46. A curious centenarian role model

46. A curious centenarian role model

From Learning How To Be Old by Rachel McAlpine

April 7, 2026 · 24 min · Season 5 · Episode 44

About this episode

Rachel McAlpine interviews 102-year-old Rachelle Calkoen, exploring her life experiences and curiosity.

At 86 I'm hungry for role models who show me how they manage life in their 90s. Rachelle Calkoen may be 102 but she is more engaged with the world, more curious than many people half her age. I hope you get as much joy from her story as I do. If so, please tell a friend about this podcast so they can also be inspired. Today I’m learning how to be old from someone with a track record: the fabulous Rachelle Calkoen. She was born in 1923, in Holland. I interviewed her four years ago, for my play, The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People, when she was only 98.  The other day I was having a cup of tea with her and she kindly gave me permission to use part of that conversation for this podcast. Coming up shortly. She said very little had changed for her since then, and she certainly looks the same (wonderful) and her voice sounds the same (musical). She still has the same problems: words — she can FEEL them in her mouth, but they won’t come out; and the same pleasures: birds and people and books and clocks and life itself. She’s 102, with a mind and heart wide open. She is curious! She’s up for new stuff! Some things annoy her but I don’t think anything bores her. Anyway we can…

People in this episode

Host: Rachel McAlpine

Guest: Rachelle Calkoen

Topics covered

  • aging
  • curiosity
  • role models
  • life stories
  • personal growth

Keywords

  • centenarian
  • curiosity
  • aging gracefully
  • life lessons
  • personal stories

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People

Places: Holland

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