Accidental Icon Lyn Slater, PhD, Being True To Yourself

In this week's episode of the SuperAge podcast, we're joined by
Lyn Slater, Ph.D. Also known as the Accidental Icon, she is an
author, former social worker, and professor. Along with her new
book How To Be Old, Lyn discusses how her career in social
work–dealing with trauma and violence–led her to seek creative
outlets, which ultimately inspired her transition to fashion
blogging. Lyn emphasizes her aim to explore fashion
sociologically, as a tool for identity expression and subversion,
rather than focusing on age. She then recounts her unexpected
rise to fame via a Valentino ad, and how it shifted her identity
from a person to a brand. As an influencer, she experienced a
loss of creativity and control, leading to dissatisfaction. The
pandemic provided a turning point, allowing her to reconnect with
her passion for writing and reshape her engagement on social
media. Lyn's insights on idealized aging, its relation to
privilege, and the need for more inclusive and realistic
portrayals of aging are thought-provoking. She advocates for
aging as a creative practice, using her experiences to encourage
others to embrace risks and accept life's unpredictable nature,
regardless of age.

What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge
Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)

Thanks to our sponsors:
InsideTracker – the dashboard to your Inner Health. Listeners
get 20% off on all products at InsideTracker.com/AGEIST.

Our Place – our favorite cookware brand for non-toxic,
PFA-free pots and brands. Use code “AGEIST” for 10% off at
fromourplace.com

LMNT Electrolytes — our favorite electrolytes for optimal
hydration. Listeners receive a free 8-serving sample pack with
their purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/AGEIST.

Key Moments“Being old is a transaction between a
mind, a body and a context.”

“I think part of why it worked was because I was an ordinary
woman, and so a lot of ordinary people saw me and said, wow, if
she could do that, maybe I could too. And so that was the time I
was getting like 100,000 followers in a day. And my phone was
going crazy.”

“The difference between when all those things happened to me
during my 20s is that I probably had a toolbox, a toolbox that
had a hammer in the nail, and but at 70, I have so many skills,
so many experiences, so many assets that I can bring to the
challenges of age.”

Get In Touch with LynLyn’s new book: How To Be
Old
Instagram
Accidental Icon Website


Full Transcript


Say hi to the AGEIST team!