Snazzy & Sage Podcast

Staying Curious: Marketing, AI, and Reinvention with Terry Zelen

In this episode of Snazzy & Sage, Dr. Kerry Szymanski sits down with Terry Zelen, President of Zelen Communications, for a thoughtful conversation about marketing, creativity, and staying curious. Terry reflects on his 35-year journey in the marketing industry and how curiosity, adaptability, and learning through experience have shaped his career.
The discussion explores artificial intelligence in a practical and approachable way. Terry shares why AI is best viewed as a tool that enhances creativity, research, and problem solving rather than replacing human thinking, and why staying engaged with new technology can support growth and reinvention at any stage of life.
Beyond marketing and AI, Terry offers insights on aging, personal style, resilience, and finding joy through meaningful work, creativity, and time outdoors. This episode is a reminder that reinvention does not stop with age and that curiosity remains one of our most powerful assets.
Connect with Terry Zelen:Website: https://zelencomm.comLinkedIn: Terry Zelen and Zelen Communications
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to explore other episodes of Snazzy & Sage, where we share inspiring stories of reinvention, creativity, confidence, and purpose in life’s next chapter.

Simple Closet Organizing with Tiara Gaffney

In our third chapter, change often comes with boxes, decisions, and letting go. Moving, downsizing, relocating, or simply rethinking how we live can feel overwhelming, but it can also be clarifying.
In this episode of the Snazzy & Sage Podcast, I chat with closet-organizing expert Tiara Gaffney about how to approach closet organizing during major life transitions. We talk through practical strategies for sorting clothes, deciding what to keep or release, and organizing a closet that supports your current lifestyle, whether you are preparing for a move, downsizing, or simplifying your home.
If you are navigating a move, a reset, or a new season of life, this episode offers practical guidance to help you organize with intention and make clear, confident decisions about what to carry forward into your next chapter.
Learn more:www.organizedbytiara.comIG: Organized_bytiaraFB: Reset Your Space with Organized By TiaraLinkedIn: Tiara Gaffney
Listen to more episodes of the Snazzy & Sage Podcast for inspiring conversations about reinvention, confidence, creativity, and embracing your next chapter.

The Power of Music at Any Age with Jim Schreiner

What if the passion you set aside years ago is still waiting for you?
In this inspiring episode of the Snazzy & Sage Podcast, Dr. Kerry sits down with Jim Schreiner, co-founder of the JD Blues Band, Victor High School alum, Eagle Scout, and lifelong community builder. Jim shares how he discovered music later in life—starting a band at age 41—and how creativity, courage, and consistency turned a simple lunchtime jam session into a beloved regional band with dozens of live performances each year.
Jim opens up about:
Discovering music and learning harmonica as an adult
Starting a band in midlife—and why it’s never too late
Balancing career, family, volunteering, and creativity
How music keeps your mind sharp and your spirit energized
Redefining aging as a new beginning, not an ending
Whether you once played an instrument, dream of starting something new, or are simply craving inspiration for your next chapter, this episode is a powerful reminder: you don’t have to be perfect—you just have to begin.
🎶 Featured Guest: Jim Schreiner, JD Blues Band🎧 Topics: reinvention after 40, creativity & aging, music in midlife, community, passion projects📍 Based in: Rochester / Finger Lakes region
Follow JD Blues Band on Facebook and YouTube to catch upcoming performances—and get inspired to pick up that instrument again.
Listen to more episodes of the Snazzy & Sage Podcast for inspiring conversations about reinvention, confidence, creativity, and embracing your next chapter.

Tim & Deb Smith: Love, Writing, and Second Chances

What happens when two high school sweethearts reconnect after four decades? For Tim and Deb Smith, the answer is a renewed love story that blossomed into marriage, creative partnership, and a completely new chapter as authors.
In this uplifting episode, I sit down with Tim, "Mr. Smith", who was one of my high school English teachers at Victor Senior High School, and his wife Deb to explore their remarkable journey from the classroom to the written page. After retiring from decades of teaching, they began writing for their local newspaper and soon transitioned into co-authoring a series of nonfiction books that reflect their shared curiosity, humor, and love for their community.
We talk about:
How their romance rekindled after 40 years
Their unexpected launch into writing later in life
The joy they’ve found in creating together
Staying inspired through purpose, connection, and community
A sneak peek into their upcoming book project
If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book, reigniting a passion, or beginning a new chapter at any age, Tim and Deb’s story will inspire you to take that first step.
This episode is a heartfelt reminder that love, creativity, and second chances can bloom at any stage of life.
 
Learn more about their books on Amazon — just search “Tim and Deb Smith.”Subscribe to the Snazzy & Sage podcast for more inspiring conversations on reinvention, style, and confidence.

From Satire to Santa: The Wonderfully Interesting Life of Clark Brooks

Join me as I sit down with comedian, writer, Santa, ordained wedding officiant — and all-around creative force — Clark Brooks. From his early days discovering comedy through Saturday Night Live to building the satirical powerhouse Tampa News Force, Clark shares how reinvention, curiosity, and saying “yes” to new experiences have shaped every chapter of his life.
We dive into stand-up comedy, writing, Fringe Festivals, wedding officiating, Santa stories, and how aging can be a privilege when you stay connected to creativity and community.Learn more about Clark: www.clarkbrooks.com
 
Subscribe to the Snazzy & Sage podcast for more inspiring conversations on reinvention, style, and confidence.

