Shows
AGING with STRENGTHAging with self-forgivenessWhy do I find this topic so difficult to write about? I’ve been so slow putting together a post — almost two weeks! Dude, what is the problem? You gotta be better….That’s a small sample of my weekly, internal negative self-talk, a habit that I know is not exclusive to me. Which is why I decided to write about the profound need in our society for self-forgiveness.Doesn’t matter if you’re in Indiana, Indonesia, Iceland or the Republic of Congo (AGING with STRENGTH subscribers now span all 50 states and 82 countries, by the way, inc...2025-05-0908 min
Sustain What?A Teaching Framework Helping Students (or Others!) Tackle Complex Challenges With Impact in MindHere’s the video and podcast version of my Sustain What conversation with two Maine-based educators and a superstar student taking on tough problems in their communities that have links to the wider world. Learn all the background in my “curtain raiser” post:We were joined for a bit by Radhika Iyengar, a colleague of mine during my time at Columbia University. She’s working on an online course with Jeff Sachs on the Ages of Globalization.There were wonderful comment contributions and questions from viewers around the Web, particularly this one from John Eppler on Faceb...2025-05-011h 04
AGING with STRENGTHFascia stretch therapy: a portal to longevityMy interview with Sydney-based Erica Koo, a Level 3 fascia stretch therapist and former competitive powerlifter, explores how Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) can make life better for people with significant mileage on their bodies, hearts and minds.Erica and I discuss FST’s significance in pain relief, mobility and overall health, the role of fascia in the body, its connection to movement, and how FST can benefit people over 40.Erica also shares her personal journey (see timeline below, if you’d rather jump to that fascinating part of our conversation) from a complete non-athlete to becoming a co...2025-04-1729 min
Sustain What?Facing Trump Attacks, a Funding Implosion and Too Much More, Here's What Journalism is For - and How to Sustain itHere’s the curtain raiser post with all the relevant links related to Jon Allsop’s new book, What is Journalism For?, and Karen Bordeleau’s New Bedford Light newsroom, which made national waves with its vivid coverage of an atrocious abuse of force by immigration officers in New Bedford several days ago. Here are two illuminating moments:Jon Allsop on how an “emergency mode” for journalism facing the autocratic attacks from President Trump is out of date now that he’s settled into the White House:A look at the New Bedford Light covera...2025-04-161h 10
AGING with STRENGTHAndy Walshe, human performance expertAndy Walshe is a globally recognized leader in the field of elite human performance for individuals, teams and large organizations in sport, culture, the military and business. Andy is a founding member of Liminal Collective, whose members include some of the most accomplished human performers (artistic as well as athletic) on the planet. Their quest is to answer a fundamental question: How do the best of the best operate, and what can we learn from them?Show Notes:1:50 — The 5-minute breath-holding exercise, the “threat of running out of air” and why it’s an effective training...2025-03-2333 min
AGING with STRENGTHAthletic pain and performance after 50Here's some strategies for dealing with midlife athletic injuries and the frustrating, sometimes demoralizing limitations they impose on us. One of the most challenging aspects of hitting my fifties (and maybe you can relate to this) is reconciling the inevitable decline in physical strength and performance with my expectations — unreasonable as they are — that I should be able to just keep doing pretty much what I did last week, last year or 15 years ago.Not to mention the particular personal psychology that whispers, convincingly, that physical strength and ability are standards that must be upheld. As if they...2025-03-1012 min
AGING with STRENGTHNutritional strength & drinking less in 2025Five simple principles about eating, food and alcohol to maximize your healthspan.1 | Nutritional accountability. The first principle is sharing your eating and nutrition habits with people whose opinions you value. There’s strength in accountability, and that absolutely applies to what you put into your body.2 | Eating habits. Are you willing to challenge some of the habits you’ve formed around how you eat and prepare food? If you are, then make a point of acknowledging that changing those habits will be a pain in the ass and will feel awkward. But also understand what is a...2025-01-2108 min
AGING with STRENGTHPhysical strength and flexibility in 2025I’m Paul von Zielbauer from AGING with STRENGTH.…with a few brief thoughts on how to make 2025 a great year to build not just physical strength but also enduring mental, emotional, spiritual, nutritional and community strength. I have some ideas, born of my own curiosity and years of trial and error, but feel it’s important to once again point out that I’m not an expert or guru. To the contrary, I’m a reporter and investigator of the experts and the so-called gurus, in service of isolating worthy information to share with you and exposing what is turning...2025-01-0711 min
AGING with STRENGTHPodcast E2: Polar explorer Alison LevineI talk with history-making polar explorer and mountaineer Alison Levine, who's such a badass they named a beer after her. Alison was team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition and is one of about only 20 people to achieve “the Adventure Grand Slam.” But almost equally dramatic is her lifelong journey being the "parent" of her father, a bi-polar FBI agent who got on the wrong side of J. Edgar Hoover. Get full access to AGING with STRENGTH at agingwithstrength.substack.com/subscribe2024-12-1719 min
AGING with STRENGTHIntermittent fasting: a brief audio addendum re the knowns and unknownsTranscript:This is Paul von Zielbauer from Aging with Strength with a quick audio addendum, on this Thanksgiving eve, to my post yesterday on intermittent fasting, which I have found, through personal experience and by talking with many people who practice it in midlife and beyond, to have myriad benefits to daily well being. But not everyone thinks so, and some experts are on record saying intermittent fasting, or I.F. for short, works for losing some flab weight but not much else. One of my readers pointed out a recent WSJ article with almost that exact...2024-11-2704 min
The Muck PodcastEpisode 11: Gummy Brain | Phillip Giordano and George Washington's TeethHillary and Tina cover and former Waterbury, Connecticut Mayor Philip Giordano and President George Washington’s teeth.
Hillary's Story
Since 1754, founding father George Washington had more than his fair share of dental problems. And, today, people still believe that Washington wore wooden teeth as dentures. But, things were not so simple; in fact, Washington suffered for decades in search of the best teeth.
Tina's Story
For five years, Philip Giordano served as the City of Waterbury mayor. As mayor he prided himself for his work getting the city’s finances in order. But, in 2...2020-03-111h 02
Barb Allen SpeaksE046 - Push Your BoundariesIf you don't set any boundaries your life has the potential to be outstanding because there are no limits to your potential or what you can achieve. Take Paul von Zielbauer for instance. He worked his entire life to be a writer for the NY Times. Until one day Paul realized that his life and his career had guidelines. So, Paul, a Pulitzer nominated writer made the tough decision to leave his wildly successful career as a writer and pursue his own calling. He decided to pursue what he calls his radiantly imagine future. Paul now is the owner...2018-06-0106 min
Barb Allen SpeaksE002 - A Radiantly Imagined Future With Paul von ZielbauerHe’s a Pulitzer nominee who found even greater success after he left his writing career. Paul Von Zielbauer went from writing about movers and shakers to becoming one in a bold move. He’s found the greatest comfort far outside of his comfort zone, and now he’s helping others do the same.Listen in to hear all about his adventure philanthropy company, Roadmonkey, and how it is impacting lives all around the world.Hear about his decision to take that leap, and what it takes to find your own true path in life.J...2017-06-0133 min