Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray: Recent Episodes
Hugh Willard
Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray is a podcast for everyone in or approaching the retirement years. There’s a lot to unpack here apart from the financial planning component, and we’ll do just that. We’ll explore new interests, priorities and goals and finding purpose for ourselves and in our relationships. Join me each episode as I share stories and chat with guests learning to live their best next act, lives. Have a question or comment? Please reach out to me, Hugh Willard, at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or via any of the social media links at the top of this page.
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The 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.
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Mike McKinney is a retired first responder. He served in several capacities and roles over the course of his career. Originally from Springfield Illinois, he and his wife decided to move to follow their kids an grandkids to central NC at the close of his career. Mike is the co-director of the NC State Chapter of the 52 Hike Challenge; the Chief Hiking Officer for the Triangle Hero Hikers; and a NC Waterfall Keeper. Join us for this great conversation. To learn more about the 52 Hike Challenge, go to: https//www.52hikechallenge.com
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Niamh McAnally is an Irish-born bestselling author, keynote & corporate speaker, former TV director, and youngest daughter of the late BAFTA award-winning actor, Ray McAnally, and actor, Ronnie Masterson. Niamh has traveled all over the world and lived and worked as a volunteer in many island nations in the Caribbean and the South Pacific.Flares Up: A Story Bigger Than The Atlantic was conceived in Antigua when she witnessed Paul Hopkins and Phil Pugh cross the finish line after rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. The book was shortlisted in the 2023 Sunday Times Vikki Orvice Award.
Her memoir Following Sunshine: A Voyage Around the Mind, Around the World, Around the Heart was released in September, 2024. Gripping and heartfelt, Niamh’s beautifully written memoir [Following Sunshine] unfolds with warmth, courage, and a touch of cinematic magic. It’s a MUST-READ for anyone seeking inspiration and a deeper connection to the world." --Liam Neeson
Her short story Haul Out is featured in the anthology A Page from My Life. She has been published in The Journal, Caribbean Compass, Sail, The Irish Times Abroad, Writing.ie and Subsea magazines.
To learn more about Niamh, go to https://www.thewriteronthewater.com/ or find her on many social media sites.
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Dr. Carolee Duckworth is a talented and creative woman of numerous skills and interests. She is an author of many books and articles including Shifting Gears to Your Life and Work After Retirement that she co-wrote with Marie Langworthy. She is an expert trip designer, and co-author (with Brian Lane) of the books Your Great Trip to France, Your Great 5-Day Trip to Paris, and Your Great 5-Day Trip to Loire Châteaux, available on amazon.com. Carolee's latest project in this area is a series of websites. The first is greattripguide.com that will coordinate and offer resources for more European adventures. Join us to learn more about these great resources!
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Benita VanWinkle is a national and internationally exhibited and award winning artist and photographer. She is also an Associate Professor of Art at High Point University in North Carolina. Her passion project for many years has been to photograph and chronicle historic movie theaters across the U.S. The culmination of this will be her book America's Hometown Movie Theaters: Please remain standing. This will be published in the Spring of '25. Join us to hear more of Benita's story! To learn more about Benita and her fine work, go to https://www.busybstudio.com/
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Jeannine Bryant is an expert at helping seniors and their families through times of transition. As the owner of Easyrightsizing and Changing Spaces SRS, a senior move management company in Lincoln, Nebraska, she and her team are proud to provide a valuable service that helps take away the stress when clients are rightsizing, moving, or clearing out an estate.
For the last 15 years, Jeannine has found her passion helping seniors rightsize their belongings and their lives. Originally from a farm in North Dakota, Jeannine now calls Lincoln, Nebraska her home, where she lives with her husband and two children. To learn more about Jeannine's work, go to https://easyrightsizing.com/
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Jeane Blasberg has always been a writer. She is the bestselling and award-winning author of Eden; The Nine; and her latest novel, Daughter of a Promise. Most recently, she has reinvented herself through regenerative farming with her husband in central Wisconsin. She joins us to talk writing, midlife pivots, and the arc of healthy farm life.
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Sherry Cantrell is a child of the speedway and from Speedway. That is the town and the home of the Indy 500 where her stepdad and mom worked. Sherry did not follow in the family footsteps literally, but she has led a full life culminating in her involvement with the Sun City Poms, who are celebrating their 45th anniversary this year. As the president of the Poms, Sherry is at the helm through this time of celebration. She graduated from Purdue University and then from Webster University for her Master’s degree. After retiring, Sherry and her husband relocated to San Antonio. From there, they started spending some of their time in Sun City, Arizona. This is where her fate and connection with the Sun City Poms was sealed. To learn more about the Sun City Poms, go to https://suncitypoms.org/
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Never imagine yourself hiking the Appalachian Trail, The Pacific Coast Trail, or The Salt Path? Great!
