Glowing Older

• Episode 23:10 Dr. Kerry Burnight on the JoySpan Framework to Deepen Love, Curiosity, Vitality, and Meaning

  In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host Nancy Griffin interviews Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist and author of JoySpan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half. They discuss the concept of "JoySpan," which emphasizes the importance of quality of life over mere longevity. Dr. Burnight introduces her four-pronged matrix for thriving in later life: Grow, Connect, Adapt, and Give. The conversation also touches on overcoming internalized ageism and the significance of maintaining a growth mindset as we age.About KerryDr. Kerry Burnight is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and nationally recognized gerontologist whose life’s work celebrates the gift of growing older. For eighteen years, Professor Burnight taught Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the University of California, Irvine, and co-founded the nation’s first Elder Abuse Forensic Center.Known as America’s Gerontologist, she blends science with soul by translating cutting-edge longevity research into practical, heart-centered ways to live with vitality, connection, and purpose. Building upon the lifespan and healthspan literature, she coined the term joyspan - the quality of a long life.  The joysan framework is a proven approach to deepening love, curiosity, vitality, and meaning.Kerry Burnight’s work has been featured in The New York Times, CBS Mornings, Oprah Daily, NBC News, Time Magazine, BBC, and CNN. Growing older is not the end of your story, it is the fullest expression of it.Key TakeawaysFocusing too much on longevity can neglect quality of life. Many older adults live long and stay healthy yet still feel unhappy.The American Psychological Association defines joy as “a feeling of extreme gladness, delight, or exaltation of the spirit arising from a sense of well-being or satisfaction”. Joy is not about being happy all the time—it's a deeper sense of contentment. Unlike happiness, which often depends on external circumstances, joy is rooted in well-being and internal satisfaction.The four-pronged matrix for JoySpan is Grow, Connect, Adapt, and Give. Curiosity is the catalyst of growth.Research shows that genetics will predict less than 25 % of how we age. As you get older, you care less about others' opinions and gain stronger emotional regulation, with fewer intense ups and downs. There’s more appreciation for beauty, relationships, ordinary pleasures, humility, andspirituality. Aging also boosts integration between brain hemispheres, offering improved problem solving and deeper self-acceptance.The multi-billion dollar anti-aging industry profits from the “aging is bad” narrative telling us to fear getting older and to use their products to stop aging.

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• Episode 23:9 Jacynth Bassett on the Business Case for Age Inclusivity

  In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host NancyGriffin interviews Jacynth Bassett, founder and CEO of Ageism is Never In Style®. They discuss the importance of age inclusivity, the challenges of combating ageism, and the progress made in the last decade. Jacynth shares insights on the business case for age diversity, the role of language in shaping perceptions, and the global movement towards recognizing the value of aging well.About JacynthJacynth Bassett is an award-winning, global expert, thoughtleader, and keynote speaker on age-inclusivity, longevity, andintergenerational strategy. She is Founder and CEO of Ageism Is Never In Style®, the leading consultancy and platform driving business and cultural change around age and generations.Through a holistic approach combining strategy and thoughtleadership, talent and market insight, and community and cultural influence, Jacynth empowers clients to turn age and generational inclusivity into a competitive advantage.Her global work - from consulting with Fortune 500s to SMEsand non-profits, to creating viral, groundbreaking campaigns including #ILookMyAge (45+ million views), to hosting an intergenerational community of 300k+ with a 90-day reach of 10 million - is indisputably changing narratives and hearts and minds, pioneering both businesses and individuals to embrace age-inclusivity.She has been recognized as one of the Evening Standard’s “22Londoners Changing the World,” Anti-Ageist Activist of the Year, and awarded the Exceptional Achievement Award at the Silver Marketing Association 2025 Awards. At the core of her work is a bold, intergenerational ethos, making her one of the most influential voices shaping age and generational inclusivity today and tomorrow.Key TakeawaysThe World Health Organization reports that one in twopeople holds strong ageist beliefs. Often hidden in humor or everyday interactions, ageism can be subtle yet pervasive. Education and awareness are essential to overcoming internalized ageism.Language shapes how we perceive aging and can shiftattitudes and beliefs. While brands may show age diversity in images, their messaging often undermines it through word choice.Age inclusiveness is a strategic imperative. There must be a business as well as an ethical and social case for change. AARP found that 70 % of consumers of all ages are more likely to shop with a brand if it features a diverse mix of ages in its advertising. The demographic shift demands a new view of age and life stage. By 2030, nearly half of the UK workforce will be over 50. Age-diverse, intergenerational teams drive greater innovation, resilience, and profitability.Longevity has become a catchall term, preferred overaging. It implies living better as well as longer, yet is often co-opted to mean biohacking or reversing aging. 

