45 Forward

Ron Roel

Welcome to “45 Forward” with Ron Roel, where the mission is to make your second half of life even better than the first!  Thanks to advances in medicine and health, most of us are just approaching our half-life when we reach the mid-40s, with many productive years ahead. But there’s no road map to prepare us for this kind of longevity. That’s where 45 Forward comes in. Each episode tackles an aspect of health, finance, family and friends, housing, work and personal pursuits—all as part of an integrated plan. Experts discuss topics like revitalizing relationships, creating mini-retirements, managing the maze of technology, finding your next homestead and caring for aging parents. To contact Ron, please email him at:  ron.roel@gmail.com To learn more about Ron and his work, visit his websites: www.roelresources.com  &  www.caregivingnav.com If you like what you hear, please help us to continue broadcasting: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support

  1. 13h ago

    45 Forward #126 - How Innovative Home Technology Can Support Family Caregivers

    Originally broadcast 2023-06-05. Whenever Americans are asked where they’d like to live as they get older, a vast majority say they’d like to remain in their homes for as long as possible. They prize the independence, comfort, and dignity that come with the ability to “age in place.” But many older homeowners also face major challenges, such as the risk of falling, health problems, overwhelming household tasks, and isolation—a constant worry for their adult children, who often find themselves in the role of family caregivers. In today’s episode, Ryan Herd, the founder of Caregiver Smart Solutions, talks about his own struggles to care for his dad, who had been diagnosed with cancer, which led to the creation of an innovative technology company designed for caregivers just like him. Ryan will describe how the company’s products—small sensors, about the size of a quarter—help caregivers keep track of the health and well-being of their loved ones while respecting their privacy, without the use of cameras or other intrusive methods. In addition to his work with Caregiver Smart Solutions, Ryan will talk about his broader vision as a technology entrepreneur, focusing his efforts on developing tools that make homes and communities safer and more enjoyable. A sought-after speaker, author and consultant, he has worked with clients such as Google, Coldwell Banker, and Home Advisor, and presents a unique ability to humanize technology and explain it in terms that everyone can understand. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

  2. 13h ago

    45 Forward #120 - An Ex-Football Player’s Story of the Healing Power of Poetry

    Originally broadcast 2023-04-24. April is National Poetry Month, launched more than 25 years ago by the Academy of American Poets to recognize poets’ integral role in our culture. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, and in today’s episode, we talk to an unusual poet who came to this craft later in life—and through the most unimaginable of experiences. Hank Bjorklund, a former professional football player for the New York Jets, became a business lawyer in New York City after retiring from football, then an educator and coach. Then, on one otherwise ordinary day, Hank found himself suddenly hospitalized due to dysautonomia, a severe disruption of his autonomic nervous system possibly caused by the repetitive head hits he received during years of tackle football. An idyllic, healthy life in retirement with his wife was unalterably changed. In his newly published book, “Head Hits I Remember,” Hank recounts his daily struggles to cope with this baffling, life-altering illness, and how he eventually turned to poetry as a way to connect with his thoughts and feelings and deal more gracefully with the profound realities of life previously unseen. He’ll recite a selection of poems from his book, some of which he’s turned into songs and performed with musicians who heard his poems and decided to put his words to music. Hank will talk about how poetry and music have helped him heal and brought meaning back into his life—and hopefully will inspire others seeking the strength to persevere through difficult and debilitating challenges. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

  3. 14h ago

    45 Forward #213 - Discovering the Path to Lasting Love in Today’s Troubling World

    Originally broadcast 2025-02-03. As we look forward to the end of winter, there’s always a bright spot in February—Valentine’s Day, our annual celebration of romantic love and friendship. But love can be complicated and hard to find (and keep) these days, amid the swift currents of social and cultural change. Many marriages end in divorce; children are estranged from their families; sexual abuse remains a troubling societal concern; friendships are fractured over politics; and people of all ages report widespread loneliness. Our world of relationships is in crisis. So how do we move forward? In today’s conversation, I talk with Beatty Cohan, a nationally recognized psychotherapist and sex therapist, who is also an advice columnist, radio host and author of “For Better, For Worse, Forever: Discover the Path to Lasting Love”. Beatty will talk about our universal aspirations to find true love—and her intriguing research that resulted in a 10-step formula that teaches you how to assess who’s right or wrong for you BEFORE committing to any serious relationship. She’ll describe her experiences serving on Florida’s Commission and Marriage and Family Support Initiatives and her efforts to combat domestic violence. And she’ll offer incisive observations about relationships and mental health from her decades of private practice, working across all age groups—individuals, couples and seniors—helping people relearn the lost art of conversation, heal relationships and rekindle love and friendship. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

