Too Many Options? The Real History of Freedom and Choice with Sophia Rosenfeld

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

QUOTE:  

 "Our choices shape our identity—but not everyone gets the same menu." – Sophia Rosenfeld ⚖️

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today, we’re asking a question that touches every part of our lives—one that feels especially relevant to those of us 50 and older, navigating life’s later chapters with purpose, curiosity, and maybe... a little decision fatigue.

What if the very thing we’ve been told defines our freedom—our ability to choose—is actually overwhelming us?

Our guest today, renowned historian Smithsonian Associate Sophia Rosenfeld, asks that very question in her brilliant new book available at Apple Books, The Age of Choice: A History of Freedom in Modern Life. Smithsonian Assocaite Sophia Rosenfeld will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up. Please check out our show notes for more details on her presentation titled: A History of Freedom in Modern Life: The Age of Choice.

But we have Sophia Rosenfeld today who’ll tell us that from grocery aisles to voting booths, from personal belief to political identity, Rosenfeld takes us on a riveting tour of how we came to equate picking from a menu with liberty itself—and what that belief has cost us.

This is no abstract academic exercise. For those of us who’ve lived through decades of cultural shifts—from the rise of consumer culture to the women’s movement to the explosion of digital options—this story feels personal. Why does having more choices so often lead to more anxiety, not more joy? What happens when freedom starts to feel like pressure?

Smithsonian Associate Sophia Rosenfeld, chair of the history department at the University of Pennsylvania, brings rich detail, warmth, and sharp insight to this conversation. We’ll talk about dance cards and department stores, ballots and beliefs, and how something as simple as choosing your lunch became a reflection of who you are.

So, whether you’re rethinking your next big decision—or just what kind of toothpaste to buy—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

I’m Paul Vogelzang, and this is The Not Old Better Show. Let’s get into it.

In a time when everyday life feels saturated with decisions—what to buy, how to vote, who to trust—The Age of Choice reminds us that more options don’t always mean more freedom. Sophia Rosenfeld’s powerful insight reframes modern liberty, challenging us to rethink how choice shapes our lives, values, and collective future.

That’s it for today’s conversation—fascinating, right? My thanks to  Smithsonian Assocaite Sophia Rosenfeld who will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up. Please check out our show notes for more details on her presentation titled: A History of Freedom in Modern Life: The Age of Choice.

Smithsonian Associate Sophia Rosenfeld has taken us from 18th-century shopping stalls to modern-day ballots and browsers, showing us that freedom isn't just about choosing... it’s about understanding why we choose, how we choose, and who shapes the options we’re given.

For those of us over 50, this episode hits home. We've lived through eras where choice expanded dramatically—and now, we’re often the ones making the biggest decisions of our lives: retirement, caregiving, health, even where to call home. Rosenfeld’s insight is a powerful reminder that freedom isn’t about endless options—it’s about meaningful ones.

You can listen to this episode and so many more at NotOld-Better.com, where our entire archive is available for streaming anytime.

Follow us on social media—we're on Twitter at @notoldbetter and Instagram at notoldbetter—and let us know how you define freedom in a world full of choices.

This is a production of N.O.B.S. Studios, and I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang. Thanks for spending time with us today, and please—join me again next time.