Why it is vital that we actively welcome and encourage ALL ages into the anti-ageism movement? What can we do to counteract harmful, ageism messages that we internalise from as young as the age of 4? Our founder and Anti-Ageist Activist of 2023, Jacynth discusses this and her commitment to the age-inclusive, pro-age cause in the teaser for our latest and last episode of the series, 'Ageism And... Me'

Throughout this limited series, our founder Jacynth has been joined by a special guest, with each episode focusing on a different topic, and how ageism intersects with and manifests within it.

But for the last episode of series 1, Jacynth turns the lens - or rather, the mic - on herself, as she shares her story and journey to date as a leading anti-ageism advocate, and reflects her own experiences of, and relationship with, ageism and ageing.

Afterall, throughout the series, Jacynth has been inviting our guests and, you, our listeners to consider your own experiences, views and understanding of ageism, so it is only fair that she does the same!

So in this final episode, Jacynth discusses how she got into the ageism movement and became Anti-Ageist Activist of 2023 at the age of 31, and answers commonly asked questions including:

• "Why do you care about ageism at 31?"
• "Aren't you too young to work in and be an expert on ageism?"
• "Why is Ageism Is Never In Style a female-centric campaign?"
• "Have you ever personally experienced ageism?"
• "Have you ever worried about getting older?"

And she reflects on progress to date, shares her vision and hopes for 2024, and why the next step is for ageism to become movement for ALL ages.

Along with much more...

What does it take to be an activist? How can we all make a difference? And with so many different views and opinions on ending ageism and what changing the narrative looks like, can - if at all - these different schools of thought sit alongside each other? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest, Ashton Applewhite, discuss this in the teaser for the episode 'Ageism And... Activism'

Activism is at the heart of the anti-ageism movement, and it's where Ageism Is Never In Style®'s roots lie. It's an award-winning campaign, and our founder Jacynth was recently honoured to have been awarded 'Anti-Ageist Activist' of the year at the inaugural Advantages Of Age Awards 2023. 

But what do we mean by activism? It's a controversial word and one that not everyone responds well to... For some it carries connotations of hostility and aggression, and in some cases it has been co-opted by movements and individuals who might lean towards more extremist methods. But activism is simply describing the action of campaigning to bring about social change. 

So essentially for us here at Ageism Is Never In Style®, it means taking conscious steps against ageism.

And activism can come in all shapes and sizes; it can involve joining communities or campaigns, to participating in physical rallies and protests. Or it could be sharing your story, wearing a badge, or just sparking a conversation with loved ones. Or maybe it’s even just having a conversation with ourselves to challenge our own internalised biases….

In this episode, Jacynth dives into the world of anti-ageism activism and advocacy with special guest and fellow activist and internationally recognised expert on ageism, Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism; a co-founder of the Old School Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse - a platform that curates, creates, commissions and disseminates free resources to educate people about ageism and how to end it - and one of the World Health Organisation’s Healthy Aging 50: fifty leaders transforming the world to be a better place to grow older.

Together they discuss what it means to be an activist and how each of us has it within us to make a difference, even on the smallest scale; as well as ageism’s position alongside other social justice movements; how we can reconcile different attitudes and theories around ageing (for example – should age be irrelevant? Is 'ageless' a good term?); and how we can encourage others to join the ageism movement. Along with much more...

Why do only 8% of companies include AGE on their DEI statements? Why aren't companies embracing the importance - and proven worth - of intergenerational workforces? And what barriers are we placing in front of ourselves that makes it harder for age to be valued in the workplace? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest, Barbara Brooks, discuss this in the teaser for the episode 'Ageism And... The Workplace'

Ageism has repeatedly been found to be the leading form of discrimination in the workplace, affecting both job applicants and workers. 62% of workers aged 50 and above believe older workers continue to face age discrimination, and over 93% assert that ageism in the workplace is a regular.

And yet only 8% of companies list age on their DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) statements...

What’s more, there are many points of intersectionality uncover. As well as remembering that ageism can affect anyone at any age, it can manifest in different ways based on issues such as gender, race, disability or sexuality. So understanding these differences is fundamental to addressing them effectively.

In this episode, Jacynth is joined pro-age speaker, facilitator, thought starter, and  the founder and CEO of Second Act Women Barbara Brooks, and together they dive deeply into how age bias manifests in the workplace: from recruitment & HR issues; to why age is so often left off the DEI agenda; to the importance and value of intergenerational workforces; to how age discrimination is protected differently the UK vs US under employment law.

And they particularly hone in on gendered ageism (the intersectionality between ageism and sexism), and its impact on women over a certain age, discussing how women themselves can address this - as well as be allies and support one another - and what work places can also do to help. That is, of course, if that's necessary at all; after all there is a controversial theory that suggests older women have it easier in the workplace....

All this, and more, is explored in the latest episode.

More brands are starting to feature older models and people. But is being done for the right reasons? Or is it tokenistic, greywashing and 'jumping on the bandwagon'? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest, fashion stylist Claire Ginzler, discuss this 'trend' and how to spot consistency and authenticity vs spurious and superficial gestures in this teaser for our episode 'Ageism And... Fashion'

The fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar with over 1 in 10 of the global workforce contributing to making and selling the world's clothes, shoes and accessories. Combine this with the industry’s undeniable influence over cultural and socio-economic attitudes,  norms and behaviors, and you have an incredible force to recon with.

So when it comes specifically to ageism – something fashion is notorious for – we have an industry that is hugely powerful  and responsible for shaping both society’s and our own views around ageing. And it’s vital that we engage with the industry and enact change from within, rather than reject it, if we want to end ageism once and for all.

And yes, progress is happening. But it often feels tokenistic and is moving at an incremental pace. The good news is that there are more and more voices actively working with and in the fashion industry who are advocating and driving change.

In this episode, founder Jacynth is joined by highly revered fashion stylist Claire Ginzler (who's credits and clients include Stuart Weitzman, Calvin Klein, John Lewis, M&S, Prue Leith and Sarah Pascoe - not to mention she discovered J W Anderson when Director of On|Off) as they discuss the development of age-inclusivity in fashion over the years; expose tokenism vs authentic commitments by brands; why age representation is so important; and how consumers can both champion change and truly embrace age through fashion and style.