As a “cultural creative,” I have always been interested in alternative modalities; art, music, theater, dance, films, healing, cultural anthropology, the environment. And I have been ahead of the curve in anticipating new trends. I started working with the metaphysical school Arica in 1971, long before that practice became popular.  A certified teacher of T'ai Chi Chuan since 1978, I started studying Yang Style, Short Form in 1975.  I started the first interior design consultation service in the country in New York in 1960 (Instant Interiors) using what people have in a new way.  I started the first quilt gallery showing antique American quilts as art in 1971 (Quilt Gallery, Inc.) long before hanging abstract quilts as art on the walls became fashionable.

A born-and-bred New Yorker who moved to Santa Fe in 1982, I found a wealth of really cool, talented, creative people in my adopted city, most of them doing work that is fun, unusual, and frequently mind-opening. So when the opportunity arose to do a live show on radio in 2000,

I jumped at the chance.

Often, people ask me why I started “Living Juicy.” I wanted to share cutting-edge ideas and unique world views with the rest of the world... perspectives that intrigue and inspire me, as I see myself as a bridge between mainstream and leading-edge modalities. And then people ask me how I find my guests. That’s really easy. I go where I am attracted, then invite the people who ignite me to be my guests.

Part of Living Juicy is aging well, and part of aging well

is embracing aging, without being conned by the numbers or the stories in our heads about them. Numbers give us an idea of how other people (our family and others!) have aged. I believe that age is a mind-trip, a numbers game. I don’t relate to the term “senior citizen.” Part of me wants to run the other way, saying ”Go away! Not me! Not yet!” And If asked, I opt-out by saying that I just don’t DO age.

In fact, we can create a new model for aging!

I do this by listening to the wisdom of my body, noticing what I eat, enjoying myself while I walk, run, play, stretch, make love, do yoga, dance, swim, learn new skills. I pay attention and embrace what I love to do, and then DO IT! I go for whatever rings my bell that is oriented toward life.

We created the youth culture in the Sixties,

and now we can reinvent senior culture. When Gloria Steinem turned 50, and people remarked how lovely she looked and how unlike 50 it is, she simply said "this is how 50 looks!"

I am truly blessed to be the mother of a remarkable son and daughter! Nina Simons is the visionary co-founder and president of Bioneers, an organization that’s inspiring a shift to live on earth in ways that honor each other, the web of life and future generations. In addition to producing media that informs, educates and inspires, they produce the premier environmental and social justice conference focused on leading-edge solutions in the world (www.bioneers.org), and are now celebrating their 20th year!

Tony Simons is an Associate Professor at Cornell University where he teaches organizational behavior, negotiation, and leadership. His first book was just published; "The Integrity Dividend; Leading by the Power of your Word" (www.integritydividend.com). There are interviews with both Nina and Tony in the archives.