2 Boomer Broads Podcast

Our guest in this episode was Jeff Williams, who is a Baby Boomer entrepreneur business starter. He works exclusively with people over 50.  Jeff says many Baby Boomers are becoming entrepreneurs. Last year there were over 150,000 startups by people over 55.

Coming to you this time from Baby Boomer Business Central

Baby Boomers are refocusing on a new work style because the way to get flexibility in work is to create it yourself. He has a network of coaches and has been a business starter for 25 years. Over the years he has perfected the process to take people to a fully functioning business in a short period of time. (usually within 16 weeks)

His licensed business starter coach program is called “Virtual Incubator™ Coaching Program.” He’s trained 5 other coaches in addition to himself and they cover the U.S.  The process includes coaching, business planning, and all the business services an entrepreneur needs all packaged together.

Jeff will work with any type of business that is viable in the marketplace and if he sees the entrepreneur will be devoted to moving forward. Most of his clients have worked corporate jobs and now have their own consulting businesses. He also helps people convert hobbies into businesses.

Another business model he works with is social businesses, where people are not really looking to make a ton of money but want to take care of a social problem or cause. They can take advantage of having a B Corporation. It’s a legal entity that allows a business owner to combine a non-profit and a for-profit in the same legal entity.

Even though his business name includes the word “incubator” it’s not about attracting investors to acquire funding. Most of the people he works with who are over 55 have money and are spending under $10,000 to start their business. Jeff’s company provides everything an entrepreneur needs except space so that’s why he calls it a Virtual Incubator.

The majority of his client’s value time flexibility more than the amount of money they will make. Jeff is into working for social justice but realized he had to make money himself in order to be able to help the causes he believes in.  Corporate funding for non-profits has been cut way back, so you have to be able to make money in order for them to work. You also have to be able to provide a profit and loss statement just like any other business.

A typical client of his wants to make 40 – 60k a year, do work they love every day, work with people they like and want to do it for 6-7 years.

He provides entrepreneurs staff support just like they had when they worked corporate jobs.  Each client is given a coach who helps the entrepreneur with the business planning process, and a team to do 14 business starter tasks. (everything from a domain name to Quickbooks installation.)  One fee – one place – that’s it. They provide logos, website, social media profiles, email marketing account, legal registration, marketing plan, sales prospecting plan, plus 6 months of monthly coaching calls with their coach after they launch.

Jeff says the mortality rate for small businesses is as high as it is because of lack of support after launch. He also believes the small business administration is not equipped to give the kind of coaching his company provides.

The biggest problem people have after they launch a new business is how to get more sales prospects. Jeff has a marketing background and has worked with people who are experts in lead generation.  They are constantly adding new resources in this area for their clients.  If you don’t sell, you don’t have a business.

His father, who was in sales, told Jeff, “If you learn how to sell, you will never be unemployed.”

Business starter tips for aspiring Baby Boomer entrepreneurs

Sit down with a piece of paper and write down ONE thing. “What is the problem I can solve with either my interests, my hobby, or my skill.

Our guest Bill Powers had a successful career working in the Big Pharma world as a toxicologist with a Ph.D. He is now a full-time thriller novelist.

Coming to you this time from the podcaster’s pharm pasture.

In his former career, he was a guy who worked on making drugs safe so nothing bad happened when you took them. But, he’s always been interested in writing and stories.

He tried penning a Sci-Fi novel in grad school, but it was “horrible” and he put it aside. Ten years ago, he tried again while still working his Big Pharma job and published his first book called “The Pharm House.” It’s a thriller set in the pharmaceutical world.  The main character is a toxicologist (like Bill) who is trying to raise a child alone and grow his business after becoming a widower. He gets mixed up in a plot to take over the company which would make him the fall guy and puts him in danger of losing his job or going to jail.

The Big Pharma World

We were curious to find out what it was like working as a toxicologist and asked him to explain about all the scary side-effects we see in drug commercials. He said you rarely ever experience the side-effects because the drugs are tested extensively. However, since it’s possible, all side-effects must be listed.

