Don't Be Caged By Your Age | Pro Aging Podcast

Ande Lyons
  • 4.6 (38)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Looking for inspiration and practical advice on aging well? Don't Be Caged By Your Age is a positive aging podcast featuring conversations with older adults who are thriving after 65. Explore healthy aging, longevity, retirement, purpose, wellness, technology, entrepreneurship, relationships, and the many ways people create meaningful lives as they grow older. 

  1. 6d ago

    EP 113 A Pathologist’s Surprising Lessons on Death, Aging, and Living Fully

    Have you ever wondered what studying death can teach us about living more fully? On this episode of Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, I’m joined by Dr. Sabine O’Laughlin, a 68-year-old board-certified pathologist, functional wellness coach, and author of The Curiosity Quotient. After decades of studying disease and death, Dr. Sabine has developed a fascinating perspective on what keeps us from living the lives we truly want. Our conversation takes us on Dr. Sabine’s life adventure, from choosing medicine at a time when fewer women were entering medical school, to the sudden loss of her mother at 21, which deepened her curiosity about mortality. We explore how that curiosity eventually led her beyond the study of death and disease to the hidden patterns that can keep us from feeling fully alive. At 62, Dr. Sabine received an ADHD diagnosis that helped her better understand herself and her experiences. She shares how curiosity, self-awareness, and a willingness to examine the family patterns we inherit can help us recognize what may be holding us back from our potential. We also talk about her Death Audit philosophy, the ways family expectations and unconscious roles can shape our choices, and why we sometimes give so much to others that we lose sight of ourselves. And we explore a subject many of us would rather avoid: death itself. What might change if we approached our mortality with curiosity instead of fear? Join me for a thoughtful conversation about aging, self-discovery, family patterns, and the freedom that can come from understanding ourselves more deeply. Because thriving after 65 isn’t just about adding years to our lives. It’s about being curious about the life we’re living and making room for all that we’re still becoming. Tune in for 65+ guests fueling their passion, purpose, and pocketbook. You can connect with Dr. Sabine via LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here. Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend: 🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable. 🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones. Tune in for more conversations with people 65+ fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. Keep aging out loud and proud, and don’t be caged by your age! Waving from Boston – cheers! Ande ♥ CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism! https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/  https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage SPONSORSHIP If you resonate with the ...

    EP 113 A Pathologist’s Surprising Lessons on Death, Aging, and Living Fully

  2. Oct 8

    EP 112 Life at 88 Is Still Worth Writing About

    What happens when you combine 88 years of living, a wicked sense of humor, a lifelong love of writing, a healthy dose of satire and absolutely no interest in disappearing quietly into the background? You get Elaine Soloway. Elaine is a writer, author, writing coach, tech tutor, former PR and marketing consultant, former Chicago political press aide, former Apple Store specialist, memoirist, novelist, blogger, Substack writer and, as I discovered during our conversation, apparently a character in a hit television show.  Yes. That Transparent. Elaine's children created the Amazon series, and Judith Light played a character based on Elaine. I had NO idea before we started talking. And naturally, Elaine mentioned it almost as casually as she might mention what she had for breakfast. (You'll want to hear the story.) But Transparent isn't the only fascinating chapter in Elaine's life. She has written three memoirs and a novel. She's lived through marriage, motherhood, caregiving, widowhood, moving, reinvention and all the messy bits in between. She has written about those experiences with humor, honesty and a satirist's eye for the absurd.  Today, she writes two Substack posts a week, and they're terrific because Elaine isn't writing from some polished mountaintop about how to “age successfully.” She's writing about life as it actually happens. At 88. She's curious about technology and AI. She journals. She reads. She writes. She learns. She lives in an intergenerational building and enjoys her younger neighbors. She got tattoos at 80. She learned to swim at 80. She's working on Spanish and playing Rodgers and Hart on the piano. She gets up ridiculously early because she likes the quiet for writing. And she has a dog named Doris who has a very important role in the household. Our conversation wandered through money, aging, family, creativity, curiosity, technology, caregiving, loss, writing, reinvention and what it means to keep participating in your own life rather than quietly stepping aside from it. Elaine also has a terrific answer for anyone who thinks they're “too old” to try something new: imagine how empty life would be if you stopped being curious, stopped being friendly and stopped being active. Exactly. And there's one more thing I love about Elaine: she doesn't seem particularly interested in becoming an inspiration. She's interested in being Elaine. Writing. Observing. Laughing. Learning. Creating. Telling the truth about what she sees. Which brings me back to that wonderfully improbable number: 88. Eight looks like infinity when you turn it sideways. So perhaps 88 is a little bit of double infinity. And maybe that's a pretty good way to think about a life that is still unfolding. Because at 88, Elaine Soloway isn't finished. She's still writing about what happens next. If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here. Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend: 🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable. 🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones. Tune in for more conversations with people 65+ fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. Keep aging out loud and proud, and don’t be caged by your age! Waving from Boston – cheers! Ande ♥ CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism! https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/  https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage SPONSORSHIP If you resonate with the ...

