The Not Old - Better Show

TRULY, MADLY - VIVIEN LEIGH AND LAURENCE OLIVIER The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show available on the radio and everywhere you find your favorite podcasts.  I’m Paul Vogelzang and as part of our Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, we are about to discuss the sweeping story of a relationship between two Hollywood legends. Our guest today is Stephen Galloway, who’ll join us in a moment when Stephen Galloway, the former executive editor of the Hollywood Reporter, and I talk political, personal, and cinematic history in this dishy interview about the tumultuous marriage of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. Stephen Galloway will be appearing Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at the Smithsonian Associates program, and the title of his presentation is Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century.  Stephen Galloway has written a new best-selling novel of the same name…you’ll find that and more on our website, listed in today’s show notes.  In 1934, a friend brought fledgling actress Vivien Leigh to see Theatre Royal, where she would first lay eyes on Laurence Olivier in his brilliant performance as Anthony Cavendish. She knew he was the man she was going to marry. There was just one problem: She was already married—and so was he.  And that was just one of many dramatic elements in a book full of them. A good choice for lovers of theater and cinema—and for those who live for the drama. Decades after both actors’ deaths, the story of their love affair still captivates millions. They were two of the first truly global celebrities, whose fame was fueled by the explosive growth of tabloids and television. They seemed to have it all, but Leigh’s long-undiagnosed mental illness ultimately transformed their relationship from the stuff of dreams into a living nightmare. Our guest today, Author Stephen Galloway draws on new research—including exclusive access to uncovered correspondence and interviews with their friends and family—for a look at their tempestuous relationship; one that took place against the backdrop of two world wars, the Golden Age of Hollywood and the upheavals of the 1960s—as they struggled with love, loss and the ultimate agony of their parting. Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, author Stephen Gallaway. My thanks to author Stephen Galloway.  Stephen Galloway will be appearing Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at the Smithsonian Associa Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

UKRAINE - Update: War, Putin, China & Negotiations for Peace The Not Old Better Show Issues Briefing Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show.  I’m Paul Vogelzang and as part of our Newsmaker Briefing Interview Series, our guest today is David Andelman.  David Andelman is a returning guest and is here today to give us an up-to-the-minute glimpse into the invasion of Ukraine. David A. Andelman is a veteran foreign correspondent for CNN News, author, and commentator who contributes frequently to CNN on global affairs. A member of the Board of Contributors of USA Today, David Andelman served for more than seven years as Editor & Publisher of World Policy Journal. David Andelman was executive editor of Forbes.com; a domestic and foreign correspondent for The New York Times in New York, Southeast Asia bureau chief, based in Bangkok, and East European bureau chief, based in Belgrade. David Andelman then moved to CBS News where he served for seven years as a Paris correspondent. Andelman followed as a Washington correspondent for CNBC, news editor of Bloomberg News, and Business Editor of the New York Daily News. In the course of his career, he has traveled through and reported from more than 85 countries. Interestingly, David A. Andelman has joined the Center on National Security as a visiting scholar and director of its Red Lines Project.  The project’s conception arose from President Barack Obama’s failure to enforce a red line in Syria when the dictator Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his own people, killing more than 1,400. Obama’s cabinet disagreed strongly with his decision to walk away from the red line without military action to remove al-Assad from power.  David Andelman has that mindset, as does the Red Lines Project, as we try to better understand this very important global security issue, we need to do so right now, especially to understand Ukraine, Putin’s mindset, where China is, and more that we’ll talk about today. This will be a fascinating interview and we’ll talk about the Red Lines Project, cyber-security, the world in a post-pandemic state, Biden, Putin, and China.  You’ll love this interview.   Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, CNN’s David Andelman. My thanks to CNN’s David Andelman.   Hopefully, today’s show will give you a sense of world events, national security, our place here, and what’s going on.  My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show.  My thanks to you, my wonderful Not Old Better Show audience…be safe, and remember let’s Talk About Better.  The Not Old Better Show. Until next time, thanks, everybody.   Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Here Lies Me - Hillary Frank The Not Old Better Show Art of Living Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show.  I'm Paul Vogelzang, and today’s show is brought to you by Masterworks.  As part of our Art Of Living author, performer, and podcaster show, today’s guest is the wonderful Hillary Frank. Many in our audience will be familiar with Hillary Frank’s work as a contributor on This American Life. Hillary Frank is the creator of the award-winning podcast Here Lies Me, and has received awards from the Third Coast International Audio Festival, The Association for Women in Communications, The Academy of Podcasters, and The New York Festival’s World’s Best Radio Programs. Since 1999, Hillary has been contributing stories to a variety of public radio programs, including This American Life, Studio 360, Marketplace, and Weekend America. She is also the author of three young adult novels. As many of you in our Not Old Better Show audience will recall, Middle school will bury you, spit you out, and it’s not pretty.  