The Navigating Solo™ Podcast

Where do you go to feel connected, seen, and supported outside of your home? In this special live edition of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast - recorded during our 4th virtual Navigating Solo™ Table Talk - host Ailene Gerhardt brings together solo agers, advocates, and leaders across 35 U.S. states and 9 countries to explore the impact of "Third Places".

Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, "third places" are the everyday spaces beyond our primary sanctuary (home) and routine obligations (work or formal volunteering) where we build informal connections, expand our networks, and cultivate peer support. For solo agers - who navigate aging without the built-in reliable support  - these spaces serve as vital community anchors.

In this panel conversation, three solo agers and community leaders share their lived experiences across urban, suburban, and coastal rural landscapes. Together, they explore how to transition from a casual participant to a recognized "regular," how to navigate geography and transportation barriers, and how to embrace low-stakes connections with "stranger friends."

Barron (Michigan): Change management expert and multi-time relocator who shares his 40-year "three-legged stool" model (the What, the So What, and the Now What) for establishing roots in new communities through arts, mentorship, and civic engagement.

Margo (Oregon): Founder of the North Coast EOL Collective, residing in a coastal rural community, who discusses overcoming geographic isolation, transportation hurdles, and the power of being in community rather than just serving community.

Michael (Illinois): Gerontologist and community program manager at Mather, sharing urban connection strategies - from community gardens and library computer labs to virtual learning spaces for homebound solo agers.

The Navigating Solo™ Framework: Ailene anchors the discussion with her holistic framing of solo aging - encompassing older adults living independently without reliable support.

The "Three-Legged Stool" for Rebuilding Networks: Barron outlines his strategic framework for entering a new community: identifying internal passions (Arts, Mentorship, Civic Development) and applying the What (intent), So What (why), and Now What (action steps).

Rural Realities & "Stranger Friends": Margo shares the unique dynamics of rural and frontier aging, introducing Maya Angelou's concept of the "stranger friend"—low-stakes community caring that doesn't obligate someone to become a full-time caregiver.

Low-Stakes Engagement & Becoming a "Regular": Michael demonstrates how simple, everyday routines—sitting at a local lunch counter, joining a community garden, or attending virtual exercise classes—can organically evolve into deep "chosen family" support networks.

A Space for Introverts: Ailene and the panel address common misconceptions around introversion, reminding listeners that expanding your network doesn't require changing who you are - just taking comfortable, intentional steps outside your routine.

Actionable Next Steps: Each panelist leaves listeners with an actionable task for the week - from asking trusted friends to name your top qualities to reconnecting with old contacts or tolerating new experiences to build community roots.

National Good Neighbor Day (Sept 28): Free downloadable Navigating Solo™ resources, including the 2-Page Neighbor Outreach Guide and Solo Aging Word Search, available at https://navigatingsolo.com/goodneighborday.

Mather Virtual Programs: Free online creative arts, balance, and meditation classes for older adults: https://www.mather.com/

Digital Literacy & Virtual Connections: Cyber-Seniors (https://cyberseniors.org/), Senior Planet, GetSetUp, DOROT, and local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA).

Website: navigatingsolo.com

Workbook & Tools: The Navigating Solo™ Planning Workbook and interactive tools

Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe to The Navigating Solo™ Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode!

Join our community for future Table Talks and interactive planning tools designed specifically for solo agers navigating life's chapters with autonomy and purpose. To reach any of our panelists from our discussion, please write to [email protected].

Beacon Patient Solutions LLC: BeaconPatientSolutions.com | Email: [email protected]

The Navigating Solo Network™: NavigatingSolo.com | Email: [email protected]

The Navigating Solo™ Podcast: [email protected]

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: Navigating Solo Network on YouTube

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, community updates, and more!

© 2026, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer: The Navigating Solo™ Podcast and Table Talk sessions provide educational frameworks and peer perspectives. They do not substitute for individualized legal, financial, or healthcare advice.

Does the thought of traveling solo spark a sense of adventure - or a wave of hesitation and uncertainty?

This episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast is the recording of the most recent Navigating Solo™ Table Talk. During this dynamic and solution-focused Table Talk, we delve into the joy, logistics, and practical strategies of traveling independently. Whether you are navigating a changing life dynamic, exploring the world fresh as a solo ager, or looking to transition from traditional travel to new horizons, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you take the leap with confidence.

Host Ailene Gerhardt is joined by three avid solo travelers and experts who share their diverse experiences across all seven continents:

Kay (Massachusetts) shares how to evaluate group travel styles, assess pacing, and find itineraries that align with your personal need for independence.

Steve (Virginia) offers "green flags" for spotting solo-friendly travel companies and strategies for building meaningful connections so you are traveling solo, but never alone.

