Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

Lois Wagh Aronstein has advocated for older people the majority of her career. First, when she initiated Project Reward through the Framingham Chamber of Commerce and then as the New England representative for AARP and in various capacities for 26 years."As a society we must understand the value of older people. We can design social structures in a way that plays down dependence and creates independence, but progress is slow..." - Lois Wagh AronsteinWhat she learned from her work is that older people want to keep making contributions and feel valued. They have assets that are underutilized. Lois shares many stories that illustrate the change that occurs, physically and mentally, when their passions find opportunities to be expressed. Ageism is a very real threat to our culture. We must create opportunities for older people to stay independent, rather than expecting dependence. We have to change that view of older persons wanting dependency, when what they really cherish is continuing to contribute. Connect with Lois:Email: [email protected]

For Phyllis Walden, life experiences offer abundant opportunities for learning. Reading The Second Sex near completion of her doctoral program in Philosophy in the late 1960s reinforced Phyllis’ feminist perspectives. As a mentor and teacher in innovative college programs, Phyllis brought her daily practice of journal writing to the classroom. After retirement at age 57 from college life, Phyllis trained as a volunteer docent at The Field Museum in Chicago where she became an unanticipated expert on dinosaurs. For over 30 years, Phyllis is Tia (aunt) to her dear friend’s adopted daughters from Peru and China. She treasures her experience as a mentoring figure in their daily lives and as a member of this multi-cultural family. Phyllis’ love of travel took a new turn during the pandemic. She now enjoys learning virtually about Broadway musicals and world religions along with immersive travel to places like Provence, France. Aging is another learning project; what do I need to know now? - Phyllis Walden PhDConnect with Phyllis:Email: [email protected]

At age 65, Jane Llewellyn (PHD, RN) decided to retire from her rewarding and demanding positions as Vice President of Nursing and as Associate Dean of the Nursing College at Rush University Medical Center. Why retire when she was on top of her game? Having survived aggressive breast cancer at age 43, with only a 20% chance to live beyond five years, Jane wanted to “experience more and enjoy life while I am able.” Thus began her new life as a world traveler--a temporary local--to exotic places in all seven continents. Jane says her favorite place is the next trip although she especially loved Antarctica and Africa. Jane’s continued involvement in health includes serving on the Board of a local hospital and on the Oak Park Action Team for End-of-Life Options Coalition--Compassion & Choices. She travels with and anticipates providing more care for her sister who has Alzheimer’s disease. Jane is writing her own extraordinary life story. Life is short, take the trip, buy the shoes.Contact Jane Llewellyn [email protected]

Ever since she came to the United States from Kobe, Japan, at 10, Lily Liu has devoted herself to living up to the role models she found in her grandparents, aunt and mother. Her grandmother raised her while her mother, widowed at 32, worked to support her children. Every Sunday was Mother’s Day because it was the only day her mother was off from her work. She came to spend quality time with Lily and her brothers and planned adventurous activities. Lily Liu took full advantage of the world her mother shared with her. Lily was a sought-after model as a teenager. Later, she gave her own three children the same opportunity when each was born during the years she owned her agency. Soon other mothers approached her to find modeling jobs for their children. Lily’s Talent Agency grew out of these early years. Lily shares how she became a model and how important it is to her to guide the talent she represents to excel, be professional, and pay it forward. Live your life to your fullest, but remember to take care of yourself. Don’t let others influence you to give up what you love. - Lily LiuAs president and founder of a 501(C)3 non-profit, “Mentoring Artists Chicago” since 2010, Lily helps young performing artists in the Chicagoland area with monetary as well as financial awards. She is also the founder, owner, and manager of Lidi Real Estate L.L.C. since 2000 and invests in properties to rent, as well as sell, at the most opportune time.CONNECT WITH LILY LIU:Website: https://lilystalent.comEmail: [email protected]

Martha Hansen knows what it’s like to age. What she didn’t know was that 7 Days at Sea would be the first play she wrote and self-produced. Or that it would hit, head-on, the sexuality of women at older ages, as well as bring her close up to illness, gayness, and the growing insignificance women experience as they age.Martha says a lot of the credit for mounting the play goes to Kristina McCloskey who helped her with development. And, Margaret Knapp, who helped with structure and production and ultimately became the director. She couldn’t believe the support the theater community heaped on her and said she could never have come to this day without them. Not bad for a woman whose entire career was in science! ”I’m a big storyteller. I was such a wild child that I have a lot of stories.”7 Days at Sea is enjoying a limited run in Chicago at the Edge Theater on Broadway. Connect with Martha:Email: [email protected]: https://www.lightandsoundproductions.org/

As a child of the 1960s drug culture, Stephanie Raffelock dropped out of high school. Her return to formal education in her mid-thirties opened the doorway into examining her own life and providing platforms for other women to tell the stories of their truths. In her recent book, Creatrix Rising--Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women--Stephanie changes the last stage of a woman’s life cycle from the dried-up Crone to the blossoming Creatrix. Aging, she believes, “is a remarkable and noble passage.” Through telling her own and others’ stories, Stephanie offers a reflective guide to embody and celebrate the Creatrix in each of us. I am replacing the archetype of the Crone with the Creatrix--women with resounding voices who inspire us with their personal stories.- Stephanie RaffleockConnect with [email protected]://www.byline-Stephanie.comBooks by StephanieCreatrix Rising--Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women (2021)A Delightful Little Book on Aging (2020)

