What’s Next? with Dale Josey Of Aging with Grace 55+

We want to give a very special Happy Father’s Day to Dale as we dive into this lovely interview and how to Age with Grace 55+!

Recently, our GMB founder Dave Grunenwald did a podcast with Kentucky-based podcaster Dale Josey of the popular podcast Aging with Grace 55+. The podcast was excellent and the conversation enjoyable.

That podcast can be listened to here. Market Trends for Retirees and Grandparent Merit Badges (buzzsprout.com)

In turn, we asked Dale if we could interview him to learn more about himself and Aging with Grace 55+.

Dale said, “That’s so cool that someone wants to interview me, I am honored!”

Dale is a grandparent among many other things. Well, as he calls it, a “Poppy.” Dale has good Poppy insight and Poppy stories.

He says that through podcasting, he has been helping to answer the question of how to age well.

Dale says, “I have a Singular commitment to raising awareness. Did you know that more than 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the United States?

So, how do we plunge into this, how do you age well? I want to answer this question. Let’s age with grace 55+!”

Dale started podcasting in a semi-retired fashion. We asked Dale questions about his journey and how he got there. Born in Durham, NC, then educated in New York, then to the University of Michigan. His background is varied and spans politics, law, television. He worked in law firms for 25 years. He’s had spectacular successes and spectacular failures. He has experienced life lessons and love, passion and persistence, kindness and continually connecting with others.

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Grandparent Merit Badges (GMB): Dale, what have you learned from podcasting?

Dale: “I have been doing podcasting for 4 years now. One question I always carry with me is What’s next? Aging and retirement doesn’t simply mean you grocery shop and play golf. Well, what else do you do?

I got a ‘divine download’ about helping others through a podcast on fighting ageism that started me on a journey in 2020, researching, listening to podcasts and picking up sponsors along the way.

Over 4 years of podcasting, and by the way, you can see all my episodes here…

Episodes | Aging With Grace 55+ (awg55.com)

I have learned that Aging is not a time of diminishment. It is the application of lessons taught by our best teachers including experience.

Some of the amazing people and their stories that I have had the honor of interviewing in the podcast include:

• Architect Aaron Murphy in Washington state who is building homes. He is addressing the challenge of building better homes. He says ‘why are we still erecting 2-story homes for older people like we did 100 years ago?’ He wants to build homes to age better in place. We need to catch up with the needs of those who are aging each day in practical ways.

• Another 68-yr old executive with a Fortune 100 company - he has been hiking the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Florida. Every year, he takes 10 days to complete another leg of the trip! Tackling a bucket list item and making it a ‘now item.’

• I talked to a doctor in South Carolina. He talked all about telehealth and how this is important for seniors who can’t get to the doctor’s office. He said telehealth is revolutionary for the older age set.  

• I spoke to a married couple who bought a 45-ft catamaran. They lived on this boat for 5 ½ years! They felt that they were taking a risk to step out and live this way at their age, and so they aptly named their catamaran “Madness.”

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GMB: What relatives influenced you when you were a kid?

Dale: My dad as a primary influence, his focus of love for us kids was through discipline, gave us kids a stoic love, he was ex-military. As a parent now, every day I tell my sons and daughters and grands that I love them, it’s very important to me to say this every day.

[With a lighthearted chuckle] I remember my dad’s best friend, he had clothes and shoes for days. This did also influence me a bit. You know I was a model 100 years ago when I was at the University of Michigan!

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Early influences also included my education. Dad and Mom were concerned with the low grades I was getting in public school. They made a decision to send me to the Jesuit Academy in Schenectady, NY. This decision greatly affected my formative years. It was so formative, it instilled an academic disciple, a rigor.

My grades at public school were D’s. That changed in the Jesuit Academy, discipline was taught. I learned that “Once you touch something, you don’t let go until it’s done.”  There was a strong sense of commitment to your destiny and who God had made you to be. Nothing short of that was acceptable.

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Are you a grandparent?

I’m a “Poppy” because Grandpa’s sit in a corner drooling, and say “Where’s my teeth?”

Poppy is a family thing, a family name. We have 7 grandkids from 5 children.

