Shows
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayNext Steps: Hugh Willard brings 3 years of the Aging Well podcast to a close...for now.Send us a textThe Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray podcast has been privileged to share the stories and expertise of many Third Agers to an ever expanding, loyal and loving, international audience. At this time, Hugh is turning his time and energies to various writing projects. Stay tuned to hear more about Hugh's Substack page. Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of...2024-10-0114 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GraySoaring On Matriarchal Winds: Author and artist Mary Carroll Moore charts her second-act course.Send us a textMary Carroll Moore is a bestselling and award-winning author of 14 books in three genres, including the PEN/Faulkner and Lambda Literary Awards nominated young adult novel, Qualities of Light. This is the prequel to A Woman's Guide to Search and Rescue. Her latest novel is Last Bets, a story of second chances, extra-sensory abilities, and recognizing our own faults. Mary recieved her MFA from Goddard College while in her 50's after a long and successful career as a chef, cookbook author, and syndicated columnist for the L.A. Times. Hundreds of her essays...2024-06-2435 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayAre the Stars Out Tonight? Vermadel Nienstedt and the Crystal Coast StargazersSend us a textVermadel Nienstedt was raised in Beaufort, North Carolina. She and her husband Jimmy lived in Columbia, South Carolina for 30 years before returning to coastal North Carolina. In retirement, the pair have reinforced their love of the night skies. As a part of the Crystal Coast Stargazers, they help educate many groups and individuals, about not only the beauty of astronomy, but also the critical message of curbing light pollution and its deleterious effects on our ecosystems. In 2021, the Crystal Coast Stargazers completed the robust process of having Cape Lookout National Seashore officially certified a...2024-06-1826 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayKeep Moving!: Maria Fernandez with Older, Fitter, StrongerSend us a textOut of her own health challenges in her younger years, Maria Fernandez turned into the intentional path of greater health. For the past 18 years, she has been a Personal Trainer and Yoga teacher in the United Kingdom. She has a particular love for working with seniors in support of their own healthier lives. She now offers her own classes for folks 60+ both in person as well as online. Learn more about Maria and her good work at https://www.moveliftflow.com/older-fitter-stronger Check her out on Instagram older_fitterstronger and Facebook Olderfitterstronger 2024-06-1028 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Legacy of Good People: Fred Surgeon's Dinosaurs Delight at the Sweet Valley RanchSend us a textFred Surgeon is a man of many talents, all driven by his late father's desire that Fred and his siblings be "good people." Through his extensive involvement in the community, in mental health services, and in environmental education, Fred and his wife Anita now head the Sweet Valley Ranch in Fayetteville, North Carolina. This includes Dinosaur World, a growing attraction that is drawing more and more visitors with each passing year. To learn more about Fred, the Sweet Valley Ranch, and Dinosaur World, go to https://www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com/ or check them out...2024-06-0429 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GraySteadying Roots: Hugh Willard reads a few essays from his book Finding Beauty in the GraySend us a textHave you read Hugh's book, Finding Beauty in the Gray yet? Join us on the Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray podcast as Hugh takes time to read a few essays from his book that speak to our need for self- and other-care through these angular, stressed times. If you've read Hugh's book, please do the kindness of writing an online review at Amazon, Goodreads, or other sites. This is immensely helpful for others to learn more. Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in s...2024-05-2720 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayA Four Season Life: Marianne Borowski and the Cross New Hampshire Adventure TrailSend us a textMarianne Borowski is a retired biochemist and lifelong biker. She has riddencross country and on rail trails all over the U.S. In 2017, she developed the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. Walkers, bikers, runners, skiers, and horse back riders alike all enjoy the 83-mile majesty that is the great New Hampshire outdoors. Marianne is currently the Vice President of the NH Rail Trails Coalition. To learn more about Marianne and the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail, go to https://www.xnhat.org/ In the United States, you can also learn more ab...2024-05-2033 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayAll Aboard! Neil Bromilow and the Gibsonville Garden RailroadSend us a textNeil Bromilow is a widower, father, grandfather, and twice retired civil engineer. "Retired" is a very relative term as Neil has remained quite active in a number of civic and community pursuits in the Central North Carolina town of Gibsonville, where he and Estelle raised their family. These days, Neil spends a good bit of his time at the helm of the Gibsonville Garden Railroad, over 2900 feet of G-scale train tracks with 22 trains running at one time. This wonderland attracts a growing multitude of visitors each year, wowing children of all ages in...2024-05-1335 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayFunny Business Down on the Farm: Laurie Zaleski and the Funny Farm Rescue & SanctuarySend us a textFor over 20 years, Laurie Zaleski has taken her late mother's dream and made it her own. Today, this graphic design small business owner, pilot, author, and founder of the Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, heads a host of volunteers in caring for over 750 abused and abandoned animals of all ilk and breed. This magnificent, motely crew live in relative harmony at the Funny Farm in Mays Landing, New Jersey. Tune in to here this story of repeated and remarkable redemption and renewal. Learn more about Laurie and the Funny Farm by going to https...2024-05-0632 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayIn Every Language, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Filipino multimedia artist Eliseo Art SilvaSend us a textEliseo Art Silva is a contemporary multimedia artist in L.A. who weaves his Filipino heritage into his art, fostering community connection and compassionate interaction. His passion and his mission are to share the Filipino experience and it's rich heritage and contributions to the greater world community. To learn more about Eliseo and his extraordinary work, go to https://www.eliseoartsilva.com/ Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via e...2024-04-2933 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayA Considerable Age: Writer Alice Goldbloom and her journey through family stories.Send us a textAlice Goldbloom, a longtime Montrealer, has been writing her whole career—mundane government, business, and consulting documents of every kind. In 2020, with a fulfilling career behind her and two children semi-launched into the world, she began writing stories to please herself and share. She writes about being a first-generation Canadian, the small town in Ontario where she grew up, and her discovery of the story of her parents, who survived the Nazi occupation of Poland on the other side of the Jewish ghetto walls. In 2023, one of her stor...2024-04-2236 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayEarth Day Every Day with Naturalist Kim HaingeSend us a textJoin us as we celebrate Earth Day 2024 with naturalist, entomologist, and trail keeper Kim Hainge. Kim lives on a 36 acre United Plant Savers Sanctuary in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina with her botanist husband, Jim. Here she hosts talks, lead hikes, and in general shares her love of nature with any and everyone she sees.Learn more about Kim by following her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kim.hainge.9 or Instagram #earthday #nature @haingekim. You can also learn more about the United Plant Savers at https://unitedplantsavers.org/2024-04-1529 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Alphabet Woods: Debut author Jenny Poelman and her enthusiasm for life.Send us a textJenny Poelman, 66, became a published author for the first time last year. Jenny spent most of her childhood in South Korea with her missionary family. Nowadays, she and her husband, Ken, divide their time between North Carolina and Montana. When not writing, Jenny and Ken can be found fly-fishing, hiking, traveling, and most of all, spending time with the kids and grandkids. Join us as Jenny shares more about her passions and the process of becoming a new author in her 60's. You can also learn more about Jenny at https://www.jennypoelman...2024-04-0932 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayAll the World's A Stage: Actor, director, and professor Jonathan Ray and his latest turn in the lights.Send us a textJonathon Ray made his stage debut as a child at the historic Flat Rock Playhouse in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. He has taught theater and communications courses at several colleges and universities for many years, including Lenoir-Rhyne and Appalachian State. He recently decide to retire, but the theater remains ever-present in his world. Join us for this encore interview with Aging Well's very first guest. Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your...2024-04-0233 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray"Age is Just A Number, Not A Label.": Cheryl Beversdorf and the AGING MATTERS mediaSend us a textCheryl Beversdorf brings several of her talents together, along with her passion, to produce and host the AGING MATTERS weekly radio program, podcasts, and television show. Cheryl is a veteran, RN, not-for-profit association executive, and public communications specialist. Her shows feature interviews with experts discussing aging-related subjects, all in pursuit of supporting healthier lives for older adults. Cheryl's shows are a great resource for any and all. Learn more about Cheryl and her good work here: https://www.agingmattersonline.com/ Support the showHave comments or questions for us...2024-03-2638 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GraySugar Plum Fairies Emigrate to Western North Carolina: Chocolatier Steve Baxley and Legacy of SweetsSend us a textIn picturesque downtown Sylva in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, there is a three generation chocolate-making legacy that is Baxley's Chocolates. The middle tier of this legacy, Steve Baxley, son of Russell, husband of Beth, and father to Lauren, joins us to share more about this family's journey and magical operation. Just in time for Easter! To learn more about Steve and the family business, go to https://baxleyschocolates.com/ Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well...2024-03-1937 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayWarming Heads and Hearts: Edgemere Knit Wits Mary Ann Stover and Donna PowersSend us a textDid you know that March is National Knitting and Crochet month? Across the United States, there are thousands of dedicated Knit Wits-groups of committed volunteers, many of whom are seniors, creating hats, scarves, even toys, to share with infants and children in need in their communities and across the globe. Join us as we welcome Mary Ann Stover and Donna Powers from the Edgemere (Dallas, TX) Knit Wits. They share a bit about themselves and a lot about the good work they and their friends do daily as Knit Wits. To learn more...2024-03-1231 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayFrom Role to Soul: Dr. Connie Zweig and the path to greater meaning in the Elder years.Send us a textDr. Connie Zweig is a retired therapist and author. Known as the Shadow Expert, she has written several books on the spiritual path to health and wholeness. In this show, we talk about her book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul. Connie has many important insights for all of us as we cross numerous thresholds in the later years. To learn more about Dr. Connie Zweig and her work, go to https://conniezweig.com/ Pleas do join us for this enlightening and uplifting conversation! Support the show2024-03-0435 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Next Chapter: Heart of the Pamlico Poet Laureate Michelle Garren-Flye shares her passion for the written and visual word.Send us a textMichelle Garren-Flye is the owner of the Next Chapter Books & Art in New Bern, NC. She is a multi-published author of romance, children's books, and poetry. Michelle was named the Heart of the Pamlico Poet Laureate in 2021. She is ever curious, and ever expanding her experimentation with various forms of poetry and other narrative structures. To learn more about Michelle, go to https://michellegflye.com/ Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to...2024-02-2727 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayKnitting Up Loose Ends with Love: Jennifer Simonic and Masey Kaplan and the Loose Ends ProjectSend us a textJennifer Simonic and Masey Kaplan are the founders of the Loose Ends Project. Both avid knitters, they realized they had a shared experience: Friends would often ask them to finish blankets, sweaters, or other projects left undone by deceased loved ones. They always do so enthusiastically, understanding what it feels like to wear something a loved one has made. They have parlayed this project in a few short years to an international volunteer group of more than 11,000 volunteers. Join us as we hear more about the Loose Ends Project from these special ladies. A...2024-02-1938 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLove Is In The Air: Dr.'s Gloria Horsley and Frank Powers and romance in the senior years.Send us a textTwo years ago, Gloria and Frank, both retired psychologists, met on Silver Singles (https://www.silversingles.com/), an online dating website for folks 50+. Since their first date, they have been inseparable and decided to share the secrets to finding love with other seniors through their new book, Open to Love: The secrets of senior dating. This practical, witty, fun and serious guide is a must have for any and all single persons in the second half of life. Learn more about Dr.'s Gloria Horsley and Frank Powers at https://www.goldendatingdoctors.com/2024-02-1232 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Year in Review: Heather Lyons and Hugh Willard take a look back at the 2023 showsSend us a textJoin us as we welcome Heather Lyons back to the interviewer's chair. Heather and Hugh will reminisce about memorable shows and guests over the past year and Hugh will read more from his latest book Finding Beauty in the Gray: Stories and Verse From the Third Age. Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links...2023-12-1923 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayHo Ho Ho!: Santa Warren Keyes and his Christmas message of inclusion and loveSend us a textFor the past decade, Santa Warren Keyes, Stafford Braxton, and the rest of the folks with santasjustlikeme.com have travelled the Southeast United States, igniting and sharing in the excitement and anticipation of the magic of Christmas to little kids and big kids alike, especially those of color. Their experience has been captured in the award winning documentary American Santa. In this season of acceptance and love, join us for this Christmas message of truth and beauty. Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing...2023-12-1327 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Many Branches of the The Lawyer-Turned-Author Family Great Oak Tree: Author and Podcaster Landis Wade and the Writer's LifeSend us a textLandis Wade is a recovering trial lawyer turned award winning author turned founder and host of the popular Charlotte Readers Podcast. https://charlottereaderspodcast.com/ His third book, The Christmas Redemption won the Holiday category of the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. His novel, Deadly Declarations received praise by Kirkus Reviews, BookLife Reviews and Midwest Book Reviews and was named a Finalist in the Thriller/Adventure category of the 2022 International Book Awards. His short work has appeared in many publications. He is a past board member of the Charlotte Writers Club and has b...2023-12-0438 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThere's No Place Like Home: Photographer and Farmsteader Joanna Eldredge Morrissey comes full circleSend us a textJoanna Eldredge Morrissey is a native of Peterborough, New Hampshire. She migrated west to get degrees in communications and philosophy from Cal State Fullerton. She stayed for a time working at a commercial photo studio and the Corona Public Library before returning to New Hampshire to raise her two daughters and run her family farm. In addition to tending to the farm, its crops and all of its two and four legged inhabitants, Jo is also the official photographer for the MacDowall Artist Residency. https://www.macdowell.org/ This is a magical space...2023-11-2729 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLiving the Lumbee Way: Millard and Connie Locklear and their New Ground FarmSend us a textMillard and Connie Locklear, husband and wife, are the owners and operators of the New Ground Farm, a 26-acre abundance of heirloom and hybrid crops that follow the traditional farming methods of their Native Lumbee