The Next Bit Podcast

If you’re over 60 and have tried everything to sleep better, are you supposed to just accept it?

Kirsten Taylor, a nutritionist, naturopath and sleep practitioner, and founder of SleepDrops, has spent 23 years helping people of all ages, including people in their 90s, get back to sleep. She tells Hannah McQueen why poor sleep is rarely one unfixable thing. They cover how your body clock works, simple changes that cost next to nothing, building a wind-down routine, magnesium, and why women and men switch off so differently. Kirsten also shares three things you can start this week.

Free sleep resources from SleepDrops, including 23 sleep hygiene tips: https://sleepdrops.co.nz/resources/?srsltid=AU7gw4UNuypyJHozSQSTbd7Ppyon1_yjIxo7NAAXcky-fo9RrpabTd6P

Book your whole-of-person Brightly Baseline+ assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz

General information only. Talk to your doctor before changing any medication.

Live well and stay independent for longer. Get your whole-of-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz

The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly
Guest: Kirsten Taylor

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Credits
Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction
Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen
Research & Production: Shelley Smith
Additional Support: Billy McQueen

“His body was here, but his mind wasn’t.”

Dave Parish’s dad Graham was a Wellington plumber who loved his job. When he was made redundant in 2001, something shifted. Over the next two decades the warning signs built up: withdrawal, grumpiness, hearing loss, weight and diabetes, and odd behaviour that was easy to explain away. Then came the crisis that finally led to a dementia diagnosis.

Dave talks openly with Hannah McQueen about the toll on his mum as Graham’s carer, the frustration of waiting for things to get worse in a health system built for emergencies, and the surprising closeness he found with his dad in his final years.
His message to families noticing changes in a parent is simple: don’t wait for help to be offered. Ask early, because time is precious.

Live well and stay independent for longer. Get your whole-of-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz

The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly
Guest: Dave Parish

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Credits
Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction
Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen
Research & Production: Shelley Smith
Additional Support: Billy McQueen

When my gran died without warning, my grandad became lonely almost overnight. Within days, a woman from across the road started turning up with cake. As his eldest granddaughter and self-appointed gatekeeper, I was suspicious.

In this episode of The Next Bit, I sit down with Steve Taylor, a relationship counsellor and mediator with 25 years of experience helping couples and families through exactly this territory. We talk about the untidy reality of grief, why guilt shows up even when you’ve done everything right, and why 70-year-olds are suddenly learning what “swipe right” means. Steve also explains why he tells clients that no orgasm is worth the estate.

We also look at the other side: what it’s like to be the adult child watching a parent fall for someone new. If you’ve ever side-eyed your parent’s new “friend”, or wondered whether you’re allowed to want more from your own life, this one’s for you.

The big takeaway: loving again isn’t disloyal. It doesn’t replace the person who died or shrink the life you built with them.

If this episode gave you something to think about, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear it. We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and tell us what you want to see in future episodes.

Want to get practical about starting a new relationship later in life? Go back and listen to our earlier episodes on wills, enduring power of attorney and prenups.

Learn more about how Age Brightly can support you and your family at agebrightly.co.nz.

The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly
Guest: Steve Taylor, relationship counsellor and mediator

Join our community!
We love to hear your feedback and questions.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast

Credits
Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction
Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen
Research & Production: Shelley Smith
Additional Support: Billy McQueen

In this episode of The Next Bit Podcast, I sit down with Tracey Martin, chief executive of the New Zealand Aged Care Association, to respond to the comments you shared after our last episode on aged residential care. Tracey puts the rest home horror stories in context, explaining that only a small fraction of complaints to the Health and Disability Commissioner relate to aged care, and that most care beds are run by charities, not-for-profits and small owner-operators rather than profit-driven corporates. We explore how the needs assessment works, what the four levels of care actually mean, and why $187 a day in funding rarely covers what residents need. Tracey also explains the residential care subsidy, why the family home is protected for the spouse still living there, and her campaign The Long Drive, which highlights couples separated by a lack of local care. We also touch on the proposed reforms and the staffing pressures facing the sector. Whether you're weighing up care for a parent or simply want to understand the system before you need it, this episode offers a clear, honest look at aged care in New Zealand.

Join our community!
We love to hear your feedback and questions.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast

Credits
Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction
Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen
Research & Production: Shelley Smith
Additional Support: Billy McQueen

In this episode of The Next Bit Podcast, I sit down with investment advisor Gretchen Williamson to discuss a common pitfall that many retirees face: the mismanagement of their investment strategies once the paychecks stop. We explore why the transition to retirement requires a different approach to investing, particularly with longevity in mind. Gretchen emphasizes the importance of understanding your financial landscape, especially the risks of keeping too much cash in the bank or giving away too much wealth to family while still alive. We also touch on how traditional investment strategies may need to evolve to ensure a sustainable income for the next 20 to 25 years. Whether you’re nearing retirement or already there, this episode offers crucial insights to help you navigate your financial future effectively.