Announcer: Welcome to Business Life 360 with Kristi K, where we get to know thought leaders and innovators trends and impact in the world of business, and we see firsthand how business and life have evolved and now helping us all learn, lead and grow is our host, Kristi K.. Kristi K.:Welcome to Business Live 360.

I'm your host, Kristi K.. And this episode is all about working, living and aging well and its examples of just that from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Well, hang out with PBS's Celebrity Chef Kevin Belton to learn about his career success and some tough choices that he's had to make to stay well.

We'll talk with an expert from AARP about career happiness, brains, sharpness and healthful lifestyle choices that can make aging not only healthier but more enjoyable.

And also joining the conversation is motivational senior lifestyl author media exec Barbara Hannah Grufferman, who began running marathons when she was 50.

Among other things, our guests reveal unique examples of working, living and aging well and not being afraid to do so.

This show is loaded with information and inspiration, so kick back, relax and come along with me.

This is Business Life 360.

(Music) Announcer: Business life 360 with Kristi K is made possible by ProMedica, a locally owned, nationally recognized, not for profit health care network that has a strong commitment to clinical excellence, providing safe, high quality patient care and addressing social issues that impact health.

The John B and Lillian Inept College of Business and Innovation at the University of Toledo.

Developing lifelong leaders for the world of business.

And by the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, also by viewers like you.

Thank you.

Kristi K.:When talking about working, living and aging, well, the famously personable, upbeat chef, Kevin Belton has quite a story.

You see, his strong love of cooking has turned into a blissful career.

And it also turned into a personal challenge with obesity He's nearly seven feet tall, which hit the 400 plus pounds he was carrying.

So what gave him his huge commitment to aging?

Well, today?

Let's find out in my interview with chef Kev Felton.

Chef Kev, it is great to have you on Business Life 360.

Thanks for being here.

Kevin Belton: It's so great to be with you.

Kristi K.:So your website describes you, and I'm going to read this.

A world class chef culture as deep as the Mississippi and food with a rich heritage.

You need to tell us more about this.

Give us some background on you and your heritage.

Kevin Belton: Well, you know, I'm I'm a swamp rat.

I guess you could say that I was born in New Orleans, but I grew up listening to my grandmother.

No develop to speak French.

So on my mother's side, they were from the island of Martinique.

There was American Indian.

There was something else on there on my dad's side.

There was the the French, the English, the Native American.

It's it's just a mixture.

Kristi K.:Interesting.

Very interesting.

So do you bring this through to your cooking?

Kevin Belton: I can't help but bring it to.

Kristi K.:It just shows up.

So it's I grew up at a time where everybody said at the kitchen table, you know, and at the kitchen table, you learn so much.

It wasn't just as a kid, I would help prep shrimp and peel shrimp.

Kevin Belton: You know, you were free.

Labor at the time, but you.

Also got to listen.

So you got to listen when somebody was sick.

What the doctor was saying, you've got to watch the family pay bills.

So that kitchen table wasn't just to sit and eat at that kitchen table.

Talk to you about life.

Kristi K.: Well, now we want to know a little bit more about you and your early career as you went from those family days and that gathering time that you had with the family when you moved on to your young career.

Tell us how they got started and how you really started to launch into that.

Was food always something that?

Kevin Belton: No, no.

I never thought I had friends that had restaurants and I would go in and help them out.

But there was a gentleman by the name of Joe Khan that had started a cooking school to take the mystery out of Louisiana, cooking Joe and our friends.

And he says, Hey, come and manage the store from me because we had a store that had all the Louisiana products in it from all over the state.

So I started managing the store, but my mother was a teacher.

So she says anything you want to know, pick up a book and read it.

So I started learning and going through some of the professional chefs cookbooks and reading those.

And so I eventually started teaching classes.

So it just that's how it started.

Kristi K.: On this show.

We're talking about living healthy, living well, living happy, and I want to hear a little bit more about this journey that you had as you found yourself perhaps gaining some weight and what you decided to do about.

Kevin Belton: That kind of weight.

6' 9" helps.

Kristi K.: You are you are a tall drink of water.

Kevin Belton: I had got up to 400 and I think my heaviest was four 65 and I was hanging out around 450 to knock on wood and never had any problems with knees or high blood pressure or diabetes or anything like that.

But I notice walking.

I would kind of waddle and I'd get tired.

And I said, You know, something has to give.

Something's got to give.

So I remember a buddy going out with him to lunch one day, and he says, When you bring my entree, bring me a taco container, and I'm like, What are you doing?

He says, I put a half of it away, so he eat.

He would eat half of it for lunch.

Then you saved the other half for dinner.

So I thought about that and then I started reading about, you know, how they have the different weight loss surgeries and they have all these different diets now.

So I started reading about all the different procedures and what folks go through and the different diets and what they're thinking in this kind of thing.

