Gen Seasoned

Ageing is an opportunity to find new purpose, says Sailesh Mishra, Founder President of Silver Innings Group, Dementia Master Trainer  and Social Gerontologist. Active in the field of senior care for almost two decades, he also runs A1 Snehanjali, Mumbai’s first 24x7 assisted living elder care home located in Nalasopara. Using his marketing experience, he used social media early on to craft a positive narrative around ageing. Listen in as he talks to Gen Seasoned host Anuradha Varma about how the conversation has shifted from merely care to seeking unique experiences for a free-spirited silver generation, the importance of upskilling and building lasting social connections as one ages. He also challenges all of us — young and old — to stop treating ageing as something that happens to us, and start preparing for it in our 40s, the way we would plan a financial SIP. He also highlights the urgent need for gerontology education in India, building a more age-inclusive society, and explains why the senior sector is poised to become the next big thing after the IT industry. Check out Sailesh Mishra on: LinkedIn | Website Book by Silver Innings: “Remember Me: You, Me & Dementia”For more info, email [email protected] are personal. Listener discretion is advised.

“Don’t wait for an emergency to provide support for your elderly parents,” says Asheesh Gupta, Founder and Managing Director of Samarth Care, India’s leading eldercare organisation, serving over 30,000 senior citizens across the country and catering to the Indian diaspora across 33 countries. The Gurgaon-based founder talks about his 600-strong team of care managers who anchor teams that provide a bouquet of services to the designated seniors in their care, from paying bills to helping move houses, and coordinating emergency care. He also talks about the importance of community, creating purpose, and what seniors need, including healthcare and beyond, which is largely “people to talk to, places to go to, and be needed.”Website: https://samarth.community/Timestamps:01:52 A decade of Samarth, still feels like a startup05:27 Samarth’s services - community, engagement, care, clinics for healthy ageing12:15 Building trust with the senior community; care managers13:53 Care managers across 350 cities17:46 Requests handled by care managers, from checking paying bills to moving houses19:11 Six key pillars, from emergency support to healthcare, safety and security, concierge and companionship23:10 Service demands across India26:28 From childcare to parent care for companies28:26 Mindset shift to caregiving30:05 Don’t expect parents to ask for support34:05 Great time to be in the agetech, longevity industry39:00 Misconceptions around seniors43:20 What elderly parents need; act early, don’t wait for an emergencyViews are personal. Listener discretion is advised.For more, email [email protected]

Dr Deepak Saini, Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and Convenor, Longevity India describes Longevity India’s ambitious BHARAT Study, which stands for Biomarkers for Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity and Transitions, collecting blood samples from Indians aged 18 to beyond 100. Listen in as he talks to Gen Seasoned co-founder Anuradha Varma about why it’s important to build India's first comprehensive ageing database to understand ageing patterns unique to our population, ICMR collaboration for specific organ-level studies, work on the “G-protein” at the SAInI lab, and trends in longevity.Follow Dr Saini: LinkedIn | Longevity India’s BHARAT StudyTimestamps:02:00 The BHARAT study04:40 Example of Western vs Indian physiology07:03 Status of the BHARAT study10:05 ICMR collaboration and organ-specific ageing models12:51 Do multivitamins work? No clear answers13:55 Where Western data stands15:32 The G-protein and the Saini Lab 18:57 Why we need to talk about longevity20:12 About Longevity India23:08 What’s needed at the policy level24:35 trends in the longevity space27:15 Longevity industry is at an inflection pointViews are personal. Listener discretion is advised.For more, email [email protected]

Mahima Bhalotia, 33, Tech Coach for seniors, pivoted from a career in hospitality to set up The Social Paathshala during the pandemic. She talks to Gen Seasoned co-founder Anuradha Varma about her enthusiastic students, numbering over 5,000 so far, some of them in their 80s who are mastering AI prompts to enhance family photographs, even creating lookbooks and smart travel itineraries, while learning about the risks of cyber fraud. To know more about Mahima’s classes, send her a “Hi” on WhatsApp at +91-9930161538.Listen in! Follow Mahima on: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Timestamps:01:36 Pivoting from hospitality to starting The Social Paathshala04:08 Her first client in Mumbai, then 68, who saw her newspaper ad in 202007:33 Goal is to be tech-savvy, learn AI, smart travel assistance11:18 On cyber security, avoiding deepfakes and voice cloning scams16:20 Teaching seniors who are entrepreneurs19:30 Misconceptions around senior community22:15 How to learn with MahimaTo get in touch, email [email protected]: Views are personal. Listener discretion is advised.

Babu Krishnamoorthy, Chief Sherpa at Finsherpa Investment Services, talks about the option for reverse mortgage available for senior citizens in India, where they can earn monthly income from their property while still continuing to live in it. He talks to Anuradha Varma, Gen Seasoned co-founder, about its pros and cons, along with financial scenarios to anticipate a future income, even as he emphasises the need for prudent retirement planning. Krishnamoorthy comes with over 25 years of experience in wealth management, investment banking and retirement planning. Follow him on: LinkedIn Timestamps:01:10 What is a reverse mortgage?04:05 Who is it for?06:36 Requirements to qualify for a reverse mortgage10:04 An option while continuing to live in the same house 11:38 How long can this sustain you?14:05 The cons of a reverse mortgage16:20 The Indian mindset of leaving property for kids18:40 Reverse mortgage should be the last option22:40 Move with caution, plan well for retirementGet in touch at [email protected]: Views are personal. Listener discretion is advised.

