Backyard OASIS

Astronaut Ron Garan's realization that humans' focus on economic systems is wrong aligns with beekeeper Dan's thinking about ways to save Earth's ecological systems. You'll hear part of Garan's stirring message read by Denise, followed by Dan Conlon's thoughts about how we can create economic systems that improve Earth's environmental system that we depend on for our existence.

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On the southern slope of Greenfield Community College is a botanical garden of beauty and variety - a small orchard, native flowers, community vegetable beds, a boardwalk into a small wetland and views of the neighboring mountain forest. This quiet oasis delights visitors but more importantly is an outdoor learning lab for a wide variety of classes and workshops. Join Science Professor Teresa Jones and Natural Resources Program Coo...

Forty years ago, Denise and Karen became friends while working as staff at the School for International Training and the Experiment in international Living in Vermont. Over the years they lost touch...until this summer, when Karen, now a full-time global hiker, texted, "Mind if I drop by?" Here's a short story about youth and work and hiking and curiosity, but mostly about how life goes on and friendships stay strong.

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On this episode of Backyard OASIS, host Denise Schwartz has a lovely conversation with Marsha Stone and Norm Hirschfeld about their decision to move from Waltham, MA to Greenfield, MA later in life, despite New England being absolutely chock full of beautiful towns and cities. What should older adults who hope to move later in life look for in a community? Why did Marsha and Norm choose Greenfield as their community? The group touc...

So humans, let’s face it. We are living in an aging world. For the first time in history, and probably for the rest of human history, people aged 65 and over will outnumber children under the age of 5. By 2030, that total is projected to increase to 1 billion. That means 1 in every 8 of the earth’s inhabitants will be an older adult.

Lots to think about. So, today with Jason’s help, we are going to talk about how we can prepare to l...

On this episode of Backyard OASIS, host Dennis Lee takes some time to talk with Dr. Steven German about something we can all understand lately: STRESS. Dr. German talks with Dennis about what drew him to stress as an area of expertise, and some of his recommended methods for coping with it day-to-day.

Dr. Steven German is a licensed psychologist and nationally certified counselor who has sought throughout his professional career to ...

In uncertain times, there is no substitute for actually talking to each other. On this episode of Backyard OASIS, Denise Schwartz and Jason Molony, the age- and dementia-friendly program director at Life Path in Greenfield, MA, have a frank conversation about the kinds of communities older adults want to live in as we age. How do we build supportive, inclusive, and age-friendly communities in a society that is aging faster than at ...

After a botched edit of Spilling the Tea Part 7, the ladies are back with a vengeance this week to talk all things reality TV...but mostly to talk The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The big news this week: the illusive and illustrious Grandma Donna was finally able to make an appearance and she does not disappoint, even if her taste in shows differs a bit from the usual trio.

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On this episode of the Backyard OASIS podcast, Christine Copeland sits down with Dr. Ralph Baker and her husband Dr. Bill Copeland, to talk about our stunning natural world here in Massachusetts, and some of the things we can do to protect it.

Dr. Ralph S. Baker has served on the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA)'s Board of Directors for nearly 20 years, and currently is its Board President. Among his roles is supporting th...

On this episode of the Backyard OASIS podcast, Dennis Lee talks with Registered Nurse Priscilla Ross about topics that can make the average person uncomfortable – end of life care, DNR orders, and more – but must be considered and discussed. Special attention is paid to the concept of a "health care proxy," and why every person over the age of 18 should have one. Later they change gears to discuss Priscilla's long-term involvement ...

On this episode of Backyard Oasis, Dennis Lee sits down with friend David Murphy to talk about his fascinating professional career – first as an audio engineer and producer for live television sports broadcasts, then taking up the mantle of his family business in Pioneer Valley-area real estate. David provides awesome insight into life inside a television production truck, and how that work took him all over the world, from NFL sta...

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

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Hosted by Judy Raper, Jessica Niedbala, and Mackenzie Shanahan

Produced by Alex Audette in the Teaching and Learning In...

Author Joan Livingston's 35-year career as a journalist provides food for thought about the changes in news reporting from "fair, objective and accurate" to today's seeming preference for argumentative, emotional and opinion-based content. Denise and Joan also talk about the relevance of newspapers in our digital world and their fondness of local news and the papers that print it.

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Dennis Lee talks to Sharon Martula about her career decisions and experiences. Her specialty was customer service – keeping the customer happy – and even in retirement she's helping people in their life's journey.

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Please like, subscribe, and give the show a five-star review wherever possible – it's th...

Denise talks with Gabe, an 81-year-old retired educator, and Happy, 51, a roofer, about how pickleball "saved" their lives.

Do you have questions, comments or thoughts about this episode? We'd like to hear from you. Email us at backyardoasispodcast@gmail.com

Please like, subscribe, and give the show a five-star review wherever possible – it's the easiest and best way for you to support our work and help us reach the most people world...

Welcome to Spilling the Tea Part 5 on Backyard Oasis! The STT ladies (Judy Raper, Jessica Niedbala, and Mackenzie Shanahan) get together to talk reality TV and pop culture, starting with their thoughts on Kendrick Lamar's phenomenal Super Bowl halftime show performance. Later on they check in on their favorite Housewives and the Southern Charm crew, before touching on Mackenzie's cousin's appearance on Dateline NBC.

Do you have ques...

On this episode of Backyard Oasis, Dennis Lee sits down with Nina Kleinberg to discuss our favorite topic here on the show: transitions. She started her career editing films but then took a turn...and became a midwife for years, ultimately assisting in over 300 births!! The pair discuss that big transition and more, ultimately getting to how she still helps her community today...by solving computer problems!

Do you have questions, c...

This week, host Judy Raper sits down with two of her colleagues at Greenfield Community College – Director of Strategic Innovation Samantha Wood and audio visual technician (and show producer!) Alex Audette – to discuss Robert Putnam's Join or Die: "a film about why you should join a club." The group starts with broad thoughts on the film and its central thesis before touching on their own experiences with loneliness in the U.S.A.,...

Denise talks with author Joan Livingston about the art and business of writing, how ideas for her novels pop up in the strangest places, and why small towns, people watching, and experience as a newspaper reporter covering rural villages help her create authentic characters -- including private investigator Isabel Long -- and solve mysteries!

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