Hosted by the ABC’s James Valentine, ‘Life’s Booming’ is a podcast series by Australian Seniors, for Australian seniors. Through these episodes, we explore the many facets of senior life: relationships, travelling, the good times, and the challenges. With his quick-witted interview style, James unravels his guests’ inner worlds, their dreams, fears, and desires. Step into the domains of our over 50s adventurers and download an episode today. The podcast is available for download here, or on your favourite podcast player.
Best Podcast: Finalist
Life’s Booming was a finalist in Best Podcast/Audio Series at the 2021 Content Marketing Awards; the largest international content marketing awards program.
In the third six-episode series, No Regrets, we hear the incredible stories of over 50s who made a decision that changed their life forever! These are the profound and life-changing stories of seniors who’ve done the unexpected and dealt with the consequences.
Gill Shaddick was in her early 20s and living in Hong Kong; on her way to compete in a sailing regatta, her yacht was hit by a storm, and she and her teammates were captured by Chinese communists, becoming the subjects of a huge sea and air rescue operation.
S3E2 - Dinner with Travolta
When you left school, did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? A spur of the minute decision for Jenny Muldoon, then aged 19, started her on a journey that would lead to some pretty extraordinary life experiences, including dinner with John Travolta. So what was it that she decided to do?
S3E3 - Meeting Elizabeth Taylor
Lloyd Godman began adult life as an apprentice electrician, but a one-way ticket to Hawaii with only a backpack and a surfboard to spend nine months living in a treehouse would change his trajectory forever.
S3E4 - The Monday mantra
Remember when you got all your information about the world from the Encyclopedia Britannica? For Graciela Szwarcberg and Hector Poch, a couple of paragraphs in that encyclopedia was all the information they had about Australia, before they moved to Sydney from Argentina with their two young children in 1991.
S3E5 - Famine and freedom
Everyone has a story; but if you passed them on the street you’d never guess how incredibly moving it might be. Dr Andrew Kwong is a GP on the Central Coast of New South Wales, but his early life was spent surviving the famine and persecution of Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward. It was a long road to escape, but he eventually made it to Australia.
S3E6 - Nun in a million
Christine Henry thought she was ready to get married, settle down and have kids but as she was on the way to shop for an engagement ring, something made her turn to her husband-to-be and ask him to stop and pull over. There was something else she needed to do. *This episode was recorded in December 2021.
S2E1 - The captain
A story of love, deception, and heartbreak as Michelle meets the man of her dreams – an airline pilot. But not all is at it seems, and alarm bells soon start ringing.
S2E2 - High school sweethearts
Former teenage girlfriend and boyfriend Melissa and Paul, who started dating at school in Papua New Guinea, connect on social media and reignite their romance – 42 years after last seeing each other.
S2E3 - Swipe right
Online dating is not just for the young. Barry and Liz met on the phone dating app Tinder in their early 60s, and after saying they will never marry again – decide to tie the knot.
S2E4 - The dating diaries
In this episode of Dare to Date you’ll hear five diverse stories and a good dose of excellent advice! From the funny to the downright emotional, The Dating Diaries has all bases covered.
S2E5 - Finally free to be me
John was married with four children when he suspected he might be gay, but it wasn’t until he was in his 50s that he finally came out and told his wife and family.
S2E6 - From possums to passion
Blossom the possum, a non-dating website, and a whole lot of luck was responsible for bringing John and Noreen, both 64, together. But something is threatening to tear them apart.
S1E1 - Hello freedom
In this first episode of Life’s Booming, you’ll meet Tony and Lisa Southwell. A few years ago, Tony fought off throat cancer and had terrible survivor’s guilt, so he and Lisa hitched up their caravan and took off.
S1E2 - Going solo
Meet the extraordinary Gaylene Seeney. Gaylene is a thalidomide survivor, but her condition hasn’t stopped her from heading off on solo adventures.*
S1E3 - Rolling on the road
Get to know Judy and Erle Williamson who call themselves The Travelling Willies after they decided to sell up their home in Gunnedah and travel Australia in their makeshift ‘mobile granny flat’.
S1E4 - The reluctant trainspotter
Join Wendy and Graham French in a heartwarming episode that is full of laughs and surprises, and a reminder that the things we do for love don't always make sense. All aboard for train-inspired tales across the country.
S1E5 - The adventurers
Bob and Phyllis Bowers are adventure junkies who have been married for 53 years. Their shared love of exploring keeps them together, enjoying kayaking, camping, hiking and abseiling.
