Suddenly Senior

Joanna Maxwell has been the director of the age discrimination team at the Human Rights Commission and is the author of many books including The New Retirement. A passionate advocate for embracing old age she tells us that happiness peaks at the age of 80.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retirement doesn’t scare Monica Attard because she’s incapable of getting bored. An academic and former foreign correspondent for the ABC she boasts a strange badge of honour; getting banned from Russia. She plans to write another book on the country once she’s unemployed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been another long nana nap between episodes but a lot has been happening for us. Ange has become a grandparent, and Ian had a heart attack ... in a hospital!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's one of Australia's most influential chefs and his Rockpool restaurant certainly helped elevate Australia's culinary reputation globally. Neil Perry has been described as the “ageing Lion King of Australian cuisine” (by Jill Dupleix) but thankfully, for the foodies amongst us, he's showing no signs of slowing down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dementia is the leading cause of death for Australian women. Unless we find a cure soon it's estimated that 812,500 people will be living with dementia by 2054. But dementia is not inevitable. Professor Ian Hickie from the Brain and Mind Research Institute has a few tips for preventing it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist Lollie Barr made a critical decision when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease five years ago. Instead of shielding her mum from the world she decided to try and make her mother's life as enjoyable as possible, taking her on daily adventures, creating new memories, and truly live life in the moment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She's been at the helm of some of Australia's glossiest mastheads (think Cleo, Mode, Elle, Women's Weekly) and now steers the children's cancer charity Camp Quality. Despite her remarkable skills Deborah Thomas has still felt the weight of the ‘age ceiling'. But age, she says, has gifted her with patience, empathy and a house full of friends and family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baby Boomers did a lot for the travel industry when they kickstarted the ‘backpacking' movement back in the 60s and 70s. But does the travel industry still welcome Boomers? With higher travel insurance than other age groups, and some hotels actively preventing people over 60 booking rooms, it would seem not. Simon Darcy specialises in inclusive organisational approaches for marginalised groups and says ageism is rife in tourism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retreating to an exotic Caribbean island sounds like a dream retirement plan for many, but for Jaslyn Hall it's a homecoming. Originally born in Barbados, Jaslyn introduced Australians to global beats with her world music show on triple j in the 1990s. Now she wakes at 4.30 every morning to begin her exercise regime, and then gets started on writing scripts for puppets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After turning sixty many of us start thinking about how to wind down a little in life and rid ourselves of some of the stresses of full-time work. But actor and director Rachel Ward decided her sixties was the perfect time to launch a new career. She pivoted to farming and is now immersed in the world of regeneration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maggie Beer is a bloody champion! For years she's been encouraging and teaching Australians how to source and prepare tasty, and healthy, fresh food. Now she's on a mission – a Big Mission - to improve the food in aged care homes. Thanks Maggie! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's only just turned 60 but he's already familiar with issues around aged-care facilities, because he's been trying to keep young people out of them. Tim Ferguson is best known for his comedy work with The Doug Anthony Allstars but has many other accomplishments under his belt, not least his advocacy for disability rights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sleep becomes such a valuable commodity in our older years but unfortunately, for many of us, it gets harder to fall asleep as we age. Dr Stan Rodski is a neuroscientist, a neuroplastician, and most importantly a sleep expert! He shares his tips for regular good quality sleep. You can read more in his book The Neuroscience of Excellent Sleep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Youth is the currency of the music industry and ageism is rife within it, but Deborah Conway believes you can make age work for you if you put a bit of creative thinking into the mix.  During the 90s she was the 'it' girl of the Australian music scene. At the age of 64 she's still as creative, passionate, and fired up as she ever was and has recently released a memoir titled Book of Life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a founding member of the Warumpi Band Neil Murray inadvertently wrote Australia's unofficial national song. He also helped record the first rock song sung in an indigenous language. After a life on the road touring and performing, these days he's focussing on living a simple life and preserving energy which has become a precious resource.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Tickner began his advocacy with Friends of the Earth and ended up becoming the Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in the Hawke/Keating governments. He's still fighting for the underdog as Chair of the Justice Reform Initiative, as well as being Co-chair of the EveryAGE Counts initiative to combat ageism. He says ageism is rife in the employment sector and says it's just a matter of time until class actions are launched.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we grow older we find ourselves grieving the loss of many things; our friends and family, our homes and neighbourhood, our bodies and minds, and more surprisingly many of us  grieve the loss of our own sense of self. Writer Carol Lefevre likens this grief to a type of ‘homesickness', elusive and bone gnawing in nature.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bryan Brown's acting career started in the 70s with films like The Odd Angry Shot and Breaker Morant and he quickly became a fixture on our screens, and still is. But he's also a producer and a writer of books, his most recent titled The Drowning. He doesn't think about death much, has no plans to retire, and keeps fits by surfing whenever he can.