Julie Iverson is passionate about providing non-medical,non-judgmental, holistic care and support to individuals and their loved onesas they navigate the challenges and transitions of aging and dying. Sheeducates them about options available before, during, and after death.Drawing on her expertise as a certified Geriatric Care Manager, Julie’sspecialty is being an advocate for families and a liaison between health careproviders and families. She offers her services through her company, Agingwith Care.Connect with Julie:Email: [email protected]: https://aging-with-care.com

Sara Gilfert, 94, lives in Ohio. She comes from a family that was populated with teachers and preachers. While she began her college education in journalism, a chance workshop on fiber art caused her to change her major and she became a fiber artist and teacher. Since 2003, she has owned her own hand-paper-making studio, exclusively harvesting the white fiber from the inner bark of the mulberry tree to create art. Loss of vision and hearing has affected Sara’s ability to continue with her art. Her daughter, Susan, a librarian, encouraged her mother to join a writing group. She focuses on her own life and writes about her personal experiences. During one session she wrote about her aging cat.Previously active in community affairs, Sara continues to attend meetings when possible. Her words to younger listeners of this podcast are, “just keep moving”. She studies Pilates with an instructor 3x/week. Surrounded by family she feels supported and involved in life.“As we age, it’s important to just keep moving.”

Ashton Applewhite has been speaking out about aging and ageism for over 15 years. Her 2016 book, This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, radicalized the present anti-ageism movement. Since then, Ashton has continued her blog, Yo, is This Ageist?, co-founded the Old School Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse, and is in high demand to speak at various venues from Ted Talks, to universities, to community centers, to the Library of Congress and the United Nations. Her numerous honors and recognitions—local, national, and world-wide-- acclaim Ashton for being inspiring, a trailblazer, an influencer, and a game-changer. Connect with Ashton:Email: [email protected]: https://thischairrocks.comBook: This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism

Connie Zweig, PhD, is a retired Jungian-oriented therapist and coauthorof Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow. Her award-winningbook, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, extends her work onthe Shadow into midlife and beyond and explores aging as a spiritual practice. Itwon the 2022 Gold COVR Award, the 2022 Gold Nautilus Award, the 2021American Book Fest Award, and the 2021 Best Indie Book Award for bestinspirational non-fiction. Her new book is Meeting the Shadow on the SpiritualPath: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening.Connie has been doing contemplative practices for more than 50 years. She is awife, stepmother, and grandmother. After all these roles, she’s practicing the shiftfrom role to soul. Connect with Connie:Email: [email protected]: https://conniezweig.comConnie’s books:The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul,Meeting the Shadow Romancing the Shadow(novel) A Moth to the Flame: The Life of Sufi Poet RumiMeeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for AwakeningThe Inner Work of Age:https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASINw/1644113406?tag=simonsayscom

Beth Truett, MDiv, BS, believes in serving. It comes naturally to her and has guided her career path over the years. Her earliest memories are of lunches with the Ladies’ Aid Society. After a lengthy corporate career where she was committed to mentoring women, she worked at Chicago Lights, then Oral Health America. Both organizations needed to reignite or start a program for older adults, and she concentrated her efforts there. Oral health is crucial to total health, influencing both diabetes and heart health. But, it is difficult for most older persons because it isn’t covered by traditional Medicare.When she retired from Oral Health America in 2019, Beth wasted no time in moving towards her interest in gerontology, receiving her gerontology degree at Concordia University. Today she serves as a consultant and project leader with the Center for Gerontology at Concordia. Beth is determined to help eliminate the implicit bias of ageism. Through the Center for Gerontology at Concordia, she is leading an initiative with the National Center to Reframing Aging, (led by The Gerontological Society of America.) “Connecting men and women to opportunities in retirement is critical to mitigating social isolation and loneliness. - Beth TruettConnect with Beth Truett:Email: [email protected] or Text: 708.271.2834

