Growing Older Together | Facing Fears. Embracing Resilience.
by Lourdes Valtierra Dirden
Growing Older Together is a short-form podcast that explores the fears, turning points, and resilience of aging, with episodes under 15 minutes. Season One: Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow, looks at how earlier experiences continue to shape who we become. Season Two: Finding Strength in Our Fears, shares stories about fears, how it shows up in everyday life, how it keeps us quiet, and what it takes to speak about it in later life. From time to time, I share interviews with guests about their experiences of aging and the resilience they discovered along the way. Let’s keep growing older and wiser together.
Episodes
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S2 Ep 18 Why Your Vote Matters in 2026
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lourdes discusses why voting matters in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections and how government decisions can affect older adults and their families. She shares research on Americans' concerns about the country's future, addresses immigration enforcement and…
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S2 Ep 17 Growing Older While Caring for Aging Parents
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 17, Lourdes talks about what it can be like to care for aging parents while also getting older yourself. She discusses how caregiving can affect your time, energy, emotions, relationships, and the way you think about your own future. RESOURCES Pew Research Center…
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S2 Ep 16 When No One Is Listening
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 16, Lourdes talks about what it can feel like when you keep trying to speak and people stop listening, brush you off, or make you feel that what you have to say does not matter. She looks at how repeated dismissal can lead you to hold things back, question yourself, or...
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S2 Ep 15 - When Life Feels Like A Horror Story
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 15, Lourdes talks about the moments when life can suddenly feel frightening or out of control, whether it starts with a phone call, ongoing stress, not feeling heard, or a major change. She looks at what it can take to get through something you never expected to face…
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S2 Ep 14 – Underestimated At First Glance
Send us Fan Mail This episode contains explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. In Episode 14, Lourdes talks about being underestimated because of age and the assumptions people can make before they know anything about you. She shares ways to respond when someone questions your ability,...
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S2 Ep 13 – No Is Stronger Than You Think
Send us Fan Mail This episode contains explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. In Episode 13, Lourdes talks about why saying no can be difficult and how old habits can make it harder to set boundaries. She discusses the importance of recognizing your limits and making decisions that...
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S2 Ep 12 – Awareness Is Your First Defense
Send us Fan Mail This episode contains explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. In Episode 12, Lourdes talks about awareness as an important part of personal safety and how noticing early warning signs may help prevent a situation from becoming physical. She shares personal experiences...
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S2 EP 11 – Invisible with Age: Fighting Ageism
Send us Fan Mail This episode contains explicit language. Listener discretion is advised. In Episode 11, Lourdes talks about a form of discrimination many people may experience without recognizing it by name: ageism. Through stories from the community and a personal story from a friend, she...
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S2 EP 10 – Returning to the Mic
Send us Fan Mail After nearly a year away, Lourdes returns to the microphone in Episode 10 of Growing Older Together. She explains why she stepped away from the podcast when her mother became ill and talks about returning after her mother’s passing. Lourdes also shares what has changed and why…
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S2 EP 9 – Quiet Strength: The Power of Introverts
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 9, Lourdes explores the strengths that can come with being introverted. She talks about the need for quiet, the value of listening and observation, and why introverts do not need to become more outgoing to have strong relationships or make an impact. RESOURCES Billie...
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S2 EP 8 – Whispers of Regret: Women Finding Peace in Silence
Send us Fan Mail This episode contains explicit language and content. Listener discretion is advised. In Episode 8, Lourdes speaks with Lilia about living with physical limitations, learning to prioritize her own well-being, and making decisions that allowed her to live more on her own terms.…
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S2 EP 7 – Facing Financial Fears in Retirement
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 7, Lourdes talks about the financial fears that can come with retirement, including rising costs and the concern of outliving your savings. She looks at where these worries come from and discusses ways to better understand and prepare for the financial decisions that…
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S2 EP 6 – Addressing the Fear of Cognitive Decline
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 6, Lourdes discusses concerns about memory and cognitive decline that can become more noticeable as we age. She talks about misconceptions surrounding aging, the effect certain language can have on those fears, and simple ways to stay mentally engaged. RESOURCES…
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S2 EP 5 – Confronting Health Anxieties
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 5, Lourdes looks at the fear and worry that can come with changes in our health as we age. Through a listener’s story, she talks about what health anxiety can feel like and shares ways to respond when those worries become difficult to manage. RESOURCES Steve Maraboli...
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S2 EP 4 – Overcoming The Fear of Loneliness
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 4, Lourdes looks at the fear of loneliness and what can happen when we begin to feel cut off from other people. Through a listener’s story, she talks about companionship and the different ways people can begin rebuilding connection. RESOURCES Pets as Companions Human...
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S2 EP 3 – Handling The Fear of Becoming A Burden
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 3, Lourdes discusses a fear many older adults may have: becoming dependent on other people or feeling like a burden to those they love. She talks about planning ahead, communicating openly, and understanding the options available when more support may be needed....
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S2 EP 2 – Exploring The Fear of Aging
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 2, Lourdes looks at some of the concerns people may have about getting older, from maintaining independence to dealing with health changes and financial uncertainty. She talks about acknowledging those fears and taking practical steps to prepare for the issues that...
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S2 EP 1 – Why Fear?