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iva Davies followed an unconventional path to pop-star status. Initially immersed in the world of classical music (he even did a stint in the ABC Training Orchestra) he went on to pioneer Australia's electronic music scene with his band Icehouse and has become one of the country's most highly regarded composers and multi-instrumentalists. He's currently on tour and if you want buy tix head to this website - https://icehouse-ivadavies.com/tour-dates/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grahame Bond changed Australian TV forever with his mad-cap creation Aunty Jack, a fat and feisty persona who frequently threatened to ‘rip your bloody arms off'. This led to a portfolio career with digressions into advertising, lifestyle television, and blockbuster stage shows like Boys Own McBeth and 2JJs Nude Radio. Luckily this all took place before cancel culture emerged.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian actor Heather Mitchell has been on our screens or stages every year since her career began in the 1980s. Now into her 60s she's still got plenty of job offers rolling in. She says that's because older women no longer buy into old norms around the ageing process and there's demand for their stories to be told. Now she's telling her story in a memoir called Everything and Nothing and she's excited about the next stage of her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First he was Fat, Forty and Fired. Then he was Fit, Fifty and Fired Up. Now Nigel Marsh reckons he's Smart, Stupid and Sixty. He must be doing something right because his TED speech on work/life balance has clocked up over four million hits. Oh, and he also hosts The Five of My Life podcast. Find Nigel's books and contact him hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've started waking suddenly in the night with an acute and anxious awareness of the inevitability of death, you're not alone. After experiencing this herself, journalist and author Jane Hutcheon discovered that it's a common phenomenon for people in their late 50s and 60s. That's when she realised she'd become a juvenile geriatric. Find Suddenly Senior on FB here and on Instagram here Join the Juvenile Geriatric Substack here Find Jane's work hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not all 'influencers' are young and vacuous, posting thousands of images on Instagram which promote products that end up in landfill. Lex Marinos (Kingswood Country, Aunty Jack, Matlock Police) was recently crowned Senior Influencer of the Year for his role as co-host of the podcast Baby Boomers Guide to Life in the 21st Century.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there was an aesthetic that defined Australia's rock/pop culture in the 80s then Reg Mombassa was surely a master crafter of it. His band Mental As Anything was heard on radio around the country and it seemed everyone wore a Mambo t-shirt featuring his darkly-comic art.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest worries we have as we age relates to brain function with dementia and Alzheimer's at the top of the list. But should we just accept a general decline in brain function? Neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay explains what happens to the ageing brain, the role that hormones play and why women often experience reverse adolescence in their post-menopausal years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there's one thing we've learned making this podcast it's that a lot of people prefer to avoid the topic of ageing. But Keryn Curtis has made a living out of it. She became fascinated with gerontology in her 40s and says it changed the way she views life. She also reveals the preferred word to describe people who've reached a certain age.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's been making Australia laugh for decades with shows like Utopia, Front Line, Hollowmen, and D Generation, but is he also the most vilified person on Australian TV? As the host of Have You Been Paying Attention, Tom Gleisner fends off a barrage of ageist jibes every week, and he's only recently turned 60!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the longest 'nana' nap ever, Ange and Ian are back in business. They've lined up a stack of great guests to chat to, but before they get started there's a lot to catch up on. Ange has been learning how to do backflips, and Ian has been thinking about exercise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sadly our friend and colleague Doug Mulray passed away yesterday, so we thought we'd republish our chat with him from late last year. Always cheeky, always up for fun and a true entertainer, Doug was an  Australian radio and TV icon in the 70's and 80's. Vale 'Uncle Doug' and thanks for all the laughs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Such a sad way to start 2023. We are republishing this episode with the talent and force of nature that was Renee Geyer - as we say farewell today. She made such a huge contribution to the Australian music industry and brought joy to many. Thank you Renee for sharing your ferocious spirit and talents with us all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Henschke once graced our screens as a hard-hitting journalist on programs like Four Corners and 7.30 Report. Now he's your Chief Advocate for National Seniors Australia which means he's here to fight for your rights. With one in four seniors living in poverty one of his priorities is to get older Australians who want to work back into a job.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Caton has been a constant presence on Australian screens since the 1970s and became a household name playing Harry Sullivan in The Sullivans. But he attained ‘absolute bloody legend' status as Daryl Kerrigan in The Castle and has done plenty more since then. He'd love to keep working but says he's been forced into involuntary retirement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doug Mulray was king of the airwaves in Sydney in the 80s (and a nude model) but stepped away from the microphone 20 years ago. These days he rarely makes a public appearance. which is why it's an extra special delight to have him join Suddenly Senior. And in true Dr Dougie style he even brought drugs with him! The legal kind that is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the age of 15 she stunned the world when she took out five medals, three of them gold, at the 1972 Munich Olympics.  At the age of 61 she stunned her competitors when she became the oldest ever winner of the Survivor franchise. Shane Gould is a true champion who has always walked to the beat of her own drum. Independent, courageous, and adventurous, she's not about to let her age slow her down. Not until she's finished building her dream house.