Older Women & Friends: Stories of Aging Well

"Without IMPERNANCE There Is No Expansion" - Kat Miller

Welcome to Older Women and Friends, where host Jane Leder | Aging Well Advocate for Older Women, meets fascinating women who are redefining what it means to grow older with wisdom, independence, and purpose.
In this powerful episode, Jane talks with psychotherapist Kat Miller, who challenges everything that we think we know about aging. While many believe aging means decline and loss, Kat offers a radical and refreshing perspective: aging can be a path to cognitive expansion, emotional depth, freedom, and joy.
Together, Kat and Jane explore how ageism shapes our cultural beliefs — and how older women themselves often internalize harmful stereotypes about aging. Kat explains why breaking free from ageism is the first step toward “aging freely,” and how natural declines in speed, energy, and independence can actually create growth in wisdom, adaptability, clarity, and meaningful connection.
This episode dives into:
The hidden benefits of cognitive slowing and expanded thinking
Why impermanence can bring peace instead of fear
How aging reshapes independence and deepens relationships
Why talking about impermanence can help us relax and improve the quality of our lives.

Jane and Kat also discuss purpose after retirement, redefining self-care in later years, and how older women can embrace their changing energy, shifting priorities, and evolving roles with confidence.
If you’ve ever wondered:
Is aging really all loss?
How do I prepare emotionally for later life?
What does aging well actually mean?
How can I live with more freedom and less fear?

This conversation invites you to rethink aging — not as something to resist, but as something to inhabit fully.
Because aging isn’t the end of becoming — it’s a new chapter of becoming wiser, freer, and more fully yourself.

Author Field
Jane Leder | Aging Well Advocate for Older Women

www.agefreely.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibVcoFUfItI
https://mariashriver.com/collection/games/

Join me and guest Sara Zeph Geber, an expert on solo aging, as we discuss the growing number of adults 50+ choosing to live independently. This episode explores the opportunities and challenges of aging without immediate family support, offering insights into financial planning, healthcare, social connections, and building intentional communities. Sara and I highlight the positives of solo aging, including independence, flexibility, and emotional well-being, while providing practical advice for older women seeking a purposeful, secure, and fulfilling life in later years.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarazeffgeber/
https://sarazeffgeber.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGvgGw7la5w

#aging #older women #wisdom #resilience #self-care #determination #purpose #courage

If you watch the Winter Olympics, you have seen and heard about luge, a sport where athletes race down an icy track on a small sled, lying on their backs with their feet pointing forward, reaching speeds over 90 mph.

At age 34, today’s guest, Anne Abernathy, set the record as the oldest female to compete in luge at the Winter Olympic Games. But that wasn’t the ending of her career.
She made the US Virgin Islands’ luge team six more times. At age 63, Anne was the oldest woman to compete in the sport at the Olympics.
And just for the heck of it, she honed her archery skills.

As you might have guessed, Anne’s journey was not trouble-free, far from it. She was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma just before her first Winter Olympic Games; she’s had twenty knee operations, too many broken bones to count, and her home was demolished in a hurricane.

So, the question remains: What drives a star athlete to continue competing against all odds, and what has Anne learned about herself and the process of getting older?

Takeaways

Anne Abernathy set the record as the oldest female luge competitor.
She faced numerous challenges, including cancer and serious injuries.
Her background in music helped her cope with the pressures of competition.
Anne discovered luge during a trip to Lake Placid, New York.
She trained for three years before competing in her first Olympics.
Despite being told she couldn't train due to cancer, she persevered and competed in six Olympics.
Anne's serious brain injury led to a unique recovery process.
She transitioned to archery after retiring from luge and continues to compete.
Aging has provided Anne with a wealth of experience and knowledge.
She believes that getting older is liberating, not limiting.

https://anneabernathy.com/
https://www.facebook.com/anne.abernathy1/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-abernathy-709213/

I've been asked a zillion times to do an episode about me and to answer many of the same questions I ask guests. Listeners (now viewers, too) are curious about who I am, how I started a podcast, the books I've written, the experience of losing a brother to suicide, and life as an 80-year-old. It's taken me three years to get to this solo episode, not because I underestimated the value, but because of all the stellar guests I've been privileged to interview. It is so exciting to share the stories of older women who are out there living what some call the Third Act with enthusiasm, joie de vivre, and wisdom.

I'd love you to send me a comment on janeleder.net. What questions remain about me and my journey? It's been quite a ride!

Takeaways

Jane started podcasting at 77, driven by curiosity.
She learned the technical aspects of podcasting through trial and error.
Aging can be vibrant and fulfilling, contrary to stereotypes.
Humor plays a crucial role in coping with aging.
Making mistakes is a natural part of learning at any age.
Writing helped Jane process her grief over her brother's death.
Sibling relationships can be complex and challenging.
Jane's books explore deep emotional themes and personal connections.
Teaching shaped Jane's perspective on storytelling and learning.
Engaging with others through podcasts has been a joy for Jane.

Titles

A Journey into Podcasting at 77
Vitality and Humor in Aging

Sound bites

"I want to be a podcaster."
"It's okay to make mistakes."
"Humor is key to aging."

Chapters

00:00 The Birth of a Podcaster
05:12 Embracing Aging and Vitality
10:52 Reflections on Life and Learning
15:33 The Journey of Writing and Healing
22:36 A Life of Teaching and Storytelling

janeleder.net
https://youtube.com@olderwomenandfriends

When I think about moving from a home that my husband and I have shared for 32 years, I break out in a cold sweat. There's the kitchen with its overabundance of antique bowls and gadgets, my great-grandmother's china, my office with decades worth of my books, research materials, and file folders. And then there's my husband's studio with . . . Well, don't get me started. So this is where Jeannine Bryant can help save the day. She's a senior move manager who owns her own company and knows all about helping seniors or their sons and daughters. Well, let's face it, we're talking daughters. She helps find that place between too much and too little, and how we can keep the memories and not the stuff.

Takeaways

Moving can be an emotional experience, especially after many years in one home.
Women often take on the responsibility of organizing family belongings.
Right-sizing is a more positive approach than downsizing.
It's never too late to start decluttering and organizing.
Discussing death and planning ahead can ease the burden on loved ones.
Family experiences can motivate proactive planning for one's own belongings.
Start decluttering with easy items to build momentum.
Keepsakes should be displayed or used to bring joy.
Gifting items to loved ones can create meaningful memories.
Resources like senior move managers can provide valuable assistance.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Moving
02:57 The Role of Women in Family Organization
05:45 Understanding Right-Sizing vs. Downsizing
08:43 The Importance of Early Planning
11:38 Confronting the Topic of Death
14:41 The Value of Proactive Planning
17:36 Practical Steps to Declutter
20:40 Making Decisions on Keepsakes
23:42 Gifting and Sharing Memories
26:43 Planning for a Move
29:47 Connecting with Seniors
32:53 Resources for Moving and Decluttering

https://easyrightsizing.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChNA775OFJQif29NHbfuovw
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanninebryant/
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jeannine+bryant&crid=13KK34II4WFGS&sprefix=Jeannine+Bry%2Caps%2C91&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_12_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker