The Boomer Woman’s Podcast

For many women, saying yes became second nature long before we ever stopped to ask what we actually wanted. We were raised to be dependable, accommodating, and generous—often at the expense of ourselves. Psychologist Wendy Oconnor joins me to explore why learning to say no isn't about becoming selfish. It's about making room for the people, passions, and purpose that truly belong in this next chap...

Talking about death isn't easy—but avoiding the conversation doesn't make it any easier. ICU nurse, yoga teacher and author Theresa Evans joins Agnes to share the deeply personal story of supporting her mother through Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Together they explore anticipatory grief, caregiving, family relationships, dignity, and why showing up with love may matter more than having all...

How many women have spent decades doing what needed to be done while quietly setting their own dreams aside? At 85, nurse, hospice specialist, writer, grandmother, and author Nancy Jasin Ensley believes we all have two jobs in life: the one that earns a living and the one that feeds the soul. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares stories of resilience, recovery, creativity, caregiving, and fi...

Downsizing is rarely about the stuff. For many women, it's about deciding what still fits, what no longer serves them, and how to create space for the life they want next. Professional organizer and author Donna Barwald joins Agnes to talk about decluttering, moving, family treasures, storage units, memories, and why your home should reflect who you are today—not who you used to be. In This Episod...

Many Boomer women remember the reality of single parenthood. Today, many are watching their adult children face the same challenges in a world that feels faster, more expensive, and far more demanding. In this conversation, Pat Hankin shares practical, research-backed strategies for reducing overwhelm, managing the mental load, building resilience, and creating support systems that help both paren...

What happens when we stop asking who we're supposed to be and start asking who we really are? In this thoughtful conversation, Agnes talks with life coach Zipporah Jarmon about transitions, identity, self-trust, communication, curiosity, and the courage to live a life aligned with who you are—whether you're 35 or 85. In This Episode: Why transition never really stops How coaching helps people unco...

What happens when the life you built no longer feels like your life? In this deeply honest conversation, Agnes talks with Kim Peek about divorce after 30 years of marriage, empty nest loneliness, toxic relationships, breast cancer survival, and the surprising power of small “yes” decisions that slowly rebuild a life. This episode of The Boomer Woman’s Podcast explores health, reinvention, and pers...

What do worms, sprouts, and laughter have in common? More than you might think. In this lively and surprisingly thoughtful conversation, Agnes talks with Cathy Nesbitt — founder of Cathy's Crawly Composters — about composting, food, resilience, stress, and why joy may be one of the most overlooked health practices of all. What begins as a conversation about worms becomes a much deeper discussion a...

Author Teri M. Brown returns to The Boomer Woman’s Podcast for a conversation filled with laughter, honesty, grief, reinvention, and the wonderfully messy reality of midlife. From menopause rage and dark humour to widowhood, writing through grief, and learning how to keep becoming after life changes everything, Teri shares the deeply human stories behind her newest novel, Peg, Unhinged. In This Ep...

Have you noticed that quiet sense that something has shifted? Not dramatically, not overnight—but enough that the old answers don’t quite fit anymore. In this solo episode, Agnes reflects on what many women are quietly navigating right now—and asks a simple, powerful question. Why life after 60 can feel “unsettled” even when nothing is obviously wrong The real questions women are asking (but not a...

What happens when you stop asking “Can I?” and start asking “What if I did?” In this conversation, Debbi DiMaggio shares the story behind running the LA Marathon just before turning 60—but more importantly, what that experience revealed about mindset, transitions, and what’s still possible at this stage of life. In this episode: Why focusing on “the next step” changes everything What to do when yo...

Many women didn’t “choose” financial dependency—it was simply how things were done. But when life shifts, that quiet pattern can suddenly become overwhelming. In this conversation, Estelle Gibson shares how even with a strong financial background, she found herself needing to rebuild—and how women can step back into financial confidence at any stage of life. Why financial dependency isn’t about in...

