What Abraham Lincoln Still Teaches Us About Leadership

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

217 years after his birth, Abraham Lincoln remains the gold standard of American leadership — and he still has something to teach us.

In our latest episode of The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, I sat down with Professor Louis P. Masur — Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University — to explore the traits that made Lincoln more than just a president. He was a strategist, a master communicator, and perhaps most importantly, a leader who wasn't afraid to change his mind.

Dr. Masur will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates comng up, please check out our show notes for more details about Dr. Masur's Smithsonian Associates presentation titled, Leanring From Lincoln. But we have Smithsonian Associate Dr. Louis Masur today.

Masur's insight reveals how Lincoln's use of humor, storytelling, silence, and empathy helped him guide a broken nation through its darkest days. These aren't just historical details — they're leadership lessons for anyone seeking to grow, lead, and live with purpose, especially in their later chapters of life.

In today's episode, we dig into key moments from Masur's books — Lincoln's Last Speech, Lincoln's Hundred Days, and The Civil War: A Concise History — that highlight the character, wisdom, and personal evolution of Lincoln himself.

What does it mean to lead with humility? To be open to changing course? To use stories, not soundbites, to bring people together?

This episode will inspire anyone who believes it's never too late to lead with grace. 🎧 Listen at notold-better.com

Dr. Masur will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates comng up, please check out our show notes for more details about Dr. Masur's Smithsonian Associates presentation titled, Leanring From Lincoln. But we have Smithsonian Associate Dr. Louis Masur today.

Emotional Landscapes: Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker Pen Densham Reinvents Nature Photography

The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living Interview Series

🎙️ Oscar-nominated filmmaker Pen Densham is now reinventing photography — and what it means to create at any age. Listen here: https://notold-better.com

🌿 Pen Densham blends storytelling with impressionist nature photography — and reminds us that it's never too late to create. Listen now: https://notold-better.com

🎬 At 4 years old, Pen Densham rode an alligator in a short film. At 75, he's reinventing what it means to be a storyteller — not with film, but through impressionist nature photography. https://pendenshamphotography.com/

Pen is best known for producing Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Backdraft, The Outer Limits, and The Twilight Zone. But today, he's capturing landscapes like never before — using long exposures, movement, and emotion to turn still images into what he calls "visual music."

In our newest episode of The Not Old Better Show, sponsored by Longevity Mitopure Gummies: The First-Ever Longevity Gummies, powered by Mitopure. A delicious, easy way to put more energy into your day!

Pen opens up about the courage it takes to create after success, after loss, and after 50. From letting go of perfection to embracing creative freedom, he offers an inspiring look at what's possible when we stop asking for permission.

This is a must-listen for professionals, artists, and anyone redefining their next chapter. Creativity isn't bound by age — and Pen Densham proves it. https://pendenshamphotography.com/

Longevity Gummies, powered by Mitopure, sponsor today's show — the first-ever Urolithin A gummy that's clinically proven to support strength, energy, and healthy aging — right down at the cellular level.

Head to timeline.com/nob to get started. That's timeline.com/nob.
Your cells will thank you.

🎧 Listen here: https://notold-better.com

Vision for All: The Life-Changing Power of a Simple Donation

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living series. Today's show is brought to you by Aura Frames. Aura Frames: the gift that brings your favorite holiday traditions and memories to life every day.

🎙️ This is our annual charitable giving show, and we're proud to announce that our 2025 giving selection is the life-changing vision restoration campaign from The Fred Hollows Foundation, supported by Causeway's $10 million matching challenge.Today, we're talking about something that affects millions—and could very well affect someone you know and love. Because around the world, more than 43 million people are blind—and the shocking truth is, nine out of ten of those cases are entirely preventable.

Imagine being unable to see your grandchildren's faces… or having to stop working or reading simply because your sight failed—and no one was there to help. That's the reality in places like Ethiopia and Cambodia, where basic eye care is often out of reach.

But it doesn't have to stay that way.

Joining us today are two remarkable people: Andrea Galan, Executive Director of The Fred Hollows Foundation USA—one of the world's most trusted vision-restoration organizations—and Doug Heske, CEO of Causeway, whose platform is helping fuel a $10 million matching campaign to restore sight to tens of thousands.

We'll hear how cataract surgeries costing less than $25 are getting people back to work, how a simple pair of eyeglasses can keep a child in school, and how every dollar you give right now can go twice as far thanks to this match.

And we'll ask something simple: How can we help?

This is about dignity, legacy, and action. It's about doing something measurable and meaningful—especially at the end of the year, when so many of us are thinking about how to give back.

So stay tuned—this one's personal, powerful, and filled with hope.

Here now is our conversation with Andrea Galan and Doug Heske.

🎙️ I'm your host, Paul Vogelzang, and this is The Not Old Better Show.

Romance After 50: Nancy Gulbrandsen Has Seen It All (And She's Naming Names)

The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living Interview Series

They say love is patient, love is kind—but whoever said that clearly never used a dating app.

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living series. Today's show is brought to you by Aura Frames. Aura Frames: the gift that brings your favorite holiday traditions and memories to life every day. I'm Paul Vogelzang, and if you've ever swiped left, swiped right, or just wanted to swipe the whole screen off the table, this episode is for you.

Our guest today is Nancy Lee Gulbrandsen—a sharp, witty humorist who took one too many bad dates and turned them into a bestselling satire. Her book, Swipe Left: The Savvy Woman's Guide to Decoding Men's Dating Profiles, is part survival guide, part stand-up routine, and 100% relatable for anyone who's ever thought, "Wait… is that a fish in his profile picture?"

Nancy brings a much-needed laugh to modern dating—especially for those of us dating again, or dating later, when the stakes feel higher and the bios feel shorter. From Boozy Bruce to Flatulent Floyd, her book is a guide to the red flags hiding in plain sight—and a reminder that your time, energy, and heart are far too valuable to waste on someone who "isn't ready for a relationship" but still wants to meet for drinks.

We're going to talk about why the dating pool often feels like a puddle, how women over 50 are reclaiming their confidence, and why it's okay to say no, trust your gut, and most of all—laugh.

So pour yourself something strong—or something sparkling—and get ready to swipe smart.

Here now with wit, warmth, and way too many cautionary tales... is author Nancy Lee Gulbrandsen. Remember, Today's show is brought to you by Aura Frames. Aura Frames: the gift that brings your favorite holiday traditions and memories to life every day.

🎙️ I'm Paul Vogelzang. This is The Not Old Better Show.

Rebuilt: How John Stewart Hill Turned Pain into Purpose and Purpose into Impact

The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living Interview Series

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living series on NOB Studios. I'm Paul Vogelzang, and today's episode is brought to you by Acorns. Acorns helps you grow towards the money goals you have today — and the ones you'll have tomorrow. …You'll be thinking about long after it ends.

Imagine this: you're lying in a hospital bed. The doctors say it's bad. You've had a massive heart attack. It's 3AM. You're alone. And just when you're ready to let go... a quiet question comes to your heart: Do you want to stay, or do you want to go?

Our guest today, John Stewart Hill, faced that question—and chose to stay. And thank God he did.

He walked out of that hospital not just with physical damage, but with a fire in his soul. What followed was a life transformed by faith, grit, and a mission to serve others. He started The Good Contractors List—a business built on something rare these days: trust. Real trust. Backed by a $10,000 guarantee, no less.

But this isn't just about business. It's about purpose. Redemption. And the idea that no matter your age, your past, or your pain—God's not done writing your story.

This is a powerful one, folks. So settle in. You're going to hear about second chances, real integrity, and how one man rebuilt his heart, his life, and his legacy. You'll be thinking about long after it ends.

🎙️ I'm Paul Vogelzang. This is The Not Old Better Show, and you're going to want to hear every word.

Beating the Loneliness Epidemic: How ACE's Dr. Cedric Bryant and Dr. Sabrena Jo Help Us Add People to Our Years

Live Long Better: Not Old Better and American Council on Exercise

Today's show is brought to you by Aura Frames. Aura Frames: the gift that brings your favorite holiday traditions and memories to life every day.

