Try looking at any familiar object — say, a chair — and then drawing it freehand. Now, turn the chair sideways and draw it again. Chances are the second drawing, once you turn it right side up again, is fresher and more accurate. It's free of the baked-in assumptions you have about the whole concept of "chair."

What if we could do the same thing with aging? That creative exercise is the exact one that prompted the title of social gerontologist and journalist Jeanette Leardi's book Aging Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives On Getting Older.

Join host Jan M. Flynn in conversation with Jeanette Leardi, and come away with a refreshed outlook on living our elder years with purpose, vitality, and joy.

Jeanette Leardi bio: Jeanette Leardi is the author of the book Ageing Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives On Getting Older. She is a social gerontologist, community educator, writer, editor, public speaker, and aging wellness leader with a passion for older adult empowerment. She finds personal fulfillment helping Boomers and older generations identify and share their wisdom with others. 

As a journalist she's worked with Newsweek, Life, People, Condé Nast Traveler, Sesame Workshop and The Charlotte Observer, as well as Next Avenue and 3rd Act Magazines. She holds presentations and classes on ageing-related topics, and has been a guest on numerous podcasts. 

Links:

Jeanette's website: jeanetteleardi.com

Buy her book, Ageing Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives On Getting Older 

This episode includes Music by Juan Sanchez from Pixabay

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“Make some plans and live!” say the ‘traveling nanas,’ viral sensations Ellie Hamby, an international documentary photographer, and Dr. Sandy Hazelip, a geriatrician. The two met 25 years ago, becoming fast friends and intrepid travelers. On this edition of the Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age podcast, Hazelip and Hamby discuss their re-creation of  Philieas Fogg’s Around the World in 80 Days journey--in their 80s--while sharing tips on traveling, their philosophies on friendship, life, and living fearlessly, as well their new book, Here We Go, a guide to getting out of your comfort zone, seeing the world and making a difference. Hosted by Nancy Franklin.

The Nanas book, Here We Go

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In this eye-opening episode of Crow's Feet, journalist and thought leader Carl Honoré explores the complex world of status—how it shapes our lives, changes as we age, and can be reimagined for greater meaning. Drawing from his 5-part BBC series and personal experiences, Carl reveals how status is not just about professional achievements, but about human connection, community, and personal growth. Key insights include: Why status is fundamentally about respect given, not taken

• How social media has transformed our understanding of personal worth
• The importance of finding status beyond workplace achievements
• Strategies for maintaining dignity and influence as we age. 

Carl challenges listeners to look beyond traditional status markers and embrace a more holistic, compassionate view of personal value—one that celebrates contribution, wisdom, and human connection.

For more information about Carl Honoré and his work, check out his website, where you'll find links to his books, podcasts, and videos.   

And check out the insightful daily perspective by Crows Feet writers at www.crowsfeetlifeasweage.com.

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Betsy Allen talks with Carol Shamon about her divorce, the challenges she faced, what surprised her in good and not-so-good ways, and finding love again. 

To read more from Carol, visit the following links:

On Substack:

https://carolshamon.substack.com/ 

On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/carol_shamon/

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With the rate of divorce happening faster than it is for any other demographic, an increasing number of adults over 50 are navigating the uncharted waters of singlehood. It can be a challenging ride as they adjust after a so-called “Gray Divorce.” For some, it’s a rough journey. Others cruise toward a new era of self-discovery and reinvention. But even under the best and most mutual of arrangements, it can be tough to keep things on an even keel.

Host Betsy Allen dissects the aftermath of Gray Divorce with clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and author Dr. Judith Rabinor, including how to optimize chances for a positive way forward. You'll also hear from four older divorcees on the challenges they faced and the wisdom they gained from their experiences. This episode is the second of a two-part special on Gray Divorce presented by the Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age podcast. If you’d like to hear Part I (Split Decision: Busting the Gray Divorce), you can listen here.

For more information on Dr. Judith Rabinor, go to: judithruskayrabinorphd.com/

Book: Befriending Your Ex After Divorce: Making Life Better For You, Your Kids, and, Yes, Your Ex

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While overall divorce rates are falling, one group is bucking the trend. For those over 50, divorce rates have doubled or even tripled (depending on what source you consult) since the 1990s. So, when Crow’s Feet wants to know what’s causing the spike in divorces for older adults and how more couples might stay together, who are we gonna call? A divorce-buster, of course.  

