Older & Wilder

Fourth of July Fireworks, Red Rocks Night, and Midlife Health Check-Ins Joy and Claire recap their Fourth of July weekends: Claire traveled to Wisconsin for her in-laws’ elaborate fireworks tradition, including a 30,000-firecracker “Super String,”. Joy stayed local, enjoyed downtown Castle Rock and gelato, watched the suspense film “Obsession,” and attended Andrea Gibson’s “Love Letter From the Af...

Joy and Claire celebrate Scott’s 49th birthday and discuss Joy’s improved gift-giving, including a Lululemon gym bag Scott wanted and an engraved Ikigai modular vitamin case paired with higher-quality supplements to replace Gruns gummy vitamins, which Claire critiques for poor bioavailability and lack of transparency similar to proprietary blends like AG1. Joy shares updates on service-dog-in-trai...

Father’s Day Adventures, Wildfire Worries, and Life Updates Joey and Claire share a post–Father’s Day episode covering family outings and life updates. Claire describes a cooler La Sals climbing day near Moab with other families, kids’ backseat squabbles, and rescuing a three-legged dog. Joy updates listeners that her dad is improving after an accident, off oxygen, staying active. They also spread...

Ronnie’s Lawnmower Accident, Hospital Aftercare, and Finding Joy Online Joy and Claire discuss Joy’s Father’s Day weekend plans and a serious accident involving Joy’s 84-year-old dad who tipped a riding lawnmower. He went to the ER, was transferred to Colorado Springs, spent time in the ICU, and was diagnosed with seven fractured ribs, with scans to rule out internal complications. Joy emphasizes...

Haircuts, Rec Center Workouts, a Bozeman Concert, and Remembering Chris Moore Joy and Claire catch up on Claire's new haircut, including a subtle side undercut meant as a low-maintenance nod to her former mullet, and her small-town Moab salon experience. They discuss how making friends in a new town can hinge on community spaces. Joy commits to the rec center, explores the weight room, and embrace...

A ’90s Party, AI Anxiety, and an Unexpected Brushfire Bust Joy and Claire chat about the fast passage of time, a full moon, and Claire’s ’90s outfit for a decades-themed 40th birthday party—complete with butterfly clips, a choker and mini backpack borrowed from her daughter—sparking nostalgia about music, school routines, and teen insecurities. They discuss aging and appearance pressures amplified...

Memorial Day Plans, Jellycat Shopping, and the GLP-1 Cultural Debate Joy and Claire catch up over Memorial Day weekend, sharing family activities in Moab, recurring McDonald’s order mishaps, an e-bike picnic, paddleboarding plans, and a quick Arizona trip for a friend’s daughter’s high school graduation. They discuss the cliquey dynamics of making friends in a Utah town with a strong LDS subcultur...

Blue Otter Financial Planning: Joy and Claire welcome back Lenet Rivas to discuss her new business, Blue Otter Financial Planning, launched after a layoff and inspired by conversations at a Surf with Amigas retreat. Lenet shares her background in financial aid at Emory, then Fidelity and investment management, and explains leaving product- and target-driven models to offer flat-fee planning for pe...

Mother’s Day on the Green River, Moab Race Meetup, and Puppy Turn-In Updates Joy and Claire chat about early wake-ups, airline announcements, and pilot “too much detail” stories. They share Mother’s Day plans to float the Green River “Daily” near Moab and discuss refining their rafting boat packing system. From their Peru group chat, they float the idea of an unofficial Moab meet-up around a trail...

Social Media Breaks, Peru Reset, and What We’re Watching & Reading Claire and Joy open with Arrested Development jokes and then discuss how meme culture and news consumption feel bleak, leading Joy to describe a mental-health-improving Peru “hard reset” of staying off social media, avoiding push notifications, and getting news from traditional outlets instead. They reflect on feeling helpless...

Peru Post-Trip Blues, Surf Retreat Highlights, and Planning Japan 2028 Joy and Claire recap travel and post-trip depression after Peru, including Claire extending her trip for a Peru surf retreat in Chiama with Surf with Amigas, riding unusually long left waves, visiting archaeological sites, and seeing the preserved “Lady of Cao.” They describe a stressful Cusco-to-Lima flight delay due to the pl...

Older and Wilder Live in Peru: Sacred Valley Reflections, Machu Picchu Magic, and Leo’s Tour-Guide Legends Joy and Claire record a live “Older and Wilder” episode reflecting on how group travel with EF Go Ahead Tours removes the stress of planning and creates immersive cultural experiences. Travelers share motivations (community, FOMO, bucket-list Machu Picchu) and favorite moments: Machu Picchu,...

