There are so many colorful threads in the life story that Ruth Strassberg, 76, weaves for us in this episode of Two Old Bitches. Her journey to the U.S. from an Italian displaced persons camp in the 40s, transforming into a beatnik in the 50s, her immersion in psychedelic cultures of the 60s and 70s, and her engagement with new age and human potential movements since the 1980s offer fascinating glimpses into the personalities and networks of those eras. Ruth is a seeker, a learner, a truth-teller and a listener. The different paths she traveled led her to trust the universe with a sense of connectedness and contentment that are re-assuring and inspiring, especially in these times of COVID-19 and global disruption. Our conversation with Ruth ends with her sharing: “The world is what it has to be. It’s not here for us to change. It’s here to change us.” Have a lovely listen, be well and, to Ruth, huge gratitude for sharing your beautiful story!

SO5 Episode 10: Ruth Strassberg –  Stranger in a Strange Land

Love your bitchy self! Join us – Idelisse Malavé and Joanne Sandler the Two Old Bitches (from New York City) – as we celebrate kick-ass, unstoppable women from around the world. Women over 50 tell us how they re-imagine their lives, their bodies, their relationships and their creativity as they go through huge transitions. The 87-year old former dance teacher who lived with Andy Warhol in the 1960s and became an accomplished painter in her 80s; the 79-year old Australian activist who left her country for 44 years and returned in her 60s to create a new love life and home; the 55-year old Indian American feminist who transitions from fierce feminist activist to shamanic healer. Be inspired! Laugh and cry with us! Contact us and let us interview you!

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True confessions: as Two Old Bitches, we fully expected the Golden Bachelor to be the height of cringey, old-people porn. Watching 22 women in their 60s and 70s compete for the affections of one old man threatened gladiator-level, fury- induced female feuds. And were we ever wrong!  Kathy Swarts, one of the most memorable of the contestants, set us straight in our delightful conversation with her. Kathy, at 70 years old, helped us understand that the real story of the Golden Bachelor is not a longed-for romance between a man and a woman --in this case, Gerry Turner and his choice, Theresa Nist who married immediately after the show ended to only announce their divorce three months later in mid-April! The real story is the phenomenal friendships forged by the gutsy, adventurous and authentic women who were chosen to ‘contest.’ Join us to hear Kathy, and two other contestants who make surprise cameo appearances, reveal how their experiences on the show awakened new curiosities and aspirations. From finding a man who loves life as much as she does to hosting her own TV show, Kathy, and her new crew of friends, are exploring a new range of possibilities for what’s next. We’re sure you’ll want to know more so once you’ve tuned in to this TOB episode, join Kathy and Susan Noles, another contestant, for their new podcast, The Golden Hour. This conversation roused our interest in delving into the diverse approaches and stories of ‘later daters,’ so if you have an experience to share about dating in your 60s, 70s or 80s – or why you’ve decided to forego the experience – please reach out to us through our website or DM us on Instagram or Facebook! Enjoy the show! ------------------------------ Visit www.twooldbitches.com Follow us on Instagram @twooldbitches, Twitter @TwoOldBitches, Facebook @TwoOBPodcast Created, Produced and hosted by Joanne Sandler &  Idelisse Malavé Edited by Jeyda Bicer Social media management by Loubna Bouajaj

SO 9 Episode 06: Kathy Swarts – This is Your One Glorious Life

American sculptor Jeanne Silverthorne, 73, is an “artist’s artist” known for cast rubber pieces and installations drawn from her studio, turning everyday objects and people into “metaphors for the inevitability of age and decay, …tempered with humor, hope and humanity.” (For photos of a favorite work of ours, Banshee: Self-Portrait at 73, see our website and social media.) She has showed her work at leading New York galleries for decades (currently at the Marc Straus Gallery) and in one-person exhibits including PS1 and the Whitney Museum in New York and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia. Jeanne is on the faculty of the School for Visual Arts and has written extensively about art in a range of publications, most recently in the Brooklyn Rail with “Playing It Out” about aging as an artist. She is witty and wise, and surprisingly shy though you’d never guess it. More about that in our lively conversation with the delightful, insightful and gifted Jeanne Silverthorne. ------------------------------ Visit www.twooldbitches.com Follow us on Instagram @twooldbitches, Twitter @TwoOldBitches, Facebook @TwoOBPodcast Created, Produced and hosted by Joanne Sandler &  Idelisse Malavé Edited by Jeyda Bicer Social media management by Loubna Bouajaj  

