Unveiling the secrets to a longer, healthier life has been the life's mission of Dan Buettner, a renowned explorer, journalist, and best-selling author. On this episode of Seniority Authority, we delve deep into Buettner's groundbreaking "Blue Zones Project", which sheds light on the regions across the globe where people live the longest, and the lifestyle choices that contribute to their longevity. Dan, who initially launched this project through a National Geographic article, expanded it into a series of informative books, a popular cookbook, and now, a riveting Netflix documentary series. 

In an engaging conversation with our host, he explains the intricate research process that spanned years and took him all over the world, to regions where lifestyle and environmental factors play a crucial role in longevity. He highlights the diet patterns in these regions, which are predominantly plant-based, incorporating whole grains, greens, and legumes, with minimal processed food and meat intake, complemented by regular low-intensity physical activities.

We also explore the community health programs influenced by the Blue Zones approach in 72 American cities, witnessing notable reductions in obesity rates and heart diseases, along with an increase in life expectancy. Dan shares some of these success stories and provides tips for listeners to incorporate healthier choices in their daily routines, emphasizing environmental alterations over mere willpower.

For a deeper dive into the life-extending secrets of the Blue Zones, check out the resources mentioned during the podcast, available on the official Blue Zones website and Dan's personal website. You can also connect with him directly on Instagram: @danbuettner

What's Next?

• What are your views, comments, or questions about the secrets to living a longer, healthier life shared in this episode? Share them with us at [email protected]!

Stay Connected

• Get in touch with our host Cathleen Toomey on LinkedIn
• You can also find Seniority Authority on Facebook, on Instagram, or you can connect with us on our website!

  
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Living a fulfilling, long, happy life is pretty much the number one thing on our wish list, particularly as we get older. But what are some things we can do to get there? 

Dr. Roger Landry, a Tufts-Harvard University Decorated Military Veteran and Preventive Medicine Physician who is the President of Masterpiece and author of Live Long Die Short. Dr. Landry discusses how society has traditionally marginalized older adults and is determined to help people reach peace, fulfillment and joy, no matter your age.

On this episode Dr. Landry explains the importance of resilience, including the work of the Healthy Aging Work Group. He also talks about the inventory he created from his book, which helps people take an objective look at their lifestyle and make small changes to live a long and healthy life. Dr. Landry shares 10 tips to help people reach a level of peace and fulfillment. He stresses the importance of movement, social connection, purpose, emotional intelligence, and being mindful and present in life. 

What's Next?

What are your views, comments or questions on living a long, happy life?  Share them with us at [email protected]!

Stay Connected

Get in touch with our host Cathleen Toomey on LinkedIn

You can also find Seniority Authority on Facebook, on Instagram, or you can connect with us on our website!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

In this compelling episode, we delve into the distinct health challenges black Americans face as they age. We’re joined by Dr. Lauren Brown, an assistant professor and gerontologist at San Diego State University School of Public Health. 

Dr. Brown discusses her groundbreaking research on this critical issue. Discover the shocking underrepresentation of non-European people in genetic databases and learn about the implications of 'data capitalism'. You’ll want to stick around to learn about the historical and damaging practice of 'race norming', highlighting its persistent influence on access to health services and benefits. Further, the conversation explores 'accelerated aging', a concept that underscores how social determinants of health markedly impact the aging experiences of non-white older adults.

As we delve into the realms of race norming, genetic testing, and more, Dr. Brown provides insights on some of the unique challenges that non-white adults face.

Episode Resources

• Joel Bervell's Instagram Account
• ELSI Hub
• Data for Black Lives
• Expert panel recommends against use of race in assessment of kidney function  

What's Next?

What are your views, comments, or questions on health equity, genetics, and systemic racism in health? Share them with us at [email protected]!

  
Stay Connected

Get in touch with our host Cathleen Toomey on LinkedIn

You can also find Seniority Authority on Facebook, on Instagram, or you can connect with us on our website!

  
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Episode 27: Arthur C. Brooks is the Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. Before joining the Harvard faculty in July of 2019, he served for ten years as president of the Washington, D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute (AEI), one of the world’s leading think tanks.

He is also a columnist for The Atlantic, host of the podcast “How to Build a Happy Life with Arthur Brooks,” and subject of the 2019 documentary film “The Pursuit”. Arthur has written 12 books, including the national bestsellers “Love Your Enemies” and “The Conservative Heart”. His most recent book is “From Strength to Strength”, will be available this February 2022.

Links:

Arthur's book: From Strength to Strength

Facebook: Arthur Brooks

Twitter: @arthurbrooks

Podcast: How to Build a Happy Life

Podcast: The Art of Happiness

Website: arthurbrooks.com
 

What’s Next?

What are your questions about finding meaning in the second half of life? Share your questions with us at [email protected] or find us on your favorite social media platform.

Stay Connected:

Cathleen Toomey

●       Linkedin:Cathleen Toomey

●      Website:Seniority Authority

●      Facebook:Seniority Authority

●       Instagram:seniorityauthority

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Engaging in open conversations around death can be unsettling, but it is a reality that we must all confront. In this enlightening episode, Taya Dunn Johnson, a writer, speaker, mother, and recent master's degree graduate in thanatology from Marian University, sheds light on this often avoided subject. Johnson's insights, deeply rooted in her personal experience of losing her young husband to a sudden heart attack, challenge societal discomfort around death and stress the importance of preparation for our inevitable end.