Easter Morning, River-Trip Hypothermia, and Peru Prep! Joy and Claire trade stories about kids and childhood Easter traditions like egg hunts, church, and family meals. Claire recounts a spring-break rafting trip on Utah’s Upper San Juan River including visiting cliff-dwelling sites, a layover day, and a sudden thunderstorm. They discuss upcoming travel to Peru, interest in a future Japan trip, Jo...

House-Sitting in Arizona, Tracking Teens, and Planning a Japan Trip Joy and Claire chat about pet and house-sitting. Joy describes a nostalgic “time warp” weekend with her friend’s nearly-18-year-old daughter, running into a high school friend’s younger sister, and hanging at the mall. They discuss modern teen tracking tools (Life360, car cameras) and balancing safety with independence, plus kids’...

Saying Goodbye to JT and Finding Support in Grief Joy and Claire discuss travel concerns about altitude sickness for an upcoming Peru trip and past experiences with motion sickness and sleep. The conversation shifts to Joy’s dog JT, who was 14, and the difficult decision to schedule in-home euthanasia after noticing declining mobility. Joy describes the hospice vet process, the peaceful passing, h...

Two Dusty Travelers : COVID Front Lines, L&D Mistrust, and Choosing a Childfree Life Joy and Claire hosts Emily Scott ( Two Dusty Travelers ), an RN known for caring for the first diagnosed hospitalized COVID patient in the U.S., to discuss how her platform evolved beyond “the COVID lady” and how politics and misinformation have fueled distrust in healthcare. Emily, now a labor and delivery nu...

Moab Heat, Busy Spring Travel, Mindfulness, and Protein-Obsessed Expo West Joy and Claire catch up on Moab’s early heat, a recent snowstorm, and packed spring schedules including Arizona, Peru, river trips, and work travel. Claire recaps attending Expo West in Anaheim, meeting David Fitzpatrick at Disneyland for ice cream, and a stressful return trip involving a sprinting airport connection and a...

March Check-In: Lifties, Social Media Burnout, Dog Hair Hacks, Moab’s Ageless Party Scene & Love Is Blind Ohio Joy and Claire celebrate reaching March! They discuss stepping back from social media—especially TikTok—due to overwhelming news cycles, algorithm/terms concerns, and the unnatural pressure to broadcast constant reactions, preferring fact-based sources and recommending Pantsuit Politi...

Burro Brave, Hormone Swings, and Everything Is Bears Joy and Claire open by noting they sometimes need lighter conversations amid ongoing political distress. Joy shares an update on trying Colorado’s official heritage sport, pack burro racing, during a training run with rescue donkeys from REdonculous Ranch Rescue Sanctuary. Joy also updates on puppy-raising Lilas and will be turned in for trainin...

Podcasts They Hate, Olympics Distractions, and Donkey Races Joy and Claire record an early-morning episode with chat friends. The conversation shifts to popular podcasts they dislike or don’t understand the hype around. They discuss watching the Olympics as a welcome distraction. Joy shares two personal updates: discovering a local nonprofit tied to pack burro racing REdonculous Ranch Sanctuary an...

Cozy Convos and Winter Gear Essentials In this episode of 'Older and Wilder with Joy and Claire,' the hosts catch up bright and early to celebrate Evie's seventh birthday, discussing themed party decorations, birthday plans, and a DIY at-home salon experience. They also talk about the challenges of walking dogs in cold weather, sharing their favorite heated winter gear including gloves, mugs, and...

In this episode of 'Older and Wilder with Joy and Claire,' the duo recounts their tumultuous yet amusing start to the day involving Joy's smoke detector mishap and a series of supposed ghostly disturbances. They shift to reflections on the recent passing of Catherine O'Hara, discussing the impact of celebrity deaths on fans. The hosts also tackle heavier topics such as the duty of public figures a...

Navigating Anger and Staying Resilient During Turbulent Times In this episode of 'Older and Wilder,' Joy and Claire discuss the intense and fast-paced changes occurring in their lives and the world. Recorded on January 25th, they delve into the ongoing political upheaval, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining daily routines amidst chaos. They reflect on the strain of constant anger, the import...

Embracing Community Activism and Surviving January's Long Haul In this episode of 'Older and Wilder with Joy and Claire,' the hosts discuss the unending stretch of January and how activity-packed months like November and December make the lack of events in January particularly noticeable. Claire talks about Moab's upcoming celebrations and community dynamics, including her daughter's first dance r...

Navigating Time Perception, Synesthesia, and Political Discourse In this episode of 'Older and Wilder with Joy and Claire,' hosts Joy and Claire explore various themes ranging from the unusual passage of time in January to personal experiences with synesthesia. Joy describes her unique way of visualizing time, which leads to a discussion on how different people use and view calendars. The episode...