The Year of Being 70

In this final episode of their "Year of Being 70" podcast, lifelong friends Lisette and Lucy reflect on their 70th birthdays, the impact of the podcast, and what lies ahead as they enter their 72nd year. They share their perspectives on ageing, reinvention, civic duty, and the power of storytelling. They discuss the concept of 'eldership' and how their perspectives and roles have evolved as they h...

In this episode, the penultimate one of the podcast, Lucy and Lisette reflect on their long friendship and what they have learned about each other over their year of podcasting together every week. They discuss Lisette's experience attending a conference in Berlin on the topic of steward-ownership, how this model differs from traditional shareholder-driven capitalism, and the potential it holds fo...

As their Year of Being 70 draws to a close (just two more episodes to come), hosts Lucy and Lisette report back on an eventful week for both of them. Lisette has been travelling in Italy and attending a Vatican Conference on the environment convened by the Pope, at which Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a keynote speech. Lucy celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary to her second husband, Richard. She te...

In this episode of "The Year of Being 70," Lucy and Lisette discuss the power of sharing personal stories, the feminine approach to business and purpose, and the challenges of breaking through patriarchal structures - all while Lisette travels through Italy and prepares to attend a high-level conference at the Vatican. Key Insights • Sharing personal stories can inspire others and make our purpose...

In this episode, longtime friends Lucy and Lisette revisit Lisette's Year of Being 70, as today it ends as she celebrates her 71st birthday. They recall their 21st birthdays half a century ago and, through their reflective conversation, explore how their perspectives and experiences have evolved over the past 50 years - from having the freedom to make choices about contraception and career, to wit...

In this episode of The Year of Being 70 (which is drawing to a close), podcast hosts Lisette and Lucy, who have been friends since childhood, reflect on the last five years between their 65th and 70th birthdays. As Lisette prepares to turn 71 next week, the two women delve into the productivity, challenges, and personal growth they experienced during this transformative half-decade of their lives....

In this episode, 70-year-old friends, Lucy and Lisette discuss the different types of ageing - chronological, biological, and subjective - and how our mindset about ageing can impact our physical and mental well-being. They discuss the scientific research that shows that ageing can be reversed by mindset as well as a healthy lifestyle and strong social connection; and share personal stories and re...

In this episode, returning after a 2-week summer break, Lucy and Lisette explore the profound experiences of beginnings and endings, and how they navigate these pivotal life transitions as they approach their 71st birthdays. As lifelong friends reaching milestone birthdays, their candid conversation sheds light on the complex emotions and perspectives that come with growing older. They explore the...

In this episode, lifelong friends Lucy and Lisette dive deep into how the homes and environments they grew up in have profoundly shaped who they are today, even into their 70s. As they reflect on the houses, neighbourhoods, and cities that defined their childhoods, an intimate portrait emerges of how our most formative spaces leave an indelible mark on our personalities, values, and life paths. Jo...

In this candid and relatable episode of "The Year of Being 70" podcast, hosts and childhood friends Lucy and Lisette openly discuss the physical and emotional realities of ageing. From Lisette's recent eye and skin issues to Lucy's past struggles with weight, menopause, and high blood pressure, the two friends vulnerably share their personal experiences with the changing nature of their bodies. Ke...

In this episode, Lisette and Lucy, lifelong friends who turned 70 together in 2024, reflect on their productive and transformative years between 60 and 65. Both women share how this period was a time of reinvention, consolidation of their experiences, and stepping into new roles and responsibilities. Their insightful conversation highlights how the traditional notions of retirement age can be chal...

In this episode, lifelong friends Lucy and Lisette continue their weekly conversation about navigating life after turning 70. As they reflect on their own ageing process, the discussion turns to comparing themselves to their parents at similar stages of life. While their fathers died in their 80s, both Lisette's and Lucy's mothers had long widowhoods into their 90s - Lucy's mother is now 97, while...

In this episode, "The Year of Being 70 Ep37: The Spooky Stuff - Is There Life After Death?" longtime friends Lucy and Lisette delve deep into the mysteries of life beyond the physical realm. From Lisette's childhood experiences with a spiritual being named Po, to Lucy's encounters with ghostly presences in her home, the conversation explores the profound and often inexplicable ways in which we may...

