Dealing with Aging

Summary

The Dr. Laura Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Dealing with Aging
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger

---

Overview

In this heartfelt and humorous episode, Dr. Laura shares her candid reflections on confronting the realities of aging, particularly as a woman. Drawing from a personal moment in her morning routine, she unpacks the anxieties, societal expectations, and ultimately the acceptance that comes with growing older. The atmosphere is both uplifting and disarmingly honest, delivering advice and encouragement to listeners—especially women—navigating their own feelings about aging.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Morning Mirror Revelation

• Dr. Laura recalls getting ready for a video shoot and reluctantly confronting her reflection up close.
• She jokes about only approaching the mirror from three feet away from now on, humorously noting, “It’s a little hard to put on eye makeup at three feet from the mirror, but…” — Dr. Laura (02:22).
• This spurs a self-dialogue between “Laura and Dr. Laura,” evaluating her emotional response to visible signs of aging.

Aging—A Gendered Experience

• Dr. Laura observes the cultural double standards between men and women in aging:
  • “Men, as they get gritty and stuff, we see them as sexier. … Even movie stars—when they were young, they were really pretty, but when they got older, they got more manly looking.” — Dr. Laura (03:20).
• She notes that women tend to feel more pressured by physical changes, while men are often viewed as more attractive as they age.

Acceptance Replaces the Fight

• Initially, Dr. Laura admits to wrestling with aging, but now embraces a more practical, accepting attitude:
  • Considers her priorities: family, work, health, friendships, and embracing new challenges.
  • “Are you upset? … Actually, not anymore. There are too many important things going on in my life … and this is how I look. I don’t care.” — Dr. Laura (04:01)
• Acknowledges she’s shifted from vanity to self-care:
  • “Vanity has gone—well, I brush my teeth. So not totally not vain, but vanity is just gone.” — Dr. Laura (04:36)

Evolving Self-Image and Priorities

• Dr. Laura shares her new beauty routine: minimal makeup focused on what matters (“mascara and a little stuff on the eyebrows and then cheeks and lipstick and the rest of it, I don’t care. I really don’t care anymore.” — Dr. Laura (05:11))
• She’s chosen comfort over style, cleaning up for herself rather than public opinion.

The Gift of Aging: Peace

• Contrasts her younger years (“you’re fighting life. You’re fighting not getting the things done you want done…you fight the aging, you fight the aches and pains, you fight it.” — Dr. Laura (04:55)) with her present-day serenity.
• Emphasizes the calm that comes with acceptance:
  • “One of many really good things about getting older is that you stop fighting it. You start accepting it and it makes you more peaceful.” — Dr. Laura (05:06)

Advice to Listeners—Especially Women

• Encourages listeners to relinquish worries over their appearance:
  • “Nobody’s going to like you or me more or less based on our skin condition.” — Dr. Laura (06:39)
• Cherishes friends who are still trying cosmetic enhancements, but places greater value on relationships, purpose, and health:
  • “As long as I have my work, my friends, my family, Lily bug, my health, ways to be productive… I’d rather do that than worry about my skin on my face.” — Dr. Laura (09:16)

The “Three-Foot” Rule

• Concludes her monologue with the resolution to always stand three feet from the mirror, poking fun at herself:
  • “I look good now. Damn, I look good. Especially before my eye drops.” — Dr. Laura (09:35)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 02:22 | “It’s a little hard to put on eye makeup at three feet from the mirror, but…” | Dr. Laura | | 03:20 | “Men, as they get gritty and stuff, we see them as sexier.” | Dr. Laura | | 04:01 | “Are you upset? … Actually, not anymore. There are too many important things going on in my life … and this is how I look. I don’t care.” | Dr. Laura | | 04:55 | “When you’re younger, you’re fighting life. … You fight the aging, you fight the aches and pains, you fight it.” | Dr. Laura | | 05:06 | “One of many really good things about getting older is that you stop fighting it. … It makes you more peaceful.” | Dr. Laura | | 06:39 | “Nobody’s going to like you or me more or less based on our skin condition.” | Dr. Laura | | 09:16 | “As long as I have my work, my friends, my family, Lily bug, my health, ways to be productive… I’d rather do that than worry about my skin on my face.” | Dr. Laura | | 09:35 | “I look good now. Damn, I look good. Especially before my eye drops.” | Dr. Laura |

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 02:22: Dr. Laura sets the stage with a humorous take on confronting her own aging in the mirror.
• 02:22 – 04:36: Discusses aging, vanity, and gender perceptions.
• 04:36 – 06:39: Shifts toward acceptance and self-care, offers personal insights.
• 09:02 – 09:35: Wraps up with practical advice, emphasizing purpose and relationships over appearance.

