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

Imagine waking up tomorrow without a single limiting belief about aging. That's exactly the question my guest has dedicated her life to exploring.

Kat Miller is a psychotherapist, TEDx speaker, and founder of Age Freely, and she joined me from Ajijic, Mexico to talk about rewriting the cultural narrative around growing older.

Kat just turned 70 this past February and told me she'd been waiting for it for three years, excited to finally claim the word "old" without hesitation.

We talked about the moment her work became personal: hearing bright, capable friends describe wrinkles as inherently ugly, and realizing something didn't sit right.

She credits her mom, who started a restaurant in her sixties followed by a junk shop and then interior decorating, as an early role model for aging out loud.

Kat also shared the story behind her TEDx talk, a project photographing hibiscus flowers from birth to death that led her to fall in love with impermanence and see it as the design of life rather than something to resist.

We dug into why ageism is unlike other isms, since with ageism we are the group being discriminated against, which makes it nearly invisible to us.

Kat explained her theory that decline and expansion happen together as we age, using examples like physical energy forcing us to focus on what really matters, and cognitive speed slowing down so we can actually see the whole landscape and connect the dots better.

We also talked about her Older Conversational Card Game, created with fellow psychotherapist Joannina, and how it's helped grandparents and grandchildren have conversations about life they never would have had otherwise.

Kat didn't shy away from the harder topics either, sharing how making peace with death and dying is often the real starting point for aging freely, and why the anti-aging industry profits from keeping us afraid.

Kat reminded me that aging isn't the problem, it's the stories we've been told about aging. We have the power to question those stories, rewrite them, and choose a path filled with purpose, curiosity, and joy.

Every day is another opportunity to become more fully ourselves, not less.

If this episode inspired you, share it with someone who could use a little encouragement today, because together we're changing the conversation about aging one story at a time.

Connect with Kat Miller at Age Freely, where you can find her TEDx talk, her counseling work, and her Older Conversational Card Game.
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.

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 show’s mission of shattering ageism and age-related expectations so folks can thrive after 65, please reach out to me to learn more about making an impact throug...

The people around us can either expand our sense of possibility or quietly shrink our world. 
Have you ever stopped to consider how much the people around you influence the way you age?

In this episode I chat with Walt Hampton - attorney, executive coach, author, interfaith minister, lifelong adventurer, and mountaineer - to explore why the company we keep may be one of the biggest factors in how fully we live after 65. While healthy habits and a positive mindset certainly matter, Walt believes our "tribe" can either expand our sense of possibility or quietly shrink our world.

Walt shares his remarkable journey from attorney to executive coach, from aspiring priest to interfaith minister, and from climbing four of the Seven Summits to embracing new adventures like gravel biking and backcountry skiing at age 69. Along the way, he reminds us that curiosity, courage, and a willingness to begin again are timeless qualities, not age-dependent ones.

Together, we talk about how to recognize whether your social circle is helping you grow or holding you back, why it's okay to outgrow limiting beliefs (even those of lifelong friends), and how staying open to new experiences keeps life vibrant and meaningful. Walt also shares one powerful coaching question that has the potential to change your life: What would you do if you weren't afraid?

Whether you're looking for your next adventure, considering a career or life pivot, or simply wondering how to create a richer, more connected life, this conversation will leave you inspired to choose possibility over limitation.

Visit Walt's website here to learn more about his remarkable work in the world.

If this episode inspired you, please share it with someone whose world you want to help expand. Together, let's continue aging out loud and proud and never be caged by our age.
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.

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 show’s mission of shattering ageism and age-related expectations so folks can thrive after 65, please reach out to me to learn more about making an impact throug...

What if the next chapter of your life is waiting behind a door you haven't opened yet?

My guest, Mary Foerster, is living proof that life doesn't stop unfolding after 70 - it expands. At 75, Mary has reinvented herself time and again, building a life filled with purpose, connection, and contribution.

From librarian to legislative advocate at AARP, from government affairs executive to house flipper and Realtor, from Rotary leader to podcast host, Mary's journey reminds us that we don't have to have life all figured out. Sometimes the most meaningful opportunities arrive simply because we're willing to say "yes."

