"You're such a great interviewer" ~ Katherine Pettus, International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care

​"You have a unique angle of questioning that draws out really interesting conversation and self-reflection"  ~Adela Mizrachi, Podcast Brunch Club

"You asked me all kinds of questions I’ve never been asked before"
~Ashton Applewhite, Author, Activist

"They are not the usual questions" ~Steven Loring, Documentary Director

"You ask really good questions" ~Bobbi Palmer, Life Coach

"that's a brilliant question!" ~Prof. Helen Codd
"Nicole Christina has a gift for making the interview experience delightful. Her genuine interest in the topic at hand, in my case caregiving, came through in her voice and in her insightful questions. She put me at ease immediately because it was evident that she was emotionally invested in the topic rather than just getting the job done. She asked questions in a fresh way so that even as I answered I knew that she was teasing out a new angle, and she made me feel as though my answers really could make a difference to her listeners. Nicole Christina’s authenticity carried the show and made us both come across well."  ~ Carol Bradley Bursack - "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories", mindingourelders.com

The Zestful Aging podcast is all about women of "a certain age" and our metamorphosis. How can we best navigate aging--with its challenges, changes and joys? What makes life deeply satisfying and meaningful in older age? And how can we live so we’re not left with a pile of regrets when it’s all over? Nicole interviews inspiring and thoughtful women about how they are adjusting to their older selves, and how they are creating their best lives ever.

Nicole also takes the mic to talk about proven habits that increase health and longevity, and other issues relevant to aging well.​


​The links below can be used to listen to the individual podcasts. They can also be downloaded from iTunes to listen to later on your favorite device. Please comment, rate me on itunes, like, subscribe, and share. I love to hear from my listeners!
Sally Fox is a writer, coach and performer who helps people find and shape their stories, at work, for their careers, and in life. As a professional writer, she writes regularly for 3rd Act Magazine and the website Sixty and Me and publishes a weekly blog of reflections on leadership, creativity and storytelling.

A storyteller and performer herself, Sally recently entertained the audience at Ignite Seattle with her piece: 60 is NOT the new 40: How I Dumped Denial. Find out more at Sally’s website engagingpresence.com.
Barbara Demorest recently retired from her 30 year career as a CPA in order to pursue her passion for connecting volunteer knitters and crocheters with breast cancer survivors to provide free knitted knockers to those that can use them.  Barbara has traveled to Rwanda to teach women how to knit their own knitted knockers. She says, “After hearing the awful words, you have cancer and struggling with the impact of having a mastectomy, a simple gift of comfort and dignity knit by a caring friend changed my life.” Learn more at KnittedKnockers.org.
Christine Herbes-Sommers is an award winning independent film maker who has produced over 100 hours of documentary, dramatic and educational programming for PBS since 1976. 

In her latest documentary, “Coming of Age in Aging America”, she asks: what does it mean for a society to have so many people living so much longer?

