45 Forward

Originally broadcast 2021-11-29. Encore broadcast 2023-04-17. We are in the midst of a Parkinson's pandemic—and yet, this pandemic is a relatively silent one. Parkinson’s is the world’s fastest growing neurological disorder, increasing in virtually every region in the world. In the U.S. alone, the economic cost of the diseases exceeds $50 billion a year—a staggering $50,000 per person with the dis...

Originally broadcast 2021-11-29. We are in the midst of a Parkinson's pandemic—and yet, this pandemic is a relatively silent one. Parkinson’s is the world’s fastest growing neurological disorder, increasing in virtually every region in the world. In the U.S. alone, the economic cost of the diseases exceeds $50 billion a year—a staggering $50,000 per person with the disease. In today’s episode, we...

Originally broadcast 2023-08-14. Encore broadcast 2024-04-08. When we graduate from college, we often have little idea of where we’ll find ourselves in the second half of life. We wonder how our career will evolve; how we will grow a family and move into our middle ages; what surprises will be revealed; and what legacy we will leave our family and friends—and the planet. In today’s episode, we tal...

Originally broadcast 2024-01-29. Every week, we see a stream of news stories about opioid addiction, drug overdoses, and mental health issues—people from teens to seniors coping with stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, loneliness and suicidal ideation. We live in an Age of Anxiety. And while there are numerous recovery programs and treatments, it seems as if the problems are growing, and the sol...

Originally broadcast 2023-05-01. Encore broadcast 2023-12-25. Most of us are well acquainted with salsa—the spicy mixture of tomato and chili sauce we enjoy with tortilla chips at Mexican restaurants and at parties with friends. But now we can learn about another kind of SALSA—no, not the Latin dance, but a zesty Texas-based initiative known as Successful Aging and Living in San Antonio—SALSA, for...

Originally broadcast 2023-05-01. Most of us are well acquainted with salsa—the spicy mixture of tomato and chili sauce we enjoy with tortilla chips at Mexican restaurants and at parties with friends. But now we can learn about another kind of SALSA—no, not the Latin dance, but a zesty Texas-based initiative known as Successful Aging and Living in San Antonio—SALSA, for short. In today’s episode, w...

Originally broadcast 2021-11-15. About a decade ago, Michael Potteiger and his sister, Nacole, decided to teach their 85-year-old grandmother how to use an iPad. Not only did their Gram learn how, but she is still an active iPad user and loves seeing her grand (and great) grandchildren on FaceTime. Inspired by “Gram the Great,” Michael and Nacole founded Generation Connect, a cutting-edge firm tha...

Archive episode date: December 2, 2024. You can't open a newspaper or go online today without seeing articles about anxiety, depression, burnout or suicide rates—clearly, we're struggling with our mental health, individually and as a society. But the fact that we're all talking about mental health is a step forward, acknowledging how important it is to move these issues out of the shadows and take...

Originally broadcast 2023-06-12. There’s a saying that “Everyone has a book in them,” but the question for many of us is, “How do I get it out?” In today’s episode, award-winning author Dr. Jan Yager reflects on her life as a writer, sociologist, speaker, and book coach, talking about her canon of more than 50 books—an eclectic list of nonfiction topics, novels, and illustrated children’s books. J...

Originally broadcast 2023-06-05. Whenever Americans are asked where they’d like to live as they get older, a vast majority say they’d like to remain in their homes for as long as possible. They prize the independence, comfort, and dignity that come with the ability to “age in place.” But many older homeowners also face major challenges, such as the risk of falling, health problems, overwhelming ho...

Originally broadcast 2023-04-24. April is National Poetry Month, launched more than 25 years ago by the Academy of American Poets to recognize poets’ integral role in our culture. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, and in today’s episode, we talk to an unusual poet who came to this craft later in life—and through the most unimaginable of experiences. Hank...

Originally broadcast 2025-02-03. As we look forward to the end of winter, there’s always a bright spot in February—Valentine’s Day, our annual celebration of romantic love and friendship. But love can be complicated and hard to find (and keep) these days, amid the swift currents of social and cultural change. Many marriages end in divorce; children are estranged from their families; sexual abuse r...