    EP 112 Life at 88 Is Still Worth Writing About

  3. Oct 1

    EP 111 Eldering Means Becoming Not Disappearing

    What if growing older isn't about disappearing from the world, but becoming even more of who you are? My guest is Steve Goldberg, and at 75+, he is still creating, contributing, and becoming. Steve spent the first 40 years of his career helping individuals and organizations navigate change, meaning, and transition. He expected retirement to be a time for pickleball, biking, swimming, family, and friends. Instead, his 70s have become some of the most creative and productive years of his life. In his early 50s, Steve started learning piano. During Covid, he discovered a creative side of himself he didn't even know was there and began composing healing piano music. That eventually led to two original albums and a new identity as a composer. He even learned how to use technology and AI to help him record and produce his music. Then came writing. Steve has written books about meaningful living and challenging times, and recently completed Renaissance 2040, a near-future novel exploring what it means to be human in a world increasingly shaped by technology and AI. A screenplay adaptation is now in the hands of an LA producer. But the part of Steve's story that really grabbed me is his idea of eldering. For Steve, eldering isn't something that happens simply because we've accumulated years. It's an ongoing process of becoming. It's staying curious, asking questions, listening deeply, developing perspective, and using what we've learned to contribute to others. We talk about discovering creativity later in life, finding meaning and purpose, imagining a more hopeful future, and why our later years can be some of our most productive and creative. Steve also shares a beautiful lesson he's learned along the way: sometimes the most meaningful contribution we can make isn't having the answer. It's simply being present. Steve's story made me think about all the things that might still be percolating inside us. What might you still want to create, explore, learn, or become? Because eldering means becoming and contributing, not disappearing. Connect with Steve Goldberg Sweet Dreams Lullaby — Healing Piano Music for a Noisy World, books and more can be found via his website here. Steve's music is also available on major music platforms including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. Feel free to email Steve at upsiding@gmail.com. Don't Be Caged By Your Age features people 65+ who are thriving, creating, contributing, connecting, and refusing to let age define what's possible. Tune in for 65+ guests fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here. Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend: 🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable. 🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones. Tune in for more conversations with people 65+ fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. Keep aging out loud and proud, and don’t be caged by your age! Waving from Boston – cheers! Ande ♥ CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism! https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/  https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage SPONSORSHIP If you resonate with the ...

    EP 111 Eldering Means Becoming Not Disappearing

  4. Sep 24

    EP 110 How AI Helps You Thrive After 65 with Nancy A Shenker

    Have you ever wondered whether AI could actually help you thrive after 65? Meet Nancy Shenker, a 70-year-old entrepreneur, marketer, writer, podcaster and self-described “Robot Overlady” who has been playing with technology and AI long before AI became the buzzword it is today. Nancy is the founder of theONswitch, a marketing and AI strategy consultancy, and the creator behind NANCYAF. She writes BODIES & BOTS on Substack, hosts the Age Blind podcast, and continues to reinvent herself with the curiosity, humor and willingness to experiment that have defined her career. In our delicious conversation, we talk about what it means to stay curious as technology changes, why Nancy believes AI should work for us rather than the other way around, and what parts of being human we should never hand over to a bot. We also get into vibe coding, using multiple AI agents to get different perspectives, how AI can save us time and energy, and why Nancy has created her own “70/30 rule”: 70% of her life should be spent doing analog, human things and only 30% should be screen time. And then there’s the bigger question: What does life look like when 70 isn't an endpoint, but a jumping-off point? Nancy's answer is deliciously Nancy. Keep experimenting. Keep creating. Keep learning. And don't let anyone else decide what you're supposed to do at your age. Plus, Nancy shares the AI gadget she’s currently loving, PLAUD, which she uses to capture conversations and turn them into useful AI-assisted content. If you're curious about AI, thinking about your own next chapter, or simply want a reminder that curiosity doesn't have an expiration date, I think you're going to love this conversation. Check out Nancy's recommended app PLAUD here. And remember: Age out loud and proud! If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here. Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend: 🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable. 🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones. Tune in for more conversations with people 65+ fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. Keep aging out loud and proud, and don’t be caged by your age! Waving from Boston – cheers! Ande ♥ CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism! https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/  https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage SPONSORSHIP If you resonate with the ...