Rather than looking at aging as an individual predicament, the documentary makes connections to social policies and institutions, tackling topics such as how we work and where we live and how those arrangements could—or should—be updated to meet the current reality. Watch the documentary: aptonline.org/catalog/COMING-OF-AGE-IN-AGING-AMERICA
International Podcast Day Special Episode. Adela Mizrachi is the founder of the Podcast Brunch Club, which is like a bookclub but with podcasts. Since our original episode, the Podcast Brunch Club has exploded in popularity, and Adela was interviewed in Forbes Magazine. Find out more at: podcastbrunchclub.com.
Dr. Pepper Schwartz is an acclaimed author, researcher, television personality, and AARP's Love and Relationship Expert & Ambassador. She is a prolific writer, authoring many academic and popular articles as well as 25 books on the subjects of love, sexuality, and commitment. Two of those books were featured on Oprah. FInd out more on Dr.PepperSchwartz.com.
Alua Arthur is the Founder of Going with Grace, an end of life organization, which supports people as they answer the question “What must I do to be at peace with myself so I may live presently and die peacefully?”
As a death doula and attorney, the perspective Alua has gained from her unique 15 year career allows her to help her clients focus on the practical and emotional needs while contemplating the end of life.  Find out more at Goingwithgrace.com.
Jane Duncan Rogers is an award-winning Life and Death coach who helps people prepare well for the best ending of life possible.  She’s been in the field of psychotherapy and personal growth for more than 25 years, she is also author of Gifted By Grief: A True Story of Cancer, Loss and Rebirth and Before I Go: Practical Questions to Ask and Answer Before You Die. She founded Before I Go Solutions in 2016. And describes herself as having a quirky take on life and death. She sings and performs in a well-known womens acappella group, Too Many Kooks.
Kristi Nelson is the Executive Director of A Network for Grateful Living, a nonprofit organization offering support to tens of thousands of people around the world who want to live their lives more gratefully more of the time.
Kristi has worked with the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society with Jon Kabat-Zinn, the Soul of Money Institute with Lynne Twist, and was Director of Development at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.  She wrote the introduction for the popular book “Everyday Gratitude, Inspiration For Living Life as a gift”. 24 years ago, Kristi went through two years of surgery and treatment for Stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma that had metastasized to her spine. Even so, she lives each day with gratitude. Find out more on: Gratefulness.org.
Priti Robyn Ross  is a long time yoga teacher and self-care specialist, Priti Robyn pioneered the first cardiac yoga program with Dr. Oz.
​She is an advocate of cultivating self care by taking “little nurturing breaks” and teaches practical ways to “refill your well.” Her belief is that unless we are ourselves well cared for, we can’t bring our care out into the world, where it is desperately needed. Find out more at lifeasyoga.com, or email her directly at pritiyoga1@gmail.com.
Hilary Henderson planned to retire at 65. Instead, she  found herself unexpectedly walking out of her last job the day before she turned 60. Using her training as an occupational therapist, life coach, and earning an MBA she reinvented herself as a retirement coach. She helps her clients navigate one the most important transitions of their lives. Though located in South Africa, she has coached people throughout the world. Learn more at nuhorizons.co.za.
Dr. Jane Barratt is the Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), an organization in formal relations with the United Nations and World Health Organization.  With over 35 years of experience in the field of ageing and disability across sectors she brings to audiences her insights into the new frontier of thinking and action with and on behalf of older people.  The recent IFA 14th Global Conference on Ageing in Toronto attracted some 1,200 delegates from 74 countries focussing on themes such as healthy ageing, ageism, addressing inequalities and age friendly environment toward the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing. Find out more about the IFA at www.ifa-fiv.org.
Heidi Holtz is founder of Stillwork Consulting. She has a long history in theatre and arts administration, worked at the Gifford Foundation, a private non-profit foundation, and has taught at Syracuse University. She is an expert in mediation, and conflict resolution which she uses to assist boards of non-profit foundations. Her mother passed away a year ago, her first grandchild is on the way and she’s starting a brand new business, all just shy of her 60th birthday. Find out more about Heidi at StillworkConsulting.com.
Marci Alboher is one of the nation’s leading authorities on career issues and workplace trends. She works at Encore.org, a nonprofit innovation hub which develops initiatives for the 50+ worker. A former blogger and columnist for The New York Times, her latest book is “The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life.” Marci has been interviewed by NBC’s Nightly News, National Public Radio, and AARP to name a few. Find out more about Encore and its innovations at Encore.org.
Michelle Dalbec is a yoga and meditation teacher at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in the Berkshire region of Massachusetts, the largest yoga training facility in the US. She brings an unusual twist to meditation--if you'll pardon the pun. Michelle has developed a class around mindfulness and knitting, and some of the benefits might surprise you. Find out more at myoga.com. ​
Jean Kilbourne is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on the image of women in advertising and for her critical studies of alcohol and tobacco advertising. In the late 1960s she began her exploration of the connection between advertising and several public health issues, including violence against women, eating disorders, and addiction, and launched a movement to promote media literacy as a way to prevent these problems. A radical and original idea at the time, this approach is now mainstream and an integral part of most prevention programs. Find out more at: jeankilbourne.com
