Zestful Aging

As a psychotherapist, I’m always open to ways we can feel less anxious and alone. Some of us have a destressing toolbox which might include yoga, meditation, crafting, pets and the like. I’d like to add one that is a bit less conventional. Thrift stores provide a kind of mini community and sense of shared purpose (the thrill of the hunt) that’s important in times like these. We’re in the middle of an epidemic of loneliness, and I find that frequenting my local thrift is a way of feeling less isolated. There’s no pressure to have long involved conversations with fellow thrifters. Instead, one might ask, “what is the color of the day?”, “can I slide my cart by you?” and engage in small talk that helps us feel a bit more connected. I’ve had sweet conversations that have left me feeling a little more energized and uplifted. There’s also something about rescuing abandoned quality clothing that is satisfying to me, but may be an acquired taste. Some have expressed concerns that buying from the thrift stores takes away resources from people with less means. I’ve had concerns about this myself. That’s why I was happy to be able to put this question directly to Adam Minter, an expert in the global second hand trade (his episode link is below). From my experience, the racks are so stuffed at the thrift stores there’s more than enough for everyone. I was also surprised to see U.S. used clothes at a recent trip to a chain thrift store in the Caribbean. There’s simply too much stuff. Thrifters agree that the thrill of the hunt is addicting. It’s fun to find that needle in the haystack of discarded items. I’m partial to cashmere–especially vintage–and I’ve been lucky to find many beautiful pieces that I’ve taken home and restored. They are a pleasure to wear. Thrifting isn’t for everyone. But it might be worth trying if you like hunting for hidden gems and being around people who like that too. You never know what you will find. https://sites.libsyn.com/456789/adam-minter-where-does-your-discarded-stuff-go Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

I was invited to interview my friend and colleague, Dr. Rich O’Neil, who hosts the podcast Check Up From the Neck Up on WCNY. We’ve co-hosted his show a couple of times before and it is so fun. We tape at the public radio station WCNY and you feel like a real radio star in the sound booth. So many buttons! He wanted to talk about holiday stress. I quipped, “Politics, alcohol and family…what could go wrong?” We have a spirited discussion about how to navigate prickly family get togethers. My personal favorite tip is using the statement, “I don’t talk politics or diets.” Find out more about Dr. Rich O’Neil here: https://www.wcny.org/cycleofhealth/ Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

If you’ve listened to Zestful Aging, you know that I love nature and am fascinated by its healing properties. In this episode we’re going to talk about a profoundly healing practice you may not have heard of. I do ask that you keep an open mind, because it sounds unconventional until you understand the science behind it. Dr. Laura Koniver is a holistic physician, and internationally recognized grounding advocate. Her work has been featured in many news and media outlets. She’s going to explain why grounding is essential to our good health. Find out more about Laura and grounding here: https://intuition-physician.com/ . Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Modern society has conditioned us to see aging as a depressing deteriorating experience with a growing list of pain symptoms and an even longer list of prescription drugs. Some of our conversations can devolve into a comparison of newly discovered ailments. Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh was an emergency room doctor and experienced her own health crisis. In her search for answers, she was led back to Ayurveda, the ancient healing tradition of her South Asian roots. She’s written a new book called “The Longevity Formula” with the mission of honoring the passage of years and ushering in the second stage of life as a time full of vitality and wisdom. This book combines Ayurvedic principles and modern medicine to reduce inflammation, enhance cellular repair, and boost vitality. Find out more at https://www.avantikumarsingh.com/ Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

