362 Rabbi Jo David: Reformed Rabbi becomes Author of Spicy Regency Romance Novels

362 Rabbi Jo David: Reformed Rabbi becomes Author of Spicy Regency Romance Novels

Author: Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau January 8, 2026 Duration: 35:20

Rabbi Jo David grew up in a secular Jewish home in New York. Her mother said, “the woman’s job is to always serve the man”. She didn’t think so and in the ‘80s decided to become a reformed Rabbi. In 2001, when the World Trade Center

was destroyed, she was living in Manhattan.

The next day she couldn’t get off the couch and for 10 years suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome. By the time she was able to walk out of her apartment by herself, Jo had found that writing eased her pain. Soon she was creating spicy Regency romance novels under an alias. The idea for these books came to her in a dream.

This vital, vibrant woman, founder of mobile story hours for Headstart, believes “you must give yourself permission to imagine every choice”.

“I was in my late 60s when I realized I didn’t need everyone’s approval.” - Rabbi Jo David


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
397 Ann Stanford: Envisioning the Fullness of Self [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:32
Retirement has afforded Ann Stanford, age 75, “unbelievable luxury—the space and freedom to let things bubble up.” She savors this time to reflect on how she really wants to live and what it means to become fully herself…
396 Cynthia Goren: A Life of Learning, Listening, and Helping Others [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:08
At 89, Cynthia Goren is navigating a profound new chapter. Since the death of her husband last October after 67 years of marriage, she has become more aware of her own mortality—and more determined to live meaningfully.…
394 Paula Nesoff: A Social Activist Born from the Realities of Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:21
As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Paula, 77, understood early what it meant to live with absence. Her parents each lost their entire families eventually meeting after the war and emigrating to the United States wit…
393 Terry Craig: The Power and Satisfaction of Building Community [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
At 71, Terry Craig reflects on a life shaped by creativity, curiosity, movement, and reinvention.Growing up as the second of six siblings, Terry learned early how to resolve conflicts and bring people together. Her mothe…
392 Ruby Hill: A Life Shaped by Love, Learning, and Service [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:27
Recently, at 95, Ruby Hill spends time reflecting on her life. Two principles stand out: “I cared deeply about the needs of others, and the results were better than I could have imagined.” She also believes that much of…
391 Maureen Rafa: Advocate for Compassionate Care for Older Adults [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:01
Drawing on decades of experience in psychiatric mental health and a wide range of health care settings, Maureen Rafa now runs her own business as an elder care coordinator. She also actively volunteers to improve coordin…
390 Abbie Rosner: The Psychedelic Renaissance Among Older Adults [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:22
What if aging could become a time of deeper meaning, connection, and personal transformation? Writer and baby boomer Abbie Rosner explores that possibility in her new book, Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging. D…