Looking Forward Our Way

We have provided important tips and information on job searching for many years, but given our pandemic environment, it's a whole new ballgame.

Our next episode features Sharon Hamersley, who many of you know as The Resume Coach.

She generously provides job searching information to central Ohioans in many formats, including working with local nonprofits and the libraries with various workshops and training programs

We actually have two programs with Sharon. So listeners, you are in for great information to strengthen your own job search.

This upcoming episode will help you to navigate the challenges in job searching by giving you an overview of the tools necessary to be a successful job searcher.

We're going to cover important information to include on resumes, such as focusing on the employer's needs, creating strong accomplishments, statements and how to build keywords into a resume.

Then we're also going to cover what to not include on a resume.

We review the importance of covering technical skills and how to be ATS friendly. So your resume makes it through those applicant tracking systems.

And finally, why practice makes perfect. For every critical interview, a great job seeker ensures the employer sees you as a great candidate that has the ability and motivation to learn and create positive value for them every day.

Here's a sneak peak into that episode. The full episode will be in your podcast player, and our website, Monday December 21, 2020.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We all know the difficulty in the housing market across the country, but Columbus and Central Ohio is in a particularly bad spot. 

No housing stock, and everyone wanting an alternative – a new place to reside. But there are many facets to the housing picture. 

In this episode, we discuss multi-unit senior housing communities.  Our guest is Joel Wrobbel, Director of Marketing for Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber Community.

This is such a complex question, that we thought we should focus on just a few topics – or else we will be in this discussion all day! Let’s look at:

• An overview of senior housing, and in particular what has been created at your location, the Westminster-Thurber Community
• Affordability of senior housing and the various levels
• How can senior housing lead to a healthy lifestyle? Issues such as loneliness and isolation, physical needs (e.g. exercising), and how residential locations can decrease stress on the seniors and their family
• And how the pandemic has changed senior housing – in the short term and long term planning

We usually think of senior housing in 3 levels – independent, assisted and nursing/skilled care. Are there really only those 3 levels – or should we add “aging in place” within an individual’s own home? How has this overall picture changed? And how is it different for those 55 as opposed to those 75+?

What do seniors need to consider when dealing with the cost of residential locations? How can seniors maintain a safe lifestyle without a huge bank account?

The trend now is that communities have workout rooms, activity rooms, patios or balconies, and more. Is the goal of “healthy living” driving this change? 

Technology has changed in their community. Specifically the communication with the residents and family members, as well as within the facility itself.

Joel also offers some insight on changes needed to protect residents, as well as ways they’ve created needed services and space to help each person.

Connections we mentioned in the podcast you should check out...

Westminster Thurber 

https://www.ohioliving.org/communities/ohio-living-westminster-thurber 

Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging

http://coaaa.org/

Franklin County Office on Aging

https://officeonaging.org/default.aspx 

HUD approved senior housing consultants (Ohio)

https://apps.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm?webListAction=search&searchstate=OH 

Here's a link to a complete list of resources.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We all know the difficulty in the housing market across the country, but Columbus and Central Ohio is in a particularly bad spot. 

No housing stock, and everyone wanting an alternative – a new place to reside. But there are many facets to the housing picture. 

In our next episode, we are going to discuss multi-unit senior housing communities.  Our guest is Joel Wrobbel, Director of Marketing for Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber Community.

Here's a sneak peak into that episode. The full episode will be in your podcast player, and our website, Monday December 7, 2020.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

This episode promises to be a great deal of fun! 

The holidays are approaching and needless to say, this is not an easy time to figure out what to buy and how to buy it! 

So in this episode, we are going to focus on our holiday shopping and technology – how to use technology and how/what to buy that is technology!

Our guest is Marianne Bailey. Marianne has been strengthening our older adults by teaching them all the secrets, tips and short cuts on technology. She is the publisher of an online magazine called “The HIP Senior” and is also the Founder of the company, OnLineTechLessons.com.

Marianne talks about your company as well as the “The HIP Senior” magazine, and a bit on her background. Why is it important to provide this information to older adults?

We are finding that many older adults are learning to do online shopping by urgent necessity. 

We cover the tips that she is giving older adults in using technology for online shopping. What equipment do they need? Who can walk them through the process? What should they be aware of?

