In this episode of Redefine Retirement, host Ryan Wheless interviews Ashton Applewhite, a leading anti-ageism advocate and author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. Applewhite defines ageism as prejudice or discrimination based on age—often assuming someone is "too old" or "too young" for tasks, roles, or relationships—and stresses that it affects people across all life stages, not just older adults. She explains how internalized ageism (self-limiting beliefs like "I'm too old for that") stems from a youth-obsessed culture that profits from fear of aging, while also perpetuating ableism and gender biases. Challenging stereotypes, she highlights the diversity of aging experiences—older people become more varied, not uniform—and argues for reframing aging as a natural, multifaceted journey with real benefits like wisdom and resilience, rather than inevitable decline. The discussion ties directly to retirement, exploring workplace discrimination, identity shifts post-career, fears of becoming a "burden," the value of interdependence over rigid self-reliance, and the need for inclusive narratives that portray vibrant, purposeful later life—ultimately empowering listeners to reject ageist tropes and embrace aging with curiosity and agency.

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