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• Episode 23:8 Matt Thornhill on Owning Your Age and Middle-Income Housing for Boomers

  In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host Nancy Griffin interviews Matt Thornhill, founder and CEO of Cozy Home Community and the advocacy movement Openly Gray. They discuss Matt's career journey from advertising to founding the Boomer Project and his insights into marketing to the 50+ demographic. Matt shares the inspiration behind Cozy Home Community, a middle-income housing solution for boomers, and the advocacy work of Openly Gray to combat ageism. The conversation highlights the importance of embracing aging positively and the innovative approaches to senior living.About MattBoomer Expert • Futurist • Founder of Openly Gray and Cozy Home CommunityMatt Thornhill is a nationally recognized expert on consumer behavior and the Boomer generation. After two decades in advertising on Madison Avenue and beyond, he founded a think tank devoted to understanding how Boomers are reshaping industries and society as they age.His insights have guided Fortune 500 companies and major organizations—from Google, Walmart, and AARP to State Farm, Wells Fargo, and the National Governors Association and have been featured on NBC, CBS, CNBC, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.Co-author of the acclaimed business book Boomer Consumer, Matt now leads Openly Gray, a nonprofit advocacy grouptackling ageism by inspiring older adults to embrace aging as a privilege, not a problem. He’s also founder and CEO of Cozy Home Community, developing innovative housing for active older adults.Key TakeawaysBoomers have become the next generation of older adults. Ranging from age 61 to 79, next year the first boomers will turn 80. They are going to transform what it means to grow old.The 50+ market holds significant economic power, oftenignored by marketers. It takes lived experience to speak to the 50+ market. A 50 or 60-year-old advertising copywriter and art director know best how to talk to a 50- or 60-year-old consumer.Forty percent of boomers don't have a spouse or partner – 25 years ago it was 25 percent. Twenty-eight million people live alone. Being single means less income and social security and no caregiver in the home. Cozy Home Community is an intentional community of modular-built homes for middle-income older adults. Ten hours a month of volunteer time to the community is a stipulation of the lease. Neighbors serve neighbors. An AI-driven voice matching system establishes connection points between community members.

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• Episode 23:7 Dr. Kenneth Pelletier on Epigenetics and the Promise of Personalized Health

