Keen On Aging

Dr. Corinne Auman
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

The cultural story about aging is outdated — and it's causing harm. The Keen On Aging Podcast offers a grounded, research-backed alternative for adults 45–80 who are rethinking identity, purpose, and what comes next. Hosted by gerontologist and author Dr. Corinne Auman, each episode features honest conversations with experts and with people who have navigated later life with intention. You'll get real stories, practical solutions, and fresh language for owning this chapter — so you can break outdated stereotypes, take on new challenges, and build a fulfilling life on your own terms.

  1. 4d ago

    How Senior Theater Changes Aging | DANCING MAN PRODUCTIONS

    Many older adults reach a point where it feels like life has passed them by, and many families wonder where a parent can still find joy, connection, and purpose. In this episode, I talk with Freddie Lee Heath and Mark Steward, co-founders of Dancing Man Productions in Raleigh, North Carolina, a senior theater company where everyone on stage and backstage is 55 or older. Freddie spent 23 years teaching senior dancers ages 55 to 96, and together they stage hour-long Broadway musicals like Guys and Dolls and The Music Man as 2:00 p.m. matinees. They explain how the senior versions of musicals are adapted for older voices, why daytime shows work so well for audiences living with dementia, how they adapt costume changes for older performers, and how you could start something similar in your own community. What stayed with me most was hearing about performers who arrived with canes and, within a few weeks of rehearsal, were dancing. Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - ⁠https://bit.ly/43XCD0m Learn more about Freddie Lee Heath and Mark Steward - https://dancingmanproductions.com/ Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman - Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcorinneauman/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Changing what aging on stage looks like 01:47 How Dancing Man Productions got started 03:47 How Broadway musicals are adapted for senior voices 05:41 How performing improves seniors' health and energy 08:38 Roles older performers thought they'd aged out of 11:58 Do you need theater experience to audition 17:21 How to find or start senior theater near you 19:03 Why they started a senior theater company 25:50 How audiences with dementia respond to live musicals 29:17 Why 2:00 matinees work for seniors and caregivers 31:20 Giving memory care residents a moment on stage 33:30 Community partners and using empty theaters by day 36:56 Adapting costume changes for older performers 40:41 The friendships that form offstage 47:49 Advice for anyone who feels too old to start KEYWORDS senior theater senior theater company community theater for seniors theater for older adults musical theater for seniors activities for seniors activities for people with dementia dementia and music music and memory memory care activities outings for seniors with dementia things to do with aging parents social connection for seniors staying active after retirement hobbies for retirees purpose in retirement healthy aging creative aging how to start a senior theater Music Theater International MTI senior shows Guys and Dolls The Music Man Singin' in the Rain Sister Act Dancing Man Productions Raleigh Little Theatre

  2. Oct 19

    The Great American Retirement Myth: Medicare, Taxes & Social Security Explained | JIM CAPUANO

    Most of us were handed the same retirement plan: max out the 401(k), count on Social Security, and let Medicare take care of health costs. But what if the way you're saving is quietly raising your Medicare premiums and shrinking your Social Security check? In this episode, I talk with Jim Capuano, who has spent nearly 20 years in the financial industry, including 15 years as a wholesaler working alongside financial advisors. Based in New York, he teaches retirement seminars, has run hundreds of personalized retirement reports, and wrote The Great American Retirement Myth. Jim explains how your income drives your Medicare costs through IRMAA, why he favors Roth accounts, how to decide when to take Social Security, and where annuities, cash value life insurance, and reverse mortgages can fit. Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - https://bit.ly/43XCD0m Learn more about Jim Capuano - https://retirementmythbook.com/ Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman - Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcorinneauman/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Why standard retirement advice may cost you later 01:33 What the Great American Retirement Myth is 03:35 How your income affects your Medicare premiums 06:33 What IRMAA and COLA mean for your Social Security 11:21 Is Social Security really going bankrupt? 16:24 Why financial advisors don't share this information 17:35 Why a Roth may beat a traditional 401(k) 21:09 How a Roth conversion works and its age rules 22:37 The Roth conversion mistake that triggers IRMAA 24:49 Why Medicare costs could double every ten years 30:00 How to decide when to take Social Security 33:06 When to start planning and whether it's too late 36:28 Cash value life insurance and the "be your own bank" trap 43:01 What an annuity is and how it guarantees income 46:28 How reverse mortgages work and their hidden risks KEYWORDS retirement planning retirement myths Medicare premiums is Social Security going bankrupt

