Questions for My Av‪ó‬ Lena Cardoso

This episode started as wanting to talk to Lynn about playing soccer as a 72 year old and evolved into much more. Not only do we talk about Lynn’s willingness to try new things, from boxing to karate to golfing, and soccer (all in adulthood), we also talk about her identity as a Black woman growing up in the south and what that has meant in terms of opportunities and experiences throughout her life. We discuss her thoughts on current events and where she sees the country going. Lynn also shares advice around continuing to move as you age and inspires me to try new things.  Lynn is such a joy and as she says at this point in life, she is all about fun!

Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso
Guest: Lynn  
Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
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In this episode I talk with Sue. We discuss a major life shift for Sue in 2001 during her first solo journey on the Camino de Santiago. Since then, Sue has walked the Camino 29 times and even coaches others to help them do the same. We discuss Sue’s barefoot lifestyle, how she has been primarily barefoot for the past 12 years, and the health benefits Sue has noticed since going barefoot. We discuss Sue’s cold water exposure practices and how cold water has allowed her to better connect to herself and her breath. We discuss Sue’s mission of helping others’ connect back to nature and how she used TikTok to help her do that. Sue also shares some beautiful thoughts around overcoming fear, connecting to the earth, and evolving as we age.

Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso
Guest: Sue    
Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
*All views belong to the speakers

In this episode, Janet and I discuss how she got into fitness in her 60s, how she thinks about movement, and how she has also maintained her mental fitness as she ages, still working as a statistician at the age of 79. We discuss what it was like getting into statistics (a male dominated field) in the 1960s and her reflections on being a woman in that space and continuing to work as she ages. We also discuss Janet’s advice for younger women related to both movement and partnership. Janet and her husband have been married for 58 years. Janet also gives me some advice on a milestone birthday that I have coming up and shares a sweet anecdote about her dad that I keep coming back to and reflecting on. 

Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso
Guest: Janet    
Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
*All views belong to the speakers

In this episode I talk with Pennie. We discuss how Pennie got into fitness in her 60s and the changes she has noticed in her body over the last 10 or so years, specifically in terms of what her body needs and how she recovers. We discuss her fitness goals, such as doing 75 push ups on her 75th birthday, how women in her own family have influenced her, and what keeps her motivated. We also discuss Pennie’s experience doing Peace Corp in Brazil in 1968 and how that changed the trajectory of her career. 

Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso
Guest: Pennie    
Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
*All views belong to the speakers

When was the last time you tried something new? In this episode I talk with Vijaya about learning to swim at age 68. We discuss what it was like to learn a new skill at that age, how she overcame her fear, how participating in activities has given her community, what it means to take care of your body as you age, and her philosophies and outlook around never giving up.

Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso
Guest: Vijaya    
Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
*All views belong to the speakers

In this episode I talk with Judy. Judy and I talk about her career as a teacher and writer. How she continues to write, what inspires her and keeps her motivated, what it means to be useful, how she values community and connection, her volunteer efforts, and what she hopes for younger women.

Host and Producer: Lena Cardoso
Guest: Judy    
Cover art drawing: Sierra Keeler
*All views belong to the speakers