Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

At 75, Arlene Borner may not be running marathons, but she is still running—and skiing on snow and water and playing pickleball. She may no longer be teaching children how to swim or speak English in places like Sweden or Bangladesh, but she is teaching future teachers at her local college how to help students find their voice through service learning. Arlene’s purpose continues to be shaped by her love of adventure, movement, and staying open to where life might lead next. She rides her own Harley Davidson, touring the countryside alongside her husband of 55 years. Her commitments also include five grandchildren who, following in her example, “pursue their passions and don’t quit.” As she reflects on growing older, Arlene says, “I don’t love aging, but I work hard to have a positive mindset and guard against deficit thinking.” "Purpose changes yet it doesn’t, influenced by life choices. Discovering your real purpose might just come from sticking your neck out." - Arlene Borner Connect with Arlene Email: arleneborner@gmail.com Thanking Our Sponsor—-Plymouth Place, LaGrange Park, IL. Discover the extraordinary at Plymouth Place—a vibrant community designed for active adults. Elevate your retirement living experience with tailored independent options, premier amenities, and a full continuum of care. Explore diverse living choices and embrace the joy of a life well-lived. http://plymouthplace.org Recognizing the Age-Wise Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts for women 50+, featuring women’s stories and addressing topics that promote the pro-aging movement. MEET: Sally Duplantier, gerontologist and founder of My Zing Life, whose mission is to help older adults live their best lives longer. Sally hosts Wellness Wednesday, an online program featuring cutting-edge researchers, best-selling authors, and health professionals. https://myzinglife.com

Diane Heiler shares her deeply moving journey of caring for her husband during his 20‑month “death sentence” from an incurable disease — a journey she chronicles with raw honesty and artistry in her memoir, A Widow’s Fire: An Intimate Memoir of Heartbreak, Survival, and Moving On. With poetry and art as lifelong companions, Diane turned to daily journaling to navigate the relentless progression of her husband’s illness. Out of that quiet practice, poetry emerged — a lifeline and a mirror to her grief. In her poem See Me, she writes: See me… standing here with my broken heart in my hand… blowing kisses into the air and sending love up into the heavens… so far from where I am. After his passing, Diane retreated to her mountaintop home in North Carolina, seeking solitude in her sorrow. Months later, at her sister’s urging, she reluctantly attended a country club dance — and unexpectedly, a new chapter began. From her poem My Christmas Blessing: I have been blessed with the presence of living in the light of someone special. He is gone from me now. But the afterglow of his goodness and his love is still shining through the windows in his heart and gracing my existence. I follow a light in the pathway he has drawn for me and see that in his wisdom he wants me to be safe, happy, and fulfilled. I am blessed. Diane’s story reminds us that love continues in many forms — and that healing often begins in the most unexpected moments. “We stay true to ourselves even when others unfairly judge us.” - Diane Heiler CONNECT WITH DIANE: Email: misspriss12923@me.com Book: A Widow’s Fire: An Intimate Memoir of Heartbreak, Survival, and Moving On. Acknowledgments Plymouth Place: Thanks to our Sponsor, Plymouth Place in LaGrange Park IL where senior living is redefined with options and opportunities to fit individual needs and preferences. Age-Wise Collective: Women Over 70 is proud to share the spotlight with Gerontologist Sally Duplantier, host of Wellness Wednesdays. These free and recorded webinars feature experts on topics about healthy aging. Visit MyZingLife.com to learn more.

When Patricia (Pat) Koko, age 82, reflects on her life’s work as a young homemaker turned consummate volunteer and community change-maker, she often says things like, “that was kind of fun,” or “there just was a need”—-simple phrases that belie an extraordinary legacy. Driven by a lifelong love for older people, Pat has spent more than 50 years helping to create, grow, and sustain programs and services that support older adults. What began as local, grassroots efforts in and around Oak Park, IL, evolved into initiatives that attracted state and federal funding and ultimately became models for nationwide programs serving older adults. Pat’s impact continues today. In addition to being a volunteer extraordinaire, she is the owner of RBC Jewelry Designs, where she creates stunning gemstone pieces—many of which she generously donates to fundraisers benefiting older adults. "The services I helped create many decades ago are enduring and robust, and I’m still here to help where help is needed." - Patricia Koko Connect with Pat Email: patriciakoko@hotmail.com Pat Koko: for 50 years, a volunteer extraordinaire in & around Oak Park - Inside Edge PR Thanking Our Sponsor—-Plymouth Place, LaGrange Park, IL. Discover the extraordinary at Plymouth Place—a vibrant community designed for active adults. Elevate your retirement living experience with tailored independent options, premier amenities, and a full continuum of care. Explore diverse living choices and embrace the joy of a life well-lived. http://plymouthplace.org Recognizing the Age-Wise Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts for women 50+, featuring women’s stories and addressing topics that promote the pro-aging movement. MEET: Sally Duplantier, gerontologist and founder of My Zing Life, who’s mission is to help older adults live their best lives longer. Sally hosts Wellness Wednesday, an online program featuring cutting-edge researchers, best-selling authors, and health professionals. https://myzinglife.com

