The Not Old - Better Show

Taming Wild Hearts: The Siberian Fox Experiment, Evolution, and the Power of Curiosity—A Conversation with Lee Alan Dugatkin The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series 🦊✨ What if you could witness evolution—real, visible change—unfolding not over millennia, but within a single lifetime? On the latest episode of the Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, I had the privilege to sit down with evolutionary biologist, author, and Smithsonian Associate Lee Alan Dugatkin, who brings to life one of the most daring experiments in modern science.  Lee Alan Dugatkin will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates, coming up. Please check out THIS link for more details! 📚 Lee’s acclaimed book, How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog), chronicles the incredible journey of two visionary scientists, Dmitri Belyaev and Ludmila Trut, who set out in the icy wilderness of Siberia to answer an age-old question: how did wild animals become our trusted companions? Against a backdrop of scientific controversy and political peril, they not only tamed foxes—they rewrote what we know about genetics, behavior, and our relationship with animals. 🌏 This story isn’t just about foxes or genetics. It’s about the courage to pursue discovery, the tenacity to overcome obstacles, and the lifelong adventure of following your curiosity. Lee’s insights are a powerful reminder that learning and growth have no age limit. Whether you’re an early-career scientist or someone considering a new passion in your fifties, sixties, or beyond, the spirit of this experiment speaks to all of us. 💡 In our conversation, Lee shares how selection for tameness led to foxes with wagging tails, floppy ears, and even laughter-like vocalizations. He opens up about working with Ludmila Trut—now in her late eighties and still leading this experiment—and about how history, resilience, and wonder can intertwine to create something extraordinary. 🎧 I invite you to listen to this fascinating episode, whether you’re a fellow scientist, an animal lover, or simply someone who believes it’s never too late to change the world with a question. The experiment continues, and so does the adventure. 🔗 Tune in now at notold-better.com. Let curiosity lead the way! More details here:  https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/taking-wild-out-of-animal

🎉 Celebrating 60 Years of Smithsonian Associates: A Conversation Worth Sharing Since 1965, Smithsonian Associates has offered more than just lectures or museum tours—it has sparked imagination, created lifelong connections, and helped generations see the world with new eyes. This year marks its 60th anniversary—a milestone that honors the past and looks boldly toward the future. To celebrate, The Not Old Better Show – Smithsonian Associates Interview Series sat down with Director Frederica “Fredie” Adelman to talk about what makes this organization so extraordinary. Fredie shares rich, behind-the-scenes stories—from Justice Ginsburg and Justice Scalia debating on stage (“they laughed, they dueled, and the audience loved it,” as NPR’s Nina Totenberg recalled) to the evolution of museum sleepovers, arts programs, and the groundbreaking move to virtual learning. But this episode goes beyond nostalgia. We asked bold, reflective questions: 🔹 What does it mean to lead an organization shaped by six decades of curiosity? 🔹 How has Smithsonian Associates balanced innovation with tradition? 🔹 And what will the next 60 years look like for lifelong learning? Fredie answers with wisdom, humor, and purpose—and offers a preview of the 60th Anniversary Celebration Weekend, including the public events at the Ripley Center this October. For anyone passionate about museums, education, leadership, or meaningful cultural experiences, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Listen to the full episode and see why learning—at any age—is still the best kind of adventure: [Insert Link] #SmithsonianAssociates #NotOldBetterShow #LifelongLearning #Leadership #MuseumEducation #PublicEngagement #60YearsOfWonder

Today’s story begins in a barrel, and today’s show is brought to you by Daily Greens by Factor Form. A woman named Willa Hardesty is burning trash in the backyard, muttering, “this is hell.” She’s angry, grieving, and standing on the edge of something big. She’s not famous. She’s not looking for glory. But her life—hard-earned and fully lived—just might stop you in your tracks. 🔹 Who tells the stories of women who “weren’t famous”—but should have been? That question haunted author and biographer Helen Sheehy—until she turned it into her stunning debut novel, Just Willa. 📚 Just Willa follows the unforgettable Willa Hardesty, a Kansas farm girl who becomes a single mother, tenant farmer’s wife, and bootlegging cowboy’s partner. Her life brushes up against nearly every major event of the 20th century—from the Dust Bowl and Great Depression to the polio epidemic and rural electrification. 🎙️ On the latest episode of The Not Old Better Show, I sat down with Helen to talk about Willa—who’s based on her own mother—and the 20-year journey to bring this extraordinary “ordinary” woman to life. Sheehy’s years of biographical writing blend beautifully with her gift for dialogue, scene, and emotional depth. 🕯️ This is more than historical fiction—it’s an excavation of memory, family, and the deep ties between mothers and daughters. For our audience, especially those reflecting on their own legacy or wondering how to tell their family's stories, this episode hits home. 💬 We talk loss, resilience, farming, bootlegging—and the courage it takes to write what you don’t know, but feel in your soul. 📡 Listen now at: https://notold-better.com #Storytelling #AuthorInterview #HistoricalFiction #PodcastRecommendation #WomensHistory #ArtOfLiving #NotOldBetter Today’s show is brought to you by Daily Greens by Factor Form.

