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The Finest

Why Americans 'fear, loathe and deny' aging — and how one thrift store wants to change that

 July 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM PDT
By Julia Dixon Evans | Arts & Culture Reporter and Host, The Finest,  Anthony Wallace | Producer, The Finest
Contributors: Ben Redlawsk | Media Production Specialist
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Brianna De Los Santos, Mia Rugama Kemp and Rose Rugama at Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026. The team runs the shop, which sells items from senior downsizings.
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Brianna De Los Santos, Mia Rugama Kemp and Rose Rugama at Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026. The team runs the shop, which sells items from senior downsizings.
Julia Dixon Evans
Rose Rugama holds up clothing at Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
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Rose Rugama holds up clothing at Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
Julia Dixon Evans
Mia Rugama Kemp inside Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026. Cookbooks, glassware and other household items reflect the lives and interests of the people who previously owned them.
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Mia Rugama Kemp inside Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026. Cookbooks, glassware and other household items reflect the lives and interests of the people who previously owned them.
Julia Dixon Evans
A framed sign inside Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest explains the shop's connection to senior downsizings on March 20, 2026. Many of the items sold in the store come from older adults who are moving into smaller homes and no longer have room for all their belongings.
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A framed sign inside Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest explains the shop's connection to senior downsizings on March 20, 2026. Many of the items sold in the store come from older adults who are moving into smaller homes and no longer have room for all their belongings.
Julia Dixon Evans

Downsizing is rarely just about getting rid of stuff. It's about grief, family, identity and deciding what parts of a lifetime move into the next chapter.

In this episode, we visit Next Step Treasures, where Rose Rugama guides older adults through those deeply personal decisions every day. From finding new homes for treasured possessions to helping people avoid scams and preserve their independence, her work goes far beyond running a business. Along the way, we hear from clients whose lives have been changed by her work. We also talk to anthropologist Yohko Tsuji, who explains why Americans often struggle to embrace aging.

Together, their stories reveal how the objects we leave behind preserve our memories. They also show why growing older deserves more dignity than our culture often allows.

A handwritten note at Next Step Treasures shares the story behind a pile of vintage dresses on March 20, 2026. Details like these help connect items in the shop to the lives behind them.
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A handwritten note at Next Step Treasures shares the story behind a pile of vintage dresses on March 20, 2026. Details like these help connect items in the shop to the lives behind them.
Julia Dixon Evans
Craft supplies fill a corner of Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
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Craft supplies fill a corner of Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
Julia Dixon Evans
Mickey Mouse memorabilia sits on a shelf at Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
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Mickey Mouse memorabilia sits on a shelf at Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
Julia Dixon Evans
A collection of objects sits inside Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
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A collection of objects sits inside Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
Julia Dixon Evans
Books and keepsakes fill a shelf at Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
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Books and keepsakes fill a shelf at Next Step Treasures in Hillcrest on March 20, 2026.
Julia Dixon Evans

Guests:

  • Rose Rugama, owner of Next Step for Downsize Living and Next Step Treasures
  • Cambria Martinez, writer and thrift shopper
  • Mia Rugama Kemp, Rose's daughter, who works at Next Step Treasures
  • Lenny Brzezinski, Next Step client
  • Yohko Tsuji, cultural anthropologist and Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at Cornell University
  • Brianna De Los Santos, worker at Next Step Treasures
Two photographs found at Next Step Treasures sit on The Finest producer Anthony Wallace's desk on July 8, 2026.
Anthony Wallace
/
KPBS
Two photographs found at Next Step Treasures sit on The Finest producer Anthony Wallace's desk on July 8, 2026.

Sources:

The Finest, Episode 46
Why Americans 'fear, loathe and deny' aging — and how one thrift store wants to change that

From KPBS Public Media, The Finest is a podcast about the people, art and movements redefining culture in San Diego. Listen to it wherever you get your podcasts or click the play button at the top of this page and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Pandora, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

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