We also wanted to know why drugs are so expensive in the U.S.  He told us most drugs are discovered and developed by big pharma companies in the US and Western Europe. The cost of research and development (R&D) has to be absorbed by them. They exist to make a profit for shareholders and not just for the good of mankind. He did a write up recently that states the cost of developing a drug in the U.S. is approx. 2.8 Billion dollars and takes 10-12 years before it’s available.  The entire process is resource intensive.

The Canadian government caps the price of drugs. The drugs they purchase are made in the U.S. but are sold for a lower price in Canada.

If too many limits are put on the cost of development, drug companies will lose their investors and go elsewhere. Limits also have an impact on research and development. It’s a balancing act.

His new books

Bill’s second book, “The Torch is Passed” is already out and a third “The Lost Codicil”  is in the works.  All three are part of a trilogy based on “The Pharm House.”

Self-publishing for aspiring novelists

Getting his books published was a long process. At first, he got stuck, so he locked himself away for 2 weeks until he finished his first book.  He tried going the traditional route of getting an agent and collected 30 rejection letters.  Frustrated, he put his book aside, then rewrote it and tried again 5 years later. This time, he got another 30 rejection letters, but they were all electronic so he felt he made progress.

Then, he signed a deal with a small independent publisher. They published “The Pharm House,” but the deal wasn’t good, so he broke his contract and self-published the book himself.  Since then, he has stuck to self-publishing.

Self-publishing vs. traditional options

Amazon has changed the traditional publishing route entirely. There used to be 15 main publishing houses and now there are only 5.  Also, it can take 6 months to find an agent, 6 months for the agent to find a publisher, and then with editing and scheduling it can take 1 – 1 ½ years before the book actually comes out.

Our guest is Doreen McGettigan, who is a novelist and book coach. She’s the author of “A Stranger in My Recliner” and “Bristol Boyz Stomp.” Both are stories that were inspired by incidents that happened in her life.

Coming to you this time in a fabulous broadcast studio in a clothes closet in Cucamonga.

As a book coach, she works with many business professionals. One of her talks as a sought-after speaker is called, “Books are the new business card.” She encourages her business clients to write books to increase their credibility as experts in their fields. She helps them find agents and publishers, shows them how to self-publish and gives them marketing strategies. She also coaches authors of fiction and non-fiction books.

Doreen previously worked as a feature writer for newspapers and wrote on a variety of topics including entertainment and politics. However, even though she was an experienced writer, it wasn’t easy becoming a novelist.

“Bristol Boyz Stomp” is about the murder of her 26-year-old brother by a group of teenagers with road rage.

Doreen says road rage is an important topic to think about because people over the age of 50 are becoming the worst offenders.

Her brother was coming home from band practice with some of his band members. Someone in a car motioned him to pull over. Thinking they were fans, he pulled over. One of the teens punched him in the face. A fight ensued but after it was over her brother and his friends offered them tickets to their concert, got back in their car and sat there for a while, in disbelief that the fight had happened. Suddenly two cars blocked them in. 7 kids came out of their cars and beat her brother and friends with hammers and baseball bats. They knocked out her brother but his friends got away. Her brother died and the others were badly hurt.

“A Stranger in My Recliner” is the story of when her husband brought home an elderly homeless woman and she ended up living with them for two years.  He went to a meeting on a cold October night in Philadelphia and it was starting to sleet.  When he came out of the meeting an elderly woman who was carrying groceries fell down in front of him.  He helped her up and insisted on taking her home. After riding around for a while, the woman (Sophie) finally admitted she was homeless and lived in the woods.

She had mental health issues and her family had disowned her. Doreen spoke with her family and describes them as disgusting. Sophie was 80 years old when she moved in with her and was a handful, but eventually, they fell in love with her. Doreen’s family and her neighbors were supportive and  some helped care for Sophie when they were away.

Sophie hated to bathe, which was a challenge but Doreen had worked with hospice patients and eventually bribed her to take a bath by offering to take her to McDonald’s and Walmart. While Doreen was washing her, she felt a lump on her neck that turned out to be cancer. They took her to the doctor but Sophie refused treatment. They took care of her as long as they could until it got to her brain and she was too dangerous to have at the house.