Being a chef, you know what?

You're supposed to eat fresh.

And in Louisiana, we do get to eat fresh.

We get to eat fresh all the time.

So basically, I cut my portions and I started walking.

Kristi K.: So mentally and emotionally, how did you push through?

How did you sort of I know you were eating better.

And so that was really tough, but you stayed with it.

How did you persevere?

Like, how did you get beyond that and just say, No, I'm not stopping.

Kevin Belton: I started feeling better.

All of a sudden, you know, like if you walk to the corner and you feel achy and tired and you come back, but you do that every day, then all of a sudden it's like you get to the corner like, Oh, I feel I feel, all right, let me go to the next corner .

Mm hmm.

So that's how it is.

It just kept kept adding on because it would take me longer to feel fatigued.

Kristi K.: Right?

So now you have your cooking.

You are a chef.

You do a television show or two in New Orleans and you have this really healthy purpose.

A life in terms of well-being.

Kevin Belton: Yes.

Kristi K.: So if you could define your purpose, how would you define that?

Because if you were a chef and a phenomenal chef, you're so much more than that.

Kevin Belton: I think it's a blessing that I can bring a little happiness to folks.

You know, if I can make you forget about what's going on outside of those walls for a few minutes, it's all good.

Kristi K.: That's kind of the secret to living well, being happy in your career.

Yeah.

Kevin Belton: But you know what?

You have to be happy here.

You have to be happy here before you can be happy with anybody else.

Amen.

And if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of somebody else if you can't take care of yourself.

Kristi K.: Exactly.

I mean, that's such a great, great life lesson from someone who has lived life really well and you've made such a difference.

So thanks for being a part of Business Life 360.

And we will be back with some quick hits and a little bit.

Are you ready for that?

Kevin Belton: I'll be ready.

OK, I'll study.

Kristi K.: No studying allowed.

Our next guest is Sarah Lenz Locke, a senior vice president for AARP.

She's a national expert on major issues facing older Americans, and as an attorney, she works on policy for brain health and the aging.

She serves as the executive director of the Global Council on Brain Health.

Sarah Lenz Locke It's great to have you here as a guest on Business Life 360.

Thanks for being here.

Sarah Lenz Lock: Thanks for having me.

I'm delighted to join you and your guests on this important topic.

Kristi K.: Can you help us to understand what we need to know about those who are still working and what that workforce looks like as we age?

Sarah Lenz Lock: Sure.

Continuing to work is one of the best things that you can do because it actually helps you financially, but it turns out that it also helps you in your healt and your cognitive well-being as you age.

Kristi K.: Now, as we look at sort of gender and racial makeup of those 50 plus in the workforce, what does that look like?

Sarah Lenz Lock: Well, we know that our population is becoming more and more diverse.

You know, it's quite exciting where we're going to be entering into a space where older adults are going to outnumber younger people.

People over the age of 65 are going to outnumber those under 18 by 2030.

And it's a tremendous advantage, but that means that they're going to be changes in our workforce, too, that our workforce is aging along with the general population.

Kristi K.: So as we talk about careers and happiness and fulfillment in our careers, does that truly lead to more healthful outcomes, would you say?

Sarah Lenz Lock: But I've seen recent study where people who didn't retire until after age 67 actually have better cognitive outcomes.

So there is a definite link between working longer and your health and science is really getting its arms around that now.

Kristi K.: So how does happiness affect a healthy brain and sort of those healthy outcomes that we discussed?

Sarah Lenz Lock: Well, there is a relationship between depression and anxiety and poorer cognitive outcomes.

So we know that those who are depressed or anxious have an increased risk for dementia as they age.

Kristi K.: If we want to put into play a plan for ourselves to cognitively start to stimulate our brains, what kinds of things would you recommend we start doing now?

Sarah Lenz Lock: So the global council came up with nine practical tips to go after.

How do you stimulate your brain?

Novelty is important to continually challenge the brain So a perfect way to do that is start a new business.

second, engage your brain along with someone else.

Number three, choose an activity that you enjoy.

If you don't like it, you're not going to do it.

And number four, make it easy on yourself.

Find activities that fit within your schedule a or deliberate practice that is things that help you improve your performance over time.

Find an activity.

Where someone will notice that you're there.

Use light stages and transitions to change things up.

Study something that you're interested in that is, of course, enrolling in education classes.

But don't jump on the first thing that comes and look around, find some things that you may not have thought of.

And then finally, choose activities that include both mental and physical engagement.

Kristi K.: Those are all great action steps and gives me a lot of food for thought into as I start thinking about sort of putting these plans in place today.

Now, something that's a little more somber is thinkin about dementia as we age now.

Is that something that is inevitable?

Is it something that we can stop?

Is it genetic?

