Camp Codger

When we asked ourselves, "What happened in 1968?" several big news stories came to mind. Then we started doing the research for this episode of the Camp Codger podcast. We were amazed by everything that happened in just one year.

The year 1968 just might be one of the most turbulent and interesting years in modern history. The Vietnam War was dividing America. Technology was marching forward. The younger generation was making itself heard and asking for change. And the news was delivered to houses everywhere in living color.

Many Camp Codger listeners remember what happened in 1968. Or at least some of the top stories. But when we (Gary Ebersole, Richard Kipling, and Randy Schultz) started doing the research for this episode, we were amazed by HOW MANY BIG THINGS happened in just one year.

Two of the most devastating events of 1968 happened just two months apart. On April 4, civil rights pioneer Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. Then, on June 5, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was shot and killed just after he won the California Primary.

In a "normal" news year, either one of those murders could have been the biggest story of the year. But two major public figures being assassinated in two months? It was simply shocking and heartbreaking.

When you look at what happened in 1968, it's impossible to overlook the Vietnam War. Has the United States ever been involved in a more unpopular war? Probably not. Young people, especially college-aged men who were being drafted to fight in Vietnam, openly protested the war. Sometimes those protests erupted into violence, as they did during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

It was shocking to see how much violence happened in the year that followed the "Summer of Love" in San Francisco in 1967.

But when you delve deeper into what happened in 1968, it wasn't all doom, gloom, and violence. Let's not forget the amazing Apollo 8 lunar mission in December of 1968. Three American astronauts were the first humans to orbit the moon. A photo they took of the view of the Earth outside their space capsule window is still one of the most iconic images ever made.

Popular culture in 1968 gave us plenty to celebrate. The Beatles released their most popular single ever, Hey Jude, which filled the radio airwaves in the late summer. And Dustin Hoffman became a big movie star because of his wonderful performance in the year's top-grossing movie, The Graduate.

The hosts of Camp Codger cover all of this and lots more in this lively discussion of one of the most newsworthy years in American history.

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Or simply scroll back up to the top of this page and click on the little "play" triangle above.

Would you like to know when the co-hosts of Camp Codger get together to talk about a new topic? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about What Happened in 1968, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Ageism in the workplace is a growing problem.

The population continues to age, and the percentage of "senior citizens" continues to rise. As more older people continue to work, ageism in the workplace will surely continue to grow.

What exactly is ageism? Simply put, it's prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person's age. And many older folks have experienced it.

A recent study revealed that 25.8 percent of US adults aged 65 to 74 were still working in 2021. That study predicted the percentage of 65 to 74-year-olds in the workforce will increase to 30.7 percent in 2031.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10.6 million workers are age 65 or older are now working. Anecdotal evidence shows that many older workers have been denied promotions and even lost their jobs primarily because of their age.

The three co-hosts of Camp Codger-- Gary Ebersole, Richard Kipling, and Randy Schultz-- are all senior citizens with decades of workplace experience. But have they had direct experience of ageism in the workplace?

In this episode, Richard shares his experience as a 64-year-old job seeker. After many years of experience as a journalist and editor at major newspapers, his dream was to leave the newsroom for academia. He applied for a journalism professor position at a top university. The job interview went well-- so well that Richard was told the university would get back to him quickly. And the interviewers said they looked forward to working with him.

But days and then weeks passed. When Richard finally connected with his interviewers at the university, he was told another candidate was hired. A 32-year-old with no newsroom experience was hired, not the "elderly" man with decades of hands-on experience.

As our life spans grow and we experience many years of "old age," millions of us will remain in the workforce. Some of us will work for financial reasons. Some of us will continue to work because we enjoy the workplace camaraderie. Whatever the reason we chose to work, we deserve the right to work. We deserve to work without experiencing ageism in the workplace.

Listen to this lively episode of Camp Codger to hear more about this topic that affects millions of seniors. Just click on the "Play Episode" triangle above. You can also listen to Camp Codger on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and the other major podcast services.

Did you enjoy this episode on Ageism in the Workplace? Would you like to know when the co-hosts of Camp Codger get together to talk about a new topic? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about Ageism in the Workplace, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

What is the difference between travel then and now? Is traveling today significantly different than the traveling we did in our youth?

Randy is traveling in Europe for a couple of weeks, leaving Richard and Gary to hold down the podcast fort. His adventures in Italy got the guys reflecting on their travel experiences back in the day (the 1970s) and more recently.

