Keyword: aging

The Healing Power of Touch September 16, 2009

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Faith Schwartz, Sherri Siegel

Touch is a basic human need that goes unmet for many people, especially the elderly. Armand explores the science and practice of massage with Dr. Sherry Siegel, M.D. and licensed massage therapist Faith Schwartz, covering everything from nerve sensitivity and endorphins to the many massage modalities and why draping builds trust.

The Weight of Caregiving September 9, 2009

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: David Travland, Rhonda Travland, Sherri Siegel

When devotion to a sick partner becomes all-consuming, caregivers lose themselves. Armand DiMele and co-host Dr. Sherry Siegel, M.D. speak with David Travland and Rhonda Travland, authors of “The Tough and Tender Caregiver,” who each survived years of spousal caregiving and argue that self-care is not selfishness but survival.

The Male Side of Menopause with Dr. Henry Hess March 19, 2009

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Henry Hess

Most menopause conversations leave men out entirely. Armand and gynecologist Dr. Henry Hess examine how hormonal shifts reshape attraction, bonding, and sexual connection, and why men’s ignorance of the process quietly destroys long marriages. Covers the history of hormone therapy, oxytocin, and foreplay as daily practice.

The Fear of Growing Old with Dr. Bernard Starr October 30, 2008

Growing old is feared more than death itself, and that fear may be largely a cultural illusion. Armand DiMele and Dr. Bernard Starr examine how longevity has reshaped society, why research shows older people are often more satisfied than expected, and how a shift in ego and time-consciousness can make aging a genuine liberation.

Early Onset Alzheimer’s with Pat Moffitt June 5, 2008

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Pat Moffitt

A husband’s love story that becomes a caregiving ordeal. Pat Moffitt, author of ‘Ice Cream in the Cupboard,’ recounts his wife Carmen’s early onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis at 53, the bewildering behavioral changes that preceded it, and how he learned to face a loss that arrives long before death.

The Sandwich Generation April 8, 2008

Host: Armand DiMele

Women and men squeezed between raising children and caring for aging parents are quietly burning out, and almost no one is talking about it. Armand DiMele examines why the sandwich generation is a growing crisis, tracing longer lifespans, delayed marriage, and adult children staying home as forces that trap the middle generation in relentless giving.

The Science of Sleep and Insomnia March 18, 2008

Host: Armand DiMele

Why do we assume we need eight hours of sleep? Armand DiMele challenges conventional wisdom on insomnia, walking through sleep cycles, the autonomic nervous system, cortisol, and how much rest we actually need. A vivid prose passage capturing the misery of sleeplessness at 3 a.m. anchors the whole conversation.

Depression in the Elderly with Dr. Kent Robertshaw January 30, 2008

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Kent Robertshaw

Depression in older adults is chronically misdiagnosed because its symptoms show up as physical complaints, and society writes off low mood as a natural part of aging. Armand DiMele and Dr. Kent Robertshaw, MD, Psychiatrist, discuss suicide risk in the elderly, the concept of pseudodementia, medication sensitivity, and the power of empathic listening in treatment.

How Emotion Shapes Memory September 19, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atti

Memory is not just repetition but emotion: the stronger the feeling, the deeper the imprint. Armand DiMele and co-host Roberta Maria Atti trace memory from DNA and evolutionary survival through neuroplasticity, PTSD, and the chemical trio of acetylcholine, dopamine, and norepinephrine, showing why stuck emotions block us from moving on.

What Really Drives Male Midlife Crisis July 31, 2007

Host: Armand DiMele

Armand DiMele surveys a provocative batch of recent research suggesting that male midlife crisis is triggered not by aging alone but by a wife’s menopause, that creativity peaks in early adulthood and fades, and that polygamy rather than religion drives suicide bombing. Callers weigh in on relationships and sexual culture.