Recorded on August 18, 2025, with special guest Elana’s son, Ben Nachsin. 

In this special episode, recorded while visiting Elana in Florida last August (the day before Elana’s 93rd birthday and Ben’s 26th heart transplant birthday), Ben joins us to reminisce with and pose questions to his mother about everything ranging from his early heart diagnosis to Earl entering their lives to stories that highlight the independent, strong, generous and fiercely righteous person she is, to the legacy she hopes to leave behind - and everything in between. Ben shares the lessons he learned from growing up with such a powerful role model in his life and how he feels those qualities are exemplified in the person he’s become. As is made clear in this episode, the joy and positivity they share for life, and for having an impact on those around them, are just some of the many qualities that Elana and Ben share, prompting Ben to declare to his mom, “I got your heart, I got your soul”. Not to mention the sense of humor, always the humor! 

Larry’s “Saxy Funk” at the end seems tailor made for this episode. 

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This conversation, recorded five months ago in August 2025, just a few weeks before Elana’s 93rd birthday (!), starts out with only minimal technical challenges until Allan saves the day (once again) with his discovery of “echo cancellation”. Once troubleshooting is over, we discuss topics ranging from health challenges, growing old and its continued challenges for Elana (and her sharing of the “old saying” about getting old, which I’ve never heard described in quite that way…!).  She shares that she’s been less depressed lately, as a result of getting out more and especially from dancing, and that she feels blessed by her close relationships with her family. We marvel at all the August birthdays in her family (lots of Leos) including hers, Larry’s, her niece Lynne, Charlie and of course Ben’s Heart Birthday, the day of his heart transplant over 25 years ago on Elana’s birthday (August 19). Before wrapping things up we delve into the current divisive political landscape, questioning whether a cult has been formed within the political party, and agree we’re not in a good place (and continue to not be). 

“Bird in Flight” from Larry seems like the right music to take us out, and a little bit away maybe. 

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Recorded on July 16, 2025; In this conversation, Elana talks about how growing old is not easy, but she still wants to experience joy, especially the joy that comes from her family, and will keep trying to do that as much as she can.  We touch on the significance and power of listening, honesty, and asking for help, which Elana is really good at and has taught me the importance of over the years - something I’ve never been good at but getting better!

We then delve into how she got the way she got - a lady with a lot of chutzpah - from being raised by two mild mannered parents. As two prime examples of her chutzpah, she retells the legendary story of how she and a friend attempted to get into Frank Sinatra’s room at the Waldorf in the 1940s (and I read a letter she wrote to him on 12/29/45) and how she got her father backstage at 1776 on Broadway to meet the lead actor, Howard Da Silva, for his birthday.  Once again she questions where she got her chutzpah and asks herself, “where the hell did I come from?”

Larry’s little ditty, reminiscent of Elana’s Frank Sinatra days - “1940’s Slow Dance”- is quite fitting to take us out.

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Recorded on June 22, 2025, about a month or so after Elana was hospitalized in Florida for a few days with kidney and hemoglobin issues, which we went down to help her through. After a procedure to deal with the issue that was affecting the hemoglobin, she was released and as good as new, the “warrior” (Charlie’s term for her) that she is. 

Post-hospitalization and post-illness, in this conversation we discuss Elana's ongoing struggles with anxiety and the impact of isolation on her mental health, which may or may not be a result of her hospitalization and the toll it took on her physically and mentally. We talk about the affect on her social life and the importance of socializing in keeping depression at bay. We also talk about the role of medication in managing her anxiety and it’s impact as well. Elana reflects on her past, her relationships with family, her regret, and her desire to engage more with her community. Elana shares her insights on the importance of honesty in communication and self-advocacy. The conversation ends with a commitment from Elana to be more social and engage with the community, starting on the following Tuesday when Allan plays piano at Aviva and she’s on the schedule to recite her recently written poem, “Masks”, in which she will affirm her notion that she ‘has no secrets’. 

Larry’s soothing tune, “Fields of Green” is the right way to wrap things up. 

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Recorded on April 16, 2025; In this conversation, Elana explains the life lessons she wanted to impart to her grandsons, called “The Mantras”, and how important they are for living a good life and being happy and kind.  Then, from the idea of forgiveness, Elana wants to, “get political for a minute” and we go right into the challenges of navigating the current landscape and all of the difficulties that come along with it, including the impact of things on our ever eroding democracy, and the need for activism in today's world. The conversation goes back and forth from hope to despair, as we try to figure out how we got where we are.

Larry’s “Blue Lou” seemed the most fitting this time around. 