Dr. Katharine Esty’s husband was seriously ill when she turned 80. It put her in a funk. Even hiking with her family, an ordinary event, sent her deeper into the doldrums. Katharine couldn’t make it to the top of a favorite hill during one hike and it (removed only) made her realize she couldn’t keep doing everything she did. She decided it was time for research. As a psychotherapist, Katharine knew what to do. She searched for a diverse group of people across the country in their 80s to interview: men and women, most were flourishing, primarily in a positive economic space; most lived independently, some in retirement communities and a few in nursing homes. She interviewed some of their children, too, to understand how family dynamics changed as elders aged.“I was paralyzed with fear about aging until I began to feel, 'I can do this.' My picture of aging was completely out of date." Dr. Katharine EstyThe conclusion was very clear. The picture she held of old age was completely out of date. Her image came from her grandparents’ lives and that provided a grim reality. Some 11 million people are in their 80s today and this group is growing faster than any other decade. Her research revealed that, in part, people are thriving due to modern medicine and can continue to enjoy active, pain-free lives as long as they are healthy. Surprisingly, they are much happier. They stay involved, continue to learn, and have a purpose. This happiness is psychological and stems from having dropped regrets and striving in the rat race, as well as feeling gratitude for just being alive.Connect with Katharine:Book: Eightysomethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected HappinessAvailable at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Eightysomethings-Transitions-Letting-Unexpected-Happiness/dp/151074312XSign up for her monthly newsletter: https://www.katharineesty.com/newsletter-subscriptions

Vicki Thomas, 76 is a life-long journalist, producer, writer and purpose-driven business woman.She started her career as a media writer for a multi-state trade association, worked for ABC Chicago and, in 1988, started her own company. At 75, she realized it was time to do more and, with partner, Joyce Cohen, they created My Future Purpose, which fulfills her desire to help individuals harness the power of purpose. She believes “doing what fulfills you makes your days fly by”. “Purpose gives us a sense of identity.” - Vicki ThomasVicki believes aging is an extraordinary process and wants to continue making a difference. She has no desire to retire and told us she intends to be carried out on a flip chart! And she knows about aging. Her mother recently turned 100. A very pleasant person, still, there is necessary care-giving that Vicki must provide.Connect with Vicki:Email: [email protected]: MyFuturePurpose.comAudioSeries: I Quit, Now What?

In recognition of National Poetry Month, we bring you Joyce Sutphen.Joyce Sutphen discusses her love of teaching and writing poetry, her attachment to rural life, and her decade-long experience living with Parkinson’s. Farm girl becomes college professor becomes Minnesota Poet Laureate. In her eight published collections of poetry, Joyce meets head on the challenges of living and dying, conveying beauty and peace, love and acceptance. Listen to Joyce’s reading of Crossroads about the second half of life, and How I’m Doing about her reckoning with Parkinson’s. Joyce has been heard to say, “I never want to know what the last line will be….”“Poetry is my way of finding out what I think.” – Joyce Sutphen, Ph.D.Take-Aways:Follow the thing you love the most, using the means you haveBody behaving badly—understand, accept, maintain itPoems tell us things in a language we didn’t know we spoke. They say things in ways we didn’t know we knew.Contact information:[email protected]’s latest publication:Sutphen, J. (2019). Carrying water to the field: New and selected poems. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press.Connect with Gail & Catherine:Facebook: facebook.com/womenover70Website:https://womenover70.comEmail: [email protected]

Joan Sotkin, 81, is the creator of 3 books and 5 audios and a financial coach whose approach is based on brain science. She is also the host of the podcast The Prosperity Show. “What you believe affects what happens in your life. Every decision has an emotional component.” - Joan SotkinIn 1976, while living in Venice, CA, Joan gave away all her possessions and wandered for four years learning how to always follow her inner voice. While staying with her parents at Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, during a deep meditation, she heard: “Go buy a pound of tumbled stones”. She soon built a successful business selling crystals and minerals nationwide. Unfortunately, she never learned how to manage cash flow, went bankrupt and dedicated herself to honing her business and financial skills. After suffering from a range of physical problems for many years, Joan studied and adopted a range of alternative techniques. She is now remarkably healthy and vibrant. Today, Joan is a successful money and mindset mentor who guides people to uncover the habitual thoughts, beliefs, and emotions that affect their business and financial outcomes. Connect with Joan:Email: [email protected]: https://ProsperityPlace.comPodcast: The Prosperity ShowBook: Build Your Money Muscles: Nine Simple Exercises for Improving Your Relationship with Money

Francine Russo grew up in New York - a lower middle class Jewish girl. Her parents felt strongly that her MRS. Degree was more important than getting her PH.D. She did marry, twice. Both husbands died and she was left to find Love After 50: the title of her latest book, which is a comprehensive and intimate guide to finding, keeping, and enjoying love after fifty, the best kind of love there is. Today she lives with Michael, her current partner of 6 ½ years. Francine has a PhD in English literature and is a successful journalist. In this episode, she offers many tips for aspiring magazine writers and is known for being ahead of the curve, finding trends to write about before others. At 75, Francine loves life and has many more articles in her to write. Watch for her next one in Scientific American, a story about a female archaeologist who learns about Viking women. If you like someone and don’t hear back, there’s no harm in following up yourself - Perseverance gets you what you want, in work and in dating. -Francine RussoConnect with Francine Russo:Email: [email protected]: https://francinerusso.com/Current Book: Love After 50: How to Find It, Enjoy It and Keep Ithttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=francine+russo+love+after+50&i=stripbooks&crid=U6TWK1J8OL7H&sprefix=Francine+Russo%2Cstripbooks%2C70&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_14

For Agnes Loughlin, a former nurse and nurse practitioner, the path to internal wellness begins with awareness. She emphasizes being aware of how we direct our attention and energy to our thoughts and emotions and encourages us to use these powerful tools to create our inner desires. Agnes describes how her own feelings of loneliness and disconnection for many years were masked by busyness, until she had an awakening experience at age 64. Always curious, Agnes is devoted to exploring multiple dimensions of spirituality and healing. She is certified in five modalities and as a life coach. As founder of Miracles in Wellness, Agnes speaks and conducts retreats and coaches individuals and groups to create and explore their own joyous realities. We create our own joy as we become more aware of feeling love, connection, and aliveness in our relationships. -Agnes LoughlinContact InformationAgnes Loughlin, Joy FacilitatorCell 773-791-9590Email: [email protected]: https://miraclesinwellness.comFree gift--Meditation to Embrace More Love https://mailchi.mp/f99c1fcdc0ef/meditation