It wasn’t for me. And,  that’s clearly how it feels to 13-year-old Here Lies Me main character, Noa—a shy and witty misfit who endures the horrors of living in an affluent New England town with a dark side. It's the first day of eighth grade, and The Olivias are already icing her out. Here’s Hillary Frank and her summary of the show, telling us in her voice, and voices: Here Lies Me from Lemonada Media is the first scripted podcast to convey the adolescent experience with realism. Another quick clip with the talented hilarious voices, and God’s voice over the intercom, with Noa’s hilarious response.   Here Lies Me contains themes of harassment, classism, sexism, racism, trauma, consent, and finding your voice.  Here’s our final clip from Here Lies Me, which takes place in the cafeteria.  Listen closely to the music track of the clip, as well as all the music in today’s show, which is scored by Hilary Frank’s daughter in real life…great stuff. Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, Here Lies Me creator Hillary Frank. My thanks to Masterworks for sponsoring today’s show.  My thanks to Lemonada Media and their Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A History of Pandemics - Dr. Allen Pietrobon The Smithsonian Associates Art Of Living Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Assocaites Interview Series.  I’m Paul Vogelzang and as part of our Art of Living and Science Awareness programs with Smithsonian Assocaites, we are joined by returning guest, Dr. Allen Pietrobon.   Dr Allen Pietrobon will be appearing via Zoom at Smithsonian Associates, Wednesday March 30, but we have Dr. Pietrobon today and our subject of conversation, and the title of Dr. Pietrobon’s upcoming Smithsonian Associates presentation is ‘A History of Pandemics.”  More information is available during our interview and on the website, so stay tuned for a very informative interview. The saying goes that history repeats itself. True to form, epidemics have been a near-constant feature in human life. Up until the 1960s, recurring epidemics were simply a normal fact of daily life, always lurking in the background. Joining us today is award-winning historian Allen Pietrobon, an assistant professor of global affairs at Trinity Washington University.  We will be talking to Dr. Pietrobon about some of the lesser-known pandemics and epidemics, revealing how people throughout history dealt with such sudden disease outbreaks. We’ll learn from Dr. Pietrobon where these epidemics and pandemics originated. Whom did they most affect? What was learned in how to treat or prevent them? And how did societies evolve in the wake of deadly pandemics? Dr. Pietrobon explores the cholera epidemics that ravaged 19th-century New York City and the terrifying polio epidemic that first struck America in the 1840s and killed thousands during each generational recurrence. Please join me and Dr. Allen Pietrobon to discover how epidemics indiscriminately affected lives, killing presidents and paupers alike; and learn about the medical and technological advancements that have helped people to continue living, post-pandemic. My thanks to Dr. Allen Pietrobon for his expertise and generous time.  Dr Allen Pietrobon will be appearing via Zoom at Smithsonian Associates, Wednesday March 30.  More information is available on the website, noted-better.com.  My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show.  My thanks, of course, to you, my wonderful Not Old Better Show audience…please be safe, be well, let’s remember Ukraine, and let’s remember to talk about better…the Not Old Better Show.  Thanks, everybody and I’ll see you next time. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Celebrate Your Family History - Jenny Ashcraft The Not Old Better Show, Backstory Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show.  We’re talking genealogy today, family history, and some families like my own, are from far-flung places all over the world, but I’m here in America now.  We will be talking about my family today and I’m Paul Vogelzang. As part of our Back Story Family History  interview series,  we have an excellent interview with returning guest, and audience favorite Jenny Ashcraft, who is a genealogist, a researcher, a lover of the written word, and who’ll join us today to talk about family history, new technology  and resources available at Newspapers.com Our guest today, Jenny Ashcraft is a family history enthusiast. She works at Ancestry where she writes a blog at Fold3HQ.  Jenny Ashcraft loves uncovering stories about ancestors and finds great joy in helping others to do the same. She feels completely at home immersed in dusty archives, pouring through manuscripts, or finding hidden gems in the pages of historic newspapers. Alex Haley, author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family puts it this way: "In all of us, there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage—to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning." The psychological benefits of genealogy are significant and plentiful: among them are basic needs like acceptance and friendship, ego needs like achievement and status, and self-actualization. These psychological benefits and more, like knowing your roots boosts older adults' mental wellbeing in positive ways, giving us: a sense of accomplishment, especially if you do the research yourselves; the perspective that we belong to a family which leaves a legacy for future generations; a sense of self-worth and belonging to ancestors with whom we can participate to play our part in history;  meaningful things, and of course, as we age acceptance of the concept of death and mortality. Older people who have paid attention to our family health history are better able to contribute to their own wellbeing, and better prepared to affect the wellbeing of their descendants. The grandparents, great-aunts, and great-uncles of our audience here on The Not Old Better Show also have the duty to relate the lessons their ancestors taught, and the moral principles that kept them focused. We’ll talk about that, some wonderful new resources for family search, and more on our packed show today so please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show genealogist Jenny Ashcraft. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

