YOU EARNED THIS

The Social Security & Medicare Podcast

From NCPSSM
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare

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About The Podcast

Advocating for a Decent Quality of Life for Older Americans

Brought to you by NCPSSM (The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare), the You Earned This Podcast features a new VIP guest each week, covering Social Security, Medicare, aging with dignity, and other vital topics affecting older Americans and their families today.

We discuss serious issues with a light touch with an average 15 minutes of listening time per episode. Tune in every week!

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RECENT EPISODES

Just in time for the holidays, some free advice on aging and enjoying life with family & friends from Dr. Erlene Rosowsky. She is a clinical psychologist at Harvard specializing in the field of “geropsychology.” Her research and writings spring from a deep sense of empathy for seniors and their families. In this encore episode, she talks about “the stories we tell ourselves” and the importance of humor. “Dr. R” also has plenty to say about ageism and forming friendships later in life. A must-listen for seniors — and their loved ones! Check out her blog, “The Older Self,” here.

More of us will be living to 100 and beyond, says Bill Kole, author of “The Big 100.” But do we want to? And how will we pay the bills for all those extra decades? What is the impact of “super aging” on Social Security? Bill paints a picture of the coming centenarian boom and all of its implications – good & bad – in this lively and surprisingly fun episode! After all, where else can you hear a 120-year old woman doing hip-hop? Bill’s book, “The Big 100: The New World of Super Aging,” is available at billkolebooks.com and through fine booksellers everywhere!

Meals on Wheels not only delivers hot, nutritious food to seniors — it provides an important social connection to people who may be lonely or disconnected. Meals on Wheels even makes older people safer! Meals on Wheels America’s chief policy offer, Josh Protas, tells us all about this amazing program that, unfortunately, faces possible funding cuts. As a historian, he also answers the question: do our current leaders have a ‘compassion deficit?’

11-term congresswoman and member of House Democratic leadership Debbie Wasserman Schultz takes Trump and the GOP to task for making health coverage unaffordable. “Not having health insurance… kills people,” she says. Wasserman Schultz rails against the Big Ugly Bill’s massive cuts to Medicaid and the Republicans’ refusal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. She was among the lawmakers who pushed back on the administration for trying to make it harder for workers to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance – leading Trump to reverse course.

You may find yourself as the “financial caregiver” for an aging parent. Most people are thrust into this role with little preparation or warning. Certified Financial Planner Beth Pinsker has written a new book, “My Mother’s Money,” bursting with great advice for adult children who — sooner or later — may need to take responsibility for their parents’ finances. She was inspired to write the book after serving as financial caregiver for her own mother, who passed away in 2021. In this episode, Beth reveals strategies for dealing with powers of attorney, banking, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security and end of life planning. A must listen! The book is available here.

The Trump administration tried to make it harder for older workers to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), but backed down under public pressure. Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says this mean-spirited policy would have stripped coverage from 1.5 million disabled workers over 10 years. She also explains why the 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) comes up short. (Note: This episode was recorded & posted shortly before the Trump administration abruptly withdrew the restrictive new SSDI rules.)

EXPLORE ALL EPISODES

Starting with Season 1

MEET YOUR HOST

WALTER GOTTLIEB

Walter is Director of Communications at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare. He is responsible for the organization’s public messaging and communications strategies – including earned media, social media, the Entitled to Know blog, and media relations.

Walter is also an Emmy award-winning television and video producer, writer, and director. He produced programming for Discovery, History Channel, Smithsonian Networks, Animal Planet, and National Geographic, among others.

As the host of the podcast, Walter brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the subject, asking well-informed guests the most pressing questions our listeners want and need to know.

ABOUT NCPSSM

An Advocacy Group for Older Americans

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare (NCPSSM) routinely delivers letters of support or opposition to Congress and the White House on legislation that will impact the health and retirement security of older Americans now and in the future. Expert testimony from our President & CEO or policy advisors is also given during hearings before House and Senate committees.