The Senior Zone

This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry brings you a powerful blend of insight, inspiration, and celebration.We kick things off with The Beacon Newspapers’ May 2026 edition—helping you stay informed and ahead of the curve.Then, longtime friend Dr. Valeria Edmonds joins us to share wisdom from her book Grow Through What You Go Through, reminding us that life’s challenges can become our greatest teachers.And in Segment Two, we honor Denise Parker, recipient of the 2025 AARP DC Andrus Award, for her outstanding service and impact in the community.Plus: Birthdays of the Week, Dear Grave Woman, and the Later Life Lowdown—your go-to for resources across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.🎧 Listen on demand wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

What does it truly mean to stay in control of your life—especially when it comes to your healthcare and housing decisions? This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry brings you a powerful and practical conversation focused on planning with purpose.We begin with Legal Counsel for the Elderly attorneys Holly Eaton and Lisa Brown as they walk us through essential life planning documents and how to ensure your voice is heard when it matters most. Lastly, we explore real housing solutions—from home sharing to counseling services—that can help seniors remain stable, independent, and empowered.Segment Highlights: • Advance care planning & healthcare decision-making • Housing support, home sharing & financial stabilitySignature Features: • Weekly Vitamin: “Peace comes from preparation” • Later Life Lowdown (DC, MD, NoVA resources) • Birthdays of the WeekListen On Demand: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

Fraud is evolving—but so are the tools to stop it. This week on The Senior Zone, we bring together top experts on the front lines of protection to help you stay one step ahead. 🎙️ Overview (What This Episode Is About) In recognition of Protect Week 2026 (April 20–24), host Shawn Perry leads a powerful, fast-paced series of conversations focused on protecting older adults from fraud, scams, and financial exploitation. Featuring voices from federal agencies, law enforcement, and state leadership, this episode delivers real-world insight and practical strategies you can use right now. 💡 Segment Highlights (What You’ll Learn) ✔️ How scammers are targeting older adults in 2026—and what’s changed ✔️ Red flags that signal fraud before it’s too late ✔️ What the Securities and Exchange Commission is doing to protect investors ✔️ Inside the Federal Bureau of Investigation response to financial crimes ✔️ Resources available through the Maryland Department of Aging and Maryland Insurance Administration ✔️ How YOU can protect yourself, your family, and your community ⭐ Signature Features (What Makes This Episode Special) 🎯 A special Protect Week edition with four expert guests in one episode 🎯 Actionable advice—not just awareness, but real protection strategies 🎯 Shawn’s signature delivery—real talk, real truth, and real-life application 🎯 A powerful reminder: When we work together, we don’t just respond—we prevent. 📣 Access & Call-To-Action If you or someone you love could benefit from this information, don’t keep it to yourself—share this episode today. 📞 You can always contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network at 877-908-3360 🌐 Visit: aarp.org/fraud 🎧 The Senior Zone Podcast is now available on demand on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

 What happens when you stop delaying—and start deciding? Overview: This week on The Senior Zone, we’re tackling two critical areas that directly impact your quality of life after 50: housing stability and healthcare planning. Segment Highlights: • Johanna Shreve (DC Office of the Tenant Advocate) breaks down tenant rights, protections, and what seniors need to know to feel secure at home• Donna Smith (Compassion & Choices) discusses National Healthcare Decisions Day and why advance care planning matters now more than ever Signature Features: 🎂 Birthdays of the Week 💌 Dear Grave Woman with Joelle Simone 🌟 Later Life Lowdown (DC, MD, NoVA resources + BenefitsCheckUp.org) Access / Call-to-Action: Listen live Monday at 10am on WYCB 1340AM or stream at www.MySpiritDC.com Podcast available after 11am on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

🎯 Hook 700 episodes strong—and still moving with purpose. This milestone edition of The Senior Zone is all about protecting what you’ve built and preparing for what’s ahead.🧭 Overview Host Shawn Perry celebrates the 700th broadcast with a powerful, forward-looking conversation centered on financial protection, digital safety, and staying informed in today’s evolving world.🔑 Segment Highlights • Margaret Foster (The Beacon Newspapers) — April 2026 insights for older adults • Tony Salazar (Maryland Dept. of Labor) — Protecting your finances & avoiding scams • Noah O’Ryan (AARP / OATS) — Staying safe and confident in today’s digital world✨ Signature Features • Weekly Vitamin: “You are not behind… you are seasoned.” • Birthdays of the Week • Dear Grave Woman (Joel Simone) • Later Life Lowdown (DC, MD, VA resources)🎧 Listen & Stay Connected Catch The Senior Zone every Monday from 10–11am EST on WYCB 1340AM or stream live at www.MySpiritDC.com.Podcast available after 11am on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