Relationship therapist, author, and educator Michele Weiner-Davis, author of the best-selling book Divorce Busting: A Step-by-Step Approach to Making Your Marriage Loving Again, joins host Betsy Allen to talk about the issues, both large and small, that tear relationships apart and how older couples can start to think differently, communicate better, and regain those loving feelings. Even if you’re not considering divorce, Michele has advice that can make any relationship stronger and more resilient. 

If you’d like to read/hear more from Michele Weiner-Davis, visit the following links:

https://www.divorcebusting.com/

Book: Divorce Busting: A Step-by-Step Approach to Making Your Marriage Loving Again 

TheMarriageIntensive.com

Book: Healing from Infidelity: Sanity-Saving, Expert Advice for Ending the Affair's Grip on Your Marriage NOW! (her new audiobook); Link to the ebook; Read the first chapter  

Book: The Sex-Starved Marriage: Boosting Your Marriage Libido

Video: TEDx talk- The Sex-Starved Marriage

Video: The Walkaway Wife Syndrome 

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Jean Anne Feldeisen hosts Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist, researcher and writer on a mission to “Make Older Better.” After decades of work with aging adults, and studying the things that go wrong in old age, including the ageism that hampers change, Kerry is determined to spend the rest of her career helping “fortify” people for old age. Or in her words, aging need not be “the downhill slide that people believe it is." Her recently released book, Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half. is based on decades-long research: 

Join Jean Anne, a retired social worker, as she and Kerry discuss how older adults can take specific actions to fortify ourselves against the inevitable problems, while creating a more joyous life as we age.

 Kerry’s website: https://drkerryburnight.com/

On Instagram: @the_gerontologist 

Kerry’s book, Joy Span, is now available online and wherever books are sold.

Quote from the book:

“What struck me most was the radical differences in how people experienced their own aging process.

For some, it is a frustrating, degrading, painful trajectory of ever-increasing decline. For others, there is visible delight, spirituality, and joy in occupying their eighth, ninth, and tenth decades.”

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Employment to age 65 used to be a given. If not a career run at the same company, non-profit, or government agency, a worker armed with a skillset and expertise honed over decades could be reasonably assured that the acquired knowledge remained marketable. 

Recently, that assumption has been turned on its head, especially in the technology sector. But there is also opportunity.

Here are three stories about being laid off at 55+ and finding the “what’s next.” 

• Krista was a 25-year veteran in software management at a major healthcare insurance company. She was months away from eligibility for Medicare when her job was suddenly sent to India. Her “what’s next” was a scramble for short-term health coverage. 
• Mike was trained in User Experience (UX), attaining a master’s degree in the field in 2004. After 18 years, he was laid off in his late 50s.  His “what’s next”? Broaden his skill set, strategically update his resume, and pledge loyalty as he seeks his next employer.  
• Lee, at 71, brings a long history of career adaptation. He transitioned from sales to technical research and writing in his late 60s; he now works in AI content curation for a Global Top 10 tech corporation. 

Link Mike’s Medium article:

https://medium.com/crows-feet/i-may-never-find-a-full-time-job-again-one-year-update-e73fbc51af3f

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At 68, Lee Bentch doesn’t fit the stereotype. He’s still working, and after his day job, he cooks dinner for his five grandchildren and daughter. Lee is one of more than a million grandparents helping to raise their grandkids, and he’s also a Crow’s Feet writer. In this episode he tells us how he manages to plan and cook healthy meals seven days a week. Lee is interviewed by Jean Feldeisen, another Crow’s Feet writer, therapist and grandmother. Join her as she discovers how the multigeneration household enriches Lee’s life, and how the grandchildren’s presence, filled with love and caring, extended his wife’s life.

This episode originally aired June 15, 2022.

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Join host Jan M. Flynn in conversation with Lenore Guido, Bereavement Coordinator for a New Jersey hospice program, who has a private counseling practice focusing on compassionate grief care. Grief is something we often shy away from thinking about, but it’s also something we’ll all experience. Lenore, who is drawing on more than 45 years’ experience in the field to write a book on healing from loss, shares a perspective both clear-eyed and hopeful. There is, she says, life after loss — and even joy. 

