351 Judy Smith: Discomfort & Humiliation Changed the Trajectory of Her Life

351 Judy Smith: Discomfort & Humiliation Changed the Trajectory of Her Life

Author: Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau October 22, 2025 Duration: 31:03

Judy Smith discovered that 70 would be the best year of her life after a devastating public humiliation at 67 by her now ex. Allowing herself to open up to new relationships, social engagement and creative expression, she discovered that life became richer and she felt blessed as gratitude filled her soul. No stranger to discomfort, Judy previously suffered from grand mal seizures and lived with the fear of having one while out in the world trying to live her life. Judy’s first novel, “The Golden Years Glitch…..just when she thought she had it all”, became therapeutic, if a “little revengeful” for her. More than that it is a fictional story born out of her own experiences and embellished with imagination. Filled with humor, Judy discovered she is a writer and now visualizes expanding this book into a future series.

“Writing The Golden Years Glitch was therapeutic and a little bit revengeful.” - Judy Smith

Connect with Judy: E. Judy@jmaustin.com

Book: The Golden Years Glitch


Hosted by Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau, Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined turns the page on a well-worn cultural script. This is not a series about decline, but a collection of dialogues focused squarely on expansion. You’ll hear from women who are starting businesses, deepening their creative practices, forging new relationships, and confronting societal expectations with a refreshing blend of honesty and humor. These conversations, rooted in personal journals and lived expertise, delve into the practical and the profound-from the science of longevity to the personal journeys of resilience that define this chapter. The podcast moves beyond inspiration to offer tangible insight, framing the later decades as a time of active reinvention. Tune in for stories that replace stereotypes with specificity, and discover a community redefining what it means to grow older with purpose and curiosity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined
Podcast Episodes
369 Arlene Bomer: Living a Life of Adventure with Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
At 75, Arlene Borner may not be running marathons, but she is still running—and skiing on snow and water and playing pickleball. She may no longer be teaching children how to swim or speak English in places like Sweden o…
367 Patricia Koko: Turning Ideas into Services with Lasting Impact [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:58
When Patricia (Pat) Koko, age 82, reflects on her life’s work as a young homemaker turned consummate volunteer and community change-maker, she often says things like, “that was kind of fun,” or “there just was a need”—-s…
366 Suzi K Edwards: A Chaotic Life Reignited by Yoga [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:03
Living high throughout the 1960s and early ‘70s filled Suzi’s life with glitter, dazzle, and celebrities who sadly, broke her heart. As a luxury designer of women’s clothing in New York, Suzi was sought after by big name…
365 Reedy Gibbs: Broken Pieces Can Be Mended [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:55
n writing her memoir, BROKEN PIECES (and the fun things you can do with them), Reedy is hopeful that her life's missteps might help others. When she began studying Method Writing with a brilliant teacher, “her life's sto…
360 Deb Krier: Trying Not to Die [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:08
Like most people, when Deb Krier was told she had metastatic breast cancer in 2015, she went into a tailspin. She previously worked for an oncologist and later, the American Cancer society and still was not prepared. Wha…