Diane Valletta has moved from passion to passion throughout her life. Her mother, who died at 93, was her role model. She had a passion for activism and service. The same is true for Diane, whose desire for service has spanned her entire life. From Women Employed to NAWBO (National Association for Women Business Owners), Diane has served on numerous boards. “I’ve been invited to sit on the boards of the organizations I get involved with because they feed my desire for service. And, since my family all live in the eastern part of the United States, my fellow board members become my midwestern family.”Since leaving corporate, Diane’s main work has been to help entrepreneurs win awards, and organizations win grants, by interviewing them first, then focusing on the right words that lead to winning nominations. She also writes marketing materials and edits articles and books. “Dreams don’t become reality unless you visualize them first.”A news junkie and longtime member of Unity Chicago, Diane’s view of life is inspiring and thoughtful.Connect with Diane:Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-valletta-531167/

A former nun, teacher, relationship author of The Marriage Plan: How ToMarry Your Soul Mate In One Year Or Less, owner of Jordan De-Laurenti, Inc., atraining and contract management company and a small business columnist for the Dallas Times-Herald, Aggie has published numerous articles, blogs, and is author of A Woman’s Voice Should Be Heard: My Journey from the Convent to the Battle for Equality.Aggie’s life changed when, in 1967, she was offered a fellowship to the University ofNotre Dame while still a Catholic nun. The women at Notre Dame were far less conservative than she. The church was changing. The feminist movement was gaining speed. She heard a speaker who said: “Men are the action makers, women are the receptacles.” This started her transformation and desire to make sure that women were treated as equals to men. She left the convent in her final year. Aggie’s goal is to reach daughters and granddaughters with her work. She talks with largegroups of women, urging them to get out the vote, to vote in legislators who will stop thedecline of access to abortion. At 85, Aggie is proud of her age and has no plans to stopthe work she loves. It’s women friends who will keep us going.Connect with Aggie:Website: https://www.aggiejordan.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aggie-jordan-ph-d-693b9538/Book: A Woman’s Voice Should Be Heard: My Journey from the Convent to the Battlefor Equality.

When lightning strikes, where do you go to avoid injury? If you live in the United States, you likely have easy access to a safe building or car. In fact, fewer than 20 people die annually from being struck by lightning. But for people who live in the developing world, the risks of injury or death are magnified because they do not have access to safe locations. Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, age 74, an early pioneer in emergency medicine, is dedicated to saving lives through public education and building engineering. She is Founder and Managing Director of African Centres for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage from lightning across Africa, and is active internationally with many other lightning safety programs around the world. Dr. Cooper emphasizes: It is impossible to prevent lightning; WHERE you go is much less important than WHAT YOU DO, which is take action.Lightning is the most common climate threat to life across the globe. Connect with Dr. Cooper:Email: [email protected] website: https://ACLENet.org

Sheree Clark is a Midlife Courage Coach whose varied forks-in-the-roadinclude: university administrator in student personnel; owner of anadvertising agency; TV show host; author; health coach; raw vegan chef andmore. Through her Talk Series for Midlife Women, weekly blogs, privateFacebook group for Midlife Courage Warriors, Midlife Summer School—alongwith individual and group coaching—Sheree encourages women to releaseregrets, set boundaries, be visible, act courageously, and create legacy—asthey navigate the long continuum of midlife.Quote: It takes guts to live the second half of your life for yourself.Connect with ShereeEmail: [email protected]: https://fork-road.com

E. Beverly Young speaks her truths about gender and race prejudices in the workplace and larger society. She entered professional policing 50 years ago, one of few women in a male-dominated field. During her 26 years in uniform, Beverly achieved the rank of Lieutenant and become a certified police instructor for police training academies throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Beverly earned her doctorate at age 60, supplementing field experience with academic inquiry. In 2014 she formed her own company, writing evidence-based training curriculum for police departments. Beverly is also a prolific writer who confronts racism head on, with honesty and levity. Through blogs and books, Beverly voices her observations about society’s hypocrisy and discrimination against gender and race. Her new podcast, Help Me Change the Narrative, is coming soon. People might see me as a woman of color with some age on her; instead, I want them to see my accomplishments, what I am capable of doing.Connect with BeverlyEmail: [email protected]: https://ebevyyg.comRecent book: Social Change is More Than an Oops!