  3. Oct 12

    Dementia Caregiving: Guilt, Burnout & Feeling Like You’re Failing | DR. MACIE P. SMITH

    If you're caring for someone living with dementia, you may feel like you're failing them and failing yourself. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Macie P. Smith, a geriatric care manager, court-appointed guardian, and award-winning dementia educator with more than 25 years of experience and three bestselling books for dementia caregivers. Macie explains what respite really means, how burnout turns into compassion fatigue, and the red flags that tell you it's time to get help. We talk about why she starts families with in-home care, why moving a loved one into assisted living doesn't end your job as a caregiver, and why Black and rural communities often get dementia information too late to act on it. My favorite piece of advice: when a loved one refuses help, you may have the right message but be the wrong messenger. She also says to call a home care agency now, before you need one. Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - ⁠https://bit.ly/43XCD0m Learn more about Dr. Macie P. Smith - https://drmaciesmith.com/ Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman - Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcorinneauman/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Why so many dementia caregivers feel like they're failing 02:24 Guilt, resentment, and the deadly caregiving emotions 03:45 What respite is and how to actually rest 05:39 The caregiver as the invisible patient 06:54 Why many caregivers die before their loved one 08:29 The health checkups caregivers keep skipping 10:34 When family members don't call themselves caregivers 13:24 What compassion fatigue is and how it shows up 15:08 Red flags of burnout and who to call first 18:53 Signs it's time for outside help or a move 21:00 Why to connect with in-home care before you need it 22:51 Why assisted living doesn't end your caregiving role 27:19 Dementia care gaps in underserved communities 31:58 Why there's no such thing as a touch of dementia 33:26 Why people resist help and the role of grief 34:52 Right message, wrong messenger 38:43 Aging on purpose: one final message KEYWORDS dementia caregiving caregiver burnout compassion fatigue caregiver guilt respite care what is respite care caregiver self-care invisible patient caregiver health family caregiver how to know if you are a caregiver signs of caregiver burnout Area Agency on Aging geriatric care manager geriatric care management court-appointed guardian in-home care when to get in-home care when to move to assisted living assisted living loved one refuses help resistance to dementia diagnosis early signs of Alzheimer's early stage Alzheimer's treatment dementia is not normal aging Alzheimer's in the Black community rural caregiving food deserts and dementia risk MIND diet mental health stigma aging on purpose Synergy HomeCare Dementia Speaks Dr. Macie P. Smith Keen on Aging podcast Corinne Auman Keenagers

  4. Oct 5

    Senior Living Explained: Every Level of Care and Who It's For | JODY CLAYTON

    Independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, CCRC: most families don't learn the difference until a crisis forces a fast decision. In this episode, Corinne talks with Jody Clayton, who has spent more than a decade in senior living and now works with Kisco Senior Living in Greensboro, North Carolina. Jody explains what each level of care offers, who it's right for, and how to know when it's time for the next step. He also covers the real differences between CCRCs and month-to-month rental communities, including buy-ins, waitlists, and financial vetting. Along the way, he shares stories that challenge the idea that senior living is where people go to decline, including a resident who arrived in a wheelchair and later walked again. Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - https://bit.ly/43XCD0m Learn more about Jody Clayton and Kisco Senior Living - https://www.kiscoseniorliving.com Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman - Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcorinneauman/ Chapters 00:00 Why most families don't know the levels of care 01:36 How senior living evolved into today's levels of care 07:20 What independent living is and who it's for 13:25 Signs your home no longer fits your needs 15:38 Weighing the cost of staying home 22:52 What independent living does and doesn't provide 23:39 What assisted living is and who it's for 25:32 What memory care is and who it's for 30:32 When someone with dementia actually needs memory care 34:21 What a CCRC is and how it differs from a rental community 35:45 Who a CCRC is right for 38:01 What skilled nursing is and when it's time 40:49 Planning ahead for a CCRC: buy-ins and waitlists Keywords senior living senior living options independent living assisted living memory care skilled nursing continuing care retirement community CCRC CCRC vs rental community month-to-month senior living levels of care for seniors when to move to assisted living when to move to memory care dementia care early stage dementia Virtual Dementia Tour aging in place home modifications for seniors social isolation in older adults socialization and cognitive health activities of daily living ADLs fall policies in senior living home care in senior living CCRC buy-in CCRC waitlist senior housing shortage cost of senior living resident rights senior sexual health intergenerational mentoring Kisco Senior Living Greensboro senior living Jody Clayton Keen on Aging podcast Corinne Auman Keenagers