    EP 110 How AI Helps You Thrive After 65 with Nancy A Shenker

  5. Sep 17

    EP 109 Still Traveling the World at 91

    What happens when a mother and daughter decide to see just how much of the world they can experience together? Evelyn and Natalie Kelly are Award-Winning Authors, Speakers & World Travelers who have traveled to 90 countries, visited all 50 states, written books together, and built an extraordinary mother-daughter partnership along the way. And Evelyn is 91. She's still traveling. Still writing. Still learning. Still setting goals. And she has her sights set on visiting 100 countries before she turns 100. In this fabulous conversation, Evelyn and Natalie share how a disappointing political election and a serious car accident in 1992 unexpectedly set their travel adventures in motion. What began as a mother-daughter trip to Europe became decades of exploring the world together and eventually writing books about what they've learned along the way. We talk about what makes them such good travel partners, how their differences actually strengthen their creative partnership, and why Evelyn is the “skeleton” and Natalie adds the “sizzle” when they write their books. They also share why they believe there's a big difference between being a tourist and being a traveler. For them, it's not about collecting countries or taking the perfect selfie. It's about meeting people, learning about their cultures, and discovering how much we all have in common. And then we get to the really good stuff: aging. Evelyn talks about fighting ageism in her 60s, 70s, 80s and now her 90s. Her advice? Keep your enthusiasm for life. Stay flexible. Keep learning. Stay curious. And don't put yourself in a cage because of your age. Natalie shares how her mother continues to inspire her to get out of her comfort zone, even when she'd rather sit in a chair and watch television! We also talk about traveling with mobility challenges, asking for help when you need it, and why needing a cane, walker or wheelchair doesn't have to mean giving up on travel. And Evelyn leaves us with the ultimate Pro-Aging mic-drop: “Thrive after 65, thrive after 75, thrive after 85, and I'm going to thrive after 95.” So, Pro-Ager, what are you still curious about? Where do you still want to go? And what adventure might be waiting for you simply because you're willing to say yes? Because getting older isn't the end of the story. It's another chapter, and we get to decide what we put in it. About Evelyn & Natalie Kelly Evelyn and Natalie Kelly are Award-Winning Authors, Speakers & World Travelers. Together, they have traveled to 90 countries and all 50 states and are the authors of Have a Love Affair with Travel and Have a Love Affair with the USA. Learn more about Evelyn and Natalie and their books at TravelersAtHeart.com. If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here. Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend: 🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable. 🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones. Tune in for more conversations with people 65+ fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. Keep aging out loud and proud, and don’t be caged by your age! Waving from Boston – cheers! Ande ♥ CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism! https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/  https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage SPONSORSHIP If you resonate with the ...

    EP 109 Still Traveling the World at 91

  6. Sep 10

    EP 108 Let Women Age with Heidi Clements

    What happens when a woman stops trying to become who the world told her she should be... and starts becoming herself? Heidi Clements is doing exactly that. At 65, Heidi is a writer, storyteller, pro-aging advocate, fashion lover, and the wildly entertaining creator behind @welcometoheidi. Her message is bold, funny, vulnerable, and deeply liberating: Let women age. In this conversation, Heidi and I talk about radical self-love, body image, sobriety, fashion, beauty standards, the male gaze, shame, anger, aging, and what happens when you finally realize that you get to write your own rules. We also talk about why so many younger women are watching Heidi, and why her message resonates across generations. Heidi shares what she’s learned from the messy chapters of her life, why she refuses to carry shame that doesn’t belong to her, and the beautiful realization she had at 60: “I do matter. I need to matter more to me.” And toward the end, Heidi shares what she’s still learning at 65: to be kinder to herself, stop racing toward the next happy, and stop borrowing trouble from the future. “It’s a daily practice to radically love yourself, which is the only thing that will save you in this life.” 💖 Connect with Heidi Follow Heidi everywhere: @welcometoheidi Find her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, plus her podcast Talk 50 to Me, writing, interviews, and Let Women Age merchandise through the link in her bio. Here are the two thrifter sites she mentions: Vinted and Whatnot. If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here. Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend: 🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable. 🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones. Tune in for more conversations with people 65+ fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. Keep aging out loud and proud, and don’t be caged by your age! Waving from Boston – cheers! Ande ♥ CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism! https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/  https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage SPONSORSHIP If you resonate with the ...

