45 Forward

What if aging is a series of flexible transitions filled with new possibilities? Ron Roel speaks with Stuart C. Kaplan, co-author of Your Aging Advantage: The 7 New Stages of Aging, about a different way to understand the aging journey.
This episode explores:
• Seven flexible stages and the possibilities within them
• How health, mindset, and engagement influence how old we feel
• Practical planning for changing needs
• Dignity, independence, and support in later life

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For Older Americans Month, Ron Roel welcomes back Kathleen Otte, a guest on the very first episode of 45 Forward. After almost three decades in aging services, Kathleen reflects on her work with the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
This episode explores:
• A career dedicated to older adults and family caregivers
• The role of community support in independence and well-being
• Lessons from public service and leadership
• Retirement, family, and the future of aging

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

What would it mean to plan for aging before a crisis arrives? Ron Roel speaks with Greg Olsen about New York's Master Plan for Aging and the needs of older adults, families, and caregivers.
This episode explores:
• How the Master Plan for Aging came together
• Bringing public, private, and community voices into planning
• Caregiving, housing, health, and social connection
• Supporting independence and dignity as communities age

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

How can experienced professionals make their value clear in a changing world of work? Ron Roel welcomes Dr. Angela Mulrooney, founder of Unleashing Influence, to discuss professional identity, reinvention, and her Niche of Genius approach.
This episode explores:
• Concerns about ageism and artificial intelligence
• Clarifying the expertise that makes you distinctive
• Reconstructing a credible professional identity
• Communicating experience with purpose and focus

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

What can one remarkable life teach us about courage and independence? Ron Roel speaks with author Robert W. Norris about his mother Kay and his memoir, The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise.
This episode explores:
• Growing up during the Depression
• Kay's adventurous and independent spirit
• The relationship between a mother and her son
• Remembering family history through storytelling

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

How do you find gratitude and joy after life-changing setbacks? Ron Roel talks with journalist Bob Violino about Life Lessons: How I Learned to Embrace Gratitude, Positivity, Resilience, and Joy.
This episode explores:
• Bob's personal experiences with serious health challenges
• Gratitude and positivity in ordinary life
• Resilience through physical and emotional setbacks
• Sharing hard-earned lessons through writing

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

Living longer raises another question: how can we keep doing the things that matter to us? Ron Roel speaks with longevity researcher and author Scott Fulton about healthspan, functional ability, and the blind spots in how we approach aging.
This episode explores:
• The difference between lifespan and healthspan
• Five functional domains and everyday independence
• Recognizing blind spots and turning them into strengths
• Planning habits and activities around the life you want

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

How do you keep your mind engaged as you grow older? Ron Roel welcomes broadcaster Bonnie D. Graham for a lively conversation about word games, daily puzzles, and the pleasure of exercising your brain.
This episode explores:
• Wordle, Connections, Strands, and the Mini Crossword
• Making mentally stimulating activities a daily habit
• Strategies, curiosity, and the fun of solving puzzles
• The social connections that can grow around shared games

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

Cancer is a concern for many families. What can we learn about reducing risk and the role of prevention? Ron Roel speaks with physician and cancer researcher Dr. Adam Barsouk, author of Outsmarting Cancer: Risk Reduction and the Power of Prevention.
They discuss emerging research, everyday exposures, and why prevention deserves more attention alongside advances in treatment.
This episode explores:
• Cancer risk and the importance of prevention
• Diet, obesity, and ultra-processed foods
• Environmental exposures, including radon and microplastics
• The rise of cancer among younger adults
A conversation about understanding risk and asking informed questions about long-term health.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

What happens when a daughter launches a publishing company… and her 82-year-old mother becomes her indispensable right hand?

In this heartfelt and surprisingly funny episode, Ron sits down with Stephanie Larkin, founder of Red Penguin Books, and her mother Christine Rogeri, an 82-year-old tech-savvy powerhouse who helps run the business — publishing books, managing websites, wrangling social media, and breaking stereotypes every step of the way. Stephanie shares the unusual origin story behind Red Penguin Books — from a nonprofit crisis to coloring penguins red with a Sharpie — and how her company helps aspiring authors bring their book dreams to life. Christine talks about joining the company later in life, mastering new technology, and proving that “80 is the new 60.” This episode explores:

• Reinventing yourself at any age
• The joys and challenges of running a family business
• The deeply personal process of helping authors become published
• The power of creativity, community, and purpose in later life

A warm, funny, inspiring conversation that reminds us: it’s never too late to start a new chapter.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.