Épisodes

  • Creating an Urban Sanctuary for Safety and Health

    Creating an Urban Sanctuary for Safety and Health
    Jan 14 2026
    In this episode, host Susanne Stadler, architect and AHWGO Executive Director, welcomes Lydia Bransten, Executive Director of The Gubbio Project, for a compelling conversation about building community through compassion and sanctuary. The Gubbio Project is a pioneering daytime shelter housed in St. John the Evangelist Church in San Francisco's Mission District. Since its founding, Gubbio has offered a radical form of sanctuary: a safe place for unhoused neighbors to rest during the day, no questions asked. In this episode, we explore how Lydia's background in arts and theater informs her approach to building community and creating dynamic, engaging environments for healing. We discuss the origins of the Gubbio Project and its namesake—the Italian town where St. Francis famously found mutual understanding with a wolf by bringing it into the community rather than treating it as a monster. Lydia shares powerful insights about destigmatizing visible poverty, the crucial role of low-barrier spaces in our public health infrastructure, and what happens when housed and unhoused neighbors come together in shared spaces. We examine why sanctuary matters, how the church's mission aligns with harm reduction principles, and why expensive solutions like increased policing often fail to address the root issues. From recaptured food programs to partnerships with the Department of Public Health, The Gubbio Project demonstrates what's possible when we choose community care over criminalization. This conversation challenges us to rethink our relationship to public space, safety, and what it means to truly welcome our most vulnerable neighbors into the fold. "When you start to be treated like you deserve better, you suddenly want better. You can start to envision better: What does better look like?" — Lydia Bransten At Home With Growing Older is proud to host At Home, On Air — a radio hour offering connection, community and knowledge to our participants. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/RO3XAuNe9JI Takeaway Resources: https://athomewithgrowingold.com/2025/12/06/at-home-on-air-a-conversation-with-lydia-bransten/ Learn more, support our work, and register for the next LIVE episode of At Home, On Air: www.athomewithgrowingolder.org.
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    44 min
  • People First: Creating Spaces Without Walls

    People First: Creating Spaces Without Walls
    Dec 4 2025
    At Home, On Air Podcast Episode 51 | People First: Creating Spaces Without Walls In this episode of our podcast, we welcome Nichole Battle, the CEO of the Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO). In this compelling conversation, hosted by architect and AHWGO Executive Director Susanne Stadler, we explore the profound connection between affordable housing and community vitality. “What if affordable housing could transform entire communities, not just provide shelter?” Battle leads GEDCO, a Baltimore-based affordable housing developer born from a coalition of churches responding to their parishioners' needs. With her background in urban planning, landscape architecture, and real estate development—plus deep roots as a longtime Baltimore resident—Nichole understands that decent housing goes beyond four walls and a roof. It's about creating context: green spaces where neighbors gather, ball fields for exercise and play, urban farms that nourish bodies and spirits, and sacred grounds for celebration and reflection. It's also about stability—having a home provides the foundation people need to secure employment and fully participate in community life. “When we put people first, housing becomes something bigger—it creates spaces without walls that strengthen the entire community,” shares Nichole. At Home With Growing Older is proud to host At Home, On Air—a radio hour offering connection, community and knowledge to our participants. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/edWRfMnDZkd Learn more, support our work, and register for the next LIVE episode of At Home, On Air: www.athomewithgrowingolder.org.
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    44 min
  • Coming Out as an Older Adult: Finding Individual and Collective Agency in How We Age

    Coming Out as an Older Adult: Finding Individual and Collective Agency in How We Age
    Nov 5 2025
    On our podcast – At Home, On Air – we welcome Jennie Chin Hansen, the immediate past CEO of the American Geriatrics Society, former President of AARP, previous Executive Director of On Lok, and a longtime community advocate. In this forward-looking conversation, Jennie draws from her lifelong career in the field of aging as well as her own personal aging journey. She discusses the strength that comes with older age — why living with agency while experiencing the normal changes of aging is essential to our wellbeing. Jennie challenges us to rethink interdependence: how can we nourish our connections across generations and build "new muscles" by working alongside younger people, acknowledging our differences rather than avoiding them? She speaks to the responsibility that comes with being an older adult — to share our resources and take care of those who come behind us, to be soldiers of caretaking and the collective good, keeping the flow going for generations to come. This is a conversation that will shift how you see your own aging journey — and inspire you to build the intergenerational connections our world desperately needs. At Home With Growing Older is proud to be your host of At Home, On Air — a radio hour offering connection, community and knowledge to our participants remotely. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/DM4dSR03y5F Learn more, support our work, and register for the next LIVE episode of At Home, On Air: www.athomewithgrowingolder.org.
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    45 min
  • Moving Toward Pride: What an Anti-Ageism Movement Can Learn from Disability Pride