  5. Sep 28

    The 4 Ms of Aging Well: What to Ask at Every Doctor's Appointment | DR. STEPHANIE ROGERS

    Most of us expect later life to be a slow slide downhill, but geriatrician Dr. Stephanie Rogers of UC San Francisco says the research shows the opposite. In this episode, she explains how people can build strength, protect their thinking, and grow happier in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. You'll learn the 4Ms of good care for older adults (mobility, mentation, medications, and what matters most) and how to use them at every medical appointment. Dr. Steph also covers the reversible causes of memory problems, how to prevent falls and hospital-related decline, and why most anti-aging products are a waste of money. If you're planning your own later years or caring for a parent, this conversation gives you clear questions to ask and steps to take. Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - https://bit.ly/43XCD0m Find out if your hospital is age friendly - https://www.ihi.org/partner/initiatives/age-friendly-health-systems/recognized-health-care-sites Learn More About ⁨@AgeWellwithDrSteph⁩ - https://www.instagram.com/agewellwithdrsteph/?hl=en Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman - Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcorinneauman/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:45 What most people get wrong about aging after 60 02:17 Building muscle and fitness at any age 03:29 How ageism shows up in health care 05:13 Overtreatment vs. undertreatment of older adults 07:11 Quantity vs. quality of life: the best case, worst case framework 09:47 Why there's a shortage of geriatricians 12:26 Why doctors often give the wrong senior living referrals 15:12 Normal memory changes vs. warning signs 16:30 Reversible causes of memory problems: medications, hearing loss, and depression 18:16 Why a UTI shouldn't be the automatic explanation for confusion 20:12 The happiness curve and how we adapt to disability 23:01 Three priorities for aging well: movement, social connection, and knowing what matters 26:34 Retiring to something, not from something 29:13 What the anti-aging industry gets wrong 31:14 Supplements, drug interactions, and very expensive urine 32:56 Fall prevention: the many causes of falls 34:18 Why falls are more dangerous as we age 35:52 Fall training and practicing getting up off the floor 37:37 How to advocate for a loved one in the hospital 38:03 Preventing hospital delirium 39:33 Preventing muscle loss and functional decline in the hospital 42:10 Age-friendly hospitals and the 4Ms 44:12 Final takeaway: how your view of aging shapes your aging Keywords Keen on Aging, Dr. Stephanie Rogers, Age Well with Dr. Steph, geriatrician, geriatrics, UCSF geriatrics, healthy aging, aging well, positive aging, ageism in health care, 4Ms of age-friendly care, age-friendly health systems, age-friendly hospitals, mobility, mentation, medication safety, what matters most, memory loss causes, reversible dementia, pseudodementia, hearing loss and memory, Benadryl and older adults, UTI confusion elderly, delirium in older adults, hospital delirium prevention, functional decline hospital, fall prevention, fall risk seniors, hip fracture recovery, strength training over 60, muscle loss aging, social isolation and loneliness, happiness and aging, U-shaped happiness curve, adapting to disability, purpose in retirement, retirement planning, anti-aging myths, supplements for seniors, supplement drug interactions, caregiving, family caregiver tips, aging parents, care management, geriatrician shortage, Being Mortal, quality of life

