Michelle Maccarone is a 41-year-old New York City playwright, performer, and podcast host who found her creative voice by celebrating the wit and wisdom of mid-century women. Her latest play, "The Leopard and the Lynx," premiered at the New York Theatre Festival in January 2025.
How her obsession with "Auntie Mame" led to discovering Pat Tanner's real-life story of bisexuality and lavender marriage
Why she believes people in the 1970s had more freedom to create their own identities than we give them credit for
The challenge of directing your own writing: "It's just too much, you get stuck in your own head"
How perimenopause is teaching her not to recognize her own body anymore
Why she's working on a one-woman show about Elsa Maxwell, the queer party planner who invented the scavenger hunt
Her philosophy: "Not everyone has to like you and that's okay"
Instagram/Facebook: @vintageoldbiddy Podcast: "Vintage Old Biddy"
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
This week we welcome Dr. Joe Eviatar, who spent 30 years as a highly respected oculofacial plastic surgeon before experiencing a profound pandemic awakening. At 63, he traded his medical practice for life coaching, launching Best Face Forward Coaching to help clients—particularly gay men—embrace aging with radical self-acceptance.
Episode Highlights:
Joe's groundbreaking work with AIDS patients suffering from facial lipoatrophy in the 90s
The pandemic moment when he realized he felt like a "drug pusher"
Why patients asking to look like celebrities became his breaking point
The mirror technique: rewiring your brain for self-love in two minutes daily
Unique challenges gay men face aging without elder role models
His complete career pivot at 60—from doctor to life coaching certification
Joe’s six pillars of wellness and finding peace
Discover how a doctor who helped people chase youth learned to champion authenticity, why perfectionism plagues the LGBTQ+ community, and how neuroplasticity can transform your relationship with your reflection.
Connect With Dr. Joe:
Website: https://bestfaceforward.com
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
Revolutionary artist Miss Peria joins host Heath Brockwell to discuss founding Roblox Music as a genre and creating space for authentic queer expression in digital realms. Since her debut in June 2020, Miss Peria has transformed the gaming platform through her distinctive fusion of hip-hop, disco, and pop.In this episode, Miss Peria shares:
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
Follow Miss Peria: Instagram: @MissPeriaMusic Spotify: Miss Peria
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.comThe New Maturity celebrates queer aging with pride, featuring conversations with artists, thinkers, and creators who are redefining what it means to grow older in queer communities.New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
This week we journey into the sensory world of fashion publishing with Dennis Golonka, who witnessed Harper's Bazaar's spectacular rebirth under Liz Tilberis in 1992—a transformation that redefined the industry forever. Dennis unveils fashion's Camelot with revelations kept quiet for three decades, from Tilberis's "angel in Chanel" leadership style to her strategic rivalry with Anna Wintour and meaningful friendship with Princess Diana.
The spectacular rebirth of Harper's Bazaar that redefined fashion publishing
Inside Liz Tilberis's revolutionary "angel in Chanel" leadership approach
The strategic rivalry with Anna Wintour that insiders still discuss
Princess Diana's friendship with Tilberis and their Met Gala moment
Dennis's evolution from nervous assistant to influential photographer
How radical trust—not fear—creates truly transformative leadership
Preserving print's cultural influence in today's algorithm-driven landscape
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
This week we explore how getting older might actually mean getting better with Richard Faraino, whose life chronicles New York's most pivotal moments. From fighting on the frontlines of the AIDS crisis as both a medical librarian and ACT UP activist to his stunning midlife career pivot into horticulture, Richard now creates spaces of beauty in Battery Park's gardens for 12 million annual visitors—a poetic evolution for someone who once fought to distribute life-saving medical information.
Richard's journey from medical librarian to ACT UP activist during the AIDS crisis
Finding love through "The Back Room," an early digital dating service, despite policies against dating HIV-positive men
How his pattern of seeking solace in gardens evolved into a second career
Creating Battery Park's stunning gardens and their impact on 12 million visitors annually
The psychological liberation of abandoning external validation in midlife
Why embracing change becomes easier—not harder—as you age
Richard's philosophy on genuine community impact versus performative activism
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
This week we explore a radical alternative to traditional living with filmmakers Michael Bullock and Michael Cukr, creators of the groundbreaking documentary "Dream Homes." Currently exhibiting at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Triennial, their film takes us inside three LGBTQIA+ intentional communities reimagining what "home" can mean in America today—not as utopian experiments hidden from society, but as active laboratories creating practical models of care, mutual support, and collective living.
