Around the World at 80
Zestful Aging
When Eleanor Hamby and Dr. Sandra Hazelip met more than 25 years ago, after becoming empty nesters and then widows, it was best friends at first sight. They never could’ve imagined that their relationship would propel them, in their eighties, through an around the globe adventure, or that they would go viral online and inspire people young and old across cultures. They have been known on social media as “the traveling nanas”. Their new book, “HERE WE GO” expands on the joyous message of hope that launched them into the spotlight. Find out more about this zesty friendship: Find out...
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The Power of Traditional Naturopathy
Zestful Aging
Amanda Conta Steencken is a classically trained musician and neuroanatomist originally from Argentina who has a fascinating story about her journey into health and wellness education. Amanda was training in classical piano when she began having problems with her hands. Her health problems became too severe for her to continue in her music training. Taking a big career turn, she focused on spinal cord injury and stem cells before she found her calling in teaching. Frustrated by the western medicine philosophy of looking at the body as sick, she discovered the power of Traditional...
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“Cooking Your Way to a Calm Mind”
Zestful Aging
Psychotherapist and author Julie Ohana combines two of my loves–psychotherapy and cooking. In fact I just pulled 2 sourdough boules out of the oven. Who bakes in summer? I do! Cooking has been a passion of Julie’s since childhood. It started while baking family recipes with her grandmother, working as a prep cook while in high school and as the kitchen manager at her summer camp. As she developed a passion for cooking, Julie discovered a second love-helping people through therapy. She’s talked about her treatment approach in all of the major news outlets, including the “New York...
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Does Cannabis Have a Role to Play in Healthy Aging?
Zestful Aging
Who else is confused about the use of cannabis, or pot, as we used to call it? And what’s with all of the dispensaries opening up? Does cannabis have a place in a healthy lifestyle? Today we’re going to speak with Dr. Dana Lillestol, a retired nurse practitioner whose passion is educating the modern elder on using cannabis to help with age related health concerns. Find out more at . Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at
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From Candy Striper to Helping People Live and Die with Purpose
Zestful Aging
Part executive director, part death doula, Karisha Solomon has been helping people live—and die—with purpose. With over two decades of experience, Karisha’s journey has taken her from candy-striper to nursing aide, caregiver coordinator, nursing home administrator-in-training, adjunct professor, nonprofit executive director—and now, certified death doula, gerontologist/ entrepreneur. Karisha is on a mission to take the fear out of dying so people can live more fully now. She blends spirituality and strategy into everything she offers. Our conversation is in conjunction with the...
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The First Indigenous Fashion Designer to be Invited to New York City Fashion Week
Zestful Aging
I had the honor of speaking with Mary Homer of Oneida Nation's Wolf Clan in Upstate NY. Mary spent 10 years dreaming of designing clothes. She wants her clothes to express “class, not trash.” She loves working with velvet, although it’s a difficult fabric As a fourth-generation bead worker, she began showcasing her brand at local Native craft shows, selling earrings, necklaces, bows and more. Soon the small business shifted into a fashion brand, Homer Couture. Today, she's the first and only Indigenous fashion designer to show collections during Syracuse Fashion Week....
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Who Needs a Nervous System Reset?
Zestful Aging
Today’s episode is with Meg Tobin, a Mental Health Counselor and the owner of Breathing Space Psychotherapy. Meg is an expert in mind body approaches to help regulate the nervous system. She uses EFT (Tapping), Brainspotting, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, and several somatic techniques to cut through the defenses we use to protect ourselves, but ultimately keep us stuck in the same old patterns. Lately she’s been taking groups on international retreats for more intense healing and adventure. I met Meg about three years ago and was inspired by her dedication to helping people feel better...
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What it Takes to Write a Humor Novel in Your 60’s?
Zestful Aging
This episode features a long time friend I met while dog walking. He definitely looked out of place in the Syracuse winter, with his shiny new cross country ski equipment, fancy tech coat and dog who looked a bit like Al Capone. My dog walking companion and I speculated that he was enrolled in the federal witness protection program and his dog, Nate, was his cell dog. It turned out that wasn't the case. Jeff had been a popular and award-winning humor columnist in Southern California and suburban Boston. Soon he was at it again in Syracuse, addressing topics from family life to local...
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What Can I Do to Help the Environment?
Zestful Aging
One of the many joys of being a podcaster is that whenever I run across a zestful ager, which is often, I can invite them on the Show. It’s a great way to meet people that look interesting. Recently I was at an Earth Day celebration and I noticed a group of unmistakably zestful agers. I just knew I wanted to introduce myself and get to know them. They had that dynamic, postmenopausal energy. Today’s guest has spent her life promoting environmental stewardship. Mary Bartlett is part of a local organization called United Climate Action Network (UCAN) which is all about building...
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Would You Sell Everything and Live in an RV?
Zestful Aging
What if you had a major life transition in middle age, decided to sell your worldly belongings and buy a RV and travel around the country solo? Would you be that brave? I don’t know if I would. I had the opportunity to speak with full time RVer, Kathy Macdonald, on the Nelson swamp trail, just having been introduced by our mutual friend, Sue Parker. You may remember Sue, the hot shot firefighter who did a similar thing. And here’s a tidbit I love…how did Sue and Kathy meet? Sue reached out when she saw that Kathy and she both had the same obscure trailer brand! That’s the secret....
info_outlineToday’s episode is about resilience and courage. What it is, why it’s important, and how we can create more courage in our own lives. I don’t know about you, but in this phase of life I don’t want to miss any opportunities because of fear.
Sue Parker is the co-founder of the Creative Hub in Cazenovia NY. She loves bringing women together to craft, share and be in community. It’s the most fun Sunday of the month. But what I have discovered is that Sue is a true adventurer, although she’s pretty modest about it. She has had an adventurous spirit from the beginning–she was one of the first woman hot shot fire fighters in Oregon!
Sue spent her career working to make healthy food accessible to everyone before online food ordering was a thing, she was involved in creating the first online farmers market through the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Eventually she settled down and raised her three children in a quiet upstate NY town. Then tragedy struck. Her 17 year old daughter died unexpectedly, and Sue was left to process that loss as she was parenting her other two children. She took this opportunity to make some big changes even though they were terrifying.
Today we’re going to learn about what it takes to be resilient through unspeakable loss, and how we can create more courage in our lives. You can find Sue on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sue.parker.749519
Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com