Art of Living series: Helen Sheehy, Just Willa
The Not Old - Better Show
Today’s story begins in a barrel, and today’s show is brought to you by . A woman named Willa Hardesty is burning trash in the backyard, muttering, “this is hell.” She’s angry, grieving, and standing on the edge of something big. She’s not famous. She’s not looking for glory. But her life—hard-earned and fully lived—just might stop you in your tracks. 🔹 Who tells the stories of women who “weren’t famous”—but should have been? That question haunted author and biographer Helen Sheehy—until she turned it into her stunning debut novel, Just Willa. 📚 Just Willa...
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Sun Protection That Works: Sabina Wizemann on the Science of Smarter Skincare
The Not Old - Better Show
☀️ Your sunscreen might say SPF 50—but 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 down—science, no fluff 🌞Is your sunscreen actually doing what it promises? Many of us apply it daily—some of us still forget—but few of us truly understand what’s in that bottle. Especially those of us 50 and older, who’ve spent decades under the sun. That’s where Sabina Wizemann comes in. Sabina is the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute....
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The Great Museum of the Sea: Why Shipwrecks Capture the Imagination
The Not Old - Better Show
🌊 What do shipwrecks really reveal about us? In this special episode of The Not Old – Better Show, produced in collaboration with , we’re celebrating 60 years of learning and discovery by going deep—literally—with 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 relics—they're reflections of our history, identity, and humanity. Join us in honoring the Smithsonian Associates’ 60th Anniversary with a conversation that reminds us how...
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The Indispensables: How the Marblehead Regiment Saved Washington’s Army
The Not Old - Better Show
The Indispensables: How the Marblehead Regiment Saved Washington’s Army The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series 🎧 They didn’t just serve Washington—they saved the Revolution. Listen now: 👉 🪖 They weren't just soldiers. They were fishermen, craftsmen, abolitionists, and immigrants. 🫱🏽🫲🏼 Black, white, Native American, and Hispanic—united not by uniform, but by purpose. 🎙️ On the latest episode of I sat down with acclaimed military historian and author Patrick K. O’Donnell to uncover the nearly lost story of The Indispensables—a...
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Vikings Were Here: Love Notes, Lost Games, and the Hidden Lives Beneath the Helmets
The Not Old - Better Show
🔍 When most of us think “Viking,” we picture raiders, longboats, and epic battles. But what if the true story was quieter—yet 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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Separate Paths: Why Canada Rejected America’s Revolution
The Not Old - Better Show
📚 What if Canada had become part of the United States? In 1774, the Continental Congress sent heartfelt letters to Quebec—inviting Canadians to join the American Revolution. When the letters didn’t 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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Birth of a City: From New Amsterdam to New York
The Not Old - Better Show
🚢 History wasn’t just written—it 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 York—not through bloody battle, but through bold negotiation. This story isn’t just about the Dutch and English. It’s about Indigenous displacement, the early seeds of American capitalism, and the founding...
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Grill Smarter, Cook Wilder: Inside BBQ’s Hottest Trends with Nicole Papantoniou!
The Not Old - Better Show
🔥👩🍳 Ready to revolutionize your grilling experience? Today on The Not Old Better Show, we're sizzling with Nicole Papantoniou, Director of Good Housekeeping’s Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab! From the timeless debate—charcoal vs. gas—to futuristic smart grills controlled by AI and Bluetooth, we’ve got the juiciest grilling insights just for you. 🌭📲🔥 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. 🌱🍕🌿...
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Chains, Chords and Grace: The Redemption of John Lee Hooker, Jr
The Not Old - Better Show
🎸 From prison cell to pulpit. 🎤 From opening for his father to praying with Keith Richards. 🙏 From blues to grace. Rev. John Lee Hooker, Jr. has lived a life most wouldn’t believe—if it weren’t 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: 🔁 Returning to Soledad Prison—first to perform, then to serve time, then again as a prison...
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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_outlineToday’s story begins in a barrel, and today’s show is brought to you by Daily Greens by Factor Form.
A woman named Willa Hardesty is burning trash in the backyard, muttering, “this is hell.” She’s angry, grieving, and standing on the edge of something big. She’s not famous. She’s not looking for glory. But her life—hard-earned and fully lived—just might stop you in your tracks.
🔹 Who tells the stories of women who “weren’t famous”—but should have been?
That question haunted author and biographer Helen Sheehy—until she turned it into her stunning debut novel, Just Willa.
📚 Just Willa follows the unforgettable Willa Hardesty, a Kansas farm girl who becomes a single mother, tenant farmer’s wife, and bootlegging cowboy’s partner. Her life brushes up against nearly every major event of the 20th century—from the Dust Bowl and Great Depression to the polio epidemic and rural electrification.
🎙️ On the latest episode of The Not Old Better Show, I sat down with Helen to talk about Willa—who’s based on her own mother—and the 20-year journey to bring this extraordinary “ordinary” woman to life. Sheehy’s years of biographical writing blend beautifully with her gift for dialogue, scene, and emotional depth.
🕯️ This is more than historical fiction—it’s an excavation of memory, family, and the deep ties between mothers and daughters. For our audience, especially those reflecting on their own legacy or wondering how to tell their family's stories, this episode hits home.
💬 We talk loss, resilience, farming, bootlegging—and the courage it takes to write what you don’t know, but feel in your soul.
📡 Listen now at: https://notold-better.com
#Storytelling #AuthorInterview #HistoricalFiction #PodcastRecommendation #WomensHistory #ArtOfLiving #NotOldBetter
Today’s show is brought to you by Daily Greens by Factor Form.