In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host Nancy Griffin interviews Carl Honoré, a global keynote speaker and bestselling author, about the evolving landscape of ageism and the importance of embracing aging. They discuss the positive shifts in societal attitudes towards aging, the significance of intergenerational connections, and the role of mindfulness in living a fulfilling life. Honoré emphasizes the need for active resistance against ageism and the power of language in shaping perceptions. The conversation also touches on the potential of social media and AI in redefining aging and planning for a vibrant future.

About Carl

Carl Honoré is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and speaker. His bestselling books have been published in 35 languages. His second TED Talk is called Why We Should Embrace Ageing As An Adventure. Whether online or in person, Carl's keynotes and workshops are dynamic, inspiring, informative, and full of humor. His audiences range from business leaders, entrepreneurs and marketers to engineers, lawyers, and medical practitioners.

Carl’s latest book, Bolder, explores how we can age better and feel better about ageing. It’s a spirited takedown of ageism. Bolder was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and a Reader’s Digest Book of the Month

Carl Honoré Links

TED TALK: In praise of ageing

TED TALK : In praise of slowness

Key Takeaways

• Outdated myths, assumptions and stereotypes box you in and limit possibilities. Throw off the shackles of the cult of youth and don’t pine for the past or shrink in horror from the future.
• Research suggests that one of the benefits of aging is that we get better at slowing down and being in the moment. We get better at focusing on one thing at a time and are less prone to multitasking.
• Mixing with different generations fosters understanding. When it comes to taking down the ageist industrial complex, mixing with other generations is at the top of the list.
• Language shapes our perceptions of aging. The soundtrack in your head affects how you age and how you feel about aging. Try to avoid terms like “senior moment” that reinforce negative stereotypes.
• It is important to be polite and civil on social media—especially in this incredibly polarized time. As soon as you get angry, you lose the argument and can turn people off.

• Life planning can help you find the future self that you aspire to be. Start living the “right” life for you instead of stumbling along an autopilot, which is what a lot of us are doing at many stages of our lives.
• We are at an inflection point in history with artificial intelligence. AI can be the ultimate wingman and co-pilot in later life with our database of experience and understanding.

In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host NancyGriffin interviews Aurelie Cornett, the Startup Collaboration Director with AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP®, the world’s largest B2B age-tech ecosystem. They discuss empowering older adults through innovative technology, current trends in smart living and robotics, and the role of AI in enhancing user experiences. The conversation highlights the importance of collaboration in the age-tech ecosystem and ways to engage with the AgeTech Collaborative.

About Aurelie

Aurelie Cornett joined the AARP’s innovations team inDecember of 2021, where she leads Business Development efforts for the AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP®. Her primary focus is on identifying trends and supporting innovative AgeTech startups by building the largest community of businesses, investors, and testbeds aimed at accelerating technology and introducing modern solutions to the $45 trillion global longevity market to make aging easier for everyone.

Before joining AARP, Aurelie gathered 15+ years of marketing and sales experience for a diverse set of organizations, primarily in tech and innovation. Some of the companies include the Consumer Technology Association where she spent nearly 11 years, collaborating with startups and Fortune 500 companies to build industry ecosystems at the annual tech conference CES. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing for some of the world’s largest tech companies, including HP and Air France, in her hometown of Paris, France.Key Takeaways

• The AgeTech Collaborative supports AARP’s social mission by focusing on innovation and technology that helps people live longer, happier and healthier lifespans.
• The AgeTech Collaborative’s three-prong approach includes identifying innovative solutions, accelerating vetted startups with an quarterly eight-week virtual program, and fostering collaboration and networking opportunities among startups, investors, and enterprises.
• Age-tech is a holistic term that encompasses varioussolutions for aging, including smart living solutions, robotics and AI to create personalized experiences. The term captures the full spectrum of innovations designed to enhance aging at all diverse stages of life. healthcare, wellness, financial security, and social engagement.
• AARP data shows that between one third and one half of older adults are either using or are interested in using a smart home device and 60% want to live as long as possible, as independently as possible, in the comfortof their home.

In this episode of Glowing Older, host Nancy Griffin interviews Janine Vanderburg, CEO of Encore Roadmap and co-founder of Changing the Narrative. They discuss Janine's journey as an activist against ageism and the importance of addressing workplace age discrimination. Janine shares insights on current trends in ageism, the power of intergenerational connections, and the need for awareness and action against ageism.

About Janine

As CEO of Encore Roadmap, Janine brings over three decades of experience leading social and organizational change initiatives to her current work speaking, writing and consulting with businesses, media and brands on how they can become more age-inclusive, leverage the skills of older workers, and help intergenerational teams succeed.

In 2018, Janine founded Changing the Narrative, a leadingU.S. campaign to end ageism, through which she's trained over 30,000 people across the world in ageism, reframing aging and creating more age-inclusive workplaces, marketing and communications. The former chair of The Encore Network, she now co-chairs its Public Policy Advocacy Committee, and serves on the board of the Center for Workforce Inclusion Labs.