---

Closing Thoughts

This episode encapsulates Dr. Laura’s blend of sharp wit and heartfelt wisdom. Her message—embracing the peace that comes with age and letting go of vanity—is empowering, funny, and deeply reassuring, offering listeners a refreshing paradigm for navigating their own journeys with aging.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for honesty, humor, and comfort about the realities of growing older.

Transcript

[Dr. Laura]

I always say I can't cure normal collagen loss. Normal. But it's also the number one reason you start to feel older, stiffer, and more tired. It begins in your 20s, skyrockets after 40. By age 50, you're likely producing only half of what you used to. But here's the good news. Native path collagen can help restore what time is stealing two scoops a day. Deliver 18 grams of pure bioavailable protein Peptides support healthy cartilage, increased bone density, skin elasticity, strong hair nails even better digestion flavorless tested for absolute purity and right now you can lock in a special bundle deal at a fraction of the retail price plus free shipping. Don't wait. Supplies move fast. Go to getnativepath.com DrLora that's getnativepath.com DrLaura Feel it, see it. Start your transformation today. These statements have not been evaluated by the fda. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. With 50 plus weekly options, the Suvi Kitchen robot has a meal to meet all your family's needs. Too busy to cook? No problem. Just don't feel like making dinner. You're covered. Need to eat the second you walk in the door? Sure thing. And here's the best news. Right now, Suvi is having its biggest sale ever. From easy family feasts to Sunday suppers, takeout favorites, and even date night dinners complete with chocolate souffle, there's nothing your sous vide can't do. With sous vide, you just scan a recipe, pop in your meal. Enjoy the day. Meals are ready when you are thanks to built in refrigeration that keeps ingredients safely cooled until it's time to start cooking. Sous Vide's holiday sale going on now. Save $150 off your own SUV. Plus get 16 free meals during their best sale ever. Don't miss out. Go to sous vide.comdrlora that's s u v I e.comdrlora thank you for listening to my morning monologue brought to you by Golden Crest Metals, a new sponsor I want to welcome to my program. Find out how gold and silver can protect what you have worked so hard to build. Learn more at Golden Protect Remember, you can hear my radio program daily on Sirius XM Triumph and connect with me 24 [e-mail] I decided this morning I had so many video things they forced me to do yesterday that I left that undone. So this morning I said let's do them and So I rushed upstairs, went to put some makeup on because it's video, got close to the mirror and went, good gracious me. When did all that aging to my face happen? I don't get that close to the mirror mode. I don't think I'm going to anymore either. I think three feet is a good distance. It's a little hard to put on eye makeup at three feet from the mirror, but. And I had a little conversation with myself and I thought I'd share it with you because we did a deep dive about aging, especially for women, because men, as they get sort of gritty and stuff, they. We see them as sexier. Yeah. I mean, you look at a number of, even movie stars. When they were young, they were really pretty, but when they got older, they got more manly looking. So that was nice. But anyway, so I'm having a little conversation with myself and I'm going, you know, you're 78. This is what happens if you make it to 78. If you croaked at 30, this would not have happened, but you would have missed 58 years. So not a good plan. And I said to myself, are you upset? I was having a conversation, like with Laura and Dr. Laura. I was going back and forth from Laura to doctor, are you upset? And I said, actually, not anymore. Just know there are too many important things going on in my life, too many things I'm looking forward to and doing. And this is how I look. I don't care. I am. Vanity has gone well, I brush my teeth. So not totally not vain, but vanity is just gone. So I clean myself up, I get my hair done, you know, my friend for 30 years now keeps my hair short and cute. Sometimes I let it go too long and it gets scraggly and dragging. I like to wear nice pretty clothes, but I'm going more toward comfortable than stylish. Realize I'm just morphing because I'm good with life now. You're not. When you're younger, you're fighting life. You're fighting not getting the things done you want done. You're fighting not getting what you think you deserve in life. You, you fight it. You fight the aging, you fight the aches and pains. You fight it. We spend most of our young lives fighting life. So the one really, I mean, there are a number. The one really, the one of many really good things about getting older is that you stop fighting it. You start accepting it and it makes you more peaceful. So I put on. I didn't do the whole eyeliner stuff. I put on a ton of mascara because my eyelashes are blonde, looks like I don't have any. My eyebrows are blonde, looks like I don't have any. So mascara and a little stuff on the eyebrows and then cheeks and lipstick and the rest of it, I don't care. I really don't care anymore. And I didn't realize that till this morning. It was like a whole revelation I came down to. And the only thing I said Do I look okay? Yeah. Good. Fine. Let's go. You know, Do I have lettuce between my teeth? No, it's morning. I wouldn't. So I'd like to share that with a lot, especially of you women who are still fighting. You know, nobody's going to like you or me more or less based on our skin condition.

