Joy Hare tries to live up to her name in all aspects of her life. You can't make it to 75 without experiencing some heartache, and she has. But she is always seeking joy, which is reflected in the poetry she writes, the art she produces, the work she does, and the adventures she takes. She reflects on all of that in the latest episode of my special series Conversations About Aging.

Bill Green has been a familiar face on Maine television for more than 40 years. He began his career behind the scenes as a cameraman and went on to become a sportscaster. He now produces and hosts one of Maine's most popular TV shows, Bill Green's Maine. He talks about his life, shares some wisdom, and reflects on what's next now that he's 65.

Lavon Harris recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Sickly as a child, doctors told her parents that she probably wouldn't live to be very old. Today, she is healthy and spry and grateful for her long and happy life. You can't reach 100 without having some significant losses. In our conversation, she talked about the joy and the sadness she has experienced. And she laughed ... a lot.

Conversations About Aging is a Catching Health podcast. I'm traveling the state of Maine interviewing people 60+ about their perspectives on aging. At 73, Sue Hoyt is an active volunteer who visits older people who can't get out on their own. She talks about raising her kids in a log cabin in the woods and being best friends now with a 100-year-old woman.

Dr. Bob McAfee is a retired surgeon who was Maine's first and only president of the American Medical Association. He stopped seeing patients more than 20 years ago, but still contributes a great deal to the health and wellbeing of his fellow human beings. In our conversation about aging, he reflects on his accomplishments and his life now that he is 84. He also shares a bit of wisdom.

One of the issues that often comes up as people are living longer is figuring out the best place to live. Most people want to stay put in their own homes. That's what Peesh and her husband Paul want, only they have different ideas about where in Maine their home should be. Get in on that discussion and more in this episode of Conversations About Aging, a Catching Health podcast.

For most of his adult life, Jack has struggled with bouts of anxiety and depression. During our conversation, two things, in particular, stood out for me. People and art. Jack loves them both and I think they’re what motivate him to stay strong. Two years ago, he was hospitalized and friends "came out of the woodwork" to help him get through it.

aging, conversations, death, difficult decisions, illness, Maine, marriage, podcast

Wayne, who’s only 64, confronted some unexpected challenges during a recent job hunt. We talk about that and so much more on Conversations About Aging, a Catching Health podcast.

Conversations About Aging is a podcast about .... aging. I am traveling the state of Maine talking to people about their perspectives on growing older. Maine is tied with Florida for having the oldest population in the nation. It is also the most rural state, where many people live in isolation. Leona, who is 92, lives in the largest city — Portland. There's plenty to do there but one major challenge makes it difficult for her to get around. It's not her age.