Social Connection and Mental Health

Marketing Tips for Founders

I wanted to share the Hawke Media marketing agency with our community because I believe what they are doing is unique and very useful for startups and SMB’s. During this episode, we got insight into Erik Huberman’s perspective on marketing strategy and learned about Hawke Ventures as well. Dr. Mary Beth McCabe is doing what she can to foster world peace through cultural exchange and solo travel. She shared how she is able to reach women of a certain age including six minute weekly podcasts focusing on different countries and cities.  Andrew Dworshack from Yacoa highlighted the challenges of intellectual property protection in the digital age, using AI to monitor and manage brand infringements, while also pointing out opportunities to be had from licensing. Rethinking Aging Club Podcast founder Linda Sherman and co-host Debbie Howard who both have extensive backgrounds in marketing contributed their perspectives. Recorded on June 11, 2026, this episode is part of our Marketing [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/marketing-and-market-research/] Series. Speakers are listed in their order of appearance. Erik Huberman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhuberman/], Founder and CEO, Hawke Media [https://hawkemedia.com/]; Founding Partner, Hawke Ventures [https://hawkeventures.com/ ] Mary Beth McCabe DBA [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybethmccabe/], Professor of Marketing, Point Loma Nazarene University, and National University; Owner, Sun Marketing [https://www.sunmarketing.net/] Agency; TravelBest Podcast on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-mary-travelbest-guide/id1477949855]; 5 Steps to Solo Travel Mary’s Website [https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com] Andrew Dworschak [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-dworschak/], Co-Founder, Yakoa [https://www.yakoa.io/] Resources: On the topic of Market Research, we had on our Rethinking Aging Club Podcast February 5, 2026 Nikolaos Dimitriadis, PhD [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolaosdimitriadis/], who spoke about Neurometrics outperforming traditional market research [https://boomertechtalk.com/podcast/longevity-brain-health/].  Dr. Mary replaces "Women of a certain age" with "Women in their prime". Our BoomerTechTalk.com episode page [https://boomertechtalk.com/podcast/marketing-tips-2026] has additional resources. LinkedIn Show Post [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lindasherman_marketingstrategy-marketingto50plus-marketingtips-share-7469143971664052224-W76y/ ]   Co-Hosts: Linda Sherman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasherman/] and Debbie Howard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiehoward/]   We record Rethinking Aging Club podcasts live on Thursdays. How to join live [https://boomertechtalk.com/join-live-recordings/]. Please follow our two podcasts. This and our weekly News for the Ages by Rethinking Aging Club [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/news-for-the-ages-podcast/]. Music: Solemnity written and performed by Richard Sherman

