Award-winning author and long-time friend Miles Harvey joins Carl to talk about some of their shared writing experiences as well as Miles’ work in journalism, fiction and nonfiction. They talk about pursuing a writing MFA into your 50s, and Miles talks about educating writers both young and old and how that experience gives him hope. If you’re a fan of the written word, we hope you’ll listen. 

Reading does not only help us learn, introduce us to new and interesting people, and take us away to exciting worlds to explore, it can also help us live longer. Dr. Zoe Shaw talks about the connection between reading and longevity. You’re not going to want to miss this episode…it’s a real page turner!

Learning, scientists tell us, is a key factor in boosting our "cognitive reserve." That helps us maintain good cognitive health and resilience against age- related mental decline and neurodegenerative conditions. Put another way…

“Roses are red, violets are blue. One way to shake off the rust is to learn something new!”

And today we’re going to add a little to our cognitive reserve tank and learn a few things about poetry from "The Poetic Turn" podcast host and poetry aficionado Darren Stephens.

Playwright Michael Bassett talks about facing a cancer diagnosis and soon realizing that he needed to step up and be his own best advocate. He learned there are drawbacks, even dangers to fully relying on the system to take you by the hand. He shares why patients need to raise their hand and advocate for themselves.

What does it really take to stay active and healthy as we get older? According to physical therapist Bryan Hack, it starts with something surprisingly simple: keep moving. In this episode of Shaking Off the Rust, Carl Maronich talks with Bryan Hack, PT, DPT, EMT-B, Director of Rehabilitation Services at Riverside Healthcare in Kankakee, Illinois, about how adults 50+ can stay active, build strength, prevent injuries, and keep doing the activities they enjoy.