Feisty Side Of Fifty

As a grandparent, you know there are few things better than sharing a book with your grandchildren… especially one that’s lively, entertaining and educational. Today’s show is my third in a series from National Geographic Kids books and this one is truly exceptional. The book is called, WEIRD BUT TRUE! KNOW IT ALL: THE MIDDLE AGES and I’m thrilled that the author, Michael Burgan, is joining us to share more about this amazing read. Michael specializes in writing books about history, current events, geography and science for children. He wrote for Weekly Reader for six years before going freelance, and now he’s also added the title of playwright to his name. I can’t wait to find out more about the fascinating details to be found in the history of the Middle Ages… and I’m sure you’re feeling the same way. So tune in for this one: you and your grandchildren are certain to be entertained with lots of weird and wonderful facts that will both educate and astound you!

If you’re a grandparent, no doubt you know there’s no greater joy than sharing a lively, adventure-packed book with your grandchildren that both entertains and educates them at the same time. And that brings us to our guest, Crispin Boyer. Crispin has written more than 20 books for National Geographic Kids, wherein he’s covered numerous topics that young readers find fascinating. His non-fiction books have run the gamut from bugs to sharks and from ninjas to knights in shining armor. Crispin joins us now to share all about the fifth book in his much-loved fictional Zeus the Mighty series. It’s called Zeus the Mighty: The Voyage on the Oddest Sea. His series is set in pet shop named Mt. Olympus Pet Center, which is located on none other than a high hilltop in Athens, Georgia. These books are packed with references to ancient Greece and Greek mythology—a treat for young readers and their grandparents alike. So make sure tune in for this one… it’s guaranteed to entertain both you and your grandchildren!

If you’re a grandparent, no doubt you know there’s no greater joy than sharing a lively, colorful and information-packed book with your grandchildren. And that brings us to our guest, Emily Fego. Emily is an assistant editor for the National Geographic Kids Books team and boy does she have a real goody to share!  She joins us today to share all about the latest book published by National Geographic Kids. It’s called., That's Fact-tastic!: Mind-blowing, Eye-popping, Jaw-dropping Stuff About Our World, and the title says it all. So gather your grandchildren and be sure to tune in for this one… it promises to be filled with fun and fascinating facts that are guaranteed to both entertain and amaze you!

Are you a boomer who hopes to maintain an upbeat, fulfilling look at life no matter how many years roll by? If so… you’ll want to be sure to take a listen to what our guest, Cynthia Marks, has to say. Cynthia was married to Dr. Bernard Bail, a highly decorated WWII Veteran and world-renowned psychoanalyst who pioneered an innovative psychoanalytic theory that advocates for the equality of women and pinpoints the origins of mental illness. His work is so revered that a movie has been created featuring Dr. Bail and his groundbreaking theories. The film is called And Now Loveand Cynthia joins us to share more about the movie, her marriage and their lives together. If you care about making the most of your own golden years, you’ll want to make sure you catch this show!

If you’re looking for a great read to share with your middle-grade grandchildren look no further! Our guest,Ellen Oh, is the author/editor of multiple books for middle graders and young adults and was named winner of the Asia/Pacific American Award for Literature for her book, Finding Junie Kim.  She has also been honored with the ALAN Award, which is presented to those authors who’ve made outstanding contributions to the field of adolescent literature.  And, in addition to writing these and editing other award-winning novels, Ellen is the president and founder of “We Need Diverse Books.” Ellen joins us to share all about a unique and fascinating new book entitled, You Are Here: Connecting Flights. This engaging read provides an especially rich look at the Asian American experience because eleven other highly regarded authors of Asian descent have joined Ellen to contribute to the book. The combination of experiences make for an eye-opening look at how twelve young Asian Americans encounter and deal with va

Are you a boomer who wants to live a life that’s fulfilling, inspiring and packed with opportunities for joy and happiness? If so… you’ll want to be sure to take a listen to what our guest, Florence Ann Romano, has to say. Florence Ann is a personal growth strategist and author of Build Your Village: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Every Stage of Life. This wonderful resource was just released in February andprovides strategies for building healthy, supportive friendship networks (also known as villages). Her thoughts are especially crucial for those of us later in life because isolation can be a real problem as we age. If you want to make the most of what can truly be an incredibly special time of life, make certain you tune in for this one!