KC Henry’s roots are in eleven generations of Ohioans including her five siblings, four adult children and spouses, and 10 grandchildren. “Forgiveness and enjoyment of each other is what makes a family this size work.” KC creates room for consulting with non-profit organizations--drawing on her extensive experience in equine therapy--as well as for a relatively new venture as a potter. Divorced after 28 years of marriage, KC loves the freedom of single life to choose how she wants to live. This includes moving into a step-down retirement phase making room for more international travel and time with family and friends. “I’ve loved all that I’ve done,” says KC, “I am a lucky person, and I am so grateful.” Relationships, career, freedom, and new learning are central to my life. - KC HenryConnect with KCEmail: [email protected]

Berry Dilley’s areas of interest cover movement, dance and mindfulness, teaching,creativity, as well as health, disability services, and quality of life for elders. She hasdegrees in dance, sociology and counseling and more recently trained in SomaticExperiencing to help people who have experienced trauma.Berry grew up on the east coast and moved, with her son, Steve, to Athens, Ohio, in1971, to teach in the theater department at Ohio University. She remarried and madeAthens her home.The 1970s was the time of the Feminist Movement, the EEOC and Title 9. Berry andseveral other young women in Athens joined the movement and founded their owngroup, Feminists and Faith, which has been active for about 45 years now."There’s a tendency to have friends who are the same age. It’s important tocultivate friendships with younger people who bring excitement, vitality, and newperspectives." - Berry DilleyIn the late 1990s Berry became acutely aware of the needs of those with disabilities,learning first hand while caring for family members. In 2002 she went to the mayorabout making the city more accessible. In 2004, the Athens City Commission onDisabilities was created.Now as Berry is aging, she is more aware of what older people need and want. Shejoined a community group which is now focused on becoming AARP Age FriendlyAthens County. Because of her membership with this group, Berry began visitingcommunities, new to her in Athens County and meeting people whose life experiencesare very different from hers to discover what their needs and wants are, oftenquitedifferent from hers. A common issue seems to be having someone to oversee one'scare when needed.The biggest issue Berry faces is who will be her 24/7.

Quote: Art has always been my friend. Today I participate in ‘Yarn Bombing’ projects.Ingrid Roze is a multi-faceted woman with many interests. Her parents came from Bulgaria and Latvia. Each found their way to Venezuela in 1948 where they met and married. It was there that Ingrid was born and remained until she was 12 when the family moved to the United States. She became a child psychologist. and primarily worked with Spanish- speaking communities and Arabic and Moorish cultures.Instead of private practice, Ingrid chose to work in public service, mostly in schools. She found a profession that she adored, becoming a psychologist because that's how she always thought. The insight was there before she chose psychology. Art was always Ingrid’s friend. She went to the High School of Art and Design and returned to tapestry, knitting and crocheting after she retired from her profession.Today, Ingrid participates in yarn bombing - crocheting roses for national and international projects on women’s reproductive rights and women’s freedom. Two examples are: “Roses to Stop Violence against Women” which is mounting 1 rose on each tree in the longest avenue in Mexico. Another, called the Liberty Crochet mural, is an image of the Statue of Liberty - substitutes the torch she’s holding for a uterus with the title: Freedom to Choose. Ingrid, herself, posts crochet hearts everywhere she travels because “it throws a net of love over the world. Only love can drive out darkness Only love can drive out hate. Hate cannot drive out hate”.

Connie Goddard has reimagined who she is for her entire life. One thing remains constant: her love for writing and for history. Connie lived in Chicago for most of her life; she writes about the city's history, that of the Dakotas where her family is from, and New Jersey, where she now lives. Industrial education programs in all three places are the subject for her current major project: a book called Learning for Work, which will be published next summer by a major academic press.A few years after receiving her Ph.D. at age 60, Connie joined the Peace Corps, where she taught English to children in Romania. Afterward, she resettled in New Jersey and taught at a community college; there she had an opportunity to teach English and history to incarcerated men, an experience that inspired her book. From 1980 until 2009, Connie wrote for many national publications and worked as an administrator and adjunct professor at several prominent Chicago-area colleges and universities. As a scholar, Connie is primarily interested in schooling during the Progressive Era, particularly the work of Chicago's Ella Flagg Young and her colleague John Dewey. Both were leaders who changed the way people thought about schools and the meaning of education. Connie claims that, though they worked together over a century ago, their insights remain pertinent today, especially as our society is rethinking the necessity of a college education for all.Today, Connie cares for her husband and utilizes a room at the back of her house where she concentrates on work that totally involves her. She doesn't anticipate ever running out of projects: as a volunteer, they include heading education programs for her local branch of AAUW and raising money for Covenant House, which offers assistance to homeless youth in her community. “I do not anticipate ever running out of projects involving research in the areas I am interested in.”Connect with Connie:Website: https://ConnieGoddard.comEmail: [email protected]

