Episodes

What if aging isn’t something to resist ... but something to rethink? In this episode I sit down with Chris Moore, founder of Senior Remodeling Experts and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, for a thoughtful conversation about mindset, purpose, and what aging teaches us from the inside out. After decades of working closely with older adults, Chris has seen firsthand how attitude - not age - often shapes how we experience later life. Together, we explore common myths about aging and reti...

What does it truly mean to age with purpose? In this episode, I’m joined by Robin Kencel - founding real estate broker at Compass in Greenwich, Connecticut, reigning Ms. Connecticut Senior America, and U.S. Pro-Am Ballroom Champion - for a delicious conversation about aging with intention, confidence, and joy. Robin shares how her lived experiences, leadership, and deep listening skills shaped the social impact work she’s doing today around empowered aging. We explore her Five Pillars...

What happens when women refuse to fade quietly with age? In this powerful episode of Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, I sit down with renowned feminist scholar and cultural critic Susan J. Douglas, author of In Our Prime - How Older Women Are Reinventing the Road Ahead, to explore the intersection of sexism and ageism — and why older women are uniquely positioned to reshape the road ahead. Susan shares what fueled her decades-long focus on sexism in media and culture, and why she believes gender...

What does it mean to age with purpose, curiosity, and conviction — especially while living in another country? In this episode of Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, I sit down with Robert W. Norris, a 75-year-old Vietnam War conscientious objector, longtime resident of Japan, retired university professor, and author of multiple novels and memoirs ... two of which he wrote in his seventies. Robert shares his extraordinary life journey, from growing up in Northern California to refusing to fight in the...

As soon as I turned 65, something shifted in the exam room… and not for the better. In this episode, I’m sharing my personal experience with ageism in health care - how the tone of my medical appointments changed, why the attention to my symptoms dropped, and why so many of us suddenly get a pat on the shoulder instead of real care. This isn’t just about Medicare or paperwork. It’s about what happens when the medical system quietly decides we’re “too old” for deeper investigation. I brea...

In this deeply illuminating conversation, Conscious Dying Coach Laurie Reese joins me to explore how we can approach the end of life with intention, creativity, and a profound sense of personal agency. Laurie brings over 15 years of experience as a Household Manager and Personal Assistant supporting vibrant seniors and families through major life transitions. Her compassionate philosophy — “I walk beside people, not ahead of them” — guides everything she does, from managing daily household need...

Have you ever felt the pull to let go of who you’ve been and step into a life that feels more aligned, more authentic, and more you? In this episode, I chat with Ray Martin, executive coach, global citizen, and author of Life Without a Tie, about how to embrace your later years with purpose, freedom, and joy. Ray shares the pivotal moments that led him from a successful corporate career to a life filled with adventure, self-discovery, and meaningful connection. We explore the power of self-...

✨ "I'm living my life in the best way possible, and I want to have a wonderful time as long as I'm here." ~ Erika Andersen In this uplifting and joy-filled conversation, I sit down with Erika Andersen, bestselling author of The New Old: Crafting Your Best Later Life, to explore what it truly means to age magnificently. Erika and I explore how to consciously create a vibrant, purpose-filled third act - one grounded in curiosity, community, and intention. She shares stories and insights that ...

What if the fear of public speaking wasn’t something to conquer ... but something to transform into confidence, joy, and self-expression? Guest Linda Ugelow, speaking confidence and vocal coach, podcast host, and author of Delight in the Limelight, brings us an inspiring conversation about finding your voice after 65. Once paralyzed by stage fright, Linda now guides others to speak with ease and authenticity - whether in front of a camera, on stage, or in everyday conversations. With her ba...

You’ve heard me say it before: pastures are for horses, not humans. But where did that phrase come from ... and what does it really mean? In this episode, I’m sharing the personal story behind the saying and how it perfectly captures the painful side effects of ageism. From my childhood surrounded by horses to the outdated cultural beliefs that try to send people “out to pasture” after 65, we’ll reveal the indoctrinated messages that shape how we see ourselves as we age. It’s time to ...

Who says fulfillment has to stop when your career does? A lifelong writer whose remarkable career has taken him from the newsroom to the boardroom - and now into the world of positive aging advocacy - Don Akchin’s decades of lived experiences ideally prepared him to bring us the insights and wisdom we need to thrive after 65. In this inspiring conversation, Don shares ...

What does it really mean to age boldly and unapologetically? In this episode, I chat with Angel Cicerone — entrepreneur, author, and creator of Old Broad. New Tricks. — about living out loud, staying curious, and thriving as we age. Angel shares her experience of moving to New York City at 60, building new connections, and using TikTok to challenge outdated ideas about aging. We talk about entrepreneurship, understanding money, staying tech-savvy, and finding joy in independence — even when ...

