"What's Next? Conversations with Boomers"

Barb Desmarais
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

What’s Next? Conversations with Boomers is a candid, cross-generational dialogue exploring life after the milestones—career shifts, retirement, relationships, family, reinvention, and everything in between. Hosted by Barb Desmarais, a retired family & parenting coach and public speaker, each episode dives into honest stories and lived wisdom from Boomers navigating their “what’s next?” moments, offering insights that resonate across generations. Thoughtful, curious, and sometimes funny, the show bridges perspectives and sparks conversations about how we age, adapt, and continue to dream.

  1. Oct 8

    Layers Of Pain: Secondary Losses with Denise Torgerson

    Send us Fan Mail Our "resident grief coach" Denise Torgerson is back again! Last time Denise was on the show, she and Barb discussed the concept of ambiguous loss and how complicated it can be to process. This episode is a kind-of-sort-of sequel to that episode - but instead of ambiguous loss, this time they're talking about secondary losses, which are the other smaller losses that can accompany a major one. Almost every kind of loss comes with some secondary effects. For example, if your spouse passes away or your relationship ends, not only do you lose them, but you also likely lose some friendships or activities that you were a part of because of them. You lose the future that you two could have had together. Or on a more pragmatic level, you may also lose a source of income that you needed to help cover rent.  Those losses are absolutely worth grieving, but they can be hard to recognize, and even harder to process in the wake of the bigger loss that caused them. That's why Denise is here to help identify some secondary losses we all experience, and give us some tips for working our way through them. The biggest tip she gives is to find community wherever you can, which is why we're so grateful to each and every one of you for tuning in. We're fostering an amazing community here, and we hope you're happy to be a part of it! Find us on Instagram @convoswithboomerspod. If you like our show, make sure you follow us on your favourite Podcast player. Feel free to rate and review our show and tell us what you'd like to hear, and what other topics you'd like Barb to explore!

  2. Sep 24

    Is It Ever Too Late To Change? with Tim Wade

    Send us Fan Mail We've all heard the saying: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." But how true is that, really? Surely it must be possible somehow, right? Luckily, our dear friend Tim is back once again to help answer that question. After going through the loss of several close friends and family members, as well as a divorce, Tim decided it was time to drop the mask and start trying to live as the truest version of himself. He and Barb dive into all the reasons change can be so difficult to accept for anyone, but especially for Boomers. They discuss the mental framework that we build up over the years, and how to process the fact that it may not be as flawless of a tool as we think for navigating our lives and relationships. They also remind us that we can't change anyone else, no matter how hard we try - but we can change how we respond to others, and that may prompt a change in them as well. Tim is living proof that anyone can change, at any age. They just need to want to. As a reminder, Tim is a relationship coach! He primarily works with men, but he's open to all comers. If you're in need of some of his wisdom, visit timwadecoaching.com. Find us on Instagram @convoswithboomerspod. If you like our show, make sure you follow us on your favourite Podcast player. Feel free to rate and review our show and tell us what you'd like to hear, and what other topics you'd like Barb to explore!

  3. Sep 10

    Would You Re-Marry After 60? with Jackie Adams

    Send us Fan Mail Jackie's back again!  This week, our resident mental health expert is here to talk about all the reasons people might - or might not - choose to get married again in their latter years, and to answer that titular question: Would you try another marriage?  Seeing as Barb and Jackie are both single nowadays, they each share their own unique perspectives on the matter as they discuss all the pros and cons of jumping back into marriage. As it turns out, there are a lot of factors to consider - arguably even more than with a first marriage. Finances, loneliness (or lack thereof), and simply how in love with this new partner you really are, just to name a few. Jackie has closed her professional practice since her last appearance on the show, but if you'd like to get in contact with her, you can write her an email at JLAdams13@gmail.com. Be sure to include a subject line that lets her know you found her from this episode! Find us on Instagram @convoswithboomerspod. If you like our show, make sure you follow us on your favourite Podcast player. Feel free to rate and review our show and tell us what you'd like to hear, and what other topics you'd like Barb to explore!

  4. Aug 27

    Your Guide to Super Aging with David Cravit & Larry Wolf

    Send us Fan Mail Can you really reverse the aging process? Well biologically, no. In 30 minutes, you'll still be 30 minutes older. But in many other ways, the answer is actually yes! In a rare Conversations with Boomers double header, this week's guests are David Cravit and Larry Wolf, co-authors of Super Aging & The Super Aging Workbook. They're here to share tips, tricks and advice for getting older without getting "old," and it's much easier than you might expect. As it turns out, there are tons of simple and quick changes we can make to our lifestyles that can help vastly extend not just our lives, but also our wellbeing as we age. And the best part? Most of them are still fun! No 10,000-steps-a-day, 8-hours-in-the-gym, vegan-diet stuff here. They place all the emphasis on coming up with strategies that are backed by science, but also quick and easy to integrate into the things you're already doing; essentially, building on your current habits instead of trying to make completely new ones. If you like what you hear, and want to get more great tips from Larry and David every week, sign up for their free newsletter here. You can also visit SuperAgingNews.com for more information, sources, specific tips, and to get in contact with them directly. Find us on Instagram @convoswithboomerspod. If you like our show, make sure you follow us on your favourite Podcast player. Feel free to rate and review our show and tell us what you'd like to hear, and what other topics you'd like Barb to explore!

