PODCAST · society
The Enlightened Cynic (Formerly Specifically for Seniors)
by Specifically for Seniors
Change is an integral part of growth, and as we progress, it becomes crucial to adapt and evolve. It is with great excitement that we announce the refocusing of our podcast, Specifically for Seniors. By refocusing the direction of the podcast, we invite individuals of all ages to join the conversation and embark on a lifelong journey of learning and connection. In this new direction, Specifically for Seniors, The Next Generation will not only cater to the interests of older adults but will also engage their children, grandchildren, and younger individuals who share a curiosity for life.
Episodes
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Accent, Profanity, The President and the Machines That Talk Back with Dr. Chris Montgomery
What does your voice give away before you've finished a sentence? Dr. Larry Barsh talks with Dr. Chris Montgomery, a dialectologist at the University of Sheffield, about the verdicts we reach in half a second — educated or backward, polished or rough, one of us or not from around here — and why...
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Failure to Treat: What American Medicine Won't Admit with Peter Kowey, MD
There is a particular kind of authority that comes only from having been inside something for fifty years — from having seen it at its best, trained its practitioners, published its science, and then watched it hollow itself out from within. Dr. Peter Kowey has that authority. He holds the…
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Becoming Martian with Dr. Scott Solomon
Coming soon
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RULE OF LAW 101 with Prof Alexandra Natapoff
THE ENLIGHTENED CYNIC Episode: The Rule of Law — What It Means, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do Host: Dr. Larry Barsh Guest: Professor Alexandra Natapoff, Harvard Law School EPISODE SUMMARY In this inaugural episode under its new name, The Enlightened Cynic welcomes Harvard Law Professor...
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"Fossils Against Fossil Fuels: Bill McKibben on Why Seniors Are Climate's Secret Weapon"
Specifically for Seniors • Guest: Bill McKibben About the GuestBill McKibben is a journalist, author of 20+ books, and professor at Middlebury College. He wrote the first major book on climate change in the 1980s and founded 350.org — the world's first global grassroots climate campaign — and…
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AI in the Doctor’s Office: Is Your Physician Being Replaced? | Featuring Dr. Adam Rodman
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a tool of the future—it’s already in the exam room. In this episode of Specifically for Seniors, host Dr. Larry Barsh sits down with Dr. Adam Rodman, a Harvard professor and internal medicine physician, to discuss how AI is fundamentally changing the way…
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"Our Patients Are More Frightened and Sicker Than Ever" with Dr. Robin Canada and Elizabeth Whidden
Host Dr. Larry Barsh sits down with two frontline Philadelphia healthcare providers to discuss the mounting health crisis driven by fear of immigration enforcement in immigrant communities. The conversation draws on a powerful New York Times op-ed the guests co-authored in February, titled "Our...
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You Can't Retire From Purpose - What 40 Years of Cardiology Taught Dr. Alan Rozanski About Living
You Can't Retire From Purpose Dr. Alan Rozanski on the Six Domains of Health and What It Really Means to Age Well In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Alan Rozanski — cardiologist, lifestyle medicine physician, professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a founding pioneer of...
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The Nazi and The Psychiatrist with Jack El-Hai - the book upon which the movie Nuremberg was based
In an era when American democracy faces unprecedented challenges and questions about authoritarianism have moved from the margins to the center of our political discourse, this conversation with author Jack El-Hai offers crucial historical perspective. The parallels between the events he…
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Cognitive Benefits of Engaging with Tech as You Age with Dr. Michael Scullin
The Digital Workout: Why Your Smartphone is a Shield Against Dementia In this episode of Specifically for Seniors, Dr. Larry Barsh sits down with Dr. Michael Scullin, a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University, to tackle a common frustration among the "Digital Pioneer"...
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Technology Made Gentle: A Senior’s Guide to AI with Dan Wilson
In this episode of the podcast Specifically for Seniors, host Dr. Larry Barsh sits down with technologist and author Dan Wilson to discuss how artificial intelligence can empower older adults. Dan shares that his inspiration for writing his book came after he successfully helped his mother fix…
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Getting Older Without Getting Old with David Cravit and Larry Wolf
In this episode of Specifically for Seniors, Dr. Larry Barsh welcomes David Cravit and Larry Wolf, co-authors of Super Aging: Getting Older without Getting Old and the Super Aging Workbook. Together they explore how aging can be reframed as a stage of opportunity rather than decline. Drawing on...
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Postcards to Voters with Tony the Democrat
Welcome to Specifically for Seniors! Today we’re delighted to introduce Tony McMullen, affectionately known as “Tony the Democrat.” His story is one of those rare grassroots adventures that begins small and blossoms into something extraordinary. \ Back in March of 2017, Tony invited just five...
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The Pen That Skewers Power: A Conversation with Steve Brodner
Editorial cartoons distill political complexity into a single, unforgettable image. By exaggerating flaws, contradictions, and absurdities, they make power visible—often more effectively than prose. In this episode of Specifically for Seniors, we sit down with the legendary Steve Brodner, whose...
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Addiction Doesn’t Retire: Substance Misuse and the Aging American with Dr. Lee Tannenbaum
In this episode of Specifically for Seniors, host Laurence I. Barsh sits down with Dr. Lee Tannenbaum, a physician and healthcare leader whose career has been devoted to improving addiction treatment across the lifespan. Together, they confront a growing but often invisible crisis: substance…
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Episode 108: Caroline's Cart with Drew Ann Long
Welcome to Specifically for Seniors, where today we explore the civic power of everyday objects and the people who dare to redesign them. Today’s guest didn’t start with a blueprint—she started with a daughter. Drew Ann Long is the creator of Caroline’s Cart, a revolutionary shopping cart…
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Episode 107: The Civic Firepower of Senior Activism at We the Seniors with Judy Loeb & Mary Mulvihill
Welcome to Specifically for Seniors, the podcast that celebrates the wisdom, wit, and willpower of older adults who refuse to sit quietly on the sidelines. Today’s episode is a rich opportunity to spotlight the civic firepower of senior activism and the strategic brilliance behind We the…
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Episode 106: Narcissism and National Harm with Dr. Jocelyn Sze
One day, Narcissus caught sight of his own reflection and thought, “Finally—someone who gets me.” Fast forward a few millennia, and Donald Trump, in a moment of mythological cosplay, gazed into the Capitol Reflecting Pool and saw not the dome of democracy, but the shimmering image of his own...
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Episode 105: The Serious Side of Laughing at Trump with Dr. Sophia McClennen
Join us on our Substack page (https://specificallyforseniors.substack.com)where satire meets substance and storytelling sparks civic engagement and where we comment several + times a week. Let’s keep the conversation sharp, smart, and unapologetically bold.In the August 14, 2025 episode, Larry...
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Episode 104: Memory Lane TV, calming videos for dementia management, with Alban Maino
I don’t usually invite a sponsor on to a podcast, but today I’m going to do just that because I think it's important for you to hear what my guest has to say about his product. Regular listeners to Specifically for Seniors realize that I have accepted a sponsor for the podcast and, hopefully, it...
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Episode 103: Medical Research in the Time of Trump with Stephen Spielberg, MD
With the appointment of Robert F Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Trump administration has systematically targeted the next generation of scientists and public health leaders. He has cut science funding to its lowest level in decades. More than 20,000 jobs were...
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Episode 102: "Thank You for Your Interest", a short film, with Ethan & Carmel Barsh
We’re going to take a break from politics and the voices of older adults on today’s podcast and talk with the younger generation that keeps us inspired.I was recently introduced to a compelling new voice in filmmaking, a bold young screenwriter and director whose creative vision and storytelling...
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Episode 101: Veteran's Administration lays off 80,000 Employees with Elizabeth Jamison
A Fact Sheet at whitehouse.gov is entitled President Donald J. Trump Keeps Promises to Our Veterans and Establishes New Center for Homeless Veterans. Fact Sheet...
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Episode 100: Senior Care and Trump's Budget with Nathan Boucher
A FACT CHECK at the White House website proclaims “President Trump will always a protect Social Security and Medicare.” It goes on to quote Elon Musk saying “The waste and fraud in entitlement spending — which is most of the federal spending is entitlements — so, that’s, like, the big one to...
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Episode 99: All Things Spaceflight with Astrophysicist Dr. Jonathan McDowell
A recent space tourism flight on the Blue Origin capsule featuring an all-female crew including Katy Perry and Gayle King sparked some controversy over whether it was a publicity stunt to promote Jeff Bezos’ space tourism business or whether it had some scientific purpose. We were curious about...