Cindi Elstienfinds herself in a pretty satisfying stage of life. Having overcome both breast cancer and a recent debilitating bout of pneumonia, along with several other difficult issues, she weathered 3 weeks in the hospital and has come out stronger and feeling positive. Cindi believes your mental attitude is critical in the healing process. "I feel very young. I’m lucky to have found a passion I love." - Cindi Elstien With Covid waning, she is now ready to fully get back to the business of helping people. A long career working in human resources, and for various insurance brokers, led her to open her own company, People by CFE in 2020. Her company provides HR consulting. As a licensed property & casualty and life & health insurance agent, she is qualified to review and recommend group health benefit plans that enhance total rewards for employees within an organization. She has relationships with insurance brokers who collaborate with her to make recommendations for the client and place coverages with the insurance companies. Cindi Elstien is known for sharing friends and offering resources to mentor others needing help. Upbeat and generous, she easily interweaves professional and personal relationships. She believes companies must build a foundation of respect, cultural diversity, and inclusion. Connect with Cindi:Email: [email protected]: https://www.peoplebyCFE.com

“Brain-Boosting Nutrients are key to real-time, real-world approaches to maintaining and improving health.”Dr. Patricia Walicke is a 40 year veteran in neuroscience. She earned her MD from Harvard-MIT Health Science and Technology program and her PhD from the Harvard Dept. of Neuroscience. Her primary area was Alzheimer's disease research under Dr. Robert Katzman. In 1989 she started a clinical neurology practice where participation in clinical research sparked a new passion related to the development of medications. Subsequently, she joined the biotechnology industry working to develop medications in several different areas. An important author of book chapters and papers, Dr. Walicke also holds 3 patents. Since 2017, she has lived in Sedona AZ, and maintains a small wellness coaching practice. Feeling that drug development had become complex and expensive she turned her studies to inexpensive interventions such as food, nutrition, and natural supplements.Dr. Walicke is now on the scientific advisory board of Blue Lake, where she serves as an expert in beta-caryophyllene (BCP) and phosphatidylserine (PS) both found to support memory and brain function.She also carefully monitors studies around the world to capture trends in dementia disease and Alzheimer's. Dr. Walicke is a strong proponent of the 6 Pillars of Memory approach advocated by Blue Lake and the use of their memory chocolates.Connect with Dr. Patricia Walicke:Website: https://bluelakeminds.com

Janie Petkus is an internationally renowned interior designer. She works in all aspects of design including architectural plans, lighting and landscape. Her love for this work oozes out of her. Janie’s mother, and Doris Day were both role models and inspirations for her to pursue this career. She served as President of the Illinois Chapter of the International Society of Interior Designers (ISID) and, later, was Vice-president of finance for the International Society. She has participated in many designer showcases and housewalks over the years, all to benefit charities. Janie also had a show on HGTV for a number of years."Younger people keep your mind alive & alert." - Janie PetkusBut life has been tricky. Her beloved husband of 44 years, passed away suddenly of a rare disease at the age of 67. He was Janie’s closest friend for all those years and he deliberately retired young to become her partner in her business. The story of how she learned to be on her own, maintaining the business and her family, is one worth listening to. This is a woman who loves life, experimenting with new ways of being, and developing friendships with all ages.Connect with Janie:Email: [email protected]

Frances Fuller grew up in poverty. All of her books belonged to the state of Arkansas. Her mother had a 4th grade education. It is a wonder, then, that Frances became a writer and publisher and left a legacy in the form of an entire body of literature in Arabic, for Arabic children.From an early age, Frances was a devotee of the American columnist, Ernie Pyle. Committing to a lifetime of missionary work in Lebanon and Jordan combined her two loves: the Christian faith and journalism. Initially, she worked with groups of Americans as their press representative, and reported to America what was happening in Beirut. Soon, she purchased a small publishing house and produced children’s curricula. On one of her furloughs home, she determined to teach others how to write so that the curricula could be produced in Arabic by Arabs for the Muslim world. That was when decided she had to know what the process of writing was in order to teach Arabs how to write. She earned her Master’s degree in English and then returned. Author of 2 books, we spoke extensively with Frances about her recent memoir.Takeaways:Children thrive in uncertain circumstances when they believe in your passion for your work.Journalism is a tool with which to do many things.Life during wartime in Lebanon was chaotic, but manageable.Connect with Frances Fuller:Email: [email protected]: https://inborrowedhouseslebanon.comBlog: https://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com/blog/Books: In Borrowed Houses: A True Story of Love and Faith Amidst War in Lebanon Helping Yourself Grow Old: Things I Said to Myself When I Was Almost NinetyConnect with Gail & Catherine: Connect with Gail & Catherine: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimagined

Vinyls are Couch Covers: Improv & Long-Term Care Insurance!Quote: Life can be so hard when you believe Medicare insurance covers you and it does not.Gail Steingold is a go-getter whose life contains a lot of improvisation. From clinical speech pathology to long term care insurance, learning and laughing have been her constant companions. It makes sense when your work is serious and deals so much with feelings. When Gail transitioned to selling long-term care insurance she took up improv to satisfy her love of theater and performance. And, to reduce the frustration she feels because of the numerous misconceptions older people have about what Medicare covers. Gail will tell you the optimal age to get Long-Term Care insurance is when you are healthy and between 45-65. She is known for the depth of her knowledge of the everchanging LTC insurance marketplace. Her clients are the recipients of her experience, contacts and empathetic approach and commitment to designing a plan that meets their needs and challenges of the extended long term care event. CONNECT WITH GAIL:Company: Burling Insurance GroupWebsite: https://www.bigltc.com/Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-steingold-ms-ltcp-cltc-007b763/

