Two Old Bitches: Stories from Women who Reimagine, Reinvent and Rebel

Ai-jen Poo is a woman who cares. That caring shapes her activism as a next-generation labor leader, a gifted organizer, campaigner, advocate and author. Ai-jen is also faithful. At the threshold of the second half of life –she just turned 50— she has spent the last 25 or more years dedicated to growing a domestic workers' movement. Always crucial yet routinely undervalued, family caregivers are more and more essential as our nation ages, as we age. Ai-jen founded and leads the National Domestic Workers Alliance, a network of more than 70 local affiliate organizations and chapters and over 200,000 members that, in 12 short years, passed Domestic Worker Bills of Rights in 10 states and two municipalities and brought over 2 million home care workers under minimum wage protections. In 2011 she launched Caring Across Generations to unite American families in a campaign to achieve bold solutions to the nation's crumbling care infrastructure. A leading voice in women's movements, five years ago Ai-jen along with two other amazing women leaders, Cecile Richards and Alicia Garza co-founded Supermajority to build a powerful women's voting bloc to ensure our freedoms and priorities, an effort needed even more today in light of the recent elections.  The author of the celebrated book, The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America, Ai-jen's brilliance, imagination and hard work have earned her a MacArthur “Genius Award,”  a seat on the Board of Trustees of the Ford Foundation and a walk on a Hollywood red carpet with Meryl Streep. If like us you could use a fix of possibility, dare we say hope, in these dark days, join our conversation with Ai-jen, starting with her explanation of why campaigns are like love affairs. ------------------------------ Visit www.twooldbitches.com Follow us on Instagram @twooldbitches, Twitter @TwoOldBitches, Facebook @TwoOBPodcast Created, Produced and hosted by Joanne Sandler &  Idelisse Malavé Edited by Jeyda Bicer Social media management by Loubna Bouajaj

Meenu Vadera greets the world and all it has to offer with curiosity and buckets of ideas and inspiration. We met Meenu in Delhi more than 10 years ago.  A friend wisely advised us to hire newly-trained women chauffeurs to drive us around the city. These inspiring and fierce young women had graduated from the program that Meenu founded and led – Sakha Cabs for Women and its sister organization, Azad Foundation, which trains low-income women to become drivers. It continues to grow with more than 5,000 women in Delhi and other Indian cities prepared to work as private chauffeurs, taxi drivers, bus drivers and now in the newest initiative –as long-haul tractor trailer drivers! Meenu is both creating opportunities and safety for women, as well as challenging and changing the transport industry. That's Meenu. She makes the impossible possible. Which is why she has received numerous awards for being a groundbreaking social impact entrepreneur, a feminist inspiration to activists everywhere and a champion of women's and young people's leadership. As she enters her 60s, we wanted to hear about how she is thinking about what's next in her work (if any feminist angel investors are reading this blurb, Meenu wants to hear from you!)], what she thinks about ‘later daters' and pursuing pleasure, and how she interjects so much joy and generosity into the world. We are so thrilled that you get to share a part of the amazing energy that Meenu shared with us!   ------------------------------ Visit www.twooldbitches.com Follow us on Instagram @twooldbitches, Twitter @TwoOldBitches, Facebook @TwoOBPodcast Created, Produced and hosted by Joanne Sandler &  Idelisse Malavé Edited by Jeyda Bicer Social media management by Loubna Bouajaj

When the world is too much to bear, we go shopping. When we celebrate, we also go shopping. When we're bored or in search of distraction...you guessed it: we shop. Conflicted feminists suffering from rampant consumerism? Perhaps, but it's also our form of meditation and imagination, of reconnecting with ancient rites of hunting and gathering. This episode about shopping – in New York City and Santa Fe – is a tribute to women. Firstly, the women who taught us to shop: our mothers. And it is a celebration of all the women artists and shopkeepers who valiantly – and we deeply value their vision and courage – immerse themselves in the beauty, the fabrics, the designs and personal expression that goes into stocking and staging their stores. We feature interviews with three NYC iconic owner/founders who have had their stores for 30 to 40 years: Luxor Tavela (who sadly passed away 2 years ago and whose artist husband, Jeffrey, is keeping it open!), founder of Paracelso in Soho; Vici of Muleh in Chelsea, NYC; and Rene of Rene on the Upper East Side of NYC. We also visit with Guadalupe Goler of Goler Shoes in Santa Fe. All of these women are artists, steeped in passion, creativity and care for their clients. All are immigrants who brought their love of fashion and their dreams to the U.S. All have had clients for many decades who are now bringing their daughters and granddaughters to these temples of style. We also include some tips on shopping New York City's iconic department store – Century 21 (which Idelisse calls ‘the mother ship') and give listeners a quick rundown of some of the best older-women-fashionista sites and influencers. So let us take you with us to some of our favorite boutiques and shopping experiences and – whether you're bored, celebrating, looking for distractions or actually need clothes – please visit these amazing stores and artist-owners.    And we'd love to know about any special boutiques that you treasure – anywhere in the world – and also hope you take our style quiz to explore, a bit more, what you're saying when you get dressed. Enjoy!!    Visit these stores and be completely wow'ed! -   In New York City: Muleh 500 W 22nd St (W 20th St) Paracelso 510 Broome Street (between 6th Ave and West Broadway)   Rene 927 Madison Avenue (between 73rd and 74th)   Century 21 Department Store 22 Cortlandt Street   In Santa Fe: Goler Shoes 125 East Palace Ave ------------------------------ Visit www.twooldbitches.com Follow us on Instagram @twooldbitches, Twitter @TwoOldBitches, Facebook @TwoOBPodcast Created, Produced and hosted by Joanne Sandler &  Idelisse Malavé Edited by Jeyda Bicer Social media management by Loubna Bouajaj

TOB followers know that we are obsessed with discovering positive and powerful roles for older women in movies and TV. That's why we lure our sister Screen Bitches -- Debbie Zimmerman (Women Make Movies), Malaga Baldi (Baldi Literary Agency) and Aruna Rao (Gender at Work)  – onto the podcast at least twice a year to schmooze about what we're watching and how TV and movies challenge (or regrettably affirm) stereotypes of older women in popular media. This time, we were kind of gobsmacked. For three reasons. First, because Debbie was inducted into the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences (Oscars!) this year --so this episode features her firsthand account of an Academy newbie, walking the (other) red carpet. Second, because we actually found at least one film and a dramatic series with really superb portrayals of older women. If you haven't seen Slow Horses (Apple TV) or Nyad (Netflix), stop what you're doing right now and tune in. We thought that Annette Bening and Jodie Foster were extraordinary in the way they portrayed 60-year old Diana Nyad and her best friend Bonnie Stoll in Nyad's swim from Cuba to Florida. (Only three of us loved the movie.) And while they are not main characters, three —not one, but three!— powerful and pivotal women over 50 in Slow Horses – Sophie Okonedo, Saskia Reeves, and Kristin Scott Thomas  -- epitomize characteristics you rarely see attributed to women of a certain age.    And third, we were so inspired – especially by Slow Horses – that TOB is now launching a screening tool to let movie and TV makers know we're watching. You know how Alison Bechdel brilliantly coined The Bechdel Test as a set of three simple criteria to measure the active presence (or absence) of women in film? Well, we love that test – and appreciate the influence it's had on generating more and better roles for women -- so we're introducing The TOBies, a set of 5 criteria to measure the quality of presence of OLDER women in TV and film. And they are that the older women are: 1) NOT solely defined by their age; 2) integral to the plot; 3) making independent choices (e.g., they have agency); 4) NOT seeking a man as ‘the prize'; 5) there are at least two older women (e.g., no tokenism). We'd love to know what you think! And to know if you see any films or TV shows where you think the portrayals of older women meet these criteria. Wouldn't you love to join us on Screen Bitches this year?  ------------------------------ Visit www.twooldbitches.com Follow us on Instagram @twooldbitches, Twitter @TwoOldBitches, Facebook @TwoOBPodcast Created, Produced and hosted by Joanne Sandler &  Idelisse Malavé Edited by Jeyda Bicer Social media management by Loubna Bouajaj