Johnson debunks the myth that discussing death invites it sooner, and stresses that planning for death is an act of love that can ease the emotional burden for our loved ones during a painful time. She also highlights the importance of preparing for the "business of death,"( including discussions around wills, passwords, and final wishes), and advocates for culturally appropriate grief support, with a particular focus on the African American experience.

This impactful and thought-provoking conversation that could reshape your perspectives on life, death, and everything in between.

Episode Resources:

• Article: “Please Read This Before You Post Another RIP on Social Media”
• Book: “Grieving While Black” by Breeshia Wade

What's Next?

What are your views, comments, or questions on navigating conversations around death and bereavement? Share them with us at [email protected]! 

Stay Connected

Get in touch with our host Cathleen Toomey on LinkedIn

You can also find Seniority Authority on Facebook, on Instagram, or you can connect with us on our website!

  
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Episode 24: Carol Marak is a solo aging advisor and advocate. She is the founder of the Elder Orphan Facebook Group, which launched in 2016 and has almost 10,000 members. She also has a successful YouTube channel called Solo and Smart and a book titled SOLO AND SMART: The Roadmap for a Supportive and Secure Future.

Carol attributes her seven years of family caregiving as to how she learned to plan for the future. Between her and her two sisters, caring for their ailing parents took up almost all of their time. With no children to rely on as her parents did, and knowing the amount of care that they needed, she knew she had to plan for her future and figure out what to do.

Links:

• Carol's Book: SOLO AND SMART: The Roadmap for a Supportive and Secure Future
• Carol’s Facebook Group: Elder Orphans
• Carol’s YouTube Chanell: Solo and Smart
• Carol’s Website: CarolMarak.com

What’s Next?

What are your questions about solo aging? Share your questions with us at [email protected] or find us on your favorite social media platform.

Stay Connected:

Cathleen Toomey

• Linkedin:Cathleen Toomey
• Website:Seniority Authority
• Facebook:Seniority Authority
• Instagram:seniorityauthority

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher,Apple Podcasts,Google Podcasts andSpotify.

As we age, the conversation around sexual health and intimacy often gets swept under the rug, but it's an important aspect of our well-being and overall happiness.

 In this enlightening episode, we welcome Dr. Regina Koepp, a board-certified clinical psychologist specializing in mental health and aging, to tackle the misconceptions and discuss the benefits of maintaining an active and fulfilling sex life in our later years.

Engage in our frank discussion about sex among older adults, where we delve into the physical, psychological, and cognitive benefits of maintaining sexual activity. We shine a spotlight on ageism and the stigmas that often deter open conversations about this crucial topic. Dr. Koepp brings a unique perspective to the table, stressing the importance of open dialogue about sexual health in combating these stereotypes.

Join us in this riveting episode as we bust some pervasive myths about sexuality in older adults and spark important dialogue that could transform your views on aging and sexuality.

  
What's Next?

What are your views, comments, or questions on aging, sexual health, and intimacy? Share them with us at [email protected]!

  
Stay Connected

Get in touch with our host Cathleen Toomey on LinkedIn

You can also find Seniority Authority on Facebook, on Instagram, or you can connect with us on our website!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Episode 31: Ms. Elphick joined the Partnership for Public Health in 2014 working as an Options Counselor for the Belknap County ServiceLink office. Before joining PPH, Ms. Elphick was a Forensic Interviewer with the Merrimack County Advocacy Center in Concord, NH. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Justice Studies from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology (Summa Cum Laude) from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish, ME.

Links:

• Service link National toll-free NO to access long term services: 1-866-634-9412
• Find all Service link info and addresses: www.servicelink.nh.gov
• Sample Letter 

What's Next?

What are your questions about Service Link? Share your questions with us at [email protected] or find us on your favorite social media platform

Stay Connected:

Cathleen Toomey

• LinkedIn:Cathleen Toomey
• Website:Seniority Authority
• Facebook:Seniority Authority
• Instagram:seniorityauthority

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

In this enlightening episode, we're joined by psychiatrist Dr. Sarah Slocum to discuss the confusion between dementia, delirium, and depression in older adults. Dr. Slocum shares her journey into the field of psychiatry and her interest in geriatric patients.

We explore the overlapping symptoms of delirium, dementia, and depression, and the importance of identifying the correct condition for proper treatment and intervention. Dr. Slocum emphasizes the seriousness of delirium, which is the most common issue faced by older adults in medical settings, and its significant impact on their health and recovery.

In the second half of the episode, Dr. Slocum shares advice on lifestyle changes and habits that can help prevent delirium, such as exercise, managing chronic conditions, and engaging in a passion or hobby that brings joy. Stick with us to uncover the mysteries of dementia, delirium, and depression in older adults with Dr. Sarah Slocum.

Episode 29: Dr. Sara Zeff Geber is an author and the Founder of LifeEncore. Her book, Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A Retirement and Aging Roadmap for Single and Childless Adults, was selected as a “best book on aging well” by the Wall Street Journal. Sara also received the distinction of being named as one of the “2018 Influencers in Aging” by the PBS website, Next Avenue. 

Links:

• Sara’s website: https://sarazeffgeber.com/
• Sara's book:  Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers

What’s Next?

What are your questions about solo aging? Share your questions with us at [email protected] or find us on your favorite social media platform.

Stay Connected:

Cathleen Toomey

• Linkedin:Cathleen Toomey
• Website:Seniority Authority
• Facebook:Seniority Authority
• Instagram:seniorityauthority

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.