Specifically for Seniors - A New Direction

Welcome to Specifically for Seniors, where today we explore the civic power of everyday objects and the people who dare to redesign them. Today’s guest didn’t start with a blueprint—she started with a daughter. Drew Ann Long is the creator of Caroline’s Cart, a revolutionary shopping cart designed for children and adults with disabilities. Named after her daughter Caroline, who was born with Rett syndrome, the cart began as a mother’s plea for inclusion and became a national movement in retail design.Drew Ann taught herself the language of industrial engineering, founded Parent Solution Group in 2008, and partnered with Technibilt to bring her vision to life. Her invention has earned national recognition, including the Da Vinci Award for universal design, and is now available in major retailers like Target, Kroger, and Walmart. But this story isn’t just about a cart—it’s about civic imagination, maternal resolve, and the quiet revolution of making space for everyone.

Welcome to Specifically for Seniors, the podcast that celebrates the wisdom, wit, and willpower of older adults who refuse to sit quietly on the sidelines.Today’s episode is a rich opportunity to spotlight the civic firepower of senior activism and the strategic brilliance behind We the Seniors—a grassroots movement that’s proving age is not a limitation, but a launchpad for change.Our guests, Mary Mulvihill and Judy Loeb, are the architects of this powerful network. Through weekly Zoom calls, postcard campaigns, rallies, and coalition-building, they’ve mobilized thousands of older Americans to engage in meaningful, sustained political action. Their work has drawn speakers like Skye Perryman, activist Bill McKibben, Senator Cory Booker, Rep. Katie Porter, Liz Cheney and Jen Johnson —not just to inform, but to inspire.Mary brings decades of organizing experience and a gift for turning civic frustration into coordinated action. Mary spent the first half of her career as an Associate Dean and Professor at Fordham University’s Business School, where she also taught. In the next chapter of her career, She turned her focus to revitalizing nonprofits, serving as Executive Director of two different nonprofits.Judy, a former regional director for Emily’s List as a result of her anger over the Anita Hill hearings and a lifelong advocate, adds strategic depth and fundraising savvy to the mix. Together, they’ve built the platform,We The Seniors, that amplifies senior voices, connects communities across 15 states, and redefines what it means to age with agency.Whether you’re a seasoned activist or just beginning to explore your civic power, this conversation will challenge assumptions, spark ideas, and remind us all that democracy thrives when seniors lead. Let’s dive into their story, their mission, and the unstoppable force of senior volunteers.

One day, Narcissus caught sight of his own reflection and thought, “Finally—someone who gets me.” Fast forward a few millennia, and Donald Trump, in a moment of mythological cosplay, gazed into the Capitol Reflecting Pool and saw not the dome of democracy, but the shimmering image of his own magnificence. And like his ancient counterpart, he was utterly transfixed.So in June 2025, to mark his 79th birthday—and presumably the anniversary of his divine self-recognition—he staged a taxpayer-funded spectacle featuring tanks, fighter jets, and enough red-white-and-bluster to make a banana republic blush. Price tag? $45 million. Purpose? Self-admiration. Subtext? “I am the state.”Today’s guest is here to help us decode the psychological machinery behind this kind of political theater. Dr. Jocelyn Sze is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, a trauma psychologist specializing in narcissistic abuse, and and a board member of Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services and the McCune Foundation which supports grassroots organizations that empower and mobilize excluded populations. Her work bridges the personal and the political—helping individuals heal from manipulation while exposing how those same tactics play out on the national stage.In her recent Huffington Post article, “I’m A Psychologist Who Specializes In Narcissists. Here’s What We Need To Do To Stop Trump,” Dr. Sze draws on years of clinical experience to unpack the psychological tactics of authoritarian figures. She urges us to build what she calls psychological immunity—a kind of civic resilience against emotional chaos and gaslighting. Today, we’ll explore how trauma-informed psychology can help us recognize, resist, and respond to narcissistic leadership—and why naming these patterns is essential to protecting democracy.Let’s get clinical about the circus.