How these communities differ from separatist LGBTQIA+ communes of previous generations
Miss Major's House of GG—a sanctuary offering rest for trans women by a pioneer who created the first safe spaces for trans sex workers
Lupinwood's approach to structure through formal house meetings and clearly defined responsibilities
Ten Cups Farm's revolutionary collective parenting model ensuring adults never run on empty
The radical concept of rest as luxury systematically denied to marginalized people
How these communities respond to prejudice with understanding rather than anger
The documentary's unexpected urgency after Trump's election and what it means for queer communities
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
This week we're joined by Susan Aberth, renowned author of "The Tarot of Leonora Carrington" and Bard College's preeminent scholar of occult art history. In our most downloaded episode of 2025 so far, Aberth delivers an intellectual rollercoaster—seamlessly connecting practical queer survival wisdom with revelations about the mystical underpinnings of American culture that will forever change how you see The Wizard of Oz.
The brutal realities of estate planning for queer couples
How homophobic relatives can legally erase queer lives after death
The Emerald City's secret Masonic origins revealed
Why men in early 20th century America flocked to rituals where they could wear makeup
How Los Angeles became the epicenter of queer mystical culture
The surprising connection between physics and what we call "supernatural"
Aberth's prediction for humanity's next evolutionary leap
Mentioned in this episode: "Sci-Fi, Magic, Queer LA" exhibition and "The Tarot of Leonora Carrington"
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
This week we welcome Douglas Friedman, the renowned photographer capturing America's most breathtaking interiors for Architectural Digest and Vogue. At 52, Friedman embodies creative reinvention—thriving in Manhattan's art world, Marfa's desert expanses, and amid his 150-year-old Long Island restoration project.
Episode Highlights:
Douglas's radical career pivot at 27—leaving David Fincher's film crew to travel Southeast Asia
The $10,000 in traveler's checks that changed everything
Finding patience and presence before the era of "constant input"
The decade-long Marfa love affair that everyone thought was crazy
Why his friend Martha Stewart at 80+ is his ultimate role model
The philosophy of the "high value day"—creative exhaustion vs. burnout
Explore how abandoning Hollywood transformed his artistic vision, why at 52 he's designing swimwear, restoring historic homes, and launching diverse creative ventures, and how his unconventional desert home "ringed by mountains" reshaped his identity.
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
Kicking off Season 3 to celebrate Pride 2025 with Jeff Hiller, the breakout star from HBO's "Somebody Somewhere." Jeff discusses his memoir "Actress of a Certain Age: My 20-Year Trail to Overnight Success," chronicling his journey from theme restaurant performer to Hollywood success story.
Jeff shares his Texas-to-Hollywood path, the infamous $15,000 toupee incident, breaking stereotypical roles, finding success through grief, and how "Somebody Somewhere" changed everything. Learn his three principles for midlife reinvention: embracing authenticity, rejecting limiting stereotypes, and continuously redefining success.
Pre-order Jeff's memoir "Actress of a Certain Age" (releasing June 10th)!
Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenewmaturity.com
Instagram: @thenewmaturity
Newsletter: https://thenewmaturity.substack.com
Email: heath@thenewmaturity.com
New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation that might just change how you see growing older.
An accomplished editor steps into the director's chair, weaving parenthood and filmmaking into an intimate exploration of family complexity in her groundbreaking debut.
Ready to revolutionize how you grow older? The New Maturity is your vibrant community where queerness meets wisdom, and every year brings exciting new possibilities. Our stories celebrate aging authentically, challenge stereotypes, and empower you to thrive. Join our dynamic Instagram community @thenewmaturity and discover game-changing insights at thenewmaturity.com. Whether you're LGBTQ+ or an ally, we're rewriting the rules of aging together!
Losing his sight at 25 led this master potter to profound artistic revelation, offering powerful lessons in resilience and the unexpected gifts of transformation.