If I told you there was a health risk that could quietly raise your chances of early death by roughly 25 to 30 percent… and it wasn't diabetes, blood pressure, or cholesterol… you'd probably lean in.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of premature death by 26% and 29%, and lacking social connection can be as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. HHS+1

So here's the question for all of us over 60: we count our steps, we count our meds… who's helping us count our people?

Welcome to Live Long Better. I'm your host, and today we're tackling the loneliness epidemic head‑on—with movement and community as the prescription

Joining us are two leaders from the American Council on Exercise, or ACE.

First, our ongoing member of the team, Dr. Sabrena Jo, Senior Director of Science and Education, whose work focuses on how pro‑aging, inclusive fitness and community‑based movement can turn a lonely workout into a welcoming social circle.

And we're also joined by Dr. Cedric Bryant, Chief Executive Officer at ACE. Cedric spends his days at the table with organizations like the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, championing physical activity as essential public health. ACE Fitness He's authored more than 300 articles and over 40 books, holds a doctorate in physiology from Penn State—where he received the university's Distinguished Alumni Award—and he lives the ACE mission personally with regular exercise, pickleball, golf, and even coaching youth sports. ACE Fitness

Cedric often says, "Some activity is better than none, and more is better than some. Every little bit counts." ACE Fitness+1

We'll talk about how that simple idea scales up—from one older adult taking a short walk with a neighbor, to ACE's 40 Forward initiative, a 40th‑anniversary effort to "shape the future of fitness together" by building more inclusive, community‑driven opportunities to move in every kind of neighborhood. ACE Fitness+2ACE Fitness+2

If your contact list has gotten smaller while your pill organizer has gotten bigger, this episode is for you.

Because today, we're not just talking about adding years to your life…
we're talking about adding people to your years.

Stay with us—Dr. Sabrena Jo and Dr. Cedric Bryant are coming up next.

The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyperpersuasion

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

Have you ever wondered if the thoughts you're thinking… are actually yours?

Today's Smithsonian Associates conversation might just change the way you think—literally. Our guest is Harvard historian of science Rebecca Lemov, who's spent the last two decades pulling back the curtain on something most of us think we're immune to: brainwashing.

But this isn't science fiction or Cold War spy stuff—though it starts there. In The Instability of Truth, Lemov takes us deep into the hidden archives of CIA experiments, cult psychology, secret black sites, and perhaps the most chilling battleground of all: the home screen on your phone.

She uncovers how techniques once used in POW camps and radical political groups are now quietly running beneath our everyday lives—inside social media feeds, AI chatbots, even dating apps. Emotional engineering, hyper-persuasion, algorithmic manipulation—it's all happening, and most of us don't even know it.

And here's the twist: education and intelligence don't protect you—they might even make you more vulnerable.

In today's interview, Rebecca Lemov opens up not only about her research but her own story of addiction, trauma, and what it took to reclaim her mind. She also offers tools to help the rest of us do the same—and why questioning your own thoughts may be the most radical act of freedom you'll ever take.

This is a gripping conversation—fascinating, unsettling, and urgently important.

And it all starts now

Wrapped, Rated & Ready: Good Housekeeping's Smartest Black Friday Picks

The Not Old Better Show, Good Better Best Good Housekeeping Interview Series

🎁 Holiday deals are everywhere—but which ones are actually worth it?

🛍️ Today's episode is brought to you by Aura Frames, and in our latest episode of Good Better Best – Good Housekeeping, I sit down with Amanda Fama, Senior Editor for Deals & Trends at Good Housekeeping, to get the real scoop on Black Friday shopping. Amanda isn't just watching price tags—she's matching deals to products actually tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute. That's a big win for smart shoppers.

📦 From the coziest slippers to trending tech and a Stranger Things x Wrangler jacket that's turning heads, Amanda shares her insider picks—and how to avoid falling for "fake deals" in your feed.

💡 For gift-givers shopping across generations, this episode is a must-listen. Thoughtful doesn't have to mean expensive. Amanda explains how to shop with intention, stay on budget, and still surprise the people you love.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation here 👉 on Apple Podcasts: https://notoldbettershow.info/4456zJi

#GoodHousekeeping #LinkedInAudio #HolidayShopping #BlackFriday #NotOldBetter #Podcast #SmartSpending #GiftIdeas #Over50Living