Retirement Life
15 July 2026
Rachel McAlpine - Learning How To be Old
“I'm Rachel McAlpine, born in 1940. If you ever become old, you will still be you. But nearly everything else will change, and that's pretty interesting”. That’s how writer Rachel McAlpine describes her podcast Learning How to Be Old online. We caught up with her to hear how the show started and about hitting her ageing ‘sweet spot’ in her 80s.
Can you share a little background on yourself and how the Learning How to Be Old podcast came about?
I'm a writer, 86 now, and old age snuck up on me. At 75 it suddenly struck me that, ‘Oh I'm technically an old person! I wonder how much longer I will live?’ My doctor and various questionnaires said I was likely to live to 99. That galvanised me to think, read, write, and eventually podcast about old age.
What are the key things you’ve learned from the podcast so far?
I've learned that every aspect of life is different in old age. It's not just health and fitness and finance. For example, we've talked about conversation, New Year resolutions, driving, gardening, sobriety, diaries, clothes, dancing, hearing, business, singing, food, sleep, creativity - everything changes as you get older. And it's not all bad: it's interesting!
Planning what to do with your KiwiSaver in retirement?
Can you tell us a bit about your writing, including that related to older people?
I've written at least 30 books. (I've lost count because some are very tiny, like ESL readers for Japanese college students.) My best sellers were geeky books about digital writing and so forth. These poems have made an impact: How To be Old (Cuba Press, 2020). My recent play, The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People was a hit: there's a hunger for work about old people now, as the population ages.
What does a good ‘ordinary’ day look like for you in ‘retirement’ these days?
Jeepers! No such thing. If I could cram seven days into one, I'd enjoy Pilates, strength training and a sea swim, coffee in the sun with a friend or family member, hours of work on my podcast, sharing WhatsApp group photos and jokes, knocking off four and half major tasks, and choir or a dance rehearsal at night. But that's a week, not a day, and not ordinary.
What are you most proud of achieving in your writing career and from the podcast?
I can't choose the best part of my life or work: it's too long! But I'm proud of my pioneering work in information technology and content, and I'm proud of my poems and podcast. They have all helped people while giving me excitement and satisfaction. I'm also a little bit proud of something new called YEAY! Your year of easy aging. A small workbook to get you going.
Who currently inspires you most in the retirement/ageing arena (or elsewhere)?
A retired nursing professor in Seattle, Doris Carnevali, inspires me. She is the subject of my book The Sturdy Centenarian (a new edition coming soon). She is now 104, blogs no more, but remains a role model: she decided to tackle old age head-on as opposed to passively letting it happen. I am also inspired by the 12 extraordinary nonagenarians (aged between 90 and 99) who I interviewed while researching my play, The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People.
Rachel McAlpine
"If you ever become old, you will still be you. But nearly everything else will change, and that's pretty interesting”
—Rachel McAlpine
If you could give your younger self one piece of retirement/ageing advice, what would it be?
She wouldn't listen. And my grandchildren also have minds of their own.
What is the number one thing you enjoy doing in retirement these days, or want to do more of?
Oh! I love my podcast. It satisfies me as a writer, human, and geek. So much room for improvement. So much room for learning. And so much fun. Soon it will be featured by Summerset (Retirement Villages) on their media platform, reaching an interesting new audience.
At this stage of life, what feels most important? And what has surprised you the most about this stage?
My family and my work are most important - and health and fitness, so that I can carry on enjoying them. Surprise? Everyone surprises me, and that's good. New scientific discoveries surprise me too. And my 80s, so far, have been a sweet spot.
Project how much you could get a fortnight with your retirement savings:
Written by:
Sonia Speedy
Sonia Speedy has been a journalist for over 20 years, working in newspapers, magazines and radio. She also runs an online platform for parents at familytimes.co.nz. She lives on the Kāpiti Coast with her young family and loves writing stories that help make people's lives easier.
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