Most of us did what we were told — we saved, we planned, we were responsible. So why does retirement still feel uncertain? In this conversation, Mark Kollar shares real-life stories and hard-earned insights about what actually puts retirement at risk — and why estate planning may matter more than you think. The difference between building wealth… and turning it into income The “invisible risks” th...

Grandmothers often underestimate the role they play in shaping the next generation—but what if their influence is more powerful than they think? In this conversation, Antwaun Thompson shares what decades of mentoring young people have taught him about resilience, accountability, and the quiet impact of the adults who show up consistently. Why today’s teens are struggling in ways previous generatio...

At a stage of life where many women begin asking “How do I give back in a way that actually matters?”—this conversation offers both clarity and relief. Katherine Lacefield brings decades of experience in the nonprofit world to unpack what giving really looks like today—beyond guilt, perfection, or confusion. Why “doing good” doesn’t require perfection How to find a cause that genuinely fits you Th...

There are moments in life when everything looks fine on the outside… and yet something inside feels unsettled. In this conversation, Madelaine Weiss and Agnes explore what’s really happening during life’s transitions — from retirement to shifting identities — and why feeling “stuck” may actually be a sign of growth. Why feeling stuck may actually mean it’s time to grow The hidden stress in “positi...

For the first time in years, Agnes Knowles takes the microphone solo. After dozens of conversations with remarkable people over 60, she reflects on the unexpected truth she keeps seeing: life doesn’t shrink as we age—it opens up in surprising ways. From senior-discount adventures to reinvention, curiosity, and gratitude, this episode is a thoughtful chat about embracing the plot twists that shape...

What would you do if the story of your life suddenly changed at age fifty-two? When Al Isaacs learned—almost accidentally—that he had been adopted through the “gray-market” adoption practices of the late 1960s, it set him on a journey through DNA testing, genealogy research, and long-buried family secrets that would ultimately reconnect him with his birth mother’s story. In this episode: • The mom...

As he approached 50, Stanley Bronstein faced a sobering question: where would he be in five years if nothing changed? At nearly 367 pounds, he chose not surgery or shortcuts — but daily walking, nutritional shifts, and a decision to act permanently on what he already knew. What followed was not just weight loss, but the creation of a personal operating system for excellence. In this episode: The t...

What if midlife isn’t about dramatic reinvention — but about noticing the wisdom tucked inside ordinary moments? In this conversation, Lorie shares stories from her book Chai on Life — from belly fat to Billy Joel — and reminds us that life may be difficult, but we can handle it. In this episode, we explore: Why personal reinvention doesn’t require a dramatic overhaul The “one action a day” accoun...

You don’t have to be extreme to step into adventure. In this conversation, Belinda and I explore beginner-friendly trekking — from simple day walks to village-to-village “walking holidays” in Europe. If fear, gear, fitness, or safety have ever stopped you, this episode gently removes those barriers. How fit you really need to be to begin Why hiking with a “wingman” builds confidence Boots vs trail...

Many women reach a quiet moment when the life that once fit no longer does — not because something went wrong, but because they changed. In this thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation, Agnes sits down with keynote speaker and communications strategist Monica Rivera to talk about what it really looks like to translate decades of experience into a next chapter that feels aligned, meaningful, and sust...

House and pet sitting is quietly transforming how women in midlife travel—and in this conversation, Belinda Coker explains why. From cost savings and safety to living like a local, we explore how house sitting offers a powerful balance between freedom and security. Belinda also shares candid stories from her own global experiences, including what she’s learned about trust, comfort, and redefining...

Retirement and tax planning become far more complicated when life crosses borders—whether you’re moving abroad or returning home. In this episode, Jimmy Miller addresses the hidden financial and tax traps that affect people living, working, or retiring across countries. Jimmy explains how common decisions—often made years earlier—can create unexpected consequences for Americans living abroad and f...

What happens when an empty nest meets curiosity, creativity, and a box of puzzle pieces? In this episode, Agnes speaks with Monica about how puzzling became a powerful way to navigate retirement, deepen partnership, and build joyful community — one piece at a time. The emotional reality of the empty nest — and how quiet can feel heavier than expected How puzzling evolved from a solo pastime into a...