🎙️The Giant Leap: Is Space the Future of Life on Earth?

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

Welcome to the Smithsonian Associates series on The Not Old Better Show. I'm your host, award-winning journalist Paul Vogelzang.

Today's conversation is as big as it gets. We're talking about the future of life—not just on Earth, but beyond it.

Our guest is Smithsonian Associate, Dr. Caleb Scharf—NASA astrobiologist, acclaimed author, and one of the boldest thinkers about the place of life in the universe. Dr. Caleb Scharf will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up! Please check out THIS link for more details. But we have Dr. Scharf briefly today and in his new book The Giant Leap, Dr. Scharf makes a provocative case: that our expansion into space may not just be a technological milestone—it might be the next phase of evolution itself.

He calls this moment a "disruption in the story of life" as profound as when creatures first crawled out of the sea. He's spent his career studying black holes, exoplanets, and the fingerprints of life across the cosmos. He's also a storyteller who blends science with wonder, and reminds us that the night sky isn't just something to look at—it's something we're becoming part of.

If you've ever stared up at the stars and asked, Where are we going next?—this episode is for you.

Remember, Dr. Caleb Scharf will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up! Please check out THIS link for more details.

✈️ Don't pack another bag until you hear this.

Lexie Sachs from the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested it all — luggage, travel pillows, resorts, and even packing cubes that won't fall apart mid-trip. And now, she's sharing her top-tested picks just in time for your next family getaway. 🧳

In this Good Better Best episode, we talk about what's really worth packing, budget-friendly trips for multi-gen families, and the secret to trusting product reviews that actually hold up.

🎧 Listen now to get the smartest tips from someone who's seen every travel trend—and tested the truth behind it: Apple Podcasts: https://notoldbettershow.info/4456zJi

#SmartTravel #GoodHousekeeping #Over50Living #NotOldBetter #TravelGearTested

What Abraham Lincoln Still Teaches Us About Leadership

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

217 years after his birth, Abraham Lincoln remains the gold standard of American leadership — and he still has something to teach us.

In our latest episode of The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, I sat down with Professor Louis P. Masur — Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University — to explore the traits that made Lincoln more than just a president. He was a strategist, a master communicator, and perhaps most importantly, a leader who wasn't afraid to change his mind.

Dr. Masur will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates comng up, please check out our show notes for more details about Dr. Masur's Smithsonian Associates presentation titled, Leanring From Lincoln. But we have Smithsonian Associate Dr. Louis Masur today.

Masur's insight reveals how Lincoln's use of humor, storytelling, silence, and empathy helped him guide a broken nation through its darkest days. These aren't just historical details — they're leadership lessons for anyone seeking to grow, lead, and live with purpose, especially in their later chapters of life.

In today's episode, we dig into key moments from Masur's books — Lincoln's Last Speech, Lincoln's Hundred Days, and The Civil War: A Concise History — that highlight the character, wisdom, and personal evolution of Lincoln himself.

What does it mean to lead with humility? To be open to changing course? To use stories, not soundbites, to bring people together?

This episode will inspire anyone who believes it's never too late to lead with grace. 🎧 Listen at notold-better.com

Dr. Masur will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates comng up, please check out our show notes for more details about Dr. Masur's Smithsonian Associates presentation titled, Leanring From Lincoln. But we have Smithsonian Associate Dr. Louis Masur today.