For the last 32 years, Louise reinvented herself many times. After her husband died when she was 44, she realized she had never lived on her own. Two big questions arose: “Why am I here?”. “What am I supposed to do with my life?”. Through coursework, metaphysics and hypnotherapy, she slowly found her way. Always the extrovert, she learned to tone down her enthusiasm and take time to listen. Today she helps baby boomers who experience loss - of careers, of soulmates, and illness. Louise has had many titles in her life: Queen of Networking, Candy Lady, Lady Farmer. The one she cherishes most is Lady Lou, the Baby Boomer Babe. If she could, she would tell every younger person, “Be more awake - be aware of the possibilities.”The future is wide open. I’m excited there are still so many discoveries to make and so many new ways to help people. - Louise DeweyConnect with Louise:Email: [email protected]: 281-406-1092

Susan Stall, Ph.D. CREATIVE HOUSING OPTIONS for the MISSING MIDDLEIn 1985, sociologist and activist Dr. Susan Stall designed and taught a college course entitled Gender and the Built Environment: Redesigning the American Dream. Since then, her scholarship and activism have expanded to innovations in housing that center on affordability, design, and the capacity for community building. She highlights the ‘missing middle’--those who are neither poor nor rich-- whose housing needs tend to be ignored. Susan describes ‘age-friendly living’ options such as co-housing, cooperative housing, shared housing, and accessory dwelling units. [email protected]

Elaine Soloway writes “because it’s therapeutic for me and can be helpful to others.” Although her stories are deeply personal, Elaine considers the themes to be universal. She tackles, for example, ageism, care giving, joint replacement, pet friends; housing options; Jewishness; solo living. She is proud of her adult children’s production of the TV series, Transparent--a fictional portrayal based on their family life--for shining a realistic and positive light on transgender. Currently, Elaine is writing opinion pieces along with hosting two book groups: unrecognized history of racism and Jewish Women Writers. Foregoing embarrassment, Elaine is learning to swim, speak Spanish, and play piano--aspirations from long ago. And she proudly owns her age--83." None of my secrets are so different from anyone else’s." - Elaine Soloway Contact Information:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/elainesolowaywww.elainesoloway.com see Elaine’s writing--Books, available for purchase at Women & Children First Bookstore; and AmazonOp-edsBlogs

Jill Stewart honed her talents in public relations and writing for more than 20 years as founder and head of her own PR firm that was committed to “issues that matter.” She and her teams were there in the early stages of the AIDS epidemic and the end-of-life options movement. Most recently, Jill and her husband teamed up to produce a three-part series, Hidden History: Understanding the Origins of Racial Inequity. In her second career as communications faculty at DePaul University, Jill has approached teaching professional writing as an essential skill for communications students to level the playing field in their career advancement. Turning 70 has gotten Jill’s attention – to being even more intentional about using her time, energy and resources in ways that suit her best. "Throughout my communications career, I have been drawn to promoting social causes." - Jill O’Mahony StewartContact Information:Email: [email protected]: @jillostewart YouTube: Hidden History – Understanding the Origins of Racial Inequity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78PmjkSEpnw

Growing up with a schizophrenic mother, experiencing violence most of her young life, and surviving breast cancer all contribute to Lin’s mantra: Resilience | Decisiveness | Courage. 25 different careers, first corporate and then entrepreneurial, made Lin unstoppable. And, today, she continues to be a trailblazer. “People fight change. I am always willing to pivot and change.” - Lin O'NeillLin pays tribute to her grandmother, the wisest woman she knew in her life. This woman saved her and helped her build the skills necessary to overcome her upbringing. Listening to Lin’s story of personal and professional accomplishment is a testimonial to women’s journeys.CONNECT WITH LIN:Email: [email protected]: https://oneill.enterprises

Frances “Poppy” Northcutt gained national fame as the first and only woman in NASA’s mission control room working on the Apollo Program. Poppy and her team designed the Return-to-Earth trajectory that took the Apollo 8 crew around the Moon and back to Earth. She worked on missions 10-13 and helped retrieve the Apollo 13 astronauts after their mid-flight disaster. After cuts in the space program, Poppy continued her advocacy for women’s rights as a felony prosecutor in a domestic violence unit. Now in semi-retirement, Poppy’s advocacy is focused on reproductive justice, as the attorney for Jane’s Due Process, providing legal services to pregnant teen-age girls. She holds leadership positions with NOW, nationally and in the state of Texas.I’ve always been involved with something that has to do with an equal state for women. - Frances "Poppy" NorthcuttEmail: [email protected]: @poppy_northcutthttps://now.org/wp-content/poppy_northcutt.mp4 49 years after the passing of Roe-vs Wade.

Martha Holstein passed away on November 24, 2021. We are releasing her episode to honor Martha's lasting contributions to women aging.Dr. Holstein, a vocal advocate for women aging, speaks both to individuals and the larger politic. She urges women to own their age—if you are old, acknowledge it. Live by your norms, not those for people far younger: Intergenerational conversations are important. Dr. Holstein raises awareness of how differentials concerning race, class, religion, and sexual identity affect the problems we encounter and the choices available for how we age and live. Individual solutions are insufficient; political-systemic answers are needed to remedy ills around aging, especially aging women. If we don’t accept and respect our age, how will we identify those problems associated with being old and work toward resolving them?The personal is political–ageism and social disparities inhibit women from making meaningful choices of how to live well while aging. – Martha Holstein, Ph.D.Watch: Martha Holstein: Own Your AgeContact Information:[email protected], M. (2015). Women in Late Life: Critical Perspectives on Gender and Age. Rowman & Littlefield.Connect with Gail and Catherine:Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimaginedInstagram: WomenOver70Website:https://womenover70.comEmail: [email protected]: Women Over 70 – Aging ReimaginedListen on: Apple Play, Stitcher,Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow.

