Previous Guests & Stories

ELLEN GEER - Ellen Geer has been Artistic Director for the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, a professional repertory, open-air theater in Topanga Canyon, since 1978. She plays a leading role in bringing theater education to Los Angeles school children through several successful Theatricum sponsored programs and continues her extensive acting career. Geer also serves as a Visiting Professor, teaching acting, at the UCLA School of Theater. For more info on Ellen, visit http://www.theatricum.com/.

MARSHA HUNT - Marsha Hunt was an actress that appeared in her first film in 1935 and over the next 12 years appeared in 44 films including Pride and Prejudice and Lost Angel. In 1947 when the House Un-American Activities Committee began their investigation into the Motion Picture Industry, although not associated with left-wing groups, Hunt became a leader of the campaign against the blacklist. Because of her opposition, Hunt was herself blacklisted and struggled to get work in Hollywood. She became involved in charitable activities and worked for various United Nations projects. For more info on Marsha, visit http://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/marsha-hunt/.

BERNIE WEINRAUB - retired New York Times Hollywood and Washington reporter Bernie Weinraub discusses his first play The Accomplices, which won the NYC Stellar Network's 2006 competition, about how U.S. leaders ignored the Holocaust and stymied the immigration of European Jews fleeing Hitler in the 1940s. For more information on Bernie and "The Accomplices," opening July 19 at the Fountain Theater in Hollywood, go to

http://www.fountaintheatre.com/perform.html.

CYNTHIA FRIEDLOB - On this edition of "In My Experience," Cynthia waxes poetic about writers and ageism in this crazy town. Cynthia's career includes many years as a writer of children's television shows and family feature films. She wrote the humorous self-help book, Sorting It Out: One Disorganized Woman Solves the Problem of Too Much Stuff, and blogs at "The Thoughtful Consumer." For more information on Cynthia, go to http://www.cynthiafriedlob.com.

SHARON BEGLEY - Sharon, widely known for her ability to break down complex scientific theories and write about them in beautiful prose, is a Senior Editor and Science Columnist for Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and the author of the ground-breaking book, Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain. For more info on Sharon, visit http://www.newsweek.com/id/32249.

BERNICE BRATTER - Bernice is the author of Project Renewment: The First Retirement Model for Career Women, a licensed marriage and family therapist and an advocate for both women and the aging. She has been featured on 60 Minutes, 20/20 and in Hour Detroit magazine. For more info on Bernice and her book, visit

http://www.simonsays.com/content/destination.cfm?tab=1&pid=520389.

ARNOLD BRESKY, M.D. - Dr. Bresky is a physician specializing in geriatric health and will talk about his new book, "The Secret for Caregiver Success," plus his 9-point system for health, longevity and "tuning up the brain." For more information on Dr. Bresky, visit http://www.mybraintuneup.com/.

CYNTHIA TOUSSAINT - Cynthia founded For Grace, an organization helping women in pain. A former ballerina, she has suffered, after a ballet injury, from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy for 25 years and now has Fibromyalgia. Wheelchair-bound, Cynthia champions awareness of the gender bias against women in pain worldwide. For more information on Cynthia, visit http://www.forgrace.org/.

JOAN CARR-WIGGIN - Joan directed "A Previous Engagement," a new independent film now in theaters, from her original screenplay. It tells the story of a librarian who talks her unadventurous husband into a Malta vacation to rendezvous for a date she made 25 years earlier with her first love. For more information on Joan and the film, visit http://www.apreviousengagement.com/.

PAUL LAZARUS - Paul is a director, producer and writer of television, film, and theater projects. He is currently directing a groundbreaking revisionist production of John Steinbeck's beloved tale "Of Mice & Men" at the Pasadena Playhouse. Lazarus sets the play in 1942 during the midst of the Bracero Treaty between the United States and Mexico and primarily features a Latino cast. To find out more about Paul, visit http://www.paullazarus.net/ and about the play at http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/.

