Growing Older Together | Facing Fears. Embracing Resilience.
Growing Older Together is a short-form podcast that explores the fears, turning points, and resilience of aging, with episodes under 15 minutes.
Season One: Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow, looks at how earlier experiences continue to shape who we become.
Season Two: Finding Strength in Our Fears, shares stories about fears, how it shows up in everyday life, how it keeps us quiet, and what it takes to speak about it in later life.
From time to time, I share interviews with guests about their experiences of aging and the resilience they discovered along the way.
Let’s keep growing older and wiser together.
Episodes
31 episodes
S2 EP 1 – Why Fear?
In the Season 2 premiere of Growing Older Together, Lourdes explores how our fears shape us and how we can find strength in facing them. This first episode, Why Fear, launching on the 4th of July, reflects on perso...
S2 EP 2 – Exploring The Fear of Aging
In Episode 2, Lourdes addresses common fears about aging, such as losing independence, dealing with health issues, and financial worries. Through personal stories and practical advice, Lourdes explores ways to confront and manage th...
S2 EP 3 – Handling The Fear of Becoming A Burden
In Episode 3, Lourdes discusses the common and often unspoken fear of becoming a burden to loved ones as we age. She explores where this fear comes from, shares relatable stories, and offers practical advice on how to address these ...
S2 EP 4 – Overcoming The Fear of Loneliness
In Episode 4, Lourdes discusses the experience of loneliness, what it means to feel disconnected and how it can impact our lives. Lourdes will share a listener's story about finding comfort in a new companion and offer suggestions o...
S2 EP 5 – Confronting Health Anxieties
In Episode 5, Lourdes talks about the anxiety many of us feel around health issues as we age. She shares a listener’s story about managing these concerns and provides tips to help ease these fears. Lourdes has a special announcement...
S2 EP 6 – Addressing the Fear of Cognitive Decline
In Episode 6, Lourdes discusses the fear of cognitive decline as we age. She breaks down common misconceptions about aging and mental health, highlighting how many older adults maintain clear thinking well into their later years. Lo...
S2 EP 7 – Facing Financial Fears in Retirement
In Episode 7, Lourdes addresses the financial fears many face as they approach retirement. From rising costs to the uncertainty of outliving savings, she explores the root of these anxieties and provides thoughtful ways to feel more secure.&nbs...
S2 EP 8 – Whispers of Regret: Women Finding Peace in Silence
In Episode 8, Lourdes introduces a new recurring series, Whispers of Regret: Women Finding Peace in Silence. This series provides a private space for women to share personal stories and explore the hidden regrets they may have carried ...
S2 EP 9 – Quiet Strength: The Power of Introverts
In Episode 9, Lourdes explores how quieter personalities can find their place in a loud, fast-moving world. She discusses the quiet strengths that often go unnoticed and how creating space for what feels right can lead to deeper, mo...
S2 EP 10 – Returning to the Mic
Episode 10 was recorded on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, 2025, and released on New Year's Day, 2026. Although I didn’t mention it during the episode, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!This episode is a quick update, and I’m excit...
S2 EP 11 – Invisible with Age: Fighting Ageism
In Episode 11, Lourdes addresses a topic that many people encounter, but many may not recognize by name: ageism. She shares the stories from the community as well as a personal story from a friend. Lourdes discusses how it shows up ...
S2 Ep 12 – Awareness Is Your First Defense
In Episode 12, Lourdes discusses the importance of awareness in self-defense, emphasizing how recognizing early signs of danger can prevent physical confrontations. She shares personal experiences, practical tips, and mental models to help list...
Trailer
Welcome to Growing Older Together, a new short-form podcast hosted by Lourdes Valtierra Dirden that launches on Monday, February 5th. This podcast explores the journey of growing older and its impact on our family, friends, and relatio...
Light In The Shadows - Special Episode
This special episode, titled Light In The Shadows, is inspired by Lourdes' friend's courageous battle with a serious health condition. In this episode, Lourdes discusses the health challenges many people tend to keep to the...
S1 EP 1 – Introduction
In Season One of Growing Older Together, this first episode features Lourdes Valtierra Dirden introducing a series that explores the process of getting older and the valuable lessons that come with it. She discusses her pe...
S1 EP 2 – When The Past Knocks
In Episode 2, Lourdes discusses how memories can surprise us and bring up strong feelings like worry, frustration, and anger. This episode examines those moments when old memories resurface and impact our lives now. By sharing her e...
S1 EP 3 – Echoes of Resilience
In Episode 3, Lourdes discusses the ups and downs of resilience when facing unexpected challenges. She shares her personal story of suddenly losing her job in December 2022, a moment that brought a mix of shock and sadness, but also...
S1 EP 4 – Unresolved Emotions
In Episode 4, Unresolved Emotions, Lourdes discusses the emotional baggage that accompanies us in later years. Through her story and a look at how these feelings shape our lives, this discussion opens up a conversation on facing and ma...
S1 EP 5 – The Art of Apology
In Episode 5, The Art of Apology, Lourdes discusses the importance of forgiving yourself, something many people don't think about much. She tells a story from her own life about how hard it can be to see one's worth when facing tough t...
S1 EP 6 – Shadow of Regret
In Episode 6, Shadow of Regret, the topic of discussion is regret and how we can learn from it. Lourdes narrates a story from one of her listeners about a difficult decision related to health and the consequences that followed. It's a ...
S1 EP 7 – Echoes of Silence
In Episode 7, Echoes of Silence, Lourdes talks about coping with the absence of loved ones. She shares her own experience of dealing with the silence that comes after her adult son stopped being a part of her life. She discusses how it...
S1 EP 8 – Making New Connections
In Episode 8, Making New Connections, Lourdes navigates the significant impact of establishing new friendships and rekindling old ones. This episode focuses on how new and revived connections can bring joy, support, and a d...
S1 EP 9 – Echoes of Understanding
In Episode 9, Echoes of Understanding, Lourdes explores the significance of truly listening to deepen our connections with others. She discusses how active listening, beyond merely hearing words, can transform acquaintances into friend...
S1 EP 10 – Navigating Uncertainty
In Episode 10, Navigating Uncertainty, Lourdes explores the complex theme of handling uncertainty through her journey over the past few weeks. She discusses the challenges of her health and dealing with family issues and how these expe...
S1 EP 11 – Navigating Relationships and Perspectives
In Episode 11, Navigating Relationships and Perspectives, Lourdes talks about how old fears can shape how we act and connect with people now. She discusses the importance of listening, understanding others, and working toge...