What if the most damaging thing about aging isn’t the physical changes — it’s the story you’ve been told about it?
Ande Lyons, host of the podcast Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, joins Greg for a wide-ranging conversation about ageism in its many forms: institutional, societal, and the kind we’ve internalized so deeply we don’t even notice it anymore.
From retirement myths to gendered medical treatment, from intergenerational community-building to the quiet courage it takes to age out loud and proud — this episode challenges the default narrative and offers a more honest, energizing one in its place.
You can also listen to the audio here. Also available on Spotify and Apple
Prefer reading? Get the episode transcript here:
About Ande Lyons
Ande Lyons is an entrepreneur, podcaster, and community builder based in Westford, Massachusetts. Since 1992, she’s been self-employed — launching businesses, mentoring startup founders, and most recently building a thriving intergenerational community for indie podcasters she calls the Pod Garden.
Her podcast, Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, explores what’s possible when we stop letting age define our limits.
In This Episode
- Why so much of what we believe about aging comes from borrowed narratives — and how to start rewriting them
- The real cost of retirement: a WHO study showed societies paying billions when people lose purpose and stop engaging
- Gendered ageism in medicine: how women’s symptoms are routinely dismissed or attributed to age
- Why intergenerational connection matters, and how Ande built a monthly in-person community that draws people from across New England
- The patronizing language older adults hear constantly — and how to push back with grace
- Advanced directives: why having that conversation before a crisis is an act of self-respect
- Aging out loud and proud: what it costs to hide your age, and what it frees when you stop
Resources Mentioned
Rewire, Don’t Retire by Jerry Sittser — a book with guided questions to help you discover what fuels your purpose at this stage of life.
Ande’s blog post on healthcare and ageism (including a downloadable list of tests to request at your annual appointment):
dontbecagedbyyourage.com
The Pod Garden — Ande’s community for indie podcasters (in-person in New England, with a Zoom option).
AARP’s advance directive template — Each state has its own version and it includes space for clarifying statements beyond the standard yes/no questions.
Connect with Ande Lyons
Podcast: Don’t Be Caged By Your Age
Website: dontbecagedbyyourage.com
LinkedIn: Ande Lyons
TikTok: @andelyons
About the Host
I, Greg Cox, have been working in the wellness space for 20+ years and was a chef for 25 before that, often creating health meals for restaurants and as a private chef. I created the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle Podcast to empower women to challenge the limitations society places on them as they age.
I believe in science without outsourcing intuition. In prevention over treatment. And in the radical act of remaining visible, engaged, and fully expressed at every age.
Connect with Me
If you want semi-regular weekly insights into how to live this way, sign up for my missives titled Reality Check Radar.
Find me on
Subscribe to the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle Podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Keep the Rebellion Going
Sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is stop accepting limits that were never yours to begin with. Your future self will thank you for refusing to settle for “this is just how it is.”
If you’re ready to take your health to the next level and want support that actually fits your body and life, book a free discovery call and let’s talk it through.
Have a question, a topic you want explored, or a belief about aging you’re ready to challenge? Email Greg at gregory@rebelliouswellnesslifestyle.com
Got a health win or transformation story to share? I want to hear it. Connect with me on social media and let’s celebrate your rebellious progress.
This episode is part of the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle movement about questioning conventional wisdom and refusing to live by limitations that don’t actually have to exist.
For more paradigm-shifting conversations, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and explore past episodes at RebelliousWellnessOver50.com/podcast
If this podcast resonates with you, please leave a review. It helps more women find this message.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment plan.