Aging With Power

Emily Clark may not be a celebrity, but in this conversation she embodies exactly what it means to  age with power . A former journalist, Pan Am flight attendant, and lifelong wanderer, Emily shares how curiosity, humor, and a stubborn refusal to sit still have shaped her life. From writing about civil rights in Mississippi in the 1960s to navigating newsrooms in San Francisco, her story reveals h...

In this episode Bill and Deb interview renowned poet, translator, and columnist  Stephen Kessler . Over the course of more than five decades, Stephen has moved from the upheavals of late‑1960s Santa Cruz into a life devoted to language in many forms—poetry, translation, criticism, and personal essay. Named  Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year  in 2023, he has become one of the Central Coast's mos...

In this episode, Bill sits down with Janis Baldwin — founder of Pure Pleasure and a woman who has never been afraid to take a risk when it matters. Seventeen years ago, as a single mom, Janis ignored the "absolutely not" from her financial advisors, teamed up with her daughter Amy, and opened a bright, shame‑free adult store in downtown Santa Cruz at a time when most shops in that category were an...

Today on Aging With Power, we're turning the dial all the way up with a guest who redefines what it means to grow older boldly. Jean Ketcham is 84, fierce, and absolutely fabulous. She's the founder of Aging But Dangerous—a movement, a mindset, and a martini-fueled mission to help women ditch the stereotypes and dive headfirst into adventure. (Sometimes literally. Jean used to celebrate her birthd...

Meet Elene Johas-Teener, a Santa Cruz-based psychotherapist whose work pulses at the intersection of neuroscience, compassion, and cultural transformation. Elene is a fierce advocate for what she calls "the science of love"—a belief that love is not just an emotion but the most compelling survival mechanism of the human species. Her approach blends clinical rigor with radical empathy, inviting cli...

"I took mushrooms in my 20s and talked to a tree.  In my 60s I took them again - and the conversation was entirely different," says author and culture chronicler Abbie Rosner, whose upcoming book, ELDEREVOLUTION and the New Counterculture of Aging is already sparking conversations about how older adults are reclaiming psychedelic experiences - not as escapism but as a path to deeper self-understan...

Do you love theater? Even if you have never set foot on stage, Santa Cruz, CA based Next Stage Productions has a place for you.  NSP's goal is to Engage, Educate and Enrich the lives of active adults 50+ through creative arts experiences.  But what does that really mean?  In this podcast, Founding Member Kathryn Adkins, and Past President and Health and Wellness Chairperson Risa Lower spell it out...

In her most recent book (her 12th), In The Country of Old,  Lieberman reflects about awakening one morning to find herself an immigrant in this new country.  "I now knew I was old," she says.  "My friends were eager to explain that I am NOT old.  It is, they tell me, a state of mind, only a number.  I am unpersuaded by motivational mush." With wit, humor and no small dose of attitude, she argues t...

Vampires, demons and otherworldly characters populate the pages of Evette Davis's trilogy, The Council.  Here she shares her midlife perspective on the challenges of running a successful public affairs firm while writing dark, edgy novels about the state of the human condition.   Evette is the author of 48 States , a semi-finalist in the 2023 Publisher's Weekly Booklife Prize, and which Kirkus nam...

Sports Psychologist, author and coach to many of the top professional and college coaches and teams, Jerry Lynch talks about not letting age slow him down.  Approaching 80, Jerry continues to up his game taking on new challenge while focusing on what brings him joy in his life.

Melissa Fritchle is a California-based psychotherapist with a focus on Holistic Health and Sex and Body Positivity.  Her first book, The Conscious Sexual Self Workbook, grew out of her popular blog.  In recent years Melissa has been drawn to EcoPsychology and EcoSpirituality, offering spiritual direction and soul coaching.  She recently launched a Substack called "Soul Entwined With Earth" to insp...

In his memoir, "Growing Up Psychedelic. Becoming Human in a World of Spirit" David Eyes connects the dots between his youthful experiences with psychedelics and a life view based on the teachings of philosopher Rudolf Steiner.  We discuss the motivations and life changes that led him to retire from a successful tech career in Silicon Valley to become an author.

Living Life on The Edge, Even Now