91 episodes

Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray is a podcast for everyone in or approaching the retirement years. There’s a lot to unpack here apart from the financial planning component, and we’ll do just that. We’ll explore new interests, priorities and goals and finding purpose for ourselves and in our relationships. Join me each episode as I share stories and chat with guests learning to live their best next act, lives. Have a question or comment? Please reach out to me, Hugh Willard, at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or via any of the social media links at the top of this page.

Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray Hugh Willard

    • Health & Fitness
    • 5.0 • 4 Ratings

Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray is a podcast for everyone in or approaching the retirement years. There’s a lot to unpack here apart from the financial planning component, and we’ll do just that. We’ll explore new interests, priorities and goals and finding purpose for ourselves and in our relationships. Join me each episode as I share stories and chat with guests learning to live their best next act, lives. Have a question or comment? Please reach out to me, Hugh Willard, at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or via any of the social media links at the top of this page.

    Funny Business Down on the Farm: Laurie Zaleski and the Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary

    Funny Business Down on the Farm: Laurie Zaleski and the Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary

    For over 20 years, Laurie Zaleski has taken her late mother's dream and made it her own. Today, this graphic design small business owner, pilot, author, and founder of the Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, heads a host of volunteers in caring for over 750 abused and abandoned animals of all ilk and breed. This magnificent, motely crew live in relative harmony at the Funny Farm in Mays Landing, New Jersey. Tune in to here this story of repeated and remarkable redemption and renewal. Learn more about Laurie and the Funny Farm by going to https://funnyfarmrescue.org  You can also check out their weekly live webcam every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. EST on Facebook at Funny Farm Rescue.
    Support the Show.
    Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!

    • 32 min
    In Every Language, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Filipino multimedia artist Eliseo Art Silva

    In Every Language, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Filipino multimedia artist Eliseo Art Silva

    Eliseo Art Silva is a contemporary multimedia artist in L.A. who weaves his Filipino heritage into his art, fostering community connection and compassionate interaction. His passion and his mission are to share the Filipino experience and it's rich heritage and contributions to the greater world community. 
    To learn more about Eliseo and his extraordinary work, go to https://www.eliseoartsilva.com/
    Support the Show.
    Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!

    • 33 min
    A Considerable Age: Writer Alice Goldbloom and her journey through family stories.

    A Considerable Age: Writer Alice Goldbloom and her journey through family stories.

    Alice Goldbloom, a longtime Montrealer, has been writing her whole career—mundane government, business, and consulting documents of every kind. In 2020, with a fulfilling career behind her and two children semi-launched into the world, she began writing stories to please herself and share. 
     She writes about being a first-generation Canadian, the small town in Ontario where she grew up, and her discovery of the story of her parents, who survived the Nazi occupation of Poland on the other side of the Jewish ghetto walls. In 2023, one of her stories was long-listed for the CBC Nonfiction Prize.
     Alice publishes a weekly Substack newsletter, A Considerable Age https://aconsiderableage.substack.com,  which features personal essays. She has recently began serializing the chapters of her book as well. It’s called Mother Land. https://alicegoldbloom.substack.com/
    Support the Show.
    Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!

    • 36 min
    Earth Day Every Day with Naturalist Kim Hainge

    Earth Day Every Day with Naturalist Kim Hainge

    Join us as we celebrate Earth Day 2024 with naturalist, entomologist, and trail keeper Kim Hainge. Kim lives on a 36 acre United Plant Savers Sanctuary in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina with her botanist husband, Jim. Here she hosts talks, lead hikes, and in general shares her love of nature with any and everyone she sees.
    Learn more about Kim by following her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kim.hainge.9 or Instagram #earthday #nature @haingekim. You can also learn more about the United Plant Savers at https://unitedplantsavers.org/
    Support the Show.
    Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!

    • 29 min
    The Alphabet Woods: Debut author Jenny Poelman and her enthusiasm for life.

    The Alphabet Woods: Debut author Jenny Poelman and her enthusiasm for life.

    Jenny Poelman, 66, became a published author for the first time last year. Jenny spent most of her childhood in South Korea with her missionary family. Nowadays, she and her husband, Ken, divide their time between North Carolina and Montana. When not writing, Jenny and Ken can be found fly-fishing, hiking, traveling, and most of all, spending time with the kids and grandkids. Join us as Jenny shares more about her passions and the process of becoming a new author in her 60's. You can also learn more about Jenny at https://www.jennypoelman.com/
    Support the Show.
    Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!

    • 32 min
    All the World's A Stage: Actor, director, and professor Jonathan Ray and his latest turn in the lights.

    All the World's A Stage: Actor, director, and professor Jonathan Ray and his latest turn in the lights.

    Jonathon Ray made his stage debut as a child at the historic Flat Rock Playhouse in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. He has taught theater and communications courses at several colleges and universities for many years, including Lenoir-Rhyne and Appalachian State. He recently decide to retire, but the theater remains ever-present in his world. Join us for this encore interview with Aging Well's very first guest.
    Support the Show.
    Have comments or questions for us? Interested in sharing your story on Aging Well? Please send your information and questions to Hugh via email at willowwaycreations@gmail.com or through any of our social media links on our website, findingbeautyinthegray.com. We’d love to hear from you and appreciate your feedback. Leaving feedback on your podcast host site (Apple, Spotify, etc.) is the single most important and effective way for us to stay viable and to continue to bring you great stories and helpful resources. And if you are enjoying the show and getting value from our topics and guests, we would most welcome your financial support. Producing a quality resource does require appreciable financial investment. Thank you!

    • 33 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
4 Ratings

4 Ratings

M. R. Saferstein ,

Meaningful Conversations

I was delighted to be a guest Aging Well: Finding Beauty in the Gray. Hugh Willard does an excellent job asking questions that lead to meaningful conversations. The variety of topics make each episode unique and interesting. I highly recommend this podcast.

Kirk Ridge ,

Excellent podcast!

Hugh Willard expertly navigates each show bringing out interesting insights from each guest. He reveals aging to be a time of opportunity to pursue both existing and new creative outlets as well as celebrating the legacy of family, friends, and community. I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with Hugh.

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