Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau
  • 4.7 (69)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
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Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined challenges outdated narratives about aging and celebrates what’s possible in later life. Through thoughtful conversations, personal reflections, and honest storytelling, the podcast explores creativity, purpose, resilience, and reinvention after 70. Each episode features real voices and lived experience, offering insight and inspiration for navigating this stage of life with curiosity and intention. This podcast is for women who refuse to be invisible, who are open to growth and change, and who believe aging can be a time of meaning, connection, and possibility.

  1. 1D AGO

    368 Diane Heiler: Once a Divorcee, Once a Widow — Now a Partner Re‑Engaged in Life

    Diane Heiler shares her deeply moving journey of caring for her husband during his 20‑month “death sentence” from an incurable disease — a journey she chronicles with raw honesty and artistry in her memoir, A Widow’s Fire: An Intimate Memoir of Heartbreak, Survival, and Moving On. With poetry and art as lifelong companions, Diane turned to daily journaling to navigate the relentless progression of her husband’s illness. Out of that quiet practice, poetry emerged — a lifeline and a mirror to her grief. In her poem See Me, she writes: See me… standing here with my broken heart in my hand… blowing kisses into the air and sending love up into the heavens… so far from where I am. After his passing, Diane retreated to her mountaintop home in North Carolina, seeking solitude in her sorrow. Months later, at her sister’s urging, she reluctantly attended a country club dance — and unexpectedly, a new chapter began. From her poem My Christmas Blessing: I have been blessed with the presence of living in the light of someone special. He is gone from me now. But the afterglow of his goodness and his love is still shining through the windows in his heart and gracing my existence. I follow a light in the pathway he has drawn for me and see that in his wisdom he wants me to be safe, happy, and fulfilled. I am blessed. Diane’s story reminds us that love continues in many forms — and that healing often begins in the most unexpected moments. “We stay true to ourselves even when others unfairly judge us.” - Diane Heiler CONNECT WITH DIANE: Email: misspriss12923@me.com Book: A Widow’s Fire: An Intimate Memoir of Heartbreak, Survival, and Moving On. Acknowledgments Plymouth Place: Thanks to our Sponsor, Plymouth Place in LaGrange Park IL where senior living is redefined with options and opportunities to fit individual needs and preferences. Age-Wise Collective: Women Over 70 is proud to share the spotlight with Gerontologist Sally Duplantier, host of Wellness Wednesdays. These free and recorded webinars feature experts on topics about healthy aging. Visit MyZingLife.com to learn more.

    26 min

  2. FEB 10

    Patricia Koko: Turning Ideas into Services with Lasting Impact

    When Patricia (Pat) Koko, age 82, reflects on her life’s work as a young homemaker turned consummate volunteer and community change-maker, she often says things like, “that was kind of fun,” or “there just was a need”—-simple phrases that belie an extraordinary legacy. Driven by a lifelong love for older people, Pat has spent more than 50 years helping to create, grow, and sustain programs and services that support older adults. What began as local, grassroots efforts in and around Oak Park, IL, evolved into initiatives that attracted state and federal funding and ultimately became models for nationwide programs serving older adults. Pat’s impact continues today. In addition to being a volunteer extraordinaire, she is the owner of RBC Jewelry Designs, where she creates stunning gemstone pieces—many of which she generously donates to fundraisers benefiting older adults. "The services I helped create many decades ago are enduring and robust, and I’m still here to help where help is needed." - Patricia Koko Connect with Pat Email: patriciakoko@hotmail.com Pat Koko: for 50 years, a volunteer extraordinaire in & around Oak Park - Inside Edge PR Thanking Our Sponsor—-Plymouth Place, LaGrange Park, IL. Discover the extraordinary at Plymouth Place—a vibrant community designed for active adults. Elevate your retirement living experience with tailored independent options, premier amenities, and a full continuum of care. Explore diverse living choices and embrace the joy of a life well-lived. http://plymouthplace.org Recognizing the Age-Wise Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts for women 50+, featuring women’s stories and addressing topics that promote the pro-aging movement. MEET: Sally Duplantier, gerontologist and founder of My Zing Life, who’s mission is to help older adults live their best lives longer. Sally hosts Wellness Wednesday, an online program featuring cutting-edge researchers, best-selling authors, and health professionals. https://myzinglife.com

