Skip the Resolutions—Do What Works: Sabrena Jo on Wellness After 55

Live Long Better: The Not Old Better Show & the American Council on Exercise

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026, everyone! I'm so glad you're here with us on Live Long Better, part of The Not Old Better Show. I'm your host, Paul Vogelzang. Today's episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, COMFORT THAT ELEVATES EVERY DAY UNWRAP UNMATCHED SOFTNESS THIS SEASON!

As we step into a brand-new year, it's tempting to make grand plans, big promises, and bold resolutions. But today, we're doing things differently. No pressure, no reinvention — just thoughtful reflection, meaningful movement, and a focus on what's already working.

Joining us is our returning friend and trusted expert, Dr. Sabrena Jo, Senior Director of Science and Education at the American Council on Exercise. Sabrena has a gift for cutting through the fads and fluff, and today she's helping us shift away from the typical "New Year, New You" mindset and toward something far more powerful — continuity, confidence, and connection.

In this episode, Sabrena shares how adults over 55 can use movement, social connection, and real-life motivation to support better health without the burnout. She'll bust a few fitness myths, offer science-backed strategies you can actually stick with, and remind us all that aging well isn't about starting over — it's about moving forward with purpose.

So whether you're walking with a friend, stretching in your living room, or simply taking stock of the year ahead, this one's for you.

Let's get started—with Dr. Sabrena Jo. I'm Paul Vogelzang, and this is Live Long Better, part of the award-winning Not Old Better Show.

That's it for today's episode — and what a way to kick off 2026. Remember, today's episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, COMFORT THAT ELEVATES EVERY DAY UNWRAP UNMATCHED SOFTNESS THIS SEASON

A huge thank you to Dr. Sabrena Jo for reminding us that healthy aging isn't about chasing trends or starting over — it's about building on the strength, wisdom, and movement we've already earned.

So whether it's a morning stretch, a walk with a neighbor, or simply giving yourself credit for what you are doing — keep moving, and keep meaning it.

To hear more episodes like this one, including our full archive of inspiring conversations, head over to notold-better.com. You can also follow us on social media — we're on Twitter @notoldbetter and Instagram at notoldbetter — for more insights, encouragement, and community.

This episode is a production of N.O.B.S. Studios.

From all of us here, I'm Paul Vogelzang — thank you for spending time with us today. Have a healthy, meaningful, and joyful start to your 2026, and I hope you'll join me again next time. Live Long Better: Move smarter. Stay stronger. Find meaning in motion.

👟💪💛

"Bloody Crowns and Broken Myths: Michael Livingston on the Real Hundred Years War"

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

For more details, check out Smithsonian Associates:

https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/hundred-years-war

The Hundred Years War: A New History

Bloody Crowns A New History of the Hundred Years War

⚔️ Henry V at Agincourt. Joan of Arc at Orléans. But that's just the beginning…

Smithsonian Associate, Military historian Michael Livingston joins The Not Old Better Show to expose what really happened during the Hundred Years War—and why it wasn't 100 years at all. Think two centuries of shifting alliances, brutal innovation, and the making of modern Europe.

🎙️ Hear the true stories behind the myths now: https://notold-better.com

#NotOldBetterShow #SmithsonianAssociates #HistoryMatters #MichaelLivingston #BloodyCrowns #50PlusLife

🔍 Think you know the Hundred Years War? Let's rethink that.

Smithsonian Associate, Military Historian Michael Livingston, Citadel Distinguished Professor and former Secretary-General of the U.S. Commission on Military History, joined me on The Not Old Better Show – Smithsonian Associates Series to talk about his new book, Bloody Crowns: A New History of the Hundred Years War. What he revealed shocked even me—a timeline that's not 100 years, but 200 years of continental chaos from 1292 to 1492.

⚔️ It wasn't just England and France. From Scotland to the Holy Roman Empire, from Italian city-states to the Iberian Peninsula, this conflict redrew the map of Europe and rewired the way nations thought about power, leadership, and identity.

🎯 We spoke about the decisive moments—like young Edward III's shocking move at Nottingham Castle—and the long, grinding ones too: famine, mercenary bands, peasant revolts. And yes, we dug into the legends: Agincourt, Crécy, Poitiers, and the blazing courage of Joan of Arc.

📚 For those of us 50 and older, this conversation isn't just about dusty old battles. It's about understanding how we got here, how power shifts across generations, and how myths shape our memory. Michael's storytelling is rich, witty, and accessible, and this episode is one I think you'll truly enjoy.

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

Let me know what surprised you most—or which figure from this era you'd want to meet in history.

Attend Michael Livingston's upcoming Smithsonian Associates presentation for all the details, after our interview here.

https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/hundred-years-war

🎙️The Giant Leap: Is Space the Future of Life on Earth?

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

Welcome to the Smithsonian Associates series on The Not Old Better Show. I'm your host, award-winning journalist Paul Vogelzang.

Today's conversation is as big as it gets. We're talking about the future of life—not just on Earth, but beyond it.

Our guest is Smithsonian Associate, Dr. Caleb Scharf—NASA astrobiologist, acclaimed author, and one of the boldest thinkers about the place of life in the universe. Dr. Caleb Scharf will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up! Please check out THIS link for more details. But we have Dr. Scharf briefly today and in his new book The Giant Leap, Dr. Scharf makes a provocative case: that our expansion into space may not just be a technological milestone—it might be the next phase of evolution itself.

He calls this moment a "disruption in the story of life" as profound as when creatures first crawled out of the sea. He's spent his career studying black holes, exoplanets, and the fingerprints of life across the cosmos. He's also a storyteller who blends science with wonder, and reminds us that the night sky isn't just something to look at—it's something we're becoming part of.

If you've ever stared up at the stars and asked, Where are we going next?—this episode is for you.

Remember, Dr. Caleb Scharf will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up! Please check out THIS link for more details.

✈️ Don't pack another bag until you hear this.

Lexie Sachs from the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested it all — luggage, travel pillows, resorts, and even packing cubes that won't fall apart mid-trip. And now, she's sharing her top-tested picks just in time for your next family getaway. 🧳

In this Good Better Best episode, we talk about what's really worth packing, budget-friendly trips for multi-gen families, and the secret to trusting product reviews that actually hold up.

🎧 Listen now to get the smartest tips from someone who's seen every travel trend—and tested the truth behind it: Apple Podcasts: https://notoldbettershow.info/4456zJi

#SmartTravel #GoodHousekeeping #Over50Living #NotOldBetter #TravelGearTested

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.