Shows
Twisting the PlotMystic YearningsOn this week’s podcast we discuss Cecilia’s plot twisting interest in the mystics. 2023-10-1743 minTwisting the PlotStories SharedWe’re back. And still twisting our plots. Listen to our new podcast where we discuss Hannah’s latest creative project.2023-10-0336 min
Twisting the PlotPainPain. Do we ever really talk about it? Nobody wants to have it. Everybody wants it to go away. But what do we do when pain visits? And visit it will, to each of us. Listen to our new podcast where we consider Hannah’s recent pain and its reverberation on her life.2023-05-3030 minTwisting the PlotAging Queer/Queering Age, conversations with Ryan Backer, part 2Join us for part two of our conversation with Ryan Backer. Ryan Backer is an age activist striving to undo ageism within an intersectional context. They identify as a white, non-binary ‘old person in training’ and they have an undergraduate degree in Gerontology. They are a co-founder of OldSchool.info, a clearinghouse of anti-ageism resources and an international hub for age activism.2023-05-0929 minTwisting the PlotAging Queer/Queering Age, conversations with Ryan BackerRyan Backer is an age activist striving to undo ageism within an intersectional context. They identify as a white, non-binary ‘old person in training’ and they have an undergraduate degree in Gerontology. They are a co-founder of OldSchool.info, a clearinghouse of anti-ageism resources and an international hub for age activism. Join us for a two-part conversation with Ryan. We talk about aging and the problem with binaries. We imagine how queering age could open possibilities for us all. Together we contemplate being old persons in training.2023-04-2548 minTwisting the PlotWriting as a Tool for Transformation, with Laura DavisThis week we bring back one of our most popular podcast guests, Laura Davis, to talk about the power of writing our stories. Laura, who wrote the award-winning memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars, tells us how she writes to gain perspective and make sense of her evolving life. To our delight, she shares her process in teaching students who take her classes and join her writing retreats. We love this conversation. We, like Laura Davis, believe in writing as a tool for self-awareness and transformation. But she explains it so well. Take a listen. ...2023-04-0447 minTwisting the PlotWhat About Money is Important to You? A Conversation with Laura RotterWe did not go into this conversation easily. Talking about money isn’t something we’re comfortable with. The question, what about money is important to you, is a hard one for us to answer. We don’t want to think about it. In fact, the culture of consumption, accumulation, marketing and money-making turns us off, provokes waves of nausea. And even brings up shame. But this conversation was different. Laura Rotter brought a plot twist. It was pleasant, open, hopeful and even spiritual. Take a listen, if you can, we promise you will have fun. Laur...2023-03-0756 minTwisting the PlotWhat Matters?Hannah and Cecilia sat down to chat recently, and found the conversation moving in an unexpected direction. We started asking, what matters now at this stage in our lives? Up until recently, our lives have been driven by external markers, jobs, degrees, partners and successes. But now there seems to be some buried impulse, more internal, emerging and wanting to take the lead. Listen to this week’s podcast as we try to figure out how to listen to ourselves in different ways and forage new paths to live by.2023-01-2424 minTwisting the PlotRest and DigestSleep is not a dead space, but a doorway to a different kind of consciousness – one that is reflective and restorative, full of tangential thought and unexpected insights. In winter, we are invited into a particular mode of sleep: not a regimented eight hours, but a slow, ambulatory process in which waking thoughts merge with dreams, and space is made in the blackest hours to repair the fragmented narratives of our days. - Katherine May from Wintering It’s here, the pull for the long winter’s nap. Time to slow down, time to revie...2022-12-1328 minTwisting the PlotLife Story Work with Dr. Shoshi KeisariWe all tell stories about our lives, some we make up, and some we inherit. Through stories, we figure out who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed. Stories grow as we grow. Our stories about ourselves as individuals and as a collective, are not static things that once set, never evolve. In fact, most of us encounter crossroads or thresholds of change where the past, present and the future become unclear. It is during these transitional times that our past stories must be retold, roles transformed, and f...2022-11-1549 minTwisting the PlotIntergenerational LivingThis week Twisting the Plot Podcast offers Part II of our conversation with the GenZer, Fran Dintino. In many ways, this conversation is just getting started. There is so much to explore, so many diverse lenses through which to look at one’s life experience. Intergenerational conversations lead to intergenerational living that is rich and expanding. We stand on the backs of each other, one generation to the next, forever connected, always in flux. Our shared narratives twist over and over so that we can evolve, and evolve more. Listen as Boom...2022-11-0138 minTwisting the PlotOK BOOMER/OMG GEN ZWe are years and years apart. There are decades between us, the Boomers and the Gen Zer’s. Our world views are different. Our narratives do not line up. Can we get along? Are we able to listen to each other? We use different language, we have varied values, we embody diverse identities. We look different, think different and feel different. Is it possible to understand each other? We’re not sure. But we’ll try. On this weeks’ podcast we talk with 21-year-old Fra...2022-10-1843 minTwisting the PlotAs the Spirit TwistsWe often talk about how our minds and bodies are changing as we age. But what about our spirit? Does that evolve too? And what do we mean when we speak about the spirit? To us, spirit means that which is felt but not seen. Perspective, inner voice, energetic connection with others, gratitude, love and a mindful appreciation for the complexity of life, is what we call – spirit. To us, this experience of spirit seems to be growing as we age. We are not alone. Erik Erikson and his wife Joan Eri...2022-10-0422 minTwisting the PlotEvolving… AgainWell, here we are. Another Fall. Another starting over. Whether it’s school, work, or perspective, we (Hannah and Cecilia) find that as the seasons change, so do we. It’s supposed to be that way, right? Nothing stays the same. Yet, as we change, we also preserve the multitudes of who we’ve been in the past. It’s quite the collection. So many years, so many selves. Writer Anne Lamotte says, “We contain all the ages we have ever been.” We are like living nesting dolls. Each doll holding a piece of our pe...2022-09-2031 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Elderhood, Part II with Tracey Gendron, PhDWe couldn’t get enough. We wanted to learn more about elderhood from our podcast guest Dr. Tracey Gendron, so we asked her back for part II. Dr. Gendron, author of Ageism Unmasked and Chair of the Gerontology Department at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond is back this week to take a deep dive into two relevant social constructs: caregiving and retirement. We talk about the history of caregiving, giving and getting it, and discuss how to give care more value and importance. We tackle the concept of retirement. Is it a sta...2022-09-0627 