☀️ Your sunscreen might say SPF 50—but what does that really mean? Chemist and Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann has answers. From UVA myths to white cast truths, she breaks it all down—science, no fluff 🌞Is your sunscreen actually doing what it promises? Many of us apply it daily—some of us still forget—but few of us truly understand what’s in that bottle. Especially those of us 50 and older, who’ve spent decades under the sun. That’s where Sabina Wizemann comes in. Sabina is the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She’s a trained chemist with over 16 years in the personal care and pharmaceutical industries, and she’s tested hundreds of sunscreens to determine which ones really work—for all skin types, tones, and ages. In this week’s episode of The Not Old Better Show: Good, Better, Best: Good Housekeeping Interview Series, Sabina gives us the clear, science-backed truth behind the SPF labels. Chemical vs. mineral? White cast worries? UVA vs. UVB? Sabina breaks it all down in a way that’s engaging, entertaining, and easy to understand—even if you haven’t touched a chemistry book since high school. She also shares how her lab evaluates sunscreens—not just for performance but for how they feel, absorb, and wear on real skin. That’s the kind of research that makes a difference when you’re choosing a product you’ll wear every day. And yes, she gives her top picks. 🎧 Whether you’re outdoors daily, or just looking to make smarter skin health choices—especially as we age—this is one conversation you’ll want to hear: https://apple.co/3FAbebT #SkincareScience #SunscreenFacts #HealthyAging #BeautyLab #SunSafety #NotOldBetter #GoodHousekeeping #50PlusLiving

🌊 What do shipwrecks really reveal about us? In this special episode of The Not Old – Better Show, produced in collaboration with Smithsonian Associates, we’re celebrating 60 years of learning and discovery by going deep—literally—with maritime archaeologist Dr. James P. Delgado. From the wreck of the Titanic to the sunken slave ship Clotilda, Delgado shares powerful stories from decades of underwater exploration. These aren't just relics—they're reflections of our history, identity, and humanity. Join us in honoring the Smithsonian Associates’ 60th Anniversary with a conversation that reminds us how far we’ve come—and how much the past still lives beneath the surface. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Apple Podcasts! 📘 Discover The Great Museum of the Sea #SmithsonianAssociates #60YearsOfLearning #NotOldBetter #ShipwreckHistory #UnderwaterArchaeology #LifelongLearning   https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/great-museum-of-sea

The Indispensables: How the Marblehead Regiment Saved Washington’s Army The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series 🎧 They didn’t just serve Washington—they saved the Revolution. Listen now: 👉 https://apple.co/3FAbebT 🪖 They weren't just soldiers. They were fishermen, craftsmen, abolitionists, and immigrants. 🫱🏽‍🫲🏼 Black, white, Native American, and Hispanic—united not by uniform, but by purpose. 🎙️ On the latest episode of The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates series, I sat down with acclaimed military historian and author Patrick K. O’Donnell to uncover the nearly lost story of The Indispensables—a Marblehead, Massachusetts regiment that quite literally carried the Revolution on their backs... and in their boats.   Patrick O’Donnell will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up and the title of his presentation is The Indispensables: How the Marblehead Regiment Saved Washington’s Army. Check out our show notes today for more details, but we have Smithsonian Associate Patrick O’Donnell today! 🌊 From rowing Washington across the ice-filled Delaware on Christmas night... ⚓ To creating the foundations of the U.S. Navy... 🧪 To leading one of America’s first public health responses to a deadly virus outbreak... …these soldier-mariners defined what it means to serve a country still being imagined. 📚 Patrick’s storytelling is immersive, human, and deeply researched—bringing back voices that history left behind. Including the “canceled” Revolutionary War-era doctor who was shunned, then went on to save the entire Continental Army. 🇺🇸 This isn’t just a story of battle—it’s a story of character, community, and what happens when ordinary people do extraordinary things. If you believe in the power of history to teach us something about the present… this one’s worth your time. 🔗 Listen now: https://apple.co/3FAbebT 💬 And if you’re moved by the conversation—drop a comment or share with someone who’d love this. NotOldBetter #SmithsonianAssociates #AmericanHistory #Leadership #Veterans #MilitaryHistory #RevolutionaryWar #PatrickODonnell #LifelongLearning #AgingBoldly #DiversityInHistory For more details, please check out Smithsonian Associates:  https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/indispensables  