True confessions: as Two Old Bitches, we fully expected the Golden Bachelor to be the height of cringey, old-people porn. Watching 22 women in their 60s and 70s compete for the affections of one old man threatened gladiator-level, fury- induced female feuds. And were we ever wrong!  Kathy Swarts, one of the most memorable of the contestants, set us straight in our delightful conversation with her. Kathy, at 70 years old, helped us understand that the real story of the Golden Bachelor is not a longed-for romance between a man and a woman --in this case, Gerry Turner and his choice, Theresa Nist who married immediately after the show ended to only announce their divorce three months later in mid-April! The real story is the phenomenal friendships forged by the gutsy, adventurous and authentic women who were chosen to ‘contest.' Join us to hear Kathy, and two other contestants who make surprise cameo appearances, reveal how their experiences on the show awakened new curiosities and aspirations. From finding a man who loves life as much as she does to hosting her own TV show, Kathy, and her new crew of friends, are exploring a new range of possibilities for what's next. We're sure you'll want to know more so once you've tuned in to this TOB episode, join Kathy and Susan Noles, another contestant, for their new podcast, The Golden Hour. This conversation roused our interest in delving into the diverse approaches and stories of ‘later daters,' so if you have an experience to share about dating in your 60s, 70s or 80s – or why you've decided to forego the experience – please reach out to us through our website or DM us on Instagram or Facebook! Enjoy the show! ------------------------------ Visit www.twooldbitches.com Follow us on Instagram @twooldbitches, Twitter @TwoOldBitches, Facebook @TwoOBPodcast Created, Produced and hosted by Joanne Sandler &  Idelisse Malavé Edited by Jeyda Bicer Social media management by Loubna Bouajaj

American sculptor Jeanne Silverthorne, 73, is an “artist's artist” known for cast rubber pieces and installations drawn from her studio, turning everyday objects and people into “metaphors for the inevitability of age and decay, …tempered with humor, hope and humanity.” (For photos of a favorite work of ours, Banshee: Self-Portrait at 73, see our website and social media.) She has showed her work at leading New York galleries for decades (currently at the Marc Straus Gallery) and in one-person exhibits including PS1 and the Whitney Museum in New York and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia. Jeanne is on the faculty of the School for Visual Arts and has written extensively about art in a range of publications, most recently in the Brooklyn Rail with “Playing It Out” about aging as an artist. She is witty and wise, and surprisingly shy though you'd never guess it. More about that in our lively conversation with the delightful, insightful and gifted Jeanne Silverthorne. ------------------------------ Visit www.twooldbitches.com Follow us on Instagram @twooldbitches, Twitter @TwoOldBitches, Facebook @TwoOBPodcast Created, Produced and hosted by Joanne Sandler &  Idelisse Malavé Edited by Jeyda Bicer Social media management by Loubna Bouajaj  

Who Are You? It's a simple and profound question that we ask (almost) every guest on Two Old Bitches. And given that most of our guests are women over 60, we were curious if a review of their answers might reveal some patterns or insights into how we identify as we age. What we found: for some people, it still changes daily. Others had epiphanies early in life and still identify with that early notion of who they are. And then there are those who are completely stumped by the thought of describing who they are. The 80+ responses from our guests to this question fall into six categories.  All of them speak to an inspiring insight: no matter their age or circumstance, our guests live very much in the present and manage a beautiful blend of respect for their pasts and aspirations for the future. So before you listen, take a minute, answer the question for yourself. “Who Are You?” And then listen to the diverse and delightful reflections that these 19 guests offer on who they are. In this episode, you will hear the voices of (in this order): Chiemi Karasawa (Season 5, Ep 7) Lucero Gonzalez (Season 5, Ep 4) /Sandra Garcia Betancourt (Season 1, Ep 2) Cynthia Madansky (Season 5, Ep 9) Geeta Misra (Season 4, Ep 1) Sandra Guzman (Season 5, Ep 1) Inca Mohammed (Season 2, Ep 9) Tracy Hyter Suffern (Season 4, Ep 8) Claron M. McFadden (Season 7, Ep 1) Ruth Strassberg (Season 5, Ep 10) Srilatha Batliwala (Season 6, Ep 7) Branca Moreira Alves (Season 8, Ep 10) Nadine Hack (Season 7, Ep 9) Jaune Evans (Season 2, Ep 4) Donna Uchizono (Season 8, Ep 7) Sharon Louden (Season 4, Ep 7) Sari Botton (Season 7, Ep 7) Ayesha Pande (Season 8, Ep 2) Stephen Williams (Season 8, Ep 1) Marlyse Yearby (Season 8, Ep 5)

If you were deeply enmeshed in the ‘womyn's' music scene or romped topless through the Michigan Womyn's Music Festivals in the 1970s and 1980s, then you will pulsate with memories of the amazing, kick-ass all-women's rock group, Fanny. Even if you missed it, we hope you can imagine how revolutionary and transgressive Fanny was in its heyday in the early 70s. Which is why we were thrilled to find June Millington -- wild woman, lead guitarist and the band's co-founder -- as kick-ass now as she was 50 years ago. At 75, June and her partner, Ann Hackler, run the Institute for Musical Arts in Goshen MA – hosting a recording studio and  annual camps that show scores of girls and young women the power of rock and roll to be their ‘get out of jail free' card, just as it was for June and her sister Jean when, in early adolescence, they picked up their first ukuleles in the Philippines. You can immerse yourself in Fanny's story, from their origins to meeting with the Beatles, playing back-up for Barbara Streisand, their successful albums and tours and more in the 2021 documentary, The Right to Rock. To learn more about June, check out her memoir, Land of a Thousand Bridges. A second memoir is coming soon and June and sister Jean's latest album, "Play Like a Girl" is available on Spotify and Amazon Music. June still lives by the mantra that "life is music and music is life." We are eternally grateful to her for sharing a bit of the winding path that brought her to this point, as she bravely commits to coming face-to-face with herself at every age.      The music we used in this episode includes: Ain't That Peculiar (Fanny, 1972) Thinking of You (Fanny, 1971) It Takes a Lotta Good Lovin' (Fanny, 1967) Charity Ball (Fanny, 1971) Changer and Changed (Cris Williamson, l975) My Love (Tret Fure, 1973)

We couldn't resist. We were way too curious about ChatGPT to let all of the controversy and (rightful) concern about the dangers of AI deter us from asking it about our favorite topic: the experiences of women in our second half of life. So we asked Chat to take on the persona of an older woman, "dive into the muddy waters of gender and ageism" and share "wisdom that only comes from years of livin' and loving." What we found? You be the judge. She is clearly artificial and not very intelligent but she gave us a lot to think about and had an amazingly positive view about aging. Hope she similarly inspires you, dear listener. Or as ChatGPT said when we asked her to write the blurb, "Grab your earbuds and settle in, sugar, 'cause these two old bitches got a tale or two to tell." NOTE: In this episode, ChatGPT is played by our multi-talented producer, Katharine Heller.

