Want to join an earnest discussion on healthy longevity? Pitch your AgeTech product? Talk to fellow caregivers? Meet smart, interesting people without leaving home? If you do, then Clubhouse is the perfect place.
Most Boomer Tech Talk readers want to contribute to improving how we care for our loved ones as well as ourselves as we age.
What is Clubhouse
Clubhouse is an audio centric mobile device based app. Your experience is similar to being in a room with people who are very interested in the same topic, including people with deep experience in elements of the discussion. There’s no need to worry about your hair, no need to write anything. You can choose to talk or just listen. Identity is verified by your mobile number along with a bio. Links to your Twitter and/or Instagram are expected. You get to know people by hearing them talk spontaneously. Almost nothing is recorded. I have enjoyed bringing on friends I already know in real life and have met many new people.
If you read the origin article about Clubhouse in Wired, you’ll find one of the founders (Rohan Seth) has a child with a rare disease – one of the reasons why health care has been a core topic of discussion on Clubhouse from the beginning.
Many articles have been written about Clubhouse. When Clubhouse was opened to Android on May 21, 2021, it made television news. In April 2021, Twitter had entered discussions to purchase Clubhouse at a $4 billion valuation. (The talks ended with no acquisition). Although Clubhouse is a phenomenon, not everyone has heard about it.
I am writing this article about Clubhouse to provide people in the business of serving older adults a succinct explanation as to why I am inviting them to join Clubhouse and follow my Club within Clubhouse called the Rethinking Aging Club.
Several ‘Should you be on Clubhouse’ articles have been written for consumers 50+. These point out why Clubhouse has been attractive to this population segment – including those published on Next Avenue (Margie Zable Fisher), AARP (Ed Baig) and Tampa Bay Times (Hannah Critchfield, Seniors Reporter). My article is focused on health care, start-ups, product development, healthy longevity, caregiving and care facilities – more specifically on the themes of my Club: Rethinking Aging.
Becoming a Member of Rethinking Aging Club
If you’d like to join the Rethinking Aging Club on Clubhouse, please follow the Club. It is important to fill out your bio and authenticate your identity by connecting Twitter and/or Instagram. If you don’t have one of those, please include the link to your LinkedIn.
Creating a Bio on Clubhouse
Clubhouse is still new and one of the things they don’t provide is formatting for your bio. If you are using an Apple device, I recommend that you write your bio in Apple Notes and then copy-paste it into your profile. There is also an app that provides a few profile examples and a link to emojipedia.org at ClubhouseBio.xyz.
Here is an example of a profile (mine): Linda Sherman on Clubhouse.
Finding and Adding Clubhouse Room Events to Your Calendar
When you click on the room event, Clubhouse offers to add that event to your Apple or Google calendar. That works well and displays it on your calendar in your time zone.
On Clubhouse individual profiles, you will find listed the next room in which the person will be officially speaking. On Club pages, there is a carousel of upcoming rooms.
As “content creators” on Clubhouse, one of our challenges is when to schedule rooms. It’s always inconvenient for someone in various locations across the globe and even across the United States. I joined Clubhouse on January 7th, 2021. That was before Clubhouse went international and scheduling was therefore much easier. Now you inevitably drop off Asia on one end of scheduling and Europe on the other.
Clubhouse Transparency, Tutorials, Invitations and Trust
Clubhouse Transparency
I find it very nice that the founders Rohan and Seth do a one hour TownHall every Sunday at 9am PT. The first half features updates and the second half answers questions that have been submitted. I often get my update from Irene Koehler who does a 30 minute recap at 10:45pm from her Women in Business 40+ Club.
Clubhouse Tutorials
Every Wednesday at 6pm PT, the founders do an introduction to Clubhouse for newcomers or anyone that would like to come.
Clubhouse Invitations are No Longer Needed
As of July 21, 2021, Clubhouse is open to everyone.