families. They were named Small Farmers of the Year in 2022 by the Cooperative Extension at NC A&T University. Join us as we celebrate the Locklears during Native American Heritage Month.To learn more about the Locklears and their farm go to https://www.nc10percent.com/newgroundfarms or check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook...2023-11-2032 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayFinding Beauty in the Gray: Hugh Willard's Long-Awaited Book Launch!!Send us a textFor this week's show, we have a special guest host. Heather Lyons, Hugh Willard's partner in love and life takes over the interviewer's headset to talk with Hugh about his long awaited book, Finding Beauty in the Gray: Stories and Verse From the Third Age. They chat about the inspirations for the book, the writing and publishing process and turn an eye towards what's ahead for Hugh and Heather together. The official book release is Tues., Nov 14th. Order you're copy today on Amazon, barnesandnoble.com or directly through Warren Publishing at https...2023-11-1329 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayGetting By With A Little Help From Our Friends: Dr. Heather Altman talks about important community resources for healthy aging.Send us a textDr. Heather Altman has spent the bulk of her career in the non-profit, healthcare, and aging services sectors. She is currently the Executive Director of the Health Sciences Health Innovations Group and the North Carolina Serious Illness Coalition. She is also a Senior Living Specialist with All About Seniors, Inc. As if these were not already a full plate, Heather is also a burgeoning media star with Friday Facts, an online, news style show hosting health care leaders and advocates as well as hosting the WCOM-FM radio show Aging Well Together. Join us...2023-11-0734 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayMovement is Medicine: Health and Fitness professional and podcaster Erin Eleuterio and path to active and vibrant agingSend us a textErin Eleuterio is a dedicated health and fitness professional with a commitment to improving the lives of individuals over the age of 50. She holds a B.S. in Kinesiology and is a certified Functional Aging Specialist. She is also the creator and host of the Second Act Fit Pros podcast. Please check out her show hosting a range of aging fitness experts. You can learn more about Erin here: https://erineleu.com/ Join us on our own Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray podcast as we hear more about Erin's good work an...2023-10-3024 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayGrit and Gratitude: Writer and storyteller Brad Campbell and his inspiring account of recovery and resilience following his bike accidentSend us a textBrad Campbell retired from a career in advertising in 2018. These days he enjoys storytelling, writing feature articles for Our State magazine, exploring all things nature with his wife Judy, and riding his bike. This last passion included a traumatic accident and remarkable story of recovery and resilience. Join us for this inspiring account of grit, determination, and gratitude. Here are links to Brad's story in Our State magazine and his Moth storytelling account in Asheville: https://www.ourstate.com/life-cycle/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4KXe5Dg4lQ Support...2023-10-2326 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Magical World At Our Feet: Naturalist Kim Hainge and her life in the Great Smoky MountainsSend us a textNaturalist, entomologist, and trail keeper Kim Hainge lives on a 36 acre United Plant Savers Sanctuary in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina with her botanist husband, Jim. Here she hosts talks, lead hikes, and in general shares her love of nature with any and everyone she sees. Join us to hear more about the magical world at our feet. Learn more about Kim by following her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kim.hainge.9 or Instagram @haingekim. You can also learn more about the United Plant Savers at https://unitedplantsavers.org/2023-10-1627 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayRocking Chair Wisdom from Three Old Guys: The Camp Codger PodcastSend us a textIn just over a year, Camp Codger has become one of the top-rated podcasts for seniors. And that’s no accident or stroke of blind luck. These three stalwart codgers, Gary Ebersole, Richard Kipling, and Randy Schultz seamlessly blend themes wise and whimsical in a manner that belies their commitment to this craft. Tune into our own Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray podcast to hear more rocking chair wisdom from these three old guys. Better yet, check them out ahead of time at https://www.campcodger.com/ Support the sho...2023-10-0931 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayAnd You May Find Yourself...Confessions of a Late-Blooming Gen-X Weirdo: Bestselling author Sari Botton and her Everywoman treatiseSend us a textSari Botton is an author, editor, and teacher with decades of experience. Her memoir And You May Find Yourself...Confessions of a Late-Blooming Gen-X Weirdo is a collection of searingly honest, gritty, funny, and at turns painful, essays. She is also the editor and publisher of Oldster Magazine; the newsletter Memoir Monday; and Adventures in Journalism. Join us for this jaunt down memory lane as Sari shares more about her book as well as her current pursuits. To learn more about Sari, go to https://www.saribotton.com/ https://oldster.substack...2023-10-0231 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLiving, Laughing, and Learning: Eliza Kiser and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at North Carolina State UniversitySend us a textA year after Eliza Kiser took over the helm as director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at North Carolina State University, the ship remains steady with a clear course ahead. OLLI is a superlative program in many settings across the United States. At NC State, there is a rich array of stimulating educational and socially engaging courses for folks age 50 and older. Join us as we hear more from Eliza about her vision for the OLLI program and community. Support the showHave comments or questions for...2023-09-2524 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLiving and Leaving Your Legacy: Author and educator Merle R. Saferstein on the practice of journaling your way to wholeness and connection across the generationsSend us a textMerle R. Saferstein is an educator, speaker, author, and pioneer in the field of legacy journaling. She has been featured on numerous outlets including NPR, The Robyn Graham Show, Huffpost, Thrive Global and more. Her latest books are Living and Leaving My Legacy, Volumes 1 and 2. Through her decades long practice of journaling and her work with scores of Holocaust survivors, Merle has found the right rhythm for helping folks of any age journal their way to self-discovery and shared expression. Join us for this rich conversation with Merle R. Saferstein. To...2023-09-1834 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayA Very Good Boy: Author Rona Maynard and her latest memoir Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This WorldSend us a textRona is the author of two memoirs, My Mother's Daughter and most recently Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World. The craft of writing for Rona is encoded in her DNA and was ensconced in her world from day one. As she describes, it was the family business, led by her writer mother, Fredelle, and her sister Joyce, who picked up the author mantle early on. For many years Rona took an adjacent path, and was at the editorial helm of Chatelaine, a well-respected women's...2023-09-1234 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayTrendsetting and Paying Forward: Gia Peebles and Glenda Turner and The Ebony AnglersSend us a textGia Peebles and Glenda Turner are no strangers to challenges. These resolute African-American women have yet to meet a mountain they are not willing to try climbing, or a powerful fish they won't fight for hours. Successful in business and in life, Gia and Glenda, along with kindred spirits Lesleigh Mausi, Bobbiette Glover, and Tiana Davis, came together to form the Ebony Anglers, the first African-American women's competitive fishing team. They have parlayed their experiences into a growing enterprise of serving children of color, empowering them to try new and different experiences. They...2023-09-0530 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray"The Recipe Keeper of Eastern North Carolina": Dr. Tammy Kelly's labor of culinary loveSend us a textDr. Tammy Kelly's family is generations deep in Eastern North Carolina. This long time director of Cooperative Extension for Lenoir County has been shaped by this life of integrity to family, to the land, and to its food traditions. She