Episode 219: Why Americans Struggle With Aging More Than They Should
January 27, 2026
What does it really take to age well—and why do so many people struggle with this transition after work?
Today’s guest is Ken Stern, author of Healthy to 100 and a researcher focused on aging, longevity, and social connection. Ken has spent years studying why some people remain healthy and engaged later in life, while others face isolation and decline.
Ken explains why Americans struggle with aging and retirement more than people in other countries… and what we get wrong about life after work.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why aging in America often leads to isolation after work
- What other cultures get right about belonging later in life
- The surprising benefits of continuing some form of work
- Why staying busy isn’t the same as living well
- What longevity research overlooks about human connection
Resources:
Healthy to 100 by Ken Stern
About Ken:
Ken Stern is the founder and chair of the Longevity Project, which examines how longer lives are reshaping society, work, and community. He is the author of Healthy to 100: How Strong Social Ties Lead to Long Lives and the host of the award-winning Century Lives podcast from the Stanford Center on Longevity.