Help us to understand a little bit more about dementi as we age, and I know some of the numbers that I had read were tied to dementia, doubling by the year 2040.

Kristi K.: What can we do about that?

If that is in fact the case?

Sarah Lenz Lock: The numbers that we hear that are so scary about demographics is as if Americans don't wake up and realize there are things you can do today to maintain your brain health.

Now, I'm not saying that if you engage in healthy behaviors, it's a guarantee that you won't develop dementia but we know that there are things you can do to reduce your risks In fact, the CDC and The Lancet are estimating about 40% of your risk for dementia could be reduced if you engage in healthy lifestyle activities.

We all know people who age really well, and we all want to be like those tremendous agers that seem to take life in stride and into their nineties , and hundreds have a sharp mind and a good attitude.

So how is it that more of us can do that if we exercise, if we stay cognitively engaged, if we manage our cardiovascular risks?

These are significant ways we can improve and reduce our risk for cognitive decline as we age Kristi K.: Sarah Lenz, Lock Thank you so much for being a part of Business Life 360.

This has been so enlightening and we really appreciate all you do for the aging population.

So thanks for sharing that with us.

Sarah Lenz Lock: Well, thank you so much for asking, and I encourage everyone to start small and always keep their brain health top of mind.

Kristi K.: Next up, she's been a voice for the best of everything after the age of 50 and a proponent of loving your age as a spokesperson for AARP.

She has proclaimed that we cannot control getting older, but we can control how we do it I am thrilled to welcome to Business Life 360.

Barbara Hannah Grafman Well, Barbara Hannah, go for a minute is a fabulous day when I get to talk with you.

I'm so glad you're here on Business Life 360, so thanks for joining us.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman: Thank you so much for having me, Kristi.

This is going to be a lot of fun.

Let's talk.

Kristi K.: You have a wonderful background in corporate America.

Give us an understanding and our viewers an understanding of kind of that life path that you've had as it relates to your executive work, if you will.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman: When I was in graduate school at NYU in New York, I started selling ad space to make some money for a magazine and I got the bug.

So when I graduated, I embarked on a career in magazine publishing and rose through the ranks over the decades that I was in that world.

When I was in my late thirties, early forties, I was getting a little bit bored with my career and I got spirited away to be the head of this international conference company, which I absolutely loved.

But it wasn't until I was close to being 50 that I entered my current career, which is my third career.

And as it turns out, my favorite career of all.

Kristi K.: Was there an event in your life that all of a sudden cause you to make some drastic changes?

Barbara Hannah Grufferman: Oh, definitely.

There were several things that were happening to me at that time.

As I mentioned, I was just turning 50.

That, in and of itself was a momentous time in my life Now I want to be clear about this.

I wasn't nervous about it.

I wasn't scared.

I just was really worried about what it all meant.

It was.

I ready for it because like so many women, I was busy, busy with work and living and family and my partner, my husband, friends, community, volunteering everything.

And well, did that leave any time for myself?

No, it did not.

And that's true of so many of us, and so I just was going along with life and living it.

But I wasn't really focusing on myself, and so I was always putting myself less, and therefore I wasn't able to do anything.

Exercise.

I wasn't getting enough sleep.

I wasn't eating well was to manage my stress well, all of those things that are really essential to living a good life.

And so that was happening.

But also, I went through menopause.

I went through menopause at about 49, and that really changed everything physically for me.

And, you know, I called the umpires.

I was feeling a little frumpy, lumpy and very, very grumpy.

Kristi K.: The umpires.

That's a good term, Barbara.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman: Yes, it is, because it really sums up how so many women feel as they're going through this stage of life.

And from me, they just happen to really coincide turning 50 and, you know, just coming out of menopause and being post-menopausal.

So I was really losing my confidence.

I think that's really the key here I was.

Losing my confidence in my career was I still necessary Was I still relevant?

They were the younger generation going to take over and I didn't know what to do.

There was just a lot of that uncertainty going on with me.

And again, I am incredibly average and normal, and this is a typical typical issue for many, many men and women as they hit this stage of life.

Kristi K.: Describe for us what your life looks like in terms of some of the activities, some of the affiliations that you've been involved with.

That's really kind of maybe they Barbara Hannah Grufferman: Absolutely.

Game changers.

Let's talk about that third career I mentioned before So I went through menopause.

I hit 50 and there was Where am I?

What am I doing?

What is next for me?

Am I ready for that?

And I looked around for some information, inspiration, motivation, and I really wasn't able to find it because all I was seeing at tha time was how to be anti-aging, how to fight aging, and nothing about, well, what about embracing aging and really just being the best that you can be and forging ahead with that mindset?

There was nothing like it.

So long story short, I decided to write a book.

I decided to write my first book called The Best of Everything.

After 50 were interviewed, many, many people followed their programs to get myself ready.