Join us on our Substack page (https://specificallyforseniors.substack.com)where satire meets substance and storytelling sparks civic engagement and where we comment several + times a week. Let’s keep the conversation sharp, smart, and unapologetically bold.In the August 14, 2025 episode, Larry welcomes Dr. Sophia McClennen. Sophia is a professor of international affairs and comparative literature at Penn State University. She is the author of several books on satire, media, and politics, including Trump Was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t. Her work has been featured in Salon, The Washington Post, and numerous academic journals.professor, author, and leading scholar of political satire, for a riveting conversation about humor as resistance. Drawing from her acclaimed book Trump Was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t and her Salon article "Sick of Trump? Try laughing at him", McClennen explores how irony and parody became essential tools for navigating a presidency that often felt like its own punchline. Together, they examine how satire evolved in response to Trumpism, the civic power of laughter, and the urgent need for media literacy in an age of disinformation and manufactured history.Highlights Include: The anatomy of political satire in the digital age How humor exposes authoritarian absurdities The civic power of irony and parodyMcClennen argues that satire doesn’t merely entertain—it educates, provokes, and defends. The episode dives into the anatomy of political humor, the role of comedians as cultural critics, and the unique position seniors hold in decoding media spectacle and resisting authoritarian absurdities. With sharp insight and a dose of irreverence, this conversation reminds us that laughter, when wielded wisely, can be revolutionary.Listen now on SpecificallyForSeniors.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.com/@UC441l9z6dBkZCU1bO5E3ynAMEMORY LANE INFORMATIONWeb Pagehttps://www.memory-lane.tvFor Individuals, Family and Caregivershttps://bit.ly/4mtTG2hThere is a 30% discount for annual subscriptions, please use code SFORSENIORS in the promo box.For Professional Care Facilitieshttps://www.memory-lane.tv/contact-adult-carePlease place "Specifically for Seniors" in the Ambassador LineResearchhttps://www.memory-lane.tv/researchDisclaimer: Specifically for Seniors receives a small stipend with each subscription that helps to keep the podcast on the air. Please use the links for further information

I don’t usually invite a sponsor on to a podcast, but today I’m going to do just that because I think it's important for you to hear what my guest has to say about his product.Regular listeners to Specifically for Seniors realize that I have accepted a sponsor for the podcast and, hopefully, it will help keep us on the air. I’ve held off because I wanted to make sure that any product or service that we recommended was validated by clinical research. Memory Lane TV was that product.I know many of you are saying “Yuh, we’ve heard that before” - a commercial is just that a commercial. So I’m going to take a chance and let you judge for yourself.Our guest on the podcast today is Alban Maino, founder and CEO of Memory Lane TV.    Alban spent ten years developing something that traditional television simply couldn't provide— clinically-validated, multi-sensory content that's showing remarkable results in reducing anxiety and improving quality of life for both individuals with dementia and their caregivers and we're going to give you a chance to validate that for yourself by providing access to research documentation and the organizations that have worked to prove it. This podcast was more important than I had imagined. Alban’s approach to the betterment of the lives of both those suffering with dementia and their caregivers is admirable. His ultimate goal is to be able to offer his video content to all that need it free of charge is obvious. He pleaded for the help of a philanthropist or organization willing to help reaching that goal especially since the current administration has negated the grants under which he and his company have been working. For now, however, the subscription fee will help keep the program in operation.Please contact me directly from the contact section of this podcast from our web site specificallyforseniors.com and I will put you in touch directly with him.For the benefit of those who would like to share in the research that validates his approach there is a White Paper entitled “Sensory Stimulation as a Means of Managing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia” that Alban will make available upon request. Drop me a note from the contact section of this podcast from our web site specificallyforseniors.com and I will send you his email address.ARTICLEhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/albanmaino_memory-care-innovation-award-winner-alban-activity-7325190241588236288-uC7A?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABMrH0QByj043fv_Hrpv7l0OYIv07Xhl1scSOCIAL MEDIATwitter: https://x.com/forgetdementiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/memorylanetv/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC031n0ORReeIUIBchB0AccQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albanmaino/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/memorylanenetwork/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@memorylanetvIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6480753/MEMORY LANE INFORMATIONWeb Pagehttps://www.memory-lane.tvFor Individuals, Family and Caregivershttps://bit.ly/4mtTG2hThere is a 30% discount for annual subscriptions, please use code SFORSENIORS in the promo box.For Professional Care Facilitieshttps://www.memory-lane.tv/contact-adult-carePlease place "Specifically for Seniors" in the Ambassador LineResearchhttps://www.memory-lane.tv/research

