Episode Overview

Podcast: Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough to Listen)
Episode Title: There is Something I Want to Say to You Older Folks
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Host: Suze Orman (with frequent guest and partner, KT)

This heartfelt episode sees Suze Orman and KT reflect on the emotional and practical facets of aging, change, letting go, and embracing new chapters in life. Centered around their own experiences—particularly their decision to downsize and sell their beloved private island home after 14 years—the conversation is both personal and rich with financial and life wisdom directed at “older folks,” though valuable for all listeners. The episode culminates with an inspiring historic audio clip from Sophie Tucker, encouraging listeners of any age to “stay in the business of staying young.”

Key Themes & Takeaways

1. A Season of Change: Letting Go and New Beginnings

• Personal Story: Suze and KT open up about their emotional Christmas, transitioning from their cherished private island home to a much smaller condo in Florida.
  • KT describes the bittersweet experience of working in storage units, preparing for the move, and feeling the absence of Christmas spirit—until Suze surprises her with a meaningful, hand-decorated tree.

    “There in front of me is a beautiful live Christmas tree decorated with little baby lights, little crystals hanging on ornaments… and photographs all over the tree. And I burst into tears.” — KT (03:00)

• Letting Go: Both admit the difficulty in moving on from what was their version of “perfection”—a life built specifically for them, full of memories, traditions, and meaning (06:09).

2. A Lifetime of Homes and the Logic of Downsizing

• Suze recounts their journey: five homes at one point (in New York, San Francisco, South Africa, the island, and Florida), eventually consolidating to just the Florida condo for practical and emotional reasons.
  • The Florida condo was initially bought to encourage Suze’s mother to move out of Chicago, an anecdote that illustrates how life's changes often begin from acts of family support. (10:39)
  • Cost and convenience play a role:

    “What we saved on California income tax paid for the condo outright the next year. So it was fabulous, everybody, in every possible way.” — Suze (12:09)

3. The Emotional Impact of Change

• While the move brought tears (particularly as they had to say goodbye to Kolo, their beloved island caretaker), both Suze and KT focus on gratitude and new possibilities.
  • Kolo, an integral part of their island life, stays as caretaker and is happy with the new owners, continuing his own traditions. (08:33)

    • “Colo, I know that you're listening to this. You know we miss you, you know we love you.” — Suze (09:14)

• Despite the loss, they feel rejuvenated by the simplicity of their new life:

  “KT and I feel young again. Honeymoon young in a different way. Like we're going to be forever young.” — Suze (16:00)

4. The Wisdom and Freedom of Downsizing

• The episode’s core message is that smart financial and lifestyle choices—especially when older—are about adapting, simplifying, and following your own advice.
  • Suze emphasizes the financial power and peace of having “no expenses, no debt,” and being able to live off Social Security if necessary, reflecting on financial independence even for “the money lady.” (16:59)

    • “If we had to, if we hadn’t amassed everything that we have... Just me and Susie, we can live on our Social Security checks in this little condo…” — KT (16:59)

• Suze stresses that downsizing is not a defeat, but a gateway to freedom, youthfulness, and opportunity.

  • “There comes a time when it makes sense emotionally, physically, and financially to downsize… so that we can make the most out of every moment of the rest of our lives…” — Suze (18:38)

5. Advice for Listeners of All Ages

• By sharing their own journey, Suze models her own advice from The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+—urging listeners to consider downsizing and embracing change for a more fulfilling and secure life.
• KT’s metaphor about high school graduation encapsulates the bittersweet nature of moving on:

  “It’s new and it’s time.” — KT (15:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Youthfulness and Mindset:

  “But how about your heart?”
  “Oh, my heart is as young, as young and feisty and loving as possible.”
  — KT & Suze (05:21-05:23)

• On the Perfection of Past Life:

  “The name of our home, our boat, even our… everything around us is what—KT, tell everybody what ‘pranata’ means.”
  “Pranata means perfection.”
  — Suze & KT (07:04-07:06)

• On Adapting to Change:

  "Sometimes no matter how much you love something... sometimes there’s a time that things just need to come to an end." — Suze (05:36)

• On Their Financial Values:

  “Just knowing that she can do that, being the money lady, that means a great deal to Susie. Not to me, but to Susie.” — KT (17:21)

• On the Essence of the Episode:

  “We wish you all a life that you really feel forever young.” — Suze (19:44)

[19:47] The Sophie Tucker Moment: “Staying Young is a Career”

(19:47-23:53)

The episode closes with a moving 1960 recording by Sophie Tucker delivered on the Ed Sullivan Show, which perfectly echoes Suze’s message:

“Be in the business of staying young. Make staying young a career… Don’t sit around and sigh and let the world pass you by but get with it, stay with it as long as you’re here and don’t be living in the past. … Age can be a frightening thing if you let yourself fear it. … So you get busy and be useful every day that you’re on earth... And you too can be youthful if you’ll think and live that way.” — Sophie Tucker (19:47-23:53)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Holiday Stories, the Christmas Tree Surprise — 00:00–04:12
• Introducing the Theme & Their Age — 04:22–05:36
• Life on the Island & Decision to Sell — 06:09–08:17
• Saying Goodbye to Kolo & the Island — 08:17–09:43
• History of Their Different Homes — 10:26–13:34
• Downsizing, Feeling Young Again, Financial Security — 16:00–17:29
• Suze’s Core Advice on Downsizing — 18:38–19:46
• Sophie Tucker’s “Staying Young” Monologue — 19:47–23:53
• Empowering Closing Statements — 23:53–end

Final Words

Tone: Warm, candid, vulnerable, encouraging, and empowering.

This episode reiterates Suze’s long-standing ethos: money isn’t just about numbers, but about using it to foster joy, security, and a life that remains “forever young.” By sharing their own real transitions, Suze and KT invite listeners of all ages to embrace change and cherish the freedom and renewal it can bring.

Core message:
"Be in the business of staying young. Make staying young a career."
— Sophie Tucker (19:47)