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Ageism Unmasked, a conversation with Tracey Gendron, PhDHere’s a twist for you. We are getting tired of promoting “successful aging” and no longer want to buy into the social construct that defines aging and being old as a problem to avoid. We don’t know about you, but we are getting old… and loving it. But not because we are staying young, or not facing losses. We love it not despite of the challenges, but because of them. We love it because we are growing and changing. We love it because there is an opportunity to create yet another purposeful stage of life. 2022-08-2356 minTwisting the PlotSumer Replay - Time TwistingIt often feels like time is a conveyer belt, ushering us forward year after year. It moves faster and faster, sometimes at a pace that makes it hard to glance back and savor what’s been. Sometimes a lifetime moves too quickly for us to be intentional about where we are going. We just keep moving. On this week’s Twisting the Plot Podcast, Hannah and Cecilia take a pause and consider time from a different direction, vertically instead of horizontally. In this way, time becomes more than a runaway train. Time, and our lives, can b...2022-08-0925 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - What Do You Spin About? Advice from the Anxiety SistersAbbe Greenberg and Maggie Sarachek have been friends since college. Throughout this time, they shared many things, even anxiety. For years they supported each other, through phobias, panic attacks and catastrophizing mindsets. As time went on, it became clear that they weren’t alone. In fact, they found that many women wanted to talk about anxiety, its perils, nuances, and the many ways to cope. So they decided to start a sisterhood, an anxiety sisterhood. In 2017 they launched their online community which now includes more than 200,000 people worldwide. Together, Abbe and Maggie (or Abs and Mags) host a m...2022-07-2657 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - The Courage to Tell One’s Story, Laura DavisIn 1988 Laura Davis coauthored The Courage to Heal, a global phenomenon. It is the go-to, permission giving, truth telling, and healing guide for victims of sexual abuse. Her most recent book, The Burning Light of Two stars: A Mother Daughter Story is a prequel and a sequel to The Courage to Heal. It chronicles the estrangement, reconciliation and care-giving relationship between Laura and her mother. And it is about so much more. The Burning Light of Two Stars is plot twist after plot twist, as Laura and her mother evolve, change, stay the same, and re...2022-07-1251 minTwisting the PlotConsider the Hag, with Marianne FranzeseConsider the Hag. Will You? Most of us cringe at the mention of her. We would just as soon keep her banished to the deep woods. Who can blame us? She is rot, she is ugly, she does not follow our rules. She has one foot on the other side; death. The Hag embodies suffering, a weathering by life; she stands for oldness. She is not who we want to become. But…Marianne Franzese sees things differently. She challenges us to re-consider. Maria...2022-06-2853 minTwisting the PlotElderhood, Part II with Tracey Gendron, PhDWe couldn’t get enough. We wanted to learn more about elderhood from our podcast guest Dr. Tracey Gendron, so we asked her back for part II. Dr. Gendron, author of Ageism Unmasked and Chair of the Gerontology Department at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond is back this week to take a deep dive into two relevant social constructs: caregiving and retirement. We talk about the history of caregiving, giving and getting it, and discuss how to give care more value and importance. We tackle the concept of retirement. Is it a sta...2022-06-1427 minTwisting the PlotAgeism Unmasked, a conversation with Tracey Gendron, PhDHere’s a twist for you. We are getting tired of promoting “successful aging” and no longer want to buy into the social construct that defines aging and being old as a problem to avoid. We don’t know about you, but we are getting old… and loving it. But not because we are staying young, or not facing losses. We love it not despite of the challenges, but because of them. We love it because we are growing and changing. We love it because there is an opportunity to create yet another purposeful stage of life. 2022-05-3156 minTwisting the PlotThe Nourishing Path, with Nadya TrytanDo you move through life on a nourishing path, or do you find yourself fighting your way along a thorny harsh path? After years of thorns, Nadya Trytan now chooses a nourishing path. She’d love to help you find yours. Nadya uses a technique called guided visualization to help you relax, imagine, listen to yourself and make discoveries that connect you with your own innate wisdom. Her online program, Nourishing Path Project, offers imaginary paths for us to learn and grow by. On this Twisting the Plot Podcast, Nadya takes us thr...2022-05-1752 minTwisting the PlotMe and Margaret Fuller, a conversation with Maria DintinoSitting myself down and writing Margaret from the heart became a story about me too. Why me? Leave me out of this, I thought. But no, it was not to be. I was not allowed to write her story without writing my own because I had unburied two women. - From The Light Above by Maria Dintino Even though she discovered a dog-eared, post-it-filled copy of Women in the Nineteenth Century on her bookshelf, Maria Dintino hadn’t remembered much about Margaret Fuller from graduate school. She was certainly captured by Margaret’s New England peers Henry David...2022-04-2657 minTwisting the PlotWhat Do You Spin About? Advice from the Anxiety SistersAbbe Greenberg and Maggie Sarachek have been friends since college. Throughout this time, they shared many things, even anxiety. For years they supported each other, through phobias, panic attacks and catastrophizing mindsets. As time went on, it became clear that they weren’t alone. In fact, they found that many women wanted to talk about anxiety, its perils, nuances, and the many ways to cope. So they decided to start a sisterhood, an anxiety sisterhood. In 2017 they launched their online community which now includes more than 200,000 people worldwide. Together, Abbe and Maggie (or Abs and Mags) host a m...2022-04-1257 minTwisting the PlotArtful Contemplation, with Dr. Maureen CareyIn her early twenties, Maureen Carey was called to the religious life. Her interest in the anti-war movement and civil disobedience led her to the sisterhood and years of service to others. During this time she also got her Ph.D. in social work, taught at Molloy College, and co-authored books. Twenty-five years later, Dr. Carey twisted her plot and left the religious life. More recently, she retired from teaching. She’s had a new calling, art as a means for spiritual contemplation. Maureen has developed a method for using watercolors, journaling, doodling and reflection as...2022-03-291h 02Twisting the PlotFor All You Heartbroken Artists, a Conversation with Nina HartA little improv… What is creativity? Go. (frozen pause) Ummm. It’s green? Yes, and…It crawls. Yes, and… it morphs like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Yes, and… it can be venomous, like a snake. On this week’s podcast, guest Nina Hart challenges our notions about what is art and who gets to do it. She tells us about her journey to heal what she calls her “heartbroken artist.” Nina shares how she finally freed herself from criticism, judgment and creative blocks that silenced and shamed her. She offers all of us a portal into our ow...2022-03-1553 minTwisting the PlotTime TwistingIt often