Susan (California) discusses the mental preparation for major journeys, the power of staying endlessly curious, and practical tips for blending structured group itineraries with independent exploration.

From bypassing the dreaded single supplement and navigating safety in unknown areas, to leveraging technology like AI map-making and securing the right medical evacuation insurance, this episode serves as your comprehensive roadmap for the modern solo explorer.

Finding Your Travel Pace: How to choose between DIY travel, small focus groups, and larger expeditions without draining your social battery.

The Solo Toolkit: Practical uses for technology, from dropping location pins and using WhatsApp to leveraging AI for itinerary planning and safety research.

Smart Logistics: Essential advice on navigating international health insurance, medical evacuation plans, and managing changing mobility needs.

Overcoming Jet Lag & Transit Hurdles: Unique, traveler-tested routines for arriving energized and ready to explore.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): https://step.state.gov/step/

TourRadar (Travel Aggregator): https://www.tourradar.com/

Navigating Solo Network™: https://navigatingsolo.com/

Join our community for future Table Talks and interactive planning tools designed specifically for solo agers navigating life's chapters with autonomy and purpose.

To reach any of our panelists from our discussion, please write to [email protected].

Beacon Patient Solutions LLC: BeaconPatientSolutions.com | Email: [email protected]

The Navigating Solo Network™: NavigatingSolo.com | Email: [email protected]

The Navigating Solo™ Podcast: [email protected]

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: Navigating Solo Network on YouTube

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, community updates, and more!

© 2026, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In this special episode of the Navigating Solo podcast, we are sharing the live recording of our 3rd Annual Solo Aging Visibility Day (SAVvy Day) celebration! Hosted by Ailene Gerhardt, founder of the Navigating Solo Network and creator of SAVvy Day, this event brought together a vibrant, global community of solo agers joining from California to New York, and across the ocean to Austria, Great Britain, and Ecuador.

This year’s celebration highlights a powerful shift in the movement: moving away from viewing solo aging as a "problem to solve" and stepping fully into a reality to support, design, and celebrate. Tune in to hear inspiring community wins, a "state of the movement" update, and insights from solo-aging champions working to build the tools and infrastructure we need to thrive on our own terms.

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2026, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In this special episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt brings together four remarkable solo agers for the inaugural Navigating Solo Table Talk. The panelists shared lived experiences that reveal the challenges, resilience, and creativity involved in aging without "traditional" family support structures. Their stories illuminate both the complexity and the empowerment found in navigating life on one’s own terms.

How each panelist discovered the concept of “solo aging”

Building an empowering narrative

Finding or creating supportive community

Taking small but meaningful steps toward planning

The emotional and logistical challenges of paperwork

The unpredictability of aging

Balancing the serious work with joy and exploration

💬 “I didn’t win the social norm lottery—but I still have life in me.” — Natalie

Solo aging is diverse, personal, and deeply human. This candid conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own planning, consider new possibilities for support and connection, and feel less alone in the journey.

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2025, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt sits down with Barbara Hughes Sullivan, Executive Director of the Village to Village Network, to explore how the Village Movement is transforming aging in community. Together, they discuss how villages empower older adults, including solo agers, to remain independent while building strong, trusted networks of support. Barbara shares stories from across the country of neighbors helping neighbors, from volunteers creating men’s social programs to villages organizing emergency responses during natural disasters.

They also unpack why “I’m not ready yet” can delay access to vital community connections, how villages rigorously vet service providers, and why partnerships with local organizations, from assisted livings to contractors, help expand reach and safety.

Barbara offers insight into how new villages form, what’s next for the national movement, and how listeners can get involved or start one in their own area.

The Village Model connects older adults to community-driven services and social engagement.

Villages play a vital role for solo agers, providing both safety nets and belonging.

“I’m not ready yet” often shifts quickly, having a Plan B matters.

Vetting, peer-to-peer trust, and volunteerism are the backbone of successful villages.

New models like hub-and-spoke structures and regional incubators make villages more scalable.

The Village to Village Network’s Healthy Aging in Villages research and 2025 national census will map the movement’s next phase.

About Our Guest:

Village to Village Network

Villages Research Project – Rutgers University

Navigating Solo™ Network

If you are curious about starting or joining a Village, or how community models like these can support your solo aging journey, explore the Village to Village Network map and resources, and visit NavigatingSolo.com for more episodes and guidance on planning for an independent, connected future.

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Connect with The Village to Village Movement:

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2025, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In this deeply personal solo episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt, board-certified patient advocate and founder of the Navigating Solo™ Network, shares what it’s been like to shift from supporting others through health challenges to facing a health challenges of her own.

Ailene reflects on the emotional and physical toll of multiple diagnoses, hospitalizations, and ongoing treatments—all while living independently. She speaks candidly about the loss of routine, the disruption to her work, and the vulnerability of stepping into the role of patient after years of advocating for others.