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Episode 98: The Loss of Press Freedom with Professor Rebecca Hamilton
A Free ranging discussion of freedom of the press.Dictators hate a free press. Victor Orbán in Hungary built his own media universe while simultaneously dismantling the free press. The Nazis smashed printing presses of opposition newspapers. One of Trump’s first actions was to dictate who would...
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Episode 97: Funding Cuts, Harmful Policies and Your Visit to National Parks with Alan Spears
A recent article in the Washington Post described the current administration's attempts to cancel leases for many National Park Service buildings saying that it could save taxpayers millions of dollars. This move came after the firing of about 1000 probationary workers.I wanted to learn more…
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The Silencing of the Voice of America with Steve Herman
I was 6 years old when Voice of America first broadcast during World War II. It was established in 1941 initially focused on countering Nazi and Japanese propaganda during World War II and later played a significant role during the Cold War broadcasting to communist countries. Very recently,...
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The Citizens' Climate Lobby with David Cain
The news that the Trump administration plans to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency's offices and the future implications of Trump's energy policies on the environment and climate led to my concern about how it will affect my children and grandchildren and yours. Because I didn't...
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The Constitutional Crisis of 2025 with Prof. Alexander Keyssar
One cannot turn on the news on TV or read a newspaper without hearing the words - Constitutional crisis. There's so much confusion about whether we are in a Constitutional Crisis or not, Professor Alexandra Keyssar rejoined the podcast to help us understand what a Constitutional crisis is and...
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ACTIONCAST Center for American Progress 3-5-2025
WE AT SPECIFICALLY FOR SENIORS WILL CONTINUE TO JOIN AS MANY GROUPS AS POSSIBLE, MONITOR THEIR APPEALS TO THE PUBLIC. AND BRING THEM TO YOU IN WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL SPECIFICALLY FOR SENIORS ACTION CASTS. WE WILL PRESENT THEIR VIDEOS, SUMMARIZE THEIR THOUGHTS AND PROVIDE IDEAS FROM THESE GROUPS AS…
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ACTION CAST Indivisible.org 3-1-2025
From Indivisible.org "The House and Senate are heading home for recess from March 15-23 -- and they are desperate to avoid you.Why? Because during the last recess, the few Republicans who dared to hold town halls got absolutely wrecked by their own constituents. People showed up. They demanded...
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Reclaiming Our Democracy with Sam Daley- Harris
There's an old Joke: What's the difference between ignorance and apathy? The answer: I don't know and I don't care. That pretty much sums up the way many of us feel right now. This podcast was recorded in mid- February, 2025 about a month after the inauguration of Donald Trump. In the few short...
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Survivng the Survivor with Joel and Karmela Waldman
To be honest I should have titled this podcast -Surviving the Podcast Guests.Tune in and you'll understand why I said this. Joel and Karmela Waldman are mother and son co-hosts of their True Crime podcast called Surviving the Survivor. Joel worked most recently as a Washington, D.C.-based...
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A Conversation with Bob Levey
We've just been through an historic election and so we asked Bob Levey, a prize winning journalist who has covered the Washington scene since the Johnson administration to talk with us about it. We talked about Bob's early years at The Washington Post and his currect column on the Senior Beacon...
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Beyond Babi Yar with John Pollick
This podcast was recorded during the part of the year in which the holiest of Jewish holidays takes place. It seemed appropriate to take some time to remember those of us who were lost during the Holocaust, but a part of the Holocaust many of us know little about, This podcast contains a film by...
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Making It Easier for Older Americans to Voter with Attorney Joan Bondareff
According to Senator Bob Casey, the ranking member of the special committee on aging , "The right to vote is one of the fundamental pilars of our democracy, but that right is under attack for millions of older Americans across the nation. Attempts to limit voting locations, the length of early...
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Preventing Senior Moments with Dr. Stan Goldberg
We all get them - those momentary lapses when we can't recall someone's name, why we came into a room or where we left the car keys. We call them senior moments, but are these moments inevitable or limited to seniors? We'll learn more about these senior moments and how to work through them with…
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Culinary Characters Unlocked - a new podcast with David Page
My guest today on Specifically for Seniors is Emmy winner, international acclaimed journalist, executive producer, food and travel lover, and creator of the beloved groundbreaking show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, David Page takes us deep into the world of chefs, restaurateurs, and everything...
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A Conversation About Mental and Physiological Aging with Ben Katz and Pamela Teaster
My guests today on Specifically for Seniors caught my attention in an Opinion piece in the Washington Post. Professors Ben Katz and Pamela Teaster urged “an objective, scientific conversation about mental and physiological aging - both for our leaders and for the rapidly aging populations around...