Talking with Bindy Bitterman is full of laughter and humor. She recently published her first children’s book, Skiddley, Diddley, Skat, a beautifully illustrated limerick and has returned to frequently writing limericks to the delight of all who know her. Even as a full time business woman, owning and running an antique store in Evanston IL, Bindy was successful because her customers knew they would feel better after shopping there. As she gets ready to turn 91, Bindy is grateful for finding a retirement community that adores her sense of play. Never bored, never at a lack for friendship and fun, she thrives on living, playing and creating. "I can’t figure out how I got to be 90. It seems my sense of humor and play have developed since I’ve retired and moved to a retirement community." - Bindy Bittermanhttps://video.wttw.com/video/childrens-author-bindy-bitterman-writing-limericks-aufkbw/Connect with Bindy:Website: BindysVerses.comEmail: [email protected]: Skiddley Diddley Skat - Children’s BookAvailable at (temporarily out of stock until early February, 2022) : Unabridged Book Store, Lake ViewBooked, EvanstonBook Stall, WinnetkaBook Cellar, ChicagoTown House Books, St. CharlesSee Bindy’s interview on Chicago TonightEmail: [email protected]

Sandra Whitmore, age 73 from Brevard NC, couldn’t wait to grow up so she could travel--to 33 countries, 17 Caribbean islands, and on 45 cruises (and still counting). Twenty years ago, she was new to community theatre, working her way from stage manager to lead roles. After Sandra was widowed at age 68, she pursued online dating and married date #17, Steve, in October 2021. This commitment required private lessons in ballroom dancing. Bored during the pandemic, Sandra pursued two ventures which required extensive new learning. She has written over 70 travel blogs under the moniker, Silver Voyager. In February 2021, she launched a YouTube channel, Sandy Over 70. “Getting in front of the camera is like being on stage and I love it!” Her next adventure is moving with Steve to a continuing care retirement community in North Carolina, after returning from their dance cruise. If I can imagine it, I can make it happen. - Sandra Whitmore Contact InformationEmail: [email protected]: YouTube.com/c/SandyOver70Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandyOver70

At every stage and turning point in her life, Marcia Whitney-Schenck asks herself, “What could I do? How might I think about this?” Each of her undertakings is underlined by a creative spirit that, she believes, is the essence of all humanity. Witty, direct and compelling, Marcia shares stories from her youth, a 9-month stay in Northern Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and life as she experiences it today.Writer and multimedia artist, Marcia began her career as a journalist and worked in public relations. She founded a magazine, Christianity & The Arts and was its editor for 8 years. All of her work calls upon the spiritual, including her novel, Tryptych. Today her art centers on finding the humanity in ancient figures and reinterpreting them visually to be accessible in our modern lives. Recently, Marcia has tiptoed into the subject of dementia through her art and has also created a philosophy of life she names H.E.A.L. "The written word and visual arts help us maintain our enthusiasm despite the pain of humanity." - Marcia Whitney-SchenckConnect with Marcia:Email: [email protected]: marciawhitney-schenck.comHer Book: Triptych - available on Amazon.

Ricki (mchealthy) McKenna is an entrepreneur, author and functional certified nutritionist who believes healthy eating is the key to a vibrant life. She started her business in Colorado by visiting farmers’ markets to buy ingredients for soup, building an inventory of 12 different ones and selling them to her nutrition clients and the public. Today, Ricki’s Kitchen-PAN-tuitive Cooking is a well-known show on YouTube (found at USA GLOBAL TV - THE UNITED KITCHENS) and she is a favorite on various TV programs. "I bring the spirit of life and healthy living into everything I do. Life is good." - Ricki MckennaContinuously reinventing herself, Ricki chefs for seniors, bikes, and loves to play pickleball. She believes aging is an attitude and works at helping other seniors eat their way to a healthy, energetic, joyful life. Laughter and fun are her middle names. Connect with Ricki:Email: [email protected]: https://rickiskitchen.netEBook: Ebook, “YES YOU CAN EAT WELL and EAT RIGHT and Find the Joy of Cooking." A quick Guide to Stretching your food dollar. Available at https://Patreon.com/rickimchealthy

Vanessa Kettler has danced all her life. She became an exercise coach 20 years ago and now focuses on older people so they, too, can experience a higher quality of life as they age. Feelings of fear, depression, anxiety and stress can be controlled through a continuing active lifestyle, including exercise, stretching and breathing.A specific regime is to move for 5 minutes every ½ hour and exercise daily for 30 minutes. Vanessa assures us that optimum muscle strength and bone health will be your reward.We do not have to accept the traditional, less active path older people think is inevitable. I still dance at 78 because I follow my own approach. After a severe fall causing a broken shoulder and wrist, I regained full motion in only 4 months.Connect with Vanessa:Website: https://building-better-balance.comDVDs available for purchase

Karen Bennett, from Baltimore MD, entered adulthood in the 1960s amongBeatniks and ‘starving’ artists. After leaving art studies and a first marriage, as a mother of three, Karen became a nurse practitioner working in correctionalinstitutions, including Riker’s Island, NYC jail. Her first fiction writing drew onher experience with women’s prisons, where “the extraordinary soon becomes the ordinary.” Since 2006, Karen’s life adventures and misadventures have nourished her fiction writing about an array of other topics--travel, choir, horses, ballet. Karen’s quest is to publish as many of her books as possible, while she is still on the “moving sidewalk of life.”Contact Information:Email: [email protected]: https://www.karensbennett.comPublications:Beautiful Horseflesh (2021). Apprentice House Press.The Farewell Tour (2019). Available on Amazon.