    27 min

  3. FEB 4

    366 Suzi K Edwards: A Chaotic Life Reignited by Yoga

    Living high throughout the 1960s and early ‘70s filled Suzi’s life with glitter, dazzle, and celebrities who sadly, broke her heart. As a luxury designer of women’s clothing in New York, Suzi was sought after by big name clothiers. This is Suzi’s life: from design to yoga to memoirist to children’s tales. She always chooses “gratitude over grumpy” and carries with her learnings from Krishna, which hold her steady while living a life in which “nothing stays the same”. “What people forget about when they’re living their lives is that everyone dies. “I don’t want to waste time with anything negative.” Suzi’s latest adventures include The Doggos, her 6-book children’s series about the love that dogs bring to children’s lives. As a digital artist, Suzi creates all the beautiful illustrations herself. “After success, my whole sense of self changed.” - Suzi K Edwards CONNECT WITH SUZI: Email: suzikedwards@gmail.com. Facebook:   / suzi.k.edwards   Memoir: Quiet Mind Crazy Heart Children’s Series: The Doggos Thanks to our Sponsor: The Chicago Women's History Center was founded in 1971 with the mission to elevate the contributions of ALL women to advance the historical record of the city of Chicago; To empower younger generations to learn about the history of Chicago women’s social justice; and to enrich the historical research by presenting our history through an intersectional lens inclusive of LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, ethnicities, with thoughtful representation of gender non-binary, class, and differently-abled voices. https://www.chicagowomenshistory.org Recognizing the Age-Wise Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of this group of women-hosted podcasts that feature stories from women 50+ and on topics that promote the pro-aging movement. If you enjoy listening to our podcast, then you might like Wendy Battles, host of Reinvention Rebels - a podcast that celebrates bold women 50-90+ who are rewriting the aging narrative and designing the lives they want to live. https://reinventionrebels.com/

    25 min

  4. JAN 21

    364 Debra Morrison: Money Is Energy—-Move Your Financial Needle to Match your Goals and Soul’s Calling

    Debra Morrison invites us to reimagine our lives where money takes on new meaning and purpose. Founder of the We Can Do It Women Movement, Debra works with mature women (50+) who are ready to stop defining themselves by financial missteps and start moving—intentionally and courageously—toward what still matters most. Money, Debra reminds us, is part of the picture, but not the whole story. It sits alongside physical, mental, relational, and spiritual well-being. Her mission is to “reframe women’s mindsets around wealth…be in relationship with our money as a tool…and uplevel women’s confidence around money,” including managing risk. With compassion and clarity, Debra creates a space where women can “ imagine ways to flame the embers, to move on to the next thing”—aligning their financial lives with their values, purpose, and soul’s calling. Connect with Debra email: dlm@debralmorrison.com https://www.wecandoitwomen.com/ Facebook Group: https://www.wecandoitwomen.com/group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debralmorrison/ https://www.instagram.com/debralmorrison/ https://www.youtube.com/@DebraLMorrison Book: My Husband Died, Now What? (2025) Thanks to our Sponsor AARP-IL Meet Age-Wise Collective Member Illana Landsberg-Lewis, podcast host of Wisdom at Work—Older Women, Elderwomen, and Grandmothers on the Move…disrupters and influencers. http://www.wisdomatworkpodcast.com

    32 min

  5. JAN 13

    Franca Zanovella: A Skincare System for Mature Skin Driven by Innovation and Science

    Advocate Franca Zanovello shares her deep beliefs about beauty for women of all ages. Growing up in Italy, and living in six different countries, influenced Franca’s earliest experiences with skin care. Experiencing massage by blind people in Myanmar helped her understand how touch alone elevates wellness through body massage. In a large family of women, she learned to take care of her skin, body and hair, and her grandmother, who was a mid-wife, taught her science and explained to her how the body functions at a very young age. Today, Franca works with Skintensive, a dermatologist, efficacy-driven skin care brand designed for maturing skin. Franca’s approach to the innovation and science behind skin care is the reason we support and appreciate Skintensive’s support of us. 20% discount at https://www.skintensive.com with code WO70 + free shipping. “Growing up in Italy and living in South Asia influenced my belief in the deep connection of body and mind and my view of beauty as a reflection of health.” - Franca Zanovella Fading Memories Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined is a member of the Age-Wise Collective, 13 women-led podcasts that feature women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. This month’s Collaborator is Jennifer Fink, who hosts Fading Memories, a podcast for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. It provides insights and guidance on communicating effectively, managing stress, and coping with grief and loss.

