Midway through Season 1, we discussed the sensitive topic of cremation versus burial, with guests Joshua and Lacey Shook from the National Cremation Society.

They told us about importance of prearranging final arrangements, the benefits of travel protection, and the significant cost differences between burial and cremation.

And then we touched on the emotional aspects of planning for death, the growing trend of cremation, and innovative memorial options available to families. It's an important discussion that we should all have, and so we emphasized the need for open conversations about end-of-life choices, and the importance of making informed decisions to ease the burden on loved ones.

Highlights include:

• Prearranging final arrangements can alleviate stress for families.
• Travel protection plans can cover costs if a person passes away overseas.
• The cost of burial can be significantly higher than cremation.
• Cremation is becoming increasingly popular, with 78% of families in Florida choosing it.
• Planning ahead can help ensure that your wishes are honored and reduce emotional costs for loved ones.

Over the summer, we'll be publishing little excerpts, shorts and fun tidbits from past episodes: watch your podcast feed, and season 4 will be starting in September!

Check out some excerpts from our conversation here today, and click below for the full episode, on Spotify, Apple or YouTube:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Ex9z310UPWK6NgQEI1HWQ?si=SlHEY62aQmyzBJ7NJUCHVA

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exit-strategy-cremation-and-burial-decisions/id1796463762?i=1000702849509

https://youtu.be/okfhLFer9sQ

And don't forget to visit:

https://weareoldpodcast.com/

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at:

weareoldpodcast@gmail.com

Over the summer, we'll be publishing little excerpts, shorts and fun tidbits from past episodes: watch your podcast feed, and season 4 will be starting in September!

---

What are the 'Core Four' pillars of health?

Sleep, movement, protein, and hydration.

Dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner was here with her bubbling enthusiasm and energy to emphasize the importance of simplifying wellness practices, focusing on foundational habits rather than getting lost in minor details.

Dawn shares her insights on how to improve sleep quality, the necessity of regular movement, and the critical role of protein in maintaining health as we get older. The discussion is filled with practical tips and motivational advice to help listeners adopt a healthier lifestyle.

She emphasizes that as we age, our protein needs increase, and highlights the necessity of incorporating various protein sources into our diets. Additionally, she explains how fiber and hydration are essential for maintaining digestive health and overall well-being.

So much action-packed info!

Highlights include:

• Simplicity in nutrition leads to higher energy and engagement.
• Regular movement is essential for maintaining muscle mass and longevity.
• Finding enjoyable forms of exercise increases adherence to fitness routines.
• As we age, our protein needs increase significantly.
• Making healthy habits enjoyable is the key to better lifestyle choices.
• Regular hydration is key to digestive health.

Check out some excerpts from our conversation here today, and click below for the full episode, on Spotify, Apple or YouTube:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6kQ199PE3F0xjTa2ZXbGZh?si=jhsBhWAGTFe6Bh0Le8gd9Q

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-core-4-for-better-health-sleep-move-protein-poop/id1796463762?i=1000766421680

https://youtu.be/AeL9tOfE6K0

And don't forget to visit:

https://weareoldpodcast.com/

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at:

weareoldpodcast@gmail.com

Ken shares a touching Father's Day story about love, tragedy, recovery and resilence, and a reminder to all of us, no matter which day of the year it is, to stay grounded in the moment and present with those we love.

Learn more about the podcast:

https://weareoldpodcast.com/

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at:

weareoldpodcast@gmail.com

Over the summer, we'll be publishing little excerpts, shorts and fun tidbits from past episodes: watch your podcast feed, and season 4 will be starting in September!

---

A crucially important topic this past Season 3 was the importance of building a digital fortress to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud.

Nora Duncan of the Connecticut chapter of AARP joined me to talk about various topics including the risks associated with the dark web, the necessity of credit freezes, the dangers of using checks, and the advantages of digital payment methods over traditional ones.

You need to be proactive in managing financial security in the digital age, which means setting yourself up with multi-factor authentication, and safeguarding personal information.

What do you do if your phone is lost? How do you protect yourself from identity theft? What are passkeys and biometrics?

There was so much to cover, we did two episodes! Take the time to go through both, take notes, reach out to me or Nora, and involve your family too in these important discussions.

Highlights include:

• Building a digital fortress is essential for security.
• Many social security numbers are compromised on the dark web.
• Identity theft can lead to significant financial loss.
• A credit freeze is a crucial tool for protection.
• Digital wallets offer enhanced security compared to checks.
• Credit cards provide better fraud protection than debit cards.

Check out some excerpts from our conversation here today, and click below for the full episode, on Spotify, Apple or YouTube:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3lWeQdIJmwV0AcV1NXaXOn?si=7lTuWPmFS-iErupX_qB8sQ

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5loWLMoS1CFavGptNRAi4I?si=UGXtbtz3QkuSM6XKLqzQ-A

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spotting-scams-tips-and-tricks-for-seniors-part-1/id1796463762?i=1000763041507

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-your-digital-fortress-part-2-with-nora-duncan-aarp/id1796463762?i=1000764352298

https://youtu.be/DXmEtXM-E9Q?si=zSZsoQd5sA8_kOQU

https://youtu.be/TS8SQCkYjnU?si=1EoB_V60Pv-Te7oE

And don't forget to visit:

https://weareoldpodcast.com/

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at:

weareoldpodcast@gmail.com

Over the summer, we'll be publishing little excerpts, shorts and fun tidbits from past episodes: watch your podcast feed, and season 4 will be starting in September!

---

Our 3rd Season kicked off with a fascinating episode on the man behind The Beatles, the glue who kept them together (until it all came apart): Mal Evans.

Beatles aficionados will likely know about Mal, but to a broader audience he's still mostly unknown. Author and noted Beatles expert Ken Womack joined me to talk about his book profiling Mal, exploring his significant yet often overlooked contributions to the Beatles' legacy, his journey from being a telecommunications engineer to a vital part of the Beatles' world, the impact of his life and tragic end.

In so doing, you also get a window into The Beatles' creative process, their studio years, and the legendary rooftop concert, the dynamics of the band and the importance of collaboration in their success.

Highlights include:

• Mal Evans was the first Beatles archivist, preserving their history.
• He contributed to several Beatles songs, including playing drums on 'Yellow Submarine'.
• The Beatles' breakup affected Mal deeply, but he remained close to some members.
• Mal's tragic end highlights the personal struggles behind the scenes of fame.
• Ken Womack's research uncovered valuable materials that could have been lost forever.

Check out some excerpts from our conversation here today, and click below for the full episode, on Spotify, Apple or YouTube:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4G0h90RL786ATSkkL1AEOU?si=h0xNe2dnSHqLJGh3XmxFaA

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scenes-with-the-beatles-from/id1796463762?i=1000746034718

https://youtu.be/OeI7imwGmf4?si=OxlJ-80rLZnnWKFW

And don't forget to visit:

https://weareoldpodcast.com/

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at:

weareoldpodcast@gmail.com

Over the summer, we'll be publishing little excerpts, shorts and fun tidbits from past episodes: watch your podcast feed, and season 4 will be starting in September!

Recently, I chatted with Dr. Leslie Zebrowitz, a professor from Brandeis University, about the intriguing concept of baby faces and their impact on social perception. We explored how baby-faced individuals are perceived differently in various contexts, including courtrooms and everyday interactions.

The discussion delves into the science behind first impressions, the stereotypes associated with baby faces, and how these perceptions can influence judgments about character and competence.

Highlights include:

• Baby faces are associated with childlike traits such as warmth and naivety.
• First impressions are formed very quickly, often within seconds.
• People with baby faces may receive more lenient judgments in court.
• Older adults are more accurate in judging health than younger adults.
• "First impressions happen within seconds."
• "People are terrible lie detectors."
• "It's a blessing and a curse."

Check out some excerpts from our conversation here today, and click below for the full episode, on Spotify, Apple or YouTube:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gpX8PrteMx1BkFD6EXwJO?si=mXwQdtomTei3OxMCF9oxsA

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-people-misread-your-face-with-dr-leslie-zebrowitz/id1796463762?i=1000767558224

https://youtu.be/F_aP9TPUPtk?si=LvTmfTT6OCRqRb29

And don't forget to visit:

https://weareoldpodcast.com/

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at:

weareoldpodcast@gmail.com

We've had a wonderful season 3, full of fascinating episodes. If there are some you haven't caught up on yet, now's a great time to circle back and see what you missed.

We'll be publishing little excerpts, shorts and fun tidbits over the summer: watch your podcast feed, and season 4 will be starting in September!

Thank you for watching and listening to We Are Old, Get Over It! The podcast for seniors (and their families) - help us grow the show and its impact by sharing episodes, clips and the website, don't forget to visit

https://weareoldpodcast.com/

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at weareoldpodcast@gmail.com.

It's a multibillion dollar, worldwide industry.

Thousands of people, often seniors, go overseas to help in person with orphanages and other aid organizations.

But what if it's not all it appears?

Today we're pulling back the curtain on the dark side of orphanage tourism.

What appears on the surface as a positive, hands-on experience to help out those in need, in fact typically has major structural issues, driven by malicious purposes.

Aisling Ledwith, Senior Advocacy and Campaigns Officer at Lumos, is here to help shed light on the issue. Lumos presses governments to reform care systems and show how children can be safely reunited with families, instead of being left with often exploitive institutions.

What are "institutions"? Basically another word for orphanages, but in fact, in an "orphanage," typically 80% of children do still have at least one living parent. The children end up there for all kinds of reasons, but cannot possible get the type of care and support that all children should have. And that's even if the institution has otherwise well-meaning intentions.

Children need a proper caregiver, for one-on-one care and for attention. In other words, a parent.

So what do we do if there is no parent?

How you can use your skills, your money and your heart to make a difference without causing unintended harm?

Aisling talks to us about what child trafficking is, and the frequent cases of exploiting children to attract donations.

One major red flag: it shouldn't be easy to get access to children. It should be something where there are background checks and gateways in place, for their protection.

So our takeaway today from this important and powerful conversation is, do your research, think about where your money is going, how you can best help, and how can we work towards strengthening the best outcome of all: that children have loving, committed, full-time individual caregivers to raise them as we all want to be raised.

Resources from today's episode:

Lumos - https://www.lumos.org

Rethink Orphanages - https://rethinkorphanages.org

---
Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

https://weareoldpodcast.com/

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at weareoldpodcast@gmail.com.