Living high throughout the 1960s and early ‘70s filled Suzi’s life with glitter, dazzle, and celebrities who sadly, broke her heart. As a luxury designer of women’s clothing in New York, Suzi was sought after by big name clothiers. This is Suzi’s life: from design to yoga to memoirist to children’s tales. She always chooses “gratitude over grumpy” and carries with her learnings from Krishna, which hold her steady while living a life in which “nothing stays the same”. “What people forget about when they’re living their lives is that everyone dies. “I don’t want to waste time with anything negative.” Suzi’s latest adventures include The Doggos, her 6-book children’s series about the love that dogs bring to children’s lives. As a digital artist, Suzi creates all the beautiful illustrations herself. “After success, my whole sense of self changed.” - Suzi K Edwards CONNECT WITH SUZI: Email: suzikedwards@gmail.com. Facebook: / suzi.k.edwards Memoir: Quiet Mind Crazy Heart Children’s Series: The Doggos Thanks to our Sponsor: The Chicago Women's History Center was founded in 1971 with the mission to elevate the contributions of ALL women to advance the historical record of the city of Chicago; To empower younger generations to learn about the history of Chicago women’s social justice; and to enrich the historical research by presenting our history through an intersectional lens inclusive of LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, ethnicities, with thoughtful representation of gender non-binary, class, and differently-abled voices. https://www.chicagowomenshistory.org Recognizing the Age-Wise Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of this group of women-hosted podcasts that feature stories from women 50+ and on topics that promote the pro-aging movement. If you enjoy listening to our podcast, then you might like Wendy Battles, host of Reinvention Rebels - a podcast that celebrates bold women 50-90+ who are rewriting the aging narrative and designing the lives they want to live. https://reinventionrebels.com/

n writing her memoir, BROKEN PIECES (and the fun things you can do with them), Reedy is hopeful that her life's missteps might help others. When she began studying Method Writing with a brilliant teacher, “her life's stories came pouring out like a waterfall", she said. It took a few decades to complete her manuscript to her satisfaction. She found searching for a publisher tedious and finally chose to self-publish with Paper Raven Books. In her book, Reedy shares the many phases of her life, the ups and downs, successes and failures, in a raw honest account. Through her publication journey, she met three other first time published memoirists, all women in their 70s, and now they are collaborating on a book to inspire future memoirists. Academics was not Reedy’s strong suit, but she excelled in the arts, ballet and acting. Unfortunately, she had a much older mentally troubled brother she had to contend with. Her desperate attempt to escape family dysfunction took a traumatic turn causing her to lose her footing and stumble down a dark path. But there was light at the end of the tunnel and a happy ending in sight. "It doesn’t always help if your friends sympathize with you when you’re in a bad situation." - Reedy Gibbs CONNECT WITH REEDY: E. ReedyGibbs@sbcglobal.net Memoir: Broken Pieces and the fun things you can do with them https://www.amazon.com/s?k=broken+pie... A special thanks to our sponsor Plymouth Place in LaGrange Park IL where senior living is redefined with options and opportunities to fit individual needs and preferences. A shout-out to Age-Wise Collective member Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, host of Wisdom at Work: Older Women, Elderwomen and Grandmothers on the Move, features energizing and inspiring conversations with older women activists and artists the world over. Https://www.wisdomatworkpodcast.com

