Grandma Magic: A podcast from the Grandmother Collective

Stella Fosse: Empowering the Creative in Later Life

In this episode, we introduce the inspiring Stella Fosse, a writer who transitioned from a career in biotech to championing creativity and empowerment for older women. With encouragement from her children and a supportive network of changemakers, Stella discovered the political power of her writing in response to ageist and sexist norms in the publishing industry. Through her books, blogs, and workshops, Stella actively challenges social constructs surrounding aging and advocates for women’s continued growth and exploration of their own stories. Speaking on the importance of intergenerational connection, Stella shares, “No matter what age you are, if you’re lucky, you’re going to get to be an older person.”

 

Pat Sabiston: "Can't Never Could" and the Power of Grandma's Legacy

Pat Sabiston is passing on her grandma magic as a successful author, motivational speaker, writing instructor, and proud great-grandmother. Through her work, she encourages other elders to share their rich legacies of wisdom and life experiences with future generations, offering lessons to learn from and lean on. With Pat’s warm humor and insightful anecdotes — including the inspiration to write her recently published children’s book, Can’t Never Could — this episode will leave you eager to go “totally unplugged” at Gram’s Camp!

 

Sarah Thompson and Elayne Richard : Reproductive Rights, Storytelling, and the Power of Intergenerational Activism

Sarah Thompson and Elayne Richard bring decades of experience and unwavering dedication to reproductive rights and social justice advocacy. As active members of Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights (GRR), one of our newest member organizations, they are working to challenge the shame and stigma surrounding abortion access as healthcare while empowering elders to harness the power of their voices. Their experiences have deepened their appreciation for the impact of sharing lived stories from the pre-Roe v. Wade era and, as Elayne puts it, the “wicked cool” intergenerational relationships fostered by grandma magic.

Christine Crosby : The Art and Magic of Grandparenting

Christine Crosby’s grandmother left a lasting impression on her as a role model for purposeful living and community service, which she continued well into her 90s. Now, as a proud grandmother of five, great-grandmother of one, and CEO of GRAND Media, Christine is paying that “grandma magic” forward. She shares the beauty of grand-parenting with optimism, describing it as an experience defined by empathy, the absence of ego, and the privilege of sharing wisdom with “little people hungry to learn about life.” In this episode, Christine also reflects on her aspirations for her 80s, including supporting her local government and guiding the transition of GRAND Media, all in the spirit of a true grandmother changemaker.

Philomena Anywanu: Defining Elder Care for Rural Nigeria

Philomena Anyanwu is a gerontologist and social worker who has dedicated over 14 years to bringing about systemic change in the physiological, social, spiritual, and economic well-being of the ever-growing demographic of older persons in Nigeria. Her work has involved navigating and rethinking cultural stigmas, inadequate healthcare information and access, and limited financial support, all of which ultimately isolate the elderly in rural communities. By fostering organic, mutual support networks, her NGO, El-Aged Care, and healthcare coalition, ACSPOPIN, are changing the narrative in rural communities to one where the elderly, particularly grandmothers, are valued as focal points. On a personal front, Philomena also prioritizes her own self-care, for instance, by returning to the city to take long walks, or even by graciously letting us interview her here on the Grandma Magic Podcast.

 

Mary Balikungeri: Paving the Way for Women's Equality

The gesture of love rooted in community is the foundational practice that Mary Balikungeri, founder of the Rwanda Women’s Network, seeks to pass on to younger generations. Having moved from community to community as a refugee fleeing the Rwandan Genocide in her youth, Mary carved a path to create feminist spaces where women can heal, empower themselves, and work toward social transformation. As a grandmother and changemaker, Mary emphasizes the importance of balancing her activism with moments of rest, reflection, and quality time with her two grandchildren, ensuring the sustainable continuation of her life’s work.

Hendrica Okondo: Unpacking Women's Power

With her rich repertoire of personal and professional anecdotes, Hendrica Okondo truly embodies change-making through social and humanitarian activism. From illustrating the incredible history of women unpacking their power in Western Kenya through the Green Belt Movement, to experience as a young agricultural officer empowering women in farming communities, Hendrica brings us along how the powerful, headstrong women from her upbringing to this very day inspire her to to strive for gender equality, tapping into the knowledge of women, especially grandmothers, and so much more.

Meenakshi Gupta: Centering Dignity in Development

Meenakshi Gupta is one of the co-founders of Goonj, an organization focused on bridging critical gaps in urban and rural development across India. In this episode, she takes us on her now 25-year-long journey from a corporate job with the BBC to starting and growing Goonj, where her work focuses on social entrepreneurship by enabling local communities rather than prescribing solutions as an outsider. In fostering compassion and being attuned to the dignity of the communities she works with, Meenakshi is nothing short of an inspirational, pioneering change-maker (and cat-grandma) in the social development space.