Two Old Bitches love a good reinvention story. By her count at 73, MaryJane Fahey is on “her 5th reinvention!” (But who's counting?) She was a designer, published author, now an editor, writer, future playwright, future sculptor –and the list goes on. A few years ago, she started Glorious Broads, a media platform that encourages “women of all ages not to be scared of aging.” On Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook, GB lifts up fabulous older women, “sages not saints,” living “imaginative, open, spectacular lives.” This year Glorious Broads is pitching a limited television series about the sex lives of women in the second half of life. Brimming with ideas, Maryjane is also working on a monologue about some of her icons navigating aging, and a possible theater piece. A decade or so ago –in her …fourth reinvention(?)– she co-authored Dumped, a post-breakup bible for women. Maryjane is a Two Old Bitches kindred spirit whose motto is “It is never too late. Period. End of story.” We think you'll enjoy listening to our conversation with this exuberant, straight talking Glorious Broad as much as we did having it.   Check out (and follow) Glorious Broads' amazing social media on Instagram (@gloriousbroads) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@gloriousbroads?lang=en). And watch GB's interview with Old Bitch Joanne at https://www.tiktok.com/@gloriousbroads/video/7223376161638862123?lang=en

Branca Moreira Alves, 82, is absolutely certain about a lot of things: that her primary identity is ‘feminist', that life is a lot of fun, and that moments matter.  A key leader in launching the second wave feminist movement in Brazil -- during its brutal dictatorship from the mid-60s to the mid-80s -- Branca shares vivid memories and poignant reflections on feminist awakenings, political evolutions and balancing public protest and private privilege. She and Joanne met when they both worked at the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in the 90s and have been fast friends ever since. Over the past two years, Branca collaborated with her close friend, another well-known Brazilian feminist leader, Jacqueline Pitanguy, to write Feminisms in Brazil: Memories of Those Who Made it Happen. The book is receiving hugely positive reviews and Branca is already making plans for her next book. Branca was one of the earliest cheerleaders for Two Old Bitches and we continue to appreciate her feedback and insights. Tune in to our conversation with Branca, revel in her recollections of moments that matter, and watch out for her next book!! 

You know those “aha” moments, those flashing lights of clarity, the thundering realization that you've met your passion? We realized that so many of the women we've talked with on TOB have had these at different points in their lives. And these epiphanies, turning points and serendipitous happenings continue throughout our lives. So, as we start 2023, we went back to different conversations with the extraordinary women we've interviewed on TOB to understand the amazingly diverse ways that epiphanies help us to turn lemons into lemonade, discover our calling, and fully own the ways that we are aging and saging. Immersing yourself in their insights and surprises may be one of the best ways to start a new year! We hope you enjoy and please let us know if you've had a life-changing epiphany or turning point that you'd like to share. We'd love to record it.  In this episode, we will hear from (in this order): Jennifer Finley, Chiemi Kurasawa, Lucero Gonzalez (read in English by Sandra Garcia Betancourt), Claron McFadden,Ellen Bravo, Donna Uchizono, Sandra Guzman, Isa Infante, Dina Bursztyn, Srilatha Batliwala, Nadine Hack, Trudy Berlin, Ashton Applewhite and Renata Joy. With our deep appreciation to all of them for so generously sharing their wisdom.

Gifted ceramic artists Rosanne Ebner, 67, and Liberty Valance, 73, have worked with clay for five or six decades. They say laughing that “it just happened,” yet it is clear that their art is an irresistible and abiding calling. It surfaced for Liberty in preschool where she created her first works–an elephant and ashtray she still has— and for Rosanne in high school. Liberty and Rosanne are also generous and skilled teachers. They are both instructors at the Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center, a wonderful space in Long Island City, NY, where they are longstanding members of a diverse intergenerational community of teachers, students and affiliated artists connected by craft and care, and where members are making ceramics into their nineties. Idelisse – who solidified her profound love of clay over the past 9 months at Brickhouse -- has been enthralled by the ways this community satisfies its members human need for a sense of belonging, mutual support and celebration. In our conversation, all three share the joys of losing themselves and the awareness of time when engaging deeply in creative practice. If you're curious about what Rosanne and Liberty mean when they describe working with clay as a collaboration where often “the clay knows better” or about the story of how Liberty Valance got her name (Hint: It involves a short-lived marriage and a spiritual teacher), you'll want to join us for a big-hearted and laughter filled conversation about art, work and life with these two dearest of friends. Check out some recent ceramic art by Rosanne, Liberty and Idelisse right here! 

Donna Uchizono is the first and only American-born choreographer of Asian ancestry to receive notable national and international recognition in the history of modern dance.  She's received a Guggenheim and a “Bessie,” been commissioned by the likes of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Oliver Sachs, and toured her eponymous dance company around the world. We mention this first because – as you will hear in our conversation with Donna – it is a reality that she stresses not as a boast, but as an indictment of the dance field. She spotlights the difficult journey that all dancers from excluded groups confront and the importance of creating spaces of solidarity and recognition for others, especially young dancers. Donna's poignant story of discovering that she was destined to be an abstract choreographer (not a gynecologist), her creation of a now 30-year old dance company committed to innovation and collaboration, and her decision to stop performing in her own pieces offer insights into the joys and challenges of growing up and growing older in these times. Our conversation with Donna was the third in our series of episodes with choreographers/dance artists (see Marlies Yearby and Jody Oberfelder) who re-enforce, compellingly, that getting older and bolder – even for individuals whose lives are based on extraordinary physical feats -- is a never-ending and scintillating process of discovering how to work with what we have.   Check out Donna Uchizono's website where you will find information about performances of the Donna Uchizono Company, including upcoming pieces that she will be choreographing and presenting with the New York City Ballet in 2023.

Gutsy, vital, creative Jody Oberfelder is committed to a life of ‘becoming,' recognizing that becoming older is also about learning to trust your voice and continue to advance. This New York-based choreographer, director and filmmaker – leading Jody Oberfelder Projects (JOP) -- considers herself ‘mid-career' at 68. She continues to challenge herself to create live performances that are inclusive and collective and that center each participant's experience (check out her performances of Walking to Present in Brooklyn and Life Travelers on bridges in Munich, London and Philadelphia). She's loved ‘making stuff up' since childhood and continues to do so in public spaces and theaters around the world. In her words: “I think the challenges as I move forward in life and get older and older and older and older and older is not to mistrust that every wrinkle is earned.” TOB Idelisse met Jody in a Feldenkrais class and they are both passionate followers of their amazing teacher, Rebecca Davis; just as we think you'll become passionate followers of Jody Oberfelder once you hear her illuminating and heartfelt reflections on aging, creativity, inclusivity and the importance of a daily practice.     

