Lifestyle
The rise of the silver podcasters – and how you can do it too
From fun chats to crime stories to dating advice, Australia's ‘silver podcasters’ are taking over the digital airwaves – and with just a microphone and a story to tell, you could join them.
By Carolyn Tate
If you remember the crackle of changing radio stations or the tension of hovering your finger over the record button while you listened to the Top 40, waiting to add your favourite song to your latest mix tape, you might find the move towards digital podcasts pretty mind-blowing.
But did you know there is a cohort of podcasters taking over the airwaves to talk about and to the over 50s? They’re creating communities, sharing stories and raising the issues that matter in later life.
And the great thing about podcasting is that literally anyone can do it. Got something to say? A passion to share or a story to tell? You can join the digital revolution and find your audience, just like these great examples.
Some of our favourite silver podcasters
The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks
Alex’s brand new podcast for Citro launched last week and we are already loving it. Her first ‘juicy conversation’ is with the darling Michelle Bridges – who, along with the expected tips for staying fit, drops some key advice for women going through peri-menopause. Michelle also proves herself to be just as good at managing money as she is at push-ups. Don’t miss this debut episode and keep listening because Alex’s upcoming guests include Kate Langbroek, Julia Morris, Dr Natasha Cook and so many more.
Available: Citro, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart
The Mel Robbins podcast
Mel Robbins’ podcast is like a pep talk from your super-smart, no-nonsense best friend – if your best friend also had a deep love of neuroscience and never let you make excuses. Mel’s mix of tough love, practical tools, and relatable storytelling makes every episode feel like a mini life reset. Whether she’s diving into mindset hacks, tackling self-doubt, or just telling it like it is, she somehow manages to be both wildly motivating and totally down-to-earth. You’ll laugh, you’ll nod, you might cry and you’ll definitely take notes.
Available: Mel Robbins, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart
Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
This one is a total gem – funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly profound. Julia (you might know her as Elaine Bennett in Seinfeld or in Selina Meyer in Veep) chats with trailblazing older women (think Jane Fonda, Isabel Allende, Carol Burnett) and brings her signature warmth, wit, and curiosity to every conversation. It’s like eavesdropping on the kind of wise, honest, and refreshingly unfiltered advice you didn’t know you needed. Equal parts entertaining and inspiring, this podcast proves that growing older doesn’t mean fading out – it means getting louder.
Available: Lemonada Media, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music
Life's Booming
Award winning, Life’s Booming is a podcast series hosted by ABC’s James Valentine, created by Australian Seniors for an audience of over 50s. Now in its fifth series, the podcast focuses on exploring the many aspects of senior life – covering topics such as relationships, travel, and the ups and downs of later life.
Available: Seniors, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Audible
Suddenly Senior
A podcast for anyone who’s getting old…or planning to. Beloved Aussie broadcasters Angela Catterns and Ian Rogerson do great interviews with fellow Australian celebs about ageing.
Available: Suddenly Senior, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts
Straight Talk with Mark Bouris
Entrepreneur Mark Bouris sits down to get to know famous Australians and understand what makes them tick, including the great and unusual things they’re doing.
Available: Mentored, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Podtail
Dating After 50 with Robin and Julie
Robin and Julie are two good friends who started a podcast to help those over 50 navigate dating, relationships, old patterns and break-ups. It’s a fun listen with 2 very likeable ladies.
Available: Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Everand, Owltail, Podbay
Women in the Middle
A podcast for midlife women who are ready to hear some good news about being over 50!
Available: Suzy Rosenstein, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts
Women Living Well After 50
Sue Loncaric interviews expert guests about lifestyle issues for over 50s. They chat about health, travel, wellness and more.
Available: Women Living Well After 50, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts
I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin
After 25 years working in homicide, former Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin is sitting down across the interview room table from cops, crims, addicts, victims, small-time cheats and big-town lawyers, asking them to share their stories. Available: Audible, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Google
How to start your own podcast: a beginner’s guide
- Choose your topic. Choose something you're passionate about and could talk about for hours. Maybe it's gardening, local history, or sharing life experiences.
- Plan your format. Will you host solo, with a co-host, or interview guests? Write down ideas for your first few episodes. Keep each episode plan simple – perhaps just 3-4 main talking points to guide you.
- Grab your basic equipment. You'll need a good microphone – the Blue Yeti USB microphone is popular with beginners and delivers clear sound. Your computer, a quiet room, and some free recording software like Audacity will complete your initial setup.
- Learn the basics of recording. Practise speaking into your microphone and test different positions until you find what sounds best. Record a short test episode to get comfortable with the process.
- Edit your recording. Use a program like Audacity to edit your podcast as well – it doesn’t have to be perfect!. Focus on removing long pauses and any major mistakes. Your personality and natural speaking style will help build connection with listeners.
- Choose a hosting platform. Podbean, Acast or Buzzsprout are popular choices. These services store your podcast and distribute it to platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Many offer free starter plans.
- Press publish. Share your first episode with friends and family, ask for feedback, and keep learning as you go.
The key is to start simple and improve gradually. Your unique voice and experiences are what will make your podcast special. Don’t let perfectionism get in your way – connection comes when you’re real and you’re having fun.
Share your wisdom and experience with the world, we need that so much more than more tech-bros sharing their bitcoin tips! And more importantly, have fun. Podcasting is a great hobby and you never know, you might just pick up a loyal audience, keen to hear what you have to say next…
Feature image: iStock/fizkes
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