SO 9 Episode 05: Age Has Revealed My Nature to Me

Who Are You? It’s a simple and profound question that we ask (almost) every guest on Two Old Bitches. And given that most of our guests are women over 60, we were curious if a review of their answers might reveal some patterns or insights into how we identify as we age. What we found: for some people, it still changes daily. Others had epiphanies early in life and still identify with that early notion of who they are. And then there are those who are completely stumped by the thought of describing who they are. The 80+ responses from our guests to this question fall into six categories.  All of them speak to an inspiring insight: no matter their age or circumstance, our guests live very much in the present and manage a beautiful blend of respect for their pasts and aspirations for the future. So before you listen, take a minute, answer the question for yourself. “Who Are You?” And then listen to the diverse and delightful reflections that these 19 guests offer on who they are.   In this episode, you will hear the voices of (in this order):  Chiemi Karasawa (Season 5, Ep 7)  Lucero Gonzalez (Season 5, Ep 4) /Sandra Garcia Betancourt (Season 1, Ep 2)  Cynthia Madansky (Season 5, Ep 9)  Geeta Misra (Season 4, Ep 1)  Sandra Guzman (Season 5, Ep 1)  Inca Mohammed (Season 2, Ep 9)  Tracy Hyter Suffern (Season 4, Ep 8)  Claron M. McFadden (Season 7, Ep 1)  Ruth Strassberg (Season 5, Ep 10)  Srilatha Batliwala (Season 6, Ep 7)  Branca Moreira Alves (Season 8, Ep 10)  Nadine Hack (Season 7, Ep 9)  Jaune Evans (Season 2, Ep 4)  Donna Uchizono (Season 8, Ep 7)  Sharon Louden (Season 4, Ep 7)  Sari Botton (Season 7, Ep 7)  Ayesha Pande (Season 8, Ep 2)  Stephen Williams (Season 8, Ep 1)  Marlyse Yearby (Season 8, Ep 5)

SO 9 Episode 04: Who Are You?

If you were deeply enmeshed in the ‘womyn’s’ music scene or romped topless through the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festivals in the 1970s and 1980s, then you will pulsate with memories of the amazing, kick-ass all-women’s rock group, Fanny. Even if you missed it, we hope you can imagine how revolutionary and transgressive Fanny was in its heyday in the early 70s. Which is why we were thrilled to find June Millington -- wild woman, lead guitarist and the band’s co-founder -- as kick-ass now as she was 50 years ago. At 75, June and her partner, Ann Hackler, run the Institute for Musical Arts in Goshen MA – hosting a recording studio and  annual camps that show scores of girls and young women the power of rock and roll to be their ‘get out of jail free’ card, just as it was for June and her sister Jean when, in early adolescence, they picked up their first ukuleles in the Philippines. You can immerse yourself in Fanny’s story, from their origins to meeting with the Beatles, playing back-up for Barbara Streisand, their successful albums and tours and more in the 2021 documentary, The Right to Rock. To learn more about June, check out her memoir, Land of a Thousand Bridges. A second memoir is coming soon and June and sister Jean’s latest album, "Play Like a Girl" is available on Spotify and Amazon Music. June still lives by the mantra that "life is music and music is life." We are eternally grateful to her for sharing a bit of the winding path that brought her to this point, as she bravely commits to coming face-to-face with herself at every age.      The music we used in this episode includes: Ain’t That Peculiar (Fanny, 1972) Thinking of You (Fanny, 1971) It Takes a Lotta Good Lovin’ (Fanny, 1967) Charity Ball (Fanny, 1971) Changer and Changed (Cris Williamson, l975) My Love (Tret Fure, 1973)

SO 9 Episode 03: June Millington - Music is Life

We couldn't resist. We were way too curious about ChatGPT to let all of the controversy and (rightful) concern about the dangers of AI deter us from asking it about our favorite topic: the experiences of women in our second half of life. So we asked Chat to take on the persona of an older woman, "dive into the muddy waters of gender and ageism" and share "wisdom that only comes from years of livin' and loving." What we found? You be the judge. She is clearly artificial and not very intelligent but she gave us a lot to think about and had an amazingly positive view about aging. Hope she similarly inspires you, dear listener. Or as ChatGPT said when we asked her to write the blurb, "Grab your earbuds and settle in, sugar, 'cause these two old bitches got a tale or two to tell."   NOTE: In this episode, ChatGPT is played by our multi-talented producer, Katharine Heller.

SO5 Episode 10: Ruth Strassberg – Stranger in a Strange Land

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