Troublemaker: Jessica Mitford’s Life of Principle, Protest, and Wit

The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living Interview Series

I’m Paul Vogelzang and welcome to the show, brought to you generously by Caraway: Good Looking. Clean Cooking. And just for our listeners, you can get an extra 10% off by visiting Carawayhome.com/NOB or using code NOB at checkout.

Today’s guest brings us a story about someone who was impossible to ignore in life—and refuses to be forgotten in history.

What does it look like to live a life built on principles—but never lose your sense of humor?

Jessica Mitford—known as “Decca” to her friends—was born into British aristocracy. But she traded ballrooms for protest marches, royal privilege for civil rights work, and eventually became one of the fiercest investigative writers of her generation. She stood up to Congress, challenged corporate greed, and believed deeply that laughter could fuel resistance.

In this new episode of The Not Old – Better Show, I speak with acclaimed author and scholar Carla Kaplan about her biography Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford. The book is based on hundreds of interviews and archival discoveries, and paints a remarkable portrait of a woman who challenged systems—without ever becoming grim.

We talk about Decca’s legacy, her journalism, her friendships with figures like Maya Angelou, and what it means to be a successful ally. Her story is inspiring, funny, and—as Carla Kaplan says—urgently relevant.

Whether you’re interested in social justice, biography, or just a good story well told, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen at: Apple Podcasts! https://notoldbettershow.info/NewEpisode