Press Releases

NYC AGING LAUNCHES “AGING OUT LOUD!” PODCAST TO REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO GROW OLDER IN NEW YORK AND BEYOND

Debut Episode Highlights Aging in NYC with Guest Claudette Macey

NEW YORK, NY – Podcasts are transforming how America engages with news, storytelling, and public discourse — and now, aging has a powerful new voice in the mix. The NYC Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) proudly debuts Aging Out Loud! With NYC Aging, a bold new monthly video podcast hosted by Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez that confronts myths, explores realities, and envisions the future of aging in New York City and across the nation.

The inaugural episode, titled "New York’s New Age: Aging in NYC," premiered today, May 30, 2025, and features Claudette Macey, Executive Director and CEO of the Fort Greene Council. Ms. Macey has been a leader in New York City's aging services sector for more than four decades, overseeing 14 older adult centers across Brooklyn and founding the nation's first older adult steel pan band, the Blenman Steel Sounds.

“Aging Out Loud! With NYC Aging is a powerful and timely platform that informs, inspires, and uplifts,” said the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Suzanne Miles-Gustave. “Older New Yorkers are shaping the future of our city every day through caregiving, community leadership, and cultural contributions. This podcast gives their voices the space and visibility they deserve, while also bringing critical conversations about aging directly to the public. I commend Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez and the NYC Aging team for leading this important effort with creativity, purpose, and impact.”

“Aging Out Loud! With NYC Aging challenges outdated stereotypes and speaks unapologetically about the real experiences, power, and potential of older New Yorkers,” said NYC Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “This is where we shift the narrative and where we make sure aging is seen, heard, and valued at every level.”

“Older adults are the heart of our communities, and they’re still making history every day,” said Claudette Macey, Executive Director and CEO of the Fort Greene Council. “It’s an honor to be part of Aging Out Loud! With NYC Aging and to help spotlight the brilliance, creativity, and leadership that older New Yorkers bring to this city. I’m proud to be aging out loud, and I hope more of us will do the same.”

Presented in both video and audio formats, Aging Out Loud! With NYC Aging, a will release new episodes monthly and will be available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms. This two-format approach enhances accessibility, allowing listeners and viewers to engage with the content in the way that suits them best—whether watching on YouTube or listening on their preferred streaming platform.

Future episodes will continue to spotlight extraordinary older adults, explore public policy, and tackle critical issues such as caregiving, social isolation, and building an age-inclusive nation.

Tune in to the first episode of Aging Out Loud! With NYC Aging, here: Aging Out Loud with NYC Aging | NYC Aging

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About NYC Aging:

The NYC Department for the Aging’s (NYC Aging) mission is to eliminate ageism and empower older adults to live independently in their communities. NYC Aging provides vital programs and resources to nearly 1.8 million older New Yorkers, fostering their physical and mental well-being.