Florence Williams reports on the scientifically proven benefits of spending time in nature. She travels through Asia to learn about the ongoing initiatives to increase their citizens’ exposure to nature, takes a rafting trip with women veterans with PTSD, and reflects on her own need for solitude and wilderness. Find out more about Florence and her work at FlorenceWilliams.com.
Dr. Lisa Nelson is the Director of Medical Education at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA, the largest yoga training facility in North America.
She is co-author of Yoga and Diabetes, published by the American Diabetes Association, and She works with numerous community groups throughout the Northeast to increase awareness about the treatment and prevention of chronic disease through changes in exercise and nutrition. Dr. Nelson has presented her work at the US Capitol and Library of Congress. Find out more at Kripalu.org.
Julie Dillon’s focus is on helping her clients develop a more intuitive and joyful relationship with food. She is a passionate proponent of the non-diet movement. In response to her clients’ fears that without dieting they will be “giving up”, she responds, “It’s not letting yourself go, it’s letting yourself be.” Julie blogs, podcasts and presents widely on intuitive eating, self-compassion, and confronting fat phobia. You can find out more at JulieDillonRD.com.
Angela Littleford specializes in developing services for older people at Helping Hand Aged Care in South Australia, which has a legacy of providing culturally sensitive, wholistic health care.  Programming includes community-based care and support for people with disabilities and mental health issues, restorative and transitional care, and dementia care. She will be presenting at the International Federation of Aging in Toronto in August of 2018.  Learn more at http://www.helpinghand.org.au.
Diane Wiener, Ph.D. is the Director of the Syracuse University Disability Cultural Center. She is an educator, social worker, advocate, singer, bassist, and artist, among other roles. She has longstanding commitments to mindfulness, interfaith and secular contemplation, and humanism. Her new book of poems The Golem Verses ​was published by Nine Mile Art Corporation, June, 2018 .
Kris and Deb both left their jobs to start a brand new online magazine which looks at the challenges and triumphs of aging. They profile ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and challenge the stereotypes about aging. Learn more at boomalally.com, and kristhescribbler.com.
Christina Matz-Costa, PhD is an associate professor at Boston College School of Social Work and a Senior Research Associate at the Center on Aging & Work. Her research focuses on aging and work--both paid and volunteer.
Christina was involved in developing one of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare's Grand Challenges for the next decade, focused on maximizing productive and meaningful activity throughout life.
She’s an expert on what keeps us well as we age.
Conni is a retired physics teacher, Zumba instructor, dog rescuer
Connie started teaching Zumba at age 58, and has been teaching for 7 years. She rescues dogs from her hometown in Texas, and they are transported to Syracuse NY by www.petslowcostspayandneuter.org/programs/underdog-express/. Her and her husband have fostered about 70 dogs and delight in seeing them adopted in Upstate NY. http://www.emilyslegacyrescue.com/
helpinghoundsdogrescue.org
Christy is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, and a Mindfulness Trainer. She became an expert in the gut-brain connection when her daughter was struggling with allergies and stomach problems. She teaches mindfulness and health in the Glendale, CA school system, and has won multiple awards for her programs. Find out more at ChristyJones.com.
Eve Abrams is an audio documentarian, writer, and educator. She produces the audio project Unprisoned, which focuses on how mass incarceration affects people serving time outside. www.unprisoned.org/
Unprisoned has received a Gabriel Award, a New Orleans Press Club Award, and was a Peabody Finalist. Abrams’ 2015 documentary Along Saint Claude received the Edward R. Murrow award and a New Orleans Press Club Award. Abrams’ writing can be found in the book she co-authored, Preservation Hall, the New Orleans atlas Unfathomable City, and in magazines such as Fourth Genre and Louisiana Cultural Vistas.
Her radio works can be heard on a host of national programs such as Morning Edition, and Reveal. Abrams is currently a Robert Rauschenberg Artist as Activist Fellow.  Eve has been a teacher for over 20 years; she currently teaches at a Boys Home in New Orleans.
Lisa Sutz is a Social worker at DOROT, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to alleviate social isolation and provide concrete services to older adults. DOROT has been an innovative leader in the fields of aging services and volunteerism.
Lisa is an expert on the importance of having friends of different ages as we get older--known as intergenerational friendships. Find out more about DOROT at DOROTUSA.org.
Cat Schuller taught the first plus-size course in the Continuing Education Studies division at F.I.T. in New York City. One of the original full-sized models, she refused to conform to the unrealistic size requirements of the modeling industry. She spends much of her life involved in movements which foster body acceptance; Runway the Realway, Divabetics, among others. Cat is also the widow of Mark Gruenwald, the “heart and soul of Marvel Comics” who died unexpectedly in 1996.  She works diligently to keep his legacy and contribution to the comic book industry alive.
Helen Codd is a professor at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK.  Her research is focused on human rights for prisoners and their families. She is also interested in gender and in international perspectives on criminal justice. Her work has been cited in argument by counsel before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights and she has contributed to a number of significant reports on prisoners’ families.
She’s passionate about faith, justice, crime, good food & travel.