“I have to create, because that is an extension of my breath,” is just one of the many insights into living deeply and meaningfully as an artist that 62-year old director and choreographer extraordinaire Marlies Yearby shared during our illuminating conversation in this episode. The multiple honors she's received include Tony and Dora-award nominations for her choreography of RENT, the Drama League Award for the Los Angeles production of RENT and critical acclaim for her company, Movin' Spirits Dance Theater. Her activism and creativity also extend to healing and wellness as the creator of the “In Our Bones” creative process; to food activism in her newest project, Seed Awakening on the Eve of Blue, a multi-media space combining music, technology, science, voice and theater; and a recent foray into Digital Arts and the new world of Non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Her unstoppable and fearless curiosity and creativity buoyed our spirits as we know they will do for our listeners. And we trust you will not hesitate to find one of her performances, buy one of her Digital Art pieces and become as avid a Marlies Yearby follower as we have become!  Marlies is the first in our three-part series of talks with choreographer and dance artists and – wow! – what a way to begin! Stay tuned for our upcoming conversations with Jody Oberfelder and Donna Uchizono. Coming soon!!

What are you streaming these days? Two Old Bitches always wants to know, especially if you find shows that feature pithy, provocative and stereotype-busting roles for women of a certain age. Luckily, we're seeing some uptick in those (though not nearly pithy and provocative enough and mostly white women....). That's why we're back with two of our three magnificent Screen Bitches -- Debbie Zimmerman (commentator extraordinaire and fearless leader of feminist film organization Women Make Movies) and Malaga Baldi (goddess literary agent and country bumpkin) -- to explore three recent shows that really grabbed our attention. Good Luck to You Leo Grande is streaming on Hulu and features the inimitable Emma Thompson as a recently widowed woman in her fifties who hires a sex worker in search of her first orgasm. Hacks (Season 2) stars the always-mesmerizing Jean Smart -- who won her second Emmy for Hacks as lead actress in a comedy series this year -- and is streaming on HBO. And we have a lot of conflicting views and feelings about the fourth season of Borgen, a Danish political series streaming on Netflix and starring Sidse Babett Knudsen. If you want media commentary from an unapologetically old-bitch/feminist perspective (and who wouldn't??), listen to this lively episode, tune in to the shows we're talking about, and let us know what you're watching. Can't wait to hear from you! and p.s.: Screen Bitch Aruna Rao was on 'unpaid' vacation in Norway when we recorded this episode. We hope to have her back next time!

As soon as we learned we landed an interview with Judy Gold, stellar comedian, actor and writer, Two Old Bitches started grinning and giggling. What a coup! Once we actually began talking with her, we laughed out loud, and often, at her insightful zingers. Judy, whose comedic heroes are Joan Rivers and Phyllis Diller, makes you laugh, and think. Approaching 60, her many credits include: countless stand-up comedy performances; two Emmys for her work as a writer and producer on The Rosie O'Donnell Show; two off-Broadway shows, “The Judy Show: My Life as a Sitcom” and “25 Questions for a Jewish Mother;” two books, “Yes I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians We're All in Trouble” and “25 Questions for a Jewish Mother;” a weekly podcast, “Kill Me Now;” and roles on television series from the more recent Better Things to Madame Secretary, 30 Rock, Law & Order, Ugly Betty” and “Sex and the City.” Why doesn't Judy Gold have her own series? It's past time, Hollywood! In the meantime, for a much needed dose of her edgy humor, listen to this funny episode.  (Special thanks to literary agent and Screen Bitch Malaga Baldi for putting us in touch with Judy.)

Fifteen years ago, Ayesha Pande, a successful editor with top publishers (e.g. Farrar Straus and Giroux) struck out on her own to build a mission-driven literary agency with an antiracist focus based in Harlem. Ayesha Pande Literary has flourished and is known for launching an award-winning, bestselling and inclusive list of authors, scholars, and emerging writers. Its team of almost all BIPOC women agents represent acclaimed authors such as Ibram X. Kendi (How To Be An Antiracist), Danielle Evans (The Office of Historical Corrections), Jean Chen Ho (Fiona and Jane) and Lisa Ko (The Leavers). Ayesha is on the board of the AALA (Association of American Literary Agents) where she founded the Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and helped launch the non-profit Literary Agents of Change. Entering her 60s, she is a “woman who has not yet peaked.” We are delighted to introduce you to Ayesha and her charming Jack Russells, Milo and Lola, whose occasional barking enlivened our conversation.

What does it take to be a man whom we interview on Two Old Bitches? Stephen P. Williams, 64, only the second man on our show in five years, is an excellent example of just what it takes. A journalist, author, visual artist and the creator of Stephen's People, a newsletter on aging, he is as fascinated by getting old as we are. (Full disclosure: his piece on Old Men sex dolls in his newsletter also captured our imagination!) Stephen has written that as a boy growing up in Kansas,  he “leaned back under a cottonwood and felt wind, the sky and the leaves, all connected. That pure sensation guided everything that followed.” He has written a number of nonfiction books --Blockchain: The Next Everything is the latest-- and six as-of-yet unpublished novels. In the midst of the pandemic, he set off on a road trip captured in his video, art and word project, Postcards from Pandemic. With curiosity, thoughtfulness and wit, he brings a fresh and realistic take on aging to Stephen's People --and did we mention he gives damn good dating advice? Listen to our conversation with Stephen and then subscribe to his weekly newsletter.

How do we respond to this political moment? Pessimism is tempting and optimism may feel foolhardy, yet a sense of possibility fueled by hope made enduring sense to us when we spoke with Lecia Brooks and Lisa Veneklasen in 2021. After the Biden/Harris victory, long-time activists Lecia and Lisa tapped into their wisdom and clear-eyed assessment of what we're facing and what's possible in the struggle for overdue and drastically needed social and political change. For the past 16 years, Lecia has worked at the well-known Southern Poverty Law Center, a regional and national catalyst for racial justice, most recently as Chief of Staff. She plays a key role in their work to expose and dismantle white supremacy and nationalism.  Almost 20 years ago, Lisa founded Just Associates (JASS) and recently stepped down from her role as Executive Director. JASS is a transnational feminist movement building organization that strengthens the voice, visibility and collective power of women to transform the world. Lisa and Lecia's analysis and insights about these times -- including the power of older women to make change happen -- galvanize and provoke us to think differently about this political moment.    Learn more about this episode here!

Maya is a nationally renowned racial justice and equity activist and advocate who ran for mayor of New York City in 2021. She should have won! In our conversation with her in 2018, she shared that she was no longer an optimist, but hadn't given up hope. She has “a passion for the possible” combined with a laser focus on fighting for our democracy. If you watch TV news (MSNBC), you likely saw her share her sharp analysis on the assault against our country's values and heard her wise counsel on priorities for collective action, including activism on the upcoming census. Now 58, she has litigated, lobbied the U.S. Congress, and developed programs to transform structural racism in the U.S. and in South Africa.  Maya recently served as Counsel to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, chaired the New York City Police Department's Civilian Complaint Review Board, founded and led the Center for Social Inclusion, and is now Senior Vice President for Social Justice at the New School. Maya's guidance, struggle and compassion in these perilous times are enough to turn these Two Old Bitches into possibilists as well. And you?  Click here for the original post.