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Award-winning author Melinda Blau talks with Crow’s Feet writer Warren Turner about the women she calls her “old ladies,” people who inspire her to squeeze the most out of life in her own late 70s. Meet Zelda, who played tennis until she was 99 and who still got a kick out of telling dirty jokes. Or Marge, a financial whiz at 104, who laughed as she pushed around her Rollator. Listen in as we learn what matters is not how old you are, but how you are old.

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The Living Apart Together (LAT) lifestyle choice is gaining traction among both married and unmarried couples, especially older folks ready for a bond beyond the traditional. 

The LAT framework is predicated on three pillars: 1/The couple agrees that they are a committed romantic couple. 2/ Others view them as a committed romantic couple, and, 3/ they live in separate places.

This episode is a deep dive into LAT featuring two relationship experts: Vicki Larson and Melinda Blau, award-winning journalists and authors. Vicki has written on the ageist and sexist narratives women face in the context of relationships. Her most recent book, LATitude: How You Can Make a Live Apart Together Relationship Work, explores the many iterations and paradoxes surrounding the LAT lifestyle. 

Melinda Blau, with 16 books on relationships to her credit, claims, “If you’re good at relationships, you’re good at life.”  Her three-decades-long LAT relationship is a testimony to that conviction.

Show Notes

Vicki's LATitude book on Amazon.

All books written by Vicki Larson.

Vicki's website.

Melinda Blau's Amazon page with all of her books, including her latest, "The Wisdom Whisperers: Golden Guides to a Long Life of Grit, Grace, and Laughter."

Music in this episode includes Lemon Jelly by T.J. Collie and Our Only Lark by Bitters, both from Blue Dot Sessions.

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Prolific author and lover of “old ladies” Melinda Blau hosts an unprecedented mother/daughter conversation with “America’s gerontologist” Kerry Burnight, her 96-year-old mother Betty, and Melinda’s daughter Jennifer Martin, a hospice nurse. The four discuss complexities of the mother-daughter duo as both age – role shifts, stumbling blocks and challenges, the need to simultaneously stay connected and draw boundaries.

The episode is dotted with clips of Betty sharing her strategies for living exuberantly into her nineties. Kerry’s videos of her everyday moments and thoughts have made Betty a burgeoning Instagram star – and that’s okay with her. “I'm just thrilled with the fact that she is so popular. She's my baby!”

Jennifer admits that as a young mother, being the daughter of a parenting expert was “challenging…similar to Betty having a daughter who's gerontologist!” But because of her own aging, her father’s recent death, and her professional role helping patients and their families face end-of-life realities, Jen has a new appreciation of Melinda's life and choices. 

One hopeful takeaway from this lively discussion is that it’s never too late to see the other as a person, not merely “mother” or “daughter.”

Show Notes

Kerry’s website: https://drkerryburnight.com/

On Instagram: @the_gerontologist 

Kerry’s book, Joy Span, is now available for preorder online and wherever books are sold.

Enjoy this poem about mothers and daughters written by a member of the Crows Feet podcast team: https://jeanfeldeisen.com/blog/

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Meet Susan Rice, a comedian and actress who’s bridging the generation gap through humor. You’ve probably seen her in movies, commercials and maybe your local comedy club. She calls herself “a funny old bag” and continues to do standup for audiences from Gen Z to near 90. Join Nancy Franklin as she and Susan banter about Rice’s 40-plus year career, dish about life on the road in her 70s, and being the “cool” grandmother everyone wishes they had. 

Website: susanricecomedy.com

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Binnie Klein is a Renaissance woman. At 74 she has reinvented her life time and again, from poet to psychotherapist to memoirist to songwriter, with several steps in between. 

She picked up boxing as a sport when she was 55. The red gloves in the corner of the gym caught her eye, and a memoir followed in 2010.   

A surprise phone call in 2016  triggered memories of a long-ago love, heartbreak, and the radical politics of the 1960s. A six-part audio memoir ensued. 

In this episode, she talks with host Jane Trombley about creativity being the “sustaining thing,” the essential  “nutrient” for her well-being.

