New Tricks for Old Dogs

The Old Dogs ramble about that moment in time when you decide you're old. Plus lots of weird and sometimes useful news and a great interview with Kathleen O'Brien, self-styled Chief Aging Officer, who thinks "old" is something to be achieved, not ignored.

Dallasites still remember the fabulous Sheila Tequila and her retro shows. Most memorably, her spot-on performance as Tina Turner. Not bad for a middle-class white girl whose real name is Shelley Brandt. The Old Dogs have a try-to-keep-with-me conversation with Shelley as she looks back and ahead at her life as a performer. The Old Dogs offer their usual banter, flavored with such rich news items...

In this episode the Old Dogs look back on two satisfying  years of podcasting. We report on a man’s attempt to give away money that turned into an unexpected fundraiser. We learn that test show monkeys prefer traffic noise. We look beyond earth for possible earth-like destinations. We review some new terms created by the pandemic. We offer words of praise for Doctor Anthony Fauci. And we present a...

In this episode the old dogs ramble about guidelines for voters with dementia. We literally uncover a politician who hid Covid funds in his underwear. We announce with regret the cancellation of the bad sex in writing award. We wonder if stealing ancient artifacts can result in bad luck. We caution you about scammers preying on Covid fears. We dip again into the fan mailbag. And we report on what...

The Old Dogs ramble about trusting news sources. A Kentucky town where the mayor is a dog. Information overload jumbles the truth. Another edition of Aging Is Awesome. Warning signs you may have overlooked. An Abysmally Bungling Burglar. The Old Dogs have a conversation with Arthur Schechter – a lawyer, diplomat, humanist and friend to some of the most colorful politicians of our recent past.

In this episode the Old Dogs wonder how we can best get on with The Healing Process. We celebrate a first-time voter at age 70, divulge some dirty paleontological words, read more fan mail, mourn the death of our favorite 007, discuss what retirees are looking for and wonder who actually signed an open letter supporting "herd immunity." Our conversation is with Eileen Morris, a veteran a...

It had to happen sooner or later... Jim and Paul ramble about cremation. Also reports on wasted words, staying sharp online, what people want to do with their "remains," how to social distance while "playing" rugby, and rocky results after retirement. The Old Dogs have a conversation with Neil Thompson, a Hollywood actor, writer and director who gave it up for his first love: t...

The Old Dogs ramble about better ways to spend election money. Potty-mouth parrots... Too much fake news is enough... Taking a stand on phony chicken... Celebrating essential workers... A little Fan Mail... Too much licorice can kill you – who knew?  An Old Dogs Conversation with Mark Swan, an octogenarian who still hasn't settled on a career.

Ramble: social media for seniors. Podnuggets: What the heck is bruxism?  A postcard arrives a century late.  The king of sting. Just say “no” to see-through public toilets. Interview: Tecla Murphy, publisher of the popular seniors magazine, Outlook By the Bay.

In this episode the old dogs ramble about passing along our infinite wisdom to our heirs. We share fascinating – and relevant – information about the role of older elephants. We caution about the overzealous use of fly swatters. We study the new social phenomenon of walk-tailing, we tell the tale of a retired cop who finally got his man. And we mourn the passing of one of our boyhood heroines, Dia...

The Old Dogs ramble about the funding crisis in small arts organizations - and what that may mean for thousands of performers... The usual assortment of unlikely news items... A conversation with a couple of expats, Sandy Hardwick and Shirley Pettis, who found not only cheaper living in Costa Rica, but a more rewarding life.

The Old Dogs ramble about the rising tide of robots and artificial intelligence - probably in order to deflect the conversation from their own intelligence. Also, podnuggets about, yes, intelligent glasses, trading a hairpin for a house, robot movie stars, and a brief celebration of the long life of Olivia deHavilland. The Old dogs conversation is with Susan Alexander, whose search for a “real job...

Old Dogs Ramble about complaining: when to complain, when not to complain, what to complain... you get the idea. We also feature podnuggets on how not to lose weight, Isaac Newton - the pandemic remedies, now not to lose weight, making a fashion statement out of left-behind laundry, the payoffs of being kind, and - ohboy - a 14,000-year-old stool sample. Is this quality entertainment or what? The...

The Old Dogs reflect on how to know when to turn in our driver license. Funny Marriage Musings. A Surplus of Bathing Suits. Michele Watkins on Loneliness. Regional Slang. Getting a Piano for a Song. The Old Dogs chat with JOHN FLORIAN, founder of the nationally awarded Voice Over Xtra information service for voice talent.

The passing of Carl Reiner leads the Old Dogs to dredge up memories of the comedy of the 50's, morality, protests, bad behavior and, of course, The American Way. Also, the usual array of silly podnuggets and an interview with the Heartbeat of a major metropolitan newspaper.

Once again the Old Dogs offer tricks for coping, including a discussion on what makes us resilient... buying books, but not reading books... a ballpark organist finds a new audience... Three Amigas discover fantasy travel... and a conversation with John Madden, master of the trickiest and most expensive puzzles you've ever heard of.

A brief and baffling conversation with a Gen-Z-er about current slang. Shopping madness moves online. The Ancient Truth about the so-called Weaker Sex. Nutty Neologisms. Exploring the globe without leaving home. A conversation with Dian Griesel, author of the Silver Disobedience Blog, who believes that getting to know ourselves with kindness will help us - and help us understand others better.

Old Dogs talk through their masks... mindless eating... goodbye Eddie Haskell... catching up with Kristin Bartell... car-eating rats... relax-productivity is now optional. Old Dogs conversation: Jean and John Ranahan. After living all over the world they settled in a most unlikely place.

Old Dogs ramble about what we miss, and what we may not get to see again. Introducing the tri-kini. Weekly newspapers are disappearing. Violinist plays during brain surgery. More scam advice from Bob Elder. Draft beer is going down the drain. A conversation with Charlie McCarthy, IT guy, super salesman, crack lawyer and who knows what else?

The Old Dogs discover that extra time frees the mind to think more about human nature - and natural nature. We've got plenty of topical podnuggets, plus a special interview with Dr. Thomas Cole, author of Old Man Country  and a leading authority on medical humanities.

Amid all the craziness of the pandemic, The Old Dogs fit right in. This podcast is dedicated to lightening the mood of everybody's lousy mood. We offer more undisputed "facts" about life in the pandemic, a book review, a reprise of a recent conversation, and a new conversation with an Old Dog who specializes in documenting the lives of other Old Dogs.

In this special episode we reflect on life during the pandemic. We offer our personal experiences, the usual weird news, signs of hope, and interviews with some of our past podcast contributors.

At this point we're happy that we're still pumping out our bi-weekly podcast. Lots of fun stuff, including weird news items and practical advice, plus a conversation with Rick Antonson - a travel writer who became a writer who travels.

How would you like to live on a ship? More and more retirees are booking long-term passage on ocean cruises instead of retirement homes. The Old Dogs reflect on the ups and the downs in this episode. Plus more oddities from the news, a special look at investment scams by a specialist with the State of Texas and a conversation with Jacquie Witt, a tour guide who may be about to announce a history-c...

Everyone our age is dealing with changes - we can complain about them or we can learn to adapt. It's what some people have taken to calling the New Normal. Also Podnuggets weird and not-so-weird, and a conversation with Buddy Barnes, an engineer by trade with years in both military and civilian service who in his late 70's is mentoring new engineers.