  In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host Nancy Griffin interviews Dr. Kenneth Pelletier, a clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at UCSF, about the science of longevity and the role of epigenetics. Dr. Pelletier shares insights into the importance of healthspan over lifespan, and the impact of diet, stress, exercise, and social support on longevity. He also discusses the potential and limitations of biohacking and the growing field of integrative medicine. About Dr. Pelletier Kenneth R. Pelletier, PhD, MD is a Clinical Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine; Department of Family and Community Medicine; and Department of Psychiatry at the University of California School of Medicine (UCSF) in San Francisco; and a Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine and Department Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona School of Medicine in Tucson. At the present time, Dr. Pelletier is a medical and business consultant to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Business Group on Health, the Federation of State Medical Boards, the Wild Dolphin Project, and major corporations including Cisco, IBM, American Airlines, Prudential, Dow, Disney, Ford, Mercer, Merck, Pepsico, Ford, Pfizer, Walgreens, NASA, Microsoft ENCARTA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Health Net, the Pasteur Institute of Lille, France, the Alpha Group of Mexico, and the Singapore Ministry of Health. He also serves on the boards of the Rancho la Puerta (Mexico), Nova Institute, Fries Foundation, American Institute of Stress (AIS), American Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP), as a Founding Board Member of the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM), and as a peer reviewer for the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM), Annals of Internal Medicine, Health Affairs, and webMD.  Dr. Pelletier is listed in Who’s Who in America and in Who’s Who in the World. He has been featured on ABC World News, the Today program, Good Morning America, Dr Oz, the CBS Evening News, 48 Hours, the McNeil-Lehrer Newshour, CNN, FOX News, and CBS Sunday Morning.Dr. Pelletier is the author of 15 major books including the international bestseller Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer; Holistic Medicine: From Stress to Optimum Health; Longevity: Fulfilling Our Biological Potential; Healthy People in Unhealthy Places; Stress and Fitness at Work; Sound Mind – Sound Body: A New Model for Lifelong Health; The Best Alternative Medicine: What Works? What Does Not?; Stress Free for Good: Ten Scientifically Proven Life Skills for Health and Happiness; New Medicine: How to Integrate Conventional and Alternative Medicine for the Safest and Most Effective Treatment and Change Your Genes – Change Your Life: Creating Optimal Health with the New Science ofEpigenetics.Key TakeawaysEpigenetics is a relatively new science, developed in the last 15 years. Epigenetics are all of the influences that determine our health, wellbeing, and life expectancy after the sperm and ovum unite. Epigenetics plays a crucial role in determining health and life expectancy – 95 % of health, illness, and life expectancy are due to factors other than our genes. The role of diet, stress, physical activity and social support significantly influence genetic expression.There are no longitudinal studies for biohacking. Don’tgo into the periphery and engage in questionable practices. Sort hope from hype.Equal criteria for evaluating the outcomes of alternative and conventional medicine must be applied; both should be held to the same rigorous scientific standards to ensure their acceptability and effectiveness.

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• Episode 23:6 Steve Goldberg on Living with Intention and Creating a Meaningful Life

  In this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host NancyGriffin interviews Steve Goldberg, founder of Inside Out Leadership and Second Half Matters. They discuss Steve's journey from a leadership consultant to a later-in-life musician and author, exploring themes of aging, creativity, and intergenerational connections. Steve shares insights on living with intention and the importance of mindset.About SteveSteve Goldberg is a later-in-life musician, author, and thought leader who inspires audiences across generations. Through his healing piano music and reflective writing, he shares insights on purpose, mindfulness, and blossoming in later life.Steve discovered his calling in later life, beginning piano at age 50 with no prior formal training. During the isolation of COVID, he found that music could be a healing force, both for himself and others. This revelation led to his composing and recording two original albums of soothing, restorative piano music:Sweet Dreams: Piano for Encouraging Calm, Restful Sleep and DreamCalmer Days, More Peaceful NightsHis music has touched listeners worldwide, offering calm, comfort, and reflective space in a noisy world. Alongside music, Steve authored the ebook 'Languishing or Blossoming: A Guide to Meaningful Living at Any Age', a reflective guide exploring themes of creativity, blossoming,, purpose, andmeaningful living at any age. Steve brings this work into the public sphere through weekly virtual Socrates Café discussions with elders, and regular posts on TikTok (Mindful Mondays, Blossoming Wednesdays, Restorative Saturdays) and YouTube, connecting with audiences across generations. Throughout his life, Steve has combined active living, curiosity, lifelong learning and mindfulness. Formerly a leader helping organizations and individuals be more reflective and effective, he now channels that experience into music, writing, and thoughtful guidance for others. Steve’s linktree contact link: https://linktr.ee/soothingpiano including free access to his music and ebook. You can also contact Steve at [email protected]    Key TakeawaysBlossoming is always possible, no matter where and when you start. Create, connect, and contribute in ways that feel authentic and meaningful. Live with intention. Older adults divide into two groups, those who embrace later life and those who struggle. The difference between the two is attitude and mindset.A Socrates Cafe is a public gathering (live or virtual) where people from diverse backgrounds have thoughtful, philosophical conversations on a chosen question. The purpose is to foster understanding and connection through dialogue.Authenticity resonates intergenerationally. Youngerpeople appreciate honesty and the sharing of lived experience.

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