S1E6 - Chasing Elvis
Swing dancers, rock’n’roll circuitgoers and avid Elvis fans Lyn and Peter Davis talk to James Valentine about life on the road with Wagz their dog in a refurbished 1986 bus that follows the music.
Series 2: Dare to Date
Love can come at the most surprising times. In the second series of Life’s Booming, we chat to people who are back on the dating scene in their later years for a variety of reasons – some more successfully than others!
Gill Shaddick was in her early 20s and living in Hong Kong; on her way to compete in a sailing regatta, her yacht was hit by a storm, and she and her teammates were captured by Chinese communists, becoming the subjects of a huge sea and air rescue operation.
S3E2 - Dinner with Travolta
When you left school, did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? A spur of the minute decision for Jenny Muldoon, then aged 19, started her on a journey that would lead to some pretty extraordinary life experiences, including dinner with John Travolta. So what was it that she decided to do?
S3E3 - Meeting Elizabeth Taylor
Lloyd Godman began adult life as an apprentice electrician, but a one-way ticket to Hawaii with only a backpack and a surfboard to spend nine months living in a treehouse would change his trajectory forever.
S3E4 - The Monday mantra
Remember when you got all your information about the world from the Encyclopedia Britannica? For Graciela Szwarcberg and Hector Poch, a couple of paragraphs in that encyclopedia was all the information they had about Australia, before they moved to Sydney from Argentina with their two young children in 1991.
S3E5 - Famine and freedom
Everyone has a story; but if you passed them on the street you’d never guess how incredibly moving it might be. Dr Andrew Kwong is a GP on the Central Coast of New South Wales, but his early life was spent surviving the famine and persecution of Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward. It was a long road to escape, but he eventually made it to Australia.
S3E6 - Nun in a million
Christine Henry thought she was ready to get married, settle down and have kids but as she was on the way to shop for an engagement ring, something made her turn to her husband-to-be and ask him to stop and pull over. There was something else she needed to do. *This episode was recorded in December 2021.
S2E1 - The captain
A story of love, deception, and heartbreak as Michelle meets the man of her dreams – an airline pilot. But not all is at it seems, and alarm bells soon start ringing.
S2E2 - High school sweethearts
Former teenage girlfriend and boyfriend Melissa and Paul, who started dating at school in Papua New Guinea, connect on social media and reignite their romance – 42 years after last seeing each other.
S2E3 - Swipe right
Online dating is not just for the young. Barry and Liz met on the phone dating app Tinder in their early 60s, and after saying they will never marry again – decide to tie the knot.
S2E4 - The dating diaries
In this episode of Dare to Date you’ll hear five diverse stories and a good dose of excellent advice! From the funny to the downright emotional, The Dating Diaries has all bases covered.
S2E5 - Finally free to be me
John was married with four children when he suspected he might be gay, but it wasn’t until he was in his 50s that he finally came out and told his wife and family.
S2E6 - From possums to passion
Blossom the possum, a non-dating website, and a whole lot of luck was responsible for bringing John and Noreen, both 64, together. But something is threatening to tear them apart.
S1E1 - Hello freedom
In this first episode of Life’s Booming, you’ll meet Tony and Lisa Southwell. A few years ago, Tony fought off throat cancer and had terrible survivor’s guilt, so he and Lisa hitched up their caravan and took off.
S1E2 - Going solo
Meet the extraordinary Gaylene Seeney. Gaylene is a thalidomide survivor, but her condition hasn’t stopped her from heading off on solo adventures.*
S1E3 - Rolling on the road
Get to know Judy and Erle Williamson who call themselves The Travelling Willies after they decided to sell up their home in Gunnedah and travel Australia in their makeshift ‘mobile granny flat’.
S1E4 - The reluctant trainspotter
Join Wendy and Graham French in a heartwarming episode that is full of laughs and surprises, and a reminder that the things we do for love don't always make sense. All aboard for train-inspired tales across the country.
S1E5 - The adventurers
Bob and Phyllis Bowers are adventure junkies who have been married for 53 years. Their shared love of exploring keeps them together, enjoying kayaking, camping, hiking and abseiling.
S1E6 - Chasing Elvis
Swing dancers, rock’n’roll circuitgoers and avid Elvis fans Lyn and Peter Davis talk to James Valentine about life on the road with Wagz their dog in a refurbished 1986 bus that follows the music.
