One Year Out From Des Moines! Top Stories to Watch at the 2025 National Senior Games
Growing Bolder reveals the top inspirational stories to watch at the 2025 National Senior Games from athletes age 50 to over 100!
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Launchpad to What’s Next! LIVE at The Brownwood
Launchpad to What’s Next Live is a fast-paced, high-energy jolt of inspiration that shares the secrets to healthy aging and active longevity. Growing Bolder’s Marc Middleton and Bill Shafer hosted this Launchpad event at the beautiful Brownwood Hotel & Spa in The Villages, Florida, featuring: Renowned healthy lifestyle expert and masters triathlete, Dr. Pamela Peeke; International Council on Aging CEO and founder of the active-aging industry, Colin Milner, and a nationally-known patient care advocate, Dr. Paul Kaplan.
Edible Education | Life Skills from the Garden to the Kitchen
Edible Education Experience is empowering students and communities with life skills from the garden to the kitchen. Secily Wilson takes viewers inside this one-of-a-kind learning opportunity with co-founder Brad Jones, who believes that diversity needs to be encouraged in life and in the garden.
The 72-Year-Old American Ninja Warrior
Ginny MacColl is a 72-year-old grandmother. She’s also the oldest person ever to complete a challenge on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior.” MacColl shares her inspirational late-in-life journey to become a warrior and to compete in masters swimming at the National Senior Games.
- Ordinary People Living Extraordinary Lives
The Health-Wealth Connection: Ann Kahl
Eighty-Nine-year-old Ann Kahl says her health insurance is on her feet — in the form of running shoes! She motivates and inspires everyone around her, and it’s a story in the health-wealth connection we can all learn from. By investing in your health now, your wallet will thank you for decades to come!
- What's Next!
Let Go of Labels | "What's Next!" Season 3, Episode 22
Accidental Icon and author Lyn Slater on how to be old on your own terms. Plus, how not to let even a deadly diagnosis define you.
When he was just 10 years old, Jerry Cahill was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. His doctors told Jerry’s parents he’d be lucky to make it to 18. Today he is 66, a three-time organ donor recipient, an author, a pole-vaulting coach and has raised millions for the Boomer Esiason Foundation.
Former NBC correspondent Mike Leonard is back sharing stories that celebrate our common humanity. He wants us to know we are all more alike than we realize.
95-year-old Jack Eckenrode loves to cycle, to run and to compete in the National Senior Games. He earned five gold medals at the 2022 NSG and when the Games returned to his hometown of Pittsburgh in 2023, he set an NSG record in front of many of his 12 children, 41 grandchildren and 61 great grandkids cheering him on.
- Growing Bolder TV
Stop Waiting and Start Doing | Growing Bolder Season 7, Episode 3
As we age, life becomes less about things and more about experiences. In this episode, you’ll meet a 95-year-old World War II veteran, a fishing fanatic with a passion for living and an amazing family that helps him enjoy every day. Plus, Donna Orender's passion project for the next generation, and Glen Campbell's widow, Kim Campbell, shares their life's journey.
- Resilience
Rosie the Riveters Get Their Respect
While 18-year-old boys were fighting in World War ll to save the world from Nazis, teenage girls fulfilled their patriotic duty by working in factories buildings planes and war supplies. Represented by the fictional character, Rosie the Riviter, these women ushered in tremendous social change making it socially acceptable and even desirable for women to work outside the home. It’s taken decades, but women are finally being recognized for the many important roles they played in World War II.
- Spiritual
Three Keys to Make and Keep Adult Friendships
For many, making friends seemed a lot easier when we were kids than it is now in adulthood. Why is it that as we age, the art of making and keeping close friends becomes so difficult? Dr. Marisa Franco, a psychologist and professor, and author of "Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make-and Keep-Friends," offers three keys to help you make and keep adult friendships.
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92-Year-Old Jean Banas is Painting with Purpose
Jean Banas is a 92-year-old abstract expressionist and a major surprise to many critics and collectors who make the ageist and sexist assumption that her dynamic and energetic paintings were created by a much younger man.
Benoit Glazer: The Music Man
Benoit Glazer is a unique, talented and passionate man on a musical mission. To say he personifies focused energy would be a massive understatement.
60 Second Soapbox: Say Yes
The next time someone invites you to do something outside your comfort zone, say “Yes!”
Bolder Backstage with Yes Singer Jon Anderson
As the voice of the rock group Yes, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jon Anderson is the face of progressive rock. His creativity, his passion and his voice have not diminished over the years. At the age of 73, Jon is as energetic, driven and prolific as ever.
The Power of a Supportive Community with Secily Wilson
We went behind the scenes with Secily Wilson at TEDxEustis, where she sought to inspire audiences to form meaningful relationships and learn to harness the power of having a supportive community.
105-Year-Old Julia Hawkins Sets World Record as Oldest Track & Field Competitor
Recently, 105-year-old Julia Hawkins became the oldest female in history to compete in a track and field event. Growing Bolder’s video of her historic run has been viewed millions of times. You’ve seen Julia run now see what makes her run as Marc Middleton shares the rest of the story.
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It’s Never Too Late to Live With Passion and Purpose in Your Profession | Active Aging Week
One of the most important decisions we make for our wellness is how we spend our days. Whether it involves paid work, volunteering, caregiving, or creative expression, our choices and activities that comprise how we spend our days become how we spend our lives. While one chapter of our professional activities may be complete, it’s never too late to begin something new, even in our 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. And the good news is today there are more choices and opportunities than ever before.
98-Year-Old Artist Harold Garde : A Life of Ageless Art
At 98, Harold Garde is still filling his walls and those of collectors, galleries and museums with bold and provocative paintings.
Falls: Common. Costly. Preventable.
Falls, and their devastating consequences, are common, costly, and preventable. That’s why beginning a balance program before you think you need it is one of Growing Bolder’s aging no-brainers.
The Indomitable Dottie Gray
If you think someone 90 or older can’t bounce back from a broken hip, prepare to have your mind changed. Meet Dottie Gray, the 94-year-old who had her hip replaced less than a year ago and still showed up to compete at the National Senior Games.