🔍 When most of us think “Viking,” we picture raiders, longboats, and epic battles. But what if the true story was quieter—yet even more powerful? Historian and BBC broadcaster Dr. Eleanor Barraclough joins us for an unforgettable Smithsonian Associates episode of The Not Old Better Show to talk about her new book, Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age.  Dr. Barraclough will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up and the title of her presentation is  Hidden Histories of the Viking Age.  Check out our website for more details at  https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/viking-age In our conversation, we go far beyond helmets and heroics. Dr. Barraclough shares how artifacts like carved antler combs, rune-covered graffiti, and tiny gaming pieces reveal the daily lives of Viking women, children, farmers, artisans, and travelers. It’s not just about who fought and conquered—but who cooked, cursed, loved, and played. She also talks about why we need to rethink our historical framework—not as fixed timelines and famous names, but as rivers of human experience, emotion, and connection. If you're over 50—or simply curious about the past—this conversation offers a reminder that history is less about textbooks and more about touchstones. 🎧 Listen here: https://apple.co/3FAbebT #NotOldBetter #SmithsonianAssociates #VikingAge #HistoricalResearch #PublicHistory #EmbersOfTheHands #HumanHistory #LifelongLearning

📚 What if Canada had become part of the United States? In 1774, the Continental Congress sent heartfelt letters to Quebec—inviting Canadians to join the American Revolution. When the letters didn’t work, they tried something else: invasion. Smithsonian Associate, author, historian, Ralph Nurnberger joins The Not Old Better Show in partnership with Smithsonian Associates to explain this little-known history. Smithsonian Associate Ralph Nurnberger will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates on August 21, 2025, and the title of his presentation is "One Border, Two Nations: U.S.–Canadian Relations, 1774–1816." From diplomatic missions with Benjamin Franklin to failed military campaigns in the Canadian snow, Ralph reveals how America’s northern dreams unraveled. But this isn’t just a story about war—it’s about identity. While Americans were building a nation based on liberty and representation, Canadians were choosing something different: cultural preservation, religious freedom, and a path loyal to Britain. The rejection wasn’t personal—it was defining. And it helped shape the two countries we know today. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://notold-better.com 🎙️ With Paul Vogelzang and guest Smithsonian Associate Ralph Nurnberger #Leadership #History #CanadaUSRelations #SmithsonianAssociates #NotOldBetter #LifelongLearning Smithsonian Associate Ralph Nurnberger will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates on August 21, 2025, and the title of his presentation is "One Border, Two Nations: U.S.–Canadian Relations, 1774–1816." https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/u-s-canadian-relations-1774-1816

🚢 History wasn’t just written—it was negotiated. And in 1664, the fate of a small but thriving colony on Manhattan Island changed forever. I recently spoke with historian and author Russell Shorto, whose new book, Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America, pulls back the curtain on the overlooked moment when New Amsterdam became New York—not through bloody battle, but through bold negotiation. This story isn’t just about the Dutch and English. It’s about Indigenous displacement, the early seeds of American capitalism, and the founding contradictions that still echo today—from religious tolerance to racial injustice. What happens when a multicultural, multiethnic, profit-driven colony suddenly comes under new ownership? Russell’s research, drawing from newly translated Dutch documents, challenges the narrative most of us were taught. And for those of us 50 and over—who lived through civil rights movements, global realignments, and reckonings of our own—it’s a timely reminder that the past is never settled. 🎙️ Listen to our full conversation on The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Series. If you think you know how Manhattan became the “capital of the world,” think again. 👉 Hear the episode at: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3FAbebT #HistoryMatters #NotOldBetter #RussellShorto #TakingManhattan #SmithsonianAssociates

🔥👩‍🍳 Ready to revolutionize your grilling experience? Today on The Not Old Better Show, we're sizzling with Nicole Papantoniou, Director of Good Housekeeping’s Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab! From the timeless debate—charcoal vs. gas—to futuristic smart grills controlled by AI and Bluetooth, we’ve got the juiciest grilling insights just for you. 🌭📲🔥 Nicole shares expert tips on embracing eco-friendly grilling, experimenting with plant-based BBQ, mastering live-fire cooking, and even achieving restaurant-quality pizza right in your backyard oven. 🌱🍕🌿 Grilling has never been hotter—literally and figuratively! Whether you're a seasoned backyard chef or eager to level up your cookouts, Nicole’s innovative, mouthwatering advice will inspire you to heat things up creatively, sustainably, and deliciously. 🍔🌶️ 🎧 Tune in and fire up your imagination—and your grill! #GrillingTrends #CookingInnovation #NotOldBetterShow