398 Glennette Turner: Inspiring Stories of Freedom Seekers—The Illinois Underground Railroad

398 Glennette Turner: Inspiring Stories of Freedom Seekers—The Illinois Underground Railroad

Author: Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau September 16, 2026 Duration: 25:03

At 93, Glennette Tilley Turner is still following stories—and still making history visible. For nearly 50 years, Glennette has researched and shared the stories of freedom seekers who traveled the Illinois Underground Railroad, illuminating a largely overlooked chapter of our nation’s history. An innovative educator, author, historian, consultant, speaker, and tour guide, she has brought these stories to audiences of all ages and has earned recognition from universities, historical societies, lawmakers, and artists. But Glennette’s work is about more than the past. By uncovering stories that have too often gone unmentioned in textbooks and classrooms, she invites us to see history—and ourselves—with fresh eyes. Glennette says she is “loving aging,” cherishing connections with old friends while continuing to make new ones. Her latest creative venture? Writing a Kwanzaa skit featuring an imaginary dinner party hosted by Harriet Tubman. Glennette reminds us that courage has no expiration date.

“It’s never too late or you’re never unqualified to be courageous.” - Glennette Turner

Connect with Glennette

Email mzfootsteps@gmail.com

Biography: glennette Tilley turner biography - Search

Selected Books by Glennette

 A Man Called Horse: John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad (2021)

 The Gift of Freedom: How Harriet Tubman Rescued Her Brothers. (2026)

 The Underground Railroad in Illinois (2001)

Thanks to Women Over 70s platinum sponsor, AARP Illinois, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 1.7 million members in Illinois, AARP volunteers advocate for better health, financial security, and stronger communities. Visit aarpil@aarp.org to learn more.


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…