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Growing Old Disgracefully

By: Miriam Margolyes
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  • Summary

  • Please note: contains adult themes and explicit language. 

    A record-breaking bodybuilder. A sex-positive dominatrix. A gaming pioneer with close to a million subscribers. A musical trailblazer who’s queering country music. 

    These are a new generation of rebels embarking on adventures, falling in love and breaking records. They sound like a gang of social media influencers and young rising Hollywood stars. But nearly all of them are over 70 years old. 

    In this series, Miriam Margolyes meets a new wave of seniors who are ripping up the rulebook when it comes to ageing, to learn what they can teach us about living life to the full, whether you’re 19 or 90.

    A Novel production for Audible Originals. 

    ©2021 Audible, Ltd (P)2021 Audible, Ltd
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Episodes
  • Ep. 1: Sherry Lever
    May 17 2021

    Having thought her life would follow a fairly typical path, an unexpected change forced Sherry to start from scratch and embark upon a radical new career, just as she was beginning to enter her later years. Hers is a story of survival, one that involves caravans, cats and a considerable caning.

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    33 mins
  • Ep. 2: Ernestine Shepherd
    May 17 2021

    Ernestine is the very definition of a glamorous granny. Her hair is always neatly tied into a long, steel grey braid that stretches down her back. Her cap, top and leggings all match, right down to the colour of the frills on her socks. But it’s not dresses that the 84 year-old Ernestine likes to wear. It’s lycra.

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    30 mins
  • Ep. 3: Patrick Haggerty
    May 17 2021

    Patrick has found a way to flourish through even the toughest of times. Early in his life he made a decision to stand up for what he believed in and that decision cost him his career, his livelihood and his passion. But he soldiered on, still fighting for his beliefs, until he finally fulfilled his dreams in his late 70s.

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    40 mins

What listeners say about Growing Old Disgracefully

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this!

Still to really get into podcasts, but if anything could engage me it's this all too brief series of relatively short ones hosted by the irrepressible Miriam Margolyes.

She has a beautiful voice, clear as a bell with a lovely tone, very easy to listen to and engaging.
However, this is not all about her: indeed, in most of the episodes the first voice we hear is that of the guest - unless of course a "grown-up language" and adult themes warning is needed at the start!

Miriam's real strength is that she lets her remarkable guests tell their stories with only occasional guiding questions, observations and commentary, just enough of the latter warmly provided for context, to illuminate where necessary.

Her genuine warmth and admiration for these people band their achievements in later life enfolds every episode and adds to the listener's pleasure.

The guests featured definitely demonstrate that life doesn't stop at sixty, nor do you have to resign yourself to slippers, fireside and shrinking from view. They've all achieved quite extraordinary things in later life, from rowing round the world, to finding a truly unexpected way to cover debts left behind by a deserting husband!

I just hope Miriam produces more.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful series of conversations

Each of the people that converse with the delightful Miriam Margolyes are truly remarkable, they are interesting, inspirational and bloody nice people one and all.
I would recommend this series to everyone!!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable

Love Miriam's voice, enjoy listening to stories about people and their experiences. recommend this podcast.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring, amazing short life story really good

How inspiring are these short life achievement goes to prove you can do anything if you put your mind to it, regardless of how old you are, narration just added to the enjoyment

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

amazing! completed in a day - please make more!

interesting, insightful, witty and well put together.

please make more of these! 5 stars

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I'd prefer to hear Miriam read a book. This series is designed to shock, I think. But, it came across to me as being unnecessarily over informative on it's subjects . C'mon Miriam, there are more interesting and perhaps even helpful stories about getting on a bit ... disgracefully or otherwise.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent.

Excellent series hosted by the irrepressible Miriam Margolyes who has the intelligence to let her guests tell their stories without constant and inane interruptions. Would love to hear more.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Listen

A good selection of true life stories of those in their golden years. Very moving and a great listen!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Positivity and love of doing what you love

Miriam kept me company with her stories whilst sick in bed. Entertaining and lifted my 72 year old spirits and bones. More please. Miriam asks relevant questions and doesn’t throw away the words on trivia and debris.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Lovely

A very positive and inspiring collection of stories. Worth a listen to! Reassuring for those getting to a certain age.

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