Debra Morrison invites us to reimagine our lives where money takes on new meaning and purpose. Founder of the We Can Do It Women Movement, Debra works with mature women (50+) who are ready to stop defining themselves by financial missteps and start moving—intentionally and courageously—toward what still matters most. Money, Debra reminds us, is part of the picture, but not the whole story. It sits alongside physical, mental, relational, and spiritual well-being. Her mission is to “reframe women’s mindsets around wealth…be in relationship with our money as a tool…and uplevel women’s confidence around money,” including managing risk. With compassion and clarity, Debra creates a space where women can “ imagine ways to flame the embers, to move on to the next thing”—aligning their financial lives with their values, purpose, and soul’s calling. Connect with Debra email: dlm@debralmorrison.com https://www.wecandoitwomen.com/ Facebook Group: https://www.wecandoitwomen.com/group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debralmorrison/ https://www.instagram.com/debralmorrison/ https://www.youtube.com/@DebraLMorrison Book: My Husband Died, Now What? (2025) Thanks to our Sponsor AARP-IL Meet Age-Wise Collective Member Illana Landsberg-Lewis, podcast host of Wisdom at Work—Older Women, Elderwomen, and Grandmothers on the Move…disrupters and influencers. http://www.wisdomatworkpodcast.com

Advocate Franca Zanovello shares her deep beliefs about beauty for women of all ages. Growing up in Italy, and living in six different countries, influenced Franca’s earliest experiences with skin care. Experiencing massage by blind people in Myanmar helped her understand how touch alone elevates wellness through body massage. In a large family of women, she learned to take care of her skin, body and hair, and her grandmother, who was a mid-wife, taught her science and explained to her how the body functions at a very young age. Today, Franca works with Skintensive, a dermatologist, efficacy-driven skin care brand designed for maturing skin. Franca’s approach to the innovation and science behind skin care is the reason we support and appreciate Skintensive’s support of us. 20% discount at https://www.skintensive.com with code WO70 + free shipping. “Growing up in Italy and living in South Asia influenced my belief in the deep connection of body and mind and my view of beauty as a reflection of health.” - Franca Zanovella Fading Memories Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined is a member of the Age-Wise Collective, 13 women-led podcasts that feature women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. This month’s Collaborator is Jennifer Fink, who hosts Fading Memories, a podcast for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. It provides insights and guidance on communicating effectively, managing stress, and coping with grief and loss.

Rabbi Jo David grew up in a secular Jewish home in New York. Her mother said, “the woman’s job is to always serve the man”. She didn’t think so and in the ‘80s decided to become a reformed Rabbi. In 2001, when the World Trade Center was destroyed, she was living in Manhattan. The next day she couldn’t get off the couch and for 10 years suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome. By the time she was able to walk out of her apartment by herself, Jo had found that writing eased her pain. Soon she was creating spicy Regency romance novels under an alias. The idea for these books came to her in a dream. This vital, vibrant woman, founder of mobile story hours for Headstart, believes “you must give yourself permission to imagine every choice”. “I was in my late 60s when I realized I didn’t need everyone’s approval.” - Rabbi Jo David

Attachment is interwoven throughout Phyllis Booth’s professional and personal life. Now Clinical Director Emerita of The Theraplay Institute in Evanston, Illinois, Phyllis was instrumental-—more than 50 years ago—-in developing a therapeutic approach that strengthens relationships between parents and children through attachment-based play. She credits her parents and the Mormon Church for instilling high expectations that “fit well for advancing a new field.” Phyllis says, “my very good and productive life has been beautifully and tenderly supported”—by her late husband, colleagues, family, and friends. As she approaches her 100th birthday in March 2026, Phyllis has already begun celebrating, starting with a family gathering at her cabin in Utah. “I continue to educate parents and practitioners about building better relationships through attachment-based play.” - Phylllis Booth Connect with Phyllis: Email: phyllisbooth@yahoo.com Website: Phyllis Booth – Theraplay Selected Publication: Booth, P., & Jernberg, A. (2010). Theraplay: Helping parents and children build better relationships through attachment-based play (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass. Thanks to the Age-WISE Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-WISE Collective, a group of women-hosted podcasts featuring stories from women 50+ and conversations that promote the pro-aging movement. Suzy Rosenstein, host of Women in the Middle: Loving Life After 50. This weekly podcast explores a wide range of topics designed to help women get excited about their lives again. Women in the Middle Podcast | Stop Feeling Stuck and Bored Today