has lovingly taken on the mantle of rescuing and preserving many of the area's recipes from obscurity, including a number of her own family's. Join us for this mouth-watering conversation with Tammy as she shares her passion and stories of her family's time around the table. Learn more about Dr. Tammy Kelly in...2023-07-2328 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray"An Unaverage Person Trying To Be Average": Todd Brown and the long road to his barbeque legacySend us a textTodd Brown, from Midland, Texas, learned the art and mastery of barbeque at the feet of his father in Southern California. After a couple of hard detours in his early years, including time in prison, Todd found his way. His passion and mission in life are to carry forward his father's legacy of crafting delicious barbeque and barbeque sauce. He and his wife started selling out of the back of his pickup truck many years ago. This evolved into food trucks, a brick and mortar restaurant and catering business, and now he is...2023-07-1629 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayPlanny McPlanerson: Jeff Edgar and how to have a fulfilling life in the retirement years.Send us a textAfter an initial retirement following a long and storied career in the US Navy, Jeff Edgar pivoted to working for several defense contractors. He then decided to do the full-fledged retirement version in 2017. And thanks to a steadfast and thoughtful process leading up to 2017, he is having a meaningful and fulfilling experience. Travel, various volunteering efforts, regular pickleball games, men's groups, stimulating reads, time with his daughter and son-in-law, the list goes on. Join us to hear more of Jeff's journey on this week's show. Support the showHave...2023-07-0927 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayOn Second Thought, Maybe I Can: Debbie Weiss says yes to life and to herselfSend us a textJoin us as welcome Debbie R. Weiss. Debbie is an entrepreneur, author and lifelong caregiver. In her upcoming memoir, On Second Thought, Maybe I Can..., Debbie details her transformational story of overcoming obstacles and saying yes to life and to herself. She has been featured on Caregiver Chronicles, Hope Is Powerful, Parade, and many other outlets. To learn more about Debbie and her inspiring story, go to https://www.debbierweiss.com/**August 14, 2023 update** Debbie's inspiring memoir is now available!! To buy a copy go to this link: https://bit.ly/maybeIcanbook2023-07-0230 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Open Water Beckons: Lynn Edgar's healing path following knee replacement surgerySend us a textLifelong athlete Lynn Edgar had knee replacement surgery in the Fall of 2022. In March of this year, she celebrated her ongoing recovery and dedicated work by completing the 2.5 mile Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim under adverse Caribbean Sea conditions. Following this, she did another open water swim in Central North Carolina. Join us to hear more of Lynn's story including her pursuits and goals for the time ahead. Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send...2023-06-2528 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayOn the Road Again with Mark EdgarSend us a textApproaching retirement and newly single, Mark Edgar decided one year ago to sell his home and most of his possessions, buy a truck and towable RV and head out to see the country. With faith and perseverance, he made his way around the United States and met many fascinating folks, each one kind and generous. After pausing back in his home state of Georgia for his daughter's college graduation, he is preparing for Year Two of this new life on the road. Join us to hear more of Mark's journey. Support t...2023-06-1832 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLighting a Better Way Through Music: Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, teacher, and storyteller Bett PadgettSend us a textThrough both straightforward advocacy and whimsy, Bett Padgett's songs cross the borders of Celtic, Old-time, Folk, and New Age to help us learn more about today's social, environmental, and political climates, indeed to learn more about ourselves. Among many things, she is passionate about her craft, her students, and supporting musical artists the world round. She is also passionate about the sights and scenes of her North Carolina home, including the lighthouses along the coast. This resulted in a critically acclaimed album titled Hatteras: If a Lighthouse Could Speak 1999. In recent years she...2023-06-1130 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayCinema Verite Meets the 21st Century: Les and Mary Thornbury and the good work of documenting senior artistsSend us a textLes Thornbury is a documentarian and astute student of nature and people, in other words, of life. After time spent in Vietnam aboard a "wallowing, wood-hulled minesweeper," he retuned home in 1972 and borrowed an old, spring wound Bolex film camera. He wrote and then made a documentary of the Currituck Banks along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. A second film about the NC Coastal Area Management Act followed. Both were televised statewide and Les' fate was sealed. After graduating from college, Mary Thornbury, alongside a long a successful career in Human Re...2023-06-0431 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayWhat Do I Expect in the Time Ahead?: Dr. Rosanne Leipzig and Honest AgingSend us a textIn this episode, we welcome Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, an internationally acclaimed geriatrician with a superlative 40+ year career. She is the Gerald and May Ellen Ritter Professor and Vice Chair, Emerita of the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her new book, out in January 2023 is Honest Aging: An Insider’s Guide to the Second Half of Life. It describes what to expect physically, psychologically, functionally, and emotionally as we age, and what we can do to adapt to ou...2023-05-2130 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLove Across the Generations: Mercedes Bristol and Texas Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenSend us a textMercedes Bristol is the founder and executive director of Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Mother for a second time to five biological grandchildren, she has pressed forward with clear-eyed love, courage, and conviction. Tune in to hear more of her inspiring story and commission to support others in similar circumstances in Texas and beyond. Learn more about her work at https://www.txgrg.com/ Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via e...2023-05-1432 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray"Forget Perfection. Make a Mess.": Author Abigail Thomas and her latest memoir Still Life at Eighty: The Next Interesting ThingSend us a textStephen King calls Abigail Thomas the "Emily Dickinson of memoir." Thomas' remarkable path has taken her from raising her family through times of color and challenge on the Upper West Side of Manhattan to her current home in Woodstock, NY. Along the way she has been a book editor and agent before turning to her own writing. She is the author of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction, including her multi-award winning memoir, A Three Dog Life. She joins us to talk about her latest memoir, Still Life at Eighty, which details her...2023-05-0731 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayKeeping His Eyes on the Prize: Kered Whitcraft and his art-filled perseveranceSend us a textKered Whitcraft, medically retired years ago due to lifelong and worsening visual impairment, refused to concede to the doctors' repeated conclusions that he would be blind by now,. Instead, Kered has boldly pushed forward in life. This is seen in his Bay Area heirloom garden and his passionate work with splotch and tactile visual art. Recently he had a piece on display at the San Francisco City Hall. Join us for this lively, and spirit-lifting conversation with Kered.Art With Elders has been instrumental in supporting Kered's creative path. Here's a nice a...2023-04-3030 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayEarth Day Every Day: Maine naturalists and educators Dan Gardoqui and Cappy Caprio share stories of respecting and caring for our homeSend us a textDan Gordoqui is a Registered Maine Guide and Certified Wildlife Tracker. He brings his skills and passion to bare via his nature-based consulting, training, and guiding business Lead with Nature. Cappy Caprio is a high school English teacher, writer, and naturalist living in southern Maine. These two nature enthusiasts have partnered together for many years to bring the beauty and bounty of nature to greater awareness to many in New England, sharing the vital call for greater stewardship of the home we share with untold beings, both sentient and non.Join