Happy holidays to all of my fellow boomers & honorary boomers. This episode contains a holiday greeting where I share with you what Christmas means to me.
Laura, Romey, Lola (in memory) and I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, Pancha Ganapati, Kwanzaa, and a joyful festivus!, I also wish you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2016.
Just a quick heads up too that I will be taking next week off of my podcast, to celebrate the holidays with my family.
Be sure to catch my highlights of 2015 show which will air on January 5th 2016, where I will talk about the big changes that took place in 2015 that will directly affect you, and your pocket book. I have some great guests lined up so don’t miss it. I also have some exciting changes coming to the Essential boomer that you won’t want to miss.
I want to thank my partner in life, Laura, for her undying support and encouragement of my podcasting venture with the many hours I spent in front of my computer and microphone. I’m am so very lucky to have her in my life. I also want to thank all of my past guests for generously taking the time to share their expertise and wisdom with my incredible boomer audience. I also want to give a big thankyou to all of the people, including all of my podcasting buds who have supported, encouraged and mentored me in this amazing venture. I am so much richer with you in my life. And, I also want to give a huge shout out to my good friend Mr. Dave Hydie for allowing me to use his incredible blues music for the essential boomer. He definitely provides the soul of the essential boomer.
And most of all I want to thank you so very much for listening to my podcast, visiting my website and joining the essential boomer. I am so grateful for your continued support and interest. I love you guys.
Happy Holidays!
Jim & Laura & Romey
In episode 36, I talk about sleep, why it’s so good for us, what can make it go south, and 21 Safe and Simple things that you can easily do to give yourself the best chance to have the highest quality sleep possible.
The importance of good sleep
Sleep is very important for people of every age. There is a close relationship between the quality of sleep you get and the quality of your life…and as we age, it becomes even more important because regular, quality sleep is vital for good concentration and memory, which as you know is often not what it used to be for us boomers. Sleep allows our bodies to repair the cellular damage that occurs during the day.
Regular quality sleep supports our immune systems to help ward off the legions of viruses and disease that are relentlessly assaulting our bodies. Studies also suggest that poor sleep may contribute to increased inflammation, which may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Studies also show that people who sleep on an average of seven to eight hours a night live longer and better than the people who experience too little or too much sleep.
In one study, from the Obesity Society, it was shown that just one night of poor sleep could be the equivalent of 6 months of consuming a poor, high-fat diet when it comes to insulin impairment, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes. Imagine what a week of sleep deprivation could do to your body.
Okay, so the big takeaway here is that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and improving longevity depends on establishing and maintaining healthy sleep habits. I’m sure that we’re all on board here.
So now here’s the rub for us boomers. As we age, it often becomes more difficult to get regular quality sleep. There are many factors that can rob us of a healthy night’s sleep. Heck, just worrying about being able to get a good nights sleep can deprive you of your beauty rest. Quality sleep can be very elusive. The good news is that studies show that the number one, numero uno thing that we can do to improve our sleep is to establish healthy sleep hygiene. Download the free PDF to get the entire list which contains detailed instructions for multiple proven techniques to help you sleep better.
Click Here to get the free PDF - 21 Safe & Simple Ways to Improve Your Sleep
Improving your sleep hygiene with some or all of these tips will go a long way to help you to consistently get a good night’s sleep, but some sleeping disorders and problems require more aggressive means, so if you try everything to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep and it still is a struggle than be sure to see your doctor. There are many advances in the methods for helping people with severe sleeping problems. You don’t want to just give up and live with it because it will adversely affect your health and the quality of your life as well as your partner’s.
Click Here to watch the video Jim’s 10 Minute Cardio Workout
Episode 35 marks a first for the Essential Boomer for I interview my very first repeat guest, Sandy Weiner. A lot of you will remember her from episode 24 when she shared with us boomers the low-down on how to find love after 50. Today, Sandy Weiner is going to tell us all about having great sex after 50, 60, & beyond in both new & long-term relationships.
Sandy is a dating coach, founder of LastFirstDate, a website devoted to empowering women over 40 to achieve healthy, lasting, loving relationships.
Sandy is also an internationally known TEDx speaker, dating coach, blogger and workshop leader specializing in helping women date as the high value women that they are. She writes for many prestigious publications including the Huffington Post and The Good Men Project, and is the dating expert at Better after 50.
You may have heard her as the host of Last First Date Radio, the acclaimed show about attracting and sustaining healthy relationships in midlife.
In the interview Sandy answers the following questions:
- Let’s start off by you sharing with us how sex is different after 50? How have the rules changed?
- So how do we boomers know that the time is right to start having sex in a new relationship?
- What are the biggest mistakes us boomers make in regards to sex in new relationships?
- I know that many people are in long-term relationships where sex has lost a bit of its luster. How can we spice up a tepid or dormant sex life?
- I know that sex is often a loaded subject and tough to talk about with the opposite sex. What is your advice on the best way to talk about sex?
- What about people who haven’t been involved in a sexual relations for a long time? What advice do you have for them?