CHIP ST. CLAIR - the author of "The Butterfly Garden" talks about his memoir detailing his childhood on the run with his father - who he would find out was one of America's most wanted criminals. Chip is the recipient of a U.S. Congressional Record for ardent advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children and fights to keep child predators behind bars. For more information on Chip and his book, visit http://www.butterflygardenmemoir.com/?page_id=4.

JYLL JOHNSTONE - the award-winning director of Hats Off, a feature-length documentary that profiles the extraordinary 93-year-old actress Mimi Weddell. With the style and grace of Katharine Hepburn, the smoky wit of Dorothy Parker, Mimi is truly an iconic American original, rising above the mundane and difficult confines of her own daily life to reach for the stars and fulfill her dreams. For more information on Jyll, Mimi and the film, visit http://www.hatsoffthemovie.com/.

MIMI WEDDELL - Actress-Model-Mother-Independent Thinker-Free Spirit Mimi Weddell is extraordinary by anyone's account. A striking beauty who speaks with authority and passion on any number of topics, Mimi, cigarette holder in hand, strikes a pose the moment the camera is on her. 93 years old and moving with an intensity most 20-year-olds only dream about, Mimi conquers the world on a daily basis thanks to her wit, grace, and her mantra -- "Rise Above It" -- the phrase written on the walls and even the kitchen floor of the New York City apartment she shares with her daughter, son, son-in-law, and until recently, grandson. To find out more about Mimi, visit http://www.hatsoffthemovie.com/.

JOHN OUTTERBRIDGE - world-renowned artist John Outterbridge's art is influenced by themes that refer to his African and African American heritage, his family, his community and his experiences. His work, assemblage in which he manipulates found objects, reflects his interest in folk art form. ET's Rebecca Novick visited him in his studio to talk about art, retirement and, well, not retiring whatsoever. For more information on John, go to http://www.lacma.org/MICNow/artists/Outterbridge/outterbridgebio.htm.

MARCIE PITT-CATSOUPHES, PH.D. - Marcie is Co-Director of the Center on Aging & Work/Workplace Flexibility at Boston College and an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at BC. She will discuss workplace flexibility and the changing ideas of work and retirement as we age. For more information on Marcie, go to http://wfnetwork.bc.edu/.

THE UC BERKELEY RETIREMENT CENTER - a profile of the winner of Civic Ventures' Breakthrough Award. To tap into the incredible brain power of retired staff, UC Berkeley created a website in 2002 to connect former staff to current short-term or part-time openings. Retired staff post online profiles that list their skills, work history and preferences, then hiring managers contact retirees - or vice versa - about open jobs. For more information on the Center, go to http://thecenter.berkeley.edu/.

ERROL MORRIS - Errol is the Academy award-winning documentary director of such films as The Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War and his newest, Weapon of Mass Distortion . In this "In My Experience" segment, he talks about whether he ever will retire. For more information about Errol Morris and his films, go to: http://www.errolmorris.com/.

JOHN GOMPERTS- John is President of Civic Ventures and CEO of Experience Corps. He also has served as Chief Operating Officer at Public Education Network and Chief of Staff of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and the National Senior Service Corps . For more information on John, go to http://www.civicventures.org/.

CLAIRE HAAGA ALTMAN - Claire is the Executive Director of ReServe, an organization that won the 2007 Breakthrough Award for its work connecting experienced older adults with stipend-paying jobs challenging them to use their lifetime skills for the public good. She also served for two decades as founder and President of Housing and Services, Inc. For more information on Claire, go to http://www.reserveinc.org/.

CORNELIUS MARX - Cornelius was CEO of three companies in three industries - wine and spirits, publishing, and mail processing - over a 25 year period. Now, at "retirement age," he mentors small- to mid-sized companies in service or distribution businesses, serves as a ReServist for CUNY's Field Center for Entrepreneurship, and serves as Board Member, adviser and consultant to several nonprofit organizations in the fields of performing arts and education.

HOWARD & MARIKA STONE - Howard and Marika Stone chose not to retire at the end of successful careers in international publishing and public relations - instead, they began new careers as life coach and yoga teacher, respectively. In 1998, they co-founded a website, 2young2retire.com, to advocate an alternative vision of the post-midlife years, providing ideas and advice about meaningful work and community engagement . For more information on the Stones, go to http://www.2young2retire.com/.