  4. 14h ago

    45 Forward #117 - “You Are What You Move”: A Dancer’s Path to Fitness & Healing

    Originally broadcast 2023-04-03. “Movement is Life.” Such is the mantra of Diane Jacobowitz, who founded the Dancewave Company more than 25 years ago with the mission of developing programs to capture the talents and imagination of young dancers. In today’s episode, Diane talks about her singular journey, from her own dance and choreography company; to connecting with young artists early to teach them the rigors of high-level performance; to now focusing her teaching on healing, fitness and self-care, including “Creative Movement” workshops for elders. Diane will describe the concept of Essentrics fitness, how we can be fit at every age and stage of life—a physical state not calculated in miles, muscle mass or speed, but rather measured by one’s ability to move freely, live actively and without pain. She’ll break out the elements of rebalancing our body; how movement patterns affect body type; the healing of scar tissue; and strategies to increase our energy. And Diane will talk about the special role dance plays in how our culture moves and the opportunity it offers to change our one-dimensional world of computer screens. This is Part 1 of a unique two-part series on creative aging through dance, healing, wellness and how to stay young through movement. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

  5. 14h ago

    45 Forward #115 - For Love, Money & Real Estate: The Unique Journey of Ilyce Glink

    Originally broadcast 2023-03-20. When Ilyce Glink set out on a career path years ago, she wanted to be a screenwriter—she even wrote more than a half dozen scripts and was represented in Hollywood for a time. Then she realized she had to support herself. So she started writing articles about real estate, and discovered she loved being a freelance writer, selling hundreds of stories a year to newspapers, magazines and trade publications. Soon she became a syndicated newspaper columnist—for $15 a week. And now, Ilyce Glink is CEO of Think Glink, the creator of four Chicago-based companies, a best-selling financial journalist, author, and radio and TV personality. In today’s conversation, Ilyce will take us through her extraordinary, evolving journey “Rethinking Glink” across a series of innovative projects and ventures, extending her brand into personal finance, consumer advice and even as a creator of digital content and media strategies. Of course, she’ll give us her latest insights about the real estate market as we head into the spring housing season, as well as the confluence of “Great Reconfigurations” in housing, finance and careers for much of America. And Ilyce will explain her latest ground-breaking project, “Best Money Moves,” a mobile-first employee benefit designed to help organizations measure and dial down financial stress among their workers—and promote the principles of financial wellness. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

  6. 14h ago

    45 Forward #112 - Why Old Age May Be Your Prime Time for Creative Productivity

    Originally broadcast 2023-02-27. For many decades, we’ve held a conventional assumption that the “peak ages” of creativity are between 39 and 42. It ain’t necessarily so, says poet, writer and teacher Priscilla Long in her recently published book, “Dancing with the Muse in Old Age.” In fact, she says, our older years are a prime time to flourish in creative productivity—even a prime time to BEGIN creative work. In today’s episode, Priscilla reflects on new ways to look at old age as a potentially dynamic time, full of connections to others and deeply satisfying work. Her book provides examples of hundreds of prominent people who grew very old while living remarkably creative lives—many of them in the arts, but others in a wide range of fields and endeavors. Yes, Priscilla acknowledges, ageism can poison creativity. But she challenges these deep and often unconscious prejudices, affirming that in old age, creative work can truly thrive. And these opportunities are not merely for the brilliant, exceptional elders. They’re for all of us, Priscilla affirms. She offers a series of questions we should ask ourselves as we strive to shape an old age of flourishing well-being, learning and engagement in creative work—while we also help reshape the future of the middle-aged, the young, and the generations to come. An archival conversation from 45 Forward. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support.

About

Welcome to “45 Forward” with Ron Roel, where the mission is to make your second half of life even better than the first!  Thanks to advances in medicine and health, most of us are just approaching our half-life when we reach the mid-40s, with many productive years ahead. But there’s no road map to prepare us for this kind of longevity. That’s where 45 Forward comes in. Each episode tackles an aspect of health, finance, family and friends, housing, work and personal pursuits—all as part of an integrated plan. Experts discuss topics like revitalizing relationships, creating mini-retirements, managing the maze of technology, finding your next homestead and caring for aging parents. To contact Ron, please email him at:  ron.roel@gmail.com To learn more about Ron and his work, visit his websites: www.roelresources.com  &  www.caregivingnav.com If you like what you hear, please help us to continue broadcasting: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/45-forward--6550893/support