Don't Let the Old Man In: Anna May Cory on Aging with Vibrancy at humankind Sedona

There's a particular kind of quiet that settles over a room when someone who has truly lived starts to talk about it plainly. That's the feeling we got watching Anna May Cory, 84, sit down with Kathleen Francis at humankind in Sedona for a conversation that's funny, tender, and refreshingly unsentimental about what it means to grow older.

Aging Without Growing Old

The title borrows from the old Toby Keith line — don't let the old man in — but Cory's take isn't about denial or defiance. It's about attention. Across the conversation, she and Kathleen Francis talk through what it actually looks like, day to day, to stay curious, to move through loss without being flattened by it, and to choose joy on purpose rather than wait for it to show up on its own.

What makes the exchange land is that it never feels like advice from a stage. It feels like two people talking honestly about the parts of aging nobody prepares you for — the losses, the surprises, the moments of unexpected lightness — and finding humor in the middle of it.

Why This Kind of Conversation Belongs in Sedona

Sedona has long drawn people looking for perspective, and conversations like this one are part of why. humankind exists as a venue built for exactly this kind of exchange — unhurried, in-person, and centered on the kind of wisdom that doesn't translate well into a headline. Recording it live, in front of an audience, gives the conversation a different texture than a studio interview. There's room for pauses, for laughter, for the kind of honesty that only shows up when people feel genuinely present with each other.

Sedona Personal Retreat Territory

For anyone planning a sedona personal retreat, this episode is worth building into the itinerary — not as a passive watch, but as a prompt. Sedona's red rocks are famous for inviting reflection, and a conversation about aging with intention pairs naturally with that kind of quiet, contemplative travel. It's the sort of content that sits well alongside a hike, a journaling session, or simply an afternoon of doing less.

Also Worth Considering for Family Visits

If you're weighing things to do in Sedona with elderly parents, this is a gentle option to have in your back pocket. Not every activity in a destination known for vortexes and trail heads needs to be physical. A seated, engaging conversation like this one — whether watched together or used as a springboard for your own family's discussion about aging — can be just as meaningful as a scenic overlook, and considerably easier on the knees.

• A candid, humor-filled look at aging from someone who has genuinely lived it
• Recorded live at humankind, Sedona, as part of The Kathleen Francis Show
• Touches on curiosity, loss, resilience, and choosing joy deliberately
• A quiet, reflective option for visitors planning a Sedona trip with elder family members

Conversations like Anna May Cory's are a reminder of why we built humankind in the first place — to give space for the kind of talk that's rarely rushed and never performative. If you weren't in the room for it, the good news is you don't have to have been. Watch the replay on humankind.