EPISODE 10: LONGEVITY: HOW STRONG SOCIAL TIES LEAD TO LONG LIVES
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What if the secret to living a longer, healthier life has less to do with diet and supplements- and more to do with the people around you? In this episode, Judy and Jess welcome longevity expert and former NPR CEO Ken Stern, author of Healthy to 100. Drawing on research from some of the world's longest-lived countries, Ken explains how social connection, purpose, lifelong learning, and intergenerational relationships can dramatically improve both lifespan and quality of life. It's a fascinating conversation about what it really means to age well.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
🌎 What the world's longest-lived countries are doing differently
🤝 Why strong social connections may be the biggest longevity advantage
💼 How meaningful work and purpose contribute to healthier aging
👵 The surprising benefits of intergenerational relationships
🏡 Why where you live can dramatically impact your quality of life
KEN STERN
Ken Stern is the Founder and Chair of the Longevity Project, which fosters public conversation and research on the impact on longer lives on civil society. Stern is also the host of the award-winning podcast Century Lives, from the Stanford Center on Longevity.
Stern is the best-selling author of three books, including Healthy to 100: How Strong Social Ties Lead To Long Lives (PublicAffairs 2025. He is also a regular contributor to a diverse group of publications including Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Slate, the New York Times and USA Today.
He is also the CEO of Palisades Media Ventures, a Washington D.C.-based thought leadership company.
Stern was previously the CEO of National Public Radio. During his tenure, NPR’s audience more than doubled, to more than 26 million weekly listeners. Among his achievements at NPR was the launch of NPR’s award-winning podcast service, as well as NPR Music, mobile offerings, and the successful expansion of NPR.org. During a period of significant retrenchment at major news outlets, Stern led the dramatic expansion of NPR News, both domestically and abroad, and its evolution as a key daily news source to tens of millions of people.
Prior to joining NPR, Stern was a senior executive in American International Broadcasting. Earlier in his career, he held positions in Democratic politics. He began his media career with Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty in Munich. Stern, a lawyer by training, holds degrees from Haverford College and Yale Law School. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife Beth Cooper and their son Nate.
LINKS:
Get your copy of Healthy to 100
Get your copy of The Longevity Project