us...2023-04-2327 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLoving Pets and People: Lori Hensley and the good work of Beyond FencesSend us a textLori Hensley left a long career as a teacher and school counselor to join Beyond Fences, an organization in Durham, North Carolina that tirelessly works to break down the effects of poverty and structural inequities that create barriers to affordable veterinary and pet wellness services. Along the way she is making cherished and lifelong bonds with the people and animals she and Beyond Fences serve. Join us as Lori shares more of this inspiring labor of love. Learn more about Lori's work at https://www.beyondfences.org/ Support the show2023-04-1728 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Power of Art, Creativity, and Community: Mark Campbell and Art With EldersSend us a textMark H. Campbell is an accomplished visual artist with numerous works in public and private collections nationally and internationally. He is also the Executive Director of Eldergivers, the parent organization of Art With Elders (AWE) in San Francisco. Their mission is to use the power of art, creativity, and community to enrich the journey of aging. Join us as we welcome Mark to share more of this beautiful organization and the folks with whom they collaborate. Learn more about Mark and AWE at https://www.artwithelders.org/ https://markhcampbell.com/ Support t...2023-04-0932 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Sweet Aroma of One Family's Traditions: Annette Council on carrying forward her mother's legacySend us a textAnnette Council, youngest daughter of Mildred (Mama Dip) Council is the author of The Recipe: Have a Seat at Our Table... and the founder of Sweet Neecy Cake Mix Company. She grew up learning baking and so much more about living a life with purpose, creativity, intention, and integrity from her mother in the family restaurant. Tune into to hear more of Annette's story and learn more about her at https://sweetneecy.com/ Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging W...2023-04-0226 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayFrom Irish Triplets to Dragon Boat Races: Sandi Shortt's remarkable journey of purpose and healing.Send us a textSandi Shortt, from Ontario, Canada, is, among many things, the mother of three adult sons and seven wonderful grandchildren. She is long-term widowed and a survivor of cancer. Out of these myriad and profound life experiences, Sandi became a mindset and life coach, inspiring and empowering women in particular to live the balance of their lives with passion, purpose, and fulfillment. Join us to hear more of her remarkable story. You can learn more about Sandi at https://calendly.com/seshortt30/life-audit-consult Support the showHave comments or questions...2023-03-2629 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLily Unleashed: Author and animal welfare advocate Jo Anna Kloster on her passion for pound puppiesSend us a textJoin us to hear more about Jo Anna's crusade against puppy mills and their destructive practices. After retiring, Jo Anna became passionately involved in this cause, to include lobbying legislators on Capitol Hill. Out of her inspiration, she wrote the middle grade novel, Lily Unleashed. To learn more about Jo Anna, go to emptycagespress.com Jo Anna is also involved with Bailing Out Benji https://bailingoutbenji.com/ and the Humane Society https://www.humanesociety.org/ . Please take a few moments to check out the important work these groups do. Support the s...2023-03-1927 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Open Road Beckons: Rebecca Tuttle vanquishes fear and takes a 40 year old VW van cross-countrySend us a textAuthor/essayist and 11th generation New Hampshire farm girl, Rebecca Tuttle, heeds her daughter's request to drive a VW van from Maine to her daughter's home in California. Rebecca shares her tales from the road during her seminal, heroine's journey. Rebecca repeatedly chose joy over fear during this five-week trek. Join us for more on this magical adventure. To learn more about Rebecca, go to www.rebeccatuttleauthor.com Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information...2023-03-1232 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayHonoring the Art of Our Lives: Dr. Dorian Mintzer with Alan C. O'HareSend us a textDr. Dorian Mintzer, author, retirement coach, consultant and popular speaker, joins us on the show to share more about her dear friend and colleague, Alan C. O'Hare. Among many things, Alan is a community psychologist, actor, writer, director, and Celtic storyteller. These two friends came together for an interview about his experiences and wisdoms that grew into the book, Honoring the Art of Our Lives. Dori herself has a fascinating story and we get a few glimpses into this as well. Join us for this beautiful conversation. You can learn more about Dr...2023-03-0628 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayHugh Willard: Welcome to Season TwoSend us a textFollowing the great success of Season One, we are back for more stories of adventure, connection, joy, challenge, and the passions of people living their best Third Age lives. We also have more experts coming on to help us think of ways to be more healthy and more prepared for the times ahead. Join host Hugh Willard as he takes a few moments for reflection and reminiscence of our podcasts first year and offers a sneak peak of a few of the guests that will be coming on for Season Two. S...2023-02-2714 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayTis the Season: Mrs. Merry Claus and Santa MikeE give us a backstage tour of their Christmas productionSend us a textMrs. Merry Claus, aka Lou Shelton, and Santa MikeE, aka Mike Eckardt, drop by the show to share their experiences as professionals in their respective roles. They, and many others like them, take their craft most seriously and devote countless seasonal and year-round hours and passion toward bringing Christmas joy to children of all ages. Learn more at https://www.gigsalad.com/mrs_claus_plus_santa_cary Join us for this final episode of a most rewarding season 1 of Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray. Support the show2022-12-2128 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLatke Redemption, Canned Biscuits Reclamation, and a Blue Chanukah Bush? Scott Huler & June Spence and their family stories of ChanukahSend us a textScott and June are married and have two teenage sons. Scott is Jewish, June is Jewish-ish. Join us to hear these two writers share their stories of melding traditions during the Festival of Lights. They shared some of their experience in Our State magazine in December, 2021. Here is a link to this story: https://www.ourstate.com/the-miracle-of-the-oil/ Learn more about Scott and June here as well: https://huler.weebly.com/ https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/june-spence.html Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in...2022-12-1829 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayJewish Santas and Second to None Latkes: Ruth Lebed and her joys and memories of ChanukahSend us a textRuth Lebed is a retired attorney and more importantly, a Jewish mother, living in Wisconsin. From her earliest days living in a Jewish enclave in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, she has enjoyed the traditions and celebrations of the Festival of Chanukah. Join us as Ruth shares some of favorite memories and treasured rituals of this Jewish celebration commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd Century B.C. Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story o...2022-12-1128 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe U-Curve of Happiness. Dr. Katharine Esty and Aging Well into the 80's.Send us a textDr. Katharine Esty has had a long and distinguished career as a social psychologist, psychotherapist, consultant, and author of four books, including Eightysomethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected Happiness. She joins us this week to share more of her personal story and the wisdoms she has gained over her 87 years, much of which informed the accessible and important content of this book. You can learn more about Katharine at https://www.katharineesty.com/ Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested...2022-12-0434 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLove Beyond a Lifetime: Dean Lambert and the Love Always ProjectSend us a textOur guest this week is Dean Lambert, project director of the non-profit Love Always Project. This important grassroots movement is created to encourage people to preplan and pay for their funeral as the ultimate act of love for those they will leave behind. Dean shares his passion, professional, and personal experiences for this new project on our show. To learn more about this wonderful resource, go to https://www.lovealwaysproject.org/ Please join us! Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on A...2022-11-2833 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayBurned Bridges with Steel Girders: Pam LeBlanc's Grand story of reconciliation and healingSend us a textPam LeBlanc is an Austin, Texas based freelance writer specializing in stories about adventures in the great outdoors. Six years ago, she reached out to an old friend, Marcy, with an invitation to repair their fractured relationship. An intensive trip to the Grand Canyon was the backdrop for this life affirming account. Spoiler alert: they now have a regular tradition of spending Thanksgiving together. Join us to hear Pam share more of her story with Marcy on this week's show. To learn more about Pam and her many travels, go to www.pamleblancadventures.c...2022-11-2130 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayFinding Beauty in the Gray: Excerpts from Hugh Willard's upcoming book.Send us a textPodcast host, psychotherapist, and author Hugh Willard has signed with Warren Publishing to put out his latest book, Finding Beauty in the Gray: Stories and Verse From the Third Age. This is a collection of essays and poems about everyday folks flourishing and sometimes struggling with their walks along the Third Age paths of life and love. Tune in to hear Hugh read several excerpts from this heart and mind affirming book. Support the showHave comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well...2022-11-1335 min
Business of Architecture Podcast438: Key Financial Metrics for an Architecture Firm with Hugh GlazerParticipate in the largest-ever survey on what small architecture practices are charging? Visit: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/feesurvey Hello and welcome to the Business of Architecture. This week I am speaking with Hugh Glazer who is a CPA for 30+ years and delivers CFO and Business Operations Services to Private Companies and Not for Profit Organizations. As a consultant, part time CFO and hands on advisor he strategically manages projects to offer merger-acquisition-integration, budgeting, financial planning and managing new initiatives to deliver dramatic results. Hugh has mentored over 150+ CEOs through the ‘10,000 Small Business Program’ at Ba...2022-11-071h 10Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayFreemales and Wusbands with Jhobbies? Bestselling author Jan Cullinane and the Single Woman's Guide to RetirementSend us a textJan Cullinane is a best selling author, consultant, speaker, and retirement expert practicing what she preaches in her books The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life; Retire Happy!; and AARP's The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement. She joins us on this week's show to further explore the themes germane to single women in the Third Age. Whether lifelong single by choice or adapting to the changes and challenges of divorce or widowhood, Jan shares important insights about the need for cultivating a healthy support network and the value o...2022-11-0630 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayTheresa Pierce and Laurie Zacco: Full-time Life on the RoadSend us a textTheresa Pierce and Laurie Zacco had been a couple living and working in Florida for 19 years when they decided to rent out their home and make a go of living the full-time RV'ers life. They had some exposure to this through Laurie's father and his wife who had their own RV. One year later, Theresa and Laurie were married. Roughly one year after this, the pandemic hit. Through these times, the couple has managed to stay the course, with a few extended stays in different locations. They've added to their family with a...2022-10-2428 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayBeyond Retirement: Doing the Day to Day with podcaster Jacquie DucetteSend us a textJacquie Ducette is a fellow podcaster and Retirement Lifestyle Planner singing from the same sheet of music as Hugh Willard. While house sitting in Mexico, she bumped into the world of podcasting by joining a friend for a presentation on how to generate 12 months of content in 3 days. Newly across the threshold of her own retirement, she felt moved to further explore this new world beyond just the financial lens. Since starting her show Beyond Retirement in May of 2019, Jacquie has hosted over 200 episodes with a wide range of experts and everyday folks...2022-10-1627 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayAlternate Roads in Midlife: Ross Le Cras' Career ChangeSend us a textRoss Le Cras had cut his career teeth in radio and advertising for much of his career in Western Australia. Moving into the empty nest years with his wife Leanne, Ross began to feel the pull to a different calling. The wisdom of his years began to reform and redirect the character and quality of his interactions. Always interested in psychology, what makes people think and do the the things they do, he returned to school at age 52. Four years later, he became a newly minted Relationship and Marriage Counselor. Now at age 62...2022-10-0931 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayLiving the Creative Life Part II: Samantha Shad and Carl Nordgren consider story and it's place in the creative processSend us a textCreatives Samantha Shad and Carl Nordgren join us again this week with their thoughts on stories, storytelling, and their central role in our creative processes and lives. Samantha Shad is a successful Hollywood screenwriter, entertainment attorney, and author of The Write To Happiness and Write Through the Crises. She teaches courses and workshops on creativity and writing in numerous settings. Carl Nordgren is a creative entrepreneur, radio show host, award winning novelist and most recently the author of Becoming A Creative Genius Again. For many years, Carl taught courses on Creative E...2022-10-0231 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayFinding Flow: Samantha Shad and Carl Nordgren on Living the Creative LifeSend us a textSamantha Shad is a successful Hollywood screenwriter, entertainment attorney, and author of The Write To Happiness and Write Through the Crises. She teaches courses and workshops on creativity and writing in numerous settings. Carl Nordgren is a creative entrepreneur, radio show host, award winning novelist and most recently the author of Becoming A Creative Genius Again. For many years, Carl taught courses on Creative Entrepreneurship at Duke University. Together with host Hugh Willard, these three friends talk about the Creative Life, what it means and how each of us can be about the...2022-09-2533 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Voices of Our Elders: Becky Stone and Her Life in StoriesSend us a textAmong Becky's many talents, her storytelling was discovered one day while reading to her children at the local library. From there, she was sought after by the Chautauqua Society of Greenville, South Carolina and encouraged to share her talents in other storytelling venues as well. Through the Chautauqua Society, Becky has received rave reviews for her historical re-enactments of Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Josephine Baker and Pauli Murray. To learn more, go to https://ncstoryguild.org/stone-becky/ Join us as Becky shares of her joy and love of storytelling on this w...2022-09-1831 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayMaking Music and Teaching Tail-waggers: Dr. Kirk Ridge and Living LegaciesSend us a textDr. Kirk Ridge has walked two parallel professional paths over the past 40+ years. While supporting students, teachers and institutions around students' writing, he also has been a musician and singer-songwriter. Overlapping the end of his main career and leading into his recent retirement, Kirk has added radio show host and senior puppy trainer to his CV. His balance to this busy schedule is spending time with his wife on their farm growing vegetables and enjoying a life well lived. To learn more about Kirk, go to www.kirkridgemusic.com and tune in to...2022-09-1129 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayAmanda and Darrel May: Planting and Growing a Legacy of Life and LoveSend us a textAmanda and Darrel are recent retirees and the heads of their four-generation deep family. They are also bloggers, hosting their website AnDweplant.com containing a bevy of blog posts, some playful, some speaking to the pains of recent losses, as well as life-lifting pictures and inspirational videos. Not ones to rest on their well earned laurels, the Mays keep moving forward with pursuits new and old, including Amanda learning to swim in her 60's and Darrell tending to his garden and returning to work with folks struggling with opioid addictions. Through it all...2022-09-0430 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayIn Search of the Fountain of Aging Well: Jody and Mark Rollins and