Are there ways that an older adult can get hints on what to buy for their children or grandchildren for the holidays? Something similar to a bridal registry, but for under the Christmas tree?

If there isn’t a “wish list” anywhere, are there tech items that would be great gifts? What is “flying off the online shelves”?

We cover the differences between the Virtual Command Device and the Smart Speakers – such as difference between Alexa and Google’s Nest Mini.

Of course, don't forget about yourself while buying technology for the holidays! After all, we are also putting a lot of effort into getting through our “new normal”! 

Marianne suggests what to look at as a tech gift for an older adult. 

We also cover a number resources for older adults to learn how to use technology. 

Here is a link to access and print the resource page.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

The holidays are approaching and needless to say, this is not an easy time to figure out what to buy and how to buy it! 

So in our next episode, we are going to focus on our holiday shopping and technology – how to use technology and how/what to buy that is technology!

Our guest is Marianne Bailey. Marianne has been strengthening our older adults by teaching them all the secrets, tips and short cuts on technology. She is the publisher of an online magazine called “The HIP Senior” and is also the Founder of the company, OnLineTechLessons.com.

The episode will be in your podcast player on Monday November 16th, 2020.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We welcome Josh Kinzel, Benefit Advisor at Seniority Benefit Group. He is an expert when it comes to Medicare.

In this episode, we start to demystify Medicare, as we discuss its issues and confusions. 

It is Open Enrollment (10/15-12/7) for Medicare recipients and needless to say, there are always questions! 

Even if we are not old enough for Medicare, we may be assisting our older relatives to navigate the complexity of this program. 

And actually, that is what Seniority Benefit Group, and other “connectors” provide – to start to demystify the process.

Let’s make sure we have the overall understanding of Medicare – and know the acronyms that come with it. 

There are 3 basic areas that we need to remember – the basic “Medicare Plan” and what it covers, the “Supplement Plan” and what it covers, as well as the “Part D – Pharmacy Plan” and what it covers. 

Depending on the individual’s needs and preferences, this could be 3 different parts of their health care or all one rolled into an Advantage plan. 

Here's an example we consider. "I am turning 65 and know I need to be on Medicare. What should I do in preparation for my 65th Birthday?"

As someone turning 65, you need to understand your own medical history and needs in order to choose the best plan. How does an individual describe their health issues and physical abilities? And are there specific areas in each plan that an individual should pay very close attention to?

Part D which covers prescriptions has been a hot item for years. Any points that a new Medicare patient should beware of?

Assuming that even if an individual gets through their first year of Medicare with no problems, there may be issues that they wish they knew about before making decisions on health plans. 

Josh shares what mistakes or problems he sees that individuals often undergo their first year, but could have avoided. He also offers us a list of things to watch for to avoid making obvious mistakes.

For those who are already on Medicare, are there changes to the law for next year that may make changes to Medicare plans that we should all be watching for?

Memorable Moments

00:00 Local resource in Dublin guiding through Medicare options.

05:56 Medicare terms can be overwhelming for people.

08:30 Effective conversation leads to personalized healthcare solutions.

12:53 Delay Medicare choices if covered by employer.

14:26 Medicare generally covers employer plan services as well.

18:47 Seek expert help navigating Medicare for simplicity.

20:23 Medicare drug plans have varying costs and structure.

25:04 Medicare users may face unexpected prescription costs.

27:26 Navigating Medicare choices, be mindful of restrictions.

30:16 Affordable Care Act reduces prescription drug costs.

34:42 Positive review: Great experience on this podcast.

Resources we mentioned we would include in our episode show notes.

Medicare

Medicare Education and Outreach (Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging programs provided free to assist in educating individuals on Medicare) 

Ohio Department of Insurance 

Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) 1-800-686-1578

We would love to hear from you.

Give us your feedback, or suggest a topic, by leaving us a voice message.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Bluesky and Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course, everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants.

Copyright 2026 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

We welcome Josh Kinzel from Seniority Benefit Group. He is an expert when it comes to Medicare.

In this episode, we start to demystify Medicare, as we discuss its issues and confusions. 

This episode shows up in your podcast player on Monday November 2.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We are glad to have Orelle Jackson, President of Limitless Growth Strategies, returning as our guest on the podcast. This is episode 2 of 2 on Navigating Through Crisis. Episode 1 was published just a few weeks ago, and can be found here.