Sue Smith’s life has educated her as much as she educates others in her position as teacher, trainer and consultant, first for middle school children, and then 30 years for Keep America Beautiful. Sue recently retired from KAB. The love in her voice as she recounts the exciting career she had with them is reason enough to listen. For a woman who had a 50-year love affair with her husband, you wouldn’t detect that he recently died from the stories she shares. This is a person who, as she says, was lucky enough to find her passion and purpose living alongside a partner and children who supported her every step of the way. Sue’s positive attitude reigns supreme, allowing her to face new challenges and make an impact on everyone she serves. "What are the odds that a Michigan farm girl would visit Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand and teach litter prevention, improving recycling and beautification, overseas and throughout the United States?" - Sue SmithConnect with Sue:Email: [email protected]: 312-933-9709Keep America Beautiful: https://kab.org/

Ilene’s life is colorful and eventful. Overcoming her own fear and anger has allowed her to experience adventure in unique and satisfying ways. Author, social worker and host of Full Power Living for 12 years, she now lives primarily in an RV and continues to coach 1 day a week. In an earlier life she spent 5 years on a houseboat on Lake Union in Seattle. At 30, Ilene asked herself, “Is it possible to put anger under one’s own direction?” After two decades, she declared herself a self-proclaimed recovered angry person. Then she asked “Is it also possible to curtail fear in my life?” Indeed, it was. The focus of her career moved to working with people to understand and take control of their debilitating emotions. Isolating emotions in this way became a new field which emerged because emotions had not been investigated separately from diagnoses of mental illness.Connect with Ilene:Email: [email protected]: https://emotionalpro.com Book: Emotions in Motion: Mastering Life’s Built-in Navigation SystemBook: The Wellness Universe Guide to Complete Self-Care: 25 Tools for Stress Relief

Create diverse communities and better the lives of all people. This one sentence perfectly describes Margo Morris, 78. The communities themselves were diverse: corporate America, education, Lincoln Park Zoo, Garfield Park Conservatory and other non-profits, and in each one she worked to engage a broader swath of American life. Margo retired 13 years ago and returned to an earlier love: art, settling on figurative art in water media. Recently she became widowed and now plans to move to an independent senior community to start a new chapter in her life. Margo believed aging was just getting wrinkles. As she ages it's become clear that aging is so much more. She has a strong sense of humor and as you listen you will hear it in everything she says.Once I accepted that everyone has to die, I felt relieved. No one gets the privilege of not dying. - Margo MorrisConnect with Margo:Email: [email protected]

Dr. Jane Traies, from Brighton, England, has lived through defining moments of LGBTQ+ history. In her late-60s, Jane earned a Ph.D. in Gender Studies from the University of Sussex. For the past ten years, Jane has devoted her writing career to documenting oral and life history about the lives of older Lesbian women. Jane describes herself as “an old historian [who] is putting my generation back on the map” through speaking and writing. She is an advocate for the Lesbian Immigrant Support Group, a grassroots organization that offers support to lesbian and bi women seeking asylum from the violent homophobia of their home countries. Jane’s latest book, Free To Be Me, features experiences of immigrant women in the UK. Contact Information Email: [email protected] by Jane Traies Free To Be Me (2021) Now You See Me: Lesbian Life Stories (2018) The Lives of Older Lesbians: Sexuality, Identity, and the Life Course (2016)

How do you describe a woman, in a few short paragraphs, whose passions are so numerous, her curiosity endless, and her life filled with joy in all she pursues? This is Dr. Linda Seger. Never satisfied to only do, Linda seeks the best teachers in each of her endeavors. She has learned not to put age in the equation or live her life with regrets. She says: When you feel the need to do something, do it right away. Flow with it. Find joy in it.Linda looks at social justice from the female point of view. She studied at the seminary to see if creativity and spirituality are connected and took apart words in the bible to answer the question: “What do these words mean for us as artists?” You become memorable because you applaud everybody and find joy in the mere doing of all you decide to pursue. - Dr. Linda SegerConnect With Linda:Email: [email protected]: https://lindaseger.comHer Books on Screenwriting - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=linda+seger+making+a+good+script+great&crid=1YLCBQ7C1A5M1&sprefix=Linda+Seger%2Caps%2C167&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_11Most Recent Book: God’s Part in our Art: Making Friends With the Creative Spirithttps://www.amazon.com/Gods-Part-Our-Art-Creative/dp/1737798204/ref=sr_1_18?crid=1YLCBQ7C1A5M1&keywords=linda+seger+making+a+good+script+great&qid=1637346417&sprefix=Linda+Seger%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-18

Childhood friends, Iris Goldfein and Monica Israel, are both highly accomplished professionals in male saturated fields, who approached retirement with apprehension and excitement. They co-founded DefyingGravity.life in 2018 with the mission to “cultivate new norms and create new pathways through engaging conversation and expert advice” regarding the transition to life after a career. Iris and Monica discuss their own retirement challenges and encourage women to defy the weights of both societal and personal judgments. They want women to be the writers of their own stories and to have purpose however the individual defines it. DefyingGravity.life offers its members webinars, a Resource Library, Newsletters and an online forum for ongoing conversations. "Our vision for DefyingGravity.life is to solve a feminist crisis." - Monica and IrisContact information:www.DefyingGravity.lifeirisgoldfein@[email protected]

Many know Karen Grassle as ‘Ma’ on the hit TV series, Little House on the Prairie. She is also an actress of stage and film and now a published author with her memoir (Nov 2021) Bright Lights, Prairie Dust. Meet the real Karen Grassle who talks openly about her struggles with alcoholism, depression, and lack of self-worth during her journeys as a dedicated artist. Karen is also known for her advocacy on behalf of equality for women. She was an early advocate for the ERA, co-wrote and starred in the TV film, Battered, and influenced Congress to fund shelters for women victims of domestic violence. Karen lives peacefully in the hills of San Francisco Bay where she takes pleasure in writing and connecting with family and friends. Book/memoir: Grassle, K. (2021, Nov). Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss and Love from Little House’s MaWebsite: www.karengrassle.netFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.grassleInstagram: @karen_grasslePublicist: [email protected]