Binnie started writing poetry at age eight. Childhood piano lessons laid the foundation for playing the music of the 60s on a hand-me-down guitar. In her 20s her poetry won awards and fed into her interest in becoming a psychotherapist. She has maintained a private psychotherapy practice since 1984, 

Binnie began a music and interview show on FM radio (WPKN, Bridgeport Connecticut, WPKN.org) in 1975. She’s been a DJ there ever since. 

A few years ago, a 30-something Australian songwriter sent her some material requesting airplay. They started collaborating with Binnie’s poetry and released an album, Quiver,  in 2024.  

What’s next? There is a lot in the pot. Have a listen. 

P.S. Exciting News: Binnie invites you to the In These Trees and Tartie listening party April 27, 2025, at 6 PM/Eastern, celebrating their musical collaboration and debut CD. Binnie (AKA In These Trees) will be in a live chat from Connecticut, with Tartie (Tash Anderson) from Australia! To attend this FREE event, RSVP here.   Downloads and CDs are available.

 Show Notes: 

Binnie’s  Website

Binnie's Substack: Open Tuning

 WPKN Radio Program 

Book: Blows to the Head: How Boxing Changed My Mind (SUNY Press, 2010)

Audio Memoir Ten Days in Newark, 2018

Album:  “The Quiver” 2024

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In this episode, Jean Anne Feldeisen talks with Connie Zuckerman, Managing Editor of the weekly newsletter agebuzz. In her late fifties, Connie started a small online newsletter for her circle of friends and family. Eight years later, agebuzz has grown to 50,000 subscribers.

Before agebuzz, Connie spent years as a lawyer, bioethics consultant, and writer. Her career includes studying and making decisions about issues related to aging in settings like nursing homes, care facilities, and hospitals. 

Did all that prepare her for living under the same roof with four generations of family? In the second half of the episode Connie shares her thoughts about the challenges of The Club Sandwich generation, including what it takes to make an intergenerational home work for a household with ages ranging from young kids to ninety-year olds.

Agebuzz is a weekly newsletter that pulls together all the latest information on topics of interest to older adults: nutrition, exercise, balance, fall prevention, loneliness, etc. 

The information the editors provide has been carefully curated to be reliable, useful and accessible to older adults. The material in each newsletter is easy to understand but also provides links for further research. To sign up for the free weekly newsletter, or just check out all the good info, go to agebuzz.com.

Please take our Crow's Feet Podcast Listener Questionnaire. A 2-minute survey that will help us imake the podcast even better. We appreciate your feedback.

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An interview with leading Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Expert, Alan Beyer, M.D.  As we age, our risk of falls rises, leading to the  specter of serious and debilitating injury. But we can minimize those risks with some knowledge and common-sense precautions. Join host Jan M. Flynn in conversation with Dr. Alan Beyer, the Executive Medical Director of Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Newport Beach CA and host of radio show "Doctors in the Dugout" as he talks about falls and falls prevention in older adults. 

Tell us what you think of our podcast. Please take 5 minutes to complete the survey at this link: https://bit.ly/3DtI6m1 The Crow's Feet Podcast team needs to hear from listeners like you — all responses are strictly confidential, and your opinion will help us bring you episodes that matter. Thanks in advance!

Show links:
Dr. Alan Beyer “On the Other Side of the Scalpel” video blog: https://www.hoagorthopedicinstitute.com/blog/2012/october/hip-replacement-for-the-orthopedic-surgeon-on-th/

Or watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ-T9N2QZM4&t=5s

Hoag Orthopedic Institute, home page
https://www.hoagorthopedicinstitute.com/

Alan H. Beyer, M.D., Hoag Orthopedic Institute
https://www.hoagorthopedicinstitute.com/find-a-doctor/alan-h-beyer-m-d-/

"Doctor in the Dugout" (Heard on AM 830 in Southern California) https://www.am830.net/show/doctor-in-the-dugout/#:~:text=Doctor%20in%20the%20Dugout%20is,features%20special%20guests%20and%20more.

About Alan Beyer, MD, FACS

Alan H. Beyer, MD, FACS is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery of the knee and total knee replacement. As one of the founding physicians of Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI), Dr. Beyer has held key leadership roles since 2011 and currently serves as medical director. HOI is consistently rated in the top percentile of the nation for orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Beyer graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine. During his residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York, he became the chief resident of orthopedics and went on to complete a sports medicine fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic. Dr. Beyer’s passion for sports initially led him to specializing in orthopedics and continues to drive his active lifestyle and practice today.

