How to Live to 100 (or Die Trying)
Toronto Star
Life expectancy has grown exponentially in just over a generation but has society & culture caught up on how to embrace this growing slice of the population, those living longer than humans ever have? What are we going do with everybody? What are we going do with *you* if you make it to 100 (or die trying)?
In this show, we look at how we adjust to longer life expectancy at both the individual and societal level, covering big topics like work, housing, death, male loneliness and the value of measuring biological age; all grounded in real-world, practical experience and conversations.
If you're lucky, you get old. And all of us are getting older every day. So, how do you get the most life out of all the years you get? That's what we want to talk about here.
The show is hosted by Moira Welsh, Toronto Star reporter who led the Third Act Project, which challenged governments, policymakers, and institutions to improve the way we live in our later years.
In this show, we look at how we adjust to longer life expectancy at both the individual and societal level, covering big topics like work, housing, death, male loneliness and the value of measuring biological age; all grounded in real-world, practical experience and conversations.
If you're lucky, you get old. And all of us are getting older every day. So, how do you get the most life out of all the years you get? That's what we want to talk about here.
The show is hosted by Moira Welsh, Toronto Star reporter who led the Third Act Project, which challenged governments, policymakers, and institutions to improve the way we live in our later years.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 19, 2026 • 29min
Older men and suicide
Isolation and loneliness is the scourge of our later years but older men seem to have a profound struggle to create social connections and while there may be several reasons for this high suicide rate, some Ontario men aged 80 and older see no reason to live. We hear one man's personal experience and his discovery of Men's Sheds, an organization that helps men get socially connected. A PhD candidate at B.C.'s Simon Fraser University explains the incredible value of 'generativity" in our later years and Dr. David Conn, a psychiatrist at Baycrest Centre, helps us understand suicide in older men and why it doesn't have to end this way. Guests: Alan Marrison of Men's Sheds; Eireann O'Dea, PhD, Simon Fraser University and Dr. David Conn, Psychiatrist at Baycrest Centre. The full transcript of this episode is available in Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or on the episode page at thestar.com/podcasts/how-to-live-100-or-die-trying This episode was produced by Moira Welsh, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Matthew Hearn and Sean Pattendon. It was produced with the support of a journalism fellowship from The Gerontological Society of America, The Journalists Network on Generations and The Silver Century Foundation.
11 snips
Jan 12, 2026 • 32min
Freedom 75 or work, work, work
This week, Beth Truesdale, a sociologist focusing on aging inequalities, and Laura Tamblyn Watts, a lawyer and aging advocate, dive into the future of work for older adults. They discuss the financial pressures that force many seniors back into the workforce and tackle the emotional toll of caregiving on women. The conversation shifts to the challenges of ageism in hiring and the need for compassionate approaches to dementia in leadership. They also delve into how intergenerational teams can foster resilience and productivity, reshaping our ideas about retirement and purpose.
8 snips
Jan 5, 2026 • 24min
Longevity in the land of ageism
Dr. Samir Sinha, a leading geriatrician focused on health policy, Kyrié Carpenter, a millennial advocate reclaiming aging, and Mary Hynes, an inspiring voice at 81, dive into the nuanced world of ageism. They discuss why the term 'crone' can be empowering and the need for language that respects older adults. Mary shares her vibrant life full of travel and tattoos, while Kyrié challenges societal norms about aging. The conversation reveals how dismantling ageist attitudes can lead to healthier, more fulfilling lives for everyone.
Jan 2, 2026 • 1min
Introducing How to Live to 100 (or Die Trying)
The Toronto Star's Moira Welsh hosts How to Live to 100 or Die Trying, an uplifting, shocking, and illuminating conversation for all ages on growing older. You'll hear from a 40-something football star turned mobility mentor, a skateboarding impresario focused on death, but a good one. And a scientist who says he can measure biological age. But don't fear the reaper because he also shares a startling secret to longevity. We give traditional topics like ageism a millennial twist and go deep into the future of work. Call it freedom 75. Keeping it real throughout is blunt insight from a geriatrician who says most of that data on your wearable device is poppycock. It's quite a ride, this arc of life. You can find it on thestar.com or wherever you listen, to your favourite podcasts.