ENT Physician by Day, Comedian by Night: Dr. Vien “Comic Doc” Phommachanh

By day, Dr. Vien Phommachanh is an ENT (Ears, Nose & Throat) physician in Sarasota. By night, he’s “Comic Doc,” a stand-up comedian who’s performed across the U.S. and internationally, appeared on CBS, and released the Dry Bar Comedy special Open Up and Say Ha.
In this Snazzy & Sage episode, Vien shares how embracing creativity opened new doors—from comedy festivals and global gigs to a renewed sense of purpose and joy. We talk about the courage to try something new, staying energized through transitions, and the role of humor in living a more fulfilling life.
You’ll hear:• How pursuing a passion can reignite purpose• The connection between laughter, resilience, and joy• Why creativity matters at every stage of life
Follow @ComicDoc on TikTok, Facebook & IG  Tour dates: comicdoc.com · Dry Bar special: Open Up and Say Ha
 Subscribe to the Snazzy & Sage podcast for more inspiring conversations on reinvention, style, and confidence.
 

From Microsoft to Meaningful Service: Keith Partington’s Journey

After 28 years at Microsoft, Keith Partington could have slowed down—but instead, he redefined success through service, storytelling, and community. A proud RIT graduate and lifelong learner, Keith now channels his leadership into volunteerism and alumni engagement, serving on the Victor Central Schools Educational Foundation and leading the Microsoft Alumni Network across the Northeast.
He’s also an accomplished author of Fraternal Resolve, the upcoming Workforce Resolve, and the Canalway Challenge Library Tour eBook—an inspiring project born from his 360-mile bike ride along New York’s historic Erie Canal. 
In this inspiring Snazzy & Sage conversation, Keith shares what drives his purpose in this “third act” of life, how giving back fuels joy and connection, and why community storytelling has the power to bring people together across generations.
You can find Fraternal Resolve on Amazon and learn more about the Erie Canalway Challenge to experience the same adventure that inspired his work.
 
 Subscribe to the Snazzy & Sage Podcast for more stories that celebrate confidence, reinvention, and living your best chapter after 50. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Mrs. Kathy Houser: Art, Entrepreneurship & Aging with Joy

In this special Snazzy & Sage Podcast episode, host Dr. Kerry reconnects with her second-grade art teacher, Mrs. Kathy Houser, for a heartfelt full-circle conversation. Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Houser became a school principal, gallery director, and tea room owner before reinventing herself as a fashion entrepreneur. Today, she designs and sells handmade kimonos, sews one-of-a-kind pieces, and hosts monthly tea parties at the Cobblestone Arts Center in Farmington, NY—blending art, education, hospitality, community, and entrepreneurship in everything she does. This conversation celebrates the lasting impact of teachers, aging with joy, and the beauty of living a creative life at every age.
Connect with Mrs. Kathy Houser at the Cobblestone Arts Center in Farmington, NY: https://www.cobblestoneartscenter.com/
✨ Don’t miss future episodes—subscribe to the Snazzy & Sage Podcast for more inspiring conversations about style, confidence, and reinvention at every stage of life.

Carl Guerra: Comedy, Cruise Ships, and Life on Stage

In this episode of the Snazzy & Sage Podcast, Dr. Kerry sits down with comedian Carl Guerra, whose career spans from New York’s iconic comedy clubs to cruise ship stages around the world. Carl has opened for icons like Julio Iglesias, Joan Rivers, Paul Anka, and the Four Tops, and has entertained audiences everywhere from country clubs to corporate events.
Carl shares:
How he took a leap of faith to leave his day job and pursue comedy full-time
Stories from performing alongside legends like Rosie O’Donnell, Eddie Murphy, Sarah Silverman, and Adam Sandler in the early days
How he blends music, parodies, improvisation, and stand-up to create unforgettable shows
Why working clean has set him apart and kept his career thriving
His perspective on staying sharp, joyful, and connected through comedy
Whether you’re a comedy fan, a storyteller, or simply seeking inspiration to pursue your passion later in life, this conversation will make you laugh and leave you motivated.
👉 Connect with Carl at CarlGuerra.com or on Facebook at Carl Guerra.👉 Subscribe to the Snazzy & Sage Podcast for more inspiring conversations on style, confidence, and reinventing life after 50.

Hair Trends, Color & Aging Gracefully with Hair Stylist, Joyce Bisbo

Hair trends, styling realities, and real-talk about aging with joy — Salon Bello’s hair stylist Joyce Bisbo joins Snazzy & Sage for a warm, practical conversation about how to make your hair work for you at every stage of life. Joyce breaks down wearable trends (from textured bobs to softer mullets), thoughtful approaches to short vs. long hair as we age, and men’s styles that feel modern without trying too hard. She walks through color strategies — demi-tints, glossing and gentler tones — plus the conditioning and hydration routines that combat dryness and keep hair looking soft and healthy. Along the way Joyce shares product tips, maintenance expectations, and even quick fixes for thinning brows and lashes — all served with the upbeat, compassionate energy that makes her chair feel like a confidence boost.
 
Guest: Joyce Bisbo — hair stylist & colorist, Salon Bello (Pittsford, NY).👉 Don’t miss new episodes on style, confidence, and reinvention at any age. Subscribe for more Snazzy & Sage episodes on style, confidence, and looking — and feeling — your best.