Nicola Ross is an environmentalist, National Magazine Award–winning journalist, and the bestselling author of six Loops & Lattes hiking guides, with over 50,000 copies in print. She lives with her partner in Caledon, Ontario. Her latest book, 40 Days and 40 Hikes: Loving the Bruce Trail One Loop at a time is now available. Nicola reminds us that there are many beautiful options in nature that don't require excessive time and resources.
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Barbara McLean and her partner, Thomas, have a 50-year career overseeing their sheep farm, aptly titled Lambsquarters, in Ontario, Canada. Alongside the constancy of this farm’s work, Barbara is a spinner and weaver. She taught English and Gender Studies at Guelph University and has written 2 books about life on the farm: Lambsquarter’s and her latest, Shepherd’s Sight: A Farming Life. Barbara is joining us today to share more about Shepherd’s Sight, her time on the farm, her insights on the changes that have occurred over the past 50 years, both for the farm and herself.
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Mary 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, stories, and articles have appeared in magazines and literary journals. Join us to hear Mary talk about her adventures and influences, notably her mother and grandmother. To learn more about Mary, go to: https://www.marycarrollmoore.com/
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Vermadel 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 as an International Dark Sky Park. Learn more about the Crystal Coast Stargazers, and how you can do your part to help curb light pollution here: https://ccgazers.com/ Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CCgazers/ and Instagram at ccgazers.
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Out 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
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Fred 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 on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sweetvalleyranchnc/
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Have 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 Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Marianne Borowski is a retired biochemist and lifelong biker. She has ridden
cross 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 about trails in your area by going to https://www.traillink.com/
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Neil 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 all seasons. Learn more about Neil and the Gibsonville Garden Railroad at https://gibsonvillegardenrailroad.com/
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
For 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://funnyfarmrescue.org You can also check out their weekly live webcam every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. EST on Facebook at Funny Farm Rescue.
Support the Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Eliseo 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 Show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Alice 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 stories was long-listed for the CBC Nonfiction Prize.
Alice publishes a weekly Substack newsletter, A Considerable Agehttps://aconsiderableage.substack.com, which features personal essays. She has recently began serializing the chapters of her book as well. It’s called Mother Land. https://alicegoldbloom.substack.com/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Join 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/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Jenny 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.com/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Jonathon 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 show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Cheryl 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 show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
In 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 show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Did 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, check out this article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/edgemere-knit-wits-group-makes-hats-for-infant-cardiology-patients-at-childrens-health/ar-AA1k3LAM
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Dr. 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!
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Michelle 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/
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Jennifer 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. And check out their website to learn more about how you can be involved. https://www.looseendsproject.org/
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Two 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/
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Join 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.
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
For 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.
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Landis 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 been a tireless advocate for established and new writers. His latest book, a smart, funny mystery co-written with Sarah Archer is Death by Podcasting. Join us to hear more about Landis' passion for the written word and more. Check out his website as well! https://landiswade.com/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Joanna 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 of retreat and residence for artists of all ilk to come and create in Peterborough. In 2016, her photographs appeared in a book called Sheds, written by Howard Mansfield. Jo also works freelance and covers many subjects including but not limited to architecture, PR, and events. Join us to hear more of Jo's life and love in the White Mountains of Western New Hampshire.
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Millard 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.com/p/New-Ground-Family-Farm-100070184325635/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
For 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://www.warrenpublishing.net/bookstore.html Learn more about Hugh at https://hughwillard.com/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Dr. 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 to hear Dr. Altman share her passion and good work on behalf of seniors and loved ones in need of community supports.
Here are a few healthy aging resources that Dr. Altman highly recommends:
- Local Senior Centers/County Departments on Aging offer a wealth of services and information
- http://www.orangecountync.gov/AWT-Show (for the Aging Well Together Show)
- Longtermcare.gov – great general overview on range of long term services and supports
- AARP.org – helpful tips and tools for aging in place and caregiver resources
- ncdoi.gov - for help with Medicare-related information in North Carolina
- NC Serious Illness Coalition: www.ncsicoalition.org
- https://www.ncsicoalition.org/insights/ (for the Friday Facts programs)
- All About Seniors (the company I work with for Senior Living Support): www.allaboutseniorsnc.com
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Erin 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 and inspirations.
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Brad 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 the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Naturalist, 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/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
In 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 show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Sari 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.com/ https://oldster.substack.com/ https://adventuresinjournalism.substack.com/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
A 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.