Our conversation with activist historian and organizer, Leah Wise, now 75, originally aired in 2017. She spoke with us about the threat to democracy then which has only worsened now. She challenged us to think deeply about the responsibility of generations to carry young people forward as they step up and take over. Our conversation with Leah was rich in history and wisdom, her life reflecting the intersecting struggles and gains for racial, gender and economic justice in the Southeast of the United States and worldwide over the past 40 years. Leah offers us feisty commentary on the sexism that infused (and continues to) so many progressive movements, on the legacy of “polio personality”, and on her odyssey from civil rights activist to low-wage steel worker to leader of Southerners for Economic Justice and a network of similar groups across the Southeast. She offers heartfelt insights into the joys of paying attention to things that slipped by earlier: gardening, the feeling of the sun on your face, starting a sewing crafts business in your 70s, and the pleasures of grandchildren. And she leaves us with a resounding call: to join together to re-build the infrastructure of democracy. 

In honor of Mother's Day we are bringing back this classic from season 4. “Two of my heroes are mother and my grandmother…My mother taught me to be a woman. She was the strongest person I've ever met. And someday I'll be the woman she wants me to be” - Tracy Hyter-Suffern It's complicated. Mothers. They're sometimes cast as heroes and role models, often as victims or villains. In almost 40 conversations with other old bitches, mothers emerge as essential to the fabric of so many parts of our histories, our present and our futures. Drawing from those conversations, we've pulled together a few clips to share with you, from Inca Alexandrina Mohamed or Joy Kane talking about their mother's dreams for them or Maya Wiley talking about her fears for her teenage daughters. So, on this Mother's Day, take a minute to listen to this episode of Two Old Bitches with a mother, a daughter or someone else who you can talk to about the place of mothers in our lives. And, consider supporting the mothers and families who have been separated at the border. Check out www.familiesbelongtogether.org and the “Until Every Family Is Reunited” campaign. This episode features: Dodo Berk (Season 1, Ep. 10), Elaine Finsilver (Season 1, Ep.06), Tracy Hyter-Suffern (Season 4, Ep. 8), Renata Joy (Season 4, Ep. 5), Joy Kane (Season 3, Ep. 10), Inca Alexandria Mohamed (Season 2, Ep. 9), Hendrica Okondo (Season 3, Ep. 8), Diane Scanlon (Season 2, Ep. 10), Hrag Vartanian (Season 4, Ep. 9) and Maya Wiley (Season 3, Ep. 7). We thank them and all of the Old Bitches who have shared their lives on our show!

We have long marveled at Ellen Bravo's ability to balance the demands of being a feminist activist and author. Her books are driven by the same social change values and objectives that have fueled her many decades of organizing for justice and equity for women and families. She is the former director of 9to5 –yes, the group that inspired the movie– and co-founder of Family Values @ Work, a successful network of state coalitions working for family-friendly policies that have secured locally mandated paid family and medical leave for over 55 million people across the country. While working more than full-time leading these groups, she also wrote five books! Her most recent novel is Standing Up: Tales of Struggle, co-authored with her husband Larry Miller. In it they share enlivening stories about “regular people” who work hard while “caring for kids, holding relationships together, and wrestling with multiple forms of oppression” and still manage to “stand up, slow down, form unions, leave an abusive relationship, or just stir up good trouble.” Ellen, 78, recently chose to dedicate herself to writing full-time and is at work on a new novel. Pick up her latest book –it's a great read!– or one of her earlier ones, and listen to our equally great conversation with this warm, brilliant, funny and big-hearted gender and racial justice champion. For more information about Ellen, including upcoming book tour appearances, check her website. Standing Up: Tales of Struggle is available on Amazon, as are her earlier novel, Again and Again and her most recent nonfiction book, Taking On the Big Boys: Or Why Feminism Is Good for Families, Business, and the Nation.

What a treat to talk with a fierce feminist who's been a force of nature for more than half a century! At 71, Nadine embodies a lifelong commitment and ever-evolving talent to amplify her passion for social justice. Her volunteer work in 1964 on Shirley Chisholm's campaign for New York State Assembly and at Women Strike for Peace with Bella Abzug immersed her in an understanding that sexism, racism, classism and militarism are inextricably linked. She's been an intersectional organizer ever since. At 60, she left her lifetime home, New York City, and moved to a UNESCO Heritage city in Switzerland, becoming the first woman Executive-in-Residence at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. Eleven years later, she's still there. Nadine continues to be a “Master Bridge-Builder” as CEO of beCause Global Consulting, and senior advisor of Global Citizens Circle, as noted by her alma mater, Harvard and by Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu in the foreword to her upcoming book, The Power of Connectedness. We celebrate our sister-old-bitch, Nadine Hack, who is acutely aware of “her sacred obligation to carry the torch” as long as possible, and know our listeners will be inspired by her wisdom on voice, aging and the power of the collective.    -------- Follow Nadine Hack at:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadinehack Twitter: @nadinehack Instagram: @nadine.hack LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadinehack  Forbes Councils: https://bit.ly/35rRBOT  beCause Global Consulting: https://www.because.net  Global Citizens Circle https://globalcitizenscircle.org 

Stories transport us across time and space, bring us together, help us make sense of our lives and the world, make us laugh and cry, and even change our minds. Stories fuel social change and personal change. Their power drives us, as Two Old Bitches, to collect edgy elder women's stories to share with story-loving listeners of all genders and ages. And to discover and tell our own stories. In this episode, we each share a personal story crafted in a recent storytelling class. Yes crafted, because storytelling is an art, one that can be honed, and it's a joy to hone it in the company of others as we did in our most recent workshop. Joanne shares “What Happens When Your Heart Really Does Belong to Daddy?” a story of gendered power dynamics in the workplace decades ago that still drives her passion for justice today. Idelisse shares “Girdles,” a childhood story of the physical and psychological constraints foisted on women and girls that shaped her, in more ways than the obvious.  You can listen to our stories on audio AND – for those who like the combined audio-visual effect – check out Idelisse and Joanne telling their stories to each other. And guess which one of us tried (with partial success) to tell her story and hula hoop at the same time? We'd love to hear from you! We are going to host a Two Old Bitches storytelling salon/class in the spring. Please let us know if you're interested and have ideas or questions. Write to us at 2obpodcast@gmail.com and share your brilliance!  

What's better than ‘talking shop' with a serious and sensational sister traveler? That was the joy that TOB experienced when we interviewed Sari Botton, founder of the recently-launched substack magazine, Oldster. Oldster takes a fresh look at what it means to age at any stage of life, featuring writers of all genders and age groups. It fully reflects the brilliance and wizardry of Sari who, at 56 years old, bring decades of writing, editing and teaching experience including as former Essays Editor for Longreads; editor of the award-winning anthology Goodbye to All That: Writers on Loving and Leaving NY and its New York Times-Bestselling follow-up, Never Can Say Goodbye: Writers on Their Unshakable Love for NY. We met Sari almost ten years ago when she co-directed the upstate New York story-telling initiative TMI Project. She is a storyteller extraordinaire, a musician, a time traveler joyously struggling – like all of us – to figure out what is ‘age appropriate' and shoring up future plans by buying lottery tickets! We hope you'll listen in, subscribe to Oldster, listen to the Oldster podcast, and stay tuned to TOB as we continue to explore storytelling in future episodes.  