    EP 108 Let Women Age with Heidi Clements

  7. Sep 3

    EP 107 Your Life Experience Is Your Superpower

    What if everything you've lived through isn't something to put behind you, but something to put to work? In this delicious conversation, I chat with Julienne B. Ryan, a Communication Catalyst, speaker, author, coach, and lifelong storyteller who has built a career around helping people connect through listening, humor, curiosity, and authentic communication. Julienne's own story is fascinating. From being a shy little girl in Queens who somehow landed a Trident gum commercial, to recruiting and HR, to discovering that her real superpower was helping people see, hear, and appreciate one another, her journey is a wonderful reminder that our gifts don't always reveal themselves in the ways we expect. And then we get into the good stuff. We talk about why your stories matter, how storytelling creates bridges between generations, and why "facts and emotions equal memory." Julienne shares how she learned to stop trying to communicate like everyone else and finally own the qualities people valued most in her: showing up, making people laugh, listening, and telling stories. We also dig into something especially important for ProAgers: the stories we tell ourselves about getting older. Julienne has a wonderful challenge for us: Who's writing the script? Because those old messages - "not me," "not now," "I missed the boat," "why bother?" - can become limitations we don't even realize we've accepted. We talk about finding your voice without raising it, navigating digital distraction, why picking up the phone can save a relationship, how introverts have a tremendous communication superpower, and why being truly listened to may be one of the greatest luxuries we can give another human being. And Julienne has a simple message for anyone who thinks they aren't a storyteller: Your stories are hiding in plain sight. Your experiences, your mistakes, your triumphs, the things that lit you up, the problems you've solved, the lessons you've learned... they're all part of the wisdom you carry forward. You don't have to shrink with age. You don't have to become someone you're not. You can own your story, use your voice, build bridges, and keep contributing. Because your life experience isn't baggage. It's your superpower. Connect with Julienne: Visit J. Ryan Partners to learn more about Julienne's work, workshops, storytelling, and communication resources. And if this conversation made you think of someone whose experience, stories, or wisdom deserves to be heard, please share this episode with them. If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here. Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend: 🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable. 🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones. Tune in for more conversations with people 65+ fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. Keep aging out loud and proud, and don’t be caged by your age! Waving from Boston – cheers! Ande ♥ CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism! https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/  https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage SPONSORSHIP If you resonate with the ...

    EP 107 Your Life Experience Is Your Superpower

  8. Aug 27

    EP 106 Making Friends with Emotions to Thrive After 65 with Dr. Betsy Burris

    What if the emotions we've been taught to push aside are actually trying to teach us something?  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Betsy Burris - educator, psychotherapist, author, and podcaster - to talk about the winding path that led her from studying classical Chinese literature, to directing the Stanford Teacher Education Program, to becoming a therapist for teachers. Betsy opens up about the painful administrative experiences that pushed her toward burnout and ultimately toward her true calling. We talk about why relationships (with people and with curriculum) are the real foundation of teaching and learning, and how unlearning old survival patterns opened up her most creative and impactful decade yet. This is a conversation about listening to our students, to our emotions, and to ourselves as we age. Betsy also shares a special episode from her podcast Teaching Through Emotions. It's centered on the Vahombey Project, a school library project in the rural village of Bekitro, Madagascar. Alongside the episode, TTE is launching a fundraising campaign to support the library and its students. Please tap here to listen to the episode and tap here to learn more about the Vahombey Project. Connect with Betsy Burris: Email: betsy@teachingthroughemotions.com. You can also find Betsy on Substack and check out her book here: Teaching Through Emotions Book: The Feeling of Teaching If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here. Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend: 🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable. 🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones. Tune in for more conversations with people 65+ fueling passion, purpose, and pocketbook. Keep aging out loud and proud, and don’t be caged by your age! Waving from Boston – cheers! Ande ♥ CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism! https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/  https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage SPONSORSHIP If you resonate with the ...

    EP 106 Making Friends with Emotions to Thrive After 65 with Dr. Betsy Burris
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4.6
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Looking for inspiration and practical advice on aging well? Don't Be Caged By Your Age is a positive aging podcast featuring conversations with older adults who are thriving after 65. Explore healthy aging, longevity, retirement, purpose, wellness, technology, entrepreneurship, relationships, and the many ways people create meaningful lives as they grow older. 

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