    Moving Toward Pride: What an Anti-Ageism Movement Can Learn from Disability Pride
    Jul 17 2025
    This episode of the At Home, On Air podcast, is an archived conversation from May 2020. In honor of Disability Pride Month, we're bringing you this engaging conversation: "Moving Toward Pride: What an Anti-Ageism Movement Can Learn from Disability Pride." Our guest speakers are two amazing women, each a thought leader and movement builder — Ashton Applewhite is a writer, anti-ageism expert, and author known for using compelling statistics to challenge ageist assumptions; and Tiffany Yu is a social impact entrepreneur, diversity and inclusion community builder, and disability advocate recognized for her work rebranding disability through storytelling and community building. In this powerful conversation, Ashton and Tiffany explore the parallels between anti-ageism and disability pride movements through personal stories and professional insights, examining how both communities can learn from each other's advocacy strategies. They discuss the importance of moving beyond fear-based narratives, the challenge of "passing" in both communities, and how intersectionality shapes their experiences. The dialogue covers everything from reframing language around aging and disability to reimagining community spaces, offering insights into building more inclusive movements that celebrate rather than hide these identities. At Home With Growing Older is proud to be your host of At Home, On Air — a radio hour offering connection, community and knowledge to our participants remotely. Help us continue bringing you meaningful conversations like this one! Subscribe to never miss an episode, share with someone who'd love this discussion, or make a donation to keep these important dialogues free and accessible. Ready to join our next LIVE episode? Learn more and register at: www.athomewithgrowingolder.org. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/FbbOkm2RMdk
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    45 min
  • Sign My Name to Everything: The Multi-Hyphenate Spirit of Betty Reid Soskin

    Sign My Name to Everything: The Multi-Hyphenate Spirit of Betty Reid Soskin
    May 28 2025
    On our podcast – At Home, On Air – we continue our mini-series, Changemaker Interviews, where we highlight the impact of changemakers on the quality of our lives. These individuals have challenged and changed systems, introduced new ways of thinking and told previously untold stories. In the fifth installment of the series, we welcome Betty Reid Soskin’s granddaughter Alyana Reid and filmmaker Bryan Gibel to discuss what they learned from listening to Betty’s stories for their nearly-completed documentary, “Sign My Name to Freedom,” which uncovers Betty’s early career as a musician. Through this film and her memoir of the same name, Betty has revived compositions hidden for decades, demonstrating the value of continuing to explore and revive long-held passions in later life, not just for one’s own benefit but also for the benefit of younger generations to help them shape their journeys. At 103 years old, Betty Charbonnet Reid Soskin’s remarkable life spans the defining American fault lines of the 20th and 21st centuries. From breaking racial barriers as the first African American family settling in Walnut Creek to becoming the oldest National Park Service Ranger at 85 at the Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park in Richmond, California, her stories illuminate crucial experiences that might otherwise be lost to time. Betty didn’t just sign her name to freedom — she signed it to every part of herself that deserved to be known, offering us all a powerful example of how sharing our complete stories across generations creates a more empathetic world. Alyana and Bryan's insights will leave you thinking differently about the stories waiting to be told in your own life and community. Don't just listen — let this episode of At Home, On Air spark something new in your own story! At Home With Growing Older is proud to be your host of At Home, On Air — a radio hour offering connection, community and knowledge to our participants remotely. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/RqrWNxUX6FX Learn more, support our work, and register for the next LIVE episode of At Home, On Air: www.athomewithgrowingolder.org.
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    42 min
  • The Creativity Effect in Healthy Aging: Lifelong Artistic Practice and Beauty