You may remember my conversation years ago with documentary filmmaker Sky Bergman. Inspired by her close relationship with her grandmother, she created the film “LIVES WELL LIVED”, where she interviewed 40 people aged 75 and older to find out their thoughts on what was a life lived well. Based on the success of this film, she’s written a new book, "Lives Well Lived — GENERATIONS," which distills the wisdom gained from the film and celebrates the essence of life shaped across generations. It explores finding purpose, supporting one another, and mastering the art of thriving through life's ups and downs. Find out more about Sky and her projects here: https://www.skybergmanproductions.com/ Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Are you as confused as I am about what to do to prevent Dementia? Are you considering buying the supplements made from jellyfish advertised on TV? Well we get the straight story from a researcher and clinician who is an expert in Dementia. Dr. Mitchell Clionsky is the co-author of “Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your Brain” and he’s going to help us make sense of all of the science. Find out more here: https://braindoc.com/ Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Are you one of those women who would rather talk about sex than money? Midlife women can put their heads in the sand about their financial future, and it’s to our detriment. I know for myself money brings up a lot of anxiety. Will I have enough to retire? What about long term health needs? Ruzanna Queenan helps women who live life to the fullest grow their financial confidence and financial wealth. Growing up in Soviet Armenia with a single mom, she experienced the stress of financial vulnerability. She learned that financial planning has the power to help us feel more in control of our lives. Ruzanna helps women break through the mental and emotional barriers that stand in the way of their financial security through education, community, one on one support, and a long-term investment strategy that is aligned with their needs, values, and purpose. Find out more about Ruzanna’s unique approach: https://www.queenvestllc.com/about Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Many of us are aware that hunger exists in our communities. Some of us may even donate our non-perishables to food banks. Guest Kate Artessa and I talk about the initiative that she directs that brings attention to hunger in our community. Empty Bowls is a grassroots, innovative and creative approach to addressing hunger. It’s a brilliant collaboration of ceramics makers, community restaurants and organizers. The local Empty Bowls is a collaboration with Syracuse University and its Ceramic Arts Department, Clayscapes Pottery, in support of the Interreligious Food Consortium and its mission. For more information, please visit https://www.ifccny.org/ Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

When our child has mental illness or a substance abuse problem, we often focus on the adult child and getting them help– if they are willing. But how do the adult child’s difficulties impact the mother and how long is she responsible for parenting her troubled child? If he or she is violent, does she call the police on her own child? Professor and advocate Dr. Judith Smith has written a groundbreaking book that has sparked a long overdue conversation about the hidden and prolonged struggles of older mothers with adult children facing serious mental health and substance use challenges. The author of “Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change”, Dr. Smith Draws from her extensive research and the heartfelt stories of fifty women, Dr. Smith coined the term "difficult adult child" to describe the strain of dealing with issues such as serious mental health, chronic unemployment, and substance abuse disorder in one’s adult children. Find out more at : https://www.difficultmothering.com Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Would you give a kidney to your spouse? That’s the question that this week’s guest, Michael Small, answered. We originally connected around his podcast I Couldn’t Throw it Out. Michael has performed in the NYC storytelling show “Tale”, and his plays have been presented in the “New York International Theater Festival” and “The HOWL Festival”. On each episode of I Couldn't Throw It Out, Michael tells the story behind one of the treasures he has saved since he was 6 -- including 15 years of interview tapes from his days as a reporter for People Magazine (Tupac being one of them!). It’s a great, energetic conversation that spans his fondness for the late folk singer Melanie and his dedication to his immune-compromised wife. Enjoy this highly entertaining and tender episode. Check out his website: https://www.throwitoutpodcast.com/ Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

One of the great pleasures of podcasting is being able to connect with like minded souls all over the world that I would probably never meet in daily life. And even with all of its problems, FaceBook has introduced me to people I can’t wait to connect with. Liezel Graham is an indie author, textile artist, and writing-for-wellbeing practitioner who considers beauty to be the antidote to many of life's difficulties. Her work is informed by motherhood, the resilience of the human spirit, beauty-in-the ordinary, and healing the inner child. She lives in Scotland and loves nothing more than long walks, taking lots of photographs of moss, and a good cup of tea! Find out more at LiezelGraham.com. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

We are in an era marked by social, environmental and spiritual crises. As a psychotherapist I am seeing more and more people feeling lost and in existential despair. Many of you know that addiction rates and suicide are at record highs. What can we do to respond to these immense challenges with some grace and resilience? Renowned meditation teacher and author Oren Jay Sofer has created mindfulness programs for organizations, companies, and apps including Apple, Lumosity, Calm, 10% Happier, and Simple Habit to name a few. His new book, “Your Heart Was Made for This”, gives us a practical roadmap to face and transform our greatest personal and global challenges. Find out more at OrenJaySofer.com. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Imagine being successful in all of the ways society defines success: the house with the ocean view, two successful sons, a kind and loving husband and a satisfying career. Yet something wasn’t quite right. There was a longing that wouldn’t go away. Right in the midst of middle age, Suzette Mullen admitted to herself that she was in love with her best friend of almost twenty years, a woman. Author and book coach, Mullen tells us the story of how she sacrificed everything to be true to herself in her award winning memoir, "The Only Way Through Is Out". Find out more at Yourstoryfinder.com. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