As Gary and Richard looked back on their earliest independent travel experiences, they reminisced about how adventurous travel in the 1970s seemed compared to their recent travels. Being young, footloose, and backpacking through Europe on five dollars a day was very different than how they now travel in their golden years. The spirit of discovery is still there but with a few more creature comforts.

Packing up the VW van and hitting the road was considered a great adventure when they were younger. Today, the old codgers still enjoy a good road trip but in a little more comfort. Air conditioning, cruise control, and a comfortable RV are ideal creature comforts for senior citizen road trippers.

Richard and Gary reached the obvious conclusion about the main difference between then and now. It's all about staying connected. In today's world of the internet everywhere and the iPhone, it's easier to plan and stay connected with family and friends.

Would you like to know when the co-hosts of Camp Codger get together to talk about a new topic? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about travel, then and now, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Camp Granny: A Conversation with Author, Sharon Lovejoy.

Sharon Lovejoy is a successful author, illustrator, speaker, and shop owner. But her most notable role is that of being a "granny". She takes grandparenting to a new level, reminding us that spending quality time with your grandchildren is the best gift you can give them.

Sharon Lovejoy is the ultimate Camp Granny to her grandkids. She knows how to be the "fun" grandmother. And in her interview with the hosts of Camp Codger, she shares lots of activities and projects that grandmothers and grandfathers can do with their grandkids.

In her book, Camp Granny, Sharon offers grandparents (and parents, too) tips on dozens of projects to both entertain and teach your grandchildren about the world they live in. In addition to dozens of outdoor activities, she also provides guidance on projects in the kitchen. Plus, lots of tips on appealing to the creative sides of children.

Sharon's inventive ideas focus on satisfying the natural curiosity of children and their sense of adventure. From leaf rubbings to gardening to making Moon Pizzas, she has activity for every grandchild.

In the introduction to her book, Camp Granny, Sharon Lovejoy writes: "Running a successful Camp Granny isn't about having a giant flat-screen television with 300 channels, a big swimming pool, or the latest computer games. It is about the time you share with your grandchild." Making memories is a gift that will endure for a lifetime.

Sharon's wealth of ideas include backyard campouts and a "dress-up drawer" filled with costumes for the grandkids. She keeps a stash of old games like pick-up sticks and Old Maid. She uses large mayonnaise jars (that she gets free from local restaurants) and makes time capsules with the grandkids.

The Camp Granny with Sharon Lovejoy episode of Camp Codger is filled with so many great ideas. You may need to listen to it twice!

Did you enjoy listening to Camp Granny with Sharon Lovejoy? Would you like to know when the co-hosts of Camp Codger get together to talk about a new topic? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Living Bolder: Part 2 of Our Conversation with Best-Selling Author, Carl Honore.

Growing older is not a bad thing. Especially when you consider the alternative. Or as George Burns famously said, "You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old."

Yes, our society seems to worship youth. We get the message loud and clear that younger is better and getting older makes us less useful, less desirable, and less capable. But the hosts of Camp Codger aren't buying it. And neither is Carl Honoré, author of Bolder: Making the Most of Our Longer Lives.

This episode is Part 2 of our conversation with Carl Honoré. When Gary, Richard, and Randy talked to Carl, the conversation kept going and the wisdom kept flowing. So, instead of editing Carl's insights down one episode, we decided to turn it into two. We think you'll agree that Carl's refreshing insights need to be heard.

Carl Honoré is a journalist who lives in London. He's a journalist by training, and he's also an internationally respected author and commentator on modern life. His first best-selling book was called In Praise of Slow. It's about the value of slowing down the pace of contemporary society. Carl says, "In a world addicted to speed, slowness is a superpower."

But Carl's most recent book, Bolder: Making the Most of Our Longer Lives, really hits home to those of us in our golden years. Carl Honoré wants us to reimagine what getting older looks and feels like. He wants people 55 years old and older to embrace a new way to look at what’s possible and permissible in later years.

Listen to the Carl Honoré interview on Camp Codger, and you'll learn that getting older can mean getting better.

"Happiness is a U-shaped curve," says Carl. We start out very happy as children, and then as we get older we typically become less happy. Then, later in life, most adults report feeling more happiness. So, it turns out the happiest adults are those over 55 years old."

