Growing Bolder

Actress Valerie Bertinelli shares how the death of her ex-husband, legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen, left her heartbroken but determined to find her way forward. She explains what his loss revealed about coping with life’s ups and downs, and why now in her 60s, she believes the best is yet to come.  

Social Scientist and author Arthur Brooks combines lessons from science, philosophy and ancient wisdom to offer real-life strategies for finding deeper meaning, greater success and true fulfillment as we age. 

An unforgettable conversation with Andy Leighton who feared his life was over after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He explains what it took to change his focus from trying not to die, to finding ways to truly live.

Denise Kaufman might be the greatest singer/guitarist you’ve never heard of. Her band, The Ace of Cups, opened for Hendrix and the Grateful Dead. But life split the all-girl group apart for fifty years until they finally came back together. Listen as she discusses their album half-a-century in the making and what it takes to keep a dream alive.

Tim Minchin is an actor, comedian, writer, and musician with something to say. From Jesus Christ Superstar to Californication, and his recent show Upright, the Australian sensation explains how following your passion can take you to some interesting and unexpected places.  

Meet a photographer whose works are featured on hundreds of album covers, and whose photos give us a visual history of the last five decades of popular music. His photos offer rare, unguarded insight into events like the Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock, and into the lives of legendary artists such as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and more. Hear why today, Henry Diltz is more passionate about life than ever.

Gliding Stars is a nationwide program that encourages special needs kids to go skating. Paired with able-bodied volunteers, the ice offers exercise, independence, and joy in a most unexpected way for both clients and volunteers. 

Growing Bolder contributor Barbara Hannah Grufferman knew her life was going to change after turning 50 but never expected it to be quite like this. Instead of experiencing withdrawal and decline, the author and journalist launched into the most vibrant, prolific, and adventurous period of her life. Now, she wants to share what she’s learned in the hopes that you can experience it too.

What’s the most important skill you can have in life? Turns out it may be listening. Dr. Dietra Hawkins, PsyD says that something that seems so simple can be the most difficult to master yet it can be the difference in minimizing our political divide and moving forward in the fight against racism.  

After a life filled with tragedy, Paralympian Lia Coryell finally finds victory. She explains how the sport of archery helped her focus on what she could do instead of what she could not.

Super volunteer Norm Bungard doesn’t let age slow him down as he continues to volunteer and give back. We go skydiving with the 84-year-old, who believes no one is ever too old to make a difference in the lives of others.   

What foods help prevent cancer? Which vegetables can lower blood pressure? What should you eat to minimize the risk of heart disease? World-renowned physician Dr. William Li  shares his findings on how you can eat to beat disease.

What ever happened to Erin Brockovich? In 2001, Julia Roberts won an Academy Award for portraying the secretary turned eco-activist. Now, the real Erin Brockovich is here to share some unsettling information that has brought her to the forefront in the fight to protect our environment.   

Author Daniel Pink believes of all our emotions regret is the most misunderstood and it’s the emotion that we can learn the most from. He gives us some suggestions on how to move past our regrets and live our best lives. 

After every female in Ellen Jaffe Jones' family was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was determined to find a way to avoid it.  She shares with us the drastic but doable changes she made that have helped her stay healthy for decades.  

After two suicides, Badfinger may be the most tragic band ever. What Joey Molland, the last living member, is doing to tell their story and keep their legacy alive.  

Musician and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jon Anderson was the voice of the rock group, Yes. Now in his 70’s, Jon is as energetic and driven as ever and we join him as he works on what he believes is his strongest studio album in decades.

Author Douglas Abrams moderated one of the most compelling conversations ever; one between Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and his holiness, the Dalai Lama. It generated so many eye-opening lessons Abrams wrote a book about it. The Book of Joy shares their wisdom. We explore why what we can learn from them is more important than ever.

Recently, one of our favorite people passed away. John Corse was a 96-year-old masters swimming champion. We caught up with him after a 10 day-stint in the hospital with COVID-19. He attributed his recovery and long life to staying active and keeping his body strong enough to fight off the virus symptoms and side effects of the course of treatment.

Arlinda McIntosh shares her American success story. Once upon a time, she was a newly divorced single mother, desperate to survive. Today, her fashions are worn by some of the most famous people in entertainment. Now in her 60s, she’s connecting with an entirely new audience thanks to her passion for embracing social media.

Bruce Feiler is the creator of the NBC TV show “Council of Dads.” He shares how his own cancer challenge sparked the idea and what he’s learned about coping with the “lifequakes” we will inevitably face in our own lives.

And, far too many of us aren’t getting enough exercise. One of the top reasons is the dread associated with hitting the gym. We’re going to introduce you to a group of women in their 80s and 90s who’ve unlocked the key to staying active — weekly tennis matches!