The EndGame

Stella Fosse is the pen name for a writer who has carved out an encore career as a writer of erotic fiction for women of a certain age. In this interview, she explains: * How she went from biotechnology to writing erotic romance. * When a romance is not a romance. * How the publishing industry defines the subgenre of “seasoned romance.” * What’s the minimum age to be considered a seasoned vampire....

Janine Vanderberg leads Changing the Narrative, a Colorado-based public interest campaign working to change how people think, talk, and act about aging and ageism. In this interview, Janine discusses: * How ageism hurts the economic security of adult in their 50s, 60s, and beyond * How ageism has a harmful effect on the healthcare and lifespans of older adults * How sometimes the greatest harm com...

Babs Plunkett coaches women who experience an identity crisis when the empty nest robs them of the role they feel is most important: Mother. In this interview, Babs talks about how women can make the transition to a happy life after the mother role ends, and similarly how to make the transition from working to retirement. Babs, a life coach and retirement coach, is the author of Choose Joy: Three...

Betsy Wurzel, a nurse by training, became a personal caregiver to two family members afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Inspired by her experiences, she offers support to caregivers. In this interview she talks about: * The impact of caregiving on caregivers, physically, emotionally, mentally * Life after caregiving (yes, it does exist) * The necessity of self-care for the caregiver * Dealing wit...

Margaret Nash is a life-long seeker, a self-described hippie at heart, and the author of 7 books, among them Rebellious Aging and The Retirement Rebel . An Alabama native and a long-time resident of England, she is a “semi-retired” life coach based in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. In this interview, Margaret discusses: * The peculiar difficulties our generation faces in transitioning to retiremen...

After being advised that a full-time career in art was folly, Michelle Spiziri pursued work in sales and started a successful home-services company. But eventually she could not resist the siren call of art, closing her company to devote herself fully to painting and other creative outlets. In this interview, Michelle discusses: * Whether a late-blooming career has disadvantages * What are the fin...

This episode contains an interview with Sharon Rolph, the “Queen of Courage” and author of the book Fresh Courage in Retirement: Finding Purpose, Essence & Fulfillment . Sharon talks about finding your essence and your purpose, as well as how to find the courage to live your best life in retirement. You can learn more about Sharon and her work at her website, SharonRolph.com . Get full access to T...

Medicare is complicated, as Medicare coach Nancy Schwartz explains, because it is a mix of public and private players. In this interview, Nancy unravels some of the complexity and explains: * The difference between supplement insurance policies and Medicare Advantage plans. * Why you often pay extra for being loyal to one insurer. * Why you absolutely must get coverage for medications. * How to ma...

When a loved one develops dementia, everything changes. Dr. Susan Wilson Krechel describes her long and difficult journey trying to care for her husband and afford him the best possible quality of life as his mind “aged in reverse.” Her story takes them through a succession of hospitals, rehab facilities, and nursing homes with radically different approaches and widely varying costs. Along the way...

A former advertising executive, Matt Thornhill has turned his background in market research into two new ideas: * Openly Gray, an awareness campaign aimed at encouraging older adults to be more positive about their own aging, and * Cozy Homes, intentional communities of middle-income adults. Have a listen and prepare to be inspired! Get full access to The EndGame at theendgame.substack.com/subscri...

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) seems to be widespread in our culture, aided and abetted by social media. In a wide-ranging discussion, the Council of Elders explores how to best define FOMO. Along the way, the Council also weighs in on: * FOBO (Fear of a Better Option) * Enneagrams (kindergarten level) * Priya Parker, Richard Rohr, and Martin Buber, together for the first time * Curiosity and explorat...

Kerry Byrne stepped away from academic research to solve a real-world problem: how to form close bonds with grandchildren from far away. Based on research and her own experience as a mother in Dubai, she created The Long-Distance Grandparent . Whether your grandchildren are halfway around the world or up the street, Kerry gives great insights into: * Why grandparents really should “sweat the small...

In this interview, Jerry Doctrow, a respected analyst of the senior living industry, offers his take on such weighty topics as: * What is the industry doing about the fact that Baby Boomers don’t like any of the choices before them? * What are the options for those with means - and for those at middle-income or below? * Will we have alternatives that allow us to age in our homes? * Should we inves...

Miriam Goodman, an accomplished journalist, award-winning radio and television producer, and author of Too Much Togetherness: Surviving Retirement as a Couple , tackles such topics as: * Do retired men turn into their fathers? * Why retirement is a feminist issue * The G-men: Ghost, Glommer, Grumbler, Gypsy, General * Why women should not feel guilty about having free time And, as a special bonus,...

In a wide-ranging philosophical discussion, the “Council of Elders” explores the emerging trend of slow-living and incorporates ideas about: * Blue Zones, where a majority of people live happier, healthier, and longer. * The liberating qualities of saying no to events and people. * Structured and unstructured time. * Covid-19 realizations about what is really necessary and important. * Work time,...

Jeanette Leardi ( www.jeanetteleardi.com ) is an active and effective crusader against ageist assumptions. In this interview, she provides information on a variety of topics, including: * Why elders are not all alike - and less alike than most age groups. * Why we have a right to be angry when treated to “elderspeak.” * What old brains can do better than young brains. * How to recognize ageist lan...

Scientists seem to be on the verge of correcting the internal processes of aging and extending human lifespans to 120 to 150 years. What would be the ramifications of extended lives on ourselves, our family relationships, on the world? The Council of Elders bravely goes where few have dared to explore these questions with speculation, insight and humor. Subscribers: Don’t forget our first online m...

This podcast features two great presentations: * Writer Amy L. Bernstein offers some hard-earned advice about making the transition from employment to what some call “retirement.” * Don interviews personal coach Ana Tampanna, who advises women “who are up to something,” on why women are alligator wrestlers, how to manage the Inner Mafia inside your head, and how to change your life story - at any...

[Due to a stupid technical error, the first version of this podcast accidentally “cancelled” a member of the Council. This version restores all the participants in the conversation. My apologies for the inconvenience.] Among the meaty topics batted around by our Fearsome Foursome are: ·  Can we be well informed citizens without raising our blood pressure? ·  Is politics only personalities? Where’s...

Among the meaty topics batted around by our Fearsome Foursome are: * Can we be well informed citizens without raising our blood pressure? * Is politics only personalities? Where’s the beef? * What media can you trust? * Will we all turn into our mothers as we age and limit our movie consumption to romcoms and Hallmark Specials? Tune in for all this and more! Get full access to The EndGame at theen...

A panel of four “sages” explores how the media see seniors in a wide-ranging discussion that also touches on bathroom humor, what it feels like to be revered, the benefits of multi-generational living and how to have healthier lymph nodes. Good stuff! Get full access to The EndGame at theendgame.substack.com/subscribe

Our featured guest, Stephanie O’Dell, created an agency whose models are exclusively age 50 or older. Steadily she’s making fashion marketers think differently about older women. Plus: an essay about surprising sources of prophecy by writer Susie Kaufman. Get full access to The EndGame at theendgame.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The EndGame at theendgame.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The EndGame at theendgame.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The EndGame at theendgame.substack.com/subscribe