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Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Merle 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 learn more about Merle, go to https://merlersaferstein.com/ Follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/merles1212/
Support the show
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Rona 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 magazine based in Canada. She retired from this hard-charging and most fulfilling lifestyle in 2016 and quickly found herself asea. She knew she needed direction, a purpose, and thus we arrive at the latest addition to her family, Casey, the Beagle mix, and by the way, a very good boy, who quickly commanded her and husband Paul's hearts and who shares a co-lead in Rona's latest memoir. Join us for this heart tugging and warming conversation.
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Dr. 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 her feature article in Our State magazine https://www.ourstate.com/the-recipe-keeper-of-eastern-north-carolina/ and through her weekly column in the Neuse News https://www.neusenews.com/index/2023/6/19/cooking-with-tammy-kelly-little-blue-bite-loaded-with-nutrition-fresh-blueberries-are-back
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Todd 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 beginning to sell his family sauce in stores and online. Tune in to hear Todd's inspiring story of determination and commitment to his family and his dad's legacy. To learn more about Todd, go to https://getaroundbrown.com/ or on many social media sites at getaroundbrown. His sauces will soon be available on Amazon.
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
After 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Join 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/
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Lifelong 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 your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Approaching 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
In 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 our new normal. Martha Stewart calls it, “… essential reading for anyone who is growing older, or whose loved ones are growing older – in other words, for all of us!”
For over 20 years, she also has been the editor-in-chief of Focus on Healthy Aging, a monthly newsletter with a wealth of helpful information. Learn more about Dr. Leipzig at https://www.rosannemd.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 email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Mercedes 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 email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Stephen 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 time through love, loss , and aging during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is a joy and a wonderful model for living a full and authentic life. Learn more about Abby at https://www.abigailthomas.net/
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Kered 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 article sharing more of Kered's and Art With Elders good work: https://localnewsmatters.org/2023/03/30/seniors-artwork-lights-up-their-lives-and-sfs-city-hall/
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Dan 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 as we celebrate Earth Day 2023 with Dan and Cappy. Learn more about Dan at https://www.leadwithnature.com/ and look for Cappy's essay Believe in Magic, a wonderful memory of time spent as a child with her dad on the Cape Cod shore. You can read her story in the May/June issue of Yankee Magazine.
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Lori 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Mark 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Sandi 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://sandishortt.com/ as well as by following her on Instagram (sandishorttconsulting) and Facebook.
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Join 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Author/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 and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Dr. 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. Dorian Mintzer at revolutionizeretirement.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 email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Following 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.
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Mrs. 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Scott 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Ruth 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Dr. 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 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Our 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 Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Pam 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.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 email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Podcast 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? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Jan 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 of finding meaning in activities and volunteering. Oh yes, and she also gives us fun teasers about the identities of Freemales and Wasbands with Jhobbies and more! You can learn more about Jan and her good work at www.JanCullinane.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 email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Theresa 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 wounded and skittish pooch, Nala, whom they nursed back to health. They've revised a mobile pet care business. They've had many adventures and met many wonderful new friends along the way with expectations and much more in the time ahead. Tune in to hear their version of Nomadland on this week's show.
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to...
Jacquie 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 sharing their wisdoms. Join us as Jacquie shares stories from her show and from her experiences in retirement.
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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to...
Ross 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, Ross is quite comfortable in his work and family life, listening and supporting those around him with renewed intention. Join us to hear more of Ross's journey to joy.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Creatives 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 Entrepreneurship at Duke University. You can learn more about Samantha at www.SamanthaShad.com and Carl at http://carlnordgren.com/
And check out Carl's radio show here: https://chapelboro.com/category/wchl/features/exploring-your-creative-genius
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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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 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 business of fostering it within and around ourselves. You can learn more about Samantha at www.SamanthaShad.com and Carl at http://carlnordgren.com/
Important books that were referenced in this episode included:
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Among 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 week's show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Dr. 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 hear him on WHUP Pass the Hat at https://whupfm.org/show/pass-the-hat/ Join us for this great conversation!