  6. Sep 21

    OLDEST NINJA WARRIOR - Fitness doesn't stop when you retire: GINNY MACCOLL

    Ginny MacColl started lifting weights in her 60s and it took her a full year of training to earn a single pull-up. Today she is 74, her best is 17 strict pull-ups, and she holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest female ninja competitor in the world. In this episode she walks through exactly how she built upper body strength from zero, why she hired a personal trainer before touching a weight, and how she rebuilds after injuries including a shoulder tear, arthritis in her hands, and a currently broken finger. She also talks honestly about falling into the water on national television and what it took to get back on the course. Listeners will come away with practical starting points they can use at home today, no equipment required. Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - https://bit.ly/43XCD0m Learn more about Ginny MacColl - https://www.instagram.com/ginnymaccoll/?hl=en Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman - Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcorinneauman/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Strength is ageless 01:16 Protecting what you have versus building something new 02:50 Watching her daughter compete and deciding to get stronger 04:10 Where she actually started with no upper body strength 06:12 A full year of training to get one pull-up 08:06 Why most people quit before six months 08:30 From 17 strict pull-ups back to zero after an injury 10:27 Walking into the gym when you are the oldest person there 11:59 Attainable goals, personal bests, and finding a buddy 15:49 What American Ninja Warrior actually is 16:47 Building obstacles in a neighbor's yard to make the submission video 20:15 The fall in Daytona and the year that followed 22:41 Season 15 and clearing the first obstacle at 71 29:45 How she gets going again after a setback 32:51 Neighborhood Ninjas and ninja playgrounds for all ages 34:20 The 90-year-old study and her next goal 38:21 Training around a shoulder tear, arthritis, and old dance injuries 43:48 Learning to fall and practicing getting up off the floor 44:31 Balance at the bathroom sink and grip work with a rubber band 45:55 Eating for your family history 49:08 You cannot do that, yet KEYWORDS strength training after 60, strength training for seniors, pull-ups after 60, Ginny MacColl, oldest female ninja competitor, Guinness World Record ninja, American Ninja Warrior senior competitor, Jessie Graf, exercise for older adults, building muscle after 60, how to start lifting weights at 65, personal trainer for seniors, aging and muscle loss, sarcopenia prevention, fall prevention for seniors, how to fall safely, getting up off the floor exercise, balance exercises for older adults, grip strength exercises, resistance band exercises for seniors, exercising with arthritis, working out with a shoulder injury, rotator cuff tear exercise, returning to exercise after injury, exercise motivation over 70, aging stereotypes, ageism in fitness, independence in aging, Mediterranean diet, heart disease family history, arterial plaque reduction diet, macular degeneration, Neighborhood Ninjas, ninja playground, home exercises no equipment, fitness accountability partner, never too old to start, Keen on Aging podcast, keenagers, Corinne Auman

  7. Sep 14

    Your Beliefs About Aging Are Changing Your Body | DR. SARA MARGOLIN

    My guest this week is Dr. Sara Margolin, a psychology professor at SUNY Brockport who wrote a textbook on the psychology of aging. She explains the research showing that what we believe about getting older actually changes what happens to us, including our menopause symptoms and how well we do on a memory test. We also get practical about the changes that are real, like vision in your 40s, hearing, smell and taste, and what to do about each one. And Sara shares a list of free ways to keep your mind sharp that has nothing to do with an app. If you have ever caught yourself saying "I'm just getting old," this one is for you. Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - https://bit.ly/43XCD0m Learn more about Dr. Sara Margolin - https://www.instagram.com/drsaramargolin/?hl=en CHAPTERS 00:00 Teaser 01:45 Why so many of us are afraid of getting older 04:19 We used to need older adults as the wisdom keepers, then the internet arrived 07:29 The 75 plus soccer team and why "super seniors" are not outliers 09:41 The research: your beliefs about aging change your hot flashes and your memory scores 11:39 "It's just mom getting old" and how we hand our ageism to our kids 15:07 Witches, villains and the 100th day of school: what children absorb about age 19:20 Aging is about 30 percent genetics and 70 percent lifestyle 21:09 What actually changes: vision, and why it starts in your 40s 22:40 Uncorrected hearing loss, social isolation and dementia risk 26:12 Smell, taste and the 94 year old who only wanted cookie dough 31:10 Touch, thinner skin, and hydration when you no longer feel thirsty 35:20 How to answer an ageist joke without putting someone on the defensive 40:27 Do brain training apps actually work? 41:20 Book clubs, new languages and free ways to stretch your brain 47:36 The one belief about aging Sara would change Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcorinneauman/ KEYWORDS psychology of aging Dr. Sara Margolin ageism internalized ageism age bias aging stereotypes Becca Levy aging research expectations and aging brain health after 50 cognitive decline myths how the brain changes with age brain training apps do brain games work keeping your mind sharp memory and aging dementia prevention hearing loss and dementia untreated hearing loss hearing aids stigma sensory changes with age vision changes in your 40s loss of smell and taste in older adults nutrition for older adults hydration for seniors skin changes with aging healthy aging lifestyle genetics vs lifestyle aging positive aging aging well successful aging older adults on social media media portrayals of older adults Thursday Murder Club Grace and Frankie A Man on the Inside senior center activities lifelong learning free college classes for seniors book club brain benefits social isolation older adults you look great for your age aging myths debunked SUNY Brockport Keen on Aging podcast Corinne Auman keenagers