Ready to revolutionize how you grow older? The New Maturity is your vibrant community where queerness meets wisdom, and every year brings exciting new possibilities. Our stories celebrate aging authentically, challenge stereotypes, and empower you to thrive. Join our dynamic Instagram community @thenewmaturity and discover game-changing insights at thenewmaturity.com. Whether you're LGBTQ+ or an ally, we're rewriting the rules of aging together!
A veteran of New York's electric underground serves delicious tales of guerrilla television, disco rebellion, and the art of growing older with outrageous grace.
Ready to revolutionize how you grow older? The New Maturity is your vibrant community where queerness meets wisdom, and every year brings exciting new possibilities. Our stories celebrate aging authentically, challenge stereotypes, and empower you to thrive. Join our dynamic Instagram community @thenewmaturity and discover game-changing insights at thenewmaturity.com. Whether you're LGBTQ+ or an ally, we're rewriting the rules of aging together!
What if you could see all possible outcomes before making a choice? Heath explores the lasting impact of Choose Your Own Adventure books and how they shaped his approach to life's biggest decisions. Then, a revealing conversation with someone who chose to build a community-centered life despite the risks. Your next great adventure starts with understanding the choices that brought you here.
When marriage conventions crumbled, this British bear found unexpected belonging in a 12-person intentional community, challenging traditional narratives of aging, love, and chosen family.
Ready to revolutionize how you grow older? The New Maturity is your vibrant community where queerness meets wisdom, and every year brings exciting new possibilities. Our stories celebrate aging authentically, challenge stereotypes, and empower you to thrive. Join our dynamic Instagram community @thenewmaturity and discover game-changing insights at thenewmaturity.com. Whether you're LGBTQ+ or an ally, we're rewriting the rules of aging together!
Heath makes his case for why magazines represent the ultimate act of rebellion in 2025—choosing depth over breadth, curation over algorithms, and patience over instant gratification. His candid conversation with Hello Mr. founder Ryan Fitzgibbon reveals the surprising cultural shift bringing younger audiences back to print. This bonus episode might just change your relationship with media forever.
An indie publishing maverick reimagines life in middle America, transforming an HIV diagnosis into a catalyst for innovation and proving creativity thrives far beyond coastal horizons.
Ready to revolutionize how you grow older? The New Maturity is your vibrant community where queerness meets wisdom, and every year brings exciting new possibilities. Our stories celebrate aging authentically, challenge stereotypes, and empower you to thrive. Join our dynamic Instagram community @thenewmaturity and discover game-changing insights at thenewmaturity.com. Whether you're LGBTQ+ or an ally, we're rewriting the rules of aging together!
Ever had a meaningful connection when you least expected it? In this episode, I share how being relegated to "staff status" at a high-profile work dinner led to an authentic friendship when a stranger said: "I'll be vulnerable with you."This isn't about networking—it's about what happens when professional masks drop and we allow ourselves to be truly seen. I'm unpacking the beautiful complexity of queer male friendships and how these vital connections form in unexpected places. Sometimes the most meaningful relationships begin with vulnerability. Listen in.
A design influencer trades digital perfection for duck-filled days in Tennessee, confronting social media's hollow promises and discovering authentic connection in America's heartland.
Ready to revolutionize how you grow older? The New Maturity is your vibrant community where queerness meets wisdom, and every year brings exciting new possibilities. Our stories celebrate aging authentically, challenge stereotypes, and empower you to thrive. Join our dynamic Instagram community @thenewmaturity and discover game-changing insights at thenewmaturity.com. Whether you're LGBTQ+ or an ally, we're rewriting the rules of aging together!
Former state representative Brian Sims reveals how political defeat became an unexpected gateway to freedom, exploring grace under fire and why America's current turbulence might spark profound transformation.
Ready to revolutionize how you grow older? The New Maturity is your vibrant community where queerness meets wisdom, and every year brings exciting new possibilities. Our stories celebrate aging authentically, challenge stereotypes, and empower you to thrive. Join our dynamic Instagram community @thenewmaturity and discover game-changing insights at thenewmaturity.com. Whether you're LGBTQ+ or an ally, we're rewriting the rules of aging together!