Suddenly Senior

One of the biggest worries we have as we age relates to brain function with dementia and Alzheimer’s at the top of the list. But should we just accept a general decline in brain function? Neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay explains what happens to the ageing brain, the role that hormones play and why women often experience reverse adolescence in their post-menopausal years. See omnystudio.com/listener...

If there’s one thing we’ve learned making this podcast it’s that a lot of people prefer to avoid the topic of ageing. But Keryn Curtis has made a living out of it. She became fascinated with gerontology in her 40s and says it changed the way she views life. She also reveals the preferred word to describe people who've reached a certain age. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s been making Australia laugh for decades with shows like Utopia, Front Line, Hollowmen, and D Generation, but is he also the most vilified person on Australian TV? As the host of Have You Been Paying Attention,  Tom Gleisner fends off a barrage of ageist jibes every week, and he's only recently turned 60! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the longest 'nana' nap ever, Ange and Ian are back in business. They've lined up a stack of great guests to chat to, but before they get started there's a lot to catch up on. Ange has been learning how to do backflips, and Ian has been thinking about exercise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sadly our friend and colleague Doug Mulray passed away yesterday, so we thought we'd republish our chat with him from late last year. Always cheeky, always up for fun and a true entertainer, Doug was an  Australian radio and TV icon in the 70's and 80's. Vale 'Uncle Doug' and thanks for all the laughs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Such a sad way to start 2023. We are republishing this episode with the talent and force of nature that was Renee Geyer - as we say farewell today. She made such a huge contribution to the Australian music industry and brought joy to many. Thank you Renee for sharing your ferocious spirit and talents with us all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Henschke once graced our screens as a hard-hitting journalist on programs like Four Corners and 7.30 Report. Now he's your Chief Advocate for National Seniors Australia which means he's here to fight for your rights. With one in four seniors living in poverty one of his priorities is to get older Australians who want to work back into a job. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Caton has been a constant presence on Australian screens since the 1970s and became a household name playing Harry Sullivan in The Sullivans. But he attained ‘absolute bloody legend’ status as Daryl Kerrigan in The Castle and has done plenty more since then. He'd love to keep working but says he’s been forced into involuntary retirement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doug Mulray was king of the airwaves in Sydney in the 80s (and a nude model) but stepped away from the microphone 20 years ago. These days he rarely makes a public appearance. which is why it’s an extra special delight to have him join Suddenly Senior. And in true Dr Dougie style he even brought drugs with him! The legal kind that is. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the age of 15 she stunned the world when she took out five medals, three of them gold, at the 1972 Munich Olympics.  At the age of 61 she stunned her competitors when she became the oldest ever winner of the Survivor franchise. Shane Gould is a true champion who has always walked to the beat of her own drum. Independent, courageous, and adventurous, she’s not about to let her age slow her down....

Australians have been listening to his  Health Report  for decades, but thanks to the Coronacast podcast Dr Norman Swan has become a global sensation. Now he’s encouraging everyone to focus on how to  Live Younger Longer.  After crunching the research numbers he reckons you can now expect to live till your late 90s if you’ve had a reasonably good life. But, he says there’s no point living longer i...

As his alter-ego H.G. Nelson he's been making Australians laugh at their sporting obsessions for decades. But there's more to Greig Pickhaver than comedy and acting. In his later years he's been exploring more the relationship between mind and body, and is now a firm believer in the bliss of the moment. Is he becoming a Zen master? Supported by Homemade   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Many folk explore genealogy as they age but for Anita Jacoby the prompt to investigate her family's past came from a chance conversation at a party. She's one of the most respected figures in Australian television, and her most recent project is a deeply personal book about her father who died from Alzheimer's. The process has made her reflect on what we choose to tell our children about our lives...

There are many strings to James Valentine’s bow. On weekday mornings he hosts one of Australia's most coveted roles in breakfast radio but at night you might find him burning up some bebop with his jazz combo. He's loving the freedom of being over 60, but he does find the extra aches and pains a bit frustrating. Supported by Homemade See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re planning a holiday in an unfamiliar place, you’ll probably enjoy it more if you do a bit of research before arriving.  That’s exactly how Dr Anne Ring has approached ageing. She’s a health sociologist and writer who, thankfully for us, has written the travel guide on old age.  Engaging With Ageing  will be available via her website. Supported by Homemade See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Clive Hamilton is one of Australia’s most well-known public intellectuals. He’s a Professor of Public Ethics and is the founder of the The Australia Institute. A provocateur since youth he's plans to continue challenging baseless assumptions, even when he's no longer paid to. While he admits that many problems still confront the globe, he says Boomers needs to remember the victories they have won....

Miriam Margolyse has graced our screens for many years. She’s gone from sexy voice-over girl, to serious thesbian, to self-described Fat Jewish Lesbian in TV comedy, and then to film roles in Babe and Harry Potter to name a few. Now, at the age of 81, she’s a regular maker of documentaries showing no signs of stopping. She doesn't like being old but says it allows us to challenge ourselves and exp...

For the last couple of months Angela and Ian have been having a blast chatting with mates about growing old. This week they're probing themselves about ageing. Ange reveals some of her most frustrating recent 'senior moments', while Ian shares intimate details of his shoe collection, and why he won't be caught dead in a pair of track pants. Supported by Homemade See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Meredith Burgmann has been an activist since her university days and went on to become a Labor MP in NSW. Radicalised by the Vietnam War she’s been arrested many times, attended countless rallies, and even received a jail term. While she’s still an activist she does admit to sneaking off early from rallies these days. She plans to be part of the generation that improves aged care services, and has...

A true trail blazer in sports journalism Debbie Spillane was the first woman to commentate cricket on ABC Radio. She went on to co-host Hard Coffee on triple j, and then claim the Australian Sports Commission Media Award for Lifetime Achievement.  Now happily retired and bra-less on the NSW mid-North Coast she doesn’t want to do anything other than play guitar, wear overalls, and solve Wordle. Sup...

Joe Camilleri has been rocking the blues groove for decades and with a string of hits to name has well deserved his place in the ARIA Hall of Fame. Ask him what shape he’s in these days and he reckons that he feels 25 on stage, but 105 as soon as he gets off. When he’s not touring he retreats to his country home, writes music, prunes the plum trees, and watches Tipping Point with a cup of tea. Sup...

It’s been some decades since Derek Smalls came to fame as the bass player in the rock band Spinal Tap. A documentary about the band made him a household name but the phone hasn’t rung much in the years after its release. He did release a solo album with help from the British Fund for Ageing Rockers but now spends most of time reading crime fiction and managing toe fungus. Oh, and he eats a banana...

Renee Geyer is fierce, funny, and arguably Australia’s finest voice. She’s never been the quiet type and old age certainly isn’t tempering her voice.  She refuses to go quietly into retirement and plans to be singing to us for quite a few years yet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s not much that Wendy Harmer hasn’t conquered. A successful comedian, author, and broadcaster, she’s recently stepped aside from a very demanding breakfast radio gig. Now she’s looking forward to a relaxing lie down while she mentally adjusts to the next chapter in her life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After being at the helm of Vogue Australia for more than a decade Kirstie Clements knows a thing or two about style. She’s a senior now too, so she’s well placed to offer sartorial tips to those of us who can’t find our older style groove. Her advice? Buy fewer and buy better.... and wear whatever the fuck you like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.