Within us all are stories to tell that are relevant and essential. Dara Marks, international script consultant, lecturer, author and workshop presenter has always been fascinated by story. Her newest book and seminar, Inside Story, takes you into the depths of the writing process and teaches you how to build a great screenplay from the inside out. She guides us to see ourselves in the archetypal patterns of mythological characters, leading to a deeper understanding of how we grow as we move through our own stories. “If you want to create character in your stories, look at how your own character was created. How you faced the challenges in your life has created the true quality of your character.” - Dara MarksConnect with Dara:Email: [email protected]: https://DaraMarks.comBook: Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational ArcNew Seminar: Inside Story:

Pamela Tate, age 75, did not foresee becoming a full-time volunteer leaderof climate reality actions at grass roots and national levels. As a member of the Climate RealityProject-Chicago Metro Chapter, Pam co-chairs the Task Force on Electrifying Public Transit. Intwo years, they engineered a commitment from the Pace suburban bus system to change fromdiesel-powered buses to an all-electric bus fleet by 2040. At the federal level, Pam is on theRegenerative Agriculture Team which targets working with legislators and agriculturalcommittees in the House and Senate to include RA incentives in the 2023 Farm Bill. She chairsthe Federal Advocacy Team to retain climate provisions in the Build Back Better Act. Pam is anelected member of the Board of Directors of American Forests, a national non-profit thatpromotes trees as one of the best technologies for pulling down carbon from the atmosphere.Pam’s advocacy includes many more teams and pilot projects in her quest for a healthierplanet.Pam presents to college classes, companies, and community groups on the climate crisis andeffective strategies for change. Contact Pam at: [email protected]"My climate action efforts range from electrification of public transit toregenerative agriculture to forestation in urban areas." - Pamela TateConnect with Gail & Catherine:Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimaginedInstagram: WomenOver70Website:https://womenover70.comEmail: [email protected]: Women Over 70 – Aging ReimaginedListen on: Apple Play, Stitcher,Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow.

Ina Pinkney contracted polio 11 years before there was a vaccine, at the early age of 18 months. Marginalized, ostracized and ignored as a child she felt she received a 2nd chance at life when the surgery she had at 6 proved successful. Expecting to die, instead she flourished, and has lived an extraordinary life as culinary artist, baker, breakfast restaurateur, cookbook publisher and world renowned speaker about global influences on breakfast. Experiencing mind-numbing exhaustion and muscle weakness 40 years after the onset of the disease led Ina to find answers. She attended a conference to learn more and was surprised to find a huge community that was experiencing what is now known as Post-Polio Syndrome. As only Ina does, she dove in and became an activist. She is an international spokesperson for Rotary International PolioPlus Foundation and speaks about the late effects of polio and the need for continued vaccinations.“It takes less energy to be courageous than it does to be afraid.”This Episode was Sponsored by The Insurance PeopleIt is Medicare Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment is October 15th - December 7th. Do you need help enrolling? Do you want to shop out your Medicare Supplement, Part D Medication or Medicare Advantage Plan? The Insurance People located here in Illinois specializes in helping folks shop and select the best Medicare option for their needs. You can find them at insuranceppl.com or 773-697-8082.Connect with Ina:Email: [email protected]: INA’S KITCHEN: Memories and Recipes from the Breakfast Queenhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=INA%E2%80%99S+KITCHEN%3A+Memories+and+Recipes+from+the+Breakfast+Queen&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_nossDocumentary: Breakfast at Ina’s (on Amazon)

Pauline Coffman’s early involvement in youth ministry evolved into justice ministry during her 20+ years as an advocate for peace and justice in the Middle East. Her first visit to Lebanon was as a student in 1959; her next visit to countries in the Middle East was in 1999 as a peace advocate. During the intervening years, Pauline learned to “see both sides of the story” through talking with immigrant rights activist Cesar Chavez in 1962; serving churches, with her husband, in neighborhoods in two states that were undergoing major racial changes in the 1960-70s; feminizing language in hymns and scriptures while Dean of Students at a theological seminary; and creating hospitable environments for adult learners in higher education institutions. Then, as now, Pauline is unafraid to “buck the prevailing world view.” At age 82, she is rejuvenated by working with committed colleagues to build networks between Israel and Palestine.During my decades of advocating for peace and justice in the Middle East, I have learned to hear both sides of the story.

Octogenarian Pat Anderson, 89, retired from her lifelong career as a textile studio craftsman - spinning, knitting, sewing and weaving. Leaving her daughter in charge of the studio, she embarked on an unusual retirement project: creating and providing hand-knit prosthetics for mastectomy breast cancer survivors.  As a lifelong textile studio craftsman,  Pat was well versed in the legal, professional, and ethical challenges this project presented. Once everything was in place she filed a copyright. We could see the excitement in her when she proclaimed, “To date, 1500 pairs have been lovingly gifted, from one survivor to another.” 60% of all recipients offer to join the project as co-sponsors with donations. Each pair of Busters that goes out is paid for. At the end of the year there is a surplus which Pat generously donates to the Breast Cancer Support Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital in California. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women Over 70 has committed to donating 20% of all contributions we receive to the Busters Project during the month of October. Contributions are the only form of funding for this important project. “We are blessed to know that we are really creating something that has a positive impact on someone else’s life.” Connect with Pat:Email: [email protected]

Karla Klinger, age 87, has been a poet much of her life. However, until now, most of her work has been shared privately. As an early podcast guest, Karla read This Particular Dot in Time. This penetrating poem is the last entry in her first published poetry collection, Life Unfolding (2021). Karla unravels her ‘emotional truths’ throughout girlhood to old age. Interspersed between sections of poems are photos of Karla’s pottery, which she continues to create and teach to others. In her episode, Karla shares highlights from her research on the experiences of vital women in their 70s. She reflects on her own experience of aging into her 80s. Karla expresses appreciation for often being able to act through choice than obligation; for example, moving with her husband from a home and community of 54 years to a hospitable independent living facility in Portland, OR. I am a museum of myriad images, a spectrum of emotions, cares, and commitments. Connect with Karla:[email protected] Unfolding: Poems by Karla Klinger. Zion Publishing, 2021. Available only on-line in paperback from Amazon and in hard cover from Barnes and Noble. Or in quantity, at discount, contact the author at: [email protected]