Like most people, when Deb Krier was told she had metastatic breast cancer in 2015, she went into a tailspin. She previously worked for an oncologist and later, the American Cancer society and still was not prepared. What stuck with her was something the oncologist had said years earlier: 99% of survival is in your head. Deb shared with us how hard she worked to maintain an upbeat attitude. Always upbeat, throughout her life, she was always independent. As an only child, raised in the mountains of CO, her mother encouraged her to take care of herself. However, chemotherapy treatment almost killed her - 7 weeks with septic shock in the hospital, in and out of ICU and 30 surgeries. This experience and two other bouts with cancer led Deb to devote her life to helping people live life while fighting cancer. And so, she created the website, https://www.tryingnottodie.live. The site offers information and support packages: Bear hugs and other ways to brighten the lives of people you care for with cancer. It is 10 years now. In addition to managing her website and still living with cancer, Deb volunteers with the University of Colorado, is involved with the National Beagle Club of America and reads and gardens with her husband who is a huge source of support. “We are in charge of how we manage our lives when living with cancer: I choose life.” - Deb Krier Thank you to our sponsor, Women’s Connection, a nonprofit women’s group with chapters around the country. Members are vibrant, accomplished women, age 50 and forward, who connect around common interests, empower each other to thrive, and stick together as they travel through the stuff of life, no matter what comes their way. https://www.womenconnecting.org.  Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-WISE Collective, a group of women-hosted podcasts featuring stories from women 50+ and conversations that promote the pro-aging movement. This week we feature Suzy Rosenstein, host of Women in the Middle: Loving Life After 50. This weekly podcast explores a wide range of topics designed to help women get excited about their lives again. Women in the Middle®: Loving Life After 50 - Midlife Coach

Mary Beth Berkoff, age 82, founded her own PR company in her late 50s—and she still knows how to spotlight what’s good. Long before that, she was a teacher, an injury-prevention pioneer, and a public-affairs leader who helped pass Illinois’s seatbelt and child-restraint laws. Those roles taught her resilience, resourcefulness, and, as she likes to say, that “if you can teach junior high students, you can do anything.” Today, that same spirit infuses her life at The Admiral at the Lake, a continuous care retirement community in Chicago, where her gift for connecting people enriches both her days and those around her. Widowed in recent years, Mary Beth says that loss has both challenged and affirmed the words she lives by: “There is always something good around the next corner… I don’t stay defeated… I believe my life will continue to be great; I just need to do the work.” “There is no lonely where I live in community with other interesting and welcoming people.” - Mary Beth Berkoff Connect with Mary Beth: Email: mbberkoff@mac.com www.theadmiral.org Recognizing the Age-Wise Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts that feature stories from women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. Meet Suzy Rosenstein, podcast host of Women in the Middle: Loving Life After 50. Suzy shares the good, bad, ugly, and sometimes downright hysterical about growing older and making the changes women want so they don’t have regrets in their second chapter.

Denise Poncher’s impressive journey through the arts world has tapped her talents in creative writing, documentary photography, custom art framing, hand-colored photos, collage, and fiber arts. Currently Denise, age 73, is involved in Legacy writing; she describes the process of “sorting through memories and emotions like doing a piece of art.” Some of Denise’s memories are of difficult losses and caregiving. Denise was 7 when her mother died and 19 when her father died. When her daughter, Saschah, died at age 32, Denise became very involved in her granddaughter’s life. Denise married and divorced twice. She took early retirement at age 65 to care for her great-grandson. And she has proud memories: completing her BA at age 39 and MBA at age 42 while parenting three children; having her first solo art exhibit at age 31; protecting the public as an inspector for the Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol-Tobacco-Firearms Explosives; teaching horsemanship at an Equestrian farm. Denise continues to create art, exploring new mediums. and has started a fiber arts group in her local community. "As an artist and writer, the more I tap deeply into my personal experience, the more universal my message." - Denise Poncher

From the moment you hear Lynn Hazan, 70, speak, one thing is unmistakable: performance isn’t just something she does — it’s the lens through which she experiences the world. Born and raised in Canada, Lynn moves comfortably among French, English, and the Spanish and Hebrew she loves practicing. Her multicultural roots run deep: her parents were French citizens born in Egypt and Syria, and her Jewish faith has been a guiding force since childhood. It was at Jewish conferences, surrounded by stories and ideas, that Lynn first understood the power of storytelling to transform communication. Curiosity drives her. Travel energizes her. She has journeyed on multiple humanitarian trips, including a 1995 performing tour in Ukraine that left a lasting imprint. Wherever she goes, Lynn becomes a bridge — sharing stories people-to-people, culture-to-culture. Her own family’s history inspires her daily; she lost her father at 12 and her mother decades later at 92, and their lives continue to shape her sense of purpose. Professionally, Lynn is a force of creativity. A natural salesperson from the start, she built a dynamic recruitment business where imagination and strategy coexist. She channels her love of storytelling into every interaction, coaching candidates to “sell themselves” with clarity and confidence. It’s why she’s widely known as the storytelling recruiter — a title she carries proudly and passes on to her interns like a legacy. “I thrive on creativity, ask a million questions and learn wherever I go.” - Lynn Hazan CONNECT WITH LYNN: Email: lynn@lhazan.com Website: lhazan.com

