322 Mildred J. Mills: My Cotton Patch Moment

Jane Fleishman, Phd, a Certified Sexuality Educator, works with people living in senior communities on taboo topics such as intimacy, desire, sexual health, abuse and consent. An accomplished educator, writer, program developer, and researcher, Jane received a PhD in Human Sexuality from the Widener University Center for Human Sexuality Studies at the age of 62. She specializes in all aspects of sexuality for older adults and older adults in same-sex relationships. She is the author of The Stonewall Generation: LGBTQ Elders on Sex, Activism, and Aging, a Nautilus Award winner and Kirkus Review starred selection. Jane’s TEDx Talk, “Is It OK for Grandma to Have Sex?” has received over 100,000 views. "Sex is going on in senior living communities or there is erosion of all the great gains we’ve made in the last 50 years."Connect with Jane:Email:  Jane@Jane Fleishman.comPodcast:  Our Better Half, focuses on sex and sexuality in the 2nd half of life Book: The Stonewall Generation: LGBTQ Elders on Sex, Activism, and Aging

Mimi Donaldson, 77, is known for her rousing keynote speeches, compelling workshops, and in-house training programs.   She has shared the keynote platform with Colin Powell, Katie Couric and Maya Angelou.She is now a speaker coach for TED Talkers, keynote speakers and businessOwners. Since 2018, she has coached 24 speakers to the TEDx stage. I don’t want people to be boring!Mimi holds a Bachelor's Degree in Speech and Dramatic Arts from the University of Iowa, and a Masters Degree in Education from Columbia University. For 10 years, she was a staff Human Resources Specialist with Walt Disney Company, Northrop Aircraft, and Rockwell International.Mimi has been a visiting professor at Harvard University’s Center for Public Leadershipat the Kennedy School of Government. Her latest book is designed to improve the quality of how you present yourself: Pitch Perfect: Speak to Grow Your Business in Seven Simple Steps.CONNECT WITH MIMI:EMAIL:  [email protected]: www.mimidonaldson.comBook: Pitch Perfect: Speak to Grow Your Business in Seven Simple StepsPhone: 310-577-0229

Alice Rose, age 78, lived in Europe for 10 ½ years where she worked with childhood centers for military families. Alice’s love of travel and culture led her to Turkey twenty-five times, as well as other fascinating destinations. Upon returning to New Jersey, Alice pursued her love of museum art and photography. Now residing in the Chicago area, Alice has blended her passion for books and photography into a self-publishing business. She and her business partner, Bethany, guide authors in making their own decisions about the book’s content and how it will be presented. Their books include memoirs, photography, children’s stories—essentially whatever the author wants to share. Alice’s own learning journey never stops. She is at work on three of her own books and recently has become 99% vegan. Alice relishes learning about a plant-based diet and its benefits and will gladly recommend her coach. "The threads of my abundant life are books and paper, art and color, travel, history, and learning."​Connect with [email protected]

The third oldest of 17 children, Mildred J. Mills, 73, was raised on a farm in Alabama. At a young age, she began to imagine that she would be going places, even though she had no idea how or where she might go. In high school one of her teachers recognized her talent in mathematics and suggested she think about a technical college for data processing. Her Daddy surprised her by helping make that a reality. Life was full of surprises from that moment forward. “Sometimes in life we know it’s time to let go, and that, my friends, is a cotton patch moment.” - Mildred J. MillsWhat followed was a highly successful career in IT Management, two college degrees - a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in creative writing/nonfiction, and a very fulfilling life, not without its challenges, some major. It was when she left her job, at 60, that she began to think about writing a book. Daddy’s House tells the story of A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots.Mildred lives in Atlanta GA.Connect with Mildred:Email: [email protected]: MildredJMills.comBook: Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her RootsPodcast: My Cotton Patch MomentThank you to our sponsor for this episode,  Women’s Connection.Our Podcast Collaborators’ monthly recommendation is Jennifer Fink’s Fading Memories

Judy Marjorie Collins, age 85, remains a legendary spokesperson for the American folk music scene and for older adults who still have a song to sing. We were delighted to be in conversation with Judy Collins.Folk singer, song writer, pianist, activist, author, and role-model, Judy continues to tour throughout the United States and many other countries. Judy vows, “I will never stop singing.” Throughout the decades, Judy’s music has reflected changing political climates and captured glimpses of life at particular moments in time. Her music remains as timely as ever. We look forward to her next album of duets and trios including a song by the late David Crosby.Judy continues to write about deeply personal experiences. Her latest book is Sometimes It’s Heaven: Poems of Love, Loss & Redemption. Connect with Judy:Publicist:  [email protected] her books. Available on Amazon2025: Sometimes It’s Heaven: Poems of Love, Loss & Redemption 2012: Memoir: Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music2007: The Seven T's: Finding Hope and Healing in the Wake of Tragedy 2006: Sanity & Grace: A Journey of Suicide, Survival, and Strength