In our conversation, Mary shares how ballroom dancing led her to the love of her life, why community became her lifeline after retirement, what inspired her to launch Real Estate Connections at 75, and why relationships continue to open doors she never imagined.

If you've ever wondered whether your best years are behind you, this episode offers a hopeful - and practical - answer. 
Mary's biggest lesson?

Keep every door open.

You never know which one will lead to your next adventure.

🎙️ Connect with Mary Foerster

Podcast: Real Estate Connections: Where Relationships Open Doors

Email: info@realestateconnectionspodcast.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.

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 show’s mission of shattering ageism and age-related expectations so folks can thrive after 65, please reach out to me to learn more about making an impact throug...

Why does contribution matter so much as we grow older?

It's a question I hadn't thought about in quite this way until my delicious conversation with David McNally.

Like many of us, I used to think being on purpose was the goal. But David offered a beautiful reframe: our purpose doesn't change, our contribution does.

Whether we're mentoring a younger generation, starting a podcast at 67, going back to college at 72, or simply showing up each day with curiosity and compassion, we're all helping move humanity forward.

That's what it means to become an Inspired Elder.

David McNally is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and leadership expert whose latest book, If You're Alive, Your Mission on Earth Isn't Finished, reminds us that our later years can be some of our most meaningful. Approaching his 80th birthday, David shares the lived experiences that shaped his life, the personal losses that deepened his wisdom, and why he believes our greatest contribution may still lie ahead.

This conversation is filled with memorable stories, heartfelt wisdom, and several "pause and think" moments that I know you'll carry with you long after the episode ends.

One of my favorite moments came when David said:

"I'm no longer ambitious...I'm passionate."

That simple statement perfectly captures what so many of us discover in our later years. We stop striving to prove ourselves and begin living to serve, mentor, create, and contribute.

Another unforgettable reminder:

"The creative spirit within us only expires when we expire."

If you've ever wondered what's next...or whether your best years might still be ahead of you...this episode is for you.

Connect with David McNally:
• Website
• Book: If You're Alive, Your Mission on Earth Isn't Finished
• YouTube: The Inspired Elder

If this conversation inspired you, please share it with a friend who could use a reminder that their story... and their contribution... is far from over.
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.

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 show’s mission of shattering ageism and age-related expectations so folks can thrive after 65, please reach out to me to learn more about making an impact throug...

What if the most creative chapter of your life is still ahead of you?

In this episode, I'm joined by my dear friend Irene Buchine, whose life beautifully reminds us that creativity, purpose, and self-expression don't have an expiration date.

At 77 years old, Irene celebrated her very first gallery show, Beyond Words, a collection of artwork, photography, embroidery, writing, and personal reflections that span decades of her life. I had the privilege of attending the exhibit, and it inspired this special conversation.

What makes Irene's story so extraordinary is that she didn't learn to read until she was 34 because of dyslexia. Yet she went on to build a successful business, become an author, and continue creating with curiosity, courage, and joy.

Together, we explore what it means to stop minimizing our accomplishments, embrace our creativity, and finally allow ourselves to be seen.

We also talk about Irene's beautiful book, Celia and the Little Boy, a compassionate story that helps parents, caregivers, and educators better understand childhood depression and emotional struggles through the eyes of a child.

🎧 Listen to Irene narrate Celia and the Little Boy on YouTube here.

📚 Tap here to learn more about Irene and her work.

One of the things that stayed with me after this conversation was how often we tuck away our gifts, our accomplishments, and even our creativity because we don't think they're worthy of celebrating.

Watching Irene gather decades of her life into one gallery exhibit wasn't about looking backward. It was about honoring the journey and giving herself permission to be fully seen.

I hope this episode encourages you to look at your own life with that same generosity. Maybe there's a dream you've put on hold. Maybe there's a talent you've hidden away. Or maybe it's simply time to celebrate the person you've become.

Because creativity doesn't retire.

And neither do we.
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.

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 show’s mission of shattering ageism and age-related expectations so folks can thrive after 65, please reach out to me to learn more about making an impact throug...