Are you comfortable travelling, going out, socialising on your own, or do you always prefer to share experiences with others? In this episode, Lucy and Lisette reflect on their experiences of doing things independently throughout their lives and now as women in their 70s. They discuss the challenges and joys of reclaiming one’s identity after separation, divorce or the loss of a partner, and how t...

Do you have a childhood BFF, or a group that has stuck together through thick and thin? Or are your friendships more transient and changing? In this episode,''The Year of Being 70 Ep35: BFFs and Frenemies - 7 Decades of Friendship'' childhood friends and co-hosts Lucy and Lisette have an open and thoughtful discussion about the nature of friendship - how it evolves over a lifetime, the different t...

In this episode, Lucy and Lisette discuss an interesting dinner party concept - if you could invite three people, alive or deceased, to your dinner table, who would you choose and why? This leads to a fascinating conversation where the two good friends share their selected trio of dinner guests and the reasoning behind their choices. Key Highlights * Lisette's Trio Lisette takes a very personal ap...

The meaning of "success" is highly personal and can change over the course of our lives. In this episode of The Year of Being 70 podcast, hosts Lisette and Lucy discuss their evolving definitions of success - from the external markers of achievement to the internal sense of fulfilment. In the year of their 70th birthdays, they reflect on how success has taken on new meanings for them. Key Highligh...

In this episode, Lucy and Lisette, two longtime friends who turned 70 in 2024, explore the changing dynamics and responsibilities that come with age. As they navigate the transition from middle-age to elderhood, they discuss the value of presence, curiosity, and wisdom that their life experiences have provided. They discuss how they are now seen as the "elders" in various groups and settings, whic...

In this episode, lifelong friends Lisette and Lucy look back on the period of their lives when they turned 55 - a time that is often seen as deep into "middle age" and even the start of old age. However, they share how this was actually a period of new beginnings, transitions, and lifelong learning for both of them. Both took training courses in their 50s that did not lead to the expected career p...

In this episode, ''The Year of Being 70 Ep 30: Nostalgia & Pet Peeves - Are We Grumpy Old Women?'' Lucy and Lisette have a wide-ranging conversation covering nostalgia and the grumpiness of older people looking back to their youth. The conversation touches on relatable themes like impatience, changing social norms, thinking 'it was better in my day' and the desire to hold onto the past – an en...

In this thought-provoking discussion, Lisette and Lucy dive deep into the metaphorical landscapes of their minds. Lucy shares her vivid inner world, where a "Miss Moneypenny" manages the day-to-day while the "Librarian" in the back tackles complex problems. Lisette explores a more interconnected and intuitive approach, where the heart and emotional wisdom take centre stage. As they unpack their un...

#yearofbeing70 #lucyandlisette #podcast #mccarraherpodcast #ep28 In this 28th conversation between childhood friends Lucy and Lisette, the two women delve into the real experiences and challenges of reaching 70 years old. With both having celebrated their 70th birthdays in the past year, they openly discuss the physical and mental changes they've noticed, as well as the bittersweet awareness that...

Today is Liberation Day in the Netherlands, commemorating the end of German occupation, while in the UK it is VE Day (Victory in Europe), celebrating the Allied victory in Europe. On this day 80 years ago, the Netherlands was liberated by a multinational Allied force, including Canadian, British, American, Polish, Czechoslovak, and Free Dutch soldiers. In this episode of "The Year of Being 70," co...

In this episode, childhood friends Lucy and Lisette take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, recalling their fashion experiences from the 1950s to the present day. From the limited wardrobes of their youth to the bold styles of the 60s and 70s, and the professional looks of the 80s and 90s, the conversation explores how fashion has evolved alongside their lives. Key Highlights • Childhood memories...

In this week's episode, Lucy and Lisette celebrate 6 months of being 70 and look at the role of holidays in their lives over the past 70 years. They reflect on the holidays they took as children, the family trips they organised for their own families, and how their perspectives on holidays have changed as they've aged. They reveal their differing perspectives, with Lisette embracing more spontaneo...