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Recorded on April 2, 2025; In this conversation, we discuss various topics starting with Elana and Allan’s then-new cat Bruno and the challenges of getting him acclimated to his new home. We then cover everything from Elana’s love for elephants, Charlie’s recent visit to her, the important WI Supreme Court election and the state of US politics, including being hopeful for the future despite current challenges. We also discuss the importance in her life of therapy, her friends, keeping connections, being thankful, and being good to others. We end on a discussion about “The Mantras” (to be covered in a later episode in more detail), how “you can’t always be right” (especially me!) and how much she treasures her relationships with her grandsons. All of this further proof of how Elana, at 92 years old, can just be who she is, no pretending. 

Larry’s song, Beautiful Planet, is the perfect way to take us out. 

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Recorded on December 3, 2024. In this episode -  a little longer than usual since there was so much to say - Jonas, Elana’s youngest son (and my hubby), sits down with his mother to reflect on the life and legacy of her first husband and true love, Martin E. Nachsin, known as “Marty”. They discuss the impact of Marty's illness on their lives, the moments and memories that shaped their lives, and the legacy he left behind. Elana recalls the details of their time together like it was yesterday, including meeting at camp, their early relationship in NYC, his challenges with NYU law school, adjusting to life in Binghamton NY, their loving, adventure filled - and sometimes tumultuous- 13 years of marriage before his untimely death at the young age of 34. Through stories and recollections - over 70 years later - Elana paints a comprehensive portrait of Marty by reflecting on his perpetually positive outlook, his love for his family, his unrelenting sense of humor, his passion for the law and justice, the lasting impressions he left on those around him, and the profound sadness of his death at a time when their life together - with three young boys ages 11, 6 and 2 - was just beginning. 

Incidentally, two things to note:  1. Without realizing at the time, this episode was recorded on Dec 3, 2024 and Marty died on Dec 4, 1965 - almost 59 years to the day.  2. Marty and I, along with Jonas’ cousin Sheri, share the same birth month/day, February 19. 

Larry’s “Awesome Acoustic” sends us off beautifully.

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Recorded on Nov 20, 2024; In this episode we touch on a variety of topics, starting off with the pool party Elana hosted that ended up changing the life of one of Jonas’ best friends, Steve Kelley. From there we touch on the themes of paying it forward, the fate of our democracy in light of the recent 2024 presidential election, the importance of listening to others, forgiveness, our shared love of movies and art, bittersweet memories, and feeling overwhelmed, among so many other topics. This wide-ranging, heartfelt, open and honest conversation with Elana is another example of why it is that “a lot of people want to be with her, and I don’t blame them.”
Larry’s wonderful tune, “Good Vibes” is the perfect way to wrap things up at the end. 

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“I’m Not Easy But At Least I’m Interesting”, recorded almost a year ago to the day on August 22, 2024, three days after her 92nd birthday (!). As always, we start with some difficulties in hearing each other but they resolve quickly (thankfully). This conversation runs the gamut from the relatively light - being too busy,  good blood work results, sleep issues, irritating people, her 92nd birthday party ("best party ever"), exhaustion, Frank Sinatra, the mafia, and her deep love of elephants, to the heavier - marital fighting and its effect on others, fears of dying, living forever, being real, the importance of inclusion, the 2024 election, voting, and fear of -and hopes for- the future. As is made clear in this conversation, in which Elana jumps from one topic to another, she isn’t necessarily easy, but at least she’s interesting! 

In a new twist, our tech issues come at the end and Allan needs to step in to help Elana sign off from the podcast. Larry’s song, “Light of Heart”, is the perfect accompaniment here. 

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Recorded on Nov 30, 2023; We start out discussing people that are driving Elana crazy - who she dubs “The Needers” - and how people constantly seek her help and counsel, making her one of “The Needees”. We agree that while it’s important to help people, something she excels at and is admittedly drawn to, she must also prioritize taking care of herself as she doesn’t always get that kind of care given back to her. She also questions why certain kinds of people, especially those that she feels are “brilliant”, are drawn to her not to seek her help but her companionship and conversation. ‘Why her?’ she asks, to what I respond ‘why not you?’ The conversation then runs the gamut from questioning her grieving for Earl, being depressed (or not), her acknowledgement of Allan’s impact on her life as well as his idiosyncrasies, her love of short stories and of learning, and her experience with “blackballing” when she was newly married and trying to acclimate to a new life. We end on Elana asking how she can be more politically active, and how she can rally those at Aviva to do something because they feel helpless, and of course she wants to help - further exemplifying the respective roles as “The Needers and The Needees”. 

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