DEE DEE MYERS - Dee Dee Myers served as White House Press Secretary during the Clinton administration and authored the book Why Women Should Rule the World: A Memoir. In this "In My Experience" segment, she talks about the changing idea of work as we mature.

GENE COHEN, M.D., PH.D. - Dr. Cohen is the Director of the Center for Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University and the lead researcher for the groundbreaking study on Aging and Creativity. He is the author of The Creative Age and The Mature Mind. For more information on Dr. Cohen, go to http://www.gwumc.edu/cahh/about/cohen.htm.

DAVID GALENSON - David is a professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago and the author of the book Old Masters and Young Geniuses: Two Life Cycles of Artistic Creativity. For more information on David, go to http://www.davidgalenson.com/.

JESSICA HOLT - Jessica Holt, a professional artist, founded the Bauen Camp in 1999 on 70 acres in the foothills of Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains. She is a Purpose Prize Fellow. For more information on Jessica, go to http://www.thebauencamp.com/.

GENE JONES - Gene, a decorated WW II bomber pilot, built his post-war career by turning failing businesses into profitable corporations. In 1999, at the age of 84, he turned his attention to the next generation by creating Opening Minds through the Arts . For more information on Gene, go to http://www.omaproject.org/.

PHIL BORGES - At the age of 45, Phil left a successful orthodontic practice and declared himself a full-time photographer. At 58, at the peak of international acclaim, he turned his talent to expanding children's worldview and cultural knowledge by creating Bridges to Understanding. For more information on Phil, go to http://www.bridgesweb.org/.

ABIGAIL TRAFFORD - Abigail is a Washington Post columnist who pens the column "My Time" about issues of later life and she is the author of the book My Time. To find out more about her go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/.

JOHN WOOD - The author of Leaving Microsoft to Save the World discusses walking away from a top-level job to dedicate his life to serving a social cause, founding the Room to Read program. For more information on John, go to www.leavingmicrosoftbook.com. Original music for this segment by Laurent LaFramboise.

GORDON JOHNSON - after trying to change foster care from inside the system, Gordon took matters into his own hands, founding Neighbor To Family, a private nonprofit foster care agency that focuses on keeping siblings together. He was awarded The Purpose Prize in 2007 in recognition of his work. For more information on Gordon, go to www.neighbortofamily.org.

LINDA FRIED - Dr. Fried is the Director of the Center on Aging and Health, Director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology and the Director of the Training Program in Clinical and Population-based Research on Aging in the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins. She co-founded Experience Corps. For more information on Linda, go to http://faculty.jhsph.edu/?F=Linda&L=Fried.

BARBARA THOMAS - Barbara is an Experience Corps volunteer at Malcolm X Elementary School in the Bay View Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. For more information on Barbara, go to http://www.encore.org/news/experience-corps-mrs-tho.

WILMA MELVILLE - After raising four sons and a career as a physical education teacher, Wilma had earned her retirement. Instead, she began a second career, founding the National Search Dog Foundation. For more information on Wilma and her program, go to http://www.searchdogfoundation.org/98/html/index.html.

MARY COHEN - Mary was born in Chicago, raised in the Bronx and settled in North Hollywood, CA after serving in the army during WWII. In this "In My Experience" segment, she talks about what giving back means to her.

SHIRLEY MACLAINE - A movie star looks back. Shirley MacLaine will share how her celebrity afforded her access to everyone from Frank Sinatra to Stephen Hawkins - and what she lkearned from them. She is the author of the new book, Sage-ing While Age-ing. For more information on Shirley, go to www.shirleymaclaine.com.

STUDS TERKEL - master storyteller Studs Terkel has the microphone turned on him for a change - to tell the story of his own unique lifetime in radio. Studs has been an award-winning author, radio broadcaster and American treasure for more than six decades. For more information on Studs, go to www.studsterkel.org.

ANDY GOODMAN - Andy Goodman tells us how to dig deep into our experiences to best share what we have learned - and quite possibly to change society while we are at it. Andy is a communications consultant and trainer specializing in helping nonprofits, foundations, government agencies and educational institutions communicate more effectively. He is also a Civic Ventures Senior Fellow. For more information on Andy, go to www.agoodmanonline.com.

THE STORY OF MY LIFE - be inspired by the story of Suzanne Knode, who at 63 discovered the storyteller within her. She wrote a screenplay for a writing class - which was successful beyond her wildest dreams. To see a portrait of Suzanne on This American Life on Showtime, go to http://www.sho.com/site/thisamericanlife/prevepisodes.do?episodeid=12171. For more information on the Senior Artists Colony, go to: http://www.seniorartistscolony.com/.

STORYCORPS - PEG & DAN STEINBERG - Peg Steinberg tells her son Dan about her onset of cancer, from the NPR show StoryCorps. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have interviewed family and friends through StoryCorps. Each conversation is archived at the Library of Congress and millions hear the award-winning broadcasts on public radio and the Internet. For more information on StoryCorps and to hear this piece and others, go to www.storycorps.net/listen/peg-and-dan-steinberg.

CYNTHIA FRIEDLOB - Cynthia is an author and creator of the blog The Thoughtful Consumer, which suggests a 3-step plan to reclaim our consumer sanity, un-clutter our homes and improve our environment. Cynthia wrote pieces for Experience Talks while attending a recent writing class along with Suzanne Knode at the Burbank Senior Artists Colony. For more information on Cynthia, go to www.thethoughtfulconsumer.blogspot.com/.

MARC FREEDMAN - Founder and CEO of CIVIC VENTURES, he also led the effort to create Experience Corps and the Purpose Prize. Marc is the author of ENCORE: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life and will discuss finding purpose in later life. For more information on Marc and Civic Ventures, go to www.civicventures.org.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON - the nationally syndicated columnist, author of ten books and co-founder and editor of the HuffingtonPost.com will discuss reinventing yourself without fear. Her latest book is On Becoming Fearless.... in Love, Work, and Life and she is co-host of "Left, Right & Center," public radio's popular political roundtable program and her weekly commentary is syndicated in newspapers across the country. For more information on Arianna, go to www.huffingtonpost.com.

FINDING PURPOSE THROUGH HARDSHIP - Purpose Prize Winner Wilson Goode, former Mayor of Philadelphia who mentors children of incarcerated parents, and 9/11 widow Nikki Stern discuss their sense of purpose found in the face of tragedy. For more info on Wilson Goode go to www.amachimentoring.org. For more info on Nikki Stern go to http://1womansvu.wordpress.com/about-2/.

A PROFILE OF SALLY BINGHAM - a profile of the Purpose Prize-winning homemaker turned Episcopal priest. We follow the founder of the Regeneration Project as she works to combat global warming by organizing religious organizations of all denominations to buy green electricity to reduce consumption in their buildings of worship, and by getting them to preach a moral obligation to protect the environment. For more info on Sally Bingham go to http://www.theregenerationproject.org/.

JERRY RUHL, PH.D. - the co-author of "Living Your Unlived Life" discusses his philosophy of finding true purpose in the second half of life. In the first half of his life Ruhl was a journalist and managed communications for two major corporations, but at midlife realized he had climbed far up the corporate ladder only to discover it was "leaning against the wrong wall." He'll discuss ways to determine true purpose while coping with unrealized dreams. For more info on Jerry Ruhl go to http://www.jerryruhlrobertjohnson.com/.

ROBERT STONE - the acclaimed author of seven novels, such as "Damascus Gate," "A Flag For Sunrise" and the National Book Award-winning "A Hall of Mirrors" discusses his career and his unique memory of the 60's from his memoir, "Prime Green: Remembering the Sixties."

BABY BOOMERS PLUS - three stand-up comedians who all performed their first gig after they retired, from professions that were often anything but funny.

RICHARD MATHESON - the iconic sci-fi author and film & TV writer discusses his career and books such as I Am Legend and The Incredible Shrinking Man.


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