Too Many Options? The Real History of Freedom and Choice with Sophia Rosenfeld
The Not Old - Better Show
Too Many Options? The Real History of Freedom and Choice with Sophia Rosenfeld The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series QUOTE: "Our choices shape our identity—but not everyone gets the same menu." – Sophia Rosenfeld ⚖️ Welcome to I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today, we’re asking a question that touches every part of our lives—one that feels especially relevant to those of us 50 and older, navigating life’s later chapters with purpose, curiosity, and maybe... a little decision fatigue. What if the very thing we’ve been told defines our...
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99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life
The Not Old - Better Show
99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series Nearly 40% of Americans say they’re NOT getting ahead, even though they’re doing everything right. That’s not a work ethic problem. That’s a system problem. ADAM CHANDLER Hard work ≠ Success anymore. New episode: The grind is failing us. 🎙️ Smithsonian Associate Adam Chandler | 99% Perspiration Welcome, everyone, to another powerful episode of on radio and podcast. I’m your host, and today we’re diving into one of the most explosive,...
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Lost and Found: Caroline Topperman on Family, Identity, and the Search for Home
The Not Old - Better Show
Lost and Found: Caroline Topperman on Family, Identity, and the Search for Home The Not Old Better Show, Family History, Genealogy Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast. Today’s show is brought to you by Acorns. . ..I’ What does it mean to belong? Is home a place, a language, a history—or something else entirely? thought she knew. She grew up speaking Polish, knowing her family’s deep roots in the country, and believing that moving there with her husband would feel like coming home. But instead of familiarity, she found disconnection. Instead of...
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Move Over, Sir! How Women Took the Throttle on America’s Railroads
The Not Old - Better Show
Move Over, Sir! How Women Took the Throttle on America’s Railroads The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series Welcome to , right here on radio and podcast. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today’s episode is part of our special 60th Anniversary celebration with Smithsonian Associates—marking six decades of education, inspiration, and powerful storytelling. And this one, friends, is both powerful and long overdue. You’re about to hear a remarkable conversation with , curator of the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, about an exhibit that challenges history’s blind...
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The Aerobiome: An Invisible Ecosystem - Smithsonian Associate Carl Zimmer
The Not Old - Better Show
The Aerobiome: An Invisible Ecosystem - Smithsonian Associate Carl Zimmer The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series Today on , we welcome award-winning science writer and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer—author of , available at With every breath we take—more than 20,000 each day—we draw in not just oxygen, but thousands of invisible organisms: fungi, bacteria, pollen, even algae. This unseen ecosystem, the aerobiome, surrounds us every moment, yet until recently, it was barely studied. Smithsonian Associate Carl Zimmer will be appearing at Smithsonian...
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The Garage Sale Millionaire: Make Money with Hidden Finds from Garage Sales to Storage Unit Auctions and Everything in Between
The Not Old - Better Show
Welcome back to The Not Old – Better Show! I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang, and today, we’re talking about turning clutter into cash, attic junk into treasures, and maybe—just maybe—your next garage sale into a goldmine. Think about it—how many of us have boxes of old collectibles, furniture gathering dust, or a closet filled with clothes we haven’t worn in a decade? Downsizing and decluttering can feel overwhelming, but what if I told you that hidden in those stacks of “stuff” could be real money—thousands of dollars just waiting to be uncovered? Well, today’s guest knows...
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The Balanced Brain with Smithsonian Associate Dr. Camilla Nord
The Not Old - Better Show
The Balanced Brain with Smithsonian Associate Dr. Camilla Nord The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series Welcome to . I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today, as part of our Inside Science interview series, we’re diving deep into the most powerful organ you possess: your brain. Think about this for a moment: what if your brain isn’t broken, but simply trying to regain balance in a world that constantly throws it off-kilter? What if pleasure, pain, memory, and mood—all the things that make you you—are less about mystery and more about biology? Today, we’re joined by the...
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The Day Washington Nearly Fell: SA, Dr. Robert Watson on the Civil War’s Forgotten Gamble
The Not Old - Better Show
The Day Washington Nearly Fell: Smithsonian Associate, Dr. Robert Watson on the Civil War’s Forgotten Gamble The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series Washington almost fell in 1864. 🇺🇸 Hear the untold story today. 🎙️ Welcome to s—I'm Paul Vogelzang, and today’s episode takes us straight into the heart of history… a moment most Americans have never heard of… and one we came this close to never recovering from. 📖 Rebels at the Gates is the title of Smithsonian Associate Dr. Robert Watson’s thrilling new book, will be appearing at coming up....
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Jerry Butler & Curtis Mayfield: Their Forgotten Story: Music Historian Scott Shea
The Not Old - Better Show
Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, the podcast for those who believe life gets better—and even sweeter—with age. I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang, and today we’re diving into the soul-stirring legacy of two musical giants whose voices, harmonies, and vision shaped the very sound of a generation: If you grew up spinning 45s on your record player or gathered around the radio to hear those smooth, soaring harmonies, then you already know that Mayfield and Butler weren’t just voices—they were storytellers, activists, and pioneers of a sound that broke barriers. Together, they helped...
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Enough is Enuf: Why Isn’t English Easier To Spell? Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry
The Not Old - Better Show
Enough is Enuf: Why Isn’t English Easier To Spell? Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry THE NOT OLD BETTER SHOW, SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES INTERVIEW SERIES 📚 Ever wondered why English spelling makes no sense? 🤯 Why does G in George sound different from G in gorge? And why are we still spelling enough like that?! Author Gabe Henry joins The Not Old Better Show to unravel 500 years of failed spelling reform. From Twain to texting, is change finally here? 🔡✨ Listen now! 🎧👇 🔗 Welcome to I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang, and today, we’re diving into the wonderfully chaotic,...
info_outlineFlying with Dad, Dying with Dad - Yvonne Caputo
The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living interview Series
Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, on radio and podcast for all of us who embrace life’s second act with curiosity, passion, and a drive to connect. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today’s episode is one you won’t want to miss. It’s a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about family, legacy, and the courage it takes to have the talks that truly matter.
Our guest is Yvonne K. Caputo, author of two remarkable books: Flying with Dad and Dying with Dad. Yvonne’s first book, Flying with Dad, is a poignant memoir about her father, a World War II veteran, whose stories of flying B-24 bombers changed their relationship forever. Once distant and brusque, her father became the man she truly got to know—story by story, mile by mile—leading to a connection she never thought possible.
In her second book, Dying with Dad, Yvonne takes us on another intimate journey, sharing the profound and practical lessons she learned as she supported her father’s end-of-life wishes. From navigating the powerful Five Wishes document to ensuring he passed away on his terms, Yvonne’s story reminds us of the importance of conversations about life, death, and dignity.
Today, Yvonne shares the hidden gifts in her father’s stories, how these conversations transformed her family, and why it’s never too late to have the tough talks that can bring us closer to those we love.
So, grab your favorite cup of tea, settle in, and join us for this touching and inspiring episode of The Not Old Better Show. I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang—let’s get started.
My thanks to author Yvonne K. Caputo, for her generous time and wonderful, helpful insights about end of life deciions and more. Please check out our website show notes for more details about Yvonne K. Caputo. My thanks to our Smithsonian team, as well as Sam Heninger & Miranda Heninger for their help in making the show tip top! My thanks to you our wonderful audience here on radio and podcast. Be well, be safe and let’s talk about better. The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast. Thanks, everybody and we’ll see you next time.