If you’ve followed me, you know I am no fan of dieting and restriction, because we all know where that leads– in a shame cycle that erodes our relationship with ourselves. Caroline Drury is a transformational coach who focuses on, as she likes to call it, "the age of wisdom", meaning that her midlife clients have an abundance of life experience and wisdom that they haven't yet tapped into which can help them on their transformation journey. These extraordinary women are at the age where they now know better and are looking for help to do better and BE better in lasting and sustainable ways; no more fad diets and no more restriction. Her areas of coaching focus are strength training, macro-based nutrition, and lifestyle & mindset work to help women rediscover themselves after too many fad diets and "weight loss challenges". To do this, Caroline provides sound strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle practices that focus on building healthy fitness and nutrition habits over time, and developing a loving self-disciplined but self-compassionate relationship with oneself....sometimes for the first time. Check out her website: https://carolinedrury.fit/ Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

For anyone who has ever feared water or wished they’d learn to swim, this episode is for you. I met our Susana Mueller at a podcasting conference I recently attended. She introduced herself and said she thought she knew me. A chemist originally from Cuba, now a resident of Florida, I don’t think our paths ever crossed. But we talked about her podcast, On the Green Plantain, and I heard her captivating story of overcoming her fear of swimming as an older adult. This was no traditional learn to swim program. Learn how Susana overcame intergenerational trauma and became a swimming instructor. It is a touching and inspiring story. Listen to her podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cuban-stories-on-the-green-plantain/id1525139062 Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Enjoy this rebroadcast of my interview with Alua Arthur, death doula and now New York Times Best Selling Author of Briefly Perfectly Human. This book on the importance of thinking about our death has resonated with many of us, including top influencers from media outlets including The New York Times, NPR and CNN. Alua Arthur is the Founder of Going with Grace, an end of life organization, which supports people as they answer the question “What must I do to be at peace with myself so I may live presently and die peacefully?” As a death doula and attorney, the perspective Alua has gained from her unique career allows her to help her clients focus on the practical and emotional needs while contemplating the end of life. Find out more at Goingwithgrace.com. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

Maddy Dychtwald is recognized by Forbes as one of the Top 50 female futurists globally, for nearly 40 years. She has been deeply involved in exploring all aspects of the age wave and how it’s fundamentally transforming our lives and the world at large. She is an internationally acclaimed author, public speaker, Wall Street Journal blogger, and thought leader on longevity, aging, the new retirement, and the ascent of women Her new book combines her professional and personal passions: Ageless Aging: Women's Longevity Bonus and the Art & Science of Living Longer. Find out more at https://maddydychtwald.com/ . Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

Anyone out there believe in synchronicity? Many of you know that I am walking part of the Camino de Santiago in May. I’ve been thinking, planning and talking about it alot. One night I was scrolling and I fell upon a group called Women of a Certain Age–WOACA. I was intrigued. Then I was surprised– more than 10k members. Comments stating how special this group is. They debated on the best walking shoes and if you really need a pee rag. I looked up a little bit about the FB group’s administrator…wait! A social worker? Yup. Synchronicity. Alysa Golden is a psychotherapist and coach who lives in Toronto. She is also the creator of Woaca the Camino, a community of almost 12,000 women who are over the age of 50 and either planning on or walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Last year Alysa edited the book “Hearing the Camino's Call” containing 58 stories written by women in the group about their experiences walking the Camino. FInd out more about WOACA here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/woacathecamino Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

I was thinking about who would be a great guest for Earth Day. I wanted to talk with someone who is committed to nature, has a zestful attitude towards life and has shown resilience in her life despite dealing with painful losses. If she was an adventurous traveler that would be even better. Then I realized I knew just the woman! Irene Mazzocchi is retired from the Department of Environmental Conservation in New York State and organizes annual bird counts in the Northern part of NY. Since her retirement, she continues to volunteer for environmental causes and even created a bird quiz on her private birding Facebook group. She’s particularly partial to protecting the birds who make their home on the dunes on Lake Ontario. Irene also travels frequently with a pack of her women friends, and is known as a passionate and energetic force. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Holly Greenberg is a professor of Art at Syracuse University specializing in printmaking. She’s long been aware of how toxic some art materials are, but has recently realized how damaging the mining and production practices are that are used to create these art supplies. Since that realization, she’s committed herself to stop using manufactured art materials. More recently, Holly became aware of invasive plants and has become interested in habitat restoration. In the last year and a half, Holly has begun to create works of art that highlight the importance of creative native plant habitats for other living creatures. Find out more at HollyGreenberg.com. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com