And it really became a guidebook for many, many people, men and women to kind of get through this tumultuous chapter in life and be ready to forge ahead with vitality and a good spirit And so that is my third career.

And what really changed my life?

one of the many things that changed my life.

one of them, of course, were all the people.

I met who were like minded and kind of brought along with me, they brought me along with them was running.

In this case, I decided, Oh my goodness, I went through menopause.

I am feeling a little lumpy and frumpy.

No joke.

What am I going to do?

And I decided to embark on a fitness program and it included running and that added so much to my life.

You never really know what your body is capable of doing until you try to get it to do it.

You just don't know.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman: But once I started running marathons and training for them and running them in sets up running my 14th next week, all since turning 50, it gave me this level of confidence that I hadn't recalled having in a very, very, very long time Kristi K.: And I know there are people who maybe consider themselves to be late bloomers, those who think, Oh, you know what?

I kind of miss that boat.

I'm over 50 now.

I haven't done anything to start a new hobby, start a new activity.

What do you say to those people?

Barbara Hannah Grufferman: Oh, please, I want to ban that phrase from the English language and every language around the world It's just wrong thinking late bloomer.

What does that mean?

Really?

That means that, OK, let's see.

I decided to run at 50.

OK?

But that means, Oh, am I a late bloomer?

I should have started running when I was 20.

I should have started running when I was in high school or 30 That's what late bloomer means.

And that's just wrong.

I started running at the time in my life when I was ready to start running.

I wrote my first book At My Life, when I was ready to have something to say in the book.

If I had said I was going to do it when I was 20 or 30, I wasn't ready to do that.

Does that make me a late bloomer?

Absolutely not.

So get rid of that phrase, everyone.

Kristi K.: So now there are people who may be thinking, OK, that's great.

Not too late.

I just don't have a passion.

I can't run.

I have bad knees.

I can't do such and such, you know, thinking of all kinds of excuses, perhaps.

What advice do you have for those who do not know what their passion is, but who do know that they need something to change in their lives?

Barbara Hannah Grufferman: Really, what people should be looking at is not so much following their passion, things that bring them this joy.

But really what?

What is important to you?

What do you care about?

What kind of impact do you want to make?

Kristi K.: Well, Barbara Hannah Gorman, thank you so very much for being here in business life 360.

We can't thank you enough for your inspiration.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman: Thank you for having me on this because I really appreciate it.

(Music) Kristi K.: So here we are in the kitchen with chef Kev, and we are going to be doing some quick hits, are you ready for this?

Kevin Belton: I study what I studied.

I don't have a clue, but I try to prepare.

Kristi K.: I guarantee you did not study these.

Kevin Belton: OK. Kristi K.: So here I go, and I'll serve.

You get to know you a little bit better.

So first question what makes you laugh?

Kevin Belton: Oh, God.

The sound of a child.

Kristi K.: Oh no, the family member you are most like.

And why?

Kevin Belton: My mother, because she just had a joy of life.

What we in Louisiana recall is rather be.

Kristi K.: One core value that represents who you are.

Honest about it.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Kevin Belton: A slice of pizza.

Kristi K.: Pizza.

OK, so there's so much that you can teach chefs, particularly younger chefs who are starting out mean one skill or one piece of wisdo that you would like to impart upon them.

Kevin Belton: Listen and learn, and you never stop learning.

It doesn't matter how old you get, you will always learn more Kristi K.: If you weren't a chef, what career would you.

Kevin Belton: Be in today?

Probably coaching football.

Kristi K.: Did you play football?

Yeah.

What is inspiring you these days?

Kevin Belton: That I get to make people happy Kristi K.: OK, chef have everyone has a food they don't like.

What is one food that you do not like or will not eat?

Kevin Belton: I haven't met that one yet.

Kristi K.: But thank you so much.

It's great having you on, so I can.

Kevin Belton: Thank you for having me.

Kristi K.: In life, we learned that to work live and age well may mean making some difficult decisions Yet when push into challenges facing facts head on and taking a few risks, the rewards reaped are abundant That's a wrap on this episode of Business Life 360.

So glad you joined us to learn more about the exciting leadership, business innovation and healthy lifestyles?

I'm Kristi K. We'll see you on the next business life 360.

Announcer: Connect with Kristi K on LinkedIn at Kristi K Hoffman and hear the Business Life 360 conversation on FM 91 on Thursday mornings.

To watch previous episodes and more, visit our website at wgte.org/b360.

Announcer: Business Life 360 with Kristi K is made possible by her medaka, a locally owned, nationally recognized, not for profit health care network that has a strong commitment to clinical excellence, providing safe, high quality patient care and addressing social issues that impact health.

The John B and Lillian E Neff College of Business and Innovation at the University of Toledo.

Developing lifelong leaders for the World of business and by the Greater Toledo Community Foundation.

Also by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(Music)