feels like time is a conveyer belt, ushering us forward year after year. It moves faster and faster, sometimes at a pace that makes it hard to glance back and savor what’s been. Sometimes a lifetime moves too quickly for us to be intentional about where we are going. We just keep moving. On this week’s Twisting the Plot Podcast, Hannah and Cecilia take a pause and consider time from a different direction, vertically instead of horizontally. In this way, time becomes more than a runaway train. Time, and our lives, can b...2022-03-0125 minTwisting the PlotThe Courage to Tell One’s Story, Laura DavisIn 1988 Laura Davis coauthored The Courage to Heal, a global phenomenon. It is the go-to, permission giving, truth telling, and healing guide for victims of sexual abuse. Her most recent book, The Burning Light of Two stars: A Mother Daughter Story is a prequel and a sequel to The Courage to Heal. It chronicles the estrangement, reconciliation and care-giving relationship between Laura and her mother. And it is about so much more. The Burning Light of Two Stars is plot twist after plot twist, as Laura and her mother evolve, change, stay the same, and re...2022-02-1551 minTwisting the PlotKeep Blooming, with Una BettiAll the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today. - Chinese Proverb Una Betti has worked as a nurse and project manager for many years. At the same time, she’s nurtured a passion for gardening, and grew a deep appreciation for the value of intentional spaces. Now, at 62, Una has decided it’s time to twist the hobby into aprofession. Her new business, Mindful Garden Designs, was created for all of us who want to embrace our spaces. Una Betti wants to show us how to design gardens that are uniqu...2022-02-0128 minTwisting the PlotStepping into 2022 with the Joyful Indrani GoradiaHere it is, another year. Are you ready? We are. We look forward to our new group of twelve women, and the collaboration for the next twelve months. We want this to be a year when we embrace our lives even more fully, feel our feelings, and navigate with grace the twists. Another year to celebrate our aging, honor our past, and look to the future with curiosity and wonder. How do we start? We start with a conversation with the indomitable Indrani Goradia. O...2022-01-1151 minTwisting the PlotReplay - Creatrix Rising, a conversation with Stephanie RaffelockWhat is a creatrix, you might ask? According to Stephanie Raffelock the word creatrix is defined as “a woman who makes or creates things.” Stephanie suggests that creatrix may be a good replacement for crone when it comes to selecting an archetype for women to age into. We love the idea of a woman continuing to “make things” beyond the biological clock of fertility. Stephanie Raffelock herself is a creatrix. She is a storyteller and writer who published two books after she was 50. Creatrix Rising is her latest, and we were thrilled to speak wi...2022-01-0442 minTwisting the PlotReplay - Homecoming, a conversation with Dr. Thema Here’s a question to ponder. “Can you love yourself in a hostile world?” This is the question Dr. Thema asks on this week’s podcast. “We have to shift the individual, but we also have to shift the world in which the individual is living, so that we’re not constantly having to push back against these messages but that we can change the larger story, that we’re all worthy and deserving.” Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis is a psychologist, a professor at Pepperdine University, a minister, a dancer, and a slam poet. She is the...2021-12-2852 minTwisting the PlotReplay - Laugh Review: Stand-Up Comedy with Mary Clohan and the Penn South TroupeWho knew getting older could be so funny? In the 1960’s gerontologist Robert Butler told us that thinking back over our lives is therapeutic. He termed his method of reminiscence, “Life Review”. Through a life review, experiences from the past, particularly the unresolved conflicts, can be resolved and reintegrated into our life experience. There is also substantial research pointing to the benefits of humor. Humor has been found to lower blood pressure, increase pain threshold, and improve the immune system. Humor reduces cortisol and increases endorphins in our systems. It also helps us gain perspective, sharpe...2021-12-211h 09Twisting the PlotDr. Ellen Albertson, The Midlife WhispererDr. Ellen Albertson calls herself the Midlife Whisperer. But on this week’s Twisting the Plot Podcast, she speaks up loud and clear. Dr. Albertson has “more degrees than a thermometer” and she’s confronted major plot twists in life. For years she followed all the rules and roadmaps. She had a successful career, got married, raised children, worked hard to stay thin and attractive and did a lot of people pleasing. But after life threw her a few curve balls, she devised a set of new rules to follow. These new rules have to do...2021-12-1451 minTwisting the Plot50 Shades of Over 50, with KwaviKwavi Agbeyegbe has a mission. She wants to make women over 50 aware of their potential and value. As a life coach, she started by asking 50 women who were over 50, from all over the world, to describe themselves. Over 80% of the women she talked to reported feeling invisible. The women don’t see themselves represented in the media. They feel erased, insignificant, and not a vital to the cultural conversation. Kwavi is out to change this narrative. She is beginning by asking questions. 50 questions. We love this. Questions and con...2021-12-0742 minTwisting the PlotA Memoir to Grow By, 12 in 12 Stories with Ronda TamerlaneAt 75 years of age, with life of plot twists that include physical, emotional and relational challenges, Ronda Tamerlane has decided it’s time to tell her story. Ronda’s 12 in 12 2021 project is to write her personal memoir. Listen to this week’s Twisting the Plot Podcast as Ronda talks with us about how writing her memoir is giving the opportunity to take on new perspectives, let go of resentments, deepen her connection to the many roles she has played, and the many lives she has led. As a retired psychotherapist, Ronda hopes that by t...2021-11-3043 minTwisting the PlotTwelve in Twelve: An Artful ProcessWe are so often bombarded with negative messages about aging that it makes us not want to do it. We don’t want to get older. But what if aging could be a process that’s creative, intuitive and deepening? What if getting older was a creative act? On this week’s Twisting the Plot Podcast, we speak with three 12 in 12 group members about how their experience in the year-long program has given them opportunities for flow, nourishment, and connection. Maddi Cheers, Nadya Trytan and Aleka Artemis Munroe share about their growth and learning t...2021-11-1654 minTwisting the PlotHomecoming, a conversation with Dr. ThemaHere’s a question to ponder. “Can you love yourself in a hostile world?” This is the question Dr. Thema asks on this week’s podcast. “We have to shift the individual, but we also have to shift the world in which the individual is living, so that we’re not constantly having to push back against these messages but that we can change the larger story, that we’re all worthy and deserving.” Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis is a psychologist, a professor at Pepperdine University, a minister, a dancer, and a slam poet. She is the...2021-11-0952 minTwisting the Plot12 in 12 Stories: The Many Sides of Christine Kilavos and Lillian CataldiWho am I anyway? Twisting the Plot’s Twelve in Twelve Program asks each participant to bring all of herself to the year-long experience. Together as a group, we invite the shadow self, the wise ones, role models, inner guides, mentors, avatars, nemeses …. all are welcome. By the time one gets to our age there are a multitude of selves to encounter. Somedays our virtual 12-member group feels like a filled stadium. Listen to this week’s Twisting the Plot Podcast where two 12 in 12 members, Christine Kilavos and Lilly Cataldi, talk about their many s...2021-11-0256 minTwisting the PlotResilience, with Aleka Artemis MunroeWhat does it mean to be resilient? How does one overcome tough challenges and yet continue to inspire? On today’s podcast, we hear from Aleka Artemis Munroe, who lives with serious physical disabilites. A member of Twelve in Twelve 2021, Aleka discusses her struggles with her body, and shares the tools she uses to get through that include mindfulness, acceptance, creativity, and an incredible sense of humor. She is the creator of Compasspoints: maxims for clearing the chaos in our cages, and is finishing her beautiful book, I Am Water, an alleg...2021-10-2656 minTwisting the PlotCreatrix Rising, a conversation with Stephanie RaffelockWhat is a creatrix, you might ask? According to Stephanie Raffelock the word creatrix is defined as “a woman who makes or creates things.” Stephanie suggests that creatrix may be a good replacement for crone when it comes to selecting an archetype for women to age into. We love the idea of a woman continuing to “make things” beyond the biological clock of fertility. Stephanie Raffelock herself is a creatrix. She is a storyteller and writer who published two books after she was 50. Creatrix Rising is her latest, and we were thrilled to speak with...2021-10-1942 minTwisting the Plot12 in 12 Stories with Una Betti, Lori McAndrew and Ronda TamerlanePicture this: you’ve come to a crossroads. It’s time for a change. But, which way do you go? Where do you start? How do you start? In our 12 in 12 program, twelve women meet for twelve months, with each woman starting out in a new direction. Each creates a project of her own design and begins work on it, supported by the group. They decide where to start, and what comes next. How? By constructing individual roadmaps to follow for the year. Each woman’s roadmap envisions a path as well as the inev...2021-10-1238 minTwisting the PlotWhy Wait? 12 in 12 Stories with Lori McAndrewLori McAndrew has been waiting for a long time. But now she waits no more. At 57 she is pursuing her doctoral degree which she plans to finish when she is 60. Listen as Lori shares her journey to this point, the struggles, the obstacles, the triumphs and… the waiting… Lori, a Twisting the Plot 12 in 12 group member, discusses her project: a dissertation on ageism. There’s a lot to talk about, and it’s all worth the wait. Bio Lori McAndrew is a Licensed Mental Healt...2021-10-0544 minTwisting the PlotPsychodrama with Heidi Landis, Part 2: The MethodLast week we talked. This week we act. After last week’s episode, we asked ourselves, could we do this thing called psychodrama over Zoom for a podcast? We decided to give it a try. Listen as Cecilia participates in a psychodrama facilitated by Heidi Landis and supported by Greta Schnee, Marianne Franzese and Cara Connors. Together we explore the technique called future projection. Yes, future. Even at our age. Take a listen for something entirely different. Heidi is Licensed Creative Arts therapist (LCAT) Registered Drama The...2021-09-2849 minTwisting the PlotPsychodrama with Heidi Landis, Part 1: The TheoryPsychodrama, “the psyche in action,” is an experiential form of psychotherapy where our inner and outer impulses can be explored through enactment. Heidi Landis is a trainer, educator, and practitioner of psychodrama. On this Twisting the Plot Podcast she explains that psychodrama is a kind of group therapy utilizing dramatic techniques and helps individuals understand themselves, communicate better, and imagine how else things could be. Heidi tells us that psychodrama gives us the chance to warm up to our lives, be spontaneous and take new action. With a good warm up, we can be more...2021-09-2138 minTwisting the Plot12 in 12 StoriesWe are entering the last third of our 12 in 12 2021 year. Twelve women, working together for twelve months, each woman creating a project of their own choice and design. With each other, we are learning, growing, sharing and creating. Together, we are facing our pasts, embracing obstacles and envisioning new futures. We are supporting each other. We are challenging each other. We are doing more than getting through, we are doing more than managing change, we are the change makers. And, we are having fun. If you want to know more about how all t...2021-09-141h 00Twisting the PlotSummer Replay - Storywoods, with Rebecca DudleyLife is filled with many twists and turns, but eventually, if you follow your heart, you find yourself exactly where you are meant to be. This week we spoke with someone who is exactly where she is meant to be; Rebecca Dudley, Children’s Book Author, Architect, and Activist. When Rebecca and her husband moved to Chicago from Seattle, they missed going to see the North West Ballet production of The Nutcracker with costumes by the late Maurice Sendak. As a gift for her husband, Rebecca decided to re-enact the ballet using stuffed animals. Inspired by the exp...2021-09-0740 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - How to be an Adult, with Julie Lythcott-HaimsEvery now and then, Cecilia and Hannah wonder, “are we there, have we made it, can we finally call ourselves adults?” It just seems like we’ve been waiting for decades for that certificate of achievement, or that special feeling that lets us know we’ve made the grade. Yes, we are in our sixties and still asking ourselves, What does it mean to be an adult? So this week on our Twisting the Plot Podcast we talk with Julie Lythcott-Haims, who wrote Your Turn: How To Be An Adult. A former corporate lawyer...2021-08-3148 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Late Bloomer Living, with Yvonne MarcheseHow do you bloom? Are you an annual or a perennial? Do you bloom late? Are you still sprouting? Or are you waiting, held inside some bulb that is planted deep within the earth, for your time? Today we talk to Yvonne Marchese, host of Late Bloomer Living Podcast. Yvonne believes midlife can be a time to step into a new experience, learn new things and, well, bloom again. She calls herself a “serial pivoter.” She is an actress, storyteller, photographer, wife and mother. We are so happy to connect with Yvon...2021-08-2436 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Sex and the Plot Twist with Cindy Gallop, founder of MakeLoveNotPornGet ready for something different. Cindy Gallop doesn’t do status quo. After years as a leader and change-maker in the advertising business she has moved on to new projects. At 61, Cindy shares that her life course is guided by a series of serendipitous accidents. Her current accidental mission is to help us all learn about, explore and talk about…sex. MakeLoveNotPorn aims to help us all uncover our sexual potential. Cindy explains that there are two coincidental issues preventing us from knowing who we can be as sexual beings. First, we l...2021-08-1751 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Sovereign: the sensual body with photographer Jocelyn LeeWhen we think about women's invisibility over 50, we rarely consider women’s bodies in their purest form, naked. We have been taught to look away with shame, fear, even disgust. This week, we spoke with photographer Jocelyn Lee about her new book Sovereign. Throughout her career, Jocelyn has been photographing women