    The Creativity Effect in Healthy Aging: Lifelong Artistic Practice and Beauty
    Apr 24 2025
    "Stay curious. That is a longevity strategy. Stay curious about your surroundings, about the world, about yourself. Stay curious." - Patrick Roden On our podcast – At Home, On Air – we continue our mini-series, Changemaker Interviews, where we highlight the impact of changemakers on the quality of our lives. These individuals have challenged and changed systems, introduced new ways of thinking and told previously untold stories. In the fourth installment of the series, we're joined by Patrick Roden, RN, Ph.D., a passionate advocate for aging-in-place whose unique journey spans over 40 years as a nurse, gerontologist, and creative aging champion. The conversation, hosted by Susanne Stadler, contrasts Historical Gerontology's decline-focused perspective with Critical Gerontology's view of lifelong development. Patrick shares his concept of 'Possibility Aging,' highlighting how divergent thinking and creativity enhance the aging process. He discusses insights from his dissertation research, where he interviewed older artists who adapted their creative processes to overcome physical limitations, documenting the remarkable physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of sustained creative practice. Patrick presents his evidence-informed 'formula' for healthy aging that places creativity at its core and explains how beauty and artistic expression become powerful tools for wellbeing in later years. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of environmental delight and strategies like volunteering and staying curious to maintain purpose in later life. Audience questions address applying these principles across different arts and finding meaning in aging, even without an artistic background. This episode offers an inspiring perspective on aging not as decline but as an opportunity for continued growth, meaning, and joy through creative engagement. We hope Patrick's insights will encourage you to embrace creativity as a pathway to vibrant aging in your own home, life, and community! At Home With Growing Older is proud to be your host of At Home, On Air a radio hour offering connection, community and knowledge to our participants remotely. We invite you to listen and learn from this episode of At Home, On Air. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/p15edwSOJOy Takeaway Resources: https://athomewithgrowingold.com/2025/01/31/at-home-on-air-a-conversation-with-patrick-roden/ (Including the handout mentioned by Patrick). Learn more, support our work, and register for the next LIVE episode of At Home, On Air: www.athomewithgrowingolder.org.
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    49 min
  • Climate Change in an Aging Society | A Conversation with Rick Moody

    Climate Change in an Aging Society | A Conversation with Rick Moody
    Mar 31 2025
    On our podcast – At Home, On Air – we continue our mini-series, Changemaker Interviews, where we highlight the impact of changemakers on the quality of our lives. These individuals have challenged and changed systems, introduced new ways of thinking and told previously untold stories. In this third installment of the series, we welcome author and climate activist, Harry “Rick” Moody. We discuss his latest book, Climate Change in an Aging Society, and explore the concept of “Eco Elders,” why hope is essential for meaningful action, and practical steps older adults can take from home. Moody challenges the paralyzing effects of pessimism and encourages everyone to “think globally, act locally” through simple but significant changes. This discussion highlights how older adults, while more vulnerable to climate impacts, can still be powerful agents of change in addressing one of our greatest global challenges. Join us as we explore the intersection of climate change and aging, emphasizing both individual and collective action. Calling us all to action, Moody urges, "I encourage everybody to find that one thing that you can do, and do it!" We hope Rick’s personal stories and insights will inspire you to make positive changes in your own home, life, and community. At Home With Growing Older is proud to be your host of At Home, On Air – a radio hour offering connection, community and knowledge to our participants remotely. We invite you to listen and learn from this episode of At Home, On Air. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/RP0doJVqPmR Learn more, support our work, and register for the next LIVE episode of At Home, On Air: www.athomewithgrowingolder.org.
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    35 min
  • Designing for Our Future Selves: The Experience of Aging as a Potential Catalyst for an Inclusive World

    Designing for Our Future Selves: The Experience of Aging as a Potential Catalyst for an Inclusive World
    Feb 27 2025
    On our podcast – At Home, On Air – we continue our mini-series, Changemaker Interviews, where we highlight the impact of changemakers on the quality of our lives. These individuals have challenged and changed systems, introduced new ways of thinking and told previously untold stories. In this second installment of the series, we welcome Valerie Fletcher, the Executive Director of the Institute for Human Centered Design and a true leader in the field of inclusive design. She inspires us as well as the next generation of changemakers by sharing insights from her years of expertise working with people to design with intention. Join us as we dive into a powerful discussion on the challenges to creating an inclusive world, one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive — regardless of ability, age, race, gender, or income. Valerie’s energy and conviction are matched only by her deep belief in the power of design to change lives. We explore thought-provoking topics, including the value of interdependence and how people living with functional variations — whether related to mobility, neurodiversity, or aging — offer us important lessons about living with ambiguity and resilience. We also discuss how the shared experiences of the aging body and mind could motivate us all in the pursuit of an inclusive world — one that not only accommodates but empowers everyone. We hope Valerie’s personal stories and insights will inspire you to make positive changes in your own home, life, and community! At Home With Growing Older is proud to be your host of At Home, On Air a radio hour offering connection, community and knowledge to our participants remotely. We invite you to listen and learn from this episode of At Home, On Air. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/eIj7IrYaAmj Learn more, support our work, and register for the next LIVE episode of At Home, On Air: www.athomewithgrowingolder.org.
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    44 min