Through sharing her story, Ailene explores:

The blurred line between professional advocate and patient

How illness can challenge identity and sense of control

The critical importance of compassionate, person-centered care

What it means to be present for yourself when your life feels upended

How asking for help and acknowledging limitations can be acts of strength

This episode is a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a whole person—and that even those who guide others through healthcare systems need support too.

Resources & Links:

Learn more about the Navigating Solo™ Network: https://navigatingsolo.com

Listen to past episodes of the podcast: @navigatingsolo

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2025, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

If this episode resonates with you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need to hear it. And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review.

In this insightful episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt sits down with Cathleen Toomey, host of the podcast Seniority Authority to discuss all things aging! They dive into the evolving landscape of solo aging, exploring how living longer presents both unique opportunities and challenges. Cathleen shares insights on the importance of social connection and community involvement as we age, highlighting how volunteering and small acts of kindness can build meaningful relationships and improve well-being.

They also discuss the impact of negative self-talk and the barriers it can create when trying to form new connections, as well as practical ways to overcome these challenges by stepping slightly out of our comfort zones. Additionally, we address common misconceptions about solo aging, especially around living arrangements like continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, and memory care.

Tune in to gain practical tips for embracing longevity with intention and planning, and learn why social connection remains a vital component of healthy solo aging.

Books and Websites Mentioned During This Episode:

The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness

Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live, Becca Levy

Six Steps to Managing Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: A Guide for Families, Maureen O-Connor

Seven Steps to Managing Your Aging Memory, Maureen O-Connor

Websites:

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Connect with Cathleen Toomey:

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2025, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In this insightful episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, host Ailene Gerhardt sits down with Eric Blake, a seasoned financial planner with over 25 years of experience specializing in retirement, tax planning, and investment management for women over 55—including those who are single by choice, divorced, or widowed. Drawing from personal experiences with his single mother and widowed grandmother, Eric shares his passion for empowering women to achieve financial independence in retirement.

Together, they explore the unique financial challenges solo agers face, from understanding the life events that shape retirement perspectives to practical strategies like “practicing retirement” before leaving the workforce. Eric breaks down his “retirement puzzle” approach, helping listeners piece together key components like Social Security, tax strategies, and income planning to create a clear vision for the future.

Key points addressed in this episode:

For additional resources, check out:

Whether you're navigating retirement solo or supporting someone who is, this episode provides practical tools and thoughtful insights to guide you through the retirement puzzle.

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Connect with Eric Blake, CFP:

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2025, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer: Content here is for illustrative purposes and general information only. It is not legal, tax or individualized financial advice, nor is it a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any specific security. Or engage in any specific trading strategy, results will vary. Past performance is no indication of future results or success. Market conditions change continuously.

This commentary reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of Blake Wealth Management. It does not necessarily represent those of RFG Advisory, their clients or their employees. This commentary should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Blake Wealth Management or RFG advisory or performance returns of any client.

The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Advisory Services offered by investment advisory representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Blake Wealth Management and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RFG Advisory and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advisory services may be rendered by RFG Advisory unless a client agreement is in place.

In this special episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, recorded during the Navigating Solo Fall Online Gathering, we hear from a dynamic panel of solo agers sharing their personal experiences, reflections on the past year, and thoughts on planning for the future. Their candid conversations offer insight into the joys, challenges, and opportunities of aging solo and navigating this life stage with intentionality.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaways:

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Connect with our Guests: [email protected]

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2024, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Navigating Solo™ Podcast, Ailene Gerhardt is joined by Dr. Jay Zigmont, PhD, CFP®, and founder of Childfree Wealth, the first life and financial planning firm dedicated to serving child-free and permanently childless individuals. Dr. Jay shares his groundbreaking approach to financial planning that centers on the unique needs and priorities of the child-free community, challenging traditional planning assumptions that prioritize marriage, children, and intergenerational wealth transfer.

Dr. Jay discusses how systemic biases in financial planning often fail solo agers and child-free individuals, leading to advice that doesn’t align with their values or goals. He highlights the importance of starting with a life plan—what you want your legacy and impact to be—and aligning finances to support those aspirations.

Listeners will gain insights into:

Dr. Jay also introduces his forthcoming book, The Childfree Guide to Life and Money, which offers practical strategies and insights for child-free individuals to build fulfilling lives on their terms.

Key Takeaways:

About Dr. Jay Zigmont:

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Connect with Dr. Jay:

Connect with Host Ailene Gerhardt, BCPA, CSA:

View this discussion on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingsolonetwork/videos

Subscribe and follow us for more insightful episodes, and don’t forget to visit navigatingsolo.com for resources, updates, and more!

© 2024, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC. All Rights Reserved.