Long a member of the Apostolic Church of God in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago, Darlene’s faith has been a constant even as she experiences the inevitable ups and downs of life. At 71, Darlene’s serene manner shines through and she peppers her conversation with thoughtful musings based on living a life of scripture. And a successful life it has been, despite an unsettling bout with breast cancer - happily married, blessed with a healthy child born in later life, and a “bonus” son; her career as an IRS agent and accountant fulfill her. Darlene’s interests are varied. She is a lifelong learner full of curiosity about the world she lives in, and loves to travel to jazz festivals in this country and beyond. Conscious of the importance of physical activity and social endeavors, she also serves with the Women’s Ministry and teaches at Children’s Church. "Don’t worry about anything, pray for everything - God will give me peace." - Darlene Norman

When Laurel married in her late 50s, she never imagined she’d become her husband’s full-time caregiver just five years later. Now, twenty years into that journey, she calls it a blessing: “He is so easy to care for…. I have released early feelings of resentment, realizing that I’ve been training my whole life to do this.” As Director of Strategic Initiatives for The Village Chicago, Laurel works mainly from home, crafting a monthly newsletter that shines a light on aging and ageism. Reflecting on life in her late-80s, she says, “I feel more myself than ever before in my life.” “I consider myself a solo ager because I am primary caregiver for my husband and am making all decisions and doing all tasks by myself.” - Laurel Baer Connect with Laurel: Email lbaer938@aol.com The Village Chicago https://thevillagechicago.org Thanks to our Sponsor—Plymouth Place, LaGrange Park, IL Discover the extraordinary at Plymouth Place—a vibrant community designed for active adults. Elevate your retirement living experience with tailored independent options, premier amenities, and a full continuum of care. https://plymouthplace.org Recognizing the AGE-WISE COLLECTIVE Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts that feature stories from women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. MEET: Yvonne Marchese, founder and host of Late Bloomer Living https://www.latebloomerliving.com a podcast for women in midlife, inspiring and cheering each other on, sharing stories and taking bold action, in order to define and rock the next chapter of life and achieve new life goals

Jody’s life reads like a movie—one she ultimately wrote and directed herself. Growing up in isolation and surviving severe trauma, she moved through poverty, rape, separation from siblings, and profound loss—the deaths of her mother, grandmother, and daughter. Yet Jody transformed her pain into purpose, becoming a mother, model, teacher, TV’s beloved adult facilitator on Romper Room, guidance counselor, and author. At 84, she achieved what few could imagine: becoming the Oldest Female First-Time Feature Filmmaker, earning awards and international recognition. Her film, Letters to Stephanie, tells an inspiring adoption story drawn from her decades-long fight to reconnect with her granddaughter. When South Carolina law blocked grandparents from signing the Adoption Reunion Registry, Jody helped change it. Now, at 85, she’s writing her memoir—the final dream on her bucket list. Jody’s journey is a radiant testament to resilience, courage, and the unstoppable power of reinvention. “Enjoy life. There’s plenty of time to be dead. Don’t listen to dream snatchers—and know who your angels are.” - Jody Wilhelm Connect with Jody Email: jodywilhelm9@gmail.com Watch Letters to Stephanie: Letters to Stephanie (2024) directed by Jo-Ann Wilhelm • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd Learn more about Jody: This is 85: Filmmaker Jo-Ann "Jody" Wilhelm Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire Thanks to our Sponsor Plymouth Place in LaGrange Park, IL Discover the extraordinary at Plymouth Place—a vibrant community designed for active adults. Elevate your retirement living experience with tailored independent options, premier amenities, and a full continuum of care. Explore our diverse living choices and embrace the joy of a life well-lived. https://plymouthplace.org Thanks to Age-Wise Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts that feature stories from women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. MEET: Yvonne Marchese, founder and host of Late Bloomer Living https://www.latebloomerliving.com a podcast for women in midlife, inspiring and cheering each other on, sharing stories and taking bold action, in order to define and rock the next chapter of life and achieve new life goals.