Her book In the Shadow of Prison; Families Imprisionment and Criminal Justice can be found on Amazon.com.

She’ll be presenting at the International Federation of Aging Conference in Toronto in August.
Sandy Weiner is the founder of Last First Date, an internationally known TEDx speaker, dating coach, motivational speaker, and retreat leader. She specializes in helping women develop unwavering core confidence, communicate effectively, and set clear boundaries in relationships. Sandy has contributed to many large publications including the Huffington Post, Better After 50, Mind Body Green, Psychology Today, Thought Catalog, and The Good Men Project. She's also the host of Last First Date Radio, an acclaimed show about attracting and sustaining healthy relationships in midlife. Find out more at: LastFirstDate.com.
Dr. Ardra Cole is a Professor at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. ardra.cole@msvu.ca In 2015, the Urban Animal Foundation awarded Ardra the Innovation Award for her work in creating ElderDog Canada - elderdog.ca – a national charity dedicated to ageing people and ageing dogs.
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ElderDog was inspired by Ardra’s research in the area of caregiving and seniors and her experience with her late dog, Tattoo, in animal-assisted therapy with seniors in long-term care. She was also inspired by an old and ill chocolate Lab named Mr. Brown, whom she adopted after a family members sudden and unexpected death.

Ardra and I will both be presenting at  the International Federation of Aging Conference in Toronto this August. We plan to meet face to face, and I hope to give you a follow up on the progress of her Program. https://www.ifa-fiv.org/
Erin’s first job out of college was as a zoo keeper focusing on nocturnal animals, primates, as well as elephants.  After leaving the zoo, she purchased a local doggy daycare. As the owner, she found she was spending most of her time with administrative tasks, and she longed to get back to more direct contact with animals. She sold the daycare, and began her work for Clear Path for Veterans. She works with Veterans that suffer from PTSD by teaching them how to train their dog.  The goal is "Healing through Training".
Carrie Luteran is the owner of Pretty Neat and is a trained interior designer, speaker and professional organizer. Carrie prides herself on taking the stress out of the decluttering process, and help her clients not feel ashamed or intimidated. She talks about organization and clutter control particularly as it relates to middle age and beyond. Find out more at www.prettyneatsolutions.com.
Kerry Thomas spoke at the inaugural TEDx Ashburn event in April 2017 on the cause, effects, and solutions of all types of clutter: physical, digital, mental, emotional, and spiritual. She specializes in small business owners with ADD, and believes that anyone can have a productive environment. Find out more at Conquer the Chaos.
Darlene Endy has had careers as a nutritionist, mother of triplets, and is currently a fiber artist specializing in weaving. She’s also the mother of a son recovering from a heroin addiction. Based on their experience as parents trying to get help for their son, Darlene and her husband started a foundation called Road2RecoveryCNY. Its purpose is to fund long-term treatment for opioid addiction, focusing on central New York residents who cannot afford it themselves.
Caroline Desocio -- “this Foundation saved my son’s life”
Caroline’s son is in early recovery from a heroin addiction. She credits Darlene and her Foundation for saving her son’s life, after several short-term treatments failed.
Road2RecoveryCNY.com
novarecoverycenter.com
lastresortrecovery.com
Brcrecovery.com
drumlins.com
Barbara Carranti is a Clinical Associate Professor of Nursing at LeMoyne College, and is a certified Advance Care Planning facilitator. She’s authored and co-authored numerous books on nursing related topics, and has won awards for her contributions to the field. She can be reached at: carranbm@lemoyne.edu.
Emilee Lawson Hatch is an elder law, trusts and attorney in Syracuse. She has been named a New York Super Lawyers Rising Star. You can reach her at: elawsonhatch@bhlawpllc.com.
