aerial view of Western's campus at night, with golden lights surrounded by dark trees

Pair of Western alumna pals share bites of wisdom in new health and nutrition podcast

Friends for more than 50 years, the hosts of “Staying Alive with Margaret and Susy” have a few things to say about how to live a long and healthy life

by Jennifer Nerad

University Communications

Margaret Cooley, left, and Susy Hymas cook together at Sur Lado Taco where they both worked in 1974. The restaurant was across from the Herald building at 1140 State St., where Cafe Rumba is now. Photo courtesy of Margaret Cooley and Susy Hymas. 

Margaret Cooley and Susy Hymas were students at Western Washington University at the same time in the 1970s and early 1980s, but that’s not how they met.  

They actually met while picking apples in Eastern Washington during summer break, something a lot of students did to earn extra money in those days. They became part of a friend group with shared interests in health and nutrition. 

“We had both moved to Bellingham to go to Western, and Susy’s now-husband was taking classes with me when we met,” said Cooley. “We spent a lot of time hanging out at each other’s houses in the ’70s and early ’80s. We really supported each other like family.”

Hymas earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental health from WWU in 1982 and one in nutrition in 1988 before embarking on a career in health education, working with a wide range of age groups. Cooley received a bachelor’s degree in physical education, exercise and sport science, in 1983, and a master’s degree in education in 1984, both from WWU. Her career focused on research, disease prevention, and health education.  

Margaret Cooley and Susy Hymas

Now both retired, their lifelong passion for health and nutrition has inspired a new venture: “Staying Alive with Margaret and Susy,” a new informational health and nutrition podcast where the two can share their insights with a broader audience. It’s like sitting down with your two favorite aunties to talk about how what you put in your body affects your health now and later in life. 

Leaning on each other as the duo worked through some of their own health challenges is what inspired them to create a platform where they could put their love of teaching to work and maybe help others along the way. Hymas says the podcast is the perfect vehicle to keep doing what they love.   

“We thought about how we could share our life’s work and knowledge to help others going through health challenges, navigating the medical system, and even looking to avoid health problems by eating better and following some of the wisdom we share,” said Hymas.  

To bring their vision to life, the pair enlisted the talents of another WWU connection, Wil Guilfoyle, a student in the English Department’s Creative Writing Program, who has a background in editing and film production.  

Working on the podcast, Guilfoyle has seen his own approach to diet and health start to change. “When you edit an episode, you end up listening to it several times, and it just gets into you,” he said. “For instance, my water intake skyrocketed after finishing the edit on the ‘Hydration’ episode.”  

“It’s hit home for me, how beneficial this info we’re putting out really is,” said Guilfoyle. “It is a real joy to help Margaret and Susy share their legacy work with the wider community.” 

With the podcast, Cooley and Hymas are doing what they’ve always done — sharing practical wisdom gathered from their years of experience.  

Jennifer Nerad covers Western's College of the Environment and College of Business and Economics for the Office of University Communications. Have a great story idea? Reach out to her at neradj@wwu.edu.