In this episode I chat with John Jay Wiley, a retired Baltimore police sergeant who reinvented himself as a nationally syndicated broadcaster. John Jay is the creator and host of Law Enforcement Talk Radio, which is carried on more than 147 AM and FM stations across the country. John Jay shares his transformative journey — from overcoming personal struggles to finding his voice as a storyteller and advocate for first responders, veterans, and their families. With honesty and humor, he opens u...

What does it look like to rebuild your life after homelessness, depression, and loss, while also dissolving the heavy weight of ageism? At 67, Lori Kirstein is living proof that adversity can be fuel for transformation. Through her Goodbye Good Girl Project, Lori empowers women to ditch the “shoulds,” find their true voice, and step unapologetically into their power. In our conversation, Lori shares how resilience, authenticity, and feminine leadership helped her not just survive, but thri...

When widowhood meets financial uncertainty, where do you begin? Meet Debra L. Morrison, a trailblazing financial expert, grief coach, and best-selling author of My Husband Died Now What? A Widow’s Guide to Grief Recovery & Smart Financial Decisions. Debra empowers widows and women over 65 with smart money strategies to reclaim their confidence, safeguard their future, and embrace the life they deserve. From investment mindset shifts to creating a financial safety net, this conversation is fi...

Boomers aren’t “bad at tech”—we built it. 🚀 In this solo episode of Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, I’m celebrating my 69th birthday (and Episode 69!) by busting one of the most persistent myths about my generation: that we struggle with technology. From manual typewriters to PCs, rotary phones to smartphones, vinyl to streaming, punch card gaming to Pac-Man, and mimeographs to Zoom, we’ve adapted to—and often invented—more tech than any other generation in history. In this episode, I share: ✨ T...

What happens when ADHD goes undiagnosed until midlife or later? And how does it affect women as we age? Thriving after 65 means embracing every part of who we are … including the parts that may have been overlooked or misunderstood for decades. In this episode of Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, I’m joined by Diann Wingert - a former psychotherapist turned coach and unapologetic truth-teller - to talk about what it really means to discover, unmask, and embrace ADHD later in life. Diann share...

If you think reinvention is impossible later in life - or that fashion and construction can’t possibly mix - Brenda “Maxx” Cumbie McGee is here to prove you wrong. In this uplifting and eye-opening conversation, Maxx shares her remarkable journey from professional model to union carpenter, and now to Founder of GottStreet Blues®, a fashion-forward workwear brand designed for women who build, weld, dig, create, and do. From her childhood spent toggling between Tonka trucks and dress-up heels, t...

What does it look like to lead with purpose, advocate for equity, and thrive at 70? In this episode of Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, I’m joined by Robert Baker, a globally respected DE&I consultant, speaker, coach, and age-positive leader, whose decades-long career continues to inspire change across generations and industries. After 42 years at Mercer, Robert launched Potentia Talent Consulting, where he delivers powerful keynotes, inclusive leadership coaching, and transformational allyship wor...

What happens when you stop bending to other people’s expectations and start honoring your own? Meet Marilynn Larkin - a 76-year-old journalist, health communicator, certified fitness professional, and the fierce founder of Get UnBent Now. Marilynn is living proof that aging doesn’t mean slowing down or playing small. In fact, she just competed in her second bodybuilding competition (yes, really!). In this episode, we dive into: ✨ Dissolving the inner scripts that keep us stuck ✨ Why perfecti...

What does it look like to stay vibrant, visible, and powerfully creative in your 70s? I was honored to chat with A’Lelia Bundles - renowned journalist, bestselling author, and great-granddaughter of the unforgettable A’Lelia Walker, a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Her new book, Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance, is more than a biography. It’s a vibrant celebration of a woman who helped shape a cultural revolution. Through storytelling, archival research, and d...

Listener, get ready for a deeply inspiring and eye-opening convo that flips the script on aging. Our guest is Helen Hirsh Spence - a distinguished educator, thought leader, and unapologetic age equity advocate who's rewriting the narrative around growing older. After decades of leadership in Canada’s education system, Helen had her own run-in with ageism, and instead of fading quietly into the background, she lit a fire. That experience sparked her to found Top Sixty Over Sixty, an innovative...

What if the key to thriving after 60 isn’t about pushing harder... but rebalancing your brain? In this mind-expanding episode, we're joined by Liam Naden - researcher, teacher, and creator of the Transformative Brain Rebalancing Method - who shares how a total life collapse led him to discover the brain's true power to create a life of clarity, joy, and purpose. From sailing off the coast of Italy to ditching outdated goal-setting methods, Liam invites us to rethink everything we think we kno...

Please join me for a special Pride Month episode on the Don't Be Caged By Your Age featuring Sadiya Abjani, Director of Training and Instructional Design at SAGE - the country’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ elders. 🏳️‍🌈 As we celebrate Pride, it's vital to honor and uplift the trailblazers who made this movement possible - many of whom now face unique challenges as they age. From housing discrimination and social isolation to health dispar...