in the nude, documenting how the body and our sense of ourselves changes throughout our lives. Sovereign is a collection of portraits depicting women age 55 and up. These women, captured naked in natural settings, reveal the beauty, sensuality, and strength of older women made visible. L...2021-08-1045 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Make Me Rain, A Conversation with Poet Nikki GiovanniNikki Giovanni has a gift for making the everyday extraordinary. She is an American poet, commentator, activist and educator. She has published multiple poetry anthologies, children’s books and spoken word recordings. In the 1960’s she was dubbed “the poet of the black revolution.” She was an activist in the civil rights movement and an inspiration for the Black Arts movement. She has won 7 NAACP Image awards, the Langston Hughes Medal, and was the first recipient of the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award. In the 1970’s Nikki produced and made several appearances on the television...2021-08-0358 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Power of the Paintbrush. Rebecca Moses.When the pandemic hit New York City, internationally acclaimed designer Rebecca Moses turned to her art for comfort, imagination, and connection. She put a post on Instagram asking women to write about their pandemic experience, letters from the heart. In return, she would paint their portrait. And the “Stay Home Sisterhood” was born. To date, over 410 women from all over the world have shared their stories and seen themselves through Rebecca’s eyes, a remarkable gift. Rebecca also volunteered to paint the portraits of 50 nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital in honor of “The Year of The Nurse.”...2021-07-2754 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Field of Dreams with Kathy LockhardtOver fifty, we often feel the desire for something more, something new. But to get there, we have to clear out the weeds and thorn bushes of old beliefs, expectations, and fears so that we can make space for new possibilities. This week we spoke with Kathy Lockhardt, founder of Flourish Farms, who did just that, both physically and metaphorically. At 59, Kathy had a dream to reclaim a long-overgrown field on the family farm and turn it into a truck garden. Her family was doubtful that it could be done, but Kathy persisted. With the help of h...2021-07-2053 minTwisting the PlotLaugh Review: Stand-Up Comedy with Mary Clohan and the Penn South TroupeWho knew getting older could be so funny? In the 1960’s gerontologist Robert Butler told us that thinking back over our lives is therapeutic. He termed his method of reminiscence, “Life Review”. Through a life review, experiences from the past, particularly the unresolved conflicts, can be resolved and reintegrated into our life experience. There is also substantial research pointing to the benefits of humor. Humor has been found to lower blood pressure, increase pain threshold, and improve the immune system. Humor reduces cortisol and increases endorphins in our systems. It also helps us gain perspective, sharpen...2021-07-061h 09Twisting the PlotHow to be an Adult, with Julie Lythcott-HaimsEvery now and then, Cecilia and Hannah wonder, “are we there, have we made it, can we finally call ourselves adults?” It just seems like we’ve been waiting for decades for that certificate of achievement, or that special feeling that lets us know we’ve made the grade. Yes, we are in our sixties and still asking ourselves, What does it mean to be an adult? So this week on our Twisting the Plot Podcast we talk with Julie Lythcott-Haims, who wrote Your Turn: How To Be An Adult. A former corporate lawyer, Ju...2021-06-2248 minTwisting the PlotReconnecting With That Good Old Friend: Donna DeSanto and Unconditional LoveSometimes, the best plot twists come from reaching back into our pasts. Over 40 years ago, Hannah and Cecilia lived in New York City, in apartments on the same floor, just down the hall from each other. Our 73rd Street apartments were tiny and close. We could even hear each other’s conversations through an airshaft. Hannah lived with our dear friend Sza, and Ceil lived with our old friend Donna. It's been decades, but we decided to reconnect with Donna. Take a listen to this week’s podcast where we reminisce and catch-up on mar...2021-06-1552 minTwisting the PlotSex and the Plot Twist with Cindy Gallop, founder of MakeLoveNotPornGet ready for something different. Cindy Gallop doesn’t do status quo. After years as a leader and change-maker in the advertising business she has moved on to new projects. At 61, Cindy shares that her life course is guided by a series of serendipitous accidents. Her current accidental mission is to help us all learn about, explore and talk about…sex. MakeLoveNotPorn aims to help us all uncover our sexual potential. Cindy explains that there are two coincidental issues preventing us from knowing who we can be as sexual beings. First, we liv...2021-06-0851 minTwisting the PlotLet’s ReflectIn today’s podcast Hannah and Cecilia take time to reflect on what we have learned from recent podcast guests. One of the joys of our Twisting the Plot podcast is getting to meet some truly incredible people. Whether they are caregivers, educators, artists, mothers, aunts, friends…they all have a story to tell. What we had not anticipated is how listening to these stories would affect us. This week we thought we would talk about a few recent conversations that have done just that. First, we discuss how Maria Hodermarska, a profe...2021-05-2520 minTwisting the PlotMake Me Rain, A Conversation with Poet Nikki GiovanniNikki Giovanni has a gift for making the everyday extraordinary. She is an American poet, commentator, activist and educator. She has published multiple poetry anthologies, children’s books and spoken word recordings. In the 1960’s she was dubbed “the poet of the black revolution.” She was an activist in the civil rights movement and an inspiration for the Black Arts movement. She has won 7 NAACP Image awards, the Langston Hughes Medal, and was the first recipient of the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award. In the 1970’s Nikki produced and made several appearances on the television p...2021-05-1857 minTwisting the PlotThe Responsive Body, healing together with Erin Pace and Sally WolfWhen media industry executive Sally Wolf found herself navigating life with metastatic breast cancer, she had her dance teacher, Erin Pace, as a support. Erin Pace calls herself a conscious embodiment guide. She developed “The Responsive Body Practice” to help women realign mind-body-spirt for self-healing. With Erin’s intuitive guidance, Sally found connection with, and love for her changing body. With Erin as a healing partner, Sally has been able to dance throughout her cancer journey. Since this podcast follows Mothers’ Day, we contemplate the many ways that women nurture and grow other women. It is our plea...2021-05-111h 04Twisting the PlotMother’s Day with Nancy Dintino (Cecilia’s Mom)It’s not everyone who gets to be 63 and celebrate Mother’s Day with their Mom. For many of us Mother’s Day does not bring this kind of joy. Some of us may have lost our Moms and the day brings sadness. Some may have complicated relationships with our mothers. But Cecilia’s Mom, Nancy Dintino, is going strong and growing still. We interviewed Nancy while Cecilia was home for a visit. A mother of six, grandmother of 13, and babysitter or stand-in mother to countless others, Nancy says it’s all about love. She tells us h...2021-05-0438 minTwisting the PlotWise Mind Living with Dr. Erin