  5. Aug 13

    Ambiguous Loss: Disease, Estrangement and More with Denise Torgerson

    Send us Fan Mail Are you familiar with the term "ambiguous loss"? Just about all of us go through it at some point in our lives, but it's something Barb couldn't quite put a name to until her old friend and recurring guest Denise Torgerson described it to her.  Ambiguous loss can come about in countless different ways, but most commonly, we feel it following the onset of Alzheimer's/dementia in a close family member or upon becoming estranged from family or friends. That ache we feel when someone leaves our lives without proper closure, or when a person has declined so much that we start to grieve the version of them we once knew? That's ambiguous loss. It happens to everyone, it's very hard to deal with, and surprisingly few people are actually talking about it. Thankfully, Denise is here to continue the conversation with Barb and help us all get a better understanding of what exactly causes those feelings of ambiguity, as well as what we can do to heal from it. They go over different types of loss, different coping strategies, some important realizations, and most importantly, that these feelings should not be ignored. As Denise says, if you are experiencing ambiguous loss right now, it is definitely worthy of your attention. Find us on Instagram @convoswithboomerspod. If you like our show, make sure you follow us on your favourite Podcast player. Feel free to rate and review our show and tell us what you'd like to hear, and what other topics you'd like Barb to explore!

  6. Jul 30

    The Homecoming: Rekindling Love After Divorce with Tim Wade

    Send us Fan Mail We might hear about divorce more than ever these days, but how often do you hear about a couple who signed the papers and went their separate ways only to end up falling in love with each other all over again? Luckily for us, our good friend Tim Wade is back again to explain exactly how that happened to him! He's officially moved back in with his "former ex-wife" (who's also named Barb), and he shares all the details that led to the two of them being able to rekindle the spark that brought them together in the first place.  The love Tim has for her is so obvious, and hearing how joyful he sounds talking about their situation is an absolute treat. That doesn't mean their reunion was effortless though - it took a lot of work, kindness, patience and growth on both of their parts. As Tim says in this episode, "it was possible, but it wasn't inevitable." But after listening to their story, I think you'll agree it was definitely worth it. If you couldn't guess from how maturely he handled the whole situation, Tim is a relationship coach! He primarily works with men, but he's open to all comers. If you're in need of some of his wisdom, visit timwadecoaching.com. Find us on Instagram @convoswithboomerspod. If you like our show, make sure you follow us on your favourite Podcast player. Feel free to rate and review our show and tell us what you'd like to hear, and what other topics you'd like Barb to explore!

  7. Jul 16

    "Strangers", Prenup Prep and Grey Divorce with Lisa Zeiderman

    Send us Fan Mail Even if divorce is the right choice for a couple, it's never an easy one to make - especially at retirement age. Thankfully this week's guest, Lisa Zeiderman, is here  to make sure you're prepared for the worst even while hoping for the best. As Managing Partner at Miller Zeiderman LLP, based in New York, Lisa is an award-winning matrimonial attorney, CFL, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. Together, she and Barb discuss the reasons everyone should have a prenup agreement no matter what. They also dive into the reasons behind the rising trend of "grey divorce," which refers to divorce between folks aged 55 and up. All of this comes together as they discuss the recent best-selling novel Strangers by Belle Burden, which tells her story as a recent divorcee. Lisa talks about what she did right, what she did wrong, and how you can avoid many of the same mistakes she made that led to such a rocky divorce. Lisa also serves on the Strategic Advisory Board at HelloPrenup, a service dedicated to helping young Americans put their prenup agreements together online simply and quickly. If you're in the US and engaged, definitely give it a look! If you'd like to get in contact with Lisa, you can send her an email at LZ@mzw-law.com. You can also drop her a follow @lisazeiderman on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Find us on Instagram @convoswithboomerspod. If you like our show, make sure you follow us on your favourite Podcast player. Feel free to rate and review our show and tell us what you'd like to hear, and what other topics you'd like Barb to explore!

  8. Jul 2

    Designing Your Slice of Heaven with Leo Santana

    Send us Fan Mail Got a garden plot you're not sure what to do with? Or maybe a balcony that could use a little extra spice? Well good news! Leo Santana returns this week to help point you in the right direction. For those who haven't heard Leo on the show before, he's an interior designer and one of the founders of D'Novo Design. He shares a ton of information about making your garden and balcony space into a truly beautiful and comfortable place to be: picking plants that suit your location, finding decor that matches the vibe, and all the secrets of design that'll make your balcony the envy of both friends and onlookers. To see some of Leo's design work for yourself, you can follow him on Instagram here, or visit his website at dnovodesign.com. And if you're in need of a consultation, you can also send him an email at leosantanadesign@gmail.com. Find us on Instagram @convoswithboomerspod. If you like our show, make sure you follow us on your favourite Podcast player. Feel free to rate and review our show and tell us what you'd like to hear, and what other topics you'd like Barb to explore!

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About

What’s Next? Conversations with Boomers is a candid, cross-generational dialogue exploring life after the milestones—career shifts, retirement, relationships, family, reinvention, and everything in between. Hosted by Barb Desmarais, a retired family & parenting coach and public speaker, each episode dives into honest stories and lived wisdom from Boomers navigating their “what’s next?” moments, offering insights that resonate across generations. Thoughtful, curious, and sometimes funny, the show bridges perspectives and sparks conversations about how we age, adapt, and continue to dream.

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