There could be no greater gift to Screen Bitches than finding the HBO-Max series Hacks, starring Jean Smart. We brought together three of our most dedicated Old Bitch streamers – Malaga Baldi (literary agent), Aruna Rao (women's rights thinker and consultant), and Debbie Zimmerman (head of Women Make Movies and world-recognized expert on women and media) – to explore what is so powerful and ground-breaking about 69-year old Jean Smart's mesmerizing portrayal of an aging comedian (think Joan Rivers) whose Las Vegas career is stalling.  In pairing Smart with a young comedian – played by Hannah Einbender – who is sent to freshen up Smart's material, we see the way women of different generations confront and embody the sexism and ageism of the entertainment world. As Megan Garber wrote in The Atlantic, this is a genre-defying series, part psychodrama, part satire, sometimes an intergenerational character study and other times a classic workplace comedy. We all agreed that Emmy-winning Smart offers a “Smart-a-licious” portrayal of aging. As Debbie noted, “for God's sake, how often do you see a woman in her sixties get laid on television?” You can see Hacks on HBO-Max. It's a subscription service, so you'll have to pay. You can watch the first episode for free on YouTube. And, as you listen to the podcast, you'll hear excerpts of Smart's biting and self-effacing humor throughout. Let us know if you've seen movies, streaming series, podcasts or other media that you think offer unique representations of gutsy, defiant older women. Write us at 2obpodcast@gmail.com and maybe you, too, can be a Screen Bitch!

Prepare to be utterly astounded as you listen to our conversation with Isa Infante! This self-described “life force,” follows her heart and her values, wherever they take her. That means challenging good ole boys in Tennessee by running for mayor of Knoxville and as the Green Party candidate for governor. It means passing by a bar, hearing bluegrass music, and deciding to start a women's bluegrass band, even though she could only play three chords. It means deciding, at 63, to go to law school. At 79, she is considering her next move. Three years ago, after decades in Tennessee, she decided that living in the mountains felt claustrophobic, googled “low-income senior housing on the beach” and re-located to the North Shore of Massachusetts, now waking up every morning to see a vast ocean that moves constantly. We can only imagine how the shifting sand and surf will inspire Isa's next adventure. Music credits: Melody Walker/Front Country, Mixtapes Rebecca Frazier, 40 Blues Sierra Hull, Black River

When do you turn to books? Sometimes for escape (mysteries, anyone), sometimes for the joys of fine literature (Matrix by Lauren Goff or Haiku Mind by Patricia  Donegan), and yet at other times for knowledgeable counsel. In this episode, two badass women authors talk with us about the recent books that their life experience led them to write and share with others. In Why Are There Monkeys? radio personality, comedian and cancer survivor Brooke Jones, 70, captures her near death, laugh-out-loud “Question and Answer” session with God. Executive coach Bonnie Marcus, 72, draws on her 25-year corporate career to write Not Done Yet! a defiant guide to navigating gendered ageism in the workplace for women over 50. Curious about what they have to say about the divine and the workplace? We were. Listen in to what we heard.

“What I want all of my work to do is expand the definition of who Indians think they can be and how they think they can be in the world and their space for all of that -- all of the things that we can dream of.” Activists Jennifer Finley and Julie Cajune, members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribe in Montana, are willing to risk being called Bad Indians for the sake of this liberating vision. In fact, the two longtime friends and creative collaborators named their latest play, a series of conversations between two older women –not unlike them– Bad Indians, playfully preempting any backlash to the characters' stories of tragedy, injustice, humor, “failed romances, violent harassment and the criticism of others” in their community. Their earlier collaborations include Heart of the Bitterroot, a collection of Salish and Pend d'Oreille women's stories available on CD and the one-woman show, Belief that Julie performed in New York two years ago. Julie is also a celebrated educator who was pivotal in introducing indigenous history and stories to Montana schools' curriculum. (See Season 5 Episode 5 for more about Julie.) Jennifer is a gifted poet (“My Hands Have Vertigo”) and just completed a novel, “He Was Beautiful.” Not only did we have a chance to talk with Julie and Jennifer, but they graced us with a performance of an excerpt of Bad Indians. Tune in, sit back and enjoy the show.  Music for this episode is from Scottish flautist Gary Stroutsos “Night Chants”. Gary also performed the music for Julie's 2019 production of “Belief.” We also offer a short clip from the Women Warriors Song, a protest song created and performed by Salish women in memory of the thousands of missing and murdered indigenous women in the U.S. Northwest and Canada.

If you are committed to ‘choosing your own adventure' you'll want to tune in immediately to TOB's conversation with Tammi Leader Fuller, the effervescent co-creator of Campowerment.  After three decades as an award-winning television producer (at The TODAY Show, NBC News, CBS News, America's Most Wanted, and EXTRA TV), Tammi left television in 2013 to partner with her college professor mom and her brand strategist daughter on designing a sleep-away-camp-like experience for women of all ages. Thousands of women campers have now experienced this four-day transformative retreat, powered by play, where women (like her) can re-ignite their lives. She's the party guest who can always come up with the next interactive game, the author of Dish and Tell – stories about how women struggle to juggle all that life throws their way – and a firm believer in the power of sisterhood. Tammi told us how amazed she was to be reinventing herself again at age 62. Join our conversation to hear about her journey and the joys she has on offer as her in-person Campowerment experiences are starting up again in November 2021. And check-out their online community with its many expert-led monthly offerings where women learn together and connect. Check out Campowerment and learn more about how to re-discover who you want to be as you grow up! Tammi's book, Dish and Tell: Six Real Women Discuss How They Put Themselves at the Top of Their To-Do List (2006) is available on Amazon  

Just before the pandemic shut down live performances across the world, the American soprano Claron M. McFadden appeared with pianist Alexander Melnikov at London's Wigmore Hall to rave reviews for “an exhilarating and unorthodox show” and her “breathtakingly beautiful” voice. Having listened to her recordings, we wish we could have been there. From Handel and Bach to modern and contemporary classical music and jazz, Claron is one of the most versatile singers of her generation. In music and in life, she is a fearless but not reckless risktaker who follows her curiosity and trusts her intuition to gamble with all sorts of possibilities. She studied voice at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and traveled to Amsterdam with intentions of remaining for a year. She is still there 40 years later, noting that, in Europe, “people see her first as a human being and not as a black person.” At 60, Claron is one of a very few vocalists “singing at [her] level of intensity.” In a life of going “after all that called to her,” she harbors only three moments of regret and those are mostly about not having managed a situation better. Enviable. Claron is also a founding member of a cultural group Naked Bitches. Curious? Listen to our lively, laugh-filled conversation with Claron to learn more. And listen to her gorgeous recordings on Spotify, Amazon Music and other platforms. For more information about her, checkout her website.

Feminist thinkers, activists and authors Idelisse Malavé, 74,  and Joanne Sandler, 70, created and host Two Old Bitches, a podcast featuring conversations with women in the second half of life whose perspectives and experiences disrupt what it means to be “old” and reclaim what it means to be a “bitch.” Over the past six seasons they have welcomed edgy progressive activists, a zen priest, performers, filmmakers, visual artists, scholars, a chef, journalists and writers, politicians, and more. These women make their own rules – whether it's about politics, love, sex, art, work, family or fashion. They haven't stopped rebelling, re-imagining and reinventing themselves. If anything, they are bolder with age. In this their seventh season, Joanne and Idelisse share more older women's stories that explode myths about gender and aging and re-define what it means to be a woman at any age. Joanne, former Deputy Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for Women-UNIFEM), co-wrote Gender at Work: Theory and Practice for 21st Century Organizations.  Idelisse, a public interest lawyer, manager and consultant, authored two books, Mother Daughter Revolution and Latino Stats, the latter with her daughter. And just for the record, by B.I.T.C.H., they mean: Being In Total Charge of Herself.

