Century Lives Podcast

Longer lives are, at once, among the most remarkable achievements in all of human history and the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Whereas most discussions about aging societies are premised on the assumption that older people are frail and infirm, our premise is that problems of older people demand solutions so that the substantial increase in life expectancy can ultimately benefit individuals and societies. The mission of the Stanford Center on Longevity is to accelerate and implement scientific discoveries, technological advances, behavioral practices, and social norms so that century long lives are healthy and rewarding. We are a center on longevity, not old age, because building a world where the majority of people thrive in old age requires attention to the entire life span. Research shows clearly that education, exercise, nutritional habits, financial decisions, and social choices early in life have substantial implications for quality of life at advanced ages. Increased longevity demands that we reconsider traditional models of the life course which will necessitate new norms and practices for education, work and families that span multiple generations. We created the Century Lives podcast to provide a platform for informed discussion on a wide range of topics, between leading experts in academia, business and public policy. These conversations will foster a better understanding of the state of current research, and provide fresh perspectives on how best to optimize longer lives.