Alex Rotas on Capturing the True Spirit of Active Aging
Welcome listeners! I’m absolutely thrilled to share this week’s episode of "Retirement Rebel Life After 60" with you. Today, I had the honour of chatting with the incredible Alex Rotas, a true pioneer in challenging the stereotypes that surround ageing. Our conversation is one that I believe many of you will find both inspiring and empowering.
One of the key subjects we delved into was how Alex uses her photography to combat the often negative and limiting images of older adults that pervade our media. She captures vibrant, active individuals in their sixties, seventies, eighties, and beyond, participating in competitive sports. These images are not just pictures; they are powerful statements that redefine what it means to age. Through her lens, Alex shows the world that being older doesn't mean being inactive or invisible, but rather, it's a time when many continue to thrive and pursue their passions.
Another fascinating topic we discussed was Alex’s extensive travels to document these amazing individuals. She travels to events like the World Games, photographing athletes who embody the spirit of active ageing. Hearing about her adventures highlighted how important it is to see and celebrate older adults who are challenging the norms and pushing their boundaries. These stories are a testament to the fact that getting older can be a time of endless possibilities and new experiences, and it's essential that these narratives become more visible in our society.
Lastly, we explored Alex’s compelling film projects, "Older" and "Younger." These documentaries feature older athletes and truly bring their stories to life in a moving and impactful way. As Alex and I talked about these films, it became clear that they are more than just documentaries; they are conversations that challenge viewers to rethink their assumptions about ageing and consider a more nuanced and positive perspective.
I invite you to join us in this episode as we celebrate the incredible work of Alex Rotas and the dynamic individuals she showcases through her photography and films. If you’re looking for inspiration and proof that life after 60 can be vibrant, active, and full of adventure, this episode is definitely for you. Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, and rate us on your podcast app. Let’s get started and embrace our inner rebels together!
Don’t forget to follow / subscribe to the podcast for FREE on your podcast app of choice, or play it directly from the website: www.retirementrebel.co.uk
Key Points:
02:02 - Introducing Alex Rotas and Her Mission I introduce Alex Rotas, a photographer who's dedicated to changing the narrative around aging. Her work captures the vibrancy of active aging through sports photography, and she's here to share her insights and journey.
02:12 - Alex’s Catalyst for Change Alex describes how turning 60 motivated her to challenge the negative imagery associated with aging. Her dissatisfaction with how aging was portrayed led her to take action.
03:20 - Depressing Stereotypes vs. Reality Alex shares her frustration with stereotypical images of aging and how they don't reflect the full story. Her photography aims to show older individuals actively engaged in their passions.
04:40 - Discovering the Power of Photography Despite having no prior photography experience, Alex was driven to change the narrative of aging. She sought help and leapt into capturing the active lives of older athletes.
06:56 - Learning and Embracing New Skills Alex details her learning curve and journey into photography, fuelled by determination to portray older athletes in a positive light.
11:15 - Unveiling the Reality of Active Aging Alex discusses the surprise and inspiration she found in the physical fitness and strength of older athletes, challenging the stereotypes of frailty in older age.
14:21 - Creating Change Through Visual Storytelling Her initial struggles to gain visibility for her work highlight the need for a platform to share these empowering images and stories.
16:01 - Slow but Steady Progress Over 15 years, Alex acknowledges the gradual traction her work has gained, including opportunities like this podcast to share her uplifting images.
17:26 - The Power of Collaboration Our discussion highlights the importance of collaboration in promoting positive aging, such as the film projects Alex undertook with filmmaker Danielle Selwood.
19:17 - Community Support and Resilience Alex emphasises how the community aspect of sports supports athletes through life's challenges, teaching resilience and perseverance.
25:51 - Finding Community in Social Media We talk about the positive, supportive communities we’ve found on social media, which help spread the message of active, positive aging.
32:32 - Future Plans and Continued Advocacy Alex shares her plans to continue promoting strong, vibrant aging, including upcoming photography events and further collaborations.
34:03 - Constant Rebellion and Authenticity Alex reflects on living a life of rebellion and authenticity, embracing freedom and authenticity in her later years after family responsibilities eased.
34:52 - Closing Remarks and Call to Action I wrap up the conversation, urging listeners to check out Alex's inspiring work and films, and inviting them back next week for another engaging episode with a new guest.
Guest Info
Alex Rotas is a groundbreaking photographer, speaker, and writer who challenges stereotypes about aging through her powerful documentation of masters athletes. After completing her PhD in Visual Culture at age 56, she embarked on a new career in photography at 60 when she noticed a striking absence of positive images of older athletes in media.
Now in her 70s, Alex travels the world photographing extraordinary individuals who compete in sports well into their 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 100s. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she has published a book titled "Growing Old Competitively". As an ambassador for Active Ageing (Bristol) and England Athletics #RunTogether campaign, she combines her photography with public speaking to share inspiring stories of athletic achievement at any age.
A sports enthusiast herself, Alex took up running at age 63 and has completed multiple 10K events and participates in weekly 5K park runs. Her work has made invaluable contributions to challenging ageism over the past decade through exhibitions, media appearances, and speaking engagements.
Connect with Alex:
Website: www.alexrotasphotography.co.uk
Links and Resources:
- World Games: Alex travels to photograph older individuals who compete in these games.
- Film Projects:
- "Older" – a short film.
- "Younger" – a documentary featuring older athletes.
- Masters Games: An event in Italy for athletes over a certain age.
- Bristol:
- Home to Active Ageing Bristol – associated with an exhibition by Alex.
- Social Media:
- Facebook: Alexrotasphotography
- Instagram: alexrotasphotography
- Other Organizations and Exhibitions:
- Active Ageing Bristol
- No Limits exhibition in Bristol
- Future Events:
- World Masters Athletics Championships.
- British National Athletics Championships in Derby.
Quotes:
The Misrepresentation of Old Age Online: "They seemed to, once you put the word old in a search bar, what you've got were images of people looking half dead, basically, slumped, slumped in chairs, the life force just drained out of them, No expressionless, dependent on others, no agency, just utterly, utterly depressing. And I was looking at them and thinking, well, okay, I mean, that might be part of the story of getting into maybe deep old age or getting old, but it's not the whole story."
Empowering Older Generations: "Suddenly seeing people who are incredibly free with their bodies and throwing them around and pushing them to their limits, I think is incredibly well, for me, it was unbelievably liberating."
Defying Aging Stereotypes: "Talking to you today, I just feel so lucky because another stereotype of getting older is that your life narrows down and you get lonely and, you know Yes. But actually, maybe it's through my project or whatever, I just feel the opposite. I just feel I keep meeting most amazing, wonderful people and people I want to stay connected to."
If you enjoy the show, then please consider giving us a review; it would mean the world to me and will help others make informed decisions to give the show a try.
Website: www.retirementrebel.co.uk
Instagram: Siobhan - Host
Instagram: Matt - Producer
Podcast Production: www.kult.media
This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.
Copyright 2025 Siobhan Daniels
Mentioned in this episode:
Partnering to Challenge Ageism Together
We’re thrilled to partner with the Centre for Ageing Better to support their Age Without Limits campaign. This inspiring initiative challenges stereotypes and champions the idea that ageing should be celebrated, not limited by societal views. Discover more and join the movement at agewithoutlimits.org.
