We recently connected with Catherine Marienau and have shared our conversation below.

Catherine, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I met, Gail Zelitzky, my co-founder and co-host of Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined when Gail entered graduate school in her late 60s; I served as her faculty advisor. Our friendship developed over shared interests in women’s issues. After Gail graduated, we decided to start a podcast to feature inspiring stories of women ages 70-100+. Older women are sadly overlooked and stereotyped in American society. We wanted to be the active voice for women aging; to shatter the myth that women become irrelevant as we age and to change the conversation about women and aging. We took an immersion course in podcasting and launched in June 2019. Neither of us knew what podcasting really entailed so we learned as we went. We drew on our networks of friends and colleagues for our early guests. Soon, guests began referring us to other women, which continues to happen. We find women through our own networking as we interact with and speak to various groups and organizations. Also, women now approach us to be guests, on their own or via their agents.
Currently, we have produced 250 podcast episodes (one per week) including an Advocates for Women Aging YouTube series. We also host a membership group–Aging Reimagined Circle–where we offer monthly virtual programs, and a Face Book Group. We offer webinars, workshops and presentations to groups across the country and are interviewed on other podcasts. Our work is being recognized, e.g., Turn the Page on Age Award from Chicago Innovations and Village Chicago; Honorees of Oak Park, IL Celebrating Seniors 2023.
Women Over 70 is unique in focusing on women in the later decades of their lives who live with curiosity, creativity, and courage. They are inspiration for one another and role models for younger women. We are so grateful to be connecting with vibrant older women all over the country and in other countries. We are part of the larger movement to ‘change the narrative’ about women aging.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Gail (age 81) and l (age 74) both have journeyed long in the area of women’s issues and rights. Gail is an experienced entrepreneur, owning several businesses, and a business coach who is now focusing on Women Over 70 along with her own ventures–Wonder Women Mastermind, Women Rising, and life experience coaching for women. For over 50 years, I have mentored and taught in innovative degree program for adults, the majority of whom are women. I have published books on various aspects of women’s lives, e.g., women’s psychological development and holistic health approaches for post-menopausal women.
To recap, Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined offers:
+ weekly, award winning, podcast interviews with women ages 70-100+, available on our website, wherever people listen to podcasts, and on YouTube.
+ monthly virtual programs on issues that matter to women, hosted by our membership group, Aging Reimagined Circle.
+ an active Face Book Group
+ a monthly newsletter
+ customized speaking engagements, workshops, webinars (virtual and in-person)

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

For the first 2+ years of our business, Women Over 70 LLC, we paid for everything out of pocket, including for a part-time production and social media manager. Since the end of year 3, we have been able to pay Kristine Kruse from membership funds (Aging Reimagined Circle), donations, and occasional sponsors. We continue to seek sponsors for the podcast, more Aging Reimagined Circle members, and more donations. We do not yet take any reimbursement for our time or personal expenses.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

We are very relational in our approaches.
+ Podcast. One of us follows up on all referrals and leads and does a pre-interview chat with the podcast guest, drafts an Introduction and talking points for the guest’s input. Together we record the 30-minute interview on Zoom, and one of us drafts Show Notes for the guest’s approval, for the website with cover art.
+ Creating Community through the Aging Reimagined Circle membership group as well as through the Face Book Group.
+ We network constantly and customize our presentations and speaking for the given audience (virtually and in-person).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.womenover70.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenover70/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenover70/
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@WomenOver70
• Other: catherine@womenover70.com

Image Credits
Kristine Kruse for the logo