OlivoWhen we think about personal growth and change, it can feel daunting, even scary. Some will tell you that real change is impossible. But we know otherwise. With our experience as psychotherapists working with women of all ages in many situations, we can say with confidence that change and growth are possible. This week, we decided to pull back the curtain and talk about the work we love with our friend and colleague, Erin Olivo. Erin is an author and clinical psychologist with more than 22 years of experience treating patients dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression. She has ju...2021-04-2742 minTwisting the PlotWhat’s Up? Inquiring about each otherHi all. Hannah and Cecilia of Twisting the Plot here. Like many, we have spent the last year focused on the demands of family, work, health, and safety. We’ve also spent a lot of time gathering the stories of our beloved clients and Plot Twisters. We realize that we seldom make the space to connect with ourselves. And one thing’s for sure, we haven’t made the time to check in with each other. Over 40 years of friendship and there is still more to learn about each other. So, this week we thought we woul...2021-04-2039 minTwisting the PlotGrowing Up with Maria HodermarskaThis April, we have been focused on spring, the season of awakening, growing, and blooming. It is the time of year when animals awake, the sun warms, and the earth seems to come alive. But growing isn’t just for plants. We grow children, relationships, careers, and even therapists. This week we speak with Maria Hodermarska, Clinical Associate Professor at NYU. Maria has been growing drama therapists for over 25 years. Using theater, creativity, psychological theory, literature, and a wealth of experience and insight, Maria has nurtured a devoted community of creative arts therapists. Maria speaks wi...2021-04-1340 minTwisting the PlotPower of the Paintbrush. Rebecca Moses.When the pandemic hit New York City, internationally acclaimed designer Rebecca Moses turned to her art for comfort, imagination, and connection. She put a post on Instagram asking women to write about their pandemic experience, letters from the heart. In return, she would paint their portrait. And the “Stay Home Sisterhood” was born. To date, over 410 women from all over the world have shared their stories and seen themselves through Rebecca’s eyes, a remarkable gift. Rebecca also volunteered to paint the portraits of 50 nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital in honor of “The Year of The Nurse.”...2021-04-0654 minTwisting the PlotField of Dreams with Kathy LockhardtOver fifty, we often feel the desire for something more, something new. But to get there, we have to clear out the weeds and thorn bushes of old beliefs, expectations, and fears so that we can make space for new possibilities. This week we spoke with Kathy Lockhardt, founder of Flourish Farms, who did just that, both physically and metaphorically. At 59, Kathy had a dream to reclaim a long-overgrown field on the family farm and turn it into a truck garden. Her family was doubtful that it could be done, but Kathy persisted. With the help of h...2021-03-3053 minTwisting the PlotFrom History to Today – Learning from Women Who Came Before UsIs there a woman from the past who you admire? What if you spent some time studying her life? What if you became versed in her story, thoughts and beliefs? What if you embodied her? This week, in honor of Women’s History Month, we asked the women in our Plot Twisters Facebook group to share the names and stories of women they admire. We tell you about these women, a remarkable group of artists, activists, scientists, caregivers and visionaries. Then we speak with Maria Dintino, whose new book, A Light Above (to be released late...2021-03-2344 minTwisting the PlotSovereign: the sensual body with photographer Jocelyn LeeWhen we think about women's invisibility over 50, we rarely consider women’s bodies in their purest form, naked. We have been taught to look away with shame, fear, even disgust. This week, we spoke with photographer Jocelyn Lee about her new book Sovereign. Throughout her career, Jocelyn has been photographing women in the nude, documenting how the body and our sense of ourselves changes throughout our lives. Sovereign is a collection of portraits depicting women age 55 and up. These women, captured naked in natural settings, reveal the beauty, sensuality, and strength of older women made visible. L...2021-03-0245 minTwisting the PlotStorywoods, with Rebecca DudleyLife is filled with many twists and turns, but eventually, if you follow your heart, you find yourself exactly where you are meant to be. This week we spoke with someone who is exactly where she is meant to be; Rebecca Dudley, Children’s Book Author, Architect, and Activist. When Rebecca and her husband moved to Chicago from Seattle, they missed going to see the North West Ballet production of The Nutcracker with costumes by the late Maurice Sendak. As a gift for her husband, Rebecca decided to re-enact the ballet using stuffed animals. Inspired by the exp...2021-02-2340 minTwisting the PlotMembranes of Hope, with Theresa C. DintinoThe soul is not something outside of us. We carry it within and it is ours to interact with and shape and dance with. - Theresa C. Dintino in Membranes of Hope Theresa Dintino has made several plot twists throughout her adult years. A writer, she studied goddess culture and wrote books about matriarchal societies. Eventually she was drawn to study her own ancestral lineage and wrote a book about her great-grandmother who was an Italian strega. Her journey to connect with her Strega ancestry led her to an introduction to the West Afric...2021-02-1654 minTwisting the PlotMidlife-A-Go-Go with Valerie AlbardaValerie Albarda suggests we enjoy the midlife and skip the crisis. She has a podcast she calls Midlife-A-Go-Go, filled with interviews, stories and testaments of mid-lifers exploring their worlds, enjoying their lives and making changes that matter to us all. Valerie recently gave a TEDxCharlotte talk titled The Invisibility Trifecta: Coming Out of the Shadows. In this talk, she discusses midlife invisibility and the intersection with aging, sexism and racism. She asks us to consider how the experience of being a black woman in midlife is different and challenging: I want people to be more aware...2021-02-0943 minTwisting the PlotLate Bloomer Living, with Yvonne MarcheseHow do you bloom? Are you an annual or a perennial? Do you bloom late? Are you still sprouting? Or are you waiting, held inside some bulb that is planted deep within the earth, for your time? Today we talk to Yvonne Marchese, host of Late Bloomer Living Podcast. Yvonne believes midlife can be a time to step into a new experience, learn new things and, well, bloom again. She calls herself a “serial pivoter.” She is an actress, storyteller, photographer, wife and mother. We are so happy to connect with Yvonne. ...2021-02-0236 minTwisting the PlotSaturn Returns, a conversation with Diane MahiquesSometimes, it’s important to seek the bigger picture in order to understand ourselves. In times like these, we need to go beyond our noses to find solace and wisdom in larger patterns. But how do we do this? One way is to start by looking at life from a decidedly different perspective. Today, we talk with Dianna Mahiques, a Western Astrologer and certified BTB Feng Shui Master. She offers us some alternative ways to know and experience ourselves in this multidimensional world. Since she was a child, Diana was attracted to the metaphysical aspects of our...2021-01-2643 