It is a big birthday for me this month and I wrote this as a gift to myself, to my kids and to my grandkids. It encompasses all that is me, was me, and I do believe not just me.

You may want to listen to it more than once and then share it with someone, and I think you’ll see why after you hear it.

All I can say is that I have never written anything like this before. There is really no way to describe it, so just press play and hear for yourself!

I have to tell you that this has to be one of the most vulnerable interviews I have had with a guest. Do not miss one minute of this episode.

Elizabeth Laura Nelson is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor. I discovered Elizabeth after reading her Modern Love Story in the New York Times (the link is below), which was their most popular article on social media the weekend it was published! Back to that in a minute.

Elizabeth co-founded Jenny, a digital magazine focused on Gen X and elder Millennial women and served as the managing editor of Woman’s World and the deputy health editor for Best Life.

Known for her candid essays and approachable style, Elizabeth has contributed to websites including xoJane, SheSaid, Elite Daily, YourTango, and more. Her work often explores relationships, wellness, pop culture, and modern family life, connecting deeply with readers through her personal stories and insights on subjects like single motherhood, dating, and midlife.

After I read Elizabeth’s Modern Love story in the New York Times, I immediately played detective to find her so I could ask her to be my guest on Loving Later Life. I keep telling you all, it never hurts to ask!

Beginning with a blooper that I decided to leave in, this episode blossoms like a flower being watered in real time. And by the time we get to the end you will have witnessed the full bloom of an incredibly moving story of self-discovery and love.

I am so grateful to Elizabeth for sharing her genuine heart with us. I know for certain that anyone who listens to the entire episode will walk away with something they will not ever forget.

There are so many golden nuggets unearthed along the path of our conversation. You must hear every single minute.

Please join us…

Welcome to the last 2024 episode of Loving Later Life. This episode is dropping on December 23rd just 2 days before the holiday and a little over a week away from the year 2025. And because it is a bonkers time for all, I’m keeping this shorter than usual.

I learned a new term recently: liminal space. Apparently, the word liminal is from the Latin word limen, which means threshold. It is defined as “a transitional state between where someone is and where they are going—not knowing the future whether physically, emotionally, or metaphorically.” The space between what has already been, and what is to come.

At this time of year, as we balance on the precipice of family and friends gathering or sitting alone at home with the unknown of a new year around the bend, I am suggesting that we focus on the opportunities that are hiding underneath whatever challenges we encounter. I hope you'll join me for more on this, and my special toast to you.

Christina Woods is an internationally recognized Clinical Hypnotherapist, Rapid Transformational Therapist®, Empowerment Coach, and Reiki Master who leads women to realize their worth, shed old programs, and align with their authentic selves. Combining her three decades in corporate leadership, Christina has turned her personal triumph over adversity into a beacon of hope for hundreds of women worldwide.As the CEO and Founder of Wise Woods Hypnotherapy, Inc., Christina leads with the heart and has channeled her formidable experience in overcoming complex challenges into fostering the potential within others.

Her combined expertise in hypnotherapy, coaching, and energy healing inspired her to create her signature approach, the Wise Woods Method, which guides clients all over the world on a truly profound journey of self-discovery and change.

Christina helps women shatter self-sabotaging patterns and overcome burnout. She empowers them to find the strength and wisdom within, establish healthy boundaries, and create lives filled with purpose and fulfillment.

Alongside her deep mindset and healing work, Christina works with thenon-profit organization, Lotus Rising International, whose mission is to provide holistic wellness recovery programs for survivors of human trafficking.

As we head into Thanksgiving, many of us are perhaps feeling more frightened than thankful. I have been trying to process all of my emotions since Nov. 5th as I know many of you have.

While political discussions in the past have not been my jam, what we are experiencing is the worst reality show for which we are all cast members, like it or not. It has gotten very personal, so I’m talking about it.

And since that which is personal, is often universal…at least for half of this Universe we are living in, I hope you will walk this path with me. Please, join me.

I’ll see you there…

We are so fortunate to have Sky Bergman as our special guest on Loving Later Life. She is Professor Emeritus of Photography and Video at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Her artwork is in prestigious museum collections, and her commercial work has appeared in renowned magazines like the Smithsonian.

In her third act after a 30-year teaching career, Sky felt pulled by her dreams and passions in the direction of being behind the lens of a different kind, motivated and inspired by the love of her Grandma who was turning 100.

She wanted to find other people like her Grandmother who could be her role models for aging. Sky spent 4 years interviewing 40 ppl with a collective life experience of 3000 years and created the film Lives Well Lived currently on PBS, Amazon, and iTunes to name a few. Her goal was to discover their secret, and she found that they had 3 things in common, which she shares with us, and more!

You will feel incredibly positive about aging after watching her film. It has been so popular that she then wrote the book "Lives Well Lived — GENERATIONS. " The first half is about her experiences making the film and the lessons she learned. The second half is about the amazing people around the globe who are doing work connecting generations.

Sky’s passion is creating films and projects that inspire intergenerational connections, emphasizing the power of shared stories. And after listening to our conversation, you will feel the power of her story and very different about aging.

Welcome back to Loving Later Life and if you are a returning Loving Later Lifer I so appreciate you. If you are new, thank you, welcome and this is a hell of a first episode to hear! And I’m hoping it won’t be your last.

I’m going out on a limb with this one while reminding myself of phrases like, ‘not everyone will like what you have to say, and that’s ok,’ or Hamilton’s, "If you stand for nothing, what will you fall for" or as Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” and yes, lastly the saying: "If you see something, say something."

I have been silent, and I’m at the point now where I feel if I don’t say something, it will make me complicit in history repeating itself, and as MLK said, in watching our lives (as we know it) begin to end. I decided that I can’t let the fear of losing listeners or of upsetting anyone prevent me from sharing a perspective that I’ve been thinking about, and then heard it stated much more eloquently by a historian. So, I ask that you please hang in for thirteen minutes until the end, no matter if you agree or not.

Welcome back to another episode of Loving Later Life!

This episode is another first! My conversation is with a couple. In their 80’s! And, they’re not just any couple! They are nationally recognized relationship therapists Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers.

Gloria and Frank are currently serving as spokespersons for the dating app Silver Singles (they actually met online with this app). They were recently featured on NBC Tampa Bay's Bloom TV, Yahoo! Life, Men's Health, The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever with Chris Harrison, and Whine Down with Jana Kramer, among others.

Dr. Gloria Horsley is a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical nurse specialist. She is the president and co-founder of the Open to Hope Foundation and co-hosts the award-winning “Open to Hope” TV series and podcast.

Dr. Frank Powers, Ph.D., has been a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Scottsdale Arizona for the last 30 years. He served as the chairman of the Psychiatric Security Review Board for the State of Arizona and is a past psychology professor at Scottsdale Community College.

Gloria and Frank have written a book together called, OPEN TO LOVE: THE SECRETS OF SENIOR DATING. Writing a book together was the last thing they thought they'd be doing at this stage of their lives, but the magic that came with finding each other later in life compelled them to share their story. And they wanted to do their part in making things a little bit easier and more fun when tackling the world of dating.

You will not be able to listen to this without smiling the entire time. We had so much fun, and we also had fun navigating some internet issues including my power going out in the middle of our conversation!

Come join us in the fun!