Scams are evolving—and so must we. This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry breaks down housing scams targeting older adults with Legal Counsel for the Elderly’s Derrick Dyer, then shifts to a powerful conversation on dignity and end-of-life choice with Compassion & Choices CEO Kevin Díaz. Plus, your Weekly Vitamin,  and more.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

 This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry opens up two powerful conversations that impact how we live, age, and thrive. First, we break the silence around urinary incontinence—what causes it, why it’s more common than you think, and most importantly, what can be done about it. Medical expert Aleece Fosnight joins us with insight, clarity, and solutions. Then, we honor and support those who served. Maryland’s Secretary of Veterans & Military Families, Colonel Ed Rothstein (U.S Army Ret.), shares how the state is strengthening services, programs, and pathways for veterans and their families. Plus—your Weekly Vitamin, community resources in the Later Life Lowdown, and more. Because on The Senior Zone—we don’t just age… we evolve. Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

 Fraud and scams targeting older adults are evolving—and staying informed is one of the best defenses we have.On this episode of The Senior Zone, host Shawn Perry begins a special series leading up to Protect Week 2026 (April 20–24) with AARP Maryland.First, Karen Morgan of AARP Maryland joins the show to explain the mission behind Protect Week and why protecting older adults from fraud is more important than ever.Then, Ted Myerson, AARP Maryland Volunteer and Legislative Advocate, shares how scams actually work, the red flags to watch for, and practical ways families can protect themselves.Plus: Birthdays of the Week, Dear Grave Woman, and the Later Life Lowdown with resources for seniors across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

This week on The Senior Zone, host Shawn Perry explores the power of momentum in life after 50.In recognition of National Kidney Month, Shawn speaks with Mike Spigler of the American Kidney Fund about why kidney disease often develops silently and why awareness and early screening are so important.Later, Shawn shares a personal reflection titled “Momentum: How to Keep Moving Once You’ve Started,” exploring how small, consistent steps can transform goals into lasting progress.Plus: • Birthdays of the Week • Dear Grave Woman with Joelle Simone • Later Life Lowdown — news, resources, and community updates across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

March brings longer days—and deeper conversations. This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry explores awareness and action in later life.We begin with The Beacon Newspapers’ March issue, followed by an important conversation for National Problem Gambling Awareness Month with Jaime Costello of the National Council on Problem Gambling.In Segment Two, Shawn shares a personal reflection: “From Waiting to Walking: The Power of One Move.”Plus: Birthdays of the Week, Dear Grave Woman, and the Later Life Lowdown.Because aging forward requires awareness—and movement.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry explores the power of participation and the cost of waiting.First, Rhonda Cunningham Holmes and Peter Rankin of Legal Counsel for the Elderly break down how DC residents can influence real decisions through performance oversight hearings.In Segment Two, Shawn delivers a reflective conversation on waiting—what it protects, what it delays, and what it may be costing you.Plus: Birthdays of the Week, Dear Grave Woman with Joelle Simone, and the Later Life Lowdown.Because your voice still matters. And your move still counts.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

What does strength really look like as we age?This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry guides listeners through two powerful conversations about truth, resilience, and redefining independence after 50. Dementia care expert Lisa Skinner offers clarity and real-world tools for families navigating cognitive change, while age-equity advocate Ashton Applewhite shares a deeply personal reflection on surgery, balance, and embracing life with a cane.Plus, highlights from The Beacon Newspapers, birthdays of the week, Dear Grave Woman, and your Later Life Lowdown—because aging forward means staying informed, supported, and connected.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

This episode of The Senior Zone centers on connection, purpose, and what it truly means to age forward with intention.This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry opens the hour with a moment of reflection and encouragement, reminding listeners that growth doesn’t stop with age—it simply takes new shape.In Segment One, we explore the power of community with WISE Connect, an intergenerational initiative focused on reducing isolation and strengthening meaningful connections as we age.Segment Two widens the lens with journalist Richard Eisenberg, offering thoughtful perspective on work, money, purpose, and the realities of life after 50—without hype or fear, just clarity and honesty.The episode closes with listener favorites: Birthdays of the Week, the reflective advice segment “Dear Grave Woman” featuring Joel Simone, and the Later Life Lowdown—fresh news, resources, and announcements you can actually use.The Senior Zone—where aging forward means staying connected, grounded, and engaged.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

