Aging ain't for Sissies

Marcy Backhus
  • 4.4 (10)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

Aging isn't easy. My name is Marcy Backhus and I am your host! Make sure your complete well-being is handled with a community and information that can make it easier and FUN. Aging needs humor, which you can find in the "Aging ain't for Sissies" Podcast, along with informational guests that give us the information we need. 

  1. 3d ago

    Volunteer Your Way To Live Longer

    Send us Fan Mail I'm on vacation this week, so we're revisiting one of my favorite episodes. I hope you enjoy this replay! This episode makes the case that volunteering isn't just a nice thing to do—it's one of the best things you can do for your health. We talk about how giving just a couple of hours each week can improve your mood, support brain health, reduce stress, and help you build meaningful connections. In this episode, we cover: Why volunteering has been linked to better health, lower blood pressure, reduced depression, and even greater longevity.The simple goal of 100 hours a year—and why consistency matters more than doing a lot all at once.How to find your perfect volunteer "flavor," whether that's in-person, remote, one-time events, or ongoing opportunities.Real-life volunteer ideas, from reading with children and calling isolated seniors to helping at food pantries and animal shelters.How to use AARP's Create The Good program to find volunteer opportunities that match your interests.Why volunteering is one of the easiest ways to build community without the awkward small talk.How to start right where you are—in your church, synagogue, condo building, neighborhood, or local organizations.If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend. Sharing really is caring...and maybe that counts as volunteering too! For more information, show notes, and resources, visit www.agingaintforsissiespodcast.com. I'd also love to hear from you! If you have ideas for future episodes, resources you'd like to share, or know of something that would benefit our senior community—a program, service, volunteer opportunity, or even a job opening—please reach out through the website. I always love hearing from listeners.

    19 min

  2. Jul 3

    The Aging Survival Guide: Surviving the Doctor

    Send us Fan Mail We turn “surviving the doctor’s office” into a practical skill, because nobody teaches us how to be a good patient even though healthcare gets more complex with age. We share the mindset shift that changes everything: the doctor knows medicine, but we know our bodies, so we speak up and ask until we understand. • laughing at the realities of aging and nonstop appointments  • becoming the CEO of our own healthcare across multiple specialists  • treating the doctor as a partner who works with us  • dropping embarrassment and asking for plain language  • using one key question: “Can you help me understand why?”  • building a doctor visit survival kit with questions, meds, glasses, and notes  • navigating portals, paperwork, and health systems that do not connect  • keeping medication lists accurate and using one pharmacy when possible  • asking five high impact questions, considering second opinions, and knowing when to call  On my website, marcybackhusmedia.com, I'm going to have a doctor's visit survival kit for you.

    25 min

  3. Jun 26

    The Aging Survival Guide: Surviving retirement

    Send us Fan Mail Our Summer Series: Aging Survival Guide Retirement stops being a vacation fantasy and turns into a real-life identity shift that forces us to answer, “Who am I now?” We share the biggest surprises that hit after leaving work behind and the simple routines that help us rebuild purpose, friendships, and joy.  • retirement as an identity change not a long break  • why too much freedom can feel overwhelming  • how relationships shift when daily life changes  • social circle shrinkage and the need to build it on purpose  • routines as emotional scaffolding after leaving work  • purpose mattering as much as money  • building a “survival kit” with habits that stick  • scheduling joy before chores to protect what feeds us  • learning a new skill each year to stay growing  • volunteering as a meaningful way to belong  • moving your body daily even in small ways  • protecting finances by getting clear and staying organized  • making new friends through repeated communities like gym or church  If today's episode reminded you that you're not alone, I'd love for you to share it with a friend.

    17 min

  4. Jun 19

    Social Security Without The Headache

    Send us Fan Mail Social Security looks like a simple choice until you realize one decision can lock in your monthly income for life. I break down the key ages, the tradeoffs behind claiming early or waiting, and the practical steps I use to research benefits without getting lost in jargon.  • why Social Security is a permanent decision for most people  • the three key claiming ages and what changes at 62, full retirement age, and 70  • why taking benefits early can be smart for some situations  • separating headlines from facts when you worry about Social Security’s future  • how spousal benefits work while a spouse is alive  • how survivor benefits differ and why couples should plan together  • the uncomfortable but essential question of longevity and health  • setting up a Social Security account and checking your earnings record  • using your full financial picture to choose a claiming strategy  • avoiding bogus websites and sticking with official .gov sources  If today's episode cleared up some of that confusion around Social Security, share it with a friend.