- Okay, so say that I’m in a new relationship and so far it’s fantastic. How can we continue to have great sex into our 70’s and beyond?
- Do you have any parting words of advice for us boomers when it comes to sex?
- Tell us a bit about some of the irons that you have in the fire.
CLICK HERE to contact Sandy Weiner
In episode 34, Chris Crowley, author of the Younger Next Year books, talks about how exercise and a healthy lifestyle can turn back the clock … and he’s living proof! Chris has been very influential to me over the last decade. He is the New York Times best-selling co– author, with Henry S. Lodge M.D., of Younger Next Year – A guide to Living like 50 until you’re 80 and beyond.
This book has been instrumental to me for establishing my adaptive fitness training business. It is my bible and number one source for motivating my boomer and beyond clients to establish an active and healthy lifestyle. I love his no BS, non-negotiable approach to the exercise required to truly turn back your biological clock. Chris has also authored Younger Next Year for Women, Thinner Next Year, The Younger Next Year Journal and a soon to be released book on Fitness.
Beside an author of books and his Younger Next Year blog, he is also an attorney, a keynote speaker and the host of total immersion retreats in Aspen, Colorado. Needless to say retirement is not in his lexicon.
In the interview, Chris answers the following questions:
- Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do.
- Your book, Younger next year was very influential to me personally and it obviously is very biographical for you. Can you tell us the story of how you came to write that book?
- In your teachings you talk about the good life as being a 3 legged stool. What do you mean by that?
- It has now been 10 years since you wrote Younger next year and obviously you are your own testimonial for your teachings. How has adapting this lifestyle affected your own life up to now?
- A lot of us boomers find it difficult to adapt to a healthy lifestyle that we can stick with. What do you see as the biggest mistake that most baby boomers make when it comes to trying to establish a healthy lifestyle?
- In your book, you make references to Kedges. What are Kedges and why are they so important?
- You also started to host retreats in Aspen, Colorado. Can you tell us a bit about these total immersion and mini retreats?
- Do you have any parting advice that you’d like to share with your fellow boomers?
CLICK HERE to contact Chris Crowley
CLICK HERE to go to the Younger Next Year Blog/Website
CLICK HERE to find out about the Total Immersion and Mini Retreats
CLICK HERE to order Chris’s new book, Younger Next Year: The Exercise Program: Use the Power of Exercise to Reverse Aging and Stay Strong, Fit, and Sexy
CLICK HERE to order any other of Chris’s books
CLICK HERE to go to the Younger Next Year’s Facebook Page
In Episode 23, Certified Financial Planners Jim Saulnier and Chris Stein talk about the present state of Social Security and specifically focus on the big changes that will be taking effect as a result of the 2015 Federal Budget that just passed on November 2nd of 2015. Trust me, this is not a boring lecture on finances.
HEADS UP! This is very important information that will directly affect millions of us baby boomers!
Jim Saulnier is a certified financial planner who specializes in retirement planning and Chris Stein is a Certified Financial Planner and a full-time instructor in the finance department at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Jim and Chris have been working together for almost a decade teaching people throughout northern Colorado about their social security and retirement options. They also have their own radio show, The Retirement and IRA Show which airs every Saturday Morning at 8 Am on 1310 KFKA in Greeley Colorado. The recordings of these shows are also available as podcasts on iTunes. I’ve listened to several of their shows and now I’m hooked. These guys are really knowledgeable and very funny.
This is very important information that millions of veterans are never going to get because it is kept secret by the Veterans Affair Administration. Be sure to share this with any and all veterans and families with veterans that you know. This benefit helps our veterans who need it the most including homeless veterans and those who are in crucial need of daily assistance just to survive.
In episode 32 I’m very honored to have as my guest Debbie Burak. Debbie is the founder of VeteranAaid.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and assisting veterans and their families with applying for a little known benefit program available through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Debbie Burak is one tough and tenacious woman on a mission to get the word out to inform and assist veterans and their families with this benefit. Debbie’s personal story is heart wrenching and yet she was able to use the power from her heartache to launch VeteranAid.org, the number one most accessed website for assisting veterans and their families with obtaining more information and helping them through the entire process for obtaining this benefit…at no cost to the veteran or their families. Debbie’s efforts and persistence has helped many thousands of veterans and their families to get the benefits that they earned. She is truly an inspiration. She is a hero.
This is a Veterans Day tribute to my father, USMC Tech Sargent James Rollo Jensen who fought in WWII in the south pacific as a fighter airplane mechanic.
In episode 30, I interview Stephanie Funk, fitness & Pilate’s instructor extraordinaire. I love this interview because it gives us an intimate look at an exceptional & passionate fitness instructor. In the interview, Stephanie provides excellent advice to us baby boomers on exercise and healthy aging. You will quickly discover why her students love her so much.