Sophy Burnham has lived many creative lives—and she’s still expanding. Known as a deeply imaginative and award-winning author, Sophy has written 17 books across genres: novels and nonfiction, children’s stories, poetry, plays and radio dramas, essays, and journalism. Her groundbreaking 1990 New York Times bestseller, A Book of Angels, sparked a cultural wave of curiosity and conversation about divine presence and mystical experience. Beyond writing, Sophy also embraces her gifts as a psychic, medium, and spiritual director—roles she says emerged organically later in life. Her newest book, The Wonder and Happiness of Being Old (2025), celebrates the unexpected beauty, spiritual richness, and freedom that come with age. It’s a luminous invitation—offering comfort and inspiration not just for older adults, but for younger generations curious about the journey ahead. “Becoming old is about love—love of self, of life, and of still being here to tell your stories.” - Sophy Burnham Connect with Sophy Email: sophyburnham@gmail.com Website: https://sophyburnham.com Most Recent Book: The Wonder and Happiness of Being Old (2025) Thanks to our Sponsor—Women’s Connection Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, Women’s Connection is a member-driven nonprofit organization for vibrant, accomplished women who are 50 years old and beyond. In chapters around the country, including a virtual Coast-to-Coast (C2C) chapter, women connect to enjoy shared interests and empower each other to thrive. https://womenconnecting.org Recognizing the AGE-WISE COLLECTIVE Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts that feature stories from women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. MEET: Yvonne Marchese, founder and host of Late Bloomer Living https://www.latebloomerliving.com a podcast for women in midlife, inspiring and cheering each other on, sharing stories and taking bold action, in order to define and rock the next chapter of life and achieve new life goals.

At 17, Karen Gershowitz caught the travel bug—and never looked back. She’s now explored 100 countries, often returning to dig deeper than the “Disney Lands” most tourists see. Her love of discovery led her from ceramics to international marketing and, eventually, to writing about her adventures. In her books, Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust and Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine, Karen shares stories of meeting locals, trying new foods, and finding connections in unexpected places. Travel, she says, “has opened my heart and changed how I see the world—and myself.” Whether you’re roaming the globe or exploring closer to home, her story invites you to keep that spirit of discovery alive. “If you really want to know the people and the places, go away from where the tourists are.” - Karen Gershowitz Connect with Karen: Email: gershowitzkaren@gmail.com Website: https://karengershowitz.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karengershowitzauthor/ Books: Wanderlust (2023), Travel Mania (2021) ---- Acknowledgements Sponsor: Women’s Connection. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, Women’s Connection is a member-driven nonprofit organization for vibrant, accomplished women who are at least 50 years old. In chapters around the country, women connect to enjoy shared interests and empower each other to thrive. https://womenconnecting.org AGE-WISE COLLECTIVE: Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts that feature stories from women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. MEET: Fit Strong Women Over 50, a podcast for the Becoming Elli Community, hosted by Jill McCauslin and Chris Brown, who interview experts and share their insights about losing weight, keeping it off, and working out. http://www.becomingelli.com

Judy Smith discovered that 70 would be the best year of her life after a devastating public humiliation at 67 by her now ex. Allowing herself to open up to new relationships, social engagement and creative expression, she discovered that life became richer and she felt blessed as gratitude filled her soul. No stranger to discomfort, Judy previously suffered from grand mal seizures and lived with the fear of having one while out in the world trying to live her life. Judy’s first novel, “The Golden Years Glitch…..just when she thought she had it all”, became therapeutic, if a “little revengeful” for her. More than that it is a fictional story born out of her own experiences and embellished with imagination. Filled with humor, Judy discovered she is a writer and now visualizes expanding this book into a future series. “Writing The Golden Years Glitch was therapeutic and a little bit revengeful.” - Judy Smith Connect with Judy: E. Judy@jmaustin.com Book: The Golden Years Glitch

Jan Golden is a one-woman force when it comes to changing how the media and greeting card agencies represent aging. For 4 years, Age-Friendly Vibes has featured cards, buttons, stickers and prints that reflect pro-aging sentiments. Active in the American Society on Aging, Changing the Narrative and the American Greeting Card Association, Jan’s passion to revolutionize how older people are represented on greeting cards is making waves. Influencers in her pursuit include Ashton Applewhite, Dr. Becca Levy, Jeannine Vanderberg (and Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined). She has 120 designs in many different categories and her cards are on the shelves at Barnes and Noble and Paper Source. "Negative self-talk and deprecating humor are harmful, but reversible." - Jan Golden Connect with Jan: E. Jan@Age-FriendlyVibes.com W. Age-FriendlyVibes.com