The Grands Club

There is a growing body of scientific research that highlights the positive impacts of companion animals –especially dogs and cats –on our well-being and that of our families. Our pets contribute to mental and emotional health, promote physical activity, social interaction, and even keep our brains fired! AND they can even help us live longer by reducing our stress levels and keeping US exercised! SOOOO …What IF… one day… our beloved pets could live longer healthier lives and still be with us in our ripe old age? Dr. Kate Creevy, a Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine, joins Kathy to discuss the Dog Aging Project and potential benefits to canine and humankind.

Joining Kathy on today's episode of The Grands Club is Fannie Mutchko, a remarkable and inspiring grandmother and great grandmother who recently celebrated her…drum roll… 100th birthday dancing away --- yes! dancing and having the time of her life! This incredible milestone was made possible by the two knee replacements she had in her 90’s! Also Joining the conversation is her surgeon, Dr. Harlan Levine, a doc at Hackensack University Medical Center, and Fannie’s daughter Diane Wanamaker. Fannie shares some great life lessons and inspires us all to keep moving!

Watch out Grands--scams are rampant! During 2023, over $10 billion was stolen nationwide due to scams. 2.6 million consumers were hit hard and many experienced financial devastation, emotional and physical pain, and even SHAME that comes with being a victim of a scammer… Whether it’s a phone call from someone claiming to be the IRS, an online shopping deal that sounds too good to be true, or even a new friend asking for help in an online romance, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated — and they’re hitting older adults –yes, us Grands --especially hard. Amy Nofziger is the Director of Fraud Victim Support at AARP. Amy has spent years working to help people recognize and avoid scams. She joins The Grands Club conversation to share her knowledge on what’s happening in the world of fraud, and, most importantly, how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from falling victim to deceptive schemes.

Julie and Darrell Parsons are two amazing grandparents and trailblazers. Both have had busy lives and careers in addition to being professional musicians with a 6-year stint in Vienna, Austria. Zoom ahead, and they are the proud grandparents of six and join Kathy to share their journey of picking up their roots and starting over just to be near their grands.

Navigating the Joys and Challenges of Being a Grandparent Today with Jane Isay by Kathy Bernard

Joining The Grands Club is Scott Turow, a former lawyer and best-selling author. His books have been translated into more than forty languages, have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into movies and television projects – wow! The greatest WOW, however, is that he’s also a grandfather –and joins me to talk about lessons learned through the decades and legacies to impart to his grandkids… as well as a glimpse into his latest book, Presumed Guilty, a sequel to Presumed Innocent, the book that redefined the legal thriller and served as the basis for Apple TV+’s most-watched drama series ever!

Bryant Johnson’s name may sound familiar. Not only is he a certified master fitness trainer by the U.S. military among MANY other titles, but for years he personally trained Supreme Court justices, in particular, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg called Bryant “the most important person” in her life. Bryant is the author of a terrific book aptly titled: The RBG Workout and joined Kathy to talk about the importance of getting and keeping in shape in order to keep up with the grandchildren!

Al Roker is an American morning icon – he’s the guy you probably have coffee with each day, catch up on the weather (find out what’s going on in your neck of the woods!), have a few great laughs, and generally just gets the day off to a terrific start—well, mine anyway! Al Roker joins me on The Grands Club Podcast. As usual, he’s one busy guy! With his chef/daughter Courtney, Al has recently released a charming cookbook filled to the brim with his family’s legacy and comfort food recipes - aptly titled “Al Roker’s Recipes to Live by”. AND the icing on Al’s cake is that he’s a newly minted grandfather to a beautiful baby girl named Sky! I hope you’ll enjoy ‘cuz he sure made my day.

David Kwong is a professional magician, TED Talk influencer, author, and a New York Times crossword constructor. He’s a graduate of Harvard having studied the Golden Age of Magic. David was the head magic consultant for the movie hit “Now You See Me” and the secret code adviser on NBC’s “Blindspot.” David Kwong is the author of the newly released book, “How to Fool Your Parents!” (Kathy suggested that he add “and Your Grandparents” to the title). This book will surely dazzle your grands!

Grandparents are often the storytellers in families, sharing memories, lessons, and wisdom with younger generations. And as many can attest, life and relationships can be complicated. What “if” you rekindle an old relationship, rediscover not only great chemistry but the fact that you both are political polar opposites? Could the solution be to simply have civil conversations? Joining me are two incredible talents behind the Off-Broadway play Still: playwright Lia Romeo and one of the show’s stars, Mark Moses. Lia is a sought after playwright who also teaches creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mark Moses, who co-stars with Melissa Gilbert, has a huge acting resume on stage and screen including Mad Men and Desperate Housewives. “Still” is a funny yet heart-wrenching story for any Grand (or anyone for that matter) who has ever wondered “what if?”

Erin Dickins is an award-winning recording artist and founding member of The Manhattan Transfer-- a group that launched onto the music scene in the 1970’s, gained a cult-like following and played before thousands in sold out venues. As a singer, producer, performer, and cookbook author… Erin (known as TuTu by her Grands) has sure blazed some trails for her grandchildren!

There are the Grands and there are also the Greats—people --other than grandparents --who play a VERY special role in the life of a child. Susan Silver, is truly great in so many ways – as was one of the first female TV comedy writers on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bob Newhart, and the Partridge Family, she has blazed trails for future generations of female writers. Susan joins me to chat about her journey as a Great to a precious little girl.