Including a bio and validation links is even more important now that Clubhouse is open to everyone. Trust has always been one of the very attractive elements of Clubhouse.
Clubhouse Room Creation Tip – Get Permission Before Adding Speakers
I have moderated many panels for live in-person conferences. Clubhouse discussions are not nearly as tight but live panel experience is relevant. I am not going to list all of my moderating tips but I do have one strong opinion in creating rooms.
Only speakers that have confirmed they can attend a Clubhouse room – thereby also having their consent to be named on the upcoming event – should be listed and promoted for the calendared event. This takes more time but I believe it is the ethically correct thing to do. Many people do not regularly check their “my events” where rooms on which they have been listed can be found. The next room they will speak on is automatically listed on their profile, raising awareness for that hosting club.
If you have narratively listed regular rooms on your Club page, please keep these updated.
When a large airline changes the departure time of your flight, they notify you and even update the time within your personal calendar. Clubhouse does none of those things, so move start times and dates as infrequently as possible and try to notify your community.
Club and Room Selections
There are many clubs that I have joined that have great topics but don’t currently have anything scheduled. I may add these as appropriate in the future.
Unless I note otherwise, any Club listed here is an Active Club.
If I’ve missed something you feel should be included, please feel free to leave a note in the comments or in a private message.
Taste of Relevant Clubhouse Topics, Active Clubs and Rooms
StartUps
“Products for 50+”
Thursdays (noon ET) hosted by Rethinking Aging Club and led by Michael Phillips and Rick Robinson from AARP, with Steve Ewell, Frances West and Keren Etkin
Startup Club
“Founder Office Hours”: 30 minutes with Soumeya Benghanem and Susan Sierota Mondays and Wednesdays at 7am PDT
Intro to Startup Club & Clubhouse
MedStartr Healthcare Innovations Club
Interviews with HealthCare entrepreneurs by Michael Mann on Thursdays at 2pm PDT
Friday Pitches
Monday Startup School
Healthcare Startups Club
Weekly office hours Tuesday 8am PDT by Andrea Paul MD
DNA Tie Club
New inventions and businesses in biotechnology, life sciences. Kathrin Kajderowicz hosts the SynBio Journal room on Wednesdays at 7pm PDT
A16Z Club
Mondays 5pm – 6:30pm PDT
This is one of the first Clubs on Clubhouse. Conversations with entrepreneurs engineering biology and reimagining healthcare. Recordings are available at a16z.com/a16z-live which is managed by Andreessen Horowitz VC.
The Pitch Club
Female Founders Pitch Practice on Sundays at 11am PT
How to Pitch to VCs & Angel Investors
Founders Helping Founders
Deal Flow & Diligence Club
Ask a VC room at 11am PDT on Mondays, hosted by Andrew Fielding
Wellness Club
Wellness Technology pop up shows with Jeremiah Owyang, the next one is scheduled for July 29.
Innovations in Aging Club
Co-founded and led by Stefano Selorio
Medicine Redefined
No room currently scheduled
Femtech Focus Club
Led by Brittany Barreto PhD. (no room currently scheduled)
VC & Angel Investor Club
Founded by Ben Parr (no room currently scheduled)
Large Healthcare Clubs with Multiple Leaders and Topics including Venture Capitol
Medstartr Healthcare Innovations Club
Founded by Alex Fair
MedTech Club
Co-founded by Henry Peck
Includes Medtech 24/7 Lobby Club
Reinventing Health/Care Club
Founded by Ron Gutman, in the earlier days of Clubhouse there were pitch rooms here
Aspiring MD’s
Aspiring MDS Club
Networking, mentoring, education and comforting space for anyone aspiring to be a medical professional
Virtual Grand Rounds Club
Genetics, Rare Diseases
The Gene Fixers Club led by Ethan Perlstein and Rohan Seth
Longevity
Longevity Biotech Club
Co-hosts Nathan Chen and Robert Ziman. Note that these rooms can get very technical.