“The world tells women-of-a-certain-age to be invisible, be innocuous with quiet voices. We've got news for you, world…WE'RE DONE WITH YOUR BULLSHIT!” These are the words that appear when you pull up the Crones of Anarchy website (https://cronesofanarchy.com) and the spirit that infuses the 18,000+ members on the Facebook group of the same name. We – Two Old Bitches – were fortunate enough to connect directly with one of the founders, Heidi Woordhuis, and hear first-hand about the journey to create a space where older women can speak their minds and be as abrasive and vulnerable as they want. We loved every second of our conversation with Heidi and especially, her explanation that she and her partner, Ruby, chose the title Crones of Anarchy because “an older woman raising her voice is sheer anarchy!” Bask in the defiant joy of the Crones, check out their website and Facebook group, and don't hold back!

Two Old Bitches co-hosts and friends, Joanne Sandler and Idelisse Malavé, were invited by the wonderful and popular Call Your Girlfriend podcast to have a conversation about their decades long friendship. As part of a series, “Summer of Friendship”, CYG asked a few of their favorite podcasters — we're honored! — to tell them how they met, times their friendship has been stretched, and how they grow together. Idelisse and Joanne's episode is available at CYG wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen to it here as a special, bonus episode.

Imagine your life as a perpetual learning journey where you grow braver and more transcendent as the years pass. That is how Trudy Berlin has lived. She is the 98-year-old host of “The Ladies Room with Trudy Berlin”, a weekly discussion group for women over 70. She started it twenty years ago and when the pandemic hit, the group went virtual. The Washington Post christened Trudy “the ‘Oprah’ of senior citizens” at the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center in Boca Raton, Florida.  In her nineties, she continues to live with undiminished excitement, appreciation, openness and yes, fun. Trudy has written all her life –she went back to school at 39 to study literature and poetry at Sarah Lawrence— and during the pandemic “went back to [her] books and studies,” realizing, “I have so much more I want to say.” Trudy reminded us of a Thoreau quote warning that most people die “with their song unsung.” We trust that Trudy’s determination to continually perfect and amplify her song, bringing a vibrant group of older women along with her, will inspire you to turn up your own volume!  And to read more about Trudy and The Ladies Room, check out: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/02/03/jewish-oprah-florida-lonely/

Jaune Evans was originally ordained as a priest in the White Plum Lineage by Bernie Glassman and Taizan Maezumi Roshi in 1983 at the Zen Community of New York. She is now a priest and senior teacher in the Bay Area Everyday Zen lineage of Zoketsu Norman Fischer, and leads the Heart of Compassion Zen Sangha in Point Reyes, California. She is reading from a guided meditation by the Buddhist teacher and author, Stephen Levine who was devoted to being with people who were ill, the dying and bereaved. We hope you will draw solace and some peace from it as we have, and thank Jaune for allowing us to share it with you. Listen to  Jaune’s  full dharma talk at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1731807/8391704-hoc-april-23-2021-this-healing-time-by-jaune-evans

Surprise! Despite being at higher risk, older folks have weathered this past year in better spirits than younger people, according to recent studies.  Well, maybe it’s not such a big surprise given our breadth of experience and, uh-hum, wisdom. For Two Old Bitches, it’s certainly been a crucial topic of conversation since the first lockdowns in March 2020. We’ve also explored how COVID affected what we eat (sourdough bread has been an essential for these Two Old Bitches!), streaming preferences, newfound hobbies, relationships and our notions of the future. We’ve gathered gems and inspiration from these conversations with wise older women. In this episode you’ll meet: Karin Kawamoto – a technology user experience designer -- who we connected with after reading about her in a Washington Post article on how a friend sent her weekly postcards over the many months when she could not leave her apartment; Maria Elena del Valle – our long-time friend and an extraordinary coach, trainer and performer – whose beauty salon in Queens, New York turned into a hub of information and solace for women in her community; and zen priest and teacher Jaune Evans, another long-time friend and former TOB guest, who offered reflections and comfort in dharma talks with the Heart of Compassion sangha that she took online early in the pandemic and that Idelisse joined. In addition to excerpts from one of Jaune’s recent talks in this episode, we’re also sharing a bonus episode of Jaune leading a guided meditation that invites calm presence in these still uncertain days. Listeners, we send you our best wishes for your health, your families and your communities.  

Listen to Sri's beautiful reading of a parable she wrote called "But My Neighbor is Fasting." It's a story about an act of kindness that taught Sri what it means to be extraordinary. And thanks to Sri for sharing this powerful story.   

At 69, Srilatha Batliwala is a feminist grandmother to her four grandchildren and also sees “grandmothering” as a metaphor for how she operates in the world of feminist and social justice movements. Building on decades of activism and prolific writing as a feminist scholar – from her work with tens of thousands of women in village and slum communities in India to holding prestigious positions and fellowships at foundations, universities and transnational women’s rights organizations – Sri is dedicated to mentoring younger feminists and movement builders. Her brilliance at weaving complex strands of thought together into her seminal writing on power, movements, patriarchy and leadership continue to shape feminist perspectives, politics and practice in India and across the world. We are so excited about her recent work on feminist mentoring and the feminist parables she is writing to share and honor the wisdom she gathered from countless women’s village collectives (and, as a bonus to TOB listeners, we will be posting Sri reading one of the parables with this episode). Sri advises and consults with CREA (Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action), an international organization working at the intersection of gender, sexuality and human rights, and Gender at Work, a global network of gender experts supporting organizations to build cultures of equality and inclusion. She also recently became an Honorary Professor of Practice at SOAS, University of London. Welcome to the world of Granny Sri (her Instagram handle) who reminds us that her joy of being “a feminist mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, wife” and her pride at having raised a feminist son (and daughter) are amongst her most formidable achievements.

What are we talking about when we talk about “reinventing” ourselves? Our conversation with writer, teacher and Japanese home cooking guru, Sonoko Sakai, reveals how failure is a pathway to discovering long-standing passions and new opportunities. After two decades as a successful film buyer and producer, Sonoko confronted financial and career loss. To heal, she discovered “putting my hands in flour was the most therapeutic way.” In 2008, she took a noodle-making class in Japan and went on to teach Japanese home cooking in her house in California. Her reputation grew, her soba noodles were celebrated, her classes were sought after for birthdays, corporate events and by individuals, she developed a community project to preserve heirloom grains, and wrote a popular cookbook. Then, in 2020, COVID hit. At 65, she shifted again and brought her classes online, grew her audience fivefold, brought in young women to co-create with her, and built what is becoming a women’s cooperative venture. Sonoko keeps learning and innovating, proud that, at 65 she’s got more energy than most millennials and hopes to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and live to at least 100. Try her cookbook recipes, shop at her online store, and listen to our delicious conversation with Sonoko to get a flavor of the joy that reinvention evokes.     Order Sonoko’s book – Japanese Home Cooking: Simple Meals, Authentic Flavors (https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Home-Cooking-Authentic-Flavors/dp/161180616X)   Check out the NY Times article about Sonoko: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/t-magazine/sonoko-sakai-chef-cooking-soba.html

“What have you been watching?” “See anything good lately?” are questions many of us routinely ask each other, especially during the pandemic. A trusted recommendation for a movie and, for some of us even better, a series with many seasons is cause to celebrate.  How often, though, do you hear of a good movie or series about, for, or by older women? Not often. So when we heard about the film “Let Them All Talk” at the end of 2020, we asked book agent Malaga Baldi, Debbie Zimmerman who heads Women Make Movies and Emmy-nominated former TV producer and wellness and lifestyle coach Renata Joy to join us for a conversation about it and other films and series featuring older women. Two Old Bitches, Joanne and Idelisse, call them geriatric rom-coms. You know the ones we mean. “Something’s Gotta Give,”(Diane Keaton), “It’s Complicated” (Meryl Streep), “Book Club” (Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candace Bergen, Mary Steenburgen), “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (Judy Dench and Maggie Smith) and a number of others sprinkled over the past two decades. Too many of them are not very good. “Why is that?” the five of us wondered. We have some answers and laughs we’d like to share with you, as well as a list of films and series we recommend.  And, we enjoyed doing this so much that we plan to do it again.