Barbara and Emilee present together on the importance of planning for end of life decisions from both a medical and legal standpoint.
Sue Kreitzman is exploding onto the outsider art scene. Television chef and prolific cookbook author turned artist, Sue is fascinated with the female form--both its joy and its darkness. Her artwork is about life, love, death, hormones and the afterlife. She has her own unique answer to the question: “What the hell happens when the lights go out?” A reproduction of her East End flat was just displayed in the Oxford Street store window of Selfridges Department Store in London. She has been profiled on CNN, The New York Times, and many other major news outlets. SueKreitzman.com
Steven Loring is the director of the award winning documentary Age of Love, which has been seen in 14 countries. He talks about the subject of love in the senior years, and how his own life has been affected by making the film. He wants to help end loneliness by giving away “speed dating kits” so more communities can sponsor these events. Find out more at AgeofLoveMovie.com.
In celebration of Earth Day, Nicole is on location at Derby Hill on Lake Ontario, an Important Bird Area where they count migrating hawks every spring. She talks to women about their experience of bird watching, and why it is meaningful to them.
Barbara is a frequent guest on the Today Show, Good Morning America and the Dr. Oz show. She’s a blogger, columnist and the author of the new book: “Love Your Age: The Small-Step Solution to a Better, Longer, Happier Life”. Follow her on BarbaraHannahGrufferman.com.
Bobbi Palmer is the founder of Date Like a Grown Up where she teaches independent, smart and accomplished women over 40 how to find lasting, grown up love. Her system focuses on balancing one’s head and one’s heart in order to find out if he’s a “keeper”. She helps people distinguish between a good date, and a good mate. She has been on the Today Show, NPR, the Huffington Post, and many other media outlets. You can find out more at DateLikeAGrownUp.com. Disclaimer: Bobbi focuses on heterosexual relationships, because that is her expertise and experience. Some of this advice is transferable to other sexual orientations, some is not.
Susan Horan Bertrand is the founder of Maureen’s Hope, a non-profit organization in central NY that provides individualized help and support to people with life-threatening illness. The Foundation provides a variety of services for patients, such as snow blowing and housecleaning, to holiday baskets for children. She also offers a spa day for mothers of ill children. Her interest in supporting very ill patients came after her younger sister, Maureen, lost her two year battle with cancer. This month, She will be awarded the 2018 Nonprofit Impact Award. Learn more at Maureenshope.org.
Jill Dodd is a former top model and author of "The Currency of Love; A Courageous Journey to Finding the Love Within", which takes the reader through her painful and traumatic childhood, her international modeling career and her relationship as a “pleasure wife” to a billionaire Saudi arms dealer. Jill experiences the height of luxury and hedonism, as well as the ugly side of being a model and sexual object. Her story is one of remarkable resilience. You can learn more at JillDodd.com.
Carol Watson’s Greenhouse and Landscaping is a jewel in Lafayette, NY, a farming community not far from Syracuse. The Greenhouse is home to exotic plants, waterfalls, garden art, and unique pots. It’s a magical oasis, and Carol hosts several events here, including Celebration of the Senses, which showcases local musicians, artists and chefs. She donates the proceeds to local charities, such as the Rescue Mission and Symphoria. She also hosts a popular Greenhouse Yoga class. You can find out more about this beautiful sanctuary at: CarolWatsonGreenhouse.com.
Adela Mizrachi is the founder of the Podcast Brunch Club, which is like a bookclub but with podcasts. She fell in love with podcasts when recovering from a back surgery. Although she’s a big fan of podcasts, she’s most interested in using them as a vehicle to create community. Adela has also traveled extensively, and lived in Ethiopia for a year. Find out more at:  podcastbrunchclub.com.
