Episode 113: How to end ageism with Ashton Applewhite (Re-Release) - Magnificent Midlife

Episode 113: How to end ageism with Ashton Applewhite (Re-Release)

Here’s another gem from the podcast archives in our summer season. Ashton Applewhite is an author, speaker and anti-ageism activist. I discovered her work about six years ago and have been quoting her daily ever since. Ashton got a standing ovation when she did a main stage Ted talk called Let’s end ageism. She was invited to speak at the UN. Her book is amazing: This Chair Rocks, A Manifesto Against Ageism. She’s my ultimate mentor when it comes to everything I now believe about ageing and gendered ageism.

In this amazing interview we talk about:

  • How Ashton never had a life plan or knew what she wanted to be
  • Why we worship youth in Anglo-Saxon cultures
  • The lack of products and services for older people
  • How we often don’t like to identify as being in midlife or older
  • How facing the ageing monsters is useful
  • How fears about ageing are totally out of proportion to reality
  • Our attitudes towards ageing affect how we age
  • The U-Curve of Happiness
  • How midlife is a time of reckoning
  • How ageism starts between our ears
  • How we need to be more generous towards each other and ourselves
  • When we compete to stay young we reinforce ageism, sexism and the patriarchy
  • How raising consciousness about ageing and ageism is key
  • Why we should be able to compete for 100% of the seats at any table
  • How to stop reinforcing the shame associated with ageing
  • Being aware of intersectionality when considering prejudice
  • The importance of language relating to age
  • Ashton’s knees and not blaming non-age-related issues on age
  • Continuing the movement

And more!

Find out more about Ashton:

Ashton’s website: thischairrocks.com

Ashton’s book: This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism

Watch Ashton’s Ted Talk:

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