Doreen tried the entire time to get Sophie help through agencies, politicians, etc., but got nowhere. According to the law, if a person is living in a home, they are no longer considered to be homeless. We discuss the plight of the homeless, the mentally impaired, and laws regarding them.

Doreen’s book coach tips for writers

* Most new writers sit down and try to write a story from beginning to end. But a story doesn’t always flow out of us like that. She says it’s better to start with an outline and then title your chapters. (knowing they can be changed later) Then you can work on various parts of the book when you’re inspired.

We interview Karen O’ Neil who has written a workbook called, “A Guide to Getting Affairs in Order.” Everything you need to know if someone kicks the bucket.

Coming to you from the lounge of Holly’s a-political pastry pastiche

Some time ago, Karen’s ex-husband was diagnosed with 3-6 months to live. She traveled across the country to help out and he was able to tell her where everything was and what his last wishes were. He only lasted 4 weeks but there was solace in knowing that she and her family were doing exactly what he wanted. This experience inspired her to put together the workbook.

Karen makes the disclaimer that she isn’t giving out any legal advice because she’s not an attorney. She just offers suggestions and the book for people to write down where their important documents are.

It’s important to communicate and let people know what you want.

You can’t just keep all your documents online. You need hard copies.

In her system, she doesn’t ask anyone to write down any sensitive information. Instead, you should write down where you are keeping things like your Social Security card.

She recommends that you make a copy of all your financial statements. On each statement, write down who is the beneficiary of that account. Keep all your statements in an envelope or a file next to your tax files. That way you can go through the file once a year, take out anything that is no longer pertinent or any accounts you’ve closed,  and add new accounts.  If anything happens, the beneficiary only needs to take the death certificate and their ID to the financial institution to begin the claim process.

If the account is in your trust, then write “trust” on the statement.

Important documents you need to have in order to get your affairs in order

Everybody needs a will or trust. (It depends on the size of your estate) If you have any property, it’s best to have a trust. Discuss this with your attorney. To find a good trust attorney ask your friends who they have used.

You also need an Advanced Health Care Directive. This lets people know what you want to be done medically if you become incapacitated. Make sure to communicate with the person you designate so they are aware of their responsibilities. The obvious person is not always the best person to carry out these important tasks. You can custom make an advanced health directive to your situation. For instance, if your children are in another state, you may want to designate someone to take care of business until they arrive at your bedside. If you have one custom made, you will need to get them notarized.

The third thing you need is a Durable Power of Attorney. This kicks into place when someone goes into a coma or otherwise cannot speak for themselves. If you don’t have it in place, you may have to go to court and it can get messy.

All three of the documents above require communication with the people involved to make sure they want to do it and know the details.

Many people worry about what will happen to their pets. Karen says, “if you don’t write down your instructions the ASPCA could take them. If a relative wants the pet, that’s fine, but if no one comes forward, the pet will be taken away. You don’t have to put this in a will or trust but it can be written down in the workbook.

Do not put any of the three documents (Will/Trust, Advanced Health Care Directive, or Durable Power of Attorney) in your safe deposit box. You can put copies in there but not the originals. The reason is, the box may get sealed with all your instructions in there.

Good places to put these documents are in a fire proof lock box or your refrigerator. (It’s also fireproof)  Karen says to label it “zucchini something” so that no one will try to eat it. (especially your kids)

Make sure you let people know where your workbook is.  It doesn’t make sense to hand out copies because you ma...

We interview Poppy and Geoff Spencer, who are relationship coaches and authors of “1 Billion Seconds.” Geoff lost his brother on 9/11 in the World Trade Center. We talk about what is going on these days with recent tragedies and how to deal with them.

Coming to you from the spacious broadcast studios high atop the local Denny’s.

One Billion Seconds is 32 years of time and that’s the amount of time Poppy and Geoff were separated. She was his college sweetheart. As a 21-year-old boy, Geoff wasn’t thinking too far ahead and both lacked communication skills. She slipped out of his life until they connected again 32 years later. During the time they were separated, Geoff lost his brother. The book is about their journey and then getting back together again. 6 years ago, they found each other again and have been married for the last 5 years.

Geoff’s brother George was in the South Tower, which was the 2nd tower hit, but the first to crumble. Reporters interviewed Geoff soon afterward. When the reporter asked Geoff if it was okay to be interviewed he felt a presence around him encouraging him to do it. After the 2-hour interview was over he felt his mantra was to be that he wasn’t going to let tragedy be the end of his brother’s story.

He ended up doing multiple interviews, radio and other appearances to promote the uplifting message that we can’t let sadness be the end of anyone’s story.

On the tragedies that have happened recently:

When Fred Rogers was a little boy and he saw bad things on TV, (radio) his mother would say , “Look for the good people.” (the helpers)

After the Twin Towers came down people around the world banded together with massive support for the victim’s families.

However, in the aftermath of recent tragedies, like the gorilla who had to be put to death at the zoo, or the boy in Florida who was killed by an alligator, there have been more accusations than sympathy. Social media has been the culprit because it’s easy to blast opinions online. But despite all those uninformed tweets and posts, it’s important to remember all the many  good people who help out like the ones who lined up for hours to give blood after the Orlando shooting.

Dealing with a person who has gone through a tragedy

Don’t stay away from those who have experienced tragedy or trauma, even if you don’t know what to say. The most comforting thing you can do is be there for them without saying anything. Show them love and that you’re on board with them. Hold space for them with your wordless presence and listen.

Writer Rhiana Maidenberg said, “I think we judge the family to make the situation less painful to bear so we can distance ourselves from this sort of heartbreak.”

Geoff discussed some of the reactions he and his family got from people who helped them after his brother’s death. We also talked about how it affected people everywhere. Please listen in to the entire podcast by clicking the player above to hear the stories in their entirety.

If you endure a tragedy

If a tragedy happens to you it’s important to find empathy, a purpose, and find out what you can do to honor the victim who died.  That will give you a way to replace the angst you have.

Relationship Coaches

The Spencer’s are both relationship coaches and deal with all sorts of issues including people having transitional time in their relationship. They define what they do as relationship coaches as being architects, while a psychologist is more like an archeologist. They are also very results and goals oriented.

If a client is in a fight or flight point in their relationship, they help them see where they are by holding space without judgment and let them figure...

In this episode, we (the 2 Boomer Broads) go to a celebrity screening and party for the film Florence Foster Jenkins and get to stand next to and drool over several stars including HUGH GRANT. We both live in Los Angeles so celebrity sightings are sort of a normal thing. Still, it’s always fun.

Coming to you from that exclusive screening room from that big Hollywood Agency

The event took place at Creative Artist’s Agency (CAA) in Century City. Some of the stars we spied included Bud Cort,  Remember Harold and Maude?

Just FYI – Rebecca also starred in a film with Ruth Gordon.

Our celebrity sightings at the screening party

Ed Asner – Lou Grant from the Mary Tyler Moore Show – He is still doing one-man plays and voiceovers at the young age of 86.

Morgan Freeman – That man is in everything.

Andy Garcia – We noticed he hung out at the bar a lot.

Beau Bridges – Looking good Beau.  Also a bar fly.

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick – If you listen to our podcast you too will be one degree of separation from Kevin Bacon.

Did we mention HUGH GRANT? – We are both still drooling.

Simon Helberg – He’s Howard from The Big Bang Theory – A little bitty guy but adorable.

Sharon, a sister blogger, who has another midlife blog, invited us to the event and told us she saw JON HAMM – Darn!  We missed him. Rebecca’s seen him in person before, but still.

We love going to screenings

Rebecca attends many TV Academy and Special Effects Society screenings but at those, the cast and/or production team are usually on stage doing Q & A’s. This screening was for celebrities, agents, and other above the line folks to see the film and then mingle with each other at the party afterward. They wanted about 20 midlife women to attend as well and that’s why we were invited.

Both of us loved the film, which takes place in 1944. It stars Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, and Simon Helberg and is the true story of a woman – Florence Foster Jenkins –  who was a patron of the arts. She loved to sing but her voice sounded like a screeching cat. Her dedicated husband, played by HUGH GRANT, arranged private concerts so she could perform for friends who enthusiastically cheered her on.