Elaine Wolf is the owner of Life-force Sanctuary, a NIA blackbelt, and a psychotherapist. She firmly believes that it is only through movement and understanding what our bodies need that we can heal old wounds. After having a stillborn child, Elaine was able to experience first hand the profound healing powers of NIA. Since then, it has been her mission to share this remarkable practice with others. You can find out more at LifeForceSanctuary.com.
When Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch co-authored the book "Intuitive Eating" in 1996, the  concept of eating with one’s appetite rather than following a diet was radical. Since their groundbreaking book was published, Evelyn continues to be a passionate advocate for a healthier, more balanced relationship with food. She has been interviewed widely, appearing in the Wall Street Journal and on the "Today Show" and MSNBC, to name a few. She has a nutrition counseling practice in Newport Beach, CA. You can find out more about her on EvelynTribole.com.
It may be surprising, but eating disorders are becoming more common than ever in middle aged and older women. We often think of eating disorders as a teenage problem due to all of their life stage transitions, but the many losses and upheavals in middle age make one vulnerable to the same kinds of behaviors. Nicole Christina, LCSW, a long-time specialist in treating eating disorders, talks about why they are so easy to develop, and what it’s like to treat a client who struggles with this painful and dangerous disorder.
Andrea is the author of the books Shopping for the Real You, and She’s Got Good Jeans. Her books are based on a sophisticated and comprehensive system for determining one’s best colors, called PCS (Personal Style Counselors). She writes about fashion and culture for local and national publications, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can learn more about her at https://shoppingfortherealyou.com.
Ann has been an environmental attorney, a magazine editor, writer, and social media and market expert. When she realized she yearned for the company of like-minded women, she single-handedly created Women at Woodstock, an ongoing retreat for women over 50. You can find out more at WomenatWoodstock.annvbaker.com.
Ashton is an internationally renowned expert on ageism. Her acclaimed book, "This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism" is a must read for anyone interested in how age discrimination affects us all. Ashton is on the PBS site Next Avenue's annual list of 50 Influencers in Aging as their Influencer of the Year in 2016, as well as the fifth annual Forbes list of Forty Women to Watch over 40. She has presented to the United Nations and the Library of Congress, and has written for the New York Times. Learn more at www.thischairrocks.com.
In this introductory episode, Nicole Christina talks about the inspiration behind the Zestful Aging podcast. While interviewing woman “of a certain age” for her online course, she found them to be so interesting and inspiring, and she had so much fun, that this podcast was born.
Mary Fran is a humorist, author, blogger, and presenter. Check out her new podcast: 4 Chicks Talking; From Hot Mess to Success. Learn more about her at www.maryfranbontempo.com and follow her blog: www.notreadyforgrannypanties.com.
Kerin teaches English as a second language to university students and Japanese business people, and serves as town councilor in Dewitt, NY. She’s the mother of 4.
Find out more about Kerin: on facebook @ friendsofKerinRigney, and reach her at kerin.rigney@gmail.com.
Helene is a certified Life Coach, author, blogger and presenter. She’s interviewed over 200 women to discover their stories on aging well. Learn more at NextActforWomen.com. and http://www.helenetstelian.com/.

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Mary Ellen is the founder of Ophelia’s Place, an advocacy center for Eating Disorders. She is a blogger and community change agent. Learn more at: https://www.opheliasplace.org/ and https://www.circlesofchange.org/.
Vicky is a New York State Fly Fishing Guide, graphic artist and book designer. She volunteers at castingforrecovery.org. She will be hosting her own fly fishing retreat for women in Pulaski, NY. Learn more at: www.steelheadlodge.com/.
You can reach Vicky at her email: VictoriaLN63@gmail.com.