Follow Laura Minquini and you’ll find her discussing healthy longevity (health span rather than life span) in her own club My Ikigai, as well as in the Wellness Club, the MedTech Club, the MedStartr Club, the Rethinking Aging Club and the Ageing Shamelessly Club – which is where I first met here (screenshot below in the ageism section).
The following is a screen shot from a great room with Aubrey DeGrey, David Sinclair and other scientists working on longevity that Laura moderated along with Nathan Chen and Avi Roy on June 15th (part 1 with part 2 on July 14). Most Clubhouse rooms are not recorded but fortunately there are recordings of Longevity Panel – The Scientists Working on Reversing Aging. You will be able to find them on FutureofLongevity.org.
Home Health Care
“California Clinicians Club”
Hosted by Adam Rubanenko and Doug Sullivan
Preventive Care and Integrative Medicine
“Preventive Care Now for Older Adults! room at 1pm PT on Thursdays in the Medstartr Club led by Dave Dlesk, Marty Agather and myself.
Integrative Medicine Club
Dr. Atoosa Kourosh and Dr. Emi Kourosh Hosoda
Caregiving and End of Life
Workplace Support for Caregiving Employees hosted by Rethinking Aging Club with Debbie Howard and myself. Scheduled for August 6, at 2pm PDT.
End Well Club
Founded by Soshana Ungerleider MD
The Care Club
Sundays 11am PDT, Founder, Marcus Lucas with co-hosts Dr. Rizwan and Alka Sahnan
Ageism
Aging Shamelessly Club led by actress and advocate Mariann Aalda
This screenshot is from April 20, 2021 with co-host Kara Masteller.
Flip the Script After 50 Club founded by Terri Holley
Health Care News
News News News Club 3 Minute News Health Edition, Mahek Shah is here
Biotech Clubhouse Club
Founded by Chris Garabedian VC, on Sundays at 1pm PDT
In the News Power Hour: Aging, Longevity and Ageism – Flip the Script After 50 Club – Wednesdays at 10:30am PDT.
Work and Money for 50+
Consumer Oriented Clubs for Women
Because there are many business clubs for women, I have filtered these choices by a focus on health care or science, or a founder that has been historically involved with aging or health care.
Flip the Script After 50 Club founded by Terri Holley
Biohacking Women 50+
Founder, Zora Benhamou (digital nomad) 30 minute daily meetings
Women Over 50 Lets Talk Menopause and Life After 50 Club
Second Act Sisters
Founder, Ms. Jack Perez
Women Over 50 You Can! Club
by Lenora Colarusso RN on Wednesdays at noon PDT
Women in Stem
Skin and Lips
Skin Enthusiast Club
Fun and Tools for Health Care Innovators
Medstartr Healthcare Innovators “Fight Club”
Health N Communication Club
Founder, DrDan (Olu)
Marketing Club
Founder, Mark Prasad
“SEO Fundamentals” room on Tuesdays at 8am PT led by Rob Bertholf, who is also an administrator for the SEO Club.
Human Behavior Club
Founder, Sohaib Imtiaz
Talk Nerdy to Me Club
Co-founders Jin Yu (WolfxLion) and Amanda Johnstone
Currently on hiatus
Brain Health for Older Adults
Rethinking Aging does regular Brain and Body Health for Older Adults rooms. Our latest one on July 9th starred Amy Li, founder of Dance4Healing. My friend from my early days in Japan, Dianne (Sayegh) Niklaus, who is now a Creative Depth Coach (includes art for cognitive well-being), and artist Clara Berta, were fun to have on stage as well.
I am on the lookout for active Alzheimers clubs.
Nursing
Nurses Connect Club
Cardiology
CardioTech Club
Wellness Architecture Design
Wellness Wednesdays Club by Jamie Gold
Upcoming Topics on Rethinking Aging
Eye Health for Older Adults
Dental Care for Older Adults
Senior Housing
There are clubs for every medical speciality.
