Advertise on podcast: Growing Older with Gusto

Receiving a home after losing a loved one brings a heavy emotional toll alongside complex real estate decisions. Knowing how to protect your family's interests and avoid predatory cash buyers is crucial when navigating inherited property. In this episode, host Gail Zugerman sits down with Rhett Fruitman, co-founder and CEO of Inherited Property Match, to explore the critical steps heirs must take during a difficult transition. Discover how his nationwide service vets probate specialists, aligns co-heirs, and helps families manage timelines, carry costs, and tax considerations completely free of charge.

Navigating your retirement years with complete financial peace of mind starts with a clear, personalized Retirement Planning Process. Host Gail Zugerman sits down with wealth manager John Link to discuss how everyday retirees can build confidence without chasing unpredictable market returns. He reveals why conventional asset division between adult children can quietly trigger massive tax imbalances, introducing the crucial concept of estate equalization. You will discover practical ways to coordinate Social Security timing, manage unexpected healthcare costs before Medicare kicks in, and eliminate the paralyzing fear of running out of money. John Link also outlines his structured framework for enjoying hard-earned resources early through dedicated lifestyle accounts instead of leaving wealth behind by accident. John Link is an Investment Adviser Representative with Royal Fund Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial advice. Full disclosures will be provided at the end of this video. Advisory services are offered through Royal Fund Management, LLC, Link Wealth Mgmt. Royal Fund Management LLC is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission, nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products offered through (Link Financial). Insurance guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. The adviser is paid commissions on the sale of insurance products. Information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general information on products and services. The information should not be construed as an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell securities mentioned here. This presentation should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the advisor as of the date of the presentation and are subject to change. Past performance may not be indicative of future results; therefore, no current prospective client should assume that the future performance of any specific investment or strategy will be profitable or equal to past performance levels. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment or strategy will be suitable or profitable for a client's portfolio. There are no assurances that a portfolio will match or outperform any particular benchmark. Royal Fund Management LLC only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission, nor does it indicate that the advisor has attained a particular level of skill or ability.

Growing older comes with endless physical and lifestyle changes, but navigating aging with humor can make every step of the journey far more enjoyable. Self-described sit-down, stand-up humorist Diane Dean-Epps joins this episode to discuss how laughter serves as an essential coping mechanism through life's unexpected twists and turns. As the author of Bangs 'N' Botox: My Aging Journey Into, Through, and Beyond Denial, Fillers & Human Preservatives and host of the BANGS ‘N’ BOTOX™: Women Who Wear Aging Well show, Diane shares her personal lightbulb moments—from doctor visits to total hip replacements. In this episode, explore how changing your perspective, staying active, and embracing life’s absurdities can help you grow older with gusto.

Host Gail Zugerman welcomes return guest Sky Bergman, an award winning film Documentarian, to discuss her latest project about finding humor as we grow older. Bergman shares the backstory behind "The Jollytologist", a documentary centered on Allen Klein and the healing power of laughter. She explains how simple attitude shifts and everyday curiosity pull anyone out of a rut. Bergman also talks about her path from Professor Emeritus of Photography and Video at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo to full-time filmmaker. Listeners gain tactical insights on staying connected, pursuing new passions, and finding joy in life's smallest moments. She also previews her other recent projects, including "Lives Well Lived" and "Mochi".

Navigating life after work requires more than financial planning when your sense of self vanishes overnight. Retirement mindset mentor George Jerjian joins host Gail Zugerman to explain how individuals can successfully transition into their next stage of life using DARE Method Retirement strategies. By focusing on four key phases—discover, assimilate, rewire, and expand—you can shed your old professional identity and reconnect with your authentic self. George shares practical insights on taking a purposeful gap year and reprogramming your mindset for active growth. You'll learn why traditional retirement is an artificial concept and how staying engaged protects your long-term vitality. Discover how to create a meaningful second act and avoid falling into post-career stagnation.

George Jerjian shares his personal journey from a terminal medical diagnosis to building a life centered on purpose. He introduces the Identity Renaissance, a concept he developed after surveying thousands of retirees to understand their biggest obstacles. He discusses how to avoid drifting into oblivion by shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset. George explains why your identity is often the first casualty in retirement and how to reclaim it. This episode offers a practical look at making the most of your time while you still have it.