minTwisting the PlotWho am I Anyway? A conversation with Kathleen Shea KirsteinWho we are and what we know about ourselves can turn on a dime. On today’s Twisting the Plot Podcast, we talk to Kathleen Shea Kirstein who shares a personal plot twist. At the age of 49, Kathleen makes a startling discovery. She learns, in accidental and unexpected fashion, that she was not actually born to her beloved parents. She was adopted. This changes everything. Now, at 63, Kathleen continues to discover more of who she really is, and was, all along. What is it like to realize the stor...2021-01-1254 minTwisting the PlotMoving into 2021Cecilia loves a good New Year’s resolution or twenty. She starts her new year off with several notebooks and charts, making vows and setting plans. Hannah’s given up resolutions since most of hers have historically been linked to self-improvement with a negative underlying theme of “not good enough.” But she still expects to grow, and she does have goals. What’s the difference between a resolution and a goal? Resolution has a firmness, an all or nothing, do or don’t do, a command. A goal suggests a process, a direction with intention...2021-01-0523 minTwisting the Plot2020 TwistsHannah and Cecilia discuss the year and the feelings they shared in this twisting 2020.2020-12-2917 minTwisting the PlotSharing Wisdom with guest Chip ConleyIf you want to be inspired and get some clarity about what it can mean to age wisely, this is a must-listen podcast. Chip Conley, the strategic inspiration behind Airbnb, is also a best-selling author with a new and compelling message. According to Chip, the first half of our lives is all about accumulating. We accumulate identities, knowledge and experience. But in order to move fully into our next passage, we have to stop accumulating, and instead, edit. We must let go of baggage and make room for what’s next. And what’s next acco...2020-12-2247 minTwisting the Plot12 in 12 SoupIn these closing comments from three group members, Robin Snow shares her metaphors and reminds us that change is an art. Jane Emmer is making paper plate awards that speak to each participant’s role in supporting the group. Laura Preiser describes the Stone Soup ritual where everyone brings their own ingredients to the pot. It’s been a year to remember, so much silliness, so many heartaches, lots of outrage and lasting creativity and growth. We are beyond grateful. Three more days for you to apply. ...2020-12-1538 minTwisting the PlotFacing Obstacles, with 12 and 12 members Emilie Ward and Deb YeagerEmilie Ward and Deb Yeager joined 12 in 12 2020 with specific missions and intentions. Then, 2020 had its way with them. Emilie suffered for weeks with severe symptoms of the coronavirus. Deb, a disaster expert, left her cozy home in New Hampshire to work in Brooklyn at the height of the coronavirus crisis in New York City. Next, both women faced job loss and financial challenges. And eventually, both women became caretakers of their mothers. It’s a lot. A lot of obstacles. A lot of pain. Nevertheless, they pe...2020-12-0850 minTwisting the PlotChildfree, a conversation with filmmaker Therese ShechterA couple of years ago Therese Shechter posted a survey on Facebook that started with the sentence: Tell me about your experience not having children. It went viral. Women wanted their stories to be heard. On today’s podcast, we talk to Therese Shechter, award winning filmmaker and founder of the feminist production company, Trixie Films. Therese, 58 years-old, knew about her preference to live childfree since she was a young girl. It wasn’t easy to follow her heart. In fact, for years she assumed that she didn’t have this choice. It’...2020-12-0147 minTwisting the PlotComing Back to Ourselves, 12 in 12 with Lauri Landry and Stephanie OmensJoin us for another conversation with two of our 12 in 12 members. Lauri Landry and Stephanie Omens talk about finding their voice and speaking their truth. They discuss the cost of holding secrets and share the shame and confusion that secrets breed. Lauri shares tells us how her 12 in 12 project transformed over the course of the year, starting as a verbatim theatre project about resilience and turning into a performance piece giving voice to stories that included her own. Stephanie discusses her experience in completing the draft of her book, No White Lies...2020-11-2446 minTwisting the PlotOptions, David Stewart, founder of AGEISTWe were thrilled to sit down virtually with David Stewart, founder of AGEIST. AGEIST is a platform that offers research, advise and inspiration for an over-50 lifestyle that is cutting edge and emerging. David Stewart likes to say that AGEIST offers options. We loved this conversation with David. He's smart, fun and engaging. And yes, he’s a man. He has something to say about that too. Take a listen to this stimulating discussion and learn what David Stewart has to say about aging in today’s culture. You should lis...2020-11-1746 minTwisting the PlotThought Leaders 12 in 12 change makers, Dr. Leslie M. Faerstein and La-Verna FountainDr. Leslie M. Faerstein and La-Verna Fountain didn’t get the memo that it’s time to go invisible. Instead, they decided that being a woman in her 60’s and 70’s means it’s time to speak up, have influence and inspire change. They call themselves thought leaders. And we would agree. Leslie works intergenerationally to help women take charge of their body image and regain embodied power. La-Verna listens deeply to our social woes and provides a much-needed bridge between what we each know and what we have to learn. They are writers, spea...2020-11-1046 minTwisting the PlotTwister Tips: Getting ThroughWe are, like you, struggling with anticipation, fear and uncertainty today. We are also psychotherapists and have some tips to help us all get through. Take a listen to today’s podcast. We hope it helps. And then join our Facebook group, Plot Twisters, and share with us how you will survive this twister day.2020-11-0323 minTwisting the PlotAge Boldly, a conversation with Jeannie Ralston, Co-founder and CEO of Next TribeA couple of years ago we attended a Next Tribe Event in NYC. The title for the evening was “Screw Invisibility,” and it was a gathering for women over 40. When we entered the loft space we were blown away. The room was packed. Filled. Brimming with women in their 40’s, 50’s 60’s and 70’s. The energy was electric. The messages from the speakers were inspiring and motivating. It was then that we realized Jeannie Ralston was on to something. Jeannie co-founded Next Tribe as a digital magazine. As a former journalist and editor, she knew how to get good writer...2020-10-2740 minTwisting the PlotTransformation is Hard Work, 12 in 12 update with Marianne Franzese and Maria DintinoMarianne Franzese and Maria Dintino, members of Twisting the Plot’s 12 in 12 2020, believe in the magic of transformation. They also know that change is hard work. Despite plot twists that have come their way, both Marianne and Maria are committed to the evolution of their future selves. Now they are ready to guide the rest of us along our way. Maria will be teaching us how to reawaken our creativity. Marianne will invite us to speak from the heart. They have each elevated our 12 in 12 group all year. Listen to this week’s Twisting t...2020-10-2040 minTwisting the PlotCourageous Spaces, a conversation with Noreen SumpterWe invited Noreen Sumpter to join our Facebook group, Plot Twisters, a gathering for women over 50 to share, discuss and diversify the trajectory for all of us. Before she joined, Noreen reached out with a question about plot twisters. Are there