I’ve worked with older adults for a long time, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: the hardest conversations are often the most necessary. We plan for weddings, retirements, even vacations—but not for how we want to be cared for when we can’t speak for ourselves.

That’s why I invited Kate DeBartolo, Senior Director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, to join me for a powerful, practical conversation about how to talk with your loved ones about your wishes for care through the end of life. Spoiler alert: it's not really about dying—it's about how you want to live.

🕰 Timestamps

0:00 – Why we avoid the conversation (and why we shouldn’t)

2:00 – What is The Conversation Project?

4:45 – Why it’s so hard to talk about this stuff

8:20 – Making it personal: creative ways to start the conversation

11:00 – Choosing your decision-maker (and making sure they know)

14:00 – “Just pull the plug” and other myths

18:00 – What really matters: values over medical procedures

22:00 – Free tools to help, including My Health Checklist

26:00 – How this work has changed Kate’s own family conversations

🔜 What’s Next

Want to be sure your voice is heard—no matter what happens? Head to theconversationproject.org and download their free guides. They’ll help you prepare, talk, and plan for the care you want, on your terms.

📬 Stay Connected

If this episode sparked something for you, send it to someone you love. The best time to talk is now. Subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts, visit seniorityauthority.org, or reach out anytime at info@seniorityauthority.org.

When you think about sunlight, you probably picture warm summer days — not a cutting-edge medical treatment. But as recent research reveals, specific wavelengths of UV light can help calm runaway inflammation, a key driver behind autoimmune diseases.

In this conversation, John MacMahon, co-founder of Cytokind and veteran medical device entrepreneur, shares how a dermatology treatment for psoriasis led to groundbreaking results for MS, COVID, and other inflammatory conditions. We dive into the science behind phototherapy, how it’s used in clinical trials, and why your immune system might be craving more sun than you realize.

You’ll hear:

• Why a narrow band of UV light can “teach” your immune system to make better decisions
• How clinical trials in COVID and MS have shown dramatic reductions in mortality and relapses
• Why inflammation — not just symptoms — should be the focus of autoimmune care
• What you can do today to naturally boost your regulatory T cells (hint: it’s free)

If you or someone you love is living with an autoimmune condition, this episode could open the door to a whole new way of thinking about treatment and prevention.

• Learn more on Cytokind’s website: cytokind.net
• Can Sunlight Cure Disease? – Scientific American (May 20, 2025) — Explores UV light therapy for autoimmune conditions like MS, including patient Kathy Reagan Young’s “UV-fueled rebirth” and underlying photoimmunology research.

NB-UVB lights are FDA-cleared for dermatology from pediatrics to geriatrics.
Their use beyond dermatology is experimental in the US.

0:00 - Intro
2:15 - Why sunlight matters for healthspan and immunity
4:10 - John’s journey into medical devices and phototherapy
6:55 - How UVB light “teaches” your immune system to regulate inflammation
9:22 - COVID-19 clinical trial results and survival rate impact
13:48 - The MS connection and Dr. Prue Hart’s groundbreaking study
18:36 - How the device works and what patients can expect
21:50 - Potential benefits for stress, sleep, and aging well
26:05 - Insurance coverage, FDA path, and future trials
31:42 - Simple steps you can take today to support immune health
34:40 - Closing thoughts and where to learn more

Do you or someone you love live with an autoimmune condition? Are you curious about simple, safe ways to reduce inflammation and improve your healthspan?

If you have questions about this episode or ideas for future topics, reach out to us at info@seniorityauthority.org

We’d love to hear from you.

I didn’t know what to expect when I showed up to my first Death Over Drinks event. The name alone was enough to stop me in my tracks—equal parts playful and provocative. But what I found that night was something I didn’t even realize I was looking for: real, meaningful connection. We laughed. We cried. We reflected. And we built something that’s in short supply these days—community.

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Cleminson, the visionary behind the Pre Dead Social Club, to talk about why she created this movement, how it’s grown, and why conversations about death are actually conversations about life.

• 0:00 - How the Pre Dead Social Club began
• 5:41 - Death cafés, mailing lists, and casting a wide net
• 8:49 - What talking about death really means
• 12:05 – How events are structured—and why that matters
• 15:00 - Attracting all ages and backgrounds
• 22:00 - Meeting people where they are
• 28:30 - How to get involved, wherever you are

If you're curious about your own relationship with mortality—or just want to meet new people in a surprisingly joyful setting—head to predeadsocialclub.com to sign up for the newsletter and get involved.

