Aging, Advocacy, and Action: Christine Smith, Chief Bass, Representative Lily Foss, Elizabeth Werner, and Susie Singer Carter on Living Better, Serving Others, and Fighting for Change
This episode of the Neil Haley Show brings together five remarkable voices all united by a common thread: the belief that every person deserves dignity, resources, and a fighting chance at a better life. Christine Smith, founder of Aging Better Network, opens the conversation by reframing how we think about growing older. Rather than something to fear or hide, Christine sees aging as a continuation of living — and her platform at agingbetternetwork.com has spent nearly four years connecting older adults with solutions, perspectives, and community. She shares her on-the-ground work with Inez Russell in Waco, volunteering as a driver for medical appointments and advocating loudly for seniors who too often fall through the cracks of a system that ignores them. Toy industry expert Elizabeth Werner then joins the show to preview the most exciting 2026 toy trends, from Spin Master's Primal Hatch hybrid dinosaur eggs to Crayola's reimagined Scribble Scrubby Color Blast airbrush. Elizabeth highlights how the industry is evolving beyond just children, with growing product lines targeting tweens, teens, and adults alike. She points to the integration of AI into toys as one of the most fascinating shifts she's witnessed in her long career, while also celebrating the enduring appeal of screen-free, creativity-driven play like the Toniebox's new Cuddle Tonys featuring beloved Disney characters. Retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Chief Bass brings a powerful perspective on what America owes its veterans — and how communities and companies can step up. With over three decades of service, Chief Bass now channels that mission into advocacy work with organizations like PMIUS, Hiring Our Heroes, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and VET SOS. He makes a compelling case that the 200,000 service members who transition to civilian life every year represent an extraordinary and often overlooked talent pool, and that supporting veterans isn't charity — it's a strategic investment in a stronger, more resilient nation. New Hampshire State Representative Lily Foss joins host Sarah Chazinski to talk about what it's really like to legislate at the local level — and how special interest money can derail even the most sensible bills. Lily's experience trying to pass straightforward snow removal legislation, which would simply set a default responsibility for landlords while still allowing lease customization, became a masterclass in how landlord lobbying groups distort and obstruct practical policy. She encourages constituents to watch committee hearings streamed on YouTube, email committee members directly, and remember that elected officials work for the people — not the other way around. Finally, award-winning filmmaker Susie Singer Carter shares the deeply personal story behind her nursing home exposé documentary, No Country for Old People. After watching her mother suffer neglect, chemical restraint with the off-label drug Depakote, and ultimately a fatal stage four pressure wound at a so-called five-star facility during COVID, Susie refused to stay silent. She traces the systemic rot to chronic understaffing, corporate opacity, pharmaceutical lobbying, and an industry that profits by warehousing vulnerable people rather than caring for them. With the support of advocates like Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Danny Strong, Susie has launched ROAR — Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, and Reform — a movement calling on the public to use their collective voice to demand real accountability in long-term care.