Dr. Beyer has published numerous papers and presentations on sports medicine and joint replacement. He is also currently involved with clinical research as the principal investigator for two studies.

Dr. Beyer hosts the weekly “Doctor in the Dugout” radio show on AM 830 KLAA, featuring keen insights and an entertaining twist on sports medicine-related topics, current injury reports special guests and more.

Dr. Beyer generously lends his expertise to many organizations, including serving on the board of the Arthritis Foundation of Orange County/Inland Empire and as the chairman and team physician for the Newport Beach Breakers. The recipient of the 2007 Vin Jorgenson Award for volunteerism at Hoag, Dr. Beyer remains an active volunteer and generous supporter of Hoag Orthopedics, the education and research organization supported by HOI physicians. His philanthropy helps support HOI’s preeminent fellowship programs in training the next generation of orthopedic surgeons. He is a past president of Hoag’s 552 Club and enjoys serving on various Hoag fundraising committees for the annual Hoag Classic golf tournament.

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"Skilled nursing facility." "Post-acute care facility." "Rehabilitation hospital." Whatever they're called, they all mean the same thing: what most of us think of as a nursing home. The time may come when you or someone you love needs that level of care — and that need can be sudden, like after a fall or accident.

When that happens, you can end up in a whole new world that operates by different rules — rules that may not be explained to you. That's why you'll want to listen as host Jan M Flynn chats with our returning guest, elder care manager and consultant Kira Reginato.

As an elder care manager and consultant, Kira has served hundreds of older adults and their families in a variety of settings: hospitals, residential care and skilled nursing facilities, hospices, Alzheimer’s adult day care programs and Meals on Wheels. 

 Kira is the author of the book "Tips for Helping Your Aging Parents… without losing your mind." 

We'll also hear from Dorothy Guajardo, another elder care specialist and owner of A to Z Gerontology serving Sonoma and Marin counties in California. She has some eye-opening stories about what can happen when nursing home patients or their loved ones don't know their rights.

So stay tuned — because when it comes to nursing homes, what you don't know can hurt you.

Show Notes

For more information about Kira Reginato, visit her website at www.Callkira.com  and check out her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyO7atbCToRbKmnFI6EZGAg

Kira is the author of the book Tips for Helping Your Aging Parents...Without Losing Your Mind – click the link to purchase a copy.

To learn more about Dorothy Guajardo and the services she provides, visit A to Z Gerontoloty at https://atozgerontology.com/about-us/

Interested in finding a care manager for yourself or your family? Visit the national Aging Life Care organization at www.Aginglifecare.org

Find an Ombudsman in your state: The National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (NASOP) is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 1985. NASOP is composed of state long-term care ombudsmen representing their state programs created by the Older Americans Act: https://www.nasop.org/

Or contact the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) by going to: https://ltcombudsman.org/

The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) provides support, technical assistance, and training to the 53 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs and their statewide networks.

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Whether you’ve been with your significant other for one year or 50, you know that successful relationships aren’t always a bed of roses—both people have to work at it! How do we keep love alive and thriving, especially as we age, when our bodies, our work, our family situations, and our personal needs are changing?

In this special Valentine’s episode, you’ll hear from a veritable Whitman’s Sampler of Crow’s Feet writers, listeners, and relationship experts—all sharing advice about how not to lose that loving feeling, no matter how long you’ve been together—no matter how much life has thrown your way.

Featured guest contributors: Dr. Frank Powers and Dr. Gloria Horsley, Dr. Dale Atkins, Melinda Blau, Patricia Thornton, Joe Franklin, Kerry Kramer, Carole Olsen, Mel Schlesinger, Lisa Alexander, Beth Bruno, Catherine Dunn-Gilbert, J. Michael Flynn, and Mary McGrath. Guest readers: Jane Trombley and Rich Halten.