Meryl Streep, who studied opera in college, hilariously replicates Florence’s screeches.  As always, she is brilliant in bringing to life all the nuances of Florence’s multi-faceted persona.

HUGH GRANT is equally stellar in his role as well and we believe it’s one of his best performances ever. The relationship is complicated because Florence contracted syphilis from her former husband and her husband, though intensely loyal to his wife, has a girlfriend on the side.

Simon Helberg is a jazz and classically trained pianist and does a remarkable job as Florence’s horrified new accompanist. You just want to pinch him, he’s so cute.

We caught a glimpse of Meryl Streep’s ponytail as she was walking out of the building after the party. Sharone says she almost tripped over her but Rebecca must have been daydreaming. (probably about HUGH)  Just FYI, if you see the movie and think Meryl’s put on weight  – FAT SUIT! Meryl is tiny in real life.

Other celebrity sightings during our lifetimes

Rebecca worked on a play in the 80’s called “Tamara”, as one of the serving wenches. (actually, she was a glorified waitress)  The show was unusual in that the audience followed the actors around the American Legion Hall in Hollywood into different rooms. Some of the leads were celebrities like William Schallert from the Patty Duke Show, Angelica Huston, and Theresa Saldana. During the year she worked on it, a massive amount of celebrities came to see it.

We interview Tara Reed, an artist who has also written the book, “What to do Between the Tears – A Practical Guide to Dealing with a Dementia or Alzheimer’s Diagnosis in the Family.”

Her dad had Alzheimer’s and passed away soon after this episode was recorded. The 2 Boomer Broads send her our love and prayers.

Coming to you this time from the 2 Boomer Broads Bombay Café.

Tara talks with us about normal aging and how to know if you may be at risk for dementia.  Do you worry that you’ve been forgetful and think you’re losing your mind? Listen in by clicking on the player above because she has some wonderful tips to share.

What is normal aging and what is not? How to know if there is a problem on the horizon and what to do about it.

You may have a parent right now who has dementia like Tara did or you’re worried about your own mental health.

Tara refers to those who are concerned as the “worried well.”  Most of us are fine but we worry every time we forget a word.

What inspired her to write the book was her experience going through it with her father. When he was in his late 60’s his personality began to change.  Her family didn’t know if he was ill or he if was suddenly becoming a grumpy old man.

Tara hadn’t seen her parents for a few months and went to visit them. She noticed that her dad was acting strangely and asked her mom about it. Her mom broke down in tears. Sometimes changes in personality are easier to notice if you aren’t living with them every day. Her dad’s behavior wasn’t typical for him. Determine a person’s normal baseline. If they suddenly start cussing up a blue streak when they don’t normally cuss, that is a warning bell.

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for memory loss and Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. There are hundreds of different types. Dementia means your brain isn’t working properly and is declining in some way. Alzheimer’s occurs when proteins and plaques get into the brain, break connections and cause problems. Vascular dementia is a lack of something like blood flow to different areas of the brain that cause you to forget.

How to tell if someone has dementia

Early signs of dementia are related to the frontal lobe of the brain behind the forehead. It affects attention, focus, shorter term memory, inhibition, and judgment. 1 in 3 people over 85 have some level of dementia, which is normal.

What you can do to prevent it.

It helps to eat a healthy diet of non-processed foods and do exercises to work your frontal lobe. Tara’s dad was a college professor who used his mind constantly. He was reading a 900-page book about the universe at the time he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Tara learned that he wasn’t using the correct part of his brain because he mostly focused on learned knowledge and facts. Instead of re-reading facts you already know, always be learning and doing new things.

Sudoku, word searches, and other activities that require focus and attention are helpful.  Crossword puzzles are not as effective because you are using learned knowledge rather than new knowledge.

Learning a new song or poem requires focus and attention and uses the frontal lobe. However, if you repeat the same song or poem over and over it becomes memorized and automatic. Another way to exercise the frontal lobe is to learn a new language. Rather than try to cram it all into your brain in a short amount of time, learn a new word every day.

