
Hosted by Paul Vogelzang · EN

The Mental Health Benefits of Movement Live Long Better, Fitness Interview Series with Dr. Sabrena Jo What if one of the best things you can do for your mood, your memory, your confidence, and your independence does not require a gym, a stopwatch, or a brand-new pair of shoes? What if it starts with standing up, taking a walk down the hall, stretching while the coffee brews, or practicing balance beside the kitchen counter? Welcome to the April Live Long Better series from The Not Old Better Show. Today, we are talking about "The Mental Health Benefits of Movement," and here is the provocative truth: after 50, movement is far more than exercise. It is a daily vote for steadiness, self-trust, sharper thinking, lower stress, and a stronger sense of possibility. Our guest is Dr. Sabrena Jo, Senior Director of Science and Education at the American Council on Exercise. She joins us to reframe movement as something joyful, useful, and deeply human—not a chore, not a punishment, and never a test you have to pass. We will talk about the brain-body connection, movement after a fall, balance training, fear, confidence, and the small steps that can help us feel more like ourselves again.

Behind Closed Doors: Why Historic House Museums Are Rewriting the Story of America's Past: America 250 The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series We don't just inherit history—we decide how it's told. 🏠 In this episode, Smithsonian Associate Ken Turino shares why historic house museums are at a turning point. These aren't just preserved spaces. They're places where real lives—complicated, human, unfinished—still speak. What happens when we stop admiring the furniture… and start listening to the stories? For those of us thinking about legacy, community, and meaning—this conversation hits deeper than expected. For more information, please check out the Smithsonian Associates website: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/historic-house-museums Listen here: notold-better.com

Dr. Robert Watson, Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University, reveals the lesser-known stories, surprising twists, and forgotten voices behind the most iconic document in U.S. history. Drawing from a wealth of primary sources—including letters, diaries, newspapers, and diplomatic communiqués—Watson reconstructs the debates, drafts, and drama that surrounded the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Focusing on the influence of women, enslaved individuals, and Indigenous peoples, Watson brings to light the varied cast of often-forgotten characters and perspectives that shaped the American experiment in his book, Declaration: The Story of American Independence. Along the way, he explores the document's philosophical roots, its political impact, and the enduring struggle to realize its lofty promises of liberty and equality. Learn more about Watson's new book Declaration: The Story of American Independence

What if better health didn't require drastic change—just smarter habits? In this episode of The Not Old Better Show, I speak with Dr. Sabrena Jo from the American Council on Exercise about two highly effective, accessible strategies: strength training and morning light exposure. For adults over 50, maintaining muscle, balance, and mobility is essential for independence. Dr. Jo explains how simple resistance exercises—done just a few times a week—can make a measurable difference. We also explore emerging research on morning sunlight. Just 10–20 minutes early in the day can help regulate sleep cycles, improve mood, and even support metabolic health. The takeaway is simple and encouraging: small, consistent actions can lead to meaningful improvements in how we feel and function.

Anthony Horowitz: Murder, Mystery, and the Power of a Second Act The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living Interview Series What if your finest work comes later? 📚 In this episode of The Not Old Better Show, Anthony Horowitz reflects on a career that keeps finding new life. From Foyle's War and Alex Rider to Marble Hall Murders and A Deadly Episode, he continues to surprise readers and viewers with wit, nerve, and remarkable range. What stayed with me most is this: growth does not end with early success. For writers, readers, and anyone in a second act, Anthony speaks candidly about risk, structure, discipline, and staying curious. It's a conversation about craft, ambition, and why the next chapter can still be your strongest. Check out A Deadly Episode on Apple Books! https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-deadly-episode/id6751496045

😴 What's Really Ruining Your Sleep? The Mattress Myths, Cooling Claims & Bedding Fixes That Actually Matter 🛏️🔬✨ The Not Old Better Show, Good Housekeeping Good Better Best Interview Series 😴 Poor sleep affects far more than your nights. It can shape focus, mood, recovery, and how you show up the next day. 🌙 In recognition of National Sleep Awareness Month, Good Housekeeping's Good Better Best features Grace Wu and Amanda Constantine from the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab. Their work combines lab analysis, hands-on product testing, and feedback from real consumers across the country. In this episode, they look closely at what actually helps people sleep better — from mattresses and bedding to cooling claims, smart beds, and long-term comfort. What makes this conversation stand out is its focus on evidence. It cuts through bold marketing and centers on support, temperature control, durability, and the everyday sleep problems people are trying to solve. For product teams, retailers, and consumers alike, the takeaway is clear: better sleep starts with better information. Listen to the episode here: Apple Podcasts, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-not-old-better-show/id1085682174 #SleepAwarenessMonth #SleepHealth #ConsumerInsights #GoodHousekeeping #GoodBetterBest