    28 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    361 Phylllis Booth: Forming a Lifetime of Loving and Supportive Attachments

    Attachment is interwoven throughout Phyllis Booth’s professional and personal life. Now Clinical Director Emerita of The Theraplay Institute in Evanston, Illinois, Phyllis was instrumental-—more than 50 years ago—-in developing a therapeutic approach that strengthens relationships between parents and children through attachment-based play. She credits her parents and the Mormon Church for instilling high expectations that “fit well for advancing a new field.” Phyllis says, “my very good and productive life has been beautifully and tenderly supported”—by her late husband, colleagues, family, and friends. As she approaches her 100th birthday in March 2026, Phyllis has already begun celebrating, starting with a family gathering at her cabin in Utah. “I continue to educate parents and practitioners about building better relationships through attachment-based play.” - Phylllis Booth Connect with Phyllis: Email: phyllisbooth@yahoo.com Website: Phyllis Booth – Theraplay Selected Publication: Booth, P., & Jernberg, A. (2010). Theraplay: Helping parents and children build better relationships through attachment-based play (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass. Thanks to the Age-WISE Collective Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-WISE Collective, a group of women-hosted podcasts featuring stories from women 50+ and conversations that promote the pro-aging movement. Suzy Rosenstein, host of Women in the Middle: Loving Life After 50. This weekly podcast explores a wide range of topics designed to help women get excited about their lives again. Women in the Middle Podcast | Stop Feeling Stuck and Bored Today

    24 min

  7. 12/10/2025

    358 Denise Poncher: Following Paths Leading to Creative Expression

    Denise Poncher, 73, has spent her life noticing experiences that call her to create. A multidisciplinary artist—-creative writer, documentary photographer, custom art framer, collagist, fiber explorer—-she treats each medium as a path toward deeper understanding. Legacy writing now invites her to weave together difficult losses of significant people with joyful threads of being a nurturing grandmother. Once a painfully shy child, Denise found courage and confidence through her art, ultimately bringing hidden stories such as domestic violence into public view during her MFA graduate work. Outside the corridors of art, she served in public service roles from Department of Justice inspector to equestrian instructor. Today, Denise continues to seek new forms of creative expression—-guided by the belief that personal truth has the power to resonate far beyond the self. "The deeper I go into my own experience, the more universal my message becomes." - Denise Poncher Connect with Denise: Email: drponcher@gmail.com Fine art photography by Studio 626 in Oak Park, IL - Alignable Thanks to our Sponsor—Women’s Connection Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, Women’s Connection is a member-driven nonprofit organization for vibrant, accomplished women who are 50 years old and beyond. In chapters around the country, including a virtual Coast-to-Coast (C2C) chapter, women connect to enjoy shared interests and empower each other to thrive. https://womenconnecting.org Recognizing the AGE-WISE COLLECTIVE Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts that feature stories from women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. Meet: Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, host of Wisdom at Work: Older Women, Elderwomen, and Grandmothers on the Move! Profiles of disrupters and influencers who kick stereotypes to the curb. http://www.wisdomatworkpodcast.com

    30 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    357 Lynn Hazan: A Passion for Performance

    From the moment you hear Lynn Hazan, 70, speak, one thing is unmistakable: performance isn’t just something she does — it’s the lens through which she experiences the world. Born and raised in Canada, Lynn moves comfortably among French, English, and the Spanish and Hebrew she loves practicing. Her multicultural roots run deep: her parents were French citizens born in Egypt and Syria, and her Jewish faith has been a guiding force since childhood. It was at Jewish conferences, surrounded by stories and ideas, that Lynn first understood the power of storytelling to transform communication. Curiosity drives her. Travel energizes her. She has journeyed on multiple humanitarian trips, including a 1995 performing tour in Ukraine that left a lasting imprint. Wherever she goes, Lynn becomes a bridge — sharing stories people-to-people, culture-to-culture. Her own family’s history inspires her daily; she lost her father at 12 and her mother decades later at 92, and their lives continue to shape her sense of purpose. Professionally, Lynn is a force of creativity. A natural salesperson from the start, she built a dynamic recruitment business where imagination and strategy coexist. She channels her love of storytelling into every interaction, coaching candidates to “sell themselves” with clarity and confidence. It’s why she’s widely known as the storytelling recruiter — a title she carries proudly and passes on to her interns like a legacy. “I thrive on creativity, ask a million questions and learn wherever I go.” - Lynn Hazan CONNECT WITH LYNN: Email: lynn@lhazan.com Website: lhazan.com

    28 min
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4.7
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined challenges outdated narratives about aging and celebrates what’s possible in later life. Through thoughtful conversations, personal reflections, and honest storytelling, the podcast explores creativity, purpose, resilience, and reinvention after 70. Each episode features real voices and lived experience, offering insight and inspiration for navigating this stage of life with curiosity and intention. This podcast is for women who refuse to be invisible, who are open to growth and change, and who believe aging can be a time of meaning, connection, and possibility.

Information

  • Creator
    Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    295
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined
  • Show Website
    Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

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