Stephanie has been a Certified Pilates and Adaptive Fitness instructor for the last 10 years. She teaches group exercise classes for adults 50 and older here in on the peninsula south of San Francisco. Stephanie and I are both graduates of Dr. Karl Knopf’s Adaptive Fitness Program at Foothill College. You might remember my interview with Dr. Karl back at episode #10.
Stephanie’s goals are to instill to her students a love of movement, an appreciation of the power and fragility of the human body, and an understanding of exercise as a critical component of our overall health and well-being. And, as all of her loyal students will attest, she goes way beyond by putting her heart and soul into her classes. Check it out!
In Episode 29, Jim Jensen interviews Charlie Poznek, the host of The Boomer Business Owner Podcast & website. Charlie provides baby boomers with valuable advice on starting a successful online business. Check it out!
In episode 27, Jim Jensen talks about the benefits and challenges of maintaining a healthy sex life after 50. If love makes the world go round than sex certainly makes that trip a lot more fun! And for good reason. It’s the glue that binds most romantic relationships. Check it out!
Jim Jensen takes a look back at the first 6 months of the Essential Boomer Podcast & shares the most vital information & advice for us baby boomers. Check this out boomers!
In Episode 25, Diane Daniels, Founder of Senior Advisors for Medicare & Medicaid and the Medicare Nation podcast, talks about what we boomers need to know about the present state of Medicare and the big changes that are happening soon. Heads up boomers! This will affect all of us.
CLICK HERE to go to the show notes for this episode.
In episode 24, Sandy Weiner, renowned dating and relationship coach, writer and founder of the LAST FIRST DATE website & podcast, tells us how to find love after 50.
Heads up boomers! This could change your lives.
Click Here to go to the show notes.
In episode 23, Jim Jensen talks about hair restoration for us boomers; what works, what doesn’t and what’s on the horizon.
Jim Jensen talks about the basics of starting a home business and why this is so attractive to baby boomers. Heads up boomers! This could be life changing.
In episode 21 Jim Jensen talks about male menopause and how it can adversely affect us male boomers. Jim talks about the symptoms, causes and what you can do about it along with how you may be able to avoid it all together. Check it out boomers, this could change your life.
In episode 20, Jim Jensen talks about the 10 worst social security mistakes that us baby boomers make. Heads up boomers! This can save you over a $100,000 and may be the difference between a comfortable retirement and a financial struggle in your final years.
In episode 19, Jim Jensen talks about how you can reduce your risk of cancer. With more than 200 types of cancers and the high risks for both men and women, Jim discusses 8 researched-backed ways in which you can significantly reduce your chances of getting cancer.Check this out, it could save your life.
In episode 18, I interview Greg Hargrove, a mover and shaker in Silicon Valley and one heck of an essential boomer. Gregorio, as his friends call him, gives us a personal glimpse into his professional and personal life starting with his childhood in Eugene Oregon and his coming of age on the beaches of Southern California.
Gregorio also talks about his love of surfing, music and his views on religion and spiritualism. I think that you will like Gregorio’s insights into business, politics and life. Check it out!
In episode 17, I interview Mary and Leslie Pirritano, a wonderful and funny lesbian couple who just celebrated their 7 year wedding anniversary. While juggling careers, 3 children, one being a special needs child, and all the work it takes to run a busy household, Mary and Leslie have established themselves as pioneers of same-sex marriage.
Mary and Leslie share their story of growing up gay, coming out, and eventually becoming one of the first lesbian couples to get married in America.
In Episode 16, I interview Marc Seidenfeld, an attorney with expertise in probate matters including the preparation of wills, trusts and durable powers of attorney, trust administration, probates and conservatorships. In this interview Marc gives us boomers some solid advice on estate planning and how to avoid probate. Check it out!
In episode 15 I have a conversation with Bill Murphy, who discusses how us boomers can make a difference on this planet. In the conversation, Bill shares his insights on global warming and why he considers it to be the #1 issue of our time. Check out this passionate, intelligent and inspirational talk.
In this episode, I throw down the gauntlet to all you boomers and honorary boomers to join me on a 30 day challenge to create and use your positive affirmations for at least 30 days. There are a lot of very smart and influential people that swear by them. Included in the links to this episode is a worksheet to help you to create your own affirmations. Check it out!
Jim Jensen, an adaptive fitness trainer of over 10 years, provides solid professional advice to baby boomers on how to avoid injury when starting a new fitness program. Jim covers the most common injuries and shares his own personal stories of injuries and stupidity. Jim includes an in-depth discussion of 10 time-honored ways to avoid injury. Heads up boomers!
Dr. Karl Knopf shares his 40 years of expertise as THE authority on baby boomer fitness. Dr. Karl is THE quintessential boomer. He has written the book on boomer and senior fitness as he has authored over 15 books, as well as numerous articles. In this interview Dr. Karl shares his views on fitness, fun, retirement and staying healthy, with a focus on us boomers. To me, Dr. Karl is the Robin Williams of fitness. He is never at a loss for words and his words are laced with gold nuggets of advice for us boomers. Check this out, I guarantee you’ll be wanting more.