Exploring the idea of creating an intentional living community for creatives, and the Hudson Valley, led us (Idelisse and Joanne) to the small town of Catskill, NY where we were enchanted to find an "ArTchaeological Museum" in the window of the Open Studio on Main Street. Its owner Dina Bursztyn, 72, is a visual artist and writer. We were transfixed by her gallery filled with whimsical found art assemblages, sculptures, ceramics, art books, drawings and paintings. Dina's work was described in a New York Times review as “original work that defies reigning art world fashions.” Born in Argentina, Dina, a would-be writer, came to New York after college and was surprised to discover that she was a ceramicist who excavated strange creatures at the bottom of the mugs she was crafting. It was just the beginning of her inventive art practice. Listen to our conversation with her, and the beginning story of why these Two Old Bitches are delving into the possibilities of co-housing and intentional communities. To be continued.... Check out Dina's art books, sculptures, ceramics and exhibitions at https://www.dinabursztyn.com/bio-and-contact.html Her drawings and books make delightful presents!!

How do we respond to this political moment? Pessimism is tempting and optimism may feel foolhardy, yet a sense of possibility fueled by hope makes enduring sense to us. After the Biden/Harris victory, we turned to long-time activists, Lecia Brooks and Lisa Veneklasen to tap into their wisdom and clear-eyed assessment of what we’re facing and what’s possible in the struggle for overdue and drastically needed social and political change. For the past 16 years, Lecia has worked at the well-known Southern Poverty Law Center, a regional and national catalyst for racial justice, most recently as Chief of Staff. She plays a key role in their work to expose and dismantle white supremacy and nationalism. Almost 20 years ago, Lisa founded Just Associates (JASS) and recently stepped down from her role as Executive Director. JASS is a transnational feminist movement building organization that strengthens the voice, visibility and collective power of women to transform the world. Lisa and Lecia’s analysis and insights about these times -- including the power of older women to make change happen -- galvanize and provoke us to think differently about this political moment. See www.splcenter.org for more information about the Center and Lecia. Meet Lisa at http://www.twohundredwomen.com/lisaveneklasen and check out JASS at www.justassociates.org/en/ And be sure to stay tuned to the end of the episode where Renata Joy (www.purejoywellness.com) shares her dream about how women's leadership will be central to the change we need.

With “thousands of grandmothers' voices and stories” in her head, Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, a Canadian labor and human rights lawyer and passionate women’s rights advocate, started the “Grandmothers on the Move” podcast over two years ago. Fifty-three engaging episodes later, she’s already succeeded in her goal to “kick old stereotypes to the curb” through conversations with astonishing older women. Ilana worked at the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for many years before joining with her father in 2003 to co-found the groundbreaking Stephen Lewis Foundation to partner directly with community-based groups confronting the HIV-AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. She is an ardent mother who sees motherhood as “an emotional reality and a political identity.” (Yes!) And at 55, Ilana is “happily getting older.” Don’t you want to know why?   Check out Ilana's Grandmothers On The Move podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grandmothers-on-the-move/id1356003135

"When I'm wearing matte, it's like 'I dare you to come closer!" So warns feminist activist Houry Geudelekian in this episode on the joys, power and history of lipstick...at any age. Join us to hear Houry, feminist economist Radhika Balakrishnan and writer Sandra García Betancourt talk about their and our own checkered histories wearing lipstick --or not. People have colored their lips for at least 5,000 years. It began as an emblem of aristocratic status for women and men equally. Over time it became the province of sex workers and then marching suffragists as an act of defiance and solidarity. And today? Our guests make the connections between feminism and lipstick, suggest the best shades as we age, and share many other musings and magic about painted lips. And we finish with some wisdom from the inimitable AOC about how "beauty is an inside job."

There are so many colorful threads in the life story that Ruth Strassberg, 76, weaves for us in this episode of Two Old Bitches. Her journey to the U.S. from an Italian displaced persons camp in the 40s, transforming into a beatnik in the 50s, her immersion in psychedelic cultures of the 60s and 70s, and her engagement with new age and human potential movements since the 1980s offer fascinating glimpses into the personalities and networks of those eras. Ruth is a seeker, a learner, a truth-teller and a listener. The different paths she traveled led her to trust the universe with a sense of connectedness and contentment that are re-assuring and inspiring, especially in these times of COVID-19 and global disruption. Our conversation with Ruth ends with her sharing: “The world is what it has to be. It’s not here for us to change. It’s here to change us.” Have a lovely listen, be well and, to Ruth, huge gratitude for sharing your beautiful story!

Cynthia Madansky, 58, describes herself as a Jewish, queer filmmaker and artist. For TOB,  she embodies what it means to live a creative life. The recognition she has received – a Fulbright, a Guggenheim, the Rome Prize and so much more – has not altered her commitment to a minimalist life where her art always comes first. She follows her curiosity, her politics, her aesthetic voice and her instincts to create award-winning films that are impossible to categorize. They are not documentaries, they are not narratives: they are deeply beautiful, reflective and political. Her bold and creative genius extends to her own life, with frequent re-locations and explorations while living in Turkey, Palestine, Russia, and Italy, and a commitment to always returning to New York City. We caught up with her soon after she came back from living in St. Petersburg Russia, working on her last film entitled ESFIR. She is now in pre-production, planning and fundraising for her next great opus: a film that will portray the nuclear landscape in all 50 states and US territories. Check out Cynthia’s paintings, films and travels at: http://madansky.com

What gives you joy, a sense of profound pleasure? What tickles your fancy and makes you feel like you’re in the midst of a magic moment? The sources and varieties of pleasure for the women we interview never cease to enlighten and inspire us. What we love, especially, is the way the old bitches we talk to describe the deep pleasure they experience from what is easily available: laughing over nothing with a friend, a glimpse at the sky while you’re working, a memory of the first symphony you ever heard. Maybe you’re an ecstasy junkie or a wild disruptor who loves challenging what people expect from ‘an old bitch’ or you’re discovering renewal with the Mona Lisa method? Find your sisters here in this compilation episode. Listen to find out about joining the 'better, deeper, more' club and to take the Two Old Bitches vow: What else is there but pleasure? And send us an email at 2OBPodcast@gmail.com to share even more examples of what gives you pleasure.   This episode includes excerpts from TOB conversations with: Joy Kane, Cynthia Madansky (forthcoming), Sharon Louden, Renata Joy, Julie Cajun, Alta Starr,  Jaune Evans, Radhika Balakrishnan, Kathy Brew, Tish and Snooky Bellomo, Sondra Lee, and Katharine Acey.