But that's not all. In some ways, older brains work better than younger brains. We get better at recognizing patterns as we age. We are better able to organize information to see the big picture than we were in our younger years.

Plus, time and experience give older people an advantage over younger people.

Listen to the interview with Carl Honoré to hear his fascinating views about how we can make the most of our golden years. Growing older, living bolder! Just click on the “Play Episode” triangle above. And be sure to Listen to Part 1 of Honoré's Interview, too.

Would you like to know when the co-hosts of Camp Codger get together to talk about a new topic? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode with Carl Honoré about Living Bolder, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Growing Older Living Bolder is a new way to think about aging.

Society is constantly telling us that younger is better and aging is a bad thing. On this episode of the Camp Codger podcast, Carl Honoré, author of Bolder: Making the Most of Our Longer Lives, shares a different view of getting older. He envisions a much bolder approach to aging that involves optimism, joy, and vigor.

Carl Honoré is a journalist who lives in London, and he gained international fame almost two decades ago with his best-selling book called In Praise of Slow about slowing down the pace of contemporary society. But now the hosts of Camp Codger talk to Carl about his latest book called Bolder: Making the Most of Our Longer Lives, which advocates for a new way to look at what’s possible and permissible in our “golden years.”

All of us are growing older every day. But according to Carl Honoré, we are living longer and better than at any time in human history. So why are there so many negative stereotypes about growing older? Why do we assume that aging is a bad thing? And why isn't "growing older living bolder" the way we look at life?

"I think the central myth about aging is that it's all bad," says Carl Honoré on this episode of the Camp Codger podcast. "We tend to think of aging as a downward spiral. After a certain age, everything in our lives gets worse. We become less productive, less attractive, less curious--just less of ourselves. It tells a 'chamber of horrors' view of later life, which I think weighs all of us down."

But it doesn't have to be that way.

The way Carl Honoré looks at things, the time has come to cast off prejudices and to blur the lines of what is possible and permissible at every stage of life. Society needs to learn to reimagine our approach to later life. And that begins with the folks who are already in their golden years.

"Growing older living bolder" requires some important structural changes. Plus, we need to think about aging in an entirely new way. For a start, we will have to tear up the old script that locks us into devoting the early part of our lives to education, the middle chunk to working and raising kids, and whatever is left over at the end to leisure. These "age silos" need to dissolve.

Instead, we will embrace the idea that we can carry on learning well into our golden years. We can work less and devote more time to family, leisure, and giving back to our communities in our middle years. And we can remain active and engaged in our later years.

Would you like to start rethinking what aging means to you? Listen to the interview with Carl Honoré to hear his fascinating views about how we can make the most of our golden years. Growing older, living bolder! Just click on the "Play Episode" triangle above.

Would you like to know when the co-hosts of Camp Codger get together to talk about a new topic? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode with Carl Honoré about Growing Older Living Bolder, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

Loneliness and social isolation can be a part of anyone's life, regardless of age. But loneliness and social isolation can be especially troubling for older folks.

According to experts, loneliness can lead to physical and cognitive problems. Research indicates it can be as harmful to good health as smoking or alcohol abuse.

On this episode of the Camp Codger podcast, we are delighted to interview Carla Perissinotto, one of the nation's foremost experts on loneliness and social isolation. Not only does Carla discuss what loneliness and isolation are, but she also shares some insightful advice about how to deal with them.

Carla Perissinotto is passionate about improving the training given to medical residents in elderly patient care. She is the Associate Chief for Geriatrics Clinical Programs at the University of California at San Francisco. She is passionate about improving the training of medical residents in elderly patient care.

The fact that loneliness and social isolation are even included in today's medical training is evidence of just how widespread these conditions are. In the United States, 27 percent of seniors live alone. And you don't have to live alone to feel lonely and isolated.

Loneliness is commonly defined as that state of solitude or being alone. Loneliness impacts approximately 20 million older adults in the USA.

Social isolation is a state in which an individual lacks a sense of social belonging. He or she lacks engagement with others. He or she also has minimal social contacts and lacks quality relationships. This isn't just an American problem. There are people who suffer from loneliness all over the world.

"There's a reason there is a Minister of Loneliness in the United Kingdom," says Carla Perissinotto. "There's a reason Japan has a Minister of Loneliness. This is a worldwide issue."

And what role does social media play in all of this? Listen to the interview with Carla Perissinotto to find out. Just click on the "Play Episode" triangle above.