In addition to eating healthy, Tara also uses a water filter to clean out toxins and heavy metals, which can disturb the brain. Avoid exposures. Be careful what you breathe, bathe in,  put on your skin, and ingest into your body. Avoid eating too much sugar. Physical exercise helps as well.

We interview Dr. Deanna Brann, author of “Reluctantly Related Revisited; Breaking Free of the mother-in-law daughter-in-law conflicts.”

Coming to you this time from the Hollywood Professional Wrestler’s Ring.

Deanne works with both mother-in-laws and daughters-in-laws but not together.

A mother-in-law who will do or say anything, no matter what is a big problem for a young wife.  The husband, who has dealt with his mother his entire life avoids the problem. If the mother-in-law, for example, is dropping by unannounced or exhibiting other irritating behavior, it’s important for the wife to set boundaries.  The couple needs to be a united front when confronting her.

There are also times when you can use humor, especially if both women have stark differences such as religion.

It’s important on both sides to get to know each other and develop a relationship independent of the son/husband. That way both women see each other as real people.  However, boundaries still need to be put into place. The mother-in-law is not the daughter-in-law’s daughter.  She has her own mom.

To some extent, it depends on each woman’s personality. Deanna says women, more often than men, take things too personally and don’t see the situation the way it really is.

[bctt tweet=”Having trouble with your #in-laws ? Listen to the #podcast with @2BoomerBroads and @DeannaBrann” via=”no”]

When children are involved

Once the couple has children the in-law situation becomes more complex. Both women have their own style of child raising and they don’t always mesh.

Sandwich Generation

Many Baby Boomers are taking care of their parents as they age, which can cause more problems. The wife often ends up taking care of her mother-in-law because that’s the way it works out. This changes their roles. When they are taking care of both children and parents, it’s even more complicated.

Marital vs In-law issues

Sometimes a couple can’t differentiate between an in-law issue and a marital one.  You can’t fix a mother-in-law problem if you’re having difficulties in your marriage. A wife will want her husband to fix the problem (or fix his mother) but that’s not his job.  He can help his wife understand his mom better or ways to deal with her, but can’t fix the problem itself.

The same issues may keep coming up and never get resolved. When the words “you always do that,” or “you never do that” are shouted out that usually means it’s a marital issue.

A mother-in-law has to learn to let go of her son. She has to move on from her mom role and let her son be the man he’s supposed to be. Each side needs to be respectful of each other. Both women have an important role in the family. The mother-in-law is the son’s mother and can’t be shut completely out.

Weddings are usually where the problems start. It’s important that both mother-in-law and wife find a commonality. The husband needs to stay out of the middle and let the two women work it out themselves.

In-laws who are besties

Both women may become such good friends, the husband feels left out or picked on.  Or, the couple gets divorced and the old in-laws show up at the parties of the new husband and wife.

No matter what, it’s important to learn to make the relationship between mother-in-law, daughter-in-law and husband work for the grandkids.

You can visit Deanna’s website at www.inlawSOS.com

Purchase her book here.

Our guest on this episode is not only interesting but smart as well. Her name is Sheila Grinell and she has had a successful 40-year career as the creator of science museums. Before entering her second act of life, following her mother’s heart attack and stroke that led to losing memories, words and a sense of herself, Sheila felt compelled to write her mother’s story down. She then realized she wanted to write more. Not analytic material like she did at the museum, but something looser and broader. And so, she wrote a novel called “Appetite”

Coming to you this time from the Boomer Broads Self-Realization Center

About the Book

The book is about the conflict between Boomer parents and Millennial kids and how you should lead your life. It’s told from the point of view of the parents. The mother is a suburban housewife, and the father a cancer biologist who runs a lab in Manhattan. Their marriage has become tired over the years. They suddenly find out their 25-year-old daughter wants to run off and marry a man from India who is a guru. Naturally, the parents freak out. We won’t tell you the rest. You’ll have to read the book.

Sheila would love to know what you think of “Appetite” and speaks at book clubs via Skype or Facetime. She lives in Phoenix and if you are located there, or in Tucson, she would be happy to show up in person.

