Ageless with Roz

Why Theatre Still Matters: Karen Vicker on Stories, Community and Connection S1 E13 What makes live theatre so powerful in a digital age? In this episode, actor, director and ACT Hub co-founder Karen Vickery shares her passion for storytelling, the vital role of the arts in building community, and why live performance continues to captivate, challenge and connect us. It’s a fascinating conversatio...

What Can A Cup of Tea Teach Us About Sri Lanka – with Her Excellency Yasoja Gunesekera S1 E 12 Join me as I chat with Her Excellency Yasoja Gunasekera, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia. From diplomacy and cultural connections to the aroma of Sri Lanka’s famous Orange Pekoe tea, this engaging discussion offers a delightful glimpse into the people, traditions and beauty of Sri Lanka, and t...

The Girl with the Pen – in No-Man’s Land – Dr Julie Johnson S1 E 11 What began with a century-old photograph of a young girl holding a pen became a fascinating journey into the life of one of France’s most remarkable women. Join historian Dr Julie Johnson as she uncovers the extraordinary story of Emilienne Moreau-Evrard — war heroine, Resistance fighter and a woman whose courage spanned two world...

What does it mean to belong in Australia, and who gets recognised in our nations founding document? In this thought-provoking conversation, I speak with Kim Rubenstein, one of Australia's leading experts on citizenship, constitutional law and democracy. Professor Rubenstein has spent decades exploring the relationship between citizenship, identity, equality and the Australian Constitution. Togethe...

Settle back with a cuppa—whether that’s tea, coffee or Uruguay’s favourite drink, mate—and join me for a longer-than-usual podcast as we explore one of South America’s hidden gems. From lively conversations and unexpected encounters to stunning landscapes and unique local experiences, this episode is a collection of stories from my recent travels through Uruguay. Along the way, you’ll meet some of...

From the ocean floor to the most remote corners of the planet, Piet De Vries has spent a lifetime quietly capturing the stories that reveal how our world really works. Contact: roz@roztownsend.com Sponsors: Thanks to PrimeLife Partners **Disclaimer : This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not intended to replace professional advice

No Fixed Address (But Plenty of Guitars) – Martin Fairweather S1 E6 Martin Fairweather, has spent a lifetime weaving music, community, and creativity into everything he does. From arriving in Australia as a child in the 1950s to building a rich life in the Shoalhaven. Martin has worn many hats—teacher, musician, theatre performer, filmmaker, and mentor. With decades of experience teaching music, d...

Joining me today is Michael Ransom, Chairman of Probus South Pacific, which is celebrating 50 years of connecting retirees through friendship, learning and shared experiences. In a time when staying connected matters more than ever, Probus continues to play a vital role in helping people live well in later life.

This Mother's Day , we ask a simple question - who was our mother before she became ours? Glenda Naughten shares the remarkable story of her mother, Maisie in the book How Maisie Lived for 100 Years, 1906-2006: A Melbourne Girlhood. Contact: roz@roztownsend.com Sponsors: Thanks to PrimeLife Partners **Disclaimer : This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not int...

Harbours of Hope: Stories from Sea and Soul with Ulrike Ott Chanu Ulrike Ott has long been involved with the Caux Initiatives of Change — a global movement rooted in the belief that sustainable change in the world begins within each of us. From the historic Caux Palace in Switzerland to the busy port city of Le Havre in France, Ulrike’s work has focused on communication, ethical leadership and cre...

Beyond the Legend: Australia’s Forgotten Courage – Dr Tom Lewis S1 E2 History remembers heroes — but not always accurately. Today we’re separating legend from truth with Dr Tom Lewis, military historian, former Royal Australian Navy officer, and master storyteller uncovering Australia’s forgotten acts of courage and the myths we’ve come to believe about war. Contact: Roz@roztownsend.com Sponsors:...

The 10% Project – Susan Ryan S1 E3 What if the greatest potential in your life and work is the part no one is seeing? Susan Ryan is an author, strategist, and the creator of The 10% Project—a bold and thought-provoking movement challenging how we think about talent, leadership, and human potential. With a career that spans global startups through to established organisations, Susan has built a rep...

