The Not Old - Better Show
Todayâs story begins in a barrel, and todayâs show is brought to you by . A woman named Willa Hardesty is burning trash in the backyard, muttering, âthis is hell.â Sheâs angry, grieving, and standing on the edge of something big. Sheâs not famous. Sheâs not looking for glory. But her lifeâhard-earned and fully livedâjust might stop you in your tracks. đč Who tells the stories of women who âwerenât famousââbut should have been? That question haunted author and biographer Helen Sheehyâuntil she turned it into her stunning debut novel, Just Willa. đ Just Willa...
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âïž Your sunscreen might say SPF 50âbut what does that really mean? Chemist and Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann has answers. From UVA myths to white cast truths, she breaks it all downâscience, no fluff đIs your sunscreen actually doing what it promises? Many of us apply it dailyâsome of us still forgetâbut few of us truly understand whatâs in that bottle. Especially those of us 50 and older, whoâve spent decades under the sun. Thatâs where Sabina Wizemann comes in. Sabina is the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute....
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đ What do shipwrecks really reveal about us? In this special episode of The Not Old â Better Show, produced in collaboration with , weâre celebrating 60 years of learning and discovery by going deepâliterallyâwith maritime archaeologist Dr. James P. Delgado. From the wreck of the Titanic to the sunken slave ship Clotilda, Delgado shares powerful stories from decades of underwater exploration. These aren't just relicsâthey're reflections of our history, identity, and humanity. Join us in honoring the Smithsonian Associatesâ 60th Anniversary with a conversation that reminds us how...
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The Indispensables: How the Marblehead Regiment Saved Washingtonâs Army The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series đ§ They didnât just serve Washingtonâthey saved the Revolution. Listen now: đ đȘ They weren't just soldiers. They were fishermen, craftsmen, abolitionists, and immigrants. đ«±đœâđ«ČđŒ Black, white, Native American, and Hispanicâunited not by uniform, but by purpose. đïž On the latest episode of I sat down with acclaimed military historian and author Patrick K. OâDonnell to uncover the nearly lost story of The Indispensablesâa...
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đ When most of us think âViking,â we picture raiders, longboats, and epic battles. But what if the true story was quieterâyet even more powerful? Historian and BBC broadcaster Dr. Eleanor Barraclough joins us for an unforgettable Smithsonian Associates episode of The Not Old Better Show to talk about her new book, Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. Dr. Barraclough will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up and the title of her presentation is Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. Check out our website for more details at In...
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đ What if Canada had become part of the United States? In 1774, the Continental Congress sent heartfelt letters to Quebecâinviting Canadians to join the American Revolution. When the letters didnât work, they tried something else: invasion. joins The Not Old Better Show in partnership with Smithsonian Associates to explain this little-known history. Smithsonian Associate Ralph Nurnberger will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates on August 21, 2025, and the title of his presentation is From diplomatic missions with Benjamin Franklin to failed military campaigns in the Canadian snow,...
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đą History wasnât just writtenâit was negotiated. And in 1664, the fate of a small but thriving colony on Manhattan Island changed forever. I recently spoke with historian and author Russell Shorto, whose new book, Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America, pulls back the curtain on the overlooked moment when New Amsterdam became New Yorkânot through bloody battle, but through bold negotiation. This story isnât just about the Dutch and English. Itâs about Indigenous displacement, the early seeds of American capitalism, and the founding...
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đ„đ©âđł Ready to revolutionize your grilling experience? Today on The Not Old Better Show, we're sizzling with Nicole Papantoniou, Director of Good Housekeepingâs Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab! From the timeless debateâcharcoal vs. gasâto futuristic smart grills controlled by AI and Bluetooth, weâve got the juiciest grilling insights just for you. đđČđ„ Nicole shares expert tips on embracing eco-friendly grilling, experimenting with plant-based BBQ, mastering live-fire cooking, and even achieving restaurant-quality pizza right in your backyard oven. đ±đđż...
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đž From prison cell to pulpit. đ€ From opening for his father to praying with Keith Richards. đ From blues to grace. Rev. John Lee Hooker, Jr. has lived a life most wouldnât believeâif it werenât all true. Born into blues royalty as the son of John Lee Hooker, he seemed destined for the stage. But addiction, crime, and incarceration rewrote the script⊠until faith and purpose gave him a new one. In this episode of The Not Old Better Show, I sat down with Rev. Hooker to talk about: đ Returning to Soledad Prisonâfirst to perform, then to serve time, then again as a prison...
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đ 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 â Better Show. Liz and her team help families across the country navigate one of lifeâs biggest transitions: choosing the right senior living community. đĄ U.S. Newsâ 2025 Best Senior Living Ratings are more than numbersâthey reflect real experiences from residents and their loved ones. Their input shapes how communities are recognized for outstanding care, safety, and...
info_outlineThe Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell
The Not Old Better Show, Inside Science Interview Series
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Todayâs show, brought to you by Acorns, might just change how you think about your next breathâliterally. 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 acorns.com/nob 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, warningsâand connections. But how often do we stop to think about what our nose is telling us?
Our guest today is Dr. Jonas Olofsson, a cognitive scientist, professor of psychology at Stockholm University, and one of the worldâs leading experts on the sense of smell. His new book, The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell and the Extraordinary Power of the Nose, is a fascinating, deeply human exploration of something we often overlookâuntil itâs gone.
In this conversation, weâre talking about why our sense of smell is so vital to memory, emotional well-being, and intimacyâespecially as we age. Weâll also explore a few unexpected findings from his research, including a surprising link between smell aversion and political beliefs, and why our noses are far more powerfulâand more personalâthan weâve ever given them credit for.
And yesâwe end with a few rapid-fire questions for Dr. Olofsson. What scent does he hate but others love? Whatâs the one smell heâd never want to forget? And which profession does he think has the best-trained nose? His answers might surprise you.
So settle in, breathe deep, and get ready for a truly sensory experience.
Hereâs Paul Vogelzang, your host of the Not Old Better Show.
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That was Dr. Jonas Olofsson, author of The Forgotten Sense, sharing his passion for the overlooked world of smellâhow it connects us, shapes us, and yes, even reveals our politics. Remember, todayâs show was brought to you by Acorns. 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 acorns.com/nob or download the Acorns app to get started.
If youâve ever caught a whiff of a scent that transported you decades into the pastâor if you, like so many, experienced smell loss during the pandemicâyou know just how much this sense matters. And thanks to Dr. Olofssonâs work, we now have a better understanding of how to care for it, train it, and value it more.
You can listen to this episode and all our previous conversations at notold-better.com. And be sure to follow us on social mediaâweâre @NotOldBetter on Twitter and at notoldbetter on Instagram.
This episode was a production of N.O.B.S. Studios. Iâm Paul Vogelzangâthanks for listening, and I hope youâll join me again next time.
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