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Jews, Magic and the Holocaust
My guest today on Specifically for Seniors is a practicing magician, but his story goes way beyond slight of hand and deceptions. Richard Hatch holds two graduate degrees in physics, but found it easier to apparently violate ther laws of physics than to discover them. Dick has always had a...
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Real Talk About Hospital Stays with Monique Nugent, MD, MPH
An unfortunate fact of life at our age is that sooner or later we are going to face a hospital admission whether due to an illness, an injury or pain, and that can be confusing and frightening. Many of us need help in preparing for an Emergency Room and/or hospital visit. Once in the hospital...
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A Rabbi, A Lawyer and a Chiropracter Walk Into a Comedy Contest,,,, with Bob Alper
My guest today on Specifically for Seniors is a practicing Rabbi and stand-up comedian. Bob Alper has been seen on Good Morning America, Showtime, The BBC, CNN and was featured on Extra, TV’s top rated entertainment program, immediately following a segment on the size of Jennifer Lopez’s butt.…
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The Longevity Secret with Noelle Nelson
I have a friend who just celebrated his 100th birthday. He was a bombadier during World War II. He is in great physical ad mental health, has written a play about his experiences and is trying to cast that play at the senior residence he considers home. This got me wondering if there was a way…
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From Detroit Cop to Filmmaker with Chad Richardson
One of the best parts of doing this podcast is that it gives me the opportunity to meet and talk with some remarkable people who've done exceptional things after retirement. Chad Richardson was a Detroit police officer who gave himself the gift of filmmaking when he retired from law enforcement.…
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A Conversation with Maggie Scarf
Maggie Scarf is a former visiting fellow at the Whitney Humanities Center, Yale University, and a fellow of Jonathan Edwards College, Yale University. She was for many years a Contributing Editor to The New Republic and a member of the advisory board of the American Psychiatric Press. Maggie is…
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Services for Older Adults in Massachusetts with Elissa Sherman, PhD
There is an organization in Massachusetts that is focused on caring for an aging population, that develops services that meet older adults’ needs and preferences and advocates for us. I had not heard of this organization before so we invited Elissa Sherman, the President of LeadingAge...
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The Grand Canyon Run with Rick Mater
Rick Mater is a longtime runner and Emmy-nominated TV executive living in Los Angeles. He was born in Pinner, England, and grew up in California, New Jersey, and Munich, Germany. A miler in high school, he lettered in cross-country in college and has run the Grand Canyon twice as a cardiac…
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Living with a disability with Lisa Iezzoni, MD
As many of us age we develop physical problems, we have difficulty seeing, hearing and mobility. We require a walker, wheelchair or motorized device to get around. And we feel that our physicians don’t understand our problems. So we asked Dr. Lisa Iezzoni to be a guest on the podcast to help us...
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The challenges of a long life with MT Connolly
On today's podcast, it is my distinct honor to introduce MT Connolly to those of you who have never had the privilege of meeting her. M.T. Connolly is a leading national expert on elder justice and a MacArthur “genius” grant awardee. In issuing the award, the foundation said Connolly has “…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Change is an integral part of growth, and as we progress, it becomes crucial to adapt and evolve. It is with great excitement that we announce the refocusing of our podcast, Specifically for Seniors. By refocusing the direction of the podcast, we invite individuals of all ages to join the conversation and embark on a lifelong journey of learning and connection. In this new direction, Specifically for Seniors, The Next Generation will not only cater to the interests of older adults but will also engage their children, grandchildren, and younger individuals who share a curiosity for life.
HOSTED BY
Specifically for Seniors
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Enlightened Cynic (Formerly Specifically for Seniors) have?
The Enlightened Cynic (Formerly Specifically for Seniors) currently has 126 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Enlightened Cynic (Formerly Specifically for Seniors) about?
Change is an integral part of growth, and as we progress, it becomes crucial to adapt and evolve. It is with great excitement that we announce the refocusing of our podcast, Specifically for Seniors. By refocusing the direction of the podcast, we invite individuals of all ages to join the...
How often does The Enlightened Cynic (Formerly Specifically for Seniors) release new episodes?
The Enlightened Cynic (Formerly Specifically for Seniors) publishes regularly with 126 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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The Enlightened Cynic (Formerly Specifically for Seniors) is created and hosted by Specifically for Seniors.
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