45 Forward

Originally broadcast 2022-06-27.
For many decades, the words "work" and "office" were virtually synonymous. But after two years of COVID-induced remote and hybrid work, one thing seems abundantly clear: The future of work is likely to be very different from the past. Many organizations are struggling to get employees back to the office, after millions of workers left their jobs—some laid off, but many others looking for higher paying, more fulfilling jobs, as well a more flexible, balanced lifestyle. In today's episode, Professor Lynda Gratton, a renowned thought-leader and consultant on the future of work, talks about "what is undoubtedly the greatest global shift in work for a century." Even as many of us enter the second half of our working lives, is there a chance to radically redesign the way we work? In her recently published book, "Redesigning Work," Lynda Gratton uses her 30 years of research into the technological, demographic, cultural and social trends shaping work to present an innovative framework to help make hybrid work policies work for everyone. In today's conversation Lynda will examine several key questions facing hybrid work redesign. How do organizations design ways to boost both creativity and productivity, while also providing the flexibility people crave? How do we determine when it's better for employees to work face-to-face, and when is productivity actually enhanced through virtual design? And how do we create hybrid environments that work well for a range of employees—and that people feel is fair and equitable over the longer term? Lynda, who founded London-based HSM Advisory over a decade ago, will also offer several prominent examples of forward-looking organizations that are successfully navigating the journey to redesign work that is more engaging, flexible and ultimately more productive.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-06-20.
As we look around us today, there's no question that this is a time of great transition. For baby boomers like me, it's the inevitable transition to the end of our generation's presence and influence, a passing of our lives, as well as the symbolic passing of the torch, and of our legacy to the next generations. It is also a time of immense disruption, tectonic shifts in our economy and society, with a war abroad, political division at home, a worldwide pandemic and climate change. Of course, such disruption can open up opportunities for new, and sometimes surprising, opportunities in life. But it also precipitates a profound sense of loss and grieving at many levels, starting with our families. In today's conversation, I'll be talking with Susan Capurso, the owner of East End Doula Care here on Long Island, New York, who is widely recognized for her remarkable work guiding and supporting individuals and their families—emotionally, practically, and spiritually—through an end-of-life journey. A three-time author, Susan is the creator of the "The Healing Garden Bowl," a bowl filled with Long Island stones with inspiring messages for you to gift a friend when their going through a personal challenge. Susan facilitates "Family Grief Ceremonies" in the comfort of your home and virtually as well. She is also a "Legacy Creator," and will talk about "The Story of Me," a project she brings to families that is not only a passion of hers, but one that can change the course of history for every one of our listeners today. These are challenging transitions, but also part of life's natural journey, and if we address them with care and openness, they can provide an invaluable opportunity to support and honor both ourselves…and our loved ones.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-06-13.
As we get older, one of the most important ingredients to healthy aging, experts say, is lifelong learning—a self-motivated pursuit of new ideas, skills and knowledge, particularly in the second half of life. But today, we're going to take a very different spin on lifelong learning, as we talk with Roberta Israeloff and George McDermott, the co-authors of a fascinating book, "What Went Right: Lessons from Both Sides of the Teacher's Desk." Roberta, a lifelong writer, is Director of the nonprofit Squire Family Foundation, dedicated to encouraging the teaching of philosophy at pre-college levels. And George, a writer and poet, is a former teacher who also had extensive editorial experience in several business and media fields over the course of his career. The two met in the late 1960s, when George was a young English teacher at Syosset High School on Long Island; Roberta was one of his students. "One of us was the teacher, one of us was the student. Mostly what we did was argue," they recalled. But when they found each other on social media several years ago, they began a steady correspondence that became a book about their own "lifelong learning"—resulting in a provocative and vibrant exchange about their perspectives on public education over time, from inside and outside the classroom. Everything from their experiences as teachers, to the continuous debate over standardized testing, to the perennial questions about how education should prepare students to be "human," to be discerning and productive citizens in a complex, increasingly divisive and unpredictable world. But it is also a story about what Roberta and George learned about themselves; what they remembered; how they reconnected; what went right (and wrong); what changed over their lives; and what has remained the same—what endures. Today's conversation is Part I of a unique 3-part series that will continue in July and August.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-06-06.
