Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

At 80, Regan Burke is still organizing, advocating, and speaking out.But her path to becoming a respected activist, columnist, memoirist, and political influencer was anything but straightforward. Before she found sobriety in her twenties, drugs and alcohol shaped much of her daily life. She attended five different high schools, searching for direction until one perceptive nun recognized her talent and changed the course of her future by encouraging her to write.That spark ignited a lifelong commitment to telling the truth.For decades, Regan immersed herself in political organizing, volunteering for campaigns she believed could make a difference. A devoted member of the recovery community, she carried the lessons of honesty and accountability into her writing, becoming a blogger, newspaper columnist, and memoirist known for speaking candidly about politics, power, and personal struggle.Today, despite living with chronic pain, Regan refuses to retreat from public life. She organizes rallies for people with limited mobility, mentors younger political leaders, and works tirelessly to encourage civic engagement. While she may no longer knock on doors, her determination to create change remains as strong as ever.In this conversation, Regan reflects on sobriety, activism, aging, courage, and why using your voice may be more important now than ever.And when the work gets hard? She sings. Choir music helps ease her pain, sharpens her mind, and reminds her that community can be one of life's most powerful forms of healing."It’s risky to stand up - it takes bravery." - Regan BurkeConnect with Regan:Blog: ReganBurke.comEmail: Regan.Burke@gmail.comShining the Light on Age-Wise Collective—Women Over 70 is proud to be part of the Age-Wise Collective, a group of women podcasters championing pro-aging voices. We highlight gerontologist Sally Duplantier, host of Wellness Wednesdays. These free and recorded webinars feature experts on topics about healthy aging. Visit MyZingLife.com to learn more.

When Patricia (Pat) Koko, age 82, reflects on her life’s work as a young homemaker turned consummate volunteer and community change-maker, she often says things like, “that was kind of fun,” or “there just was a need”—-simple phrases that belie an extraordinary legacy.Driven by a lifelong love for older people, Pat has spent more than 50 years helping to create, grow, and sustain programs and services that support older adults. What began as local, grassroots efforts in and around Oak Park, IL, evolved into initiatives that attracted state and federal funding and ultimately became models for nationwide programs serving older adults.Pat’s impact continues today. In addition to being a volunteer extraordinaire, she is the owner of RBC Jewelry Designs, where she creates stunning gemstone pieces—many of which she generously donates to fundraisers benefiting older adults."The services I helped create many decades ago are enduring and robust, and I’m still here to help where help is needed." - Patricia KokoConnect with PatEmail: patriciakoko@hotmail.comPat Koko: for 50 years, a volunteer extraordinaire in & around Oak Park - Inside Edge PRThanking Our Sponsor—-Plymouth Place, LaGrange Park, IL. Discover the extraordinary at Plymouth Place—a vibrant community designed for active adults. Elevate your retirement living experience with tailored independent options, premier amenities, and a full continuum of care. Explore diverse living choices and embrace the joy of a life well-lived. http://plymouthplace.orgRecognizing the Age-Wise CollectiveWomen Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts for women 50+, featuring women’s stories and addressing topics that promote the pro-aging movement.MEET: Sally Duplantier, gerontologist and founder of My Zing Life, who’s mission is to help older adults live their best lives longer. Sally hosts Wellness Wednesday, an online program featuring cutting-edge researchers, best-selling authors, and health professionals. https://myzinglife.com

n writing her memoir, BROKEN PIECES (and the fun things you can do with them), Reedy is hopeful that her life's missteps might help others. When she began studying Method Writing with a brilliant teacher, “her life's stories came pouring out like a waterfall", she said. It took a few decades to complete her manuscript to her satisfaction. She found searching for a publisher tedious and finally chose to self-publish with Paper Raven Books. In her book, Reedy shares the many phases of her life, the ups and downs, successes and failures, in a raw honest account. Through her publication journey, she met three other first time published memoirists, all women in their 70s, and now they are collaborating on a book to inspire future memoirists. Academics was not Reedy’s strong suit, but she excelled in the arts, ballet and acting. Unfortunately, she had a much older mentally troubled brother she had to contend with. Her desperate attempt to escape family dysfunction took a traumatic turn causing her to lose her footing and stumble down a dark path. But there was light at the end of the tunnel and a happy ending in sight. "It doesn’t always help if your friends sympathize with you when you’re in a bad situation." - Reedy Gibbs CONNECT WITH REEDY: E. ReedyGibbs@sbcglobal.net Memoir: Broken Pieces and the fun things you can do with them https://www.amazon.com/s?k=broken+pie... A special thanks to our sponsor Plymouth Place in LaGrange Park IL where senior living is redefined with options and opportunities to fit individual needs and preferences. A shout-out to Age-Wise Collective member Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, host of Wisdom at Work: Older Women, Elderwomen and Grandmothers on the Move, features energizing and inspiring conversations with older women activists and artists the world over. Https://www.wisdomatworkpodcast.com

Advocate Franca Zanovello shares her deep beliefs about beauty for women of all ages. Growing up in Italy, and living in six different countries, influenced Franca’s earliest experiences with skin care. Experiencing massage by blind people in Myanmar helped her understand how touch alone elevates wellness through body massage. In a large family of women, she learned to take care of her skin, body and hair, and her grandmother, who was a mid-wife, taught her science and explained to her how the body functions at a very young age. Today, Franca works with Skintensive, a dermatologist, efficacy-driven skin care brand designed for maturing skin. Franca’s approach to the innovation and science behind skin care is the reason we support and appreciate Skintensive’s support of us. 20% discount at https://www.skintensive.com with code WO70 + free shipping. “Growing up in Italy and living in South Asia influenced my belief in the deep connection of body and mind and my view of beauty as a reflection of health.” - Franca Zanovella Fading Memories Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined is a member of the Age-Wise Collective, 13 women-led podcasts that feature women 50+ and topics that promote the pro-aging movement. This month’s Collaborator is Jennifer Fink, who hosts Fading Memories, a podcast for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. It provides insights and guidance on communicating effectively, managing stress, and coping with grief and loss.