Jerry Butler & Curtis Mayfield: Their Forgotten Story: Music Historian Scott Shea
Release Date: 03/24/2025
The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France
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gowns. In our latest Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview series episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with acclaimed historian and author Nancy Goldstone about her riveting new book, The Rebel Empresses. It’s a dual biography that traces the intertwined lives of two women who refused to be footnotes in the grand story of European empire. Elisabeth (known as Sisi) and Eugénie were married into power, but they never conformed to it. They pushed boundaries—from challenging court politics to redefining women’s roles in public life. One became the fashion icon of her age;...
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Humorist Dave Barry, Class Clown Memoir
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Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living series. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today’s episode is for anyone who’s ever thought, “Maybe you can joke your way through life after all.” Because our guest today—Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, bestselling author, and unofficial king of common sense absurdity—Dave Barry—has done just that. Yes, that Dave Barry. The man who warned us about exploding toilets, tangled with telemarketers until they stopped answering their own phones, and wrote the kind of newspaper columns that made you snort coffee out your nose on a Sunday...
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Prevention Magazine Healthy Liviing Interview Series, Amy Larocca
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Prevention Magazine Healthy Liviing Interview Series, The Not Old Better Show The Not Old Better Show, Prevention Magazine Healthy Living Series 💸 Wellness is now a trillion-dollar industry… but is it making us well or just broke and tired? 🎧👇 👉. 🧘♀️ Biohacking. Gratitude journaling. $400 sleep rings. We’ve been told that these tools make us “well.” But are they helping—or just making us poorer and more stressed? 📚 Journalist and former fashion editor Amy Larocca joins me on the latest episode of The Not Old – Better Show to discuss her provocative new...
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The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell
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The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell The Not Old Better Show, Inside Science Interview Series 🎵 Today’s show, brought to you by Acorns, might just change how you think about your next breath—literally. Sign up now and join the over 14 million all-time customers who have already saved and invested over $25 billion dollars with Acorns. Head to or download the Acorns app to get started. We breathe in and out over 20,000 times a day. And with every breath, our nose takes in invisible information that stirs memories, emotions, cravings, warnings—and connections. But how often do...
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Death In The Red Dirt Uncover the Truth Before the Outback Buries It
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Death In The Red Dirt Uncover the Truth Before the Outback Buries It The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living Interview Series 🎙️Intro: The Not Old Better Show – Art of Living Series🎙️ Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living series—where we speak with fascinating people who prove that age isn’t a finish line… it’s an invitation. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today, we’re diving into a conversation that blends the edge-of-your-seat excitement of a thriller novel with the quiet awe of standing alone in the Australian outback. Our guest is Alice Cadd, and...
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The Toughest Choice: Caring for Aging Parents, Family Conflicts & Life-Changing Decisions
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The Toughest Choice: Caring for Aging Parents, Family Conflicts & Life-Changing Decisions The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show—I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today we’re talking about something that will touch every single one of us at some point in life. Whether it’s making decisions for aging parents, navigating sibling dynamics, choosing the right senior living option, or even planning for our own future, these are conversations that matter. And let’s be honest—these are conversations that most of us avoid until we’re forced...
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Too Many Options? The Real History of Freedom and Choice with Sophia Rosenfeld
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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
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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
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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
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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...
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.