[Blue Buffalo Advertiser]

My dog Max loves chewing on my favorite pair of shoes almost as much as he loves his Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food. Seriously, he never leaves a crumb. And I love it too, because it's made with high quality protein, antioxidant packed fruits and nutrient rich veggies. Blue Buffalo foods are made with the superior ingredients your dog needs to thrive. Can your dog food say that? Visit feedbluefood.com to learn more.

[Fandango Advertiser]

Family movie night just got easier with Fandango. Reserve seats in advance, skip the lines and even cancel if plans change. Plus with Fandango's fan club, save on every trip to the movies. Want to stay in? With Fandango at Home, you can stream your family favorites right from the couch. Whether it's a weekend outing or a cozy night in, Fandango makes movie magic simple for the whole family. Download the Fandango and Fandango at Home app today. Holiday's feeling hectic. Pillsbury is here to lend a hand. Roll out some magic with cookies, crescents, crusts and more fresh from the oven. Tis the season for big smiles and easy wins with Pillsbury. I'm a high note hitting songbird, but I'm also a bird watching backpacker.

[Dr. Laura]

Oh Wood Thrush three o'.

[Blue Buffalo Advertiser]

Clock.

[Fandango Advertiser]

Walmart has a wellness too with tons of things I need to feel good. From electrolytes to help keep me hydrated to soothing cough drops for after every show.

[Dr. Laura]

Oh man.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

How about waterproof boots size 10?

[Fandango Advertiser]

They've got half a billion things online on the app and in store.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Really?

[Dr. Laura]

Who knew?

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Okay, Was that you or the birds?

[Fandango Advertiser]

Check out the wellness side of Walmart today.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Getting more as a Myloes Pro Rewards member is easier than ever with the Lowe's app. Download it today and earn 500 points the first time you log in. Plus, your digital wallet helps you scan, save, earn and access what you need to manage it all in one place. Download the Lowe's app and take advantage of your pro benefits today. Lowe's we help you save. Valid 12125 through 1726 offer valid for first login per organization only. Loyalty program. Subject to terms and conditions. Additional restrictions apply. Visit lowe's.com terms for more details. Subject to change.

[Dr. Laura]

I mean, if you only listen to radio and you don't look at anything else, you don't know what I look like. You make your judgment on listening. You know, your friends, they don't care if you have really good friends, even the ones who are still fighting. I have friends who are still fighting getting the filler and this and that and the other thing and Botox from head to toe, you and yeah, they look good. They look better than they would if they didn't have it. I don't care as long as I have my work, my friends, my family, Lily bug, my health, ways to be productive. And I'm kind of a maniac for taking up new challenges all the time, and I'd rather do that than worry about my skin on my face. And I will stand three feet away from now on when I do makeup and I won't be upset. That's my backup. Stand back from the mirror. I've I look good now. Damn, I look good. Especially before my eye drops. My number 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

[Fandango Advertiser]

Family movie night just got easier with Fandango. Reserve seats in advance, skip the lines, and even cancel if plans change. Plus, with Fandango's fan club, save on every trip to the movies. Want to stay in? With Fandango at Home, you can stream your family favorites right from the couch. Whether it's a weekend outing or a cozy night in, Fandango makes movie magic simple for the whole family. Download the Fandango and Fandango at Home app today.