Frances Perkins: "God, FDR, and the Common Workingmen"
You Earned This: The Social Security & Medicare Podcast!
Release Date: 01/26/2026
You Earned This: The Social Security & Medicare Podcast!
Seniors are not the only group targeted by scammers, but they can be especially vulnerable. In this encore episode, AARP's chief fraud prevention expert, Kathy Stokes, shares important advice for protecting yourself -- and your older loved ones -- against scammers. Kathy says scamming is an "epidemic" that can be fought with knowledge. Whether it's the 'Tech Support' scam, the 'Grandparent' scam, the 'Banking' scam, or the 'Romance' scam...Kathy says you can empower yourself using a "Pause, Protect, Reflect" strategy. Listen and learn more about the $196 billion per year criminal...
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Half of Medicare beneficiaries did not visit the dentist during the past year because they couldn't afford to. Melissa Burroughs of the advocacy group Care Quest says neglecting oral health can contribute to serious health issues in older people --- including Alzheimer's, heart disease, and diabetes. Worse yet, traditional Medicare does not cover routine dental care. As Melissa tells us in this encore episode from 2024, it's past time for that to change!
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Meals on Wheels not only delivers hot, nutritious food to seniors --- it provides an important social connection to people who may be lonely or disconnected. Meals on Wheels even makes older people safer! In this encore episode, Meals on Wheels America's chief policy officer, Josh Protas, tells us all about this amazing program which, unfortunately, faces possible funding cuts. As a historian, he also answers the question: do our current leaders have a 'compassion deficit?'
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You may find yourself as the "financial caregiver" for an aging parent. Most people are thrust into this role with little preparation or warning. Certified Financial Planner Beth Pinsker has written a new book, "My Mother's Money," bursting with great advice for adult children who --- sooner or later --- may need to take responsibility for their parents' finances. She was inspired to write the book after serving as financial caregiver for her own mother, who passed away in 2021. In this encore episode, Beth reveals strategies for dealing with powers of attorney, banking, Medicare,...
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This encore episode is a must-listen, featuring the "Mother of Mindfulness," Dr. Ellen Langer of Harvard University. She explains that mindfulness is a key to healthy aging - both mentally and physically. Dr. Langer gives helpful tips about "actively noticing" the world around you --- using her "bottom up/top down" approach. As a bonus, she tells us why 1 + 1 isn't always 2! Tune-in... and you'll be hanging on every word from one of our most eminent psychologists!
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In this encore episode, veteran political consultant Jim Crounse says Trump's chaotic presidency is hurting the Republicans' chances in the 2026 midterms. Jim, a Democrat from the red state of Nebraska, takes the temperature of the election cycle -- and sees a path for his party to retake the House and maybe the Senate, because of Trump's waning popularity and his obsession with things voters don't really care about. Jim also shares how a Nebraska boy who dreamed of becoming a major league baseball player ended up as a consultant for Obama, Clinton, and Pete Buttigieg, among others. Plus...
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The CEO of the nation's longest-serving national seniors' organization says, "Aging well is a right, not a privilege!" In this episode, NCOA's Ramsey Alwin tells us about some amazing tools that older Americans (and their loved ones) can use to maximize their benefits -- and remain healthy and safe! (Did you know that Tai Chi can help seniors avoid falls?) Ramsey also shares the latest evidence-based approaches to obesity (hint: It goes beyond Wegovy or Ozempic) and comments on the state of relations between the generations - from Gen Alpha to Boomers! Dynamic and super-knowledgeable, Ramsey...
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Michigan is a fascinating place --- a swing state with a large senior population. In fact, 1 in 5 Michicanders is over 65. Our guest this week, Paula Cunningham, is on the forefront of seniors' advocacy in the Great Lakes State. As director of AARP Michigan, she has a lot to say about the stresses of family caregivers, the value of home and community based care, and the future of Social Security --- among many other things! Don't miss this chat with a woman on a mission to improve the lives of older people in her state --- and the family members who care for them. READ THE...
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62 year-old gyrocopter pilot Caroline Paul is an inspiration to Boomers seeking a sense of adventure in later life. She's the author of the new book, "Why Fly: Seeking Awe, Healing, and Our True Selves in the Sky." In this episode, Caroline shares her philosophy about approaching life courageously, while weighing risk and reward. A must-listen for anyone who dreams of soaring -- literally or otherwise! Her book is available at carolinepaul.com. READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE:::::
info_outlineYou Earned This: The Social Security & Medicare Podcast!
Veteran political consultant Jim Crounse says Trump's chaotic presidency is hurting the Republicans' chances in the 2026 midterms. Jim, a Democrat from the red state of Nebraska, takes the temperature of the election cycle -- and sees a path for his party to retake the House and maybe the Senate, because of Trump's waning popularity and his obsession with things voters don't really care about. Jim also shares how a Nebraska boy who dreamed of becoming a major league baseball player ended up as a consultant for Obama, Clinton, and Pete Buttigieg, among others. Plus -- can the Democrats...
info_outlineSecretary of Labor Frances Perkins was the first female cabinet member in U.S. history. Appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Perkins is known as the "Mother of Social Security" for her pivotal role in the creation of The New Deal's greatest legacy. In this episode, Amanda Hatch, Executive Director of the Frances Perkins Center in Newscastle, ME, shares stories about this early feminist icon --- and her lifelong commitment to social insurance for the American people. As Frances Perkins herself said, she came to Washington in 1933 for "God, FDR, and the common workingmen."
READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE:::: https://youearnedthis.org/frances-perkins-god-fdr-and-the-common-workingmen/