Send us Fan Mail In the first episode of Season 2, Lourdes talks about fear and why it can stop us from speaking up, trying something new, or making decisions we want to make. She shares her own experience with fear of judgment and introduces Finding Strength in Our Fears, a season devoted to the...
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S1 EP 16 – Embracing the Past, Shaping the Future
Send us Fan Mail In the final episode of Season One, Lourdes looks back at the subjects and stories explored throughout Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow. She shares a personal story, talks about what the season meant to her, and thanks the listeners who contributed stories, questions, and...
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S1 EP 15 – Impacting The Younger Generation
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 15, Lourdes looks at why people from different generations do not always see things the same way. She talks about how age, upbringing, and life experiences can influence the way we communicate and how spending time with people from other generations can help us...
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S1 EP 14 – Strength and Healing Through Forgiveness
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 14, Lourdes talks about forgiveness and the difficulty of letting go of anger and resentment. Through personal experiences and listener stories, she explains why forgiveness does not mean excusing what happened and discusses ways to begin releasing the resentment we…
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S1 EP 13 – When Loss Echoes Through Time
Send us Fan Mail Send us a Text Message. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2291141/open_sms) In Episode 13, Lourdes shares a personal story about the death of her young cousin and the effect that loss had on her. She talks about how grief can stay with us over time and how losing...
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S1 EP 12 – Embracing New Hobbies and Skills
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 12, Lourdes shares what happened when she decided to try powerlifting later in life. She talks about working around problems with her knees, learning something completely new, and finding encouragement from the people she met along the way. RESOURCES Hobbies and…
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S1 EP 11 – Navigating Relationships and Perspectives
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 11, Lourdes talks about how earlier experiences of fear or rejection can affect relationships later in life. Through stories from Stephanie and Joe, she looks at trust, communication, listening, and what can change when we become more open about what we are feeling....
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S1 EP 10 – Navigating Uncertainty
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 10, Lourdes shares what it was like to face uncertainty while dealing with health concerns and difficult family situations. She talks about the self-doubt and fear that came with not knowing what would happen next and reflects on what helped her manage those feelings....
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S1 EP 9 – Echoes of Understanding
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 9, Lourdes looks at the difference between hearing someone and actually listening to them. Through listener stories, she talks about paying attention without immediately preparing a reply and how that change can improve the way we communicate with other people. LET'S...
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S1 EP 8 – Making New Connections
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 8, Lourdes explores what can happen when we open ourselves to new friendships or reconnect with someone we once knew. She shares listener stories about forming new bonds and renewing old ones, and talks about the companionship and support these relationships can bring....
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S1 EP 7 – Echoes of Silence
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 7, Lourdes discusses what it can be like when someone important is no longer part of your life. Using her own experience with her adult son, she talks about the emotions that can come with that absence and the ways she has learned to live with it. She also shares ideas...
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S1 EP 6 – Shadow of Regret
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 6, Lourdes looks at regret through a listener’s story about a difficult health decision and what happened afterward. She talks about how regret can stay with us, what it can teach us, and why taking care of ourselves sometimes begins with paying attention to the...
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S1 EP 5 – The Art of Apology
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 5, Lourdes discusses self-forgiveness and how difficult it can be to let go of the way we judge ourselves after painful or difficult experiences. She shares a personal story and talks about recognizing your own worth, showing yourself compassion, and learning not to…
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Light In The Shadows - Special Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, Lourdes talks about health problems people often keep private. Inspired by a friend facing a serious health condition, she also shares experiences from her own family and talks about the difference between hearing about someone else’s pain and living...
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S1 EP 4 – Unresolved Emotions
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 4, Lourdes talks about unresolved emotions and the effect they can have long after the original experience has passed. She shares her own reflections and discusses the importance of identifying those feelings, understanding where they began, and deciding what kind of...
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S1 EP 3 – Echoes of Resilience
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 3, Lourdes shares how losing her job in December 2022 forced her to face an unexpected change at a time when she thought her career was on steady ground. She talks about the emotions that followed and the challenge of returning to a job market where older professionals...
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S1 EP 2 – When The Past Knocks
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 2, Lourdes looks at why old memories can return unexpectedly and trigger worry, frustration, anger, or other strong reactions. She also shares what she learned while helping her aging parents and navigating family challenges, including how recognizing those reactions…
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S1 EP 1 – Introduction
Send us Fan Mail In this first episode of Growing Older Together, Lourdes Valtierra Dirden introduces the podcast and talks about how getting older has affected the way she sees the world and her relationships. She also introduces Season One, Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow, which looks…
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Trailer
Send us Fan Mail In this trailer for Growing Older Together, Lourdes Valtierra Dirden introduces the podcast and shares what listeners can expect from the show. Episodes explore how growing older affects family, friendships, relationships, and the way our past can influence the present. Lourdes...
About this show
Growing Older Together is a short-form podcast that explores the fears, turning points, and resilience of aging, with episodes under 15 minutes.
Season One: Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow, looks at how earlier experiences continue to shape who we become.
Season Two: Finding Strength in Our Fears, shares stories about fears, how it shows up in everyday life, how it keeps us quiet, and what it takes to speak about it in later life.
From time to time, I share interviews with guests about their experiences of aging and the resilience they discovered along the way.
Let’s keep growing older and wiser together.
Hosted by
Lourdes Valtierra Dirden