Taking care of an elderly loved one—or yourself, for that matter, as you age—can be a complicated challenge. Analyzing the medical options of the healthcare maze, on top of elder law and estate planning, can be confusing and frustrating—even frightening. What's clear is that to successfully navigate this stretch in life's journey, families need a team—a team of advocates to guide them. In today's episode, two top experts, Dr. Georganne Vartorella, the president and founder of Patient Advocacy MD in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, and Ronald Fatoullah, the president and founder of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates in New York, talk about how they advocate for families, each with a unique set of skills, knowledge and experience in their respective fields. Georganne will describe how she and her team work to bring together families, social workers and doctors to communicate effectively about diagnosis, treatments and alternatives for care. What guidance or support they might need? What are the pitfalls of the system? How can we think in advance about available options depending on status and healthcare needs? And how can we remove risks and roadblocks to keep everyone working together for aligned goals? For his part, Ron will talk about how he works with array of experts to help guide families through sometimes difficult conversations to meet the needs of their elderly loved ones, whether they need immediate assistance to face a sudden long-term care crisis; understand the nuances of new laws affecting seniors; or are looking to create an estate plan for future generations. Both Georganne and Ron are steadfastly committed to educating, advocating and empowering people to chart their own path to health, well-being and financial stability. Their goal is not only to improve the lives of their patients and clients, but the lives of all seniors—to be their voice when people may not be able to advocate for themselves.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-05-23.
Ron Roel talks with Sheri Koones about downsizing to smaller homes, practical design, affordability, and sustainable housing options.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-05-16.
Each May, we commemorate Older Americans Month—ever since President John F. Kennedy issued a formal proclamation in 1963 asking the nation to encourage and recognize the countless contributions that older adults make to our communities. This year, the Administration for Community Living, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will lead the observance of Older Americans Month with the theme, "Age My Way," focusing on how older adults can plan to stay in their homes and be involved in their communities for as long as possible. In today's episode, Rhonda Schwartz, a regional administrator for the Administration for Community Living will explain the agency's broad mission: to maximize the independence, health and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers. Indeed, all people, regardless of age and disability, deserve to live with dignity, make their own choices, and participate fully in society.This year is also 10th anniversary of the creation of the ACL, and Rhonda will discuss how the agency has evolved over the years to more fully integrate its work for both the aging and disabilities communities. She'll talk about the agency's approach to promoting planning, participation, accessibility, and making connections—all of which play a role in aging in place—emphasizing that what each person needs and prefers is unique. She'll explain how the pandemic affected the delivery of vital ACL programs and services, how the agency has adapted and continues to deal with the challenges of social isolation, stress and mental health issues among elderly populations. And Rhonda will weigh in on the agency's (and her own) efforts to reframe how we view aging, to recognize how older people not only contribute to the economy, but offer wisdom, their time, experience and talents to enrich the lives of those around them.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-05-09.
Over the last half century, we've witnessed a blizzard of technological advances that have had a profound impact on our daily lives. But if we take the time to reflect for a moment, and look around at the commonplace devices we take for granted, we would discover that many of them had their origin during an era we don't normally associate with innovation—the Middle Ages. In today's episode, author and producer John W. Farrell takes us through a fascinating series of stories in his book, "The Clock and the Camshaft," that describe how dozens of inventions that are part of virtually every aspect of contemporary technology had their roots in medieval times, between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries. John takes us behind the invention of a key mechanism leading to the mechanical clock—perhaps as a means of automating the ringing of church bells. He'll explain how cylindrical axles know as camshafts originated in windmills—centuries before they evolved into a key component of internal combustion engines. He'll take us through architectural innovations like the flying buttresses, which allowed the design of grand cathedrals that dwarfed buildings of the Roman empire. Then there were social inventions such as universities, ignited by the popes as a way to protect the church against the power of European monarchs. And the mariner's astrolabe and the compass—tools that helped spur the expansion of European trade and enabled navigators like Columbus to take real chances outside the comfortable commerce between Mediterranean port cities. Perhaps most remarkable theme throughout John Farrell's stories is the refreshing discovery that many of the world's most important inventions were not only due to the ingenuity and hard work of prominent individuals, but thanks to the work of everyday people whose names may be unknown, but whose legacy laid the foundations of the modern world.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-05-02.
