September 13: Episode On Ageism On The "Crow's Feet: Life As We Age" Podcast

 The 2021 American Community Survey estimated there were 55,892,014 people aged 65 and over in the U.S. out of a total population of 331,893,745, or 16.8%. More of us are living longer, and that's a good thing. Getting older is not for the faint-hearted, but it is a process that is inevitable.

Aging, however, also brings wisdom and humor, a finely-tuned perspective on life. In the Crow's Feet podcast, you’ll hear the voices of writers who will inspire you and often make you laugh about this journey through life.

“Older workers can be part of addressing our nation’s current challenge of talent pipeline shortages,” says Janine Vanderburg, a leader in the fight against ageism and founder of the “Age-friendly, Workplace Initiative”, which won a Metro Vision Award from the Denver Regional Council of Governments.

Vanderburg will be the guest of host Jan M. Flynn on the September 13 “Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age” podcast.

Older workers are not being offered new professional development opportunities, are not even being considered, or they’re pushed out, according to Vanderburg. “I want to call attention to that and show that older employees are interested in learning.”

Studies show a trend towards more flexible schedules and part-time work. Creating an age-friendly workplace has shown benefits in both mental and physical health. According to Vanderburg, “What is good for older people can really be good for all ages. There are benefits to having intergenerational teams, including increased productivity and profitability.”

“Ageism isn’t just this sort of thing over there that affects some people. In a way, the ageism that’s baked into all of us affects all of us. One thing we all have in common today is this is the oldest we’ve ever been and the youngest we’ll ever be.”

This podcast is part of a series featuring Crow’s Feet writers and others who talk about their experiences with aging. It premiered on June 15, 2022. Look for the “Crow’s Feet” podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes are released on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.

Also,“Crow’s Feet” on the Medium platform (www.medium.com/crows-feet) offers a lively and informative collection of written essays on aging, with new pieces added daily.

Since its debut in June 2019, the publication has quickly grown in popularity with contributing writers and readers alike. Currently, “Crow’s Feet” features the work of more than 500 contributing writers, with more than 8,100 subscribed readers and more than 4,000 visitors a day.