Aging ain't for Sissies

Send us Fan Mail We talk about one of the best surprises of getting older: we stop giving our energy to things that never earned it and we start protecting our time without guilt. I share a retreat weekend, a rude flight attendant moment, and the everyday ways letting go turns into more peace, better boundaries, and more meaningful living.  • letting go of needing everyone to like us  • traveling...

Send us Fan Mail I’m making the case for something I refuse to give up: Halloween is for grown-ups too. We laugh about candy corn, plastic masks, and pillowcase trick-or-treating while I challenge the idea that being silly has an age limit.  • Loving Halloween on purpose, including candy corn and decorations  • A quick life catch-up, healing updates, and everyday annoyances  • Remembering old-scho...

Send us Fan Mail We call out the little things we once mocked about aging and admit how many of them quietly make life better. We trade the need to seem impressive for comfort, clarity, and the kind of joy that doesn’t require an apology.  • choosing dinner at five because it’s calmer, easier, and leaves a whole evening  • knowing your go-to order and enjoying reliable favorites  • switching from...

Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to feel older isn’t your birthday, it’s the moment you start editing your joy to look “appropriate.” Marcy is done with that. At 65, she’s making a playful case for being a little ridiculous after 60, not reckless, not embarrassing on purpose, just openly delighted again. We talk about the imaginary dignity committee that whispers “at your age” when you reach for g...

Send us Fan Mail January loves to yell at us. October doesn’t. I’m making the case that fall is the new spring, and that a fresh start in October feels better because it comes with less pressure and more joy. If you’re tired of resolution culture, perfection, and the exhausting “fix yourself” energy, this conversation is your permission slip to reset in a kinder way. We talk about why fall hits ou...

Send us Fan Mail We come home from the hospital after a cardiac episode, a blackout, and a concussion, then tell the truth about what it feels like when life bulldozes a carefully planned calendar. We hold gratitude and disappointment in the same hand, and we challenge you to stop waiting for the “right time” to do what matters.  • the shock of losing time after blacking out and falling  • grievin...

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Send us Fan Mail Retirement looks a lot less like endless leisure and a lot more like managing a calendar that keeps filling itself. We talk through the mindset shift that helps us move from nonstop busyness to an intentional life that includes real rest.  • retirement as a full-time job without the paycheck  • the hidden workload of health care, workouts, and daily logistics  • navigating smaller...

Send us Fan Mail If you have ever caught yourself thinking, “I just want things to go back to normal,” this one is for you. I’m closing out the Aging Survival Guide with the truth I did not fully see when I started: we were never only talking about retirement, downsizing, marriage, friendships, travel, and the holidays. We were talking about change, and how to live with it without spending the res...

Send us Fan Mail I send a very honest “children of mine” text because I want a holiday with my adult kids, and it sparks a bigger truth about how family traditions change as we age. We talk through the grief and the logistics, then lay out simple strategies for building a new holiday that prioritizes connection over perfection.  • why holidays shift when kids grow up and families spread out  • the...

Send us Fan Mail We talk candidly about how retirement changes marriage when the old structure disappears and you suddenly have a lot more together time. We share practical ways to protect your independence, lower resentment, and build a life that feels good even when your spouse stays exactly who they’ve always been.  • retirement revealing hidden friction once busyness is gone  • small daily ann...

Send us Fan Mail We talk about how travel after 60 changes and why those changes can make us better travelers who enjoy the trip instead of enduring it. We share practical ways to plan for comfort, energy, and real life so the adventure stays fun. • shifting from proving ourselves to enjoying ourselves • planning buffer days for recovery and reducing exhaustion • packing lighter and skipping the f...

Send us Fan Mail Nobody warns you that retirement can change your friendships as much as it changes your calendar. One day you’re surrounded by built-in community from work, kids, and routines, and the next you’re realizing how many relationships were held together by proximity instead of true connection. I open with a very real personal update about a hard week, then we get into something I wish...