Retirement TransformedSend us a textJody and Mark Rollins were living their best career and family lives before uneven closings into retirement. While looking forward to their retirement years following successful careers and healthy financial stewardship, they quickly learned there was much more needed to be truly happy and healthy in the many years ahead. More purpose, more intention, more orientation to self and couple care. Out of these realizations was born Retirement Transformed, their new coaching and consulting business focusing on all the aspects of a long and healthy Third Age. You can learn more about Jody...2022-08-2833 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayBest Selling Author Diane Chamberlain and the Quest for Balance and CommunitySend us a textNew York Times, USA Today, and The Sunday Times bestselling author of 28 books, Diane Chamberlain has maintained a powerful pace with her rich and varied novels over her 30+ year (second) career as a writer. She often draws from her first career as a social worker and psychotherapist for her stories and inspiration. She is now coming into this time in her life wherein she is more acutely tuned to her need for balance: for more time with her family and friends, for playing music, alongside her ongoing organic need to tend to her...2022-08-2130 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayOur Furry Friends: Susan Kurowski and the Pets for the Elderly FoundationSend us a textSusan Kurowski parlayed her lifelong love of animals along with her business acumen into her work with the Pets for the Elderly Foundation beginning in 2006. In 2009, she was named the executive director. Since that time she has been instrumental in meeting the Foundations dual missions of reducing the numbers of animals in shelters, with the risk of euthanasia, and providing folks age 60 and older with loving companions. To date, the Foundation has supported over 120,000 adoptions with a full head of steam towards expanding their partnerships and services across the nation. Join us this...2022-08-1429 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray"This is Our Time" Leanne Le Cras and her Cresting the Hill blogSend us a textLeanne Le Cras has lived the length of her life in Western Australia. It is there that she and her husband raised their two children. It is there that she steadfastly worked for many years. She left a toxic work situation just prior to the pandemic and considered that she would officially retire. Since then, she has reevaluated and has decided to "unretire". From a position of interest and enjoyment and not necessity, Leanne has returned to work one day a week. Along the way, she began blogging. Over the course of the...2022-08-0731 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayDr. Mia Yang: The Rectangularization of AgingSend us a textDr. Mia Yang has a deep love for seniors that was born of her early years with her grandparents in China. Out of lifelong formative experiences that included quality of care decisions for her grandparents, she chose to become a geriatrician, a medical doctor specializing in the care and compassion for older adults. Her latest venture is her new podcast: Ask Dr. Mia: Conversations on Aging Well. She shares stories, both her own and of her passion for geriatrics. Come hear about the important idea of rectangularization of aging, which is the intention...2022-07-3133 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayMary Ann Reilly and Patrick O'Dell: Double Cousins Reconnecting in the Canadian RockiesSend us a textMary Ann and Patrick grew up with mothers who were sisters and fathers who were brothers. Mary Ann's family lived in upstate New York save for a 5 year stint in Texas and Patrick's family began in Nashville, Tennessee before migrating north to Finley, Ohio. The two families spent every Easter and two weeks in the summer together. Loving chaos would be the most apt phrase for these gatherings. Moving into their adult years, after Patrick returned home from serving in a M*A*S*H in Korea during the Vietnam War, he settled...2022-07-2333 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayFun and Games, and Silver Arts Too!!! Lynn Harrell and the Senior GamesSend us a textLynn Harrell started college with the goal of working as a camp director for children. That is until a required project wherein she went to help with the North Carolina Senior Games opened her world to the joys of time spent with the senior set. She has spent much of her professional life working with the NC Senior Games including the past 14 as the Associate Director. Join us as Lynn shares more of her love for the games, the participants, the many volunteers and fans of all ages. The North Carolina Games even...2022-07-1730 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayGwen Buchanan: Making Memories in Hokas and New Hips. My Journey on the Appalachian TrailSend us a textGwen Buchanan has packed a lifetime into her 50+ years. Two life threatening accidents resulting in both hips being replaced, and numerous personal challenges only served as renewable energy sources for her to complete multiple marathons and to set out on her first, and solo at that, hike over the entire Appalachian Trail. Join us for our conversation with this delightful and spirited life lover. Gwen shares stories of her time on the Trail and beyond.Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send...2022-07-1031 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayHugh Willard takes time to reflect on Independence Day in the USA, and what we are called to consider at this challenging time.Send us a textWe take a brief pause from sharing the stories and expertise of our guests on this week's show to reflect on the current and substantial challenges facing the United States today. What is our role as Third Agers in this time? What is our responsibility within the formal and informal social contracts we have with our families, community, and greater society? We still have much to offer at all of these levels.Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and...2022-07-0319 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayCarrie Knowles Shifting Forward further into family and the next plain of lifeSend us a textAuthor Carrie Knowles joins us again this week to share from her latest book Shifting Forward: Fifty Reflections on Everyday Life. Carrie is a prolific writer and author having published dozens of short stories and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, and four novels: Lillian’s Garden (Roundfire Books, 2013), Ashoan’s Rug (Roundfire Books, 2013), A Garden Wall in Provence (Owl Canyon Press, 2017), The Inevitable Past (Owl Canyon Press, 2020), a collection of short fiction, Black Tie Optional: 17 Stories (Owl Canyon Press, 2019) and a writing workbook, A Self-Guided Workbook and Gentle Tour on Learning How to W...2022-06-2630 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayThe Last Childhood. Author Carrie Knowles and her family's journey through her mother's Alzheimer's diseaseSend us a textAuthor Carrie Knowles was awarded a North Carolina Arts Council grant to write her memoir in 1994. The Last Childhood: A Family Story of Alzheimer's recounts her arduous (is there any other word to describe this experience) and often rending experience with her mother's disease. She updated the book in 2017 to include her experience following her mother's death.With courage and candor, Carrie shares more of this experience with us on this week's episode. Please tune in to this important conversation. You can learn more about Carrie and her work at www.cjanework.c...2022-06-1932 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayPeter Popovich: The Particulars of the Pickleball Party. Everyone's invited.Send us a textPickleball is a racquet/paddle sport that has risen from its humble beginnings in Bainbridge, Washington in 1965 to becoming a veritable tsunami sport of passion and play and community building, particularly among Third Age folks. Today there are numerous championships, both national and international, as well as an enormous groundswell of pickleball courts and participants of all levels and ages across the United States and beyond.Peter Popovich is an avid pickleball, racquetball, and badminton player with the National Senior Games, having won gold medals in each sport. He is also an...2022-06-1231 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayDr. Peter Balsamo: A "true-line" for service and education in retirementSend us a textDr. Peter Balsamo has spent the length and width of his life in higher education and service to the greater community. His story has an interesting turn in that he became a father in his mid-50's. A few short years later, with his daughter starting school, Peter retired. Not missing a beat, their family found their through line, or rather true-line, in the