Gina Orlando, age 72, created and was present at her own Celebration of Life in January 2025. Gina has been living with breast cancer for 11 years, the last three years in stage 4. She calls upon her expertise in holistic healing, voracious curiosity, and profound spiritual beliefs to navigate her journey toward end-of-life and ‘going to the light.’ Gina’s abundant intentions for her Celebration of Life: lifting things up for healing—for self, family, community, the world; giving people permission to think differently about their own death, to talk about it, and to plan for it; sharing gifts of love for self and others; and heightening awareness about healing and living wellwith an incurable disease. Gina is reaching hundreds of people with her powerful story of celebrating life.I draw on the mind, body, spirit paradigm while navigating my life and cancerjourney. - Gina OrlandoConnect with Gina OrlandoEmail [email protected] Gina Orlando MA, Wellness Coach Chicago, Oak ParkDirect link to Celebration of Life Servicehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay5RdVEay7won the Ascension, Oak Park, YouTube channel.  Wednesday Journal article about Gina and her Celebration of Life servicehttps://www.oakpark.com/2025/02/05/print-edition-february-5-2025/  pgs.1 and 14 andpart of the editorial, pg. 23This episode is sponsored by Women’s Connectionhttps://www.womenconnecting.orgThis month’s Podcast Collaborator is Becoming Ellie-Fit Strong Women Over 50https://www.becomingelli.com

Women Over 70 - Aging Reimagined

At 77 years old, Connie Inukai is proving that innovation has no age limit. A former technical writing instructor for engineers, Connie spent years teaching others how to create clear, effective reports. Little did she know that one day, she’d be writing her own—this time, for her own invention.When she first conceived the idea for Tip ‘n Split, Connie applied the same skills she had taught for decades. She meticulously crafted reports, wrote an instruction manual, and designed brochures—working alongside her students as both teacher and entrepreneur.Determined to bring her product to market, she initially invested $3,000 in a marketing agency, only to see little progress. Refusing to give up, Connie took matters into her own hands. She retired from teaching and became her own marketer, salesperson, and advocate."Don’t be afraid of no. Figure out what to do and turn it into a yes!"Her persistence paid off. Tip ‘n Split has now been featured on QVC, The Today Show, The View, NBC News, and more. Even Walmart carries her invention.But Connie isn’t stopping there. With her entrepreneurial spirit still going strong, she’s already working on her next big idea—proving that retirement isn’t the end of the road; it’s just the beginning. CONNECT WITH CONNIE:E. [email protected] Tip n Split

Thoughtful and compassionate, Becky Blue is a geriatric and faith community nurse. Her compassion grew at an early age as she spent afternoons with Grandma, coincidentally the name of one of her magical poems. In her book, Turning-The Magic and Mystery of More Days, you will find essays, poetry and questions, some of the poems written almost 50 years ago with so much meaning for today. "As we age, we connect the dots on our whole life experience."Becky’s practice is interdisciplinary. Working in churches enabled her to bring in multiple practitioners to serve the churchgoers and to include mind, body and spirit in the conversations. Becky is especially interested in the 5 senses and how one’s life can be enriched through hearing, sight, taste, smell and feel. Most important is to maintain an explorer’s mindset. As one sense loses full capacity, the other senses create an urge to explore. Staying curious brings up  a sense of bravery.CONNECT WITH BECKY:E. [email protected]: Turning: The Magic & Mystery of More Days

Jeanette Leardi is a social gerontologist and aging wellness leader who invites us to “cock your head to the side and ask, Am I think about aging in the right way?” Jeanette’s blog, Ageful Living, inspired her recent book, Aging Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives on Getting Older. She challenges the message of ‘gendered ageism’ that “women are never the right age in our society.” She reframes limiting metaphors such as ‘over the hill’ to viewing women as “master climbers and changers.” Jeanette praises the plasticity of the aging brain for being able to take shortcuts and see different perspectives. She proposes a ninth stage to Erikson’s eight stages of personality development: “transcendence and unity—seeing ourselves as part of all that is.” Connect with JeanetteEmail: [email protected]: https://www.jeanetteleardi.comBook: Aging Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives on Getting Older. (2024)