Orelle has over twenty years of executive leadership experience and is recognized for developing and optimizing strategies, delivering high-value solutions and building strong relationships. 

In her current role, she is guiding individuals and organizations to successfully maneuver through changes and transitions with the goal to help unleash potential, just like the acorn growing into a mighty oak tree. 

We are very excited to welcome Orelle and complete our discussion on unleashing our potential!

Orelle in our previous episode, we reviewed the first 6 principals in positively moving through a crisis. 

• Everything Worthwhile Is Uphill
• There is Always an Answer
• Allow Adversity to Help You Discover Who You Are
• Develop A Positive Life-Stance
• Feed Your Faith and Starve Your Fears
• Realize that Motions Influence Emotions

Today Matters

This pandemic has been an extreme situation, and many are “lost”. How can we stay on track?

Reflect Instead of React to Adversity

Over the past few months we have had so much time on our hands. We often hear, “how would we describe our actions during this time – did we reach our goals, or did we waste our time”? What do you suggest we do next in our journey to move through adversity?

Adversity makes You Relatable to Others

This pandemic started as an “enemy” that we were all fighting together. Now it seems to have exacerbated many of the underlying issues affecting our world…fairness, equality, respect. What can we learn from this time?

Always Look for the Big Picture

One lesson we have all learned at some time is to realize the world is much bigger than just our own self and our immediate sphere. However, when we look at a bigger picture it can be frightening. What value is this “big picture” view?

Adversity Makes a Person Grow Strong (Mature)

We have moved through ten of the steps and have honed the ability to meet adversity. What has happened to us in the process? Can we continue to success through challenges and continue our personal journey?

Thanks to Orelle for her assistance in guiding us through this process and supporting you, our listeners, in your quest for personal growth. 

You can find out more by visiting Orelle's website, or find out more about her on her LinkedIn page.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media...

Here's a quick preview of our next episode, featuring Orelle Jackson, Limitless Growth Strategies.

We are honored to introduce Orelle Jackson, President of Limitless Growth Strategies as our guest for this two part episode. Part 2 is coming your way on Monday October 19, 2020.

To catch up, here is a link to part 1.

During these two episodes, Orelle will review the skills needed to be successful: maintaining leadership; moving through difficult situations mindfully; digging deep down to raise the skills and meet the needs; leading ourselves through transitions and crises.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

It seems like we are always in political season.

And this leads to ask ourselves, how do we navigate through all the news sources to best educate ourselves about issues and candidates that will be on the ballot?

We talk with Mark Nuce, News Director at North American Broadcasting in Columbus, OH. He has been covering the news and elections since the Reagan/Carter election in 1980, so we know he has some great insight on how election coverage has changed (and in some ways, not) over the past 40 years.

With a 24/7 news cycle, reporting something like a presidential election is very different than in past years.  

• What has changed for you as a reporter and how have you changed your reporting methods?
• How do you educate yourself on the issues and candidates?  

The general public is looking for unbiased news reporting, which is nearly impossible in today’s environment.  

• What do you see as your role in reporting election coverage?
• How do you maintain unbiased coverage?  
• Are you utilizing new sources/resources in your daily reports?

How has news coverage changed – for the good and/or bad – during your career?

Elections have changed with the onset of campaign financing - high ticket donations and high ticket publicity.  

• Do you see elections as less about policy making and more about influencers?  
• Or has this issue taken on a life of its own and is this not as critical as many think?

In the past the “boomer” generation was considered a huge voting block. With time passing, that group is diminishing in numbers, has it also diminished in strength?  

• Do you have insight on which voting group/block seems to be leading the charge in today’s election cycle?
• How can voters better understand the importance in voting – not just a constitutional right – but the one way you can make your voice heard?

There have been many states that have successfully used absentee ballots or mail-in ballots, including Ohio. 

• What have you seen regarding the fairness and access of voting? 
• And has that changed over the years?

The League of Women Voters is one neutral resource for information for voters. Can you provide our listeners with other resources they can utilize to educate themselves on the elections – voting processes, candidates, platforms, etc.?

League of Women Voters

Ohio Secretary of State

Find your local county Board of Elections

Vote411 – information for voters in Spanish

Citizens United v. FEC (Supreme Court)

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.