Want more from this episode’s guests? Visit the following links:

Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers:

 • Featured in the February 14 2024 Crow’s Feet podcast

 •Authors of Open to Love: The Secrets of Senior Dating

Dr. Dale Atkins:

 • Featured in the December 25 2024 Crow’s Feet podcast

 • Author of The Kindness Advantage: Cultivating Compassionate and Connected Children

Melinda Blau:

 • Author of The Wisdom Whisperers: Golden Guides to a Long Life of Grit, Grace, and Laughter

 • On Medium

Patricia Thornton, Ph.D.:

 • Featured in the January 8 2025 Crow’s Feet podcast

 • On Medium

Kerry Kramer:

 • On Medium

Carole Olsen:

 • On Medium

Mel Schlesinger:

 • On Medium

Lisa Alexander:

 • On Medium

Beth Bruno:

 • On Medium

Catherine Dunn-Gilbert:

 • On Medium

Mary McGrath:

 • On Medium

Share your thoughts with us:

NPR video on how to record and send your comments on the show. At the end, instead of sending to NPR, email your comment to crowsfeetpodcast@yahoo.

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Beauty fads come and go. Today, you can choose from Derma-planing, CO2 laser resurfacing, Mesotherapy injections, Exosomes and.....BOVINE COLOSTRUM? Do any of these work or are we just f-ing up our faces? Meet Valerie Monroe, former Beauty Director of “O”, “The Oprah Magazine” and author of the popular “Don’t F*ck Up Your Face” on Substack. In this episode, Monroe talks about what works, what doesn’t, and what it really means to age “beautifully,” including the most important, and affordable, beauty product you can put on your face. This is for anyone who’s looked in a mirror and asked “WTF?!”

Here's an NPR video on how to record and send your comments on the show. 
But at the end, instead of sending to NPR, email your comment to crowsfeetpodcast@yahoo.com. Or text to 404-786-3605.

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That’s what psychologist and “dating anthropologist” Patricia Thornton, Ph.D., considered when she re-entered the dating scene after a divorce. In this episode, hosted by Nancy Franklin, we learn about Thornton’s experiences dating more than 150 men and whether or not she eventually hired a male escort. Thornton offers great advice for elders reentering the dating scene, including dating outside the lines, and even embracing unconventional relationships.

NPR video on how to record and send your comments on the show. 
But at the end, instead of sending to NPR, email your comment to crowsfeetpodcast@yahoo.com. Or text to 404-786-3605.

Music in this episode includes a selection from Tech Oasis on Pixabay.

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In this episode, Dr. Dale Atkins talks with Jan M Flynn about something many of us would love to see more of in our communities, nation, and world: Kindness. More specifically, what authentic kindness means, and how it can show up in deeper and richer ways as we age — and how that can contribute to a kinder world for us all.

Based in New York City, Dale Atkins is a licensed psychologist with more than 40 years experience as a relationship expert focusing on families, wellness, managing stress, and living a balanced, meaningful life. Author of seven books and many chapters, articles, and journals for popular and professional audiences, Dale is a featured speaker who lectures and leads seminars worldwide. She has appeared regularly on NBC’s TODAY and CNN. Dale has a private psychology practice in New York City and has been a member of, and advisor to, several nonprofit boards, including Jumpstart for Young Children, from which she recently retired after serving twenty-two years, since its founding. She has two children and six grandchildren, and lives in Connecticut.

Show note links: 

Dr. Dale Atkins website: https://www.drdaleatkins.com/

Nature Walk Talks by Dale Atkins

Books by Dr. Atkins:

The Kindness Advantage: Cultivating Compassionate and Connected Children
https://www.drdaleatkins.com/the-kindness-advantage-book/

Sanity Savers: Tips For Women To Live a Balanced Life
https://www.drdaleatkins.com/sanity-savers-book/

Wedding Sanity Savers: How to Handle the Stickiest Dilemmas, Scrapes, and Questions That Arise on the Road to Your Perfect Dayhttps://www.drdaleatkins.com/wedding-sanity-savers-book/

I’m OK, You’re My Parents: How to Overcome Guilt, Let Go of Anger, and Create a Relationship That Works
https://www.drdaleatkins.com/im-ok-youre-my-parents-book/

Sisters
https://www.drdaleatkins.com/sisters-book/

From the Heart: Men and Women Write Their Private Thoughts About Their Married Lives
https://www.drdaleatkins.com/from-the-heart-book/

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It’s a gift to let your family and other loved ones know what to do when you’re gone and what you want done with everything from pets to possessions. But where to start – and how to make that happen? One answer: Rusty Rosman’s “Two Envelopes” – a way to preserve “your voice” and let others know your wishes.