Terri Banner Fitzsimmons hails from British Columbia. She has been in the field of education most of her adult life, as a teacher of all grades, Sociology Professor for twenty years, director of an Independent Study Program, helping adults earn their diploma. Author of 5 books, she won many awards, including being recognized for initiating a girl power group, developing innovative career strategies, and her work for United Way, helping parolees find employment. She has worked with various Indian Reservations, homeless shelters, and the Cal-Works program at a local college.All this after losing everything in the Paradise CA tragedy. “I had to lose everything to gain everything.”CONNECT WITH TK:Website: https://www.tkbanner.com/Email: [email protected]

As a therapist and writer, I support women who struggle with real problems to bolster their agency. - Dian GreenwoodGrowing up in the basement of the courthouse adjoined to the jail in South Dakota, Dian developed an affinity for people who struggle against the odds. As a therapist, Dian has specialized in alcohol abuse and, currently, focuses on difficulties faced by women over 60. These experiences, among many, are gist for Dian’s successes as a writer who knows how to “take risks with my characters. They are not always likeable, but they are real.” Dian’s debut novel, About the Carlton Sisters (2023), will be joined by three new books in progress—stories of immigrants and of women’s friendships.Connect with Dian:Email: [email protected]: www.Diangreenwood.comAbout the Carlton Sisters (2023/spring, She Writes Press)https://thebigsmoke.com/us/author/dian-greenwood/

Cheryl Keen, EdD—scholar, activist, Quaker—has always tried to follow her callings which personify commitment, connection, and community. As a pioneer in significant movements--peace education and justice, service-learning, and progressive higher education--Cheryl job-shared seven leadership positions with her husband, Jim. They are parents/grandparents to one biological family as well as three ‘made families.’ They have always lived communally because “ethically, I need to share the space that I have.” Now in the new chapter of retirement, Cheryl relishes “just letting myself be in the moment, enjoying hours of unscheduled time, never feeling bored.” In the midst of gardening, singing in choruses, remodeling their home for safer living on the first floor, traveling, playing with grandchildren, and managing a ‘green condo community' in Florida, Cheryl is trying on new identities. She is exchanging her colorful business jackets for garments better suited to her flexible lifestyle.Connect with CherylEmail: [email protected] w/ L. Daloz, J. Keen, & S. Parks, (1997). Common Fire: Leading Lives of Commitment in a Complex World.Cheryl & Jim, founders of the Governor’s School of Public Issues and the Future of New Jersey (GSPINJ) news article: https://gspinj.org/the-founders/

Meet Beige. Beige is reliable, practical, sensible, and safe. Beige doesn’t put up a fuss; it follows the rules, blends in, doesn’t want to stand out. Now meet Liz Kitchens. She is more of a magenta. Magenta is rich, dynamic, loud, sometimes garish, and not easily overlooked. While that does not exactly describe Liz, she is the author of Be Brave, Lose the Beige: Finding Your Sass After 60. It focuses on women’s empowerment issues. Magenta is a metaphor for how we live our lives. There are 35 maxims in the book that help women take back their sass. Liz conducts workshops and seminars on creativity, is a writer, author and blogger. "Women have a biography as long as the veil on a wedding gown."Connect with Liz:Email: [email protected]: https://BeBraveLosetheBeige.com

Author of more than a dozen books, Noelle has appeared on national and international radio and television, been interviewed, quoted or written about in dozens of publications and has spoken on the subject of appreciation before audiences in the U.S., Canada, England, The Netherlands and Australia.Noelle did not come into her own until she was in her mid-thirties. Life growing up was difficult. She says she was a pessimist and reached out for help from therapists, read books and worked hard to gain confidence in herself. Today she is on the go all the time. “My life feels like a wonderful, full life. Competitive sports have helped to build my confidence,” she says. Competing as a ballroom dancer (and, yes, starting at age 70 and winning), has been a great confidence booster for her. “Physical activity is important at every age - don’t stop, adapt to the level you are supposed to work at.”"Happiness is a result. Curiosity means you are learning and learning brings joy. " CONNECT WITH NOELLE:Contact: [email protected] Newsletter, "A Note From Dr. Noelle Nelson," Podcast: Up! Uplifting, Inspiring, Practical - provides skills to use appreciation's powerful energy to improve our lives.Facebook: stories about older people who are leading rewarding and fulfilling lives on Meet The Amazings BOOKS:The Longevity Secret: How to Live Happy, Healthy & Vibrant into Your 70s, 80s, 90s and BeyondPhoenix Rising: Surviving Catastrophic Loss: Fires, Floods, Hurricanes and TornadoesThe Power of Appreciation - The Key to A Vibrant Life