black, brown and women of color represented in this group? Reflexively, our response was, “of course.” But then, we stepped back and got curious. How many of our members in Twisting the Plot are women of color? Have we done enough to ensure that all women’s voices and faces are represented? We had to check our white pr...2020-10-1342 minTwisting the PlotTwelve in Twelve Updates: Composting Midlife, a conversation with Sydney Price and Laura DintinoSydney Price and Laura Dintino joined our 12 in 12 program in January 2020 with one major thing in common: they were both still in the middle of big time plot twists. Each of them was navigating a messy divorce. Both were trying to find ways to work and support themselves and their children on their own. Laura needed to sell her house and move. Sydney was closing down her business and trying to figure out her next career pursuit. Mostly, they were both struggling with the big identity question: Who am I now? And the uncertainty question: What do I do next?...2020-10-0632 minTwisting the PlotOld School, twisting with Mary Ellen MacriMary Ellen (ME) Macri may be a sixty-year old math teacher, but she’s not old school. ME talks about how the twist of Covid 19 may have changed everything, yet didn’t change enough. Perhaps the opportunity to rethink and explore new ways of learning is hindered by adherence to tradition in education. It’s possible we may have missed an opportunity to better prepare children for our ever-changing world. ME admits that all change brings the possibility of failure. And most of us are unwilling to fail. Still, failure is a part of learning and a necessary i...2020-09-2946 minTwisting the PlotMagnificent Midlife, with Rachel LankesterLondon’s Rachel Lankester calls herself the Magnificent Midlife Mentor. She is the founder of The Magnificent Midlife Movement, an online hub and global community celebrating and inspiring women over 40 to live the lives that they really want. This week we bring Rachel back to the Twisting the Plot Podcast to talk about her program, Who Am I Now? Rachel shares her thoughts about what women in midlife need and who we can become as we age. Do you know what you want? Do you know how to figure that out? Rachel has some tips that jus...2020-09-2244 minTwisting the PlotElastic WomenIn 2018, Britain’s Wunderman Thompson Innovation Group put forth the notion of The Elastic Generation. Elastic Generation women are living according to how they feel rather than how they ought, whether that means divorcing or dating, travelling or starting a business. As decision-makers, entrepreneurs, caregivers and creators, Elastic Generation women continue to push the boundaries and upend the status quo. Ever the generation of rebels, they are reinventing life past fifty, as they forge the path others will follow. We at Twisting The Plot are in full agreement. But… what do you do when...2020-09-1518 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - What Can Only You Do? Finding purpose with Indrani GoradiaThis week we sat down with a true powerhouse, Indrani Goradia. Indrani is a philanthropist and advocate for women’s health and empowerment. As a victim of severe childhood abuse, she createdIndrani’s Light Foundation, an organization committed to caring for survivors of domestic violence. Her mission is to stop generational abuse and empower women to change their lives. With her warmth, humor and honesty, Indrani shares with us how she felt lost and unsure of her purpose in midlife when she was asked a simple question: “What can only you do?” This question and her answer startedher on a path that in...2020-09-0849 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Consciousness Raising, a conversation with Ashton ApplewhiteThis week, we had the distinct pleasure to speak with Ashton Applewhite, activist and author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. In this podcast, we engage in aconsciousness raising conversation about aging and the other implicit biases in our culture. Applewhite asserts: “When we work against any form of oppression, we chip away at the fear and ignorance that underlie them all.” Please join us. Listen to this inspirational activist on the front lines of changing how we look at aging. It’s a conversation that’s right for today, a plot twist for all of us. Thischairrocks.com2020-09-0137 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - The New Face of Menopause, with Jeanne Chung, Founder and CEO of Mighty MenopauseToday we take a break from coronavirus and talk instead about: Menopause. Jeanne Chung’s career experience has ranged from engineer to investment banker to yoga instructor and wellness entrepreneur. But when she encountered a painful side effect of menopause, she discovered that the medical community had no answers for her, and so she found her next purpose. Jeanne took her love of science, knowledge of business and passion for helping others and transformed it all into an exciting new venture, Mighty Menopause. Mighty Menopause offers cutting edge information and natural supplements to educate and elevat...2020-08-2552 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - How Big Can You Dream? A conversation with the actress and singer Mary TestaTwisting the plot is about dreaming big, having faith, and knowing your truth. This week, we had the great pleasure to sit down with the multi-talented Mary Testa; actress, singer, and three-time Tony Award nominee. Turning 65 this year, Mary asks, what’s next? She wonders, how big can a woman in her 60’s dream? Is it possible to create a narrative that is bigger than what you are? We look forward to the future Mary, a woman who always pushes boundaries and delivers creativity and performances with creativity that takes us outside the box of expectation. Enjoy. Listen to...2020-08-1841 minTwisting the PlotSummer Replay - Understanding Intersectionality. A lesson with Britton WilliamsWhat is Intersectionality? And why is it important? We learn from Britton Williams about social-cultural identity, biases and how our multiple identities influence the way we age. Britton is an educator, a creative arts therapist and a writer. She is willing to enter these conversations with openness and curiosity. She is also a wonderful storyteller. So much fun, and so much wisdom. Enjoy. http://www.thehealingstage.com2020-08-1151 minTwisting the PlotStoop Stories with Marj KleinmanAmid the lockdown, hanging out on her stoop, Marj Kleinman had a realization. Stoops are where people sit, talk, and share stories and they are a perfect six feet from top to bottom. So Marj created Stoop Stories, a community portrait project documenting how Brooklynites are coping with the Coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice. Marj, photographer, award winning children’s content producer, and visual storyteller, with her team have curated over seventy features of families, essential workers, and small businesses. These stories have appeared in The New York Times, Time Out New York, PIX11 News and News 12. 2020-08-0440 minTwisting the PlotWhat Happens Next?Did you know that you have a story? Do you realize that your story is fluid, complex, and even inspirational? Bella tells the story of her trauma. She tells it over and over again. It was a story of abuse, pain, and helplessness. And the story always ended with Bella on the floor. Until Hannah asked her this question: “What happens next?” Psychologists, anthropologists, and scientists all agree; we are a storytelling animal. But what many of us don’t realize is that we are both the protagonist and the narrator of our own story. ...2020-07-2822 min