10 episodes

I'm 83 and I'm learning how to be old from experts and my own experience. And so are you. Join us as we discuss aspects of ageing both negative and positive, from psychology to socks, from philosophy to press-ups, with practical tips. I'm Rachel McAlpine, a poet, and a person, like you.

How To Be Old Unknown

    • Society & Culture
    • 5.0 • 2 Ratings

I'm 83 and I'm learning how to be old from experts and my own experience. And so are you. Join us as we discuss aspects of ageing both negative and positive, from psychology to socks, from philosophy to press-ups, with practical tips. I'm Rachel McAlpine, a poet, and a person, like you.

    It’s all about moving in old age

    It’s all about moving in old age

    Popular fitness instructor Trudi Fleetwood says that exercise is all about moving — in old age, too. And having fun at the same time. She remembers her grandmother doing Jazzergetics and her mother following a Jane Fonda LP, wearing leg warmers, leotard, and a belt. Rachel talks about "the Taylor legs" and sings a nursery rhyme, appallingly. That did at least involve moving her mouth, and after all, it's all about moving in old age.



    At 75, Rachel made multiple attempts to find a gym that suited her. Again and again a gym would move, or close, or change so that she had to try again. Finally she joined a community gym, Club Active, run by the Wellington City Council. This one suits her down to the ground for mixed ability Pump and Pilates classes and a shower after swimming in the sea. There she found a variety of great instructors, including Trudi.



    If you're learning how to be old (and whether you know it or not, you are), you know that exercise performs miracles. If "exercise" is a scary word to you, change the word to "moving." That includes walking. Getting off the chair, if you can, nodding your head, scrunching your shoulders, bending your knees or wiggling your toes.






    Your favourite kind of exercise is the only one that works



    Don't take exercise like a pill



    The full story of the Les Mills Gym empire

    An avalanche of research on ageing and longevity

    An avalanche of research on ageing and longevity

    With the current rise in research on ageing and longevity, there's a flood of news and tips about living long and well. If you feel overwhelmed, you're not alone. The results are intriguing, encouraging, and revolutionary. But why did ageing became a hot topic thirty years ago? And how can we deal with this information overload? I've been thinking about this and have come up with a couple of suggestions. And a poem. And one woman's impressive vision of how her life will be at 95 years old.




    HALL: A comprehensive database for human aging and longevity studies Oxford University Press



    Slowing human ageing is now the subject of serious research The Economist.

    Reviving a podcast for a new audience

    Reviving a podcast for a new audience

    It's time I began reviving and revamping this podcast. I feel sad whenever a favourite podcast stops — yet I let mine lapse. This episode of "How To Be Old" explains a shift in my attitude to podcasting. Once I did it for my own amusement. Now I'm focused on you, not me. Because we're all learning how to be old: no expert has all the answers. Welcome to the second life of How To Be Old, the podcast! Let's chat.



    For an approximate transcript of this podcast episode, go here

    No fear of old age—a poem

    No fear of old age—a poem

    Many people say they have fear of old age, not death or dying. But my role model is the woman who wasn't afraid of open heart surgery—or loneliness—or lazy brain. This poem has danced off the page and has its own chorus and a subterranean tune.

    Scottish poet Michael Pedersen on poems, people and old age

    Scottish poet Michael Pedersen on poems, people and old age

    Scottish super-poet reads "Gravity" and talks about poems, people, and his future old age. Recorded November 2019 and still as fresh as a purple thistle head.





    About Michael Pedersen: The Scottish Poetry Library
    Neu! Reekie!
    Kim Hill interviews Michael Pedersen

    Young poet, old poet

    Young poet, old poet

    A young poet reads a poem to an old poet. An old poet learns about eating green apples with chili, and a new snack is invented. You can read the original poem on my blog.

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