Would you like to know when the co-hosts of Camp Codger get together to talk about a new topic? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about Loneliness and Isolation, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

The best 70s music, including Classic Rock, has stood the test of time.

It’s amazing to think that the best 70s music from the early 1970s is already more than 50 years old. In fact, the best 70s music, particularly rock music, is still popular today. There are more than 500 Classic Rock radio stations in the United States. Classic rock from the decade of the 70s is also available on several stations of SiriusXM satellite radio and via streaming services such as Amazon Music, Spotify, and Apple iTunes.

On this episode of the Camp Codger podcast, the three co-hosts take a deep dive into the amazing depth and variety of the best seventies music. Sure, we talk a lot about Classic Rock. In fact, co-host Randy Schultz is a self-proclaimed expert on classic rock music from the 1970s. He says the Eagles are his favorite rock band from this decade, and co-host Richard Kipling agrees. But don’t forget Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Jimmy Buffett, Elton John, and so many more great bands and musical artists.

Speaking of Jimmy Buffett, you simply MUST listen to this episode to hear Randy's story about attending the recent Jimmy Buffett concert in San Diego. It turns out that he and Jimmy first met in 1975!!

If you listen to this episode, you’ll be reminded of the other music from the 70s that’s not classic rock. Remember the great singer-songwriters like Carole King, Gordon Lightfoot, and Cat Stevens who were popular in the beginning years of the 1970s? And who can forget about the disco craze that hit popular music like a tidal wave toward the end of the decade? Co-host Gary Ebersole is NOT a fan of disco, but even he has been known to hum along to “Stayin’ Alive.”

As Randy, Gary, and Richard point out, your favorite music from the 1970s might depend upon how old you were during that decade. Many older baby boomers love the softer singer-songwriter music and what’s now called Yacht Rock. Soul and R&B music from the 70s is smooth and awesome. CD compilations of the best 70s music are a great way to revisit this music.

We know we’ve left out some of the best seventies music bands and artists. We encourage you to leave a comment below and chastise us for not mentioning your favorite musical artist.

If you loved this week’s episode about the Best 70s Music, please listen to another episode. Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter and you will receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. It doesn’t get easier than that.

You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about Best 70s Music, please click the Share button below. We would love it if you Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page.

Want to send a message directly to Gary, Richard, and Randy? Please leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected]. 

We’ll see you next week at Camp Codger!

Lifelong learning for seniors picks up on our conversation from last week with Toni Gattone when we discussed lifelong gardening. Age should not be a barrier for seniors whether it's going back to school to learn a new skill or working in their gardens. In this episode, Richard and Gary explore alternatives to learning new things. They range from the formal, classroom-style education we all grew up with to the contemporary, online courses that Gary favors.

No matter what approach they choose, folks in their golden years can benefit from heading back to school. Research proves that lifelong learning for seniors improves cognitive health and classroom-based education is a good antidote to the loneliness that plagues older generations. Curious about something you heard about recently? Exercise your interest by signing up for a course at your local community college or check out the many online resources for learning. Regularly scratching that "curiosity itch" has lifelong benefits.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode about lifelong learning for seniors, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].

We discuss lifelong gardening with Toni Gattone, Master Gardener. Toni is the author of a book called The Lifelong Gardener: Garden with Ease and Joy at Any Age and an award-winning speaker. She is also a business entrepreneur who sells ergonomic gardening tools from her Resilient Gardener Online Store. You can learn more about Toni on her website.

In our conversation with Toni, we focus on practical advice for adaptive gardening by senior citizens. In her book and on our podcast, Toni offers a host of solutions that make it possible for senior citizens to continue gardening well into their golden years. As she explains, it's all about adapting your gardening to your age. The proper, high-quality tools, recognizing obvious high-risk safety issues, and simply acknowledging your limitations can keep older gardeners doing what they love well into their 80s. Don't let getting older keep you from the gardening you love to do. Listen to this lifelong gardening with Toni Gattone episode and get inspired.

Would you like to hear when the old codgers are rambling on about something else? Subscribe to our weekly Camp Codger newsletter to receive an email notification each time we publish a new episode. You can also subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. And, if you enjoyed this episode where we discuss lifelong gardening with Toni Gattone, please click the Share button below and Like Camp Codger on our Facebook Page. Finally, have some feedback for the old codgers? Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].