If this episode moved you, share it with someone you care about. Let’s keep these conversations going, because the more we talk about death, the more alive we all feel. Subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts, visit seniorityauthority.org, or get in touch at info@seniorityauthority.org.

Are you completely burned out from caregiving? Do you feel like nobody quite understands what you’re going through?

In this heartfelt, wisdom-packed episode, caregiving advocate and author Carol Bradley Bursack joins Cathleen Toomey to talk candidly about the emotional tightrope that family caregivers walk every day. From navigating resistance to preserving dignity, Carol offers gentle, actionable strategies to help you support your loved one without losing yourself in the process.

You’ll learn how to:

• Start difficult conversations without triggering defensiveness
• Avoid the “parenting your parent” trap
• Create a caregiving plan that actually honors autonomy
• Flip the script when someone resists help
• Say “yes” when friends offer support and how to ask for what you really need

Plus, we explore how small self-care rituals can make a huge difference in managing stress and finding your footing as a caregiver.

🔗 Links

• Minding Our Elders by Carol Bradley Bursack
• Caregiver Action Network
• Alzheimer’s Association Support Groups
• Better Health While Aging – Dr. Leslie Kernisan
• When Your Aging Parent Needs Help by Dr. Leslie Kernisan

⏰ Timestamps

• 00:00 - Intro and caregiver statistics
• 01:11 - Meet Carol Bradley Bursack and her caregiving background
• 02:00 - Why caregiving for aging adults is uniquely challenging
• 03:01 - Opening respectful conversations with aging parents
• 05:26 - Understanding their wishes and planning ahead
• 09:00 - Why “parenting your parent” is the wrong approach
• 12:33 - The emotional toll of isolation for caregivers
• 14:50 - Online support groups and where to find them
• 17:37 - Reframing resistance to help from aging parents
• 20:45 - Daily self-care practices that actually work
• 24:53 - How to accept and direct help from friends
• 27:30 - Final reflections and caregiver encouragement

👉 What’s Next?

Feeling the caregiving crunch? Visit seniorityauthority.org for more episodes, expert advice, and resources to help you navigate aging with grace and confidence.

💌 Stay Connected

Have a question about aging you’d love us to tackle in a future episode? Email us at info@seniorityauthority.org.

What if retirement isn’t the finish line, but a new beginning you haven’t trained for?

In this powerful episode, host Cathleen Toomey sits down with Harvard Business School professor emerita Dr. Teresa Amabile to explore the surprising truths behind retirement. Based on a decade of research and 200+ interviews, Dr. Amabile challenges the myth that money and health are all you need for a satisfying life post-career. Make sure not to miss this one—we reframe retirement as a phase requiring intention and reflection (and yes… a little work!)

Dr. Teresa Amabile is the Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration, Emerita, at Harvard Business School. With a Ph.D. in Psychology from Stanford and over 40 years of research into creativity, motivation, and inner work life, she brings a deep, evidence-based lens to one of life’s biggest transitions: retirement. Her latest book, Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You, is the result of a decade-long collaborative study with colleagues from MIT, Bentley, and Boston University.

From redefining identity to rebuilding purpose, this conversation is filled with practical insights—and moving personal stories—that reframe retirement as a phase requiring intention and reflection (and yes… a little work!).

💬
 What's Next?

• Check out the book Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You and start exploring what your next chapter could look like. Try journaling about what purpose and identity mean to you—without your current job title.
  

🤝
Stay Connected

• Subscribe to Seniority Authority wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1556496158
• Follow Cathleen Toomey on LinkedIn
  

Learn more at http://seniorityauthority.org

Is Your Financial Plan Missing Something Big?

What if your retirement plan has a blind spot you didn't know existed?

In this enlightening episode, host Cathleen Toomey welcomes wealth management experts Tom Sedoric and Casey Snyder of Clove Hitch Advisors to break down the real secrets of retirement success. With decades of experience and national recognition from Forbes, these two know exactly what can derail even the most prepared retiree---and how to fix it.

Tom and Casey dive into the psychology of financial planning, including the dangers of optimism bias and recency bias. They discuss why collaboration with estate planners and accountants is essential, and how to create tax flexibility for a more secure future.

You'll learn:

• Why your plan might not be as resilient as you think
• How to start the financial conversation with your family
• The critical importance of having a written plan
• And how financial advisors themselves can future-proof their businesses

🔗 Links and Resources:

• The Optimism Bias by Tali Sharot
• Humble Dollar
• The Economist
• Bloomberg
• Financial Times
• The New York Times

❓ What's Next?