What does it really mean to take care of your heart—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—as you age? This episode of The Senior Zone opens February with clarity, compassion, and community.Host Shawn Perry kicks off National Heart Month with meaningful conversation, practical insight, and a reminder that every chapter of life still deserves care, intention, and joy.In this episode:📰 The Beacon Newspapers — Margaret Foster, Editor of The Beacon, joins us for a look inside the February 2026 issue and the stories shaping life after 50.🫀 National Heart Month — Dr. Yolandra Hancock, physician and American Heart Association board member, helps us understand why heart health matters now more than ever—and what we can actually do about it.🌸 Senior of the Month — A heartfelt conversation with longtime listener and supporter Earlene Smith McClain, as we turn the mic around and give her the flowers she’s earned.Plus, our signature weekly features:🎂 Birthdays of the Week🪦 Dear Grave Woman with Joel Simone🗞️ Later Life Lowdown — timely news, resources, and community announcements🎧 The Senior Zone airs Mondays from 10–11am EST on WYCB 1340AM in Washington, DC. 📱 Stream live at MySpiritDC.com or listen on demand wherever you get your podcasts.If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who’s still becoming—just like you.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

On Episode 690 of The Senior Zone, host Shawn Perry brings clarity and encouragement to the 50-plus community with two timely conversations focused on informed living and personal empowerment.The show opens with a plain-language breakdown of key federal policy changes now taking effect in 2026. Senior Attorney Swapna Yeluri-Ricks and Staff Attorney Emily Ford from Legal Counsel for the Elderly explain how these updates may impact public benefits, health-related programs, and everyday decision-making for DC seniors.In the second segment, author and global speaker Laura Brennan Ballet shifts the focus to mindset, movement, and renewal. Drawing from her book The Science of Empowerment and her J3=E Formula, she reminds listeners that growth, energy, and purpose remain available at every stage of life.The episode wraps up with Birthdays of the Week, the weekly “Dear Grave Woman” segment featuring Joel Simone, and the Later Life Lowdown—bringing timely news and community resources you can use.The Senior Zone is the DMV’s #1 weekly radio program—now streaming on demand.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

Advocacy isn’t just about policy—it’s about quality of life, peace of mind, and aging with dignity.On this episode of The Senior Zone, host Shawn Perry presents a powerful, quarterly all-AARP broadcast focused on what matters most to adults 50+ in 2026.In Segment One, Shawn is joined by Sara Westrick, State Advocacy Director for AARP Maryland, to discuss the organization’s priorities for more than 800,000 members statewide—supporting family caregivers, strengthening long-term care, promoting brain health, addressing rising utility costs, and protecting older adults from fraud and financial exploitation.Segment Two continues the conversation with Louis Davis Jr., State Director of AARP DC, who shares what advocacy, protection, and opportunity look like for older adults living in the District.The show wraps with Birthdays of the Week, the newest weekly advice segment “Dear Grave Woman”, and the Later Life Lowdown—your go-to source for timely news, resources, and community announcements.📻 Airs Mondays, 10–11am EST on WYCB 1340AM (Washington, DC) 🌐 Stream live at MySpiritDC.com 🎧 Podcast now available on demandThank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

This episode originally aired live on WYCB 1340AM on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 10:00am EST. Living Longer. Living Wiser. Living Well.On this episode of The Senior Zone with Shawn Perry, the DMV’s #1 weekly radio program for adults 50+, we kick off 2026 with two essential conversations about aging with dignity, access to services, and intentional financial planning.In Segment One, Shawn Perry sits down with Charon P.W. Hines, Executive Director of the DC Department of Aging & Community Living (DACL), for the first quarterly update of the year. They discuss programs, protections, and community-based resources available to older adults in Washington, DC, and how seniors can stay informed, connected, and supported as they age.In Segment Two, the focus turns to financial planning and end-of-life readiness. Ricardo Thomas, Financial Consultant and President of Thomas-Waddell & Associates, and a leader with Compassion & Choices, shares insight on asset protection, reducing stress for families, and aligning financial decisions with personal values.Also featured: • Birthdays of the Week • The weekly advice segment “Dear Grave Woman” with Joel Simone • The Later Life Lowdown, delivering senior-focused news, programs, and announcements across DC, Maryland, and Virginia🎙️ The Senior Zone has served the 50+ community since 2012, delivering trusted conversations on aging well, senior advocacy, health, finances, caregiving, and community engagement.📻 Live Radio: WYCB 1340AM (Mondays, 10–11am ET) 💻 Stream Live: MySpiritDC.com 🎧 Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & iHeartRadio.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. 

Welcome to Episode 687 of The Senior Zone.In this special New Year episode, host Shawn Perry reflects on the journey, purpose, and evolving mission of The Senior Zone — while setting the tone for what listeners can expect in 2026 and beyond.Originally aired on WYCB 1340AM, this episode speaks directly to adults 50+ who are committed to living with intention, staying informed, and embracing what’s possible in the next chapter of life.Whether you’ve been listening for years or you’re discovering The Senior Zone for the first time, this episode marks a fresh beginning — and an open invitation to grow, thrive, and move forward together.🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations, insights, and inspiration.Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow.