Age Better with Barbara Hannah Grufferman

“The data strongly suggests that we are looking for magic bullets on pharmacy shelves when the most powerful tools are actually foundational, very basic daily habits.” — Shanley Chien  Key Links  U.S. News & World Report: 2026 Healthy Aging Survey is HERE  Learn more about the BHOF ‘Be Bone Strong’ Walking Clubs HERE  Get info about the dynamometer to measure grip strength HERE   There is no shortage of advice about how to live longer—supplements, trackers, biohacks, new medications, tests and endless health metrics.  But what actually helps us age better?  U.S. News & World Report asked 63 experts across medicine, nutrition, fitness, longevity and research, and the answers offer a surprisingly clear roadmap.  In this episode, journalist Shanley Chien joins me to unpack the findings that stood out most—including what the experts say we may be overcomplicating, one major healthy-aging risk that often gets overlooked, the markers that may help predict future independence, and the issues women need to be paying much more attention to as we get older.  We also talk about GLP-1 medications, brain health, wearables, inflammation—and why some of the most effective strategies for aging better may also be the simplest.  If this episode helps you, please follow AGE BETTER on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, subscribe on YouTube, and share it with someone who wants to stay strong, healthy and independent for years to come.  And if you have a question, comment or topic you’d like me to explore, email me at [email protected]. 

“You never used to think, ‘Am I eating enough?’ You’re always thinking, ‘Can I eat less?’ And now I want you to think: Are you eating enough?” — Heidi Skolnik  Key Links  Learn more about Heidi Skolnik HERE   Get more info on “Your GLP-1 Game Plan: What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About How to Eat, Move, and Thrive on Weight Loss Medications” HERE   GLP-1 medications have transformed weight loss, but especially after 60, losing weight is only part of the equation. Sports nutritionist and exercise physiologist Heidi Skolnik returns to AGE BETTER to explain how to use these medications without sacrificing muscle, bone, strength, or good nutrition.  What You Will Learn  Why rapid weight loss can put muscle and bone at risk  How much protein you may need—and why more isn’t always better  Why resistance training is essential  How to eat when your appetite is dramatically reduced  What to do about nausea, constipation, and dehydration  Which supplements may actually help—and which are mostly hype  How GLP-1s can change your relationship with food and “food noise”  If you’re taking a GLP-1, considering one, or simply want to understand these medications better, this episode is for you.  Follow AGE BETTER, and share this episode with someone who needs it. And if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

“I want to proceed unfinished . . .think of the changes as adaptations, not surrender.” — Kathryn Grody  KEY LINKS  Kathryn Grody’s one-woman show, The Unexpected 3rd — October 13–November 1 at George Street Playhouse The Unexpected 3rd — tickets and information  Don’t Listen to Us with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody — Kathryn and Mandy’s podcast with their son, Gideon Listen to Don’t Listen to Us  “The Layers” by Stanley Kunitz — the poem Kathryn reads during our conversation Read “The Layers”  How Not to F*ck Up Your Face by Valerie Monroe Visit Valerie Monroe’s Substack  What does getting older actually feel like?  At 79, award-winning actress and writer Kathryn Grody isn’t interested in pretending she has aging figured out. She’s funny about it, angry about parts of it, grateful for it—and determined to keep discovering who she is.  Kathryn joins me for a wonderfully candid conversation about entering what she calls her “third and final act,” which inspired her one-woman show, The Unexpected 3rd. We talk about the strange experience of feeling like yourself while suddenly being treated as “old,” why allowing her hair to go gray felt almost radical, and what happens when the world begins making assumptions about what you can—and can’t—do.  We also talk about strength and changing bodies, needing more time to recharge, bringing new people into your life as old friends are lost, the fear of mortality, marriage and family, and the unexpected social-media fame that came when her son Gideon began filming Kathryn and her husband, Mandy Patinkin, simply being themselves.  And then the conversation goes somewhere deeper: How do we acknowledge what is hard about aging without allowing fear and loss to become the center of our lives?  Kathryn’s answer has stayed with me. Stay curious. Keep adapting. Keep participating. Keep making room for new experiences. And above all, don’t assume you’re finished.  If this conversation speaks to you, please share it with a friend who is thinking about what her own next chapter might look like. And be sure to follow AGE BETTER wherever you listen, subscribe to the AGE BETTER YouTube channel, and leave a rating or review—it really does help more women find the show. 