And his favorite part of being a Grandparent? The Legacy. Now they look to me as an elder for guidance. I was hoping for that. The grandkids come to me and say “Poppy, what do you think about this?”

I never say “I told you so” to my kids or grandkids. I have intentionally removed that from my language. That’s about your own ego.

I have a sister and a brother. I grew up in a generation that when you become an adult, you’re not going back home. It’s a different world now! My kids and grandkids keep asking “Can we live with you?”

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What do you hope to share with the world about your cardgame?

I researched game theory and the aging game and what the issues are. The card game touches on many purposes. It touches pathologic impacts of aging, such as early onset dementia. This is a key to keeping aging brains active. Also it’s a good activity for younger generations, things that just wouldn’t come up in normal conversation. You can order it here!

Card Game | Aging With Grace 55+ (awg55.com)

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One of your Aging with Grace 55+ card game questions…Dale, If you had to leave your house immediately, what would you take?

My wedding band. Everything else here is disposable. My favorite pair of cowboy boots. Maybe one of my favorite fountain pens.

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What Healthy Advice would you give for aging well?

Taken from scripture, that everything be done in moderation, don’t go overboard. If I want chocolate cake, I take it in moderation. I do 90 minutes of prayer and meditation every day. Without exception. The Jesuits taught this discipline.

Clint Eastwood said, “A man has got to know his limitations and never exceed them.”

A disciplined life is truly a blessing as you learn to stay within the guard rails and never exceed them.

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At GMB, we are all about Disconnecting from the Digital or “DFTD”. What are your favorite ways to disconnect from the digital and reconnect with your loved ones?

Years ago, I did a trip called “On the Trail of Lewis and Clark”, with about 12 high school seniors, a cross country trip in two RV’s. After the 1st day, we realized we were taking the kids' cell phones. Conversations took place, people started talking, around the campfires at night. I said, ‘Look at the sky,’ have them refocus on what's wonderful.

At home, what we’ve done is simply talk to everyone around the dinner table and bring them into the conversation. For example, saying “What do you think about what your brother just said?” That works for dinner.

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What’s next for you? I want to travel and see more of the world, the Roman Colosseum. My wife of 32 years, Gwenevere and I have seen the castles of Europe. I have a personal interest in the Civil War. Placing yourself in a historical spot, quieting yourself, seeing men dying for a noble cause, hearing the gunshots and thinking about it. Center yourself, feel connected to history. This is what interests me.

I’m interested in the European Castles from the 1500's and thinking of who was there before. I’ve been to the Ming Dynasty, 2000 years of history, and who labored to make it a reality.

I want to feel the history of things. I would call myself a man of the Renaissance, I use fountain pens, I smoke a pipe, I have swords in my office, I wear vests. I feel a connection to history. The crusades, the world wars, all of these things fascinate me.

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Gems and Quotables from Dale:

• “Never quit. You keep digging in. As you age, maybe your scoop will be smaller. You can still get something in that bucket, even if less than when we had more energy.

• ‘No’ means “Ask me again tomorrow.” If there’s a spark of hope, I’m going to keep asking.

• When I had a staff of people working for me, I heard someone say “You can do it Mr. Josey’s way, or the wrong way.” For a minute, I did consider correcting them. [laughs] And didn’t.

• Norman Leer was a producer from the 70's, he produced hit shows like All in the Family and Sanford and Son. He died at the age of 101.

When Norman was asked, “What’s the secret to your success?” He said, “No matter how good it is, how can I make it better?” This always stuck with Dale, keep digging in, you can always make it better.

• He says an 89-yr old woman in Reader’s Digest was in Italy, stepping off a tour bus, when she collapsed and died. Now some could say, oh what a shame. But I say, she was doing what she wanted to do and, good for her! Life is a terminal experience, no one gets out alive.

• Dale’s been told his epitaph will say “What’s next?”

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Thank you so much, Dale! What a thoroughly enjoyable experience to talk to you! We wish you the best with Aging with Grace 55+! We look forward to seeing “What’s Next?” in your work and life.

Learn more about Dale’s podcast at Aging With Grace 55+ | Podcast (awg55.com)

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