She asked some of her friends a question. When you were young and growing up, did you identify as the Roadrunner or the Coyote?  Most say the Roadrunner, but as we get older, we start identifying as the coyote, because we’ve fallen off many cliffs in life. What about you? Who do you identify with? Please leave a comment below. Sheila believes you need both the Roadrunner and the Coyote to have a good story.

The book is called “Appetite” but isn’t focused on food. It was given that name because people have such a wide range of appetites. The cover is an empty plate with a window that looks out under stormy distance.

She compares the Boomers with the Millennials and finds that in some way we are the same and in others very different.

Sheila Grinell – Math and Science Major

Sheila went to the Bronx High School of Science in New York City and she was picked to be in an experimental math program for three years. Her teachers and the program was outstanding and she absolutely loved it.

She went to college with all sorts of math and science. However, because she loved math, she thought she’d have to take physics.  Electricity and magnetism stumped her and she became overwhelmed. Because of it, she changed her major to English composition.

She realized that what she liked about math and what she liked about poetry was the same thing. Each case is like a little language. A poem or math is in a box and there are operations you can do with each. When you get really good at it, you can jump out of the box. She found it was all about learning how to learn so it didn’t matter what she majored in.

After college, she went out in the world with her education in math, science, and humanities but felt she didn’t know how the world works. She decided to enroll in graduate school and major in sociology. Because she had grown up and went to college on the east coast, she went to California for graduate school where it was “all happening.”  It was right after the summer of love. She loved it because it was so interesting.  She soon realized that she was not an academic by temperament. Despite that, she finished graduate school and then moved to San Francisco.

Science Museum Creator

Sheila Grinell ran into Frank Oppenheimer, the brother of J.

Our guest on this week’s podcast is Howard Harrison, author of the book, “Now They Make it Legal – Reflections of an Aging Baby Boomer.”

Coming to you from the visitor’s room at the Rocky Mountain Collective

Howard says the title of the book expresses (in jest) his “bitterness” that the symbol of the 60’s and 70’s counter-culture is finally legal as the youngest Baby Boomers enter their 50’s.

He has been a writer his entire life, primarily as a corporate speech writer and says he wrote “corporate propaganda” for company publications. He’s also won awards and made a decent living. However, he got to the point that he didn’t want to write for corporations anymore and decided to write books instead. “Now They Make it Legal” is partially a memoir in which he puts his own spin on the events that took place during our Baby Boomer youth.

In the book, he compares the similarities and differences between young people today, who have begun protesting and joining grassroots campaigns like Bernie Sanders, with the way we did it in the 60’s and 70’s. For example, the violence taking place during the present political “dog and pony show” is not nearly as scary as when Bobby Kennedy was shot in 1968.

We also talk about the fact that a 70-year-old Jewish guy (Sanders) was able to inspire the younger generation and how it gives us Baby Boomers hope.

Just FYI – In this show we make a feeble attempt to steer away from being political no matter how much we don’t like orange people. – Also, this show was originally recorded during the primaries.

Other topics Howard Harrison and the Broads discuss

Medicare – When Howard was writing “propaganda” for corporations, he worked for several health care firms. He wonders why every other industrialized country on the face of the earth provides healthcare for its citizens except for the richest country in the world. (U.S.) Despite what you hear about heath care clinic lines in Canada and other countries, not one of those countries would chuck their healthcare program for ours. We are the only country that puts its healthcare system in the hands of FOR profit insurance companies.

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers need to make a good living but we are the only country that has the payer profiting from it in the private sector.  We also pay more for healthcare than any other country by far and our outcomes are no better than the middle of the pack. Based on that, how can we say our healthcare system is better than everyone else’s?

Howard goes in depth on the Medicare and Healthcare issue so make sure to listen in. It’s enlightening and funny.

Marijuana – Howard also goes into depth about legalization – Listen in

The 2-Party System and the primaries –Howard has definite opinions that make sense. Even if you aren’t a liberal, it’s well worth a listen.

The Generation Gap – Today the GAP is based on technology rather than rebellion.

Rebecca mispronounces Electoral College and then realizes it while editing. Oh well, no one is perfect. (she says, kicking herself)

Find Howard Harrison at www.nowtheymakeitlegal.com

You can purchase his book on Amazon by  clicking here.