With the relentless march of digital technology over the last few decades, we've seen a contemporary society increasingly focused on making life faster, easier, convenient, more comfortable. But there's an underside to this pervasive technology. Modernity is working against many of our physical, intellectual and emotional needs, according to a growing body of research. It's actually making us age faster. In today's episode, Dr. Sherry Kelly, a widely recognized clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist, talks about her 30 years' experience researching and exploring ways to keep our brain vibrant in the digital age. It's a not an easy challenge. Even as the pandemic recedes, there's still not enough face-to-face time or time spent outdoors; we remain entrenched in a 24-hour news cycle, an enclosed world of social media and streaming; and a largely sedentary lifestyle. Yet each of us has more power than we may think to control aging, says Dr. Kelly. We do have choices and options, but they often require us to be proactive, to change our lifestyle, gain emotional flexibility and revise our personal expectations. A frequent lecturer on neuroscience, health and wellness, and positive psychology, Dr. Kelly will provide her insights on how managing digital technology can help prevent cognitive decline, as well as describe her work with children, researching the impact of digital technology and social media on the development of social skills in youth. Along with her daughter, Kaitlyn Kelly, she founded PositiviTeens Workshops, which provide coaching, and webinars to educate diverse audiences about how digital technology is not only affecting the social skills in youth, but changing developing brains. As a young teen, Kaitlyn was personally impacted by the high school shooting in her childhood hometown of Parkland, Fla., when she witnessed the unfolding violence upon friends and neighbors via unfiltered social media.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-04-18.
We may be recovering—slowly, tentatively—from this long pandemic, as the number of COVID cases decrease, masking requirements are relaxed, and in-person meetings cautiously resume. But there's little sense of comfort in this "New Normal." There seems to be pervasive feelings of stress, anxiety, trauma and depression that continue to linger. In part, we're still grieving the losses inflicted by the last two-plus years—and we're worried that new COVID variants may be on the horizon. On top of all that, we're nervous about inflation, a possible recession, the growing war in Ukraine, and troubling political and social division in our own country. How do we cope with our Anxiety Society? How do we find ways to manage and alleviate what increasingly feels like overwhelming stress? In today's episode, Bill Solz, the director of Stress Solutions of New York, talks about his long career exploring ways to help people who are in emotional pain through quicker-healing approaches. Bill's journey has given him many perspectives: as a teacher, childcare worker, university professor, social worker in both public and private schools, and now a licensed clinical social worker with multiple credentials, including certification in anger management and domestic violence. Bill will talk about how he works with individuals and families in promoting stress reduction and addressing trauma and addictions. He'll explain various treatment approaches he uses to provide quick symptom relief and comprehensive healing—among them alternative therapy techniques such as Havening and the Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy. And, at a time when many of us feel pressured to move on in our fast-paced culture, despite traumatic setbacks, Bill will discuss his work as an advanced grief recovery specialist, leading a support group that incorporates treatment as well.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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Originally broadcast 2022-04-11.
Pediatrician Mark Vonnegut has spent nearly 40 years treating children for coughs, fevers, ear infections, and sometimes more serious medical conditions. Over that time, he has seen the U.S. health care system change in ways he couldn't have imagined as a medical student. Some good, others not so much. But what hasn't change over the span of his career is the commitment to his young patients, whose stories fill the pages of his new book, "The Heart of Caring." In today's episode, Dr. Vonnegut recounts some of the cases that have struck him over the years—and what he has learned from them—as well as the challenges he has encountered in the practice of medicine. He doesn't pull any punches. He talks about the consequences of the privatization of health care and the skyrocketing costs of insurance and pharmaceuticals, and—as a self-described "refugee from mental illness," he points out the barriers to mental health services. But along with his diagnosis of the health care establishment, he offers prescriptions for making the system better and more centered on what's good for patients. Over the course of today's conversation, Dr. Vonnegut, a second-time author, will take us along the journey of a career that is ultimately a love letter to his patients and his profession, with many heartbreaks, but also great hopes.
An archival conversation from 45 Forward.

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