With  the appointment of Robert F Kennedy, Jr.  as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Trump administration has systematically targeted the next generation of scientists and public health leaders. He has cut science funding to its lowest level in decades. More than 20,000 jobs were eliminated, billions of dollars in scientific research has been threatened or paused, and a budget draft proposes a major restructuring of Health and Human Services.The Trump administration has asked Federal agencies to cancel contracts with Harvard worth an additional $450 million after canceling more than $2.2 billion in federal research grants. Among these grants and contracts were medical research projects.The proposed budget for the NIH includes a 40% cut, the CDC faces a budget cut of about half its spending, and the NSF (National Science Foundation) 2026 budget would be cut in half. These budget cuts could  drastically affect the health of Americans for generations.RFK, Jr , fired 17 expert members of a committee that advises the CDC on what vaccines people in the United States should take and when, making families less safe.And RFK, Jr. aims to prohibit government scientists from publishing in top journals, citing pharmaceutical influence and corruption concerns. He proposes new in-house journals for NIH-funded research, questioning the peer-review process of established journals.To help us understand the ramifications of all of this, we invited Stephen Spielberg, MD to help us through the complexities of this strange time in medicine and science.I asked Steve for some background information so I could introduce him properly on this podcast.  He replied “if you wake me in the middle of the night and ask what I “do”, I would say I am a doctor, a pediatrician, and all I have done as a basic and clinical scientist, as a medical school dean, as deputy commissioner of the FDA – all that comes back to a focus on the care of sick children, the prevention of disease, and optimization of health, and remembering humbly that we are all human, all on a vast journey of learning and striving for a better world.”I urge you all to read Steve’s full biography at our web site (https://www.specificallyforseniors.com) about this podcast.Steve and I discussed medical research in the time of the Trump administration, the arbitrary cuts in funding of the NIH FDA and CDC, vaccines, RFK's proposal that research documentation be submitted to a government controlled journal, the status of medical research and the United States standing in the international order, public health and funding cuts and his personal experience treating two brothers with a rare genetic disorder.MEMORY LANE INFORMATIONFor Individuals, Family and Caregivershttps://bit.ly/4mtTG2hThere is a 30% discount for annual subscriptions, please use code SFORSENIORS in the promo box.For Professional Care Facilitieshttps://www.memory-lane.tv/contact-adult-carePlease place "Specifically for Seniors" in the Ambassador LineResearchhttps://www.memory-lane.tv/researchDisclaimer: Specifically for Seniors receives a small stipend with each subscription that helps to keep the podcast on the air. Please use the links for further information

We’re going to take a break from politics and the voices of older adults on today’s podcast and talk with the younger generation that keeps us inspired.I was recently introduced to a compelling new voice in filmmaking, a bold young screenwriter and director whose creative vision and storytelling instincts mark him as one to watch. At this year’s NYC Short Film Showcase at New Plaza Cinema, audiences were treated to a standout debut from the rising young screenwriter and director behind the sharply observed short film Thank You for Your Interest. With a confident voice and a keen eye for detail, Ethan explores the awkward, often absurd dance of job hunting in today’s world—delivering a story that is as poignant as it is darkly funny. Front and center in the film is the talented young actress, a compelling new face whose performance is equal parts raw, relatable, and refreshingly real. Carmel brings the lead role to life with quiet power, capturing both the frustration and hope that define so many of life’s transitional moments. A breakout performer whose screen presence is impossible to ignore, with nuance and depth far beyond her years, Carmel delivers a performance that anchors the film and lingers with the audience long after the credits roll. Together, Ethan and Carmel mark an exciting new chapter in independent film—two emerging artists with voices worth listening to and stories worth telling.Now, full disclosure — today’s guests are very special to me, not just because they’re incredibly talented, but because they also happen to be my grandchildren. So if I sound a little extra proud today… well, I am. I apologize in advance for any grandparental gushing.Thank you for supporting new talent — and for indulging me just a little.