“One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made is overvaluing status and undervaluing purpose. And as I get older, I hope to switch that out.” — Maggie Rowe  KEY LINKS  Lisen to ‘50 Words for Snow’ podcast HERE  Learn more about Maggie Rowe HERE   Read AGE BETTER CHEAT SHEET newsletter HERE    What if some of the problem with aging is simply that we don’t have good enough words for it?  English gives us elderly, senior, over the hill, anti-aging—and the particularly maddening “you look good for your age.” But in other languages, there are words that describe growing older very differently: as ripening, accumulating wisdom and experience, becoming more grounded, letting go of old burdens, and approaching life with renewed curiosity and wonder.  My guest today is writer and performer Maggie Rowe, co-host of the fascinating podcast 50 Words for Snow, which explores words from other languages that have no direct English equivalent.  Maggie introduces me to words and ideas I wish we had been using all along—including a Japanese concept that compares aging to ripening and becoming more complex and layered with time, another that describes the treasure trove of experience we accumulate through life, and shoshin, or “beginner’s mind”: the ability to approach life with curiosity instead of assuming we already know everything.  We also have some fun deciding which aging words deserve to be retired forever.  But the deeper question is one worth thinking about: Do the words we use merely describe aging—or do they influence what we expect aging to be?  Because if the language surrounding getting older is mostly about decline and loss, it’s easy to start believing that story. What happens when we replace some of those words with ones that recognize what can actually increase with age—perspective, freedom, purpose, curiosity, self-knowledge and the ability to appreciate our lives?  This conversation may make you think differently about the words you use to describe yourself—and this stage of your life.  Listen to this episode and then tell me: What word would YOU choose to describe growing older?  Send me your word at [email protected] or share it with me on social media.  And if this episode made you think, please follow AGE BETTER, leave a rating or review, and share it with a friend.Those small actions make a huge difference in helping more women discover the show.  And don’t forget to sign up for the AGE BETTER CHEAT SHEET for more of the ideas, research and practical strategies that can help all of us age better. 

“For vaginal estrogen . . . there’s no window of timing. If you’re 80 years old and your body has not seen estrogen in 30 years, you can still start local vaginal estrogen. It’s not too late. You can start.” — Dr. Margaret Nachtigall  We talk a lot about protecting our hearts, our brains, and our bones as we get older. But what about vaginal health?  In this episode of AGE BETTER, Dr. Margaret Nachtigall joins me to talk about what really happens to the vagina and urinary tract after menopause — and, more importantly, what we can do about it.  We cover vaginal dryness, burning and discomfort; why urinary urgency and recurrent UTIs can be connected to menopause; when symptoms are normal and when they’re a red flag; and the treatments that can make a real difference. Dr. Margaret explains the role of local vaginal estrogen, hyaluronic acid, moisturizers and lubricants, pelvic floor physical therapy, and other options — including what women with a history of breast cancer should discuss with their medical team.   We also talk about sex after 60, STI protection with a new partner, pelvic exams as we age, and one message I especially want women to hear: you do not have to simply accept vaginal discomfort as part of getting older. There are treatments, and it is never too late to ask for help.  If you’re in your 60s, 70s or beyond — or care about someone who is — this is an important conversation to hear and share.  Listen now, and then talk with your healthcare provider about what makes sense for you.  Are you loving AGE BETTER? Consider subscribing and following wherever you tune in. Check out AGE BETTER CHEAT SHEET newsletter on Substack.   See you next week!