Send us Fan Mail We tell the truth about downsizing: it’s emotional before it’s practical, and it can be one of the most freeing changes we ever make. We share what we learned moving from 4,000 square feet to 800, including how to release guilt, keep the memories, and build a home that fits our real life.  • downsizing versus moving and why it feels so personal  • advanced hiding versus true declu...

Send us Fan Mail Your phone was supposed to make life easier, so why does one “quick task” turn into a 45-minute spiral of password resets, expired codes, and blurry QR menus? I’m Marcy Backett, and I’m bringing you a summer survival guide to technology that’s honest, funny, and actually useful, especially if modern devices sometimes make you feel like you need a degree just to turn on the TV.  We...

Send us Fan Mail Family gatherings can flip from sweet to stressful in one sentence. We’ve all seen it: the best intentions at the table, then a stray comment about politics, money, parenting, or who “never calls,” and suddenly you’re back in an old role you thought you outgrew decades ago. We talk candidly about aging, retirement, and how family dynamics shift over time. Parents become the ones w...

Send us Fan Mail I'm on vacation this week, so I hope you'll enjoy this replay of one of my favorite episodes! This episode is a fun and honest conversation across generations. We ask each other the questions people don't always think to ask—from friendships and first memories to aging, respect, marriage, health, and what really matters at every stage of life. We don't agree on...

Send us Fan Mail I'm on vacation this week, so we're revisiting one of my favorite episodes. I hope you enjoy this replay! This episode makes the case that volunteering isn't just a nice thing to do—it's one of the best things you can do for your health. We talk about how giving just a couple of hours each week can improve your mood, support brain health, reduce stress, and hel...

Send us Fan Mail We turn “surviving the doctor’s office” into a practical skill, because nobody teaches us how to be a good patient even though healthcare gets more complex with age. We share the mindset shift that changes everything: the doctor knows medicine, but we know our bodies, so we speak up and ask until we understand. • laughing at the realities of aging and nonstop appointments  • becom...

Send us Fan Mail Our Summer Series: Aging Survival Guide Retirement stops being a vacation fantasy and turns into a real-life identity shift that forces us to answer, “Who am I now?” We share the biggest surprises that hit after leaving work behind and the simple routines that help us rebuild purpose, friendships, and joy.  • retirement as an identity change not a long break  • why too much freedo...

Send us Fan Mail Social Security looks like a simple choice until you realize one decision can lock in your monthly income for life. I break down the key ages, the tradeoffs behind claiming early or waiting, and the practical steps I use to research benefits without getting lost in jargon.  • why Social Security is a permanent decision for most people  • the three key claiming ages and what change...

Send us Fan Mail We catch ourselves rushing through days that are actually good, then ask the uncomfortable question of what we’re hurrying for. We talk about retirement, productivity guilt, technology, healing, and why slowing down is how we notice the life we worked so hard to build.  • summer in Chicago and the strange habit of staying rushed  • the pressure to stay productive and the belief th...

Send us Fan Mail We talk about the hidden workload of aging and why it can feel like everything is suddenly our responsibility, from fitness and food to family and technology. We name the exhaustion, the quiet grief, and the bright side, then remind ourselves we’re doing better than we think.  • the surprise reality that healthy aging takes active management  • the daily checklist of movement, str...

Send us Fan Mail We tell the truth about how easy it is to slide from comfort into stagnation and why “I’m fine” can be a mask for boredom, fear, and loneliness. We push for intentional aging with small, brave actions that build momentum, expand your world, and make this chapter feel like yours again.  • why stagnation often looks normal and quiet  • “stagnant water gets murky” as a gut-check for...

Send us Fan Mail Hospice has a terrible reputation, and I want to replace fear with facts so families stop waiting until the last days. I break down what hospice really does, why some people can improve on hospice, and how to talk about comfort and dignity before a crisis hits.  • hospice as a shift from cure to comfort, quality of life, dignity, and support  • the six-month guideline and why doct...