God: An Anatomy - Francesca Stavrakopoulou The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates interview series here on our radio shows and podcasts.  I’m Paul Vogelzang and we have a really fantastic show today on what is among our most popular subjects: God.   and with a new guest, you’ll find fascinating: Dr. Francesca Stavrakopoulou, who’ll be appearing at Smithsonian Associates, Thursday, March 10, and more details in our show notes today and on our website.   Christianity teaches us that the biblical God was without a body, only revealing himself in the Old Testament in words mysteriously uttered through his prophets, and in the New Testament in the body of Christ. The Bible’s frequent portrayal of God as corporeal and masculine is seen as a metaphorical, figurative, or poetic construct. But in a talk that draws on her revelatory studies, ancient religions expert Francesca Stavrakopoulou presents a vividly corporeal image of the biblical God: This is a human-shaped deity who walks and talks and weeps and laughs; who eats, sleeps, feels, and breathes; and who is undeniably male. Stavrakopoulou, a graduate of Oxford University and a professor of Hebrew Bible and ancient religion at the University of Exeter, has closely examined and researched the portrayal of God’s body in the Bible, and shown how this deity was originally understood by His worshippers in the biblical world. God was created in the image of the people who lived then, a product of a particular society at a particular time, and shaped by their own circumstances and experience of the world. This reclaimed image of God may change how we think about religion, our bodies, and our humanity. Dr. Francesca Stavrakopoulou has written a fascinating new book, “God: An Anatomy,” which we’ll be discussing today at length, as well as all aspects of Dr. Stavrakopoulou’s upcoming presentation at Smithsonian Associates.   Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates interview series, Dr. Francesca Stavrakopoulou My thanks to Dr. Francesca Stavrakopoulou for her generous time today.  My thanks, as well to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show.  My thanks to you my wonderful Not Old Better Show au Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Brain Training for Everyone - Stanley Newman Smithsonian Associates - Art of Living Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates interview series here on our radio shows and podcasts.  I’m Paul Vogelzang and we have a really fantastic show today on one of my favorite subjects, and with a new favorite guest, Stan Newman.   Ready to muscle-up your brainpower? Dive into many techniques of mental calisthenics in an enjoyable interactive program led by Stanley Newman, crossword editor for Newsday, and put them to practical use with numerous real-life examples. Newman leads lateral-thinking exercises that can help you get past mental roadblocks to find solutions to everyday challenges. (Sample puzzle: A truck driver is going south on a northbound one-way street. A police officer sees the driver doing this but makes no attempt to stop her. Check out the answer in today’s interview! Stan Newman and I discuss creativity builders, which can lead your brain to places it’s never gone before by asking yourself the right questions. (Here’s one to ponder: If you could invent something that would make your life easier or more fun, what would it be?)  Stan Newman tells us about rounds of enhanced Twenty Questions (it’s not just animal, vegetable or mineral anymore), and challenges you to learn to make optimal use of your resources (besides spending it, how many different uses can you think of for a dime?).  Finally, he reveals why you should watch “Jeopardy!” with your finger on the remote’s pause button. Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Assocaites interview series, game creator, editor, and Newsday’s Crossword Puzzle creator, Stan Newman. My thanks to Stan Newman for his generous time today.  My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show.  My thanks to you my wonderful Not Old Better Show audience…please be well, stay safe and remember, let’s talk about better…The Not Old Better Show.  Check out our website for details about our radio shows and all other free resources and recordings!  Thanks, everybody.   Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Let's Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World The Not Old Better Show, Fitness Friday Interview Series... Welcome to The Not Old Better Show.  I’m Paul Vogelzang and am excited to be with you today, following another great week of talk, music, and community here on radio shows and podcasts. For many of us in The Not Old Better Show audience, exercise and fitness is a way of life.  That’s definitely the case for me and my family.  I like to exercise, stay fit, creatively try new exercises, and even read about exercise. Our guest today,  journalist Danielle Friedman, has written a new book about the history of exercise and fitness, titled, ‘Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World.’  (Available HERE at Apple Books) For many women today, working out is as accepted as it is expected, fueling a multibillion-dollar fitness industrial complex. But it wasn’t always this way. For much of the twentieth century, sweating was considered unladylike and girls grew up believing physical exertion would cause their uterus to literally fall out. It was only in the sixties that, thanks to a few forward-thinking fitness pioneers, women began to move en masse. In her new book, Let's Get Physical, our guest today, journalist Danielle Friedman reveals to us the fascinating hidden history of contemporary women’s fitness culture, chronicling in vivid, cinematic prose how exercise evolved from a beauty tool pitched almost exclusively as a way to “reduce” into one million have harnessed as a path to mental, emotional, and physical well-being.  That of course is our guest today, journalist Danielle Friedman, reading from her new book, ‘Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World.’  We will discuss with Danielle Friedman the women who led the way of the fitness revolution, the tremendous gains women have made in obtaining the ‘right’ to exercise, and Danielle Friedman will share lots of stories of people who went to fitness classes because of how they wanted to look but stayed because of how those classes made them feel: strong, supported, and empowered. Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show via internet phone, journalist Danielle Friedman, author of the new book, ‘Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World.’ My thanks to Danielle Friedman, author of the new book, ‘‘Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World.’ Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How Dementia is impacting Black America The Not Old Better Show - Black History Month Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show.  I’m Paul Vogelzang and it’s great to be with you again this week on the radio show and our podcast.  Remember, you can find more information about the show at NotOld-Better.com. Well, February is Black History Month, and we are honoring the contributions of Black supporters, advocates, and organizations who are working to empower Black communities throughout America.   Our guest today, Brandi Alexander, National Director of Community Engagement, at Compassion & Choices, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to improve healthcare, expand healthcare options, and empower all of us in The Not Old Better Show audience, irrespective of race to chart their end-of-life journey. But, for Black Americans, health inequities can prevent individuals and their families from experiencing end-of-life outcomes that align with their values and priorities. This is especially true when faced with a dementia diagnosis. Dementia is the general term for a group of diseases or conditions that cause impairment to a person’s thinking, memories, or decision-making. Research has shown that people in the Black community often face barriers to their care for dementia, including delays in diagnosis. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Around 60–80%Trusted Source of people with dementia have Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, older Black Americans are twice as likely to have dementia than older white Americans. Today we are focused on how dementia is impacting the Black community.  Brandi Alexander and her team at Compassion and Choices are hosting a virtual event with first-hand expertise and speakers on this subject, which we have the privilege of learning more about today.  Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, Black History Month series, Brandi Alexander Compassion & Choices My thanks to Bran Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Hiking and the Great Outside - Journeys North author Barney Mann The Not Old Better Show, Author Interview Series... Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, I’m Paul Vogelzang.  Today’s episode is brought to you by Ritual. As my audience here on the Not Old Better Show knows my wife Gretchen and  I are avid hikers. Because of our love of being on the trails in nature, Gretchen and I read hiking books, trail guides, and all manner of “Best Of” lists when it comes to best hikes.  We like medium length, like 15 - 20 mile hikes a day, 50 miles over a weekend, but I have long harbored a secret desire to hike the country’s longest trails – and around here, that’s the Appalachian Trail, knowing that there are parts and subparts relatively easy to tackle.  But, the big national trails:  Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, as well as the Appalachian Trail are so long, arduous that it would take a few months to as our guest today Barney Scout Mann phrases it “through-hike them” and the fact is both Gretchen and I are self-employed so these hikes will have to wait, at least for us. But, we’ll live vicariously today because our guest, avid hiker Barney Scout Mann, is one of a handful of people who’ve hiked all three of the US’ longest trails.    Barney Scout Mann is one of the rare individuals who have hiked America’s Triple Crown – The Appalachian, Continental Divide, and Pacific Crest trails. For those of you who are unfamiliar with these trails, they are the longest trails in the country. The Pacific Crest Trail is 2650 miles long and covers 26 national forests, 7 national parks, 5 state parks, and 3 national monuments. It takes 5 months at an average of 20 miles a day. Well, today we get a fabulous pleasure to hear stories from Barney – trail name Scout – Mann about the Pacific Crest Trail and his book Journeys North. Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, Barney ’Scout’ Mann. My thanks to Ritual for sponsoring today’s show, and please support our sponsors by checking out the show notes for details.  You can find a lot more in the show notes about our guest Barney Scout Mann, his new book, ‘Journeys North,’ and trail resources from Barney.  Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.