Born in Athens, Greece, Esther Gandica came to the United States, on her own, on a Fulbright scholarship in 1967.She was born in 1949. Her parents lived in Salonica, Greece, which had the largest Jewish population at the time, outside of Israel. The family spoke Ladino, a form of archaic Spanish. Esther is a Sephardic Jew. Her father’s family did not survive the war. Her Mother’s family survived by hiding. She grew up speaking French and 5 other languages.Esther is flexible. She consciously keeps herself from falling into patterns. She avoids habitual living. It was easy to leave her full-time position doing special chemistry testing related to thyroid disease so she could make time to be with her children. After they were born she reimagined her career and went back to school to earn a degree in accounting. This allowed her to work part time and stay at home. Esther always liked the idea of learning new things. She is a perpetual student. Esther and her husband both taught in universities and are now retired. Health challenges have changed the active lives they enjoyed together. She is learning to be active on her own.Intriguing and joyful, Esther Gandica lives life to the fullest.I never want to slow down. I have to keep moving fast. Life has so much to offer. -Esther GandicaCONNECT With Esther:[email protected]

Dr. Val and Byrdie are co-founders of Boom Home Medical, a “lifestyle brand that makes home medical products.” Dr. Val, a public health and preventive medicine physician, and Byrdie, a literary agent turned health care leader, recognized that home medical equipment is outdated, inconvenient, and a sightly embarrassment. Designed for both attractiveness and function, their products allow women to care for themselves with dignity. Consider middle-of-the-night peeing. Their company’s first product is Loona--a bedside urinal with a feminine design that fits the female anatomy. “It’s the most elegant solution to relief, anytime and anywhere.” Their next product line will be pleasingly designed incontinent pads for beds and sofas. Every category of consumer goods is handsomely designed and technologically sophisticated. Why not have beautifully designed medical equipment for our homes?Connect with Val and ByrdieEmails: [email protected]; [email protected]: https://boomhomemedical.com

This cross-generational pair—Phoebe 76 and Erica 43—believes that younger women don’t hear enough from older women about what it looks like to keep “living out loud…and contributing actively” during the later decades. Why should women accept the cloak of invisibility when they continue to be curious, inventive, and full of light? Their feature documentary profiles eight professional women over 70 who continue to work. They also co-produce a podcast that features conversations with inspiring women over 70 who refuse to stop contributing to society because of their age. Through their work, Phoebe and Erica expose and challenge major 'isms' such as sexism, racism, and ageism. Connect with Erica and PhoebePodcast: Work While You Have the Light on Apple PodcastsDocumentary: https://www.workwhileyouhavethelight.com/Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]

Living through the unimaginable - caregiving her son from his diagnosis of carcinoma at age 13, and through a 2nd diagnosis at 19, completely altered the trajectory of Allura's life. Her son died at 20. Even before that, Allura’s brother, with whom she was very close, also suffered from cancer and died on her son’s 18th birthday. Her marriage crumbled, and she was left with her grief and younger son, Eli. Allura chose to see these tragedies from a positive point of view. She believed there must be something better ahead for her. “As we expand the heart we expand our capacity for love and growth.” While her son was ill, she began creating healing products, continued her practice of meditation, and became a full-time healer and coach. Today, Allura works with women with limiting beliefs to increase the life force energy, clarity, and power within. She believes every woman has something special within her. Allura has been a meditation teacher since the 70s, studying with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his trained teachers across the globe. Now a Master Healer, she works with Quantum Goddess energies, is certified in several modalities, and has created more than 150 Divine Healing products to help us through this intense transitional time.Allura is also a writer, editor, and speaker.Connect with Allura:Email: [email protected]: www.divinehealingenergies.comProgram: Ageless Goddess Coaching System