Everyone loves getting lost in the pages of a great read—especially one that both entertains us with a captivating story as well as explores the ongoing challenges women face in society today. Our guest, Andrea Dunlop, has written just such a book.  You might recognize Andrea’s name as a well-known novelist who has authored several books featuring strong women who find themselves in challenging circumstances. Her latest book, WOMEN ARE THE FIERCEST CREATURES, is no exception. The novel features three women all connected to the same charming, but manipulative man. The ways these ladies go about their relationships, various power-plays and overcoming odds that are often stacked against them, underscore the truth of the book’s title.    If you are a fan of a great story, you won’t want to miss hearing what this author has to say!

If you’re a grandparent, no doubt you know there’s no greater joy than sharing a story with your grandchildren that’s delightfully entertaining while it delivers an important, life-affirming message. That’s where our guests today come in. Their message holds particular significance for us baby boomers and, of course, our grandchildren. Jason June is a New York Times bestselling children’s book author who loves writing memorable and moving stories that children and their adult caregivers can hold in their hearts. Loren Long is the author/illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Otis series which has been developed into an animated television series on AppleTV+.  Now Jason and Loren have joined forces and merged their considerable talents to create a book that belongs in every child’s library. It’s called Never Forget Eleanor and this beautifully illustrated story provides a very special meaning that is guaranteed to hold a place in the hearts of you and your grandchildren. So, if you want to engage yo

The feisty side of fifty is just the time to focus on making improvements to your health and wellbeing. Each of us wants to remain strong and fit for as long as possible and that’s where Dr. Thomas Wnorowski can really help. Join this highly regarded physician as he shares the latest information on gut health and how to keep your microbiome happy and thriving as you age. If you care about aging well and spending many more happy years with your children and grandchildren, you won’t want to miss this one!

Are you a boomer who hopes to maintain your youthful outlook and zest for life for years to come? If so… you’ll want to be sure to take a listen to what Marilyn Moss Rockefeller has to say. Marilyn has written an incredible memoir that shares her journey from humble beginnings on an Appalachian farm to heading up a multi-million-dollar company. She’s one of us (a woman of a certain age), and her story of grit, determination and a positive outlook will help to motivate each of us as we face the challenges of growing older. Best of all, it’s wrapped up in a beautifully written story that will have you eagerly turning pages. Her book is called, Mountain Girl: From Barefoot to Boardroom and Marilyn joins us today to share all about it. If you care about making the most of your own golden years, you’ll want to make sure you catch this show!

Are you fascinated with stories about the British Royal family? Do current revelations by Prince Harry and his wife whet your appetite for more? Does the topic of palace intrigue and the people and power behind the throne pique your interest? Well, if any of the above statements are true, this show is for you! Our guest, veteran journalist at The Times, Valentine Low, has been writing about the royal family for over a quarter of a century. Valentine is known for his insight as well as his meticulously fair coverage, as he reports on the royals and their courtiers both in print and on frequent appearances on international television. Now Valentine has added to his role as royal commentator by authoring an insider’s account of the people behind the throne. His book is called, COURTIERS:Intrigue, Ambition, and the Power Players Behind the House of Windsor.   If you, like me, are drawn to stories of palace intrigue and the lives of the British royals, you’ll want to make sure you catch this show!

Are you a boomer who hopes to maintain your youthful outlook and zest for life for years to come? If so… you’ll want to be sure to take a listen to what Sharon Price John has to say. Sharon has served as president and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop since 2013. She was born in a small town in Tennessee, far from the trappings of wealth and fame, yet she has created a life of achievement and success. And, all the while, Sharon had to face and overcome great odds as an executive in the competitive and highly charged world of New York City. Now Sharon shares her journey, her challenges and her successes as well as her philosophy of life through the power of personal stories in her just released book, Stories & Heart. Her words will resonate with many of you as we face our own difficulties in the aging process. If you are concerned about making the most of your own golden years, you’ll want to make sure you catch this show!

If you’re a grandparent, no doubt you know there’s no greater joy than sharing a lively, colorful and information-packed book with your grandchildren. And that brings us to our guest, Dean Regas. Dean is the former host of PBS’s Star Gazers and is currently an astronomer at the Cincinnati Observatory. He’s also authored an incredible six books and numerous articles on space and observational astronomy. In fact, Dean was named the winner of the 2008 “Out-of-this-World” Award for astronomy education.  So this guy truly knows his stuff. Dean joins us to share all about his latest book called 1000 Facts About Space. It’s published by National Geographic Kids so you know the book is colorful, fun and filled with fascinating facts your grandchildren will love. So gather your grandchildren and be sure to tune in for this one… it promises to be both entertaining and informative!