  8. Sep 7

    What Nobody Tells You About Caring For Mom And Dad | FRANCES HALL

    Nobody trains you for this. One day your mom or dad needs help, and suddenly you are the one handling the doctors, the money, the bad news, and the guilt that you are still not doing enough. Frances Hall has spent more than a decade with families in exactly that spot as the founder of ACAP, Adult Children of Aging Parents, which started as a small lunch group in 2012 and is now growing toward 18 chapters nationwide. In this conversation with Dr. Corinne Auman, she talks honestly about the guilt, the sibling fights, the isolation, and what to do when your parent refuses to discuss the future. You will walk away with real ways to take care of yourself in the middle of it, the exact conversations to have with your parents before a crisis hits, and the reassurance that it is okay to not know how to do this. Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - https://bit.ly/43XCD0m Learn more about ACAP! - https://acapcommunity.org/ CHAPTERS 00:00 The parts of caregiving nobody prepares you for 01:44 What thousands of caregiving families all say 04:34 What ACAP is 09:34 Why adult children need their own support 12:31 Guilt, the sandwich generation, and the hidden costs of caregiving 16:09 Real self-care for caregivers, 20:50 Why caregiving today is nothing like it was a generation ago 23:28 What caregivers are actually looking for 28:01 Sibling dynamics 33:10 Bringing in a neutral third party to break a family stalemate 35:36 There is no perfect caregiver and no crystal ball 40:03 The conversations to have with your parents before the crisis 43:56 What to do when your parent shuts the conversation down 46:25 Frances's biggest takeaway 48:18 Where to find ACAP Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drcorinneauman/ KEYWORDS caring for aging parents, adult children of aging parents, ACAP, Frances Hall, Keen on Aging, Corinne Auman, family caregiving, caregiver support group, caregiver burnout, caregiver guilt, caregiver self-care, sandwich generation, aging parent conversations, talking to parents about aging, end of life conversations, advance directives, living will, MOST form, medical orders for scope of treatment, power of attorney, sibling conflict caregiving, family caregiving disagreements, care manager, elder care mediation, aging in place, dementia caregiving, long distance caregiving, caregiver isolation, caregiver stress, caregiver resources, senior services, aging parent safety, giving up driving, caregiving costs, chronic conditions aging, caregiver education, older adults, elder care planning, caregiver community, nonprofit caregiver support, aging well

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About

The cultural story about aging is outdated — and it's causing harm. The Keen On Aging Podcast offers a grounded, research-backed alternative for adults 45–80 who are rethinking identity, purpose, and what comes next. Hosted by gerontologist and author Dr. Corinne Auman, each episode features honest conversations with experts and with people who have navigated later life with intention. You'll get real stories, practical solutions, and fresh language for owning this chapter — so you can break outdated stereotypes, take on new challenges, and build a fulfilling life on your own terms.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Corinne Auman
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Corinne Auman
  • Show Website
    Keen On Aging

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