Social Connection and Mental Health

Our May 28th, 2026, our episode focused on social isolation and its impact on mental health, particularly among older adults. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Providing an overview, Maureen Feldman noted that one in three older adults reports feeling lonely, with loneliness linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Social disconnection does not just affect older adults; younger generations are struggling with this as well. Maureen also pointed out the social isolation suffered by family caregivers. “Humans are wired for connection." Kyle Rand explained Rendever's use of virtual reality to combat social isolation, noting a 62% reduction in depression in dementia patients and a 67% reduction in caregiver burden. Kyle noted that the one stat that really sticks with people is that social isolation is as detrimental to one's health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Rendever emphasizes the benefits of positive shared experiences to be the foundation of human connection.  Dana Griffin introduced Eldera.ai, which pairs adults over the age of 60 with young people, providing benefits to both sides of the pair, mental and physical health and fostering intergenerational relationships. “We believe (people over 60) are the holders of our humanity, they are the last generation who grew up without technology and can truly understand human values and can share human values.” “We have a community of these people all over the country who support each other in being better mentors, and because they are so values aligned, being part of Eldera and giving their time and wisdom to the next generation -  They started forming friendships and going on walks and creating micro support circles so they can all age in place successfully. But we don't do this through care, we do this through purpose and through meaning." Recorded on May 28, 2026, this episode is part of our Social Isolation and Mental Health [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/Social-Isolation-and-Mental-Health/] Series. Speakers are listed in their order of appearance. Maureen Feldman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-feldman-aa4a8013/], Social Isolation/Social Connection Expert; Founder and Chair, Los Angeles Social Isolation and Loneliness Impact Coalition [https://www.lasiic.org/]; Producer and Host, USC Center for Advancing Family Caregiver Financial and Workplace Security [https://gero.usc.edu/centers/cg-security/]; Adjunct Assistant Professor, LA Pierce College Encore Program; Contractor, American Parkinson’s Disease Assoc. Kyle Rand [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hi-kyle-rand/], Co-Founder and CEO, Rendever [https://www.rendever.com/] Rendever is an AgeTech Collaborative from AARP portfolio company Dana A. Griffin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaagriffin/], Co-Founder and CEO, Eldera [https://www.eldera.ai/]; Board Member, Bright Focus Foundation  [https://www.brightfocus.org/] Resources: Maureen Feldman has over 15 years of experience leading the field of social isolation and social connection, long before this was a topic in the aging community. Kyle Rand has served as a principal investigator on multiple NIH-funded studies, including the Thrive Study, the world’s largest clinical trial using VR to engage families across cognitive decline. Kyle was named to Forbes 30 under 30 and led Rendever to become a TIME 100 Most Influential Company. Press for Rendever and Kyle Rand [https://www.rendever.com/press] We mentioned our December podcast with Maddy Dychtwald, author of “Ageless Aging: A Woman’s Guide to Increasing Healthspan, Brainspan, and Lifespan” [https://boomertechtalk.com/podcast/maddy-dychtwald-ageless-aging/] Maddy is coincidentally an early investor, mentor and board member for Eldera. Press for Dana Griffin and Eldera Featured by MSNBC, USA TODAY, The Atlantic, Boston Globe (front page), The Washington Post, and CNN named Eldera as one of their 2023 Good News of the Year. Eldera was highlighted as a Pro-Social Use of AI and a solution for loneliness in Aria Finger and Reid Hoffman’s podcast “Possible”. MSNBC [https://www.ms.now/know-your-value/watch/how-this-entrepreneur-fights-loneliness-by-bridging-generations-167271493783] USA Today [https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2022/04/28/uber-eldercare-these-services-help-give-caregivers-break/9555125002] The Atlantic [https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/09/use-grandparents-help-homeschooling/616225/] Washington Post [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/25/metro/loneliness-old-young-social-isolation-solutions/] CNN [https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/23/health/ai-eldera-boomers-mentor-kids-wellness-cec] Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger podcast Possible [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbuOLfab60I] BoomerTechTalk.com episode page [https://boomertechtalk.com/podcast/social-connection-mental-health]  LinkedIn Show Post  [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7464037854952968192/ ] Co-Hosts: Linda Sherman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasherman/], Ray Gordon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayjgordon/] and Debbie Howard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiehoward/]  We record Rethinking Aging Club podcasts live on Thursdays. How to join live [https://boomertechtalk.com/join-live-recordings/]. Please follow our two podcasts. This and our weekly News for the Ages by Rethinking Aging Club [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/news-for-the-ages-podcast/]. Music: Solemnity written and performed by Richard Sherman