In this anecdote-packed episodes, Rusty Rosman tells all-too-familiar stories about how we tend to avoid the difficult topic of dying and the chaos that comes of not-planning.  After all, we all have an expiration date...as host Melinda Blau puts it, “at least until there’s a cure for mortality!” In the meantime, it behooves us to each leave behind a roadmap for our loved ones.  

Rusty wrote her book, "Two Envelopes", as a guide to get us started navigating the practical and emotional complexities of end-of-life planning. She stresses that "Two Envelopes is not a workbook or a filing system! It's a guide to personal reflections and conversations you'll have with your loved ones. As you prepare your envelopes, you'll be ensuring that your voice, your wishes, continue to guide your loved ones after your death." 

"Two Envelopes" is available on Amazon and other booksellers. If you'd like to connect with Rusty, go to her website or email: TwoEnvelopesABook@gmail.com.

Thanks to comedian Susan Rice for allowing Crow’s Feet to feature one of her Don’t Tell Comedy YouTube clips in our intro. Over the last 42 years, Susan has honed her craft at major comedy clubs around the country. In 2024 at the age of 72, she filmed her first 45 min special called "Silver Alert!" Read more about Susan on her website or listen to her podcast with Art Krug, “Stop Me If I’ve Heard This!” 

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In these weeks before the holidays, Mother Nature, the daily news, sometimes our own families, can seem to conspire to drive us all batty. In this podcast, we serve up a feast of useful suggestions for keeping it together in these turbulent times. Join host Jean Feldeisen and a Bakers Dozen Crows Feet Readers and Writers as they share their secrets for resilience and taking care of themselves.

Show Notes & Links:

Melinda Blau talked with Ellen Langer, Psychologist and Harvard Professor in this episode from 9/27/23.
Learn more about Ellen at ellenlanger.me

Barbara Biziou, Spiritual Alignment coach, Motivational Speaker and Ritual Expert.
Listen to Jean's interview with Barbara on August 9, 2023

Hear Patricia Ross on our episode from 7-26-23 with Melinda Blau.

Contact writing coach Roz Warren at roswarren@gmail.com.

We promised a link to this Mayo clinic article about laughter.

Voices heard from our Crows Feet Community:

Jean Feldeisen
Nancy Franklin
Bruce Murray
Carole Olsen
Chris (who didn’t leave her last name)
Lee J. Bentch
Mary McGrath
Gail Knapik
Jan M. Flynn  
Orren Onken
Betsy Sweet

Music in this episode includes works from Pixabay.com by Nicholas Panek and Christoph Scholl.

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How do we remember our past? What stories do we tell ourselves that become ingrained as memories even though the stories might not be real? 

Author, memoirist, and septuagenarian Jonathan Lerner sits down with Jane Trombley to reveal discoveries about his teen years outside Washington DC as he researched for his latest memoir, Performance Anxiety. Some of the stories he recalled didn’t quite line up with reality, a discovery that caught him by surprise. 

Jonathan also talks about his earlier memoir, Swords in the Hands of Children, chronicling his early adult years as he dropped out of college, joined the anti-war movement and the militant Weather Underground organization. It took him nearly thirty years to process the experience, and gain enough distance to write a successful memoir, despite easy access to public archival material, early manuscripts and recorded interviews with former colleagues. Swords was published in early 2017. 

What is the upshot of delving into long-ago memories? As Jonathan says, “The result can be a kind of peacemaking with yourself and self-forgiveness, (and) maybe forgiveness of someone else.”

We close with some pro tips for all us amateur memoirists looking to capture our own stories. Have a listen.

Show links:

Memoirs:

Performance Anxiety: The Headlong Adolescence of a Mid-Century Kid

Swords in the Hands of Children: Reflections of an American Revolutionary

Website:   Jonathan Lerner

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Music in this episode includes: Blue dot-Jane & Jon Lumber Down by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/284009">Blue Dot Sessions</a>

Music by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/moodmode-33139253/?utm_source=link attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=201745">Vlad Krotov</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=201745">Pixabay</a>

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