Support OURGENPOD
You can also make it a monthly donation on the payment page.
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If you're having trouble, contact us at info@ourgenpod with your phone number and we'll get back to you. You can also send an urgent message via the chat feature in the lower left.
Why do we do this?
We started “talkin’ ‘bout Our Generation,” now OURGENPOD, because after many decades of being productive and paying our bills, like many of you, we hit the wall of "Ageism," (something we'll be talking about in our next episode). The phone stopped ringing. Our skills were no longer valued by new, younger employers. We still needed to make a living -- we can't retire just yet.
Our predicament -- being "pushed out to pasture" -- gave us the idea for this podcast. There are more than 75 million Americans over 55, many in the same boat. Even friends who are financially stable are feeling irrelevant and overlooked. We still care, we have a lot to offer, and we all need a purpose, something on the horizon to keep us getting up every day. We've also been among the age group most isolated by the pandemic. Many have lost partners, friends and loved ones -- there is a tragic, unspoken, unacknowledged undertow of isolation, loneliness and depression out there. We know from research that such feelings can actually shorten our lifespan. So, we came up with this idea of creating a lively virtual community, a place to belong, connect, communicate -- an ongoing conversation to remind us of who we were, all the good things we did, how we got here, who we still are . . . and how we can make things better. A place to be part of something meaningful.
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That is OURGENPOD.
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We realized that there is almost no programming that takes our demographic seriously, even though we represent a major market, with plenty of time on our hands. We want to fill that gap. We want it to be fun, uplifting, and intelligent -- but also a bit irreverent. We want to shake things up, share stimulating ideas, have thought-provoking conversations with fascinating people. We know that as a society we face some daunting challenges, and we are seeking solutions -- not just ranting and raving and pointing fingers.
We turned to podcasting because it's a perfect merger of our talents and experience. But it's not easy, doing this with just two of us, and producing a podcast costs money: about $2,500 a month and climbing (like everything else) for hosting services, online applications fees, recording equipment and audio processing, editing, transcriptions, and promotion . . . not to mention our own time and overhead costs. To do it right, it's virtually a full time job, but rather than making money, we're paying it out. Still, we keep at it because we believe passionately in our purpose.
Really, the main reason we do this is because, happily, we're building a growing group of loyal listeners, and they're telling us there is a real need for this kind of podcast. Each positive comment, each note of thanks, gives us the motivation to "keep on keepin' on." (We invite you to add your voice to the conversation on the "comment" page).
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See for yourself: these are just a few of the encouraging words from some guests and listeners that make it all worthwhile:
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"Julian and Rob provide such a great service for the 55 Plus
demographic. It is so under-served with good, cool, hip information
and opportunities, and they do just that.”
Michael Shrieve
Musician, Drummer for Santana at Woodstock ‘69
Member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Guest on Episode 9
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“The most recent episode of the podcast really knocked it out of the park.
Dr. Shrand’s cure for incivility is indeed an excellent prescription for some of what ails our society. Julian’s interviewing skills are excellent. He truly LISTENS to his guests and responds with thoughtful examinations and questions. Your podcast is always enlightening and makes me stop and think about matters that underly the angst that many of us feel daily. Solutions to big problems are not easy to find. But episodes
such as the one with Dr. Shrand and the earlier one with CATHERINE RYAN HYDE certainly gives us all food for thought. Keep up the good work, gentlemen.
We, your audience is listening. And remember, kindness is contagious.”
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Eric Seedman
Subscriber
“Civility is a value I care about. It’s the heart and soul of the original “Pay It Forward” idea,
and is a central theme in my other 43 novels as well. We hear a lot today about the
decline of civility in America, but what I feel we need is a more positive approach.
How can we do better?
So I was honored to be the first guest on talkin’ ‘bout Our Generation’s’ series on
“The State of Civility in America.” My interview with Host Julian Simmons was positive,
friendly and thought-provoking, and I look forward to hearing future episodes.
I believe this podcast is serving a very valuable service, the kind I envisioned when
“the Pay It Forward Movement” first took hold. I encourage everyone to li
sten and lend their support to this timely and important podcast.”
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Author of the NYTimes Best-Selling Book,
“Pay It Forward”
Guest on Episode 11
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"I just want to say in support of your podcast ... the fact that you guys are taking on civility in a historic and liminal moment that has allowed rampant incivility to take over so much, I think what you're bringing to the conversation is important. And just as importantly, I think the fact that you are finding ways and finding people to come on to talk about civility is something that is fresh, because we're swimming in so much of its opposite and people will hear this and, and hopefully it will stimulate a movement to create civil spaces in our society."
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Dr. Shepherd Siegel,
Author of "Tricking Power Into Performing Acts of Love"
and "Disruptive Play: The Trickster in Politics and Culture."
Guest on Episodes 14 & 16
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“I just finished listening to podcasts three and four. Each podcast is
getting better and better. It's great. Although not a hippie, my friends
and I were all about the music in college. My kids cannot believe that
I loved Hendrix and Santana as well as John Sebastian and Lovin’ Spoonful.
There was a real sense of community and caring for one another,
and caring for the earth as well. I clearly remember the very first Earth Day.
Thank you for your efforts to promote community and a sense of
camaraderie among us,Julian and Rob. This podcast reminds us how
being gentle with each other is a good thing. Thanks!”
Arlene Wong
Subscriber
"Wow. I just finished the podcast with Carol Green and Richie Havens. I'm just leaving this message because I want the producers and director to understand how awesome it was for me to be taken back to that time. You know, peace, love, and freedom, which I hadn't thought about in so many years, it's kind of relevant to today.
So, I'm feeling . . . good!
It reminded me that we can still hope and believe and have faith that it's all gonna turn out okay in the end. So, thanks. Looking forward to the next episode!"
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Suzette Fowler
Subscriber
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Rob & Julian
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All financial transactions are protected by secure servers.
All proceeds go directly to support the production of the
OURGENPOD podcast.
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That's just a sampling -- we hear from more and more people every day that they like what we're doing, and they want more. So do we -- and we just need a little help from our friends to keep on keepin' on.
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So, thanks VERY much for your support. It means a great deal to us.
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