A Fact Sheet at whitehouse.gov is entitled President Donald J. Trump Keeps Promises to Our Veterans and Establishes New Center for Homeless Veterans.Fact Sheet Linkhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-keeps-promises-to-our-veterans-and-establishes-new-center-for-homeless-veterans/On this page is the statement “President Trump strongly believes that every veteran deserves our gratitude, and that the federal government should treat veterans like the heroes they are."Despite this the Department of Veteran’s Affairs is reportedly planning a major reorganization that includes cutting 80,000 jobs in an effort to reduce the agency’s workforce. To clarify what’s going on we asked Elizabeth Jamison to help us out.Elizabeth Jamison is an attorney with nearly two decades of experience in veterans’ benefits and federal employment law. She has served as an Attorney Advisor at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and as a Senior Advisor to the White House’s Joining Forces Initiative. Libby played a key role in shaping the 2023 Executive Order on Economic Security for military spouses, caregivers, and survivors. Today, through her law firm, she helps veterans and their families navigate the VA system with clarity and confidence.Libby and I talk about her background and the fact that she worked for both the Obama and Biden Administrations through "Joining Forces" and what the cuts to veteran's services will do to medical care, mortgage-rescue programs, research and veteran's jobs. Libby also presented important information on what veterans can get help if they run into problems.Website L:ink:https://www.egracelaw.comMEMORY LANE INFORMATIONFor Individuals, Family and Caregivershttps://bit.ly/4mtTG2hThere is a 30% discount for annual subscriptions, please use code SFORSENIORS in the promo box.For Professional Care Facilitieshttps://www.memory-lane.tv/contact-adult-carePlease place "Specifically for Seniors" in the Ambassador LineDisclaimer: Specifically for Seniors receives a small stipend with each subscription that helps to keep the podcast on the air. Please use these links for further information.

A FACT CHECK at the White House website proclaims “President Trump will always a protect Social Security and Medicare.” It goes on to quote Elon Musk saying “The waste and fraud in entitlement spending — which is most of the federal spending is entitlements — so, that’s, like, the big one to eliminate. That’s the, sort of half-trillion, maybe $6-700 billion a year.” After a list of “facts” about fraud, improper payments to deceased individuals and improper payments to both SSA and Medicare and Medicaid services, the page goes on to ask “What kind of a person doesn’t support eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending that ultimately costs taxpayers more?”Link to the Whitehouse web site:https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/03/fact-check-president-trump-will-always-protect-social-security-medicare/Am I missing something? First, Social Security and Medicare are not entitlements, they are services for which older Americans have paid for by deductions from THEIR salaries. And , second, where is, in this so-called Fact Sheet, plans for how President Trump is going to preserve Social Security and Medicare except for a statement that reads “The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits. President Trump himself has said it (over and over and over again).”Conversely, President’s Trump’s budget seeks to reduce or eliminate the Older Americans Act, to dissolve the Administration for Community Living, and cut funding to critical services that help older adults to live independently.In order to be able to understand more completely what’s going on, we called on Nathan Boucher, to explain the effect of Trump’s real budget proposals on senior care. Nathan is Associate Research Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy and Duke University faculty at Sanford School of Public Policy, the Medical School, and the Nursing School. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Duke Center for the Study of Aging & Human Development as well as Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy Core Faculty. Nathan and I talked about the Older Americans Act and the Administration for Community Living which provide services like Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Care, Falls and Elder Abuse Prevention and Respite care as well as services for younger people with disabilities. We discussed that despite reassurances that Medicare and Medicaid will not be touched, plans are in the works for reducing Medicaid and adding a work requirement and more difficult paperwork which would affect at least 7.6 million people.

A recent space tourism flight on the Blue Origin capsule featuring an all-female crew including Katy Perry and Gayle King sparked some controversy over whether it was a publicity stunt to promote Jeff Bezos’ space tourism business or whether it had some scientific purpose. We were curious about humans’ venture into space, so we called on the go-to-expert on all things space flight Dr. Jonathan McDowell. Dr. McDowell is an astrophysicist on the Chandra X-ray Center team at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian, supporting NASA'sChandra X-ray Observatory space telescope mission. He studies black holes and quasars, and leads the science software algorithms team for the Chandra X-ray Observatory.Jonathan's astrophysics publications include studies of cosmology, black holes, galaxies, quasars, nearby galaxies, and asteroids.Jonathan is the editor of Jonathan's Space Report, a free internet newsletter founded in 1989 covering technical details of all space launches.Jonathan and I talked about space tourism, the Chandra Xray Observatory at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics right here in Cambridge, Massachusetts, how he became interested in space, learning from Stephen Hawking, and all things spaceflight. Jonathan discussed satellites and space junk, commercial and government entities in space, the Big Bang, and whether Klingons and Vulcans exist and what the likelihood is that we will ever meet one.My only disappointment in this whole discussion was that Dr, McDowell did not agree that tom Baker was the only real Dr. Who.