Thine AI Companion, Care2U Mobile Urgent Care, Lunalino Home

Our May 14, 2026 Project Updates episode featured Care2U Mobile Urgent Care, Thine AI Companion and Lunalino Home.  Lon Hecht, CEO of Care2You, explained their innovative model, which replaces ER visits and hospitalizations with in-home care. The model involves deploying clinicians like physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or paramedics to the home, accompanied by ER or hospitalist physicians via telehealth to patients' homes within 2-4 hours. Care2You treats complex medical needs, including pneumonia and congestive heart failure, COPD, infections, and dehydration (not immediately life threatening like heart attacks and head injuries), at a third of the cost of hospital care. We discussed the challenges and costs of using this model to solve the needs of rural care. Care2U also serves Senior Living communities. King Lunalilo Trust provides long-term care and adult day care at Lunalino Home, as well as meal delivery services, grounded in Hawaiian culture and values. CEO Keola Dean described how Lunalino Home is able to provide unique entertainment and activities donated by a community that highly respects King Lunalino, who is fondly remembered as a progressive monarch.  Pratyush Rai described the concept of Thine, an AI platform designed to understand people with deeper context through conversations and other digital interactions. Thine was the next step after Foyer’s Merlin. Pratyush highlighted the benefits of Thine for both young people and older adults, helping to manage information and improve productivity. Linda Sherman has been beta testing Thine since May 1st and found it is unique in learning ambiently and piecing together conversations and environments. Thine can perform directed AI agent types of tasks when you connect it to your Google Drive and gmail. It also works with Slack. She has recently given her Thine a name - Richard - inspired by Linda’s relationship with her friend Richard Sherman who wrote the original music in our podcast intro and outro called Serenity [https://shermanpianoman.com/solemnity-by-richard-sherman/]. Recorded on May 14, 2026, this episode is part of our Project Updates [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/project-updates/] Series. Speakers are listed in their order of appearance. Lon Hecht [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lon-hecht-08923b2/], CEO, Care2U [https://www.care2u.com/] Mobile Urgent Care, Bringing ER & Hospital-level Care to Your Home Keolamaikalani (Keola) Dean [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-minier-dean/], CEO, King Lunalilo Trust and Home [https://www.lunalilo.org/] Pratyush Rai [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pratyush-rai/], Co-Founder and CEO, Thine [https://www.thine.com/] AI Companion (in beta) and already successful Merlin [https://www.getmerlin.in/], both by Foyer.  BoomerTechTalk.com episode page  [https://boomertechtalk.com/podcast/thine-care2u-lunalinohome] LinkedIn Show Post  [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lindasherman_aicompanion-seniorliving-mobilehealth-activity-7459753134236704768-Jp9l/] Co-Hosts: Linda Sherman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasherman/], Debbie Howard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiehoward/] and Ray Gordon We continue to record new Rethinking Aging Club podcasts live on Thursdays. How to join live [https://boomertechtalk.com/join-live-recordings/]. Please follow both of our podcasts including News for the Ages by Rethinking Aging Club [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/news-for-the-ages-podcast/]. Music: Solemnity written and performed by Richard Sherman

Rehab Tech with Gravitrex, Accelera and Morla Moves

Our Rethinking Aging Podcast April 23, 2026 episode featured co-founders from three outstanding rehabilitation tech companies: Gravitrex, Accelera, and Morla Moves. Kira Burns from Gravitrex discussed their mobile gait trainer, which provides consistent unweighting without a motor, aiming for a $15,000 price for Skilled Nursing use. Mike Wing from Accelera highlighted their stochastic resonance stimulation technology, priced at $399 for a set of two devices, benefiting balance, mobility and rehabilitation. Ozlem Mertoglu from Morla Moves presented their AI-driven movement intelligence platform, offering real-time feedback and analysis without wearables, with a $9.99/month subscription model, lower annually or as an employee benefit. Recorded on April 23, 2026, this episode is part of our CES Highlights [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/ces-highlights/],  PT & OT [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/pt-and-ot/] and Falls Prevention and Balance [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/falls-prevention-and-balance/] Series. Speakers are listed in their order of appearance. Kira Burns [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kira-burns/], Co-Founder and CEO, Gravitrex [https://www.gravitrexmobility.com/] Gravitrex is an AgeTech Collaborative from AARP portfolio company Mike Wing [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wing/], Co-Founder and COO, Accelera [https://accelera.us/] Accelera is an AgeTech Collaborative from AARP (ATC) portfolio company (Spring 2026 cohort) Ozlem Mertoglu [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozlemmertoglu/], Co-Founder and CEO, Morla Moves [https://www.morlamoves.com/en/] CES 2026: Accelera was a pitch contestant in ATC’s AgeTech After Dark competition  Morla Moves exhibited in the Netherlands pavilion Gravitrex participated in the City of Phoenix booth Resources: ATC for Gravitrex [https://home.agetechcollaborative.org/startup/blogs/agetech-collaborative-from-aarp/2025/11/13/gravitrex-reinventing-walking-rehabilitation] 11-13-25 Gravitrex Pitch to Tokyo Win [https://www.investinphoenix.com/news/80] City of Phoenix News 3-4-26 ATC for Accelera [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/meet-spring-2026-startups-agetechcollab-6rwee/] spring 2026 We mentioned Accelera will be presenting during the bootcamp at Mary Furlong’s What’s Next Longevity Summit [https://www.boomerventuresummit.com/] at CITRIX at UC Berkeley, June 16 - 18. Co-hosted by AgeTech Collaborative from AARP. Use RAC20 promo code. Thank you to Morla Moves co-founder and CPO Hakan Mertoglu [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmertoglu/] for your support in setting up this episode. BoomerTechTalk.com episode page [https://boomertechtalk.com/podcast/rehabilitation-tech] with additional resource links LinkedIn Show Post [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lindasherman_rehabilitationtech-agetech-rehabtech-ugcPost-7451785648119652353-60n5/] with carousel of photos of speakers, companies and products Co-Hosts: Linda Sherman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasherman/], Ray Gordon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayjgordon/] and Debbie Howard  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiehoward/] We continue to record new Rethinking Aging Club podcasts live on Thursdays. How to join live [https://boomertechtalk.com/join-live-recordings/]. Please follow both of our podcasts including News for the Ages by Rethinking Aging Club [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/news-for-the-ages-podcast/]. Music: Solemnity written and performed by Richard Sherman