In this chat, biogerontologist Dr Suresh Rattan delivers a masterclass in longevity, touching upon biology, longevity trends, even philosophy. The Indian-origin, Denmark-based scientist explains why humans enjoy an “essential lifespan” of 45 years, his interpretation of a “hormetic” and balanced way of life, and how the definition of health changes at different stages of life. He also tells Gen Seasoned co-founder Anuradha Varma why antioxidants have been considered as risks of causing cancer.A specialist in the biology of ageing and longevity, Dr Rattan is also Editor-in-Chief of the international peer reviewed journal Biogerontology, published by Springer Publishers. Listen in! Do share and subscribe!Follow Dr Rattan: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Timestamps: Timestamps02:11 After 45, it’s all downhill biologically06:44 What makes us human? The bhajan “Vaishnav jan…” and quality of empathy16:36 Essential lifespan, warranty period or “best before” of a human being is 4524:15 How we can reach 100, as a society28:00 There is no “gerontogene” or enemy gene30:55 The problem with “anti-ageing”; ageing is just happening, not being done to us34:50 Why pills don’t work; on bio-hacker Bryan Johnson40:29 Antioxidants and the link to cancer43:21 Hormetins and health mechanisms for maintenance46:27 United Nations’ Intrinsic capacity to measure health & Dr Rattan’s concept of “homeodynamic space”48:00 Bryan Johnson and plasma transfer; similar successful experiment on rats54:00 UN definition of health; what health means at every stage of life57:00 Measurable markers of Activities of Daily Living — absolute independence vs adequate physical and mental independence01:03:49 The hormetic way of life01:08:24 Meditation and physical exercise exhibit the same stress markers01:12:19 His “Indus Valley Diet”01:22:29 Sustained pleasure is important for a hormetic way of life01:25:50 Nutrition, food and diet for longevity; we eat what we are01:45:17 We have multiple agesEmail: [email protected]: Views and opinions expressed are personal. Listener discretion is advised. 

“You show up differently when you have purpose,” says Seema Sinha, the only woman driving coach in north India. She talks to Anuradha Varma, Gen Seasoned co-founder, about re-entering the workforce in her 40s, armed with new skills as a parent of three, and forming connections with the younger generation. She questions the idea of “age-appropriate dressing”, and is a firm believer that only women, not men, should teach driving! Listen in!Follow Seema on InstagramTimestamps:02:20 Changing career perspectives in her 40s, a lot calmer now 07:10 Her job as a driving coach09:00 Dealing with people from 18 to 80s15:00 Appreciating Gen Z 18:00 Connecting with the younger generation20:02 How old do you feel?24:07 Her self-care routine25:45 Dealing with new clients29:52 Who decides age-appropriate dressing?37:49 Aspire to raise a generation of women coachesEmail: [email protected]: Views and opinions expressed are personal. Listener discretion is advised. 

Dr Asha Gauri Shankar, a retired or rather, seasoned Maths professor, has reinvented herself through her YouTube channel explaining Math concepts not just to children but adults as well. The 75-year-old former Delhi University professor speaks to Gen Seasoned co-founder Anuradha Varma on her passion for teaching, becoming an independent content creator, learning editing tools, and crossing 100,000 subscribers on her channel.Follow Dr Shankar on LinkedIn | InstagramDr Shankar’s Maths ShortsDr Shankar’s long Maths videosTimestamps: 01:28 Dr Asha Gauri Shankar’s introduction, coming from a family of teachers09:50 Using everyday objects for teaching12:00 Being active at 7514:45 Starting her YouTube channel21:04 Learning to be independent24:47 Maths is weak among primary school students27:44 The blessings and challenges of modern tech32:00 Scheduling her content33:17 Her love for prime numbers and divisibility tests37:00 Starting her channel in April 202542:30 Adults also watch her channel45:07 Maths as a language48:20 What her contemporaries are doing; learning calligraphy 52:00 Words of encouragement for other creators55:16 Teachers can share knowledge on YouTube01:08:30 Simplifying puzzles for her channelEmail: [email protected]: Views and opinions expressed are personal. Listener discretion is advised. 

Getting pregnant in one’s 40s should be an informed choice, says Dr Aswati Nair, Clinical Director & IVF specialist at Nova IVF, Rajouri Garden, Delhi. In this conversation with Jahnavi Sarma, Co-founder, Gen Seasoned, the IVF expert talks about making the right lifestyle choices early on to improve fertility in later years, and the options available as one enters their 40s, even after hitting menopause. She also has a message for men!Timestamps:02:18 Getting pregnant in one’s 40s07:18 Fertility options available for women in their 40s09:25 Pregnancy is possible after menopause10:07 Has IVF given a false sense of security to women?11:42 Treating a 49-year-old couple for fertility13:56 What the law says15:50 Lifestyle factors that affect fertility18:00 Managing lifestyle diseases during pregnancy in one’s 40s20:00 Beyond 50, male fertility also declines21:33 Like egg freezing, is sperm freezing possible?23:40 Maternal age more under focus than paternal age26:00 Paternal age can influence genetic defects27:03 Diabetes and male fertilityEmail: [email protected]: Views and opinions expressed are personal. Listener discretion is advised.