Originally broadcast 2021-01-11. In his inaugural show, Host Ron Roel talks with Kathleen Otte, an award-winning senior official at the U.S. Administration for Community Living, which helps millions of people live independently and stay active as they age in their communities. Kathleen, who has been working to improve the lives of older adults for more than 30 years, will explain how federal and s...

Originally broadcast 2023-04-03. “Movement is Life.” Such is the mantra of Diane Jacobowitz, who founded the Dancewave Company more than 25 years ago with the mission of developing programs to capture the talents and imagination of young dancers. In today’s episode, Diane talks about her singular journey, from her own dance and choreography company; to connecting with young artists early to teach...

Originally broadcast 2023-03-20. When Ilyce Glink set out on a career path years ago, she wanted to be a screenwriter—she even wrote more than a half dozen scripts and was represented in Hollywood for a time. Then she realized she had to support herself. So she started writing articles about real estate, and discovered she loved being a freelance writer, selling hundreds of stories a year to newsp...

Originally broadcast 2023-02-27. For many decades, we’ve held a conventional assumption that the “peak ages” of creativity are between 39 and 42. It ain’t necessarily so, says poet, writer and teacher Priscilla Long in her recently published book, “Dancing with the Muse in Old Age.” In fact, she says, our older years are a prime time to flourish in creative productivity—even a prime time to BEGIN...

Originally broadcast 2023-02-06. Patricia King has had a long, extraordinary career —and she continues to evolve with new projects and pursuits, even into her 80s. Pat spent 25 years as an international management consultant, working with Fortune 50 companies like PepsiCo, Chase Bank, and Pfizer, and writing five nonfiction business books, including the bestseller, “Never Work for a Jerk,” which l...

Originally broadcast 2023-05-08. Last month, Diane Jacobowitz, the founder of the Dancewave Company in New York, spoke to 45 Forward about her life teaching “Creative Movement,” focusing on healing, self-care, and a functional fitness approach called Essentrics. In today’s episode, Diane returns to the show to explain another kind of healing therapy—an alternative treatment known as Emotional Free...

Originally broadcast 2021-01-25. We celebrate friendship as one of the true joys—and necessities—of life, from our childhood through our elder years. But what does true friendship really mean, and how do we sustain it in our fast-paced and changing world — especially in these difficult times of social distancing and social unrest? Host Ron Roel and Dr. Andrea Gould-Marks, a clinical psychologist w...

Originally broadcast 2024-11-18. The first time I met Dr. Ken Dychtwald was in 1989, when I was writing a cover story about older workers as a business reporter for Newsday, Long Island’s daily newspaper. I remember it well. I was interviewing job experts and workers who talked about the frustration they felt being overlooked by employers—especially at a time when most companies, facing acute labo...

Originally broadcast 2021-08-02. As your parents get older, there may come a time when it’s clear they would lead a safer, healthier, and more productive life by transitioning from their current home to an assisted living community. But how do you handle the many issues surrounding such a move? It’s complicated. And emotional. There are lots of choices, and a host of questions.  In this episode, J...

Encore broadcast 2025-01-20. Originally broadcast 2024-08-19. Ron Roel speaks with genealogist Kerri Tannenbaum of Family Dot Connector about family-history research, documentary records, genealogy resources and working with a professional. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support .

Originally broadcast 2024-08-19. Ron Roel speaks with genealogist Kerri Tannenbaum of Family Dot Connector about family-history research, documentary records, genealogy resources and working with a professional. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support .

Originally broadcast 2021-09-13. When the pandemic shut down most of America last year, the arts and entertainment community was faced with a monumental challenge. How could they survive without attracting in-person audiences to their events? Surely, they could try to create online facsimiles of their events—virtual tours, exhibitions, concerts and performances—but would these activities be dynami...

Originally broadcast 2021-04-12. Ron Roel speaks with Ed Schwartz about lifelong learning. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support .