Marva has worked in nursing, real estate, business brokerage and more. Married in 1969 at 22, she raised 3 children, has 9 grandchildren, all of whom live nearby, and believes satisfaction comes from within. For the last 18 years, Marva has satisfied her desire to be closer to her Methodist faith. As Episcopal Secretary for the Bishop in the Northern Conference, she manages 385 churches, the Bishop’s calendar and a myriad of other administrative duties. Planning to work 2-3 more years, she suspects she won’t completely retire and plans to return to real estate. As a younger person she did not enjoy much independence and encourages women to be more independent and learn to make decisions on their own. I rarely sit still. I have to be in some type of helping the situation. - Marva AndrewsConnect with Marva:Email: [email protected] with Gail & Catherine:Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimaginedInstagram: WomenOver70Website: https://womenover70.comEmail: [email protected]: Women Over 70 – Aging ReimaginedListen on: Apple Podcast, Itunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, and IHeartRadioPlease rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow.

Ellen’s mother died at 101. Like her mother, Ellen’s current life path is filled with enthusiasm and enrichment. She is fueled by the strong community that is the Docent Volunteers of the Chicago Architecture Center. Even before becoming a docent (certified in 25 different tours), Ellen pursued one path after another that led to her interests in historic preservation and the rich heritage that is Chicagoland architecture. For many years she worked for the Metropolitan Planning Council, wrote 4 books and volunteered for the Glencoe Historical Society, thrilled to be part of the group that saved a Frank Lloyd Wright home that is now turning into a museum in Glencoe.-“As my mother said, You are not even old until you are at least 85.” - Ellen ShubartConnect with Ellen:Email: [email protected]: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ellen+shubart&i=stripbooks&crid=2DQB30RJ7GBC1&sprefix=Ellen+Shubar%2Caps%2C174&ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_12_ts-doa-pGlencoe Illinois: Images of AmericaTaylor Street: Chicago’s Little Italy What’s With Chicago?: The Quirks, Personality and Charm of the Windy CityChicago: An Illustrated Timeline 

Donna Lawrence was happily living life until the unspeakable death of her son, at age 20, from a brain seizure. Through the Main Street Entrepreneurs, Matters Cafe and Laughter Yoga, Donna discovered ‘it’s an amazing thing when you realize you can go on’. The color pink helped boost her spirits and, today, she surrounds herself with pink through painting, clothing, decor, and helping others find their pink passion. Painting is therapeutic - it puts you in a zone and improves your focus. Through her company, ItPinkPainting, she guides others to create custom-designed items that are painted pink.“I don’t think much about aging; I think of it as maturity. Stay connected with positive people and you can find the good in anything.” - Donna Lawrence Connect with Donna:Email: [email protected]

Worldwide traveler and former teacher at Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Art, Ingrid is an established and well-known artist, specializing in watermedia. From florals to petroglyphs, pictographs and hand-made paper making influenced by her travels, Ingrid is inspired by how light and shadow create unusual perspectives. “My experiences are what help me see and paint what I do today.” - Ingrid Albrecht Still learning today, she says “Covid taught me to be an artist!” From her studio she offers ‘Open Studio’ workshops, keeps reimagining art and loves sharing the wealth of information she has amassed with the world. Connect with Ingrid: Website: https://ingridsartoriginals.com Email: [email protected] Connect with Gail & Catherine: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimagined Instagram: WomenOver70 Website:https://womenover70.com Email: [email protected] Show: Women Over 70 – Aging Reimagined Listen on: Apple Podcast, Itunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher,and IHeartRadio Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow.

Marilou Eldred, Ph.D., was called to serve others as a young girl. She devoted ten years as a nun with a teaching order and, upon leaving the convent, embarked on her journey as an educator. Marilou has held top level leadership positions in higher education for women, including President of Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN. After retirement, she was called to philanthropy, serving as President of Catholic Community Foundation in St. Paul, MN. Now in her second retirement, Marilou volunteers with the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis, where she is a strategic planning consultant with parishes in Minnesota. Volunteering is a way of life for Marilou which includes a host of civic, charitable and church work, usually in leadership roles. She and her husband, a former priest, have been married for 47 years and have a daughter in her early 40s. Marilou is writing a memoir about her remarkable life’s passages. "I strive to empower others to be and do their best." - Marilou Eldred, Ph.D. Contact Information: [email protected]

Many people fear change. Not Leni! She has traveled the world, moved from city to country and back again, many times. Leni began her career as a teacher and discovered that teaching is about influencing changing behavior. So is sales. Joining Xerox for its training and development, she worked there for 3 years. Then, on to insurance, real estate, selling her beaded jewelry, and recently, joining ASP purification Systems. Leni is fearless and looks forward to being 80 and 95. Her best relationship was at 72, so what can be next? “Health is a priority for me. Change is what keeps me going.” - Leni Garfunkel

Shirley Holm, age 70, has learned to adjust and thrive to life’s unexpected turns using three anchors: family and friends; education; and active engagement in what matters. After experiencing devasting deaths of her mother, best friend, and husband, Shirley supported her young family teaching in the St. Paul public schools. “Teaching, next to parenting, is the best thing I’ve done in my life.” Although a “Lifelong Minnesotan,” Shirley’s sabbatical in California turned into permanent residency in San Francisco. Shirley’s approach to life-as-adventure includes the quest to “experience” all U.S. national parks. For any life quest: “Why not? What are the true barriers to doing something that you want?” There are no guarantees; we’d better have our priorities and support systems in place. - Shirley Holm Contact information: [email protected] Connect with Gail and Catherine: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimagined Instagram: WomenOver70 Website:https://womenover70.com Email: [email protected] Show: Women Over 70 – Aging Reimagined Listen on: Apple Podcast, Itunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher,and IHeartRadio Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow.