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

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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.

Show Notes:

As we enter retirement, we're faced with a new challenge: navigating the unstructured time and the need to find purpose and fulfillment. In this episode, we're joined by 68-year-old author Andrew Robin, who shares his insights on living a "tapas life" after retirement, as introduced in his book, Tapas Life.

Andy offers advice on adding structure and cadence through routines, rediscovering passions, and exploring interests from earlier in life. We dive into the concepts of convergent and divergent thinkers and how they approach life after long careers. 

We explore the VIA (Values in Action) Happiness Survey, created by Martin Seligman, as a tool to identify personal strengths and interest. And finally, we explore reevaluating and reinventing relationships, letting go of old mental models, and embracing the freedom and spaciousness offered by a “tapas life”. 

Get Andy’s book, Tapas Life.
  
What's Next?

What are your views, comments, or questions on living a fulfilling life after retirement? 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.

Aging gracefully and staying healthy is a priority for many of us. In this episode, we're joined by certified yoga instructor Will Thomas, who shares his insights on the importance of stretching and strengthening as we age. Will, who began practicing yoga in grad school, explains how maintaining muscle mass and bone density is crucial for protecting our joints and preserving mobility.

We explore breathing and stretching exercises that help listeners connect with their bodies, emphasizing the significance of focusing on how everything feels and incorporating breath into the practice. Additionally, we discuss the challenges of deep breathing and how strengthening muscles can improve lung capacity and overall health.

Discover more about Will Thomas and his approach to yoga and aging by tuning into this enlightening episode.

What's Next?

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

Stay Connected

Connect with our host Cathleen Toomey on LinkedIn

Find out more about Seniority Authority on our website! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

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

Join us in this live edition of Seniority Authority from the Leading Age Summit in Washington, D.C., where our host interviews Bryant Johnson, former paratrooper, Army reservist, and personal trainer to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Bryant shares his journey to becoming a certified personal trainer, his experiences working with Justice Ginsburg, and the impact their training sessions had on her health and his approach to fitness.

Together, they discuss the importance of functional fitness and the dynamic wisdom concept, which involves the interaction of the biological, psychological, and social dimensions (body, mind, and soul). Bryant shares anecdotes about training his mother and Justice Ginsburg and his motivation for writing his book, "The RBG Workout," which focuses on functional exercises for people of any age.

Learn about "prison anchors" – excuses people use to avoid working out – and the importance of overcoming them. The host praises Justice Ginsburg for her humility and willingness to learn, even at the pinnacle of her career.

Bryant shares recommendations for listeners who want to start incorporating his methods into their daily lives and emphasizes the importance of movement and seeking professional guidance for exercising. In a lightning round of questions, Bryant reveals his guilty pleasures, favorite healthy practices, and favorite book, among other things.

Discover how you can incorporate Bryant Johnson's functional fitness methods into your own life and embrace the power of exercise for aging well by tuning into this inspiring episode.

Episode Resources:

"The RBG Workout" by Bryant Johnson

   
What's Next?

What are your views, comments, or questions on functional fitness and aging gracefully? 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.