The Well-Lived Life of a Serial Social Entrepreneur
45 Forward
There are many people who work for social service organizations during their lifetime, but few do it with the passion and vision of Paul Arfin. In today’s episode, Paul talks about his long and storied career, starting out in the Peace Corps and progressing though a series of groundbreaking social programs on Long Island. He’ll chronicle his multiple initiatives supporting youth organizations in the region, as well as Latin American migrant workers. Ever a pioneer, he'll describe his shift toward blending advocacy for both youth and older adults, as the New York coordinator for...
info_outline
Can You Find Personal & Professional Success through the “5 Ls”?
45 Forward
As we move through our fast-paced lives, year after year, trying to juggle personal, family and work demands, we inevitably face a pointed question: Has my life been a success? We’d like to think so, but how would we define success? And how would we achieve it—especially when we often find ourselves buffeted by unexpected circumstances, feeling out of balance and unfulfilled? In today’s episode, I talk with Sal LaGreca and Michael Mannix, co-founders of Unparalleled Performance and co-authors of “The 5Ls,” who will take us on a pathway to personal and professional success. What are...
info_outline
Helping People with Disabilities Lead Independent Lives—with Canine Companions
45 Forward
For people with disabilities, leading an independent life can be an extraordinary challenge—at any age. But one proven way to help the disabled lead lives with greater independence is through the companionship of service dogs. In today’s episode, we talk with Dorian Stern, the director of philanthropy for the Northeast region of Canine Companions, a national nonprofit organization that provides remarkable, highly trained service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities. Now in its 50th year, Canine Companions offers services at no cost to qualified individuals. Dorian,...
info_outline
Discovering the Path to Lasting Love in Today’s Troubling World
45 Forward
As we look forward to the end of winter, there’s always a bright spot in February—Valentine’s Day, our annual celebration of romantic love and friendship. But love can be complicated and hard to find (and keep) these days, amid the swift currents of social and cultural change. Many marriages end in divorce; children are estranged from their families; sexual abuse remains a troubling societal concern; friendships are fractured over politics; and people of all ages report widespread loneliness. Our world of relationships is in crisis. So how do we move forward? In today’s...
info_outline
Financial Planning for Childfree Families: A Distinctly Different Script
45 Forward
When experts talk about financial planning for retirement, many of them assume that people are following a standard life script—go to college, get married, buy a house, have kids and a career until traditional retirement. But a growing number of adults do not have children, and in fact, are choosing to be child-free. According to one recent survey, 47% of U.S. adults younger than 50 say they are unlikely to ever have kids. In today’s episode, I talk with Bri Conn, the Chief Experience Officer of Childfree Wealth, a firm that specializes in financial planning for adults who are childfree by...
info_outline
Interested in Your Ancestry? How to Start Your Geneology Journey
45 Forward
info_outline
Two Old Friends Share their Journeys Helping People Navigate Life’s Changes
45 Forward
Today, on the 5th anniversary of the 45 Forward podcast, my guest is Dr. Andrea Gould-Marks, a licensed psychologist, entrepreneurial coach, podcaster and seminar leader, based in Arizona—who also happens to be my life-long friend. We’ll be talking about our collective experiences over the years promoting creative strategies through times of change, offering resources and guidance for people navigating life’s crossroads, both personally and professionally. We’ll share our respective evolutions to where we’ve come today: I, with Roel Resources, moving to podcasting and...
info_outline
Encore - Can We Stay on the Crest of Ken Dychtwald’s Age Wave?
45 Forward
The first time I met Dr. Ken Dychtwald was in 1989, when I was writing a cover story about older workers as a business reporter for Newsday, Long Island’s daily newspaper. I remember it well. I was interviewing job experts and workers who talked about the frustration they felt being overlooked by employers—especially at a time when most companies, facing acute labor shortages, could ill afford to do so. Ken was the author of a best-selling book, “Age Wave,” (he now has written 19 books) and was the founder of an acclaimed think tank bearing the same name. At the time Ken explained what...
info_outline
How Do We Move on from the Sudden Loss of a Loved One?
45 Forward
As we come to the close of another year, it is a time when we naturally look both backward and forward. In looking back, it is often a time when we (individually and collectively) reflect on passings—the death of important people in our lives. Some of them are lost through long, debilitating declines; others are lost suddenly, wrenched from us without morning. Either way, we mourn the losses; we seek ways to cope with and process our grief; to preserve their memories and find ways to move on. In today’s episode, I’m talking with Rachel Zimmerman, the author of “Us, After,” a memoir...
info_outline
Cultivating a “Growth Mindset” to Help You Age Well and Wisely
45 Forward
Several years ago, as Scott Fisher and Ben Green approached their 70th birthdays, the challenges of aging loomed large for these two lifelong friends.
info_outlineThere are many people who work for social service organizations during their lifetime, but few do it with the passion and vision of Paul Arfin. In today’s episode, Paul talks about his long and storied career, starting out in the Peace Corps and progressing though a series of groundbreaking social programs on Long Island. He’ll chronicle his multiple initiatives supporting youth organizations in the region, as well as Latin American migrant workers. Ever a pioneer, he'll describe his shift toward blending advocacy for both youth and older adults, as the New York coordinator for Seniors4Kids, the creator of the area’s first intergenerational day care program, and the founder and CEO of Intergenerational Strategies, a leader in promoting the engagement of all people of all ages, helping families age in place and fight against ageism. And while Paul is no longer managing organizations, he remains active in social justice programs and has rekindled another passion later in life, finding new love and connection after caring for his wife of more than 50 years, who passed away from Alzheimer's Disease.
About the guest:
Paul Arfin is a pioneer in the establishment of numerous social programs on Long Island spanning 58 years. Paul earned a master’s degree in in social work from Adelphi University and served as founder and executive director of nonprofit organizations since graduation. When John F. Kennedy was president, he joined the Peace Corps , serving in Columbia from 1963 to 1965. Paul founded a number of social service programs on Long Island, including Community Development for Youth in Huntington, the first youth Center in Suffolk County; the YMCA of Long Island’s Family Services Division; the Cold Spring Harbor Youth Center; Alma Latina, a service organization for Latin American migrant workers; and Seniors4Kids, for which he served as New York State Coordinator. In 2002 he founded and served as President of Intergenerational Strategies, Long Island’s leader in promoting civic engagement of people of all ages, creating programs to help people age in place and fight ageism. Among his credits are directing Long Island’s first intergenerational day program; the first mediation program in an American suburb; creating The Social Enterprise Alliance and establishing HomeShare Long Island. Paul served on number public committees and task forces in Suffolk County, including the Suffolk County Commission on Creative Retirement. He received the Pioneer Award from the New York State Adult Day Services Association; an Art of Caring Award from former governor George Pataki; and is an inductee into the Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame. He is the author of two books, “Portrait of a Peace Corps Gringo” and “Unfinished Business: Social Action in Suburbia - Long Island NY 1945-2014,” as well as numerous articles.