Before Independence… There Was Doubt 🇺🇸😳 What Really Happened in 1776? The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series 1776 wasn't inevitable 🇺🇸⚡ At the start of that year, most Americans weren't calling for independence. They were asking for fairness… representation… a better version of the system they already knew. And yet, in just twelve months, something extraordinary happened. People changed their minds. Not overnight. Not easily. But through a steady collision of ideas 📜, lived experience, and undeniable reality. Pamphlets like Common Sense didn't just inform—they reframed the debate. What once felt acceptable suddenly felt impossible. What once felt radical became necessary. That shift is worth paying attention to—especially now. Because 1776 reminds us that transformation doesn't begin with certainty. It begins with conversation 🗣️… with disagreement… with the courage to rethink long-held assumptions. It asks a hard question: what does it take for individuals—and entire societies—to move from comfort to conviction? For those of us thinking about leadership, legacy, and the future we're shaping, that question still matters. The founding generation didn't have the luxury of clarity. They had risk. They had doubt. And they moved forward anyway ⚔️ 🎧 I explore this in a recent conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Smithsonian Associate Edward J. Larson and his new book Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters. It's not just a look back—it's a lens on how change actually happens. for more information: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/declaring-independence?utm_source=SEM&utm_medium=OA&utm_content=Google_Performance_Max&utm_campaign=CAP26Q3&promo=287683&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20779232108&gbraid=0AAAAABMPhB8MEw5x0LfoAadEhgoG-4n2S&gclid=CjwKCAjwhe3OBhABEiwA6392zKW4UgJasqWdGNG4wfs7yEn62FM7cBRPfosr8609Ty54WrMGnXeIhxoCUf8QAvD_BwE

ROAR: Michael Clinton on Why It's Time to Stop Acting Old—and Start Living Loud Again The Truth About Aging No One Tells You—and What to Do About It Now Today's episode is brought to you by Wayfair, Every Style Every Home. We don't talk enough about what happens after success. In my latest conversation with Michael Clinton—former President of Hearst Magazines and author of ROAR Into the Second Half of Your Life—we explored a question many professionals quietly face: What now? For decades, the narrative has been clear—work hard, achieve, and then eventually step aside. But what if that model no longer fits the reality of longer, more active lives? Michael offers a different perspective: don't retire—refire. What stood out most is how often limitation isn't physical—it's psychological. Many people begin to scale back not because they have to, but because they believe they should. The real shift is internal. Moving from external validation to internal alignment. From what looks impressive… to what actually feels meaningful. If you're in the second half of your career—or thinking about what comes next—this conversation may challenge more than your plans. It may challenge your assumptions. 🎧Listen on KLOI Community Radio! #Leadership #CareerGrowth #Aging #FutureOfWork #Purpose #LifelongLearning You can learn more about Michael and his work at roarforward.com, and as always, you can explore this episode and our full library at notold-better.com. Today's episode is brought to you by Wayfair, Every Style Every Home.

🔥 Some episodes stay with you. This one grabs hold. Brad Taylor joins Paul Vogelzang on The Not Old Better Show for a conversation about Shadow Strike (available for pre order on Apple Books!), Pike Logan, old enemies, global stakes, and the hidden cost of keeping others safe. Taylor's fiction reads like a diplomatic cable with a lit fuse—headline-hot, tense, and deeply human. For listeners who know that duty leaves marks, and that reinvention can arrive later in life, this episode hits home. Thriller fans, readers, writers, and anyone who loves a bold second act will find something here. #BradTaylor #ShadowStrike #PikeLogan #ThrillerBooks #SecondActs #AgingWell Listen now: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-not-old-better-show/id1085682174 Shadow Strike (available for pre-order on Apple Books!), Pike Logan, old enemies, global stakes, and the hidden cost of keeping others safe! Check it out!

🇺🇸 AMERICA AT 250: The Story We Tell… vs. The Truth We Live 🚗🔥 The Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, commemorating 250 Years of Independence in 2026 Welcome to The Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates Interview Series—on radio and podcast. For ten years now, The Not Old Better Show has celebrated health, wellness, culture, and the stories that remind us we're not old—we're better. Now, as America commemorates 250 years of independence in 2026, this special series offers a dynamic exploration of America's past, present, and future. Explore the people, ideas, conflicts, and aspirations that have shaped America–and how the past informs the challenges and possibilities ahead. At 250, America is still young enough to dream, and seasoned enough to know that freedom asks something of every generation. Through our Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, we invite you to hear that story with fresh perspective, honest reflection, and renewed purpose. This is The Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, commemorating 250 Years of Independence in 2026. Anniversaries matter. Meaning matters more. History is never just behind us. Sometimes it sits right beside us, asking who we are, what we value, and what we owe the future. Stay with us as Paul Vogelzang continues this Smithsonian Associates conversation on the people, ideas, and moments that still call us to be better. Thanks for joining us this week on The Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, commemorating 250 Years of Independence in 2026—on radio and podcast. To hear more about today's stories, catch our new Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, and enjoy our extensive back catalog of previous shows, please visit notold-better.com. Follow us on X at Not Old Better, and on Instagram at Not Old Better. This is a production of N.O.B.S. studios. I'm Paul Vogelzang. Thanks for spending this time with us. Join me again next time as we continue sharing stories that remind us we're getting better, not just older. Because 250 years later, Better is still a conversation worth having. Let's talk about Better. This is The Not Old Better Show Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, commemorating 250 Years of Independence in 2026