Questions for My Avó

Questions for My Avó

By Lena CardosoSociety & Culture
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Questions for My Avó episodes

  • Lynn - "Now, I am all about that fun"

    This episode started as wanting to talk to Lynn about playing soccer as a 72 year old and evolved into much more. Not only do we talk about Lynn’s willingness to try new things, from boxing to karate to golfing, and soccer (all in adulthood), we also talk about her identity as a Black woman growing up in the south and what that has meant in terms of opportunities and experiences throughout her life. We discuss her thoughts on current events and where she sees the country going. Lynn also shares advice around continuing to move as you age and inspires me to try new things.  Lynn is such a joy and as she says at this point in life, she is all about fun!

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso

    Guest: Lynn  
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    *All views belong to the speakers

    41 min
  • Sue - "Face the fear and move through it"

    In this episode I talk with Sue. We discuss a major life shift for Sue in 2001 during her first solo journey on the Camino de Santiago. Since then, Sue has walked the Camino 29 times and even coaches others to help them do the same. We discuss Sue’s barefoot lifestyle, how she has been primarily barefoot for the past 12 years, and the health benefits Sue has noticed since going barefoot. We discuss Sue’s cold water exposure practices and how cold water has allowed her to better connect to herself and her breath. We discuss Sue’s mission of helping others’ connect back to nature and how she used TikTok to help her do that. Sue also shares some beautiful thoughts around overcoming fear, connecting to the earth, and evolving as we age.

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso

    Guest: Sue    
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    *All views belong to the speakers

    50 min
  • Janet - "As I've gotten older I've become more secure about myself"

    In this episode, Janet and I discuss how she got into fitness in her 60s, how she thinks about movement, and how she has also maintained her mental fitness as she ages, still working as a statistician at the age of 79. We discuss what it was like getting into statistics (a male dominated field) in the 1960s and her reflections on being a woman in that space and continuing to work as she ages. We also discuss Janet’s advice for younger women related to both movement and partnership. Janet and her husband have been married for 58 years. Janet also gives me some advice on a milestone birthday that I have coming up and shares a sweet anecdote about her dad that I keep coming back to and reflecting on. 

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso

    Guest: Janet    
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    *All views belong to the speakers

    40 min
  • Philomena (Pennie) - "I have always been a glass half full kind of person"

    In this episode I talk with Pennie. We discuss how Pennie got into fitness in her 60s and the changes she has noticed in her body over the last 10 or so years, specifically in terms of what her body needs and how she recovers. We discuss her fitness goals, such as doing 75 push ups on her 75th birthday, how women in her own family have influenced her, and what keeps her motivated. We also discuss Pennie’s experience doing Peace Corp in Brazil in 1968 and how that changed the trajectory of her career. 

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso

    Guest: Pennie    
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    *All views belong to the speakers

    52 min
  • Vijaya - "I don't give myself an option to quit"

    When was the last time you tried something new? In this episode I talk with Vijaya about learning to swim at age 68. We discuss what it was like to learn a new skill at that age, how she overcame her fear, how participating in activities has given her community, what it means to take care of your body as you age, and her philosophies and outlook around never giving up.

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso

    Guest: Vijaya    
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    *All views belong to the speakers

    42 min
  • Judy - "I want to be useful"

    In this episode I talk with Judy. Judy and I talk about her career as a teacher and writer. How she continues to write, what inspires her and keeps her motivated, what it means to be useful, how she values community and connection, her volunteer efforts, and what she hopes for younger women.

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso

    Guest: Judy    
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    *All views belong to the speakers

    35 min
  • Teresa - "Life is Movement"

    In this episode I talk with Teresa. We talk about her experience taking up running as an adult, running in her late 60s, running 7 marathons, managing running with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and her advice on listening to your body and showing up.

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso 

    Guest: Teresa    

    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler 

    *All views belong to the speakers

    28 min
  • Dawn - "So I have been running for more of my life than I haven't"

    In this episode I talk with Dawn about her 40+ year relationship with running. What running has looked like and meant to her at different points in her life, how she manages running through arthritis and scoliosis, and her favorite running accomplishments. Dawn shares some great advice around how to stay motivated and energized while also listening to your body. 

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso

    Guest: Dawn    
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    *All views belong to the speakers

    36 min
  • Kay - “When you get to be 84…it is really a time to cultivate listening to people”

    In this episode I talk with Kay about her life-long love for learning, how she is keeping herself busy and engaged through distance learning courses during COVID. We discuss her upbringing in Chicago and Texas, raising her children, her 65-year and counting marriage, her time living overseas and traveling as a family, and her commitments in her 85th year of life.

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso
    Guest: Kay       
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    Sound editing and mixing: Anthony Vito
    *All views belong to the speakers

    52 min
  • Audrey - “I just meet people and we become friends”

    In this episode I talk with Audrey about her volunteer work, career, and her love for art and working with her hands. We also discuss how she has lived many different places and built community in each one of them, raising her children, and her marriage of 48 years and counting.   

    Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso
    Guest: Audrey   
    Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
    Sound editing and mixing: Anthony Vito
    *All views belong to the speakers

    31 min

About Questions for My Avó

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At Questions for My Avó, we hold space for women to share their stories, perspectives, and experiences with the goal of promoting intergenerational dialogue and connection.