Jerry Butler & Curtis Mayfield: Their Forgotten Story: Music Historian Scott Shea
Release Date: 03/24/2025
Dignity, Data, and the Decisions That Shape Our Later Years
The Not Old - Better Show
📊 Over 450,000 voices. One powerful message: dignity in aging matters. I recently had the privilege of interviewing Liz Pearce, Senior Living Product Director at U.S. News & World Report, on The Not Old – Better Show. Liz and her team help families across the country navigate one of life’s biggest transitions: choosing the right senior living community. 🏡 U.S. News’ 2025 Best Senior Living Ratings are more than numbers—they reflect real experiences from residents and their loved ones. Their input shapes how communities are recognized for outstanding care, safety, and...
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Dignity, Data, and the Decisions That Shape Our Later Years
The Not Old - Better Show
📊 Over 450,000 voices. One powerful message: dignity in aging matters. I recently had the privilege of interviewing Liz Pearce, Senior Living Product Director at U.S. News & World Report, on The Not Old – Better Show. Liz and her team help families across the country navigate one of life’s biggest transitions: choosing the right senior living community. 🏡 U.S. News’ 2025 Best Senior Living Ratings are more than numbers—they reflect real experiences from residents and their loved ones. Their input shapes how communities are recognized for outstanding care, safety, and...
info_outline
Dignity, Data, and the Decisions That Shape Our Later Years
The Not Old - Better Show
📊 Over 450,000 voices. One powerful message: dignity in aging matters. I recently had the privilege of interviewing Liz Pearce, Senior Living Product Director at U.S. News & World Report, on The Not Old – Better Show. Liz and her team help families across the country navigate one of life’s biggest transitions: choosing the right senior living community. 🏡 U.S. News’ 2025 Best Senior Living Ratings are more than numbers—they reflect real experiences from residents and their loved ones. Their input shapes how communities are recognized for outstanding care, safety, and...
info_outline
Dignity, Data, and the Decisions That Shape Our Later Years
The Not Old - Better Show
📊 Over 450,000 voices. One powerful message: dignity in aging matters. I recently had the privilege of interviewing Liz Pearce, Senior Living Product Director at U.S. News & World Report, on The Not Old – Better Show. Liz and her team help families across the country navigate one of life’s biggest transitions: choosing the right senior living community. 🏡 U.S. News’ 2025 Best Senior Living Ratings are more than numbers—they reflect real experiences from residents and their loved ones. Their input shapes how communities are recognized for outstanding care, safety, and...
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Riding with History: Jefferson, Madison, and the Journey that Shaped a Nation
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🐎 When Friendship Shapes Nations: The Untold Journey of Jefferson & Madison 🇺🇸 Ever imagine two founding fathers on horseback, pondering America's future as they ride through rugged landscapes, confronting pest infestations, cultural discoveries, and their own biases? Thomas Jefferson and James Madison did exactly that in their remarkable 1791 journey through Upstate New York and New England. 📚 , author, historian Louis Masur explores this intriguing chapter in his compelling new book, A Journey North: Jefferson, Madison, and the Forging of a Friendship. Their trip wasn't...
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🔥 Forget boring BBQs… it’s time to grill with flavor, joy, and purpose! - Kate Merker
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We’re talking grill season like you’ve never heard it before with Good Housekeeping's Kate Merker Good Better Best, The Not Old Better Show, Good Housekeeping Interview Series 🔥 Summer just got a whole lot more delicious — and more intentional. This week on The Not Old Better Show, I had the pleasure of speaking with Kate Merker, Chief Food Director of the Hearst Lifestyle Group and the culinary genius behind Good Housekeeping’s legendary Test Kitchen. We’re talking smart summer grilling — not just sizzling steaks, but heart-healthy, high-flavor meals that celebrate aging,...
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Resilience is Much More Than Grit! Jennifer Watson
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💥 “I thought I had to be miserable on the way to happiness.” 💥 Sound familiar? Former All-American 🏃♀️ turned healer and high-performance coach Jennifer Watson opens up about how pushing through pain nearly broke her—and how listening to her body changed everything. Now she’s on a mission to help YOU lead with purpose, ease, and joy—especially in your 50s, 60s, and beyond. 🎧 Tune in to this powerful episode of The Not Old Better Show for tools to reclaim your energy, reset your nervous system 🧠, and live a soul-aligned life 💖. ➡️ #MidlifeWellness...
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Menopause, Aging and Food Freedom: Taylor Wolfram, MS, RDN, LDN
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🚨 Menopause, aging & food freedom! 🚨 Diet culture tells us to shrink, but Taylor Wolfram says it's time to thrive. 🌱💪 Tune in for a fresh take on nutrition & well-being! 🎧👇. Sponsored by Acorns: Head to or download the Acorns app to get started! 🚨 What if health wasn’t about shrinking your body, but about thriving in it? 🚨 For decades, we’ve been told that aging means slowing down, gaining weight, and fighting an uphill battle to stay "healthy." But what if we’ve been looking at it all wrong? Taylor Wolfram, RDN, is flipping the script on diet culture and...
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Heart & Soul: Kenny Vance, Singer, Songwriter, Film Maker
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Heart & Soul: Kenny Vance, Singer, Songwriter, Film Maker The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series "They were my heroes. And then they became my friends.” In this moving new episode of The Not Old Better Show, we’re honored to welcome musician, producer, and doo-wop preservationist Smithsonian Associate Kenny Vance—a voice behind Jay and the Americans and the filmmaker behind Heart & Soul: A Love Story. Kenny shares a deeply personal account of his lifelong connection to the music of the 1950s and '60s—harmonies sung on street corners, friendships formed...
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Heart & Soul: Kenny Vance, Singer, Songwriter, Film Maker
The Not Old - Better Show
Heart & Soul: Kenny Vance, Singer, Songwriter, Film Maker The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series "They were my heroes. And then they became my friends.” In this moving new episode of The Not Old Better Show, we’re honored to welcome musician, producer, and doo-wop preservationist Smithsonian Associate Kenny Vance—a voice behind Jay and the Americans and the filmmaker behind Heart & Soul: A Love Story. Kenny shares a deeply personal account of his lifelong connection to the music of the 1950s and '60s—harmonies sung on street corners, friendships formed...
info_outlineWelcome 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: Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler.
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 shape the golden age of soul music, and their influence continues to inspire generations.
But did you know that before the world knew them as soul legends, they were just two young men from Chicago’s Cabrini-Green projects, united by gospel music, ambition, and a dream of something bigger? Today, we’ll uncover the fascinating story of how Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield met, formed the Impressions, and created hits like the unforgettable “For Your Precious Love.” We’ll also explore why Jerry’s path ultimately led him to go solo—and how Curtis turned his heartbreak into a revolutionary career that brought soul music into the Civil Rights Movement.
Joining us today is returning guest Scott Shea, a writer and expert in music history, whose latest article brings these incredible stories to life. From Curtis Mayfield’s genius as a songwriter to Jerry Butler’s powerful, underrated baritone, we’ll reflect on their journey, their struggles, and their lasting impact on American music and culture.
This one’s for the music lovers, the memory keepers, and anyone who remembers the days when a song could soothe your soul and spark a revolution. So grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, and let’s celebrate the legacy of two legends who reminded us all to “Keep on Pushing.”
I’m Paul Vogelzang, and this is The Not Old Better Show. Let’s get started.