Janine's work has earned numerous awards including Top 25Powerful Women in Business by Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, Denver Regional Council of Government’s Metro Vision Award and the American Society on Aging’s 2024 Award for Success in Diminishing Ageism.

A lawyer, community organizer and social entrepreneur, whatdrives Janine is the belief that human potential should not be wasted, and that people of all ages, identities and zip codes should have an opportunity to contribute their strengths and talents.

She frequently quotes civil rights leader Grace Lee Boggs:“We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.”

Key Takeaways

• Encore roadmap educates employers, public and private companies and nonprofits about the strong business case for older workers and intergenerational teams.
• Ageism in the workplace negatively affects the economic security of women. Many women are forced to take Social Security prematurely and lost income that they left the workplace to take care of children and aging parents.
• Intergenerational conversations reduce ageism because they build mutual understanding.
• There is a growing trend of women in their 40s to 70spursuing entrepreneurship.
• Companies are recognizing the value of older workers and intergenerational teams.

In this episode of Glowing Older, host Nancy Griffin interviews Paul Nagle, Executive Director of Stonewall Community Development Corporation. They discuss the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ seniors, including discrimination in housing and the need for innovative community-driven solutions. Paul shares his personal journey as a survivor of AIDS and his activism in creating supportive housing and care systems for LGBTQ older adults. The conversation highlights the importance of resilience, community, and advocacy in addressing the needs of this marginalized population as traditional long-term care systems face collapse.

About Paul

Paul has over 30 years in both nonprofit administration and LGBTQ+ activism and currently serves as the Founding Executive Director of Stonewall Community Development Corporation (Stonewall CDC) since 2015. Before joining Stonewall CDC, Paul was the Executive Director of Cultural Strategies Initiative Inc. (CSI), a program of Demos, established with a major grant from the Rockefeller Cultural Innovation Fund. The mission of this project was to strengthen art’s central role in civic life, to enhance cultural, community, and environmental sustainability.

Before that, as Director of Communications & Cultural Policy for NYC Councilmember Alan Gerson (2002-2010), Paul organized the hard-hit cultural community in District 1 and engaged them in crafting strategies to help preserve and revitalize the arts in Lower Manhattan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. His community-generated plan, Campuses & Corridors, served as the blueprint for a partnership between the Mayor, the Council Speaker and the Councilmember that was very successful in providing targeted capital and programmatic investments to restore the sector and convince the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to grant $70 million to small to mid-sized arts organizations.

Paul earned both of his degrees from the Gallatin School at New York University, graduating summa cum laudefrom the bachelor’s program. He earned his masters’ degree at age 49 in 2007. An abridged version of his master’s thesis, Room for Creativity – the Role of Artists’ Live/work Space in the New Economy, was published in The International Journal of the Arts in Society.

Key Takeaways

• Stonewall Community Development Corporation focuses on housing and care for LGBTQ older adults. The organization has successfully placed over 1,400 families in permanent housing.
• Discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in housing isprevalent and often overlooked. Community generated systems of care are essential for LGBTQ seniors.
• The traditional long-term care system is collapsing due to outdated policies and low wages. Building networks of care is crucial for community resilience.

In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, Nancy Griffin interviews Dr. Pamela Toto, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Occupational Therapy and director of the Pitt Healthy Home Lab. They discuss optimal aging in place, the role of occupational therapy in helping older adults live independently, and the innovative projects and technologies being developed to support this mission. Pam shares insights on the significance of home environments, the balance between safety and independence, and the need for early planning in aging.

About Pam

Pamela Toto, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA. FGSA is an occupational therapist, a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and the Director of the Healthy Home Laboratory – a community laboratory that brings the best science into home settings to maximize independence, health, and safety. Board Certified in Gerontology and a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Gerontological Society of America, Dr. Toto’s interests focus on implementing effective strategies in everyday settings to promote aging in place.

She is currently the Primary Investigator for a Technical Studies grant funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Studies determining how best to integrate smart technologies into existing community-based home modification programs.

Key Takeaways

• The Healthy Home Lab focuses on interprofessional collaboration to support aging adults. Professionals include nurses, social workers, engineers, occupational and physical therapists, physicians, and physician assistants.
• Aging in place is about more than just living in a house; it's about participating in meaningful activities and being part of a community.
• Home retrofitting is best achieved through small, manageable changes rather than major renovations. Intervening early in the aging process can prevent larger issues and is often more cost-effective.
• Lighting improvements are one of the simplest and most effective changes for aging in place.
• Risk management is essential; older adults should have the right to make choices about their living environment.
• Occupational therapists are trained to help people across the lifespan with activities of daily living and help people maximize their bodies and minds.

