Crow's Feet: Life As We Age

Crow's Feet: Life As We Age
  • 4.8 (31)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

Getting older is not for the faint-hearted, but aging also brings wisdom and humor, a finely-tuned perspective on life. In the Crow's Feet podcast, you’ll hear the voices of writers who will inspire you and often make you laugh about this journey through life. Join our rotating cast of podcast hosts who bring fresh views on life.Check out our website at https://www.crowsfeetlifeasweage.com/ with access to articles, insights, and sign up for our newsletter.To read our Crow’s Feet publication, which is updated daily, go to https://medium.com/crows-feetYou can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CrowsFeet15

  1. Sep 9

    Ganja Granny: Curiosity, Cannabis, and Growing Bolder in Our 70s

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age, Melinda Blau talks to “audio anthropologist" and longtime NPR contributor Karen Michel, who now stars in and produces the Ganja Granny podcast. Karen’s goal is to offer “solid information aimed at seniors and curious others wishing to explore the new cannabis territory.” From art school in Los Angeles to teaching (and driving a dog sled) above the Arctic Circle, to award-winning public radio, Karen has built a life around one guiding principle: never be bored. Karen shares how a weed-and-wine dinner party sparked her cannabis podcast for older adults, how her mother’s escape from Nazi Germany shaped her appetite for risk, and why aging has made her kinder. She breaks down what older adults need to know about cannabis—buying it and understanding how it can be used safely to treat pain, insomnia, and other medical conditions. She also reminds us that it’s never too late to reinvent or, as she puts it, “reactivate” ourselves.  Listen to the Ganja Granny podcast here: https://theganjagranny.com/  This episode also features an excerpt from “I Never Imagined I’d Be Shopping for Marijuana at 66,” read by Crow’s Feet contributor Kathleen  Murphy.  Check out Kathleen’s Substack newsletter: https://substack.com/@kathleenamurphy  Important: Before using any form of cannabis, consult a physician. Ganja Granny recommends checking out reliable sources of information for older adults: Realm of Caring, an independent non-profit, founded in 2013, "serving anyone in need of more information about cannabinoid therapies"Dr. Peter Grinspoon on SubstackDr. Kenneth Weinberg, founder and chief medical officer, Cannabis Doctors of New YorkSupport the show

  2. Aug 26

    How a Mom With Alzheimer’s Changed Her Daughter’s Life — For The Better

    Send us Fan Mail Marilyn Raichle grew up in the shadow of Alzheimer’s. Nearly everyone in her father’s family and many in her mother’s developed the disease. Her mother, Jean, told her, “When we get Alzheimer’s, walk away. There is nothing you can do, so live your life and don’t sacrifice it for us.” Instead, while experiencing her mother’s art, Marilyn realized the value of partnering with people with dementia and began to appreciate her mother in a new way. Join host Jean Feldeisen in conversation with Marilyn about her personal discovery. And consider her invitation to caregivers to separate their grief over the loss of the person they knew, from assumptions about the changed person in the present. She describes a profound difference in how she viewed her mother — not as someone diagnosed with Alzheimers but as a person living with Alzheimers. Or even as a team managing Alzheimers together.   Marilyn began her career in the performing arts. She founded the Seattle International Children’s Festival, introducing children to world culture through the performing arts. In 2007, she received a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Since her mother’s death she has written a book, Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey that features her mother’s art and how it changed the way Marilyn saw Alzheimers. She has created a foundation, The Art of Alzheimers, that focuses on the power of the creative arts to enrich and empower the lives of people with the diagnosis. She is now the Executive Director of Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care. Show Notes Buy Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey, by Marilyn Raichle on Amazon, or on Barnes & Noble. Link to Marilyn's website  Link to her LinkedIn page Link to Marilyn on Alzheimers Authors  Buy Jean Anne Feldeisen’s recent book of poetry, South Jersey Sand at Kelsay Books or on Amazon. Support the show

  3. Aug 12

    Writing What She Knows: Stella Fosse on Biotech, Erotica and Older Women

    Send us Fan Mail Stella Fosse was a teenager when she determined to publish her first book by the age of 25. That didn’t happen.   She published her first book at 68. And it was very different from her early aspirations. Join host Jane Trombley in conversation with Stella, a former Biotech writer who pivoted to “elderotica” — in both nonfiction and as a thread throughout her novels.   During a 25-year career as a tech writer, Stella focused on writing, submitting applications, and gaining FDA approval for Biotech products.  Along the way, she joined a group of women authors reading their erotic essays featuring powerful female central characters. Stella began to dabble in the genre, participating in writing and reading her work, what she called “elderotica.”  It was time to pivot.   With little more than an idea for a guide for midlife women exploring erotica, Stella published her first book, Aphrodite's Pen: The Power of Writing Erotica After Midlife.  It would come as no surprise that the launch party for Aphrodite’s Pen was held at a sex toy shop in Berkeley, CA.  The rest, as they say, is publishing history.  Stella shows us the power of the pivot and a commitment to advocating for women’s creativity, often emerging in midlife and beyond. Come join the conversation. Show Notes: Website:  www.stellafosse.com Substack: stellafosse.substack.com Grandmother Collective on Substack Crone Hub Stella’s Books Rock On: Power, Sex and Money after 60 Write & Sell a Well-Seasoned Romance: Launch Your Author Adventure in Late-Life Romance Vampires of a Certain Age: Five Hundred Years of Loving Brilliant Charming Bastard: Getting Rich is the Best Revenge The Erotic Pandemic Ball:   Tales of Love in Lockdown Aphrodite's Pen:  The Power of Writing Erotica After Midlife Mentioned in the episode: Joan Price Ruth Saxton Sibylline Press Support the show

  4. Jul 22

    How to Be a Rebel at Age 87

    Send us Fan Mail Meet Elaine Soloway, whose gift to herself on her 80th birthday was a tattoo! Soloway, the author of three books, The Division Street Princess, She’s Not The Type, and Green Nails and Other Acts of Rebellion: Life After Loss, and her Substack, Escapades, is also a bit of a rebel. “I live my life out loud,” Soloway says, having penned “10 Ways to Be A Rebel After 87” with advice such as “count your blessings,” “get comfortable with technology,” “be honest,” “be curious,” and “never say it’s too late for me.” The real-life inspiration for the award-winning Amazon show “Transparent,” Soloway will share stories from her life and how to start your own “rebellion” while living life to its fullest. Link to Elaine Soloway on Substack Support the show

  5. Jul 15

    Crow’s Feet Vacation Extra: It’s a Jungle Out There!

    Send us Fan Mail Vacation season is in full swing! Enjoy the adventures of author/Crow’s Feet contributor Orrin Onken as he braves the Costa Rican rainforest to seek out waterfalls, lush flora, fabulous wildlife ... and a nice place to sit down. For more of Orrin Onken’s writing on Medium, go here. Support the show

  6. Jul 8

    Finally, Living the Fantasy: Jan M. Flynn's late-blooming novel debut

    Send us Fan Mail We all have dreams in our lives. Some are realized quickly, and some (alas) don’t happen. Then there are ones that just take a bit longer — and a lot of work — to come to fruition. For Jan M. Flynn, her dream of publishing a novel with a major company (Disney-Hyperion) has at last come true. Griffin Speaker, the first book in a middle-grade fantasy series, was released in early May and is delighting readers with its story of a brave young heroine who develops a bond with a powerful griffin and seizes a chance to change her destiny in an unfair world. Join us as host Betsy Allen talks with Jan about building an entire fantasy world, how she approaches writing for young readers, and what happens in the real world after a book is published. As Jan’s experience proves, it’s never too late to set goals and make your dreams come true. Links to Griffin Speaker and other work by Jan M. Flynn: Amazon/Griffin Speaker Bookshop/Griffin Speaker Jan M. Flynn author site Jan M. Flynn on Medium Jan M. Flynn on Substack Social media: Instagram: @jan_m_flynn   TikTok: @janmflynn Support the show

  7. Jun 24

    Older, Not Old: Kathryn Grody Rewrites the Script on Aging

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Crow’s Feet, Melinda Blau sits down with Kathryn Grody—Obie-winning actor, writer, and creator of the hit solo show “The Unexpected Third”—for a funny, deeply human conversation about what it really means to grow older, not “old.” From being dismissed as “just staying home having fun” as a young mother to becoming an almost-80-year-old “overnight sensation,” Kathryn shares how she’s rewriting the story of aging onstage and off. Melinda and Kathryn talk candidly about long-term love and surviving two separations from her husband, legendary actor Mandy Patinkin, the friendships that carried her through, and why she finally became serious about strength training in her 70s. Along the way, Kathryn reflects on cultural ageism, younger women’s fear of running out of time, and the surprising joy of reaching this “unexpected third act” with humor, gratitude, and curiosity.  Listen to “Having the Spiritual Grace to Accept the Unacceptable,” a 7-minute excerpt of this interview, in which Kathryn talks about the devastating loss of her brother Yukon, a Buddhist monk. Kathryn is bringing “The Unexpected Third” to the George Street Playhouse in Brunswick, New Jersey,  October 13-November 1. Tune in to Kathryn’s award-winning podcast, “Don’t Listen to Us,” which also features Mandy, and their son Gideon. Music in this episode includes Capernell by Blue Dot Sessions. Support the show

  8. Jun 17

    A Reminder to Celebrate That Man in Your Life: Your Dad

    Send us Fan Mail Heartfelt expressions from two Crows Feet writers, both of them Dads, on the occasion of Fathers Day. Poignant reminders to relish the past, savor the present and prepare to pass the torch on to new generations. Support the show

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4.8
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Getting older is not for the faint-hearted, but aging also brings wisdom and humor, a finely-tuned perspective on life. In the Crow's Feet podcast, you’ll hear the voices of writers who will inspire you and often make you laugh about this journey through life. Join our rotating cast of podcast hosts who bring fresh views on life.Check out our website at https://www.crowsfeetlifeasweage.com/ with access to articles, insights, and sign up for our newsletter.To read our Crow’s Feet publication, which is updated daily, go to https://medium.com/crows-feetYou can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CrowsFeet15

Information

  • Creator
    Crow's Feet: Life As We Age
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    106
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Crow's Feet: Life As We Age
  • Show Website
    Crow's Feet: Life As We Age

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