The Year of Being 70

In this episode, Lucy McCarraher and her childhood friend Lisette Schuitemaker delve into the books that have profoundly influenced their lives and perspectives. From the whimsical adventures of Mary Poppins to the negotiation strategies of "Getting to Yes" and the feminist exploration of "The Female Eunuch," these two lifelong learners share how certain books have shaped their thinking, challenge...

In this episode, two friends - Lucy and Lisette - reflect on their lives at 70, the times they've lived through, and how they continue to thrive as dynamic women in their later years. They discuss the powerful play "The Years" they both saw, Lucy's new book launch, and Lisette's attitude to investing in a better world rather than increasing wealth. They share personal insights on embracing their a...

Lucy and Lisette, childhood friends who are both now 70 years old, discuss how their social lives and experiences with entertaining have changed over the decades. They explore the formalities and traditions of their parents' generation, as well as the more relaxed, fluid social lives they've developed in their own adult years.  Key Highlights Lucy describes the very formal, structured di...

In this episode, we join Lucy and Lisette, two 70-year-old friends, as they discuss their recent events and experiences. Lisette shares the details of her 6th annual Eldest Daughter Retreat, a transformative gathering for women who are the eldest in their families. Meanwhile, Lucy discusses the launch of her latest book, ‘Book Magic’, which provides a strategic approach to writing nonfiction books...

In this episode of The Year of Being 70 podcast, where old friends Lisette and Lucy reflect on their long lives, they discuss people and groups who have been major influences in their lives, beyond just their immediate family members. They each share three examples - some individuals and some groups - that have significantly shaped who they are today. Key Highlights • The Class of 1970 Lucy's firs...

What has your ‘biggest’ birthday been so far? How did you celebrate – with a big community party, or a select group of friends and family? And did it feel like a new phase of life – a milestone or a reset? In this episode of The Year of Being 70 Ep19 - Turning 50: A Milestone of Celebrations, Friendships, and a Life Reset, Lisette and Lucy, childhood friends who were born a month apart in 1954 and...

What are you most proud of achieving in your life? Is it something you did, or didn’t do? Is it a choice you made, a project or piece of work you created? How your children have turned out or your decision not to have a family? In this episode,The Year of Being 70 Ep 18: Our Greatest Hits – Achievements, Life Choices, and Personal Growth ,Lucy and her longtime friend Lisette, born a month apart in...

Where were you when the clocks struck midnight on 31st January 1999 and ushered in the first minutes of the new Millennium? If you are old enough to have been there, or remember, that is! Do you recall worries about the Y2K bug deleting all our data? Or where you were when the twin towers fell on 9/11/2001? In this episode of The Year of Being 70 Ep 17, ‘Millenium Memories, Y2K, 9/11 and our trave...

Do you remember the last years of the 20th century just before the Millennium, when everything seemed to change? Is Yoko Ono a name you recognise – do you remember her Amsterdam honeymoon ‘Bed In’ with John Lennon? In this episode of The Year of Being 70 Ep 16, two lifelong friends, Lucy and Lisette, who turned 70 last year, reflect on their personal changes in the period of their lives from 1994...

Two lifelong friends, now 70, take a fascinating journey through decades of food—from post-war rationing to modern diets like Mounjaro. How have eating habits, body image, and food culture changed over the years? Let’s dive in! In this new episode ‘’The Year of Being 70 Ep 15 - Food, Glorious Food: Two Friends Stories from Rationing to Mounjaro’’ is a conversation between Lisette and Lucy, two chi...

What makes us spiritual, religious or none of the above? And how do unexpected events or communications change our view of the universe and our place in it? In this fascinating episode, The Year of Being 70 Ep 14 - Our Changing Beliefs, Spirits and a Ghost Story, Lucy and Lisette, two childhood friends who recently turned 70, discuss their personal and spiritual journeys as they reflect on their e...

In this podcast episode, Lucy and Lisette, two childhood friends who recently turned 70, reminisce about the evolution of communication technologies in their lifetime. They discuss their early memories of rotary-dial telephones, the cost and challenges of long-distance calls, the introduction of first black and white, then colour televisions, and the progression from clunky computers to mobile pho...