Series 1: The Grey Nomads
Listen to the stories of adventurous Australians in these Life’s Booming podcast episodes. Explore life on the road and get immersed in the thrills, spills and escapades of these courageous grey nomads.
Gill Shaddick was in her early 20s and living in Hong Kong; on her way to compete in a sailing regatta, her yacht was hit by a storm, and she and her teammates were captured by Chinese communists, becoming the subjects of a huge sea and air rescue operation.
S3E2 - Dinner with Travolta
When you left school, did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? A spur of the minute decision for Jenny Muldoon, then aged 19, started her on a journey that would lead to some pretty extraordinary life experiences, including dinner with John Travolta. So what was it that she decided to do?
S3E3 - Meeting Elizabeth Taylor
Lloyd Godman began adult life as an apprentice electrician, but a one-way ticket to Hawaii with only a backpack and a surfboard to spend nine months living in a treehouse would change his trajectory forever.
S3E4 - The Monday mantra
Remember when you got all your information about the world from the Encyclopedia Britannica? For Graciela Szwarcberg and Hector Poch, a couple of paragraphs in that encyclopedia was all the information they had about Australia, before they moved to Sydney from Argentina with their two young children in 1991.
S3E5 - Famine and freedom
Everyone has a story; but if you passed them on the street you’d never guess how incredibly moving it might be. Dr Andrew Kwong is a GP on the Central Coast of New South Wales, but his early life was spent surviving the famine and persecution of Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward. It was a long road to escape, but he eventually made it to Australia.
S3E6 - Nun in a million
Christine Henry thought she was ready to get married, settle down and have kids but as she was on the way to shop for an engagement ring, something made her turn to her husband-to-be and ask him to stop and pull over. There was something else she needed to do. *This episode was recorded in December 2021.
S2E1 - The captain
A story of love, deception, and heartbreak as Michelle meets the man of her dreams – an airline pilot. But not all is at it seems, and alarm bells soon start ringing.
S2E2 - High school sweethearts
Former teenage girlfriend and boyfriend Melissa and Paul, who started dating at school in Papua New Guinea, connect on social media and reignite their romance – 42 years after last seeing each other.
S2E3 - Swipe right
Online dating is not just for the young. Barry and Liz met on the phone dating app Tinder in their early 60s, and after saying they will never marry again – decide to tie the knot.
S2E4 - The dating diaries
In this episode of Dare to Date you’ll hear five diverse stories and a good dose of excellent advice! From the funny to the downright emotional, The Dating Diaries has all bases covered.
S2E5 - Finally free to be me
John was married with four children when he suspected he might be gay, but it wasn’t until he was in his 50s that he finally came out and told his wife and family.
S2E6 - From possums to passion
Blossom the possum, a non-dating website, and a whole lot of luck was responsible for bringing John and Noreen, both 64, together. But something is threatening to tear them apart.
S1E1 - Hello freedom
In this first episode of Life’s Booming, you’ll meet Tony and Lisa Southwell. A few years ago, Tony fought off throat cancer and had terrible survivor’s guilt, so he and Lisa hitched up their caravan and took off.
S1E2 - Going solo
Meet the extraordinary Gaylene Seeney. Gaylene is a thalidomide survivor, but her condition hasn’t stopped her from heading off on solo adventures.*
S1E3 - Rolling on the road
Get to know Judy and Erle Williamson who call themselves The Travelling Willies after they decided to sell up their home in Gunnedah and travel Australia in their makeshift ‘mobile granny flat’.
S1E4 - The reluctant trainspotter
Join Wendy and Graham French in a heartwarming episode that is full of laughs and surprises, and a reminder that the things we do for love don't always make sense. All aboard for train-inspired tales across the country.
S1E5 - The adventurers
Bob and Phyllis Bowers are adventure junkies who have been married for 53 years. Their shared love of exploring keeps them together, enjoying kayaking, camping, hiking and abseiling.
S1E6 - Chasing Elvis
Swing dancers, rock’n’roll circuitgoers and avid Elvis fans Lyn and Peter Davis talk to James Valentine about life on the road with Wagz their dog in a refurbished 1986 bus that follows the music.
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*This episode mentions suicide. If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about someone you know, there is help available. If you or someone you know needs help now, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
The thoughts and opinions discussed on the Life’s Booming: The Grey Nomads podcast are not those of Australian Seniors.
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