    21 min

  5. Jun 12

    Still In A Hurry

    Send us Fan Mail We catch ourselves rushing through days that are actually good, then ask the uncomfortable question of what we’re hurrying for. We talk about retirement, productivity guilt, technology, healing, and why slowing down is how we notice the life we worked so hard to build.  • summer in Chicago and the strange habit of staying rushed  • the pressure to stay productive and the belief that busy equals value  • giving ourselves permission to rest, nap, and do things for love  • noticing small moments that become real memories  • connection over efficiency, including stopping to talk with unhoused neighbors  • how technology trains impatience while trust, grief, growth, and healing take time  • a simple challenge to slow down on purpose and savor ordinary life  If you've enjoyed today's episode, share it with a friend who could use a reminder to slow down.

    21 min

  6. Jun 5

    Why Healthy Aging Feels Like A Second Job

    Send us Fan Mail We talk about the hidden workload of aging and why it can feel like everything is suddenly our responsibility, from fitness and food to family and technology. We name the exhaustion, the quiet grief, and the bright side, then remind ourselves we’re doing better than we think.  • the surprise reality that healthy aging takes active management  • the daily checklist of movement, strength, protein, hydration, sleep, supplements, and screenings  • the mental load of staying “on top of” changing health advice  • the emotional weight of supporting adult children while letting them live their lives  • the tech fatigue of passwords, apps, and healthcare portals  • the small losses that pile up and make the soul tired  • the shift toward honesty, wisdom, and choosing what matters most  Keep laughing, keep moving, and keep learning

    17 min

  7. May 29

    How To Break Out Of A Stagnant Life

    Send us Fan Mail We tell the truth about how easy it is to slide from comfort into stagnation and why “I’m fine” can be a mask for boredom, fear, and loneliness. We push for intentional aging with small, brave actions that build momentum, expand your world, and make this chapter feel like yours again.  • why stagnation often looks normal and quiet  • “stagnant water gets murky” as a gut-check for daily life  • the difference between resting and rotting  • how fear pretends to be comfort and keeps your world small  • putting fun on the calendar so it actually happens  • asking better questions: what do I like, what do I want, who do I choose  • small brave steps that count: classes, walking groups, solo outings, new skills  • why confidence comes after action and momentum changes everything  If this spoke to you, share it with someone who's been sitting on the sidelines of their own life a little too long. Now go do that thing. Not someday, not this week. For heaven's sakes, use the good China.

    33 min

  8. May 22

    Hospice is not what you think!

    Send us Fan Mail Hospice has a terrible reputation, and I want to replace fear with facts so families stop waiting until the last days. I break down what hospice really does, why some people can improve on hospice, and how to talk about comfort and dignity before a crisis hits.  • hospice as a shift from cure to comfort, quality of life, dignity, and support  • the six-month guideline and why doctors cannot predict the timeline  • how someone can stabilize and graduate off hospice  • why aggressive treatment is not automatically the noble choice  • what hospice provides, including nurses, aides, equipment, medications, and family support  • why caregiving burns people out and how hospice supports caregivers  • why families delay, redefining hope, and the cultural obsession with “fighting”  • hospice versus palliative care and when each one fits  • the emotional reality, family conflict, and the conversations illness forces  • signs it may be time to ask about hospice  • what a “good death” can mean and the questions every family should answer early  If this episode helped you, touched you, or made you think about someone you love, please share it with a friend or a family member.  I want to remind you before we continue that these honest conversations about aging, life, reinvention, and all the messy stuff nobody talks about, make sure you also check out my other podcasts.  You can find anything at marcybackhusmedia.com

    24 min
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4.4
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Aging isn't easy. My name is Marcy Backhus and I am your host! Make sure your complete well-being is handled with a community and information that can make it easier and FUN. Aging needs humor, which you can find in the "Aging ain't for Sissies" Podcast, along with informational guests that give us the information we need. 

Information

  • Creator
    Marcy Backhus
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Aging ain't for Sissies
  • Show Website
    Aging ain't for Sissies

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