• What are your views, comments or questions on financial planning for retirement? Share them with us at info@seniorityauthority.org!

🤝🏻 Stay Connected

• Connect with host Cathleen Toomey on LinkedIn
• Find out more on the Seniority Authority website, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram
• Subscribe to Seniority Authority on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

🤝🏻 Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
02:12 - Common blind spots in financial planning and the importance of anticipating change
04:04 - The role of optimism bias and recency bias in retirement planning
06:16 - Why collaboration with accountants and estate planners is critical
08:22 - Tax flexibility and long-term strategy in light of changing laws
13:18 - The increasing gap between capability and need as we age—and why early conversations matter
17:12 - Exercises to test financial resilience and the dangers of only planning for best-case scenarios
20:11 - How to answer the "How much do I need for retirement?" question
22:14 - The importance of team diversity, continuity, and future-proofing a financial firm
23:00 - Recommended financial media

2023 | 2024 Source:

Forbes.com

— Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, and firm nominations; as well as quantitative criteria including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client's experience. Neither Steward Partners Investment Solutions, LLC nor its Wealth Managers pay a fee to Forbes or SHOOK Research in exchange for the ranking. For more information, visit

www.SHOOKresearch.com

.

Fraudsters are getting smarter---and their biggest targets? Older adults. With a staggering $28 billion lost annually to scams, it's time to take action.

In this episode, fraud prevention expert Ron Long shares insights on how scammers operate, why elder financial abuse is skyrocketing, and---most importantly---how to stay safe. Ron has spent years working to protect seniors from fraud, from his early days at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to leading the charge at Stevens & Lee.

What are the most common scams? Who are the perpetrators? And how can you safeguard your finances? Tune in for practical steps, eye-opening stats, and real-world solutions that could save you or a loved one from financial disaster.

*Learn more about the Moonshot Initiative: LinkedIn Page
*Stevens & Lee -- Financial fraud prevention experts: Website
*AARP Fraud Watch Network: Website
*FTC Scam Alerts: Website

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

What steps have you taken to protect yourself or your loved ones from scams? Share your thoughts at info@seniorityauthority.org.

The Moonshot Initiative on LinkedIn -- Learn more about the global effort to combat elder financial abuse. LinkedIn Page
Sstevens & Lee -- Ron Long's firm specializing in financial fraud prevention. Website
* AARP Fraud Watch Network -- AARP's resource for recognizing and preventing scams. Website
* Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Scam Alerts -- Updates on the latest scams targeting consumers. Website

Timestamps for Mentions:

• [00:35:03] -- The Moonshot Initiative on LinkedIn
• [00:37:42] -- Stevens & Lee and their fraud prevention services
• [00:28:00] -- The importance of family passwords to prevent fraud
• [00:21:00] -- The rising use of AI in scams, making them harder to detect

Are you a people pleaser? Do you find yourself apologizing for things you shouldn’t? Ann Leary, New York Times bestselling author, is here to inspire you to rewrite the script. In her newest collection, I Tried Being Nice, Ann shares witty, insightful essays about overcoming lifelong tendencies to people-please, redefining kindness, and embracing the unapologetic freedom of midlife.

From confrontations with a neighbor (and their unruly dog) to honest reflections on her marriage, parenting, and self-discovery through tennis, Ann discusses the trials and triumphs of finding one’s voice later in life. Find out why she believes post-menopause is her prime and how shedding old habits has transformed her relationships and outlook.

Key Topics:

• The difference between kindness and people-pleasing
• Why midlife is the perfect time to embrace authenticity
• Parenting, empty-nesting, and reclaiming your true self
• How tennis became both a hobby and a metaphor for life

Join us for a heartfelt conversation that will leave you feeling empowered—and ready to embrace your unapologetic self.

• Official Website
• Follow Ann on Instagram
• Get her book I Tried Being Nice

Connect with Us:

• Email us at info@seniorityauthority.org
• Visit Seniority Authority on the web
• Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

Subscribe to Seniority Authority on Apple Podcasts or Spotify today!

1. 02:00 - Exploring Ann’s Writing Journey
2. 10:08 - Inspiration Behind I Tried Being Nice
3. 13:01 - Empty Nest Adventures
4. 19:45 - Life Lessons from the Tennis Court

24:03 - Breaking Free from People-Pleasing