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Amanda 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, they are enjoying bountiful time with their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Join us to her their life-affirming stories.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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New 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 essence as a writer. Join us to hear Diane speak to the joys of her journey and what may lie ahead.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Susan 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 week to hear Susan share a few success stories highlighting the value and love of this important ministry. To learn more about this wonderful resource, go to https://www.petsfortheelderly.org/
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Leanne 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 past 8 years, Leanne has grown a steady following with her positive posts, pictures and inspiring quotes. Her blog, Cresting the Hill, explores relevant themes for women (and men actually) over age 50 and has scored among the top blogs across several "Best Of" publications. Join us to hear more of Leanne's journey and check out her blog at https://www.crestingthehill.com.au/
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Dr. 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 of supporting the greatest quality of life experience for seniors. To learn more about Dr. Yang and to hear her podcast, go to www.miayangmd.com
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Mary 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 the Vietnam War, he settled on the West Coast while Mary Ann remained in the Northeast. Respective focus on family and careers curved their paths in different directions until they arrived at the point of not having seen one another for 27 years. It was at this point that Mary Ann suggested to Patrick that they take a trip together to reconnect. Patrick enthusiastically agreed and a short time later they were greeting each other with loving embraces in the Calgary Airport before beginning a joyful reunion via a Road Scholar trip to the Canadian Rockies. Hear more about their trip and their many joyful reminiscences along the way on this week's show.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Lynn 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 include a comprehensive set of Senior Arts as part of the competition. Winners from the local and state level Senior Games go on to compete at the national level. To learn more about the NC Senior Games, go to www.ncseniorgames.org To learn more about the National Senior Games Association, including links to other states games, go to www.nsga.com And please consider joining in the fun as a participant or volunteer.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Gwen 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 your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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We 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 questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, www.findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Author 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 Write Stories from Start-to-Finish (Owl Canyon Press, 2020). Last week we chatted about her non-fiction memoir about her family’s struggles with their mother’s Alzheimer’s. The Last Childhood: A Family Story of Alzheimer's, initially published by Three Rivers Press, was recently revised, updated and reissued through Amazon. Shifting Forward is an accessible and friendly stroll through the mercurial landscape of our pandemic times. This collection of essays from her Psychology Today column reads as an Everywoman addressing topics as diverse as embracing sable colored hair and wearing wrinkled linen to redirecting your inner Dr. Frankenstein. Who knew all of the uses for baking soda? Organically shared through her lens as a life-loving senior, her stories will find reach and value for folks of all ages.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Author 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.
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Pickleball 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 Ambassador for the Senior Games, advocating and spreading the good word about this wonderful organization. He's on the show this week to share some of his experiences with pickleball, especially with respect to how socially engaging and community oriented this sport is. Please join us!
To learn more about pickleball and to find places to play, go to places2play.org and usapickleball.org
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Dr. 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 and empty nesting for Peter and his wife. Tune in to hear more of Peter's story.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Dr. 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 Age experiences.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Out 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 in her work to break down these barriers towards greater community involvement and access to helpful resources for grandfamilies. To learn more about grandfamilies, go to Grandfamiles.org and Generations United at www.gu.org.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Dr. 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 to the importance of enthusiasm and gratitude for best navigating our transitions and sustenance in our retirement years.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Nancy 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 for the caregivers, navigating the common path of quibbling siblings, solo aging and more. You can learn more about Nancy and her important work at www.nancyruffner.com and NavigateNC.com.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Pippa 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 and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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After 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 life very seriously. I choose to approach it with large doses of humor and joy.”
And then Sharon made the move to retirement, literally and figuratively. She wound down her career at the University, gave away many of her accumulated possessions, sold her house, and moved to Baltimore to be near one of her sons. In the few months since making the move, she has surprised herself by learning how to use a chop saw and more of the intricacies of pipe organ tuning and repair. All parts of mailing jeeps home one piece at a time. Another credo that Sharon aspires to comes from Kurt Vonnegut: "Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."
Join us to hear more of Sharon’s latest ventures of living life with large doses of humor and joy.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Dr. 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 to come. He is the founder and CEO of Growing Greener: Climate Action for a Warming World and is working assiduously alongside many partners of all ages to spread the good word and deeds. Learn more about Mick's work at growing-greener.org.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/findingbeautyinthegray)
For 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 for a close knit community of folks age 50 and older. On this episode, Tricia shares with us more insights into the structure and character of OLLI at NC State.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/findingbeautyinthegray)
Joy 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 has encouraged both ladies to write books. Myra's book, A Better Me A Better You is a relatable work about healthy eating, exercise and other experiences. Joy's latest book, Jayla Jumps In, shares the story of 11 year old Jayla who learns of her mother's past love of Double Dutch. This inspires Jayla and gets her moving with her mother to support her mother's path to better health. You can check out their books here:
https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/myra-morgan/a-better-me-a-better-you/paperback/product-vqjjdr.html?page=1&pageSize=4
https://www.amazon.com/Jayla-Jumps-Joy-Jones/dp/0807560766
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
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Hailing 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 Age Circus and in the crafting of his books, All My Fathers and Design Your Age. In this episode, Tuck shares stories of his youth and work that remind us all of the importance of always seeking connection.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/findingbeautyinthegray)
Jonathan 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 and likely final retirement from teaching at a few universities, he still sees the unbroken circle of stage calling him, carrying him forward.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/findingbeautyinthegray)
For 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 of folks living their best Third Age lives.
Have 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 on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!
Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/findingbeautyinthegray)