In conversation with Vandana Srivastava, the Founder-CEO of Zuva Life, who is supporting people in navigating midlife transitions and “reframing midlife as a season of growth, connection, and possibility.” She talks about turning mid-life “crisis” into a crossing, and redesigning the next 30 years of our lives with intention, as we gear up for a 100-year-life.Vandana also talks about Vanaprastha, in Hindu philosophy, and how it doesn’t necessarily mean retreating into the forest, but becoming a forest and sharing wisdom with others.Host Anuradha Varma, co-founder of Gen Seasoned, is a journalist and Mindset Coach.Follow Vandana Srivastava: LinkedInZuva Life Recommends: Reading ListEmail: [email protected]: 01:38 People are transitioning into mid-life earlier04:30 Starting Zuva Life; watching her parents ageing 06:50 Defining purpose 08:20 When the old maps fail, redesigning our life 11:09 Vanaprastha, becoming the forest15:15 Challenges of mid-life—empty-nesters, menopause, caregiving responsibilities, etc18:08 Ninety-year-old participant at the workshop20:40 The retirement age is not realistic23:51 “Seenagers” or “senior teenagers”25:15 “Just turned 60, but I’m not done”28:00 Corporate conversations around reframing retirement30:35 Book recommendationsDisclaimer: Views are personal. Listener discretion is advised. 

“Scrabble is my life, the rest is a game,” says 69-year-old Mohan Verghese Chunkath, retired IAS officer and national Scrabble champion many times over, in conversation with 15-year-old Suyash Manchali, himself a top-rated player. Their love for Scrabble shines through as they discuss words like “doomer”, “quoil”, “madafu”, and hizzoner, their rigour of practicing an hour daily, and sparring against players across age-groups in tournaments around the country and internationally. Both also advocate for recognising Scrabble as a professional sport.Chennai-based Mohan was the first player to represent India at the World Scrabble Championship held in 1999 at Melbourne, Australia. He also represented India in the World Scrabble Championship Tournaments in 2001, 2005 and 2016. Bengaluru-based Suyash has won many laurels, such as becoming the Under-12 world champion in WYSC 2019 (Malaysia), U-14 world champion in WYSC 2021 (Online), U-16 second runner-up in WYSC 2023 (Thailand), 10th place in WYSC 2023 (Thailand), U-16 world champion in WYSC 2024 (Sri Lanka), Runner-up of 2024 World Youth Scrabble Championship (Sri Lanka). He has also been the 2nd runner up at the Asia Youth Cup 2024 and U-14 runner-up at Asia Youth Cup 2022.For more information, visit: Scrabble Association of India Host Anuradha Varma, co-founder of Gen Seasoned, is a journalist and Mindset Coach. Email: [email protected]: 01:16 Mohan Chunkath’s introduction05:15 Suyash’s initiation into Scrabble06:23 Mohan’s initial days in Scrabble12:48 Probability vs playability23:11 Suyash on why chess scores over Scrabble25:28 Suyash’s preparation routine; never picked up a dictionary; online apps & tools27:50 Mohan on how Scrabble is a proprietary game, but needs to be treated as a professional sport30:40 On Nigel Richards, world Scrabble champion33:37 Mohan on Ganesh Ashirvadam, now retired, as superior to Nigel37:48 How the World Youth Championship works42:54 Mohan on evolution of dictionaries51:30 Suyash balancing Scrabble practice with homework51:42 Mohan on being active in the Scrabble circuit56:53 Studying and playing across generations01:01:05 The case for promoting Scrabble as a sportDisclaimer: Views are personal. Listener discretion is advised.

In conversation with Shubham Ramesh Vernekar, who was part of the team at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati that designed the game Flo, a deck-building card game inspired by ikigai. Flo won second place in Stanford Center on Longevity’s 2025 Design Challenge: Reimagining Education and Learning for Long Lives. The Japanese phrase Ikigai, which loosely translates to "the happiness of always being busy” relates to finding a purpose that fuels joy in one’s life.Interviewer Anuradha Varma is a journalist and Mindset Coach, and co-founder of Gen Seasoned.Get in touch at [email protected]:0:00 Introduction to Shubham Vernekar and Flo card game1:00 Shubham's Background in Product Design 3:00 The Flo project and why they decided to apply for the Stanford Design Challenge.6:00 Understanding longevity and well-being12:00 How information overload affects productivity in the current generation 15:00 Zen, the first product created by the team, which uses the Pomodoro technique for time management18:00 Flo card game design and focus24:00 Ikigai philosophy in Flo27:00 Market launch plansDisclaimer: Views are personal. Listener discretion is advised.