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians have been listening to his Health Report for decades, but thanks to the Coronacast podcast Dr Norman Swan has become a global sensation. Now he's encouraging everyone to focus on how to Live Younger Longer. After crunching the research numbers he reckons you can now expect to live till your late 90s if you've had a reasonably good life. But, he says there's no point living longer if you feel like shit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As his alter-ego H.G. Nelson he's been making Australians laugh at their sporting obsessions for decades. But there's more to Greig Pickhaver than comedy and acting. In his later years he's been exploring more the relationship between mind and body, and is now a firm believer in the bliss of the moment. Is he becoming a Zen master? Supported by Homemade  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many folk explore genealogy as they age but for Anita Jacoby the prompt to investigate her family's past came from a chance conversation at a party. She's one of the most respected figures in Australian television, and her most recent project is a deeply personal book about her father who died from Alzheimer's. The process has made her reflect on what we choose to tell our children about our lives, and what's best left secret.  Check out Anita's book here - Secrets Beyond The Screen Supported by Homemade  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many strings to James Valentine's bow. On weekday mornings he hosts one of Australia's most coveted roles in breakfast radio but at night you might find him burning up some bebop with his jazz combo. He's loving the freedom of being over 60, but he does find the extra aches and pains a bit frustrating. Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you're planning a holiday in an unfamiliar place, you'll probably enjoy it more if you do a bit of research before arriving.  That's exactly how Dr Anne Ring has approached ageing. She's a health sociologist and writer who, thankfully for us, has written the travel guide on old age. Engaging With Ageing will be available via her website. Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clive Hamilton is one of Australia's most well-known public intellectuals. He's a Professor of Public Ethics and is the founder of the The Australia Institute. A provocateur since youth he's plans to continue challenging baseless assumptions, even when he's no longer paid to. While he admits that many problems still confront the globe, he says Boomers needs to remember the victories they have won. And he's also keen to champion the many benefits of an ageing population.  Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miriam Margolyse has graced our screens for many years. She's gone from sexy voice-over girl, to serious thesbian, to self-described Fat Jewish Lesbian in TV comedy, and then to film roles in Babe and Harry Potter to name a few. Now, at the age of 81, she's a regular maker of documentaries showing no signs of stopping. She doesn't like being old but says it allows us to challenge ourselves and explore new territory. But don't forget the spare pair of knickers! Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the last couple of months Angela and Ian have been having a blast chatting with mates about growing old. This week they're probing themselves about ageing. Ange reveals some of her most frustrating recent 'senior moments', while Ian shares intimate details of his shoe collection, and why he won't be caught dead in a pair of track pants. Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meredith Burgmann has been an activist since her university days and went on to become a Labor MP in NSW. Radicalised by the Vietnam War she's been arrested many times, attended countless rallies, and even received a jail term. While she's still an activist she does admit to sneaking off early from rallies these days. She plans to be part of the generation that improves aged care services, and has already planned how she'll spend her days if she ends up in one. Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A true trail blazer in sports journalism Debbie Spillane was the first woman to commentate cricket on ABC Radio. She went on to co-host Hard Coffee on triple j, and then claim the Australian Sports Commission Media Award for Lifetime Achievement.  Now happily retired and bra-less on the NSW mid-North Coast she doesn't want to do anything other than play guitar, wear overalls, and solve Wordle. Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Camilleri has been rocking the blues groove for decades and with a string of hits to name has well deserved his place in the ARIA Hall of Fame. Ask him what shape he's in these days and he reckons that he feels 25 on stage, but 105 as soon as he gets off. When he's not touring he retreats to his country home, writes music, prunes the plum trees, and watches Tipping Point with a cup of tea. Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been some decades since Derek Smalls came to fame as the bass player in the rock band Spinal Tap. A documentary about the band made him a household name but the phone hasn't rung much in the years after its release. He did release a solo album with help from the British Fund for Ageing Rockers but now spends most of time reading crime fiction and managing toe fungus. Oh, and he eats a banana every day. Supported by HomemadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renee Geyer is fierce, funny, and arguably Australia’s finest voice. She’s never been the quiet type and old age certainly isn’t tempering her voice. She refuses to go quietly into retirement and plans to be singing to us for quite a few years yet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s not much that Wendy Harmer hasn’t conquered. A successful comedian, author, and broadcaster, she’s recently stepped aside from a very demanding breakfast radio gig. Now she’s looking forward to a relaxing lie down while she mentally adjusts to the next chapter in her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After being at the helm of Vogue Australia for more than a decade Kirstie Clements knows a thing or two about style. She’s a senior now too, so she’s well placed to offer sartorial tips to those of us who can’t find our older style groove. Her advice? Buy fewer and buy better.... and wear whatever the fuck you like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a career dating back to the 60s Richard Clapton has given Australia some of its greatest hits. While he’s thankful for a vocation which has kept him young at heart, he’s disappointed in the generation that made him a star. Folk in their 70s he says, need to reawaken their inner rebel and start fighting again for things that are important.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.