substance of travel, learning and ongoing community-based service. These are their respective and collective passions that will move them through the next pending transition of college for their daughter...2022-06-0434 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayDr. Stevan Jackson: "Til I can't" Redirecting in the later years.Send us a textDr. Stevan Jackson is a ethnomusicologist and folklorist. Having taught at several universities over the course of his career, he now spends much of his time writing and performing. He's written several nonfiction and fiction books and as a multi-instrumentalist, Stevan is involved in several musical groups and projects. Clearly the moniker "retired" is not applicable to him. He prefers to speak of "repurposing" regarding his time and activities. His go-to phrase is "til I can't" when considering the pursuits of his joys and passions. Join us to hear more of Stevan's Third...2022-05-3030 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayDr. Jessie Piper: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Blessing or Burden?Send us a textOut of her own family trauma and into being raised by her grandmother, Dr. Piper followed a natural path into her study and research as a gerontologist and Assistant Professor at the Center on Aging with Kansas State University. Through the course of her ongoing work, Dr. Piper has confirmed that for grandfamilies perspective matters. And most hold the view that raising their grandchildren is indeed a blessing, despite the trauma component that created the circumstances. Nonetheless, stigma and unhelpful assumptions remain for both grandfamilies and the broader community. Dr. Piper is steadfast...2022-05-2229 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayDr. John Dempsey: When It Comes to Retirement, What's More Important: Math or Enthusiasm?Send us a textDr. John Dempsey is coming to the close of a long and distinguished career. He started as a young naval officer in VietNam during the war, followed by a brief stint in the Carter Administration before finally settling into his home of academia and leading several institutions of higher education. With an ease and good humor, John shares a few stories of his time and interests with baseball, golf, laughing daily with Evelyn, his wife of 54 years, and looks ahead to the next chapter of his life. Among other essential qualities, John points...2022-05-1533 minAging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayNancy Ruffner: Inside the Kaleidoscope. Just When You Think It's Coming Into Focus, It Will Change.Send us a textNancy Ruffner was a legal and financial specialist with a global EAP company for many years before facing the kaleidoscopic experience of her own parents' aging issues. Out of this, she pivoted to coaching and consulting as one of the nations first Board Certified Patient Advocates. An expert on managing aging issues, Nancy founded NavigateNC, a company that she describes as eldercare on steroids. Nancy provides a wholistic approach to the many hurdles of eldercare, including financial, legal, healthcare, insurance, and housing. Additional dynamics that she provides support and direction for include self-care...2022-05-0827 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayPippa Cutter-Humphrey: Taking the Living Room Elephant Out for a Walk. What Makes for a Good Death.Send us a textPippa Cutter Humphrey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience as a Hospice and bereavement counselor. She shares her insights into this difficult, unavoidable but also really important process for caregivers and loved ones. For many of us, we think in broader strokes about these experiences. Pippa reminds us to tend to the practical and to push through inertia and resistance to plan ahead as a gift to our loved ones.Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information...2022-05-0127 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GraySharon Silcox: Mailing Jeeps Home One Piece at a TimeSend us a textAfter working and raising two sons, Sharon spent many years working for North Carolina State University’s School of Design Library. That and engaging various volunteer pursuits, including sharing creepy crawlies with visitors of all ages at the North Carolina Science Museum, and working many shifts with the North Carolina Reading Service, a nonprofit wherein volunteers read various publications over the airwaves for visually impaired folks. She even found time to learn juggling in the past few years. Sharon’s life credo, which she has prominently displayed on her Facebook page is, “I take l...2022-04-2330 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayDr. Michael Smyer: Where's Your Special Place? From Climate Avoidance to Climate ActionSend us a textDr. Mick Smyer, who hails from New Orleans, was moved to become involved in hands on educational efforts to help people find their personal connection to care and stewardship of our natural world. What were the deciding factors that so inspired Mick? Hurricane Katrina which wrought indescribably damage to the people and places around his beloved hometown, and his lovable passel of four grandsons, currently all under the age of six. Mick sees the urgency in the perspectives we hold and the actions we each take now for the benefit of the generations...2022-04-1831 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayTricia Inlow-Hatcher: From Tchaikovsky to Tarot Cards with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at North Carolina State UniversitySend us a textFor many years, Tricia has been a mainstay at North Carolina State University. A lifelong learner herself, she now serves as the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at NC State. Under her leadership, with a small, dedicated team and an army of committed volunteers, OLLI has flourished and expanded its offerings and even managed to find a path forward in the midst of a protracted, virulent pandemic. With course offerings as diverse as an exploration of world wars, music, literature, theater and tarot card readings, OLLI is an inestimable resource f...2022-04-1129 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayJoy Jones & Myra Morgan: Double Dutch Delights with the DC Retro JumpersSend us a textJoy Jones and Myra Morgan Martin met in 2004 over a shared love of good health and physical activity. Joy was putting together the initial experience that in time would come to be known as the DC Retro Jumpers. Joined by several others, they reminded us all of a love for the simplicity, and yes joy, of the childhood activity, Double Dutch jump roping. They took to the streets and invited comers of all ages to join in the fun. This enterprise has grown by leaps and bounds (pun intended) and among other things...2022-04-0432 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayTuck Kamin: Connections Across the AgesSend us a textHailing from small town Texas, Tuck Kamin's life and career have arced in the direction of a desire to understand the aging process and how people can choose a healthier and more vibrant path forward. One of the chief learnings for Tuck, the seed being planted via playing marbles with his grandmother, is that of the necessity of intergenerational connectedness. From his exploration of Humanitas near Amsterdam, to the Villages in Florida and with the super-agers in the San Juan Islands of Washington, Tuck has parlayed these insights into his work with the...2022-03-2830 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayJonathan Ray: Creating On Stage and in the ClassroomSend us a textJonathan began his lifelong love affair with the stage as a child, making his debut at the historic Flat Rock Playhouse near his home in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. From there he parlayed this passion into a lengthy career teaching theater, acting and public speaking across all levels and ages. He has had a couple of short-lived retirements, notably one after a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery while still in his 50's. Nonetheless, he has heeded the call back to the stage and classroom. As he nears another...2022-03-1730 min
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GrayWelcome to Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the GraySend us a textFor this debut episode, Hugh gives an overview of the impetus and inspiration for this podcast, namely the exploration of identity, meaning, relationships, creativity and yes, beauty in the Third Age. The Third Age is the time of life in and approaching retirement typically characterized by relatively good health and a shifting of priorities with work and family life. How we consider and approach this time is vitally important to our continued health and happiness. This podcast will share the stories of guests who are weathering challenges and celebrate the successes and joys...2022-03-1728 min