Friends Life Care is launching a brand-new podcast in March. We welcome you to give it a listen or a view!  Then you can subscribe/follow it so you are alerted when a new episode goes live every other week.

Watch the introduction to the new Honestly Aging by VigR Health podcast here.

Honestly Aging by VigR Health Podcast

The podcast is called Honestly Aging by VigR Health.  It is hosted by Friends Life Care’s own Cheryl Proska, Director of Marketing.  Honestly Aging’s first season strolls through the theme of Solo Aging covering interesting and important topics.

This is a great listen for Friends Life Care members and friends. Also, if you are currently a solo ager, know any solo agers, are curious about what it may mean to be a solo ager, or are a fan of podcasts, then you will undoubtedly enjoy the show.

About VigR® Vitality, Independence, Growth, Resilience™

We are all aging – like it or not – and living it in an honest, open, thoughtful way that celebrates life is something that we embrace.  VigR ® – vitality, independence, growth, resilience is Friends Life Care’s award-winning philosophy on holistic health and wellness.  And so, the podcasts feature interviews with Friends Life Care staff, members, friends, and experts in their selected fields.

• Finding your Passion after Retirement
• Loneliness: Causes, Effects, and Ways to Combat It
• Pets and Solo Aging: What to Consider
• Real Estate Advice for the Solo Ager

There are many other topics on the way as this first season will carry through until the end of this year and into the next.  Future episodes cover topics such as Solo Travel, Advanced Planning, Grief and Loss, Caregiving for Loved Ones, and Forever Home Accessibility.

Where to Find the Honestly Aging Podcast

The new podcast from Friends Life Care will be hosted on Podbean.  It is also available on our website at friendslifecare.org/honestly-aging-podcast/, and on all the major podcast platforms: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, and iHeart radio. 

Getting Started – How to Access Podcasts

The easiest way to find and listen to podcasts is by accessing them through a podcast app.  Google Podcast (Android), Apple Podcast, and third-party apps like Spotify are some good sources.

Here is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to access podcasts on Spotify.  Accessing podcasts on other devices is similar and a good place to start is to download the app then do a search.

Spotify: Desktop and Laptop

1. Open the Spotify website and click ‘Search’.
2. Under the ‘Browse all’ section, select ‘Podcasts & Shows’.
3. Choose from the featured shows or scroll down to pick a preferred category.
4. Begin playing an episode by clicking it, or you can click the title to reveal more episodes within the series.

Spotify: Phone, Tablet, Mobile Device

1. After uploading the Spotify app to your device, open it and tap ‘Search’.
2. Under the ‘Browse all’ section, select ‘Podcasts & Shows’.
3. You can now choose from the featured shows or scroll down to pick a preferred category.
4. To access a podcast or show’s page and all available episodes, tap on it.
5. Click the ‘1x’ button to switch between playing speeds.
6. Click the ‘+15’ button to fast forward 15 seconds, or click the ‘-15’ button to rewind 15 seconds.

Many Genres, Topics, and Formats

If you are not yet a podcast listener, this may be a good time to get started.  There are so many different topics in a variety of formats available.

For instance, at the start of 2023, there were over 400,000  active podcasts on Apple Podcasts which is one of the more dominant podcast platforms. Some of the more popular podcasts genres include:

• Advice
• Book Clubs
• Movie Reviews
• Health and wellness
• Comedy
• Pop Culture, Celebrity News & Interviews
• True Crime
• Business
• Sports
• Technology & Gadgets
• Pets & Animals
• Fashion & Style
• Gardening
• Investments & Personal Finances
• History
• Do It Yourself
• Religion & Spirituality
• Family & Relationships
• Travel
• Weather
• Life Hacks
• Home Improvement
• And much more

Podcast Listenership is Growing

Some may think of podcasts as the newest twist on radio shows.  And the format of many podcasts do have a sort of radio feel.  However, as noted above, there are a huge number of podcasts focusing on many different areas of interest.  This does differentiate podcasts from radio because they tend to be less general and more focused on topics that may be a passion for its listeners.

The adoption of technology and internet use continues to increase among older adults.  When you consider the numbers, it seems like everyone is now tethered to their devices and active online.

According to the Pew Foundation:

• 83% of Americans aged 50 – 64 own a smartphone and 61% over 65 own one (this compares to 88% of Americans aged 12 years of age and older)
• 73% of Americans aged 50 – 64 use social media and 45% over age 65 use social media

And along with this, podcast consumption is also on the rise:

• As of 2022, 62% of Americans (176 million people) listen to online audio weekly — a new all-time high – and 79% of Americans are familiar with the channel
• Research reports that 24 million Americans aged 50 – 64 listen to podcasts, up significantly from just 4 million in 2011 so it is growing

Check it Out Today

Again, we welcome you to check out the Honestly Aging by VigR Health podcast.  Subscribe, follow, like, and share with your family and friends.  Let us know what you think in the comment section below.