We boomers know that nothing supports a healthy life more than giving our bodies the nutrition we need—especially as we age. That’s where our guest, Dr. Donald Hensrud, can really help. Dr. Hensrud is a specialist in nutrition and weight management at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. His resume includes serving as the medical director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program as well as being the medical director of the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program. Dr. Hensrud has also has authored and helped publish several books including the New York Times bestsellers, The Mayo Clinic Diet, Third Edition, and The Mayo Clinic Diet Journal, Third  Edition.  Dr. Hensrud joins us today to share all about the newly revised version of the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Mayo Clinic Diet, Third Edition, which bears the distinction of being named the “best diet program 2022 by US News and World Report.” This promises to be a fascinating discussion and you won’t want to miss it!      

Wouldn’t it be great to truly master your issues around weight management once and for all? For the first time, The Noom Mindset offers a deeper look at the proven strategies and tools for navigating personal health in a world where it is increasingly difficult to make healthy choices. Noom has helped millions of users using the mindset tactics that this book teaches. The Noom Mindset provides the tools to help you reach your goals, your way. Join Dr. Andreas Michaelides, Chief of Psychology and developer of Noom’s human coaching program, as he shares all about a fabulous new book, The Noom Mindset: Learn the Science, Lose the Weight. If you care about feeling great, looking great and living your best life at any age, you won’t want to miss this one!

Our guest, Noah Strycker, is an author, photographer and a birding guide whose books include, among others, National Geographic’s BACKYARD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA and BIRDS OF THE PHOTO ARK. Noah is also a penguin researcher, and an associate editor of BIRDING magazine so this guy knows his birds for sure. Noah joins us to share all about his latest work. It’s published by National Geographic and is called: BIRDING BASICS: TIPS, TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR GREAT BIRD WATCHING. The book is a treasure trove of fascinating information, birding tips and, like all National Geographic books, filled with stunning photos. I know each of you is going to want to have this one on your coffee table. So take 10 minutes, listen to what Noah has to say and let your imagination soar to the amazing beauty of our fine-feathered friends!  

Everyone loves a tale of intrigue and suspense, especially when it’s richly populated with the fascinating characters penned by Louise Penny. Today’s guest has brought Penny’s much beloved detective, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache to life with his critically acclaimed performances for Macmillan Audio. You know Robert Bathurst as Sir Anthony Strallan on Downton Abbey, but we’ll forgive him for so rudely leaving Lady Edith at the altar now that he’s moved on to portraying a much more thoughtful fellow. Inspector Gamache would never leave a lady waiting… that is, unless he had a mystery to solve. And that’s just what he’s doing in this latest book narrated by Mr. Bathurst. It’s called A World of Curiosities and Robert joins us to share all about it. If you love a great tale brought to life by a master storyteller, you won’t want to miss learning what this famous actor has to share!

The baby boomer generation has encountered some major shifts that have greatly impacted our lives. Many of these monumental changes were totally unexpected back in our younger years, especially those around technology and Artificial Intelligence. Thankfully, there’s no one better to speak with about this topic than our guest today, Rama Chellappa, Ph.D. Dr. Chellappa is a pioneering researcher and inventor in the fields of computer vision, artificial intelligence and machine learning. In addition to being a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Dr. Chellappa holds eight patents and is a Fellow of eight professional societies including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and the Association for Computing Machinery and the National Academy of Inventors. And, for those of us who may fall a little short of his academic achievements, Dr. Chellappa has just come out with a book that both poses and explores a fascinating question that d

Our guest, Andy Saunders, is one of the world's foremost experts of NASA digital restoration. His work has been exhibited in numerous museums, and has also appeared on BBC News, The Daily Telegraph, Smithsonian's Air & Space Magazine, The Washington Post, as well as in NASA's own archives. And, true to his reputation, Andy has created a masterwork that belongs in the library of every boomer out there. We well remember the amazing feats of the Apollo Space Program and Andy’s book, APOLLO REMASTERED, presents these remarkable flights in stunning photographs that are guaranteed take your breath away. Each of us boomers will long remember excitement around the Apollo space flights. So plan to tune in and revisit those incredible voyages that opened our eyes to world of space and the remarkable blue marble that we all inhabit.

Many of us boomers have learned to put life into perspective and live more fully and consciously. After all, those wrinkles staring back in the mirror are a great reminder that life doesn’t go on forever. On that note, we were blessed to have a very special guest join us on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio, Barbara Becker. Barbara is an interfaith minister who has written an award-winning book that is both a meaningful and an inspiring roadmap for life. Her focus is on guiding us to use our own death as a reminder that each day is a gift and one that needs to be cherished. The book is called, Heartwood: The Art of Living With the End in Mindand I’m thrilled she’s joining us to share all about it. For a big dose of inspiration and an uplifting look at the real gifts to be found in our daily lives, you won’t want to miss one!