Host Gail Zugerman talks with guest Mike Carter, the compassionate founder of Coast Family Home Care, about the essential strategies for Aging In Place. Mike Carter started his home health care business after watching his father pass away from pancreatic cancer back in the 1980s when there was no home help available. Now, his company is dedicated to helping people age with dignity and grow older in the habitat of their choice on the Central Coast of California. In this conversation, we explore practical home modifications, the truths about long-term care insurance, and how to spot critical red flags in aging parents. You'll discover how simple modifications can keep you independent, safe, and thriving in your own space. Don't wait for a crisis to make your home a safe haven for your next chapter.

Gail Zugerman talked with Dr. Peter Rork, a retired orthopedic surgeon who took his passions of saving animals and flying to create Dog Is My CoPilot in 2012, a not-for-profit dedicated to saving dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters to their forever homes across the country. He explains how he has grown the organization from flying 20 animals at a time in a small plane to operating three Caravan aircraft that now transport60-150 animals monthly. Peter also discusses his relationship with Petco Love Foundation and its three key principles of Dog Is My CoPilot that prioritize animals’ wellbeing.

Many of us reach a point where we feel stuck—whether it's debating where to go after retirement or just feeling directionless in our current professional or personal roles. Our guest, Russell Anderson, knows this feeling well. After years of creating wealth strategies as a financial planner in Southern Florida, his life was unexpectedly interrupted by a moment of physical stiffness that sparked a "momentous revolution" in his personal and professional worlds. Discover how Russell went from being fearful of change and feeling his life was "over" to embracing new chapters—including writing a book and redefining his career to prioritize meaningfulness. Learn his secret sauce for moving past fear, making powerful choices, and finally getting unstuck.

Falling is the #1 cause of fatal injury for people over 65—but what if everything you've been told about balance and aging is wrong? It's a terrifying reality for the aging community: you are told falling is "just part of getting older". But according to Dan Metcalfe, Founder of Total Balance Mobility, decline is not inevitable. In this groundbreaking discussion, Metcalfe challenges conventional wisdom (like just strengthening legs and core) and introduces a revolutionary approach focused on the brain-body connection and neuron memory. Discover how he helped people like Bob Eubanks go from shuffling in fear to running six miles an hour on a treadmill in just three weeks. Stop fearing the next step and start falling into a new way of thinking about balance, movement, and a longer, better life.

How should you use your time wisely to recover from catastrophic injuries and regain your energy? Dan Metcalfe, the SuperHuman Man, returns to talk about the most valuable thing in your life and how to put it to good use to achieve your highest performance. He joins Gail Zugerman to share how a committed mindset is a key component in healing the body from injuries, inflammation, and all kinds of illnesses. He also answers questions from the listeners, from the optimal way to drink coffee without becoming dehydrated to the right way to meditate every single day.

Do you want to get stuck in your bed when you get older, or do you want to spend your later years with a sound mind and body? Gail Zugerman sits down with Dan Metcalfe, an internationally acclaimed performance coach and the brilliant mind behind the revolutionary Total Balance Mobility. Together, they break down the seven pillars of natural health, a neuroscience-based approach to achieving brain and body transformation. From relaxing yourself through deep breathing to setting a strong mindset to shatter limiting beliefs, discover what it takes to achieve a quality lifestyle and feel younger all over again.

If you want to spend your senior years with meaning and purpose, every single aspect of your life must be nourished and cared for. From your physical needs to your mental state, you must ensure that everything receives the attention it truly needs. Gail Zugerman chats with Larry Wolf and David Cravit, who talk about the seven pillars of the SuperAging lifestyle. Together, they discuss how to nurture yourself and your relationships to grow old without actually getting old. Larry and David also explain how to exercise your brain regularly with daily puzzles and why older people must stay vigilant for online scams.

Aging is inevitable, but it does not mean your later years should be miserable and depressing. Vincent Tilford, CEO of The Hannan Center in Detroit, is helping older adults awaken their fullest human potential by teaching them the way of creative aging. He joins Gail Zugerman to share how he is looking to support and renovate care for the elderly through their programs focused on art, lifelong learning, and self-development. Vincent also talks about how American psychiatrist Dr. Gene Cohen inspired his career and how they are battling government cutbacks at The Hannan Center.

The mouth is the gateway to our body, and it tells the truth about how we are aging. Dr. Jessica Lederhausen presents a uniquely Swedish way to take care of your body starting in your mouth called the Lagom MethodTM.  Together with Gail Zugerman, she explains how staying healthy is not about doing too much or too little – sometimes, doing just the right amount of tiny good habits every single day is enough. Dr. Jessica also breaks down the four pillars of good health and how paying attention to them can help you grow old with gusto.