If you were deeply enmeshed in the ‘womyn’s’ music scene or romped topless through the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festivals in the 1970s and 1980s, then you will pulsate with memories of the amazing, kick-ass all-women’s rock group, Fanny. Even if you missed it, we hope you can imagine how revolutionary and transgressive Fanny was in its heyday in the early 70s. Which is why we were thrilled to find June Millington -- wild woman, lead guitarist and the band’s co-founder -- as kick-ass now as she was 50 years ago. At 75, June and her partner, Ann Hackler, run the Institute for Musical Arts in Goshen MA – hosting a recording studio and  annual camps that show scores of girls and young women the power of rock and roll to be their ‘get out of jail free’ card, just as it was for June and her sister Jean when, in early adolescence, they picked up their first ukuleles in the Philippines. You can immerse yourself in Fanny’s story, from their origins to meeting with the Beatles, playing back-up for Barbara Streisand, their successful albums and tours and more in the 2021 documentary, The Right to Rock. To learn more about June, check out her memoir, Land of a Thousand Bridges. A second memoir is coming soon and June and sister Jean’s latest album, "Play Like a Girl" is available on Spotify and Amazon Music. June still lives by the mantra that "life is music and music is life." We are eternally grateful to her for sharing a bit of the winding path that brought her to this point, as she bravely commits to coming face-to-face with herself at every age.   

The music we used in this episode includes:

Ain’t That Peculiar (Fanny, 1972)

Thinking of You (Fanny, 1971)

It Takes a Lotta Good Lovin’ (Fanny, 1967)

Charity Ball (Fanny, 1971)

Changer and Changed (Cris Williamson, l975)

My Love (Tret Fure, 1973)

We couldn't resist. We were way too curious about ChatGPT to let all of the controversy and (rightful) concern about the dangers of AI deter us from asking it about our favorite topic: the experiences of women in our second half of life. So we asked Chat to take on the persona of an older woman, "dive into the muddy waters of gender and ageism" and share "wisdom that only comes from years of livin' and loving." What we found? You be the judge. She is clearly artificial and not very intelligent but she gave us a lot to think about and had an amazingly positive view about aging. Hope she similarly inspires you, dear listener. Or as ChatGPT said when we asked her to write the blurb, "Grab your earbuds and settle in, sugar, 'cause these two old bitches got a tale or two to tell."


NOTE: In this episode, ChatGPT is played by our multi-talented producer, Katharine Heller.

Two Old Bitches love a good reinvention story. By her count at 73, MaryJane Fahey is on “her 5th reinvention!” (But who’s counting?) She was a designer, published author, now an editor, writer, future playwright, future sculptor –and the list goes on. A few years ago, she started Glorious Broads, a media platform that encourages “women of all ages, younger ones especially, not to be scared of aging.” On Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook, GB lifts up fabulous older women, “sages not saints,” living “imaginative, open, spectacular lives.” This year Glorious Broads is pitching a limited television series about the sex lives of women in the second half of life. Brimming with ideas, Maryjane is also working on a monologue about some of her icons navigating aging, and a possible theater piece. A decade or so ago –in her …fourth reinvention(?)– she co-authored Dumped, a post-breakup bible for women. Maryjane is a Two Old Bitches kindred spirit whose motto is “It is never too late. Period. End of story.” We think you’ll enjoy listening to our conversation with this exuberant, straight talking Glorious Broad as much as we did having it.

Check out (and follow) Glorious Broads’ amazing social media on Instagram (@gloriousbroads) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@gloriousbroads?lang=en). And watch GB’s interview with Old Bitch Joanne at https://www.tiktok.com/@gloriousbroads/video/7223376161638862123?lang=en

Branca Moreira Alves, 82, is absolutely certain about a lot of things: that her primary identity is ‘feminist’, that life is a lot of fun, and that moments matter.  A key leader in launching the second wave feminist movement in Brazil -- during its brutal dictatorship from the mid-60s to the mid-80s -- Branca shares vivid memories and poignant reflections on feminist awakenings, political evolutions and balancing public protest and private privilege. She and Joanne met when they both worked at the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in the 90s and have been fast friends ever since. Over the past two years, Branca collaborated with her close friend, another well-known Brazilian feminist leader, Jacqueline Pitanguy, to write Feminisms in Brazil: Memories of Those Who Made it Happen. The book is receiving hugely positive reviews and Branca is already making plans for her next book. Branca was one of the earliest cheerleaders for Two Old Bitches and we continue to appreciate her feedback and insights. Tune in to our conversation with Branca, revel in her recollections of moments that matter, and watch out for her next book!! 

You know those “aha” moments, those flashing lights of clarity, the thundering realization that you’ve met your passion? We realized that so many of the women we’ve talked with on TOB have had these at different points in their lives. And these epiphanies, turning points and serendipitous happenings continue throughout our lives. So, as we start 2023, we went back to different conversations with the extraordinary women we’ve interviewed on TOB to understand the amazingly diverse ways that epiphanies help us to turn lemons into lemonade, discover our calling, and fully own the ways that we are aging and saging. Immersing yourself in their insights and surprises may be one of the best ways to start a new year! We hope you enjoy and please let us know if you’ve had a life-changing epiphany or turning point that you’d like to share. We’d love to record it. 

In this episode, we will hear from (in this order): Jennifer Finley, Chiemi Kurasawa, Lucero Gonzalez (read in English by Sandra Garcia Betancourt), Claron McFadden,Ellen Bravo, Donna Uchizono, Sandra Guzman, Isa Infante, Dina Bursztyn, Srilatha Batliwala, Nadine Hack, Trudy Berlin, Ashton Applewhite and Renata Joy. With our deep appreciation to all of them for so generously sharing their wisdom.

Gifted ceramic artists Rosanne Ebner, 67, and Liberty Valance, 73, have worked with clay for five or six decades. They say laughing that “it just happened,” yet it is clear that their art is an irresistible and abiding calling. It surfaced for Liberty in preschool where she created her first works–an elephant and ashtray she still has— and for Rosanne in high school. Liberty and Rosanne are also generous and skilled teachers. They are both instructors at the Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center, a wonderful space in Long Island City, NY, where they are longstanding members of a diverse intergenerational community of teachers, students and affiliated artists connected by craft and care, and where members are making ceramics into their nineties. Idelisse – who solidified her profound love of clay over the past 9 months at Brickhouse -- has been enthralled by the ways this community satisfies its members human need for a sense of belonging, mutual support and celebration. In our conversation, all three share the joys of losing themselves and the awareness of time when engaging deeply in creative practice. If you’re curious about what Rosanne and Liberty mean when they describe working with clay as a collaboration where often “the clay knows better” or about the story of how Liberty Valance got her name (Hint: It involves a short-lived marriage and a spiritual teacher), you’ll want to join us for a big-hearted and laughter filled conversation about art, work and life with these two dearest of friends.

Check out some recent ceramic art by Rosanne, Liberty and Idelisse right here!