In this captivating episode of The Year of Being 70 Ep 12: Three Surprising Confessions from Lucy & Lisette, we delve into the unexpected and intriguing world of two lifelong friends, Lucy and Lisette, both 70 years old. These remarkable women share three secret pleasures and aversions that most people don’t know about them, revealing sides of themselves that are rarely seen by others. What Yo...

In this episode of The Year of Being 70 Ep 11 - Looking back to turning 40: Life Changes, Growth & New Beginnings, childhood friends Lucy and Lisette reflect on the significant changes they both experienced when they turned 40, sharing their journeys from a transformative and liberating time in their lives. Lucy opens up about the tumultuous period when her first marriage ended and the start o...

Happy New Year! In this New Year episode of The Year of Being 70 Podcast Ep 10: Shaping 2025 with Hopes, Miracles, and Flexibility, hosts Lisette and Lucy reflect on their hopes and plans for 2025 as they celebrate the 10th episode of their podcast. This episode offers an insightful discussion about life’s journey, goal-setting, and the balance between being 'shapers' or 'responders' to life's unf...

In this episode Lucy and Lisette, feeling 70-years-young, reflect on their experiences of turning 70 and discuss their plans and remember childhood traditions for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Their discussion touches on: Both Lisette and Lucy feel youthful and energised at age 70, though they acknowledge the milestone of turning 71 next year sounds somehow older. Lisette describes hersel...

Welcome to The Year of Being 70 Podcast Ep. 8: ‘’How Can Women Get Their Experiences of Abuse Taken Seriously?’’ In this insightful episode, Lisette and Lucy dive deep into the challenges women face when trying to get their experiences of abuse and harassment taken seriously, especially in the workplace where power imbalances are all too common. 🌟 Episode Highlights 🌟 Lisette and Lucy open up ab...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Lisette and Lucy dive deep into the contrasting paths of choosing motherhood and embracing a child-free lifestyle, exploring the impact of women’s expectations, parenthood choices, and the challenges of balancing family and career. This discussion celebrates the diverse life choices for women and sheds light on navigating societal norms while staying true...

Lucy McCarraher and Lisette Schuitemaker are both successful authors at 70 who have continued to thrive in their careers. In this episode, they discuss their shared journey of milestones in aging and how they are redefining retirement. They also reflect on their rich lifelong bonds, the lessons they have learned from each other, and their personal journeys of wisdom at 70. These inspiring women ar...

Welcome to Episode 2 of The Year of Being 70 Podcast – Ep. 2: Eldest Daughters, Milestones & Life in the 1950s! In this episode, hosts Lucy McCarraher (@lucymccarraherauthor) and Lisette Schuitemaker dive into the journey of turning 70, sharing personal stories and reflections on aging, family dynamics, and the significant societal changes they witnessed. They discuss their experiences of grow...

Welcome to The Year of Being 70 - Episode 3 | Achieving Goals, Writing Books, and Money Mindset at 70 Podcast! In Episode 3, Lisette Schuitemaker and Lucy McCarraher dive deep into topics of achieving goals in later life, writing books at 70, and cultivating a money mindset at 70. As two inspiring women over 70, they share their personal journeys and reflections on personal growth after 70. This e...

Welcome to The Year of Being 70 Podcast with Lucy McCarraher and Lisette Schuitemaker. In this episode, Lucy and Lisette reflect on how the cultural shifts of the 60s and 70s influenced their identities, relationships, and views on the world. Growing up in such a significant period of change, they share how societal expectations and personal experiences shaped their self-discovery, individual voic...

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Year of Being 70 Episode 5: How Do We Dress to Be Cool, Stylish, and Sexy in Our 70s? In this episode Lucy and Lisette are joined by @CerilCampbell, a celebrated Celebrity Stylist, to explore how to embrace fashion for women over 70 and celebrate confidence and style in your 70s. Whether you're looking for tips on dressing stylish at 70 or inspiration fo...

Welcome to The Year of Being 70 Podcast – Ep. 6 | Two Friends on Mental Health, Widowing, and Life Reflections Where Lucy McCarraher and Lisette Schuitemaker, two lifelong friends, share their insights and reflections on life at 70. This episode dives deep into themes of mental health, widowing, grief, and life reflections, exploring the personal and emotional challenges they’ve faced as they jour...