In this episode of Glowing Older, host Nancy Griffin interviews Danniel Fuchs, founder of Multi-Gen and CEO of Age-Tech Los Angeles. Danniel shares his personal journey into caregiving, the importance of multi-generational living, and the role of technology in supporting aging individuals. He emphasizes the need for proactive solutions in aging, discusses exciting innovations in Agetech, and offers advice for entrepreneurs looking to enter this space.

About Danniel

Danniel Fuchs is the founder of Multi-Gen Homes and a passionate advocate for multi-generational living. With two decades of experience as a construction industry executive, Danniel transitioned into this field after navigating the challenges of caregiving for his father with Alzheimer's. He empowers families to embrace shared living through thoughtful home modifications, financial planning, and coaching. Danniel’s work highlights the profound social and emotional benefits of uniting generations under one roof.

Key Takeaways

• Multi-generational living can alleviate loneliness andfinancial burdens.
• Proactive solutions in aging can prevent costly emergencies.
• Age-tech is essential for improving the quality of life forseniors. Technology can help seniors age in place safely and comfortably.
• Age-tech entrepreneurs should focus on real needs and market fit for their products. Understanding the diverse needs of seniors is crucial for product development.
• The future of aging looks promising with advancements in technology. Age-tech is taking a proactive approach, like earbuds that measure blood pressure and sensors that not only detect falls but predict them.

Certified Professional Life Coach Lynette Reiling shares insights from her recently released new book,Your Encore Life: Take Center Stage for Life's Second Half. Her approach focuses on helping women identify their strengths, overcome obstacles, and create actionable plans to live a life of fulfillment.

About Lynette

Lynette Reiling is a lover of life who is endlessly inquisitive, innovative, jazzed about discoveries and experiencing new adventures. Her heart leads her to a deep desire to connect with people. Although her career has taken her in many directions; career transition coaching, volunteer recruitment/training/management, and adult education, a passion for people development has been a constant theme. Her greatest joy is to advocate, educate and inspire others so they feel empowered to live their best lives possible. She brings her professional experience and her personal journey through midlife, and its transitions to her work today.

Lynette brings her passion to life through writing, speaking, teaching, and coaching. Her fun time includes hiking, kayaking, line dancing, clay hand building, and adventures with family, friends, and her spiritual community.

Connect with Lynette at www.YourEncoreLifeCoach.som

Key Takeaways

• Living an "encore life" means embracing new purpose in later life instead of accepting the myth of inevitable decline. It involves pursuing meaningful activities and sharing the wisdom garnered over a lifetime.
• Engage in endeavors that provide fulfillment, such ascreative projects, mentoring, or volunteering. A sense of fulfillment creates more value for the older adult and the people around them.
• Identifying and incorporating values into daily lifegenerates passion. This passion leads us to discover our purpose, providing meaning to our actions. Living with purpose, driven by passion and grounded in values, creates an engaging life of growth and fulfillment.
• The neutral zone is a transitional space between endings and new beginnings. It's characterized by a state of no longer being what you were before, yet not knowing who you will become. This period is marked by quiet reflection, a time for giving yourself space. In the neutral zone, the focus shifts from doing to simply being, allowing for introspection and personal growth.

Charles Piller’s Doctored reveals a crisis of integrity at the heart of Alzheimer’s research, exposing systemic fraud, institutional negligence, and corporate influence that have derailed progress toward effective treatments. The book, based on years of investigative reporting, traces how falsified data, manipulated research, and conflicts of interest corrupted the field, leaving millions of patients and families struggling for answers.

About Charles

Charles Piller is an investigative journalist for Science magazine and his work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Sacramento Bee, and more. Piller has been honored with many national journalism awards, and is the author of Gene Wars, The Fail-Safe Society, and Doctored. He has reported on public health, biological warfare, infectious disease outbreaks, and other topics from the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central America. Follow him on X @CPiller / charlespiller.com.

Key Takeaways

• The amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease is the dominant way of looking at the ailment and its origins. Hundreds of respected Alzheimer’s research papers are based on false data proving this hypothesis, receiving billions in research and development funds.
• Manipulating microscopic brain tissue images and Western blot images significantly impacts data interpretation and scientific acceptance. Such alterations can misrepresent results, erode scientific integrity, lead to flawed conclusions, and create irreproducible findings. These manipulations constitute ethical violations and scientific misconduct.
• Universities face a significant challenge in addressing scientific misconduct among faculty due to inherent conflicts of interest. The need to maintain research integrity often clashes with protecting institutional reputation, securing funding, and retaining prominent researchers. This conflict can lead to inadequate oversight and investigation of potential misconduct.
• New ideas about the cause of Alzheimer’s are on the horizon, including the possibility of latent infections as a factor in Alzheimer's, such as herpes virus. Clinical trials are in progress to try to treat herpes virus that may be latent in the brain. Another possible factor is inflammation. GLP-1 inhibitors are being studied to delay cognitive decline.
• Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and having a healthy lifestyle are beneficial to stave off Alzheimer’s disease.