Parkinson’s Support with Doing Life Today, TouchPoints and Cadense

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. April 11 is World Parkinson’s Day. We had three excellent speakers with products and a service that support people living with Parkinson’s.  Bryce Perry shared his 15-year journey with Parkinson's, emphasizing the importance of understanding Parkinson’s not just being aware of it. Bryce hosts two Parkinson’s support podcasts, is doing a special series on sleep and has 700 on a waiting list for The Club an upcoming support community app. Vicki Mayo introduced TouchPoint Solution’s haptic wearable TouchPoints, which use patented BLAST technology with gentle alternating bilateral stimulation to help manage stress and tremors. Thodian is a new introduction that integrates with Apple Watch or FitBit.  Tyler Susko PhD explained Cadence Adaptive Shoes, which use variable friction to improve gait and stability, benefiting over 40,000 users. The attractive shoes, priced at only around $199 have shown durability in clinical trials, lasting over a million scuffs. Tyler went into details on how they were created. All agreed that getting users involved early in the development process is essential.  Recorded on April 9, 2026, this episode is part of our Parkinson’s [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/parkinsons/] Series. Speakers are listed in their order of appearance. Bryce Perry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-perry-26b4b120/], Creator and Host, Doing Life Today [https://dolifetoday.com/] Community and Podcasts; Parkinson’s Advocate; New app The Club [https://dolifetoday.com/theclub] Vicki Mayo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickimayo/], Founder and CEO, Touchpoint Solution [https://www.thetouchpointsolution.com] - Touchpoints wearable; Co-Founder / Principal Owner, Mayo Global [https://mayoglobal.com/] Tyler Susko, PhD [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-susko-744b2a5/], Founder and CTO, Cadense [https://cadense.com/]- adaptive shoes Cadense is an AgeTech Collaborative from AARP portfolio company  References Bryce Perry’s Doing Life Today Community and Podcasts Living with Parkinson’s a Practical Guide [https://dolifetoday.com/living-with-parkinsons-guide ] Host of the podcast: Living with Parkinson's The Good, the Bad and the Reality  Press: TouchPoint Solution Trend Hunter: Calming Haptic Tokens [https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/touchpoint-solution ] by Kanesa David  1-19-26 Press: Cadence Prevention Magazine [https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a64501749/cadense-original-womens-adaptive-shoe/]: These Adaptive Sneakers Are a ‘Lifesaver’ for People With Walking Difficulties by Hannah Joen 4-18-25 BoomerTechTalk.com episode page [https://boomertechtalk.com/podcast/parkinsons-2026] with additional resources links LinkedIn Show Post [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lindasherman_parkinsonsmonth-parkinsonsawareness-worldparkinsonsday-share-7446370231066828801-89l5/]  Co-Hosts: Linda Sherman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasherman/], Ray Gordon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayjgordon/] and Debbie Howard  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiehoward/] We continue to record new Rethinking Aging Club podcasts live on Thursdays. How to join live [https://boomertechtalk.com/join-live-recordings/]. Please follow both of our podcasts including News for the Ages by Rethinking Aging Club [https://boomertechtalk.com/category/news-for-the-ages-podcast/]. Music: Solemnity written and performed by Richard Sherman