Who Shapes Our Future? Leadership and Sustainability with Professor Fern Wickson S2 E21 Join us for an inspiring conversation with Professor Fern Wickson, Australian sustainability academic and ocean leader based in Norway. From transforming global sustainability practices to pioneering transdisciplinary leadership programs, Fern shares her insights on protecting our oceans, shaping ethical enviro...

Why Australia’s Defence Policy Isn’t Working S1 E1 Today on Ageless with Roz, we’re discussing one of the biggest questions facing Australia — how secure are we really? My guest, Dr Albert Palazzo, is a military historian and strategic analyst who has spent decades studying war, defence policy and national preparedness. His latest book, The Big Fix, challenges how Australia thinks about security i...

Where bushfire science meets the power of lived experience. A special COTA (Council on the Ageing) podcast to celebrate UpstAGEING.

Pandemics Past and Present – What History Teaches About Survival Dr Nick Eckstein S2 E23 Dr Nicholas Eckstein, historian at the University of Sydney chats about his work exploring plagues and pandemics from Renaissance Florence to the modern world. Dr Eckstein studies what he calls “plague time” — those extraordinary moments when ordinary rules disappear and societies reinvent themselves in order...

800 Kilometres by Myself – Amanda Downing S2 E22 Amanda Downing has spent her life caring for others — as an educator, NIA teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother. But in her 60s, she asked herself a bold question: What if I did something just for me? Her answer was an 800-kilometre journey along the Camino de Santiago, mostly alone, staying in albergues with pilgrims half her age, navigating blist...

Hidden Treasures: In Real Life at The National Archives S1 E2 Today on Ageless, we’re stepping behind the scenes of history itself. My guest is Lucie Shawcross, a senior historian and curator at The National Archives, where she helps bring extraordinary historical records to life for modern audiences. Through exhibitions such as the current In Real Life: Inventors, Innovators and Opportunists at t...

Rewiring the Reading Brain: Hope in a Time of Declining Literacy S2 E20 What if reading difficulties aren’t about intelligence or effort—but about how the brain and body learned to move? Today we’re joined by Dr Janiece Moylan, whose pioneering work using the Delacato Method is transforming how children and adults overcome reading challenges by rewiring the foundations of learning itself. Sponsors...

You Must Hear This: Antony Penrose on Lee and His Mother’s Extraordinary Life S2 E19 Lee Miller lived many lives — Vogue model, surrealist muse, war correspondent and truth-teller. Her extraordinary story is now brought to the screen in the film Lee, starring Kate Winslet, and in this episode her son Antony Penrose takes us beyond the movie to the woman, the courage and the legacy. Sponsors: Thank...

Get Your Affairs In Order (Before Your Family Does) With Martin Dubler It is important to sort it out now so they don't fight later! Not all lawyers speak plain English – but our guest today does. Martin Dubler is a respected Sydney estate lawyer with years of experience in top-tier law firms, and a deep understanding of the legal issues older Australians face. He joins us to cut through the jargo...

Love Without Labels: Monogamy, Polyamory and The Art of Relationships with Gerard Margetson Relationships shape our lives at every age—but the way we understand love, connection, and intimacy doesn’t stop evolving just because the calendar keeps turning. Today I’m joined by Gerard Margetson, a relationship and personal development coach who works with individuals and couples to help them build mor...

Unsettled Realities: The Politics of Israel-Palestine with Marcelo Svirsky Marcelo Svirsky, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Wollongong, discusses the Israel–Palestine conflict and the broader politics of the Middle East. Marcelo’s work explores power, violence, and resistance, drawing on both scholarly insight and lived perspective. In this conversation...

Our guest today needs very little introduction — but she deserves a good one. Kathy Lette is one of Australia’s sharpest, funniest writers, a fearless feminist, and a woman who has spent decades proving that humour is not only entertaining, it’s essential. Her work skewers hypocrisy, celebrates friendship, and reminds us that laughter might just be the most Australian survival skill of all. Sponso...

“Peek” into Malta: A Chat with Global Citizen Linda Peek Linda Peek is a writer, blogger and businesswoman. Born in the United Kingdom, she has been involved in international diplomacy through her husband's work as an Australian diplomat. Linda has lived in Switzerland, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, Chile, France and Denmark, with postings in Canberra, Australia in between. Linda shares her Moth...