
AGEIST
The AGEIST podcast is where we rewrite life after 50. Hosted by David Stewart, founder of AGEIST and Super Age, we talk with extraordinary people—scientists, creatives, and thinkers—about living vibrantly in your 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. From longevity science to emotional well-being, fitness to purpose, we explore the tools and mindsets that help us stay curious, energized, and deeply engaged with life. This isn’t about aging gracefully—it’s about living boldly.
Latest episodes

May 2, 2024 • 41min
Measuring What is Aging Us with Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith, Founder of TruDiagnostic, discusses advancements in measuring biological age and personalized health metrics. He explains how cutting-edge science can predict individual health outcomes by identifying aging markers. The podcast explores interventions like NMN and Resveratrol, hormonal therapy, and personalized health models integrating different data sets for age quantification and disease risk assessment.

Apr 23, 2024 • 33min
David Stewart: What I've Learned in the Last 6 Months
This week, David Stewart, the founder of AGEIST and host of the SuperAge podcast, breaks down several recent learnings around health, medicare, and how we approach language. He explores the implications of misunderstood health practices and the influence of popular yet unverified health trends. From the potential of reinvention to the nuances of medical insurance, David provides a critical look at what truly impacts our health as we age. Join us for a thought-provoking episode.What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)Thanks to our sponsors:Sundays — Sundays is healthy, fresh dog food made of human-grade ingredients that is easy to store and serve. No synthetic nutrients or artificial ingredients. Just good quality food for your pup. Get 40% off your first order at http://SundaysForDogs.com/AGEIST or enter code: AGEIST at checkout.Fatty15: C15 is the first essential fatty acid to be discovered In 90 years. Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. Get 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit here or enter code: AGEIST at checkout.DIVI – Take back control of your hair and scalp health, and do it with Divi's clean, science-backed ingredients. Listeners get 20% off your first Divi order at diviofficial.com/AGEIST or enter code "AGEIST" at checkout. Key Moments“What you want to do is stop the damage, right? Stop eating the really bad stuff. What is the really bad stuff? Well, probably anything you get in a fast food restaurant falls into that category.”“It's just a natural progression. The ten year old grows into the 15 year old. You don't say to the 15 year old, oh well, I see you've reinvented your ten year old self. You would never say that, right? So why would someone say like: “oh, you've reinvented yourself as something?”Full TranscriptSay hi to the AGEIST team!

Apr 17, 2024 • 59min
Accidental Icon Lyn Slater, PhD - Being True To Yourself
In this week's episode of the AGEIST podcast, we're joined by Lyn Slater, Ph.D. Also known as the Accidental Icon, she is an author, former social worker, and professor. Along with her new book How To Be Old, Lyn discusses how her career in social work–dealing with trauma and violence–led her to seek creative outlets, which ultimately inspired her transition to fashion blogging. Lyn emphasizes her aim to explore fashion sociologically, as a tool for identity expression and subversion, rather than focusing on age. She then recounts her unexpected rise to fame via a Valentino ad, and how it shifted her identity from a person to a brand. As an influencer, she experienced a loss of creativity and control, leading to dissatisfaction. The pandemic provided a turning point, allowing her to reconnect with her passion for writing and reshape her engagement on social media. Lyn's insights on idealized aging, its relation to privilege, and the need for more inclusive and realistic portrayals of aging are thought-provoking. She advocates for aging as a creative practice, using her experiences to encourage others to embrace risks and accept life's unpredictable nature, regardless of age.What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)Thanks to our sponsors:InsideTracker – the dashboard to your Inner Health. Listeners get 20% off on all products at InsideTracker.com/AGEIST.Our Place – our favorite cookware brand for non-toxic, PFA-free pots and brands. Use code “AGEIST” for 10% off at fromourplace.com LMNT Electrolytes — our favorite electrolytes for optimal hydration. Listeners receive a free 8-serving sample pack with their purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/AGEIST.Key Moments“Being old is a transaction between a mind, a body and a context.”“I think part of why it worked was because I was an ordinary woman, and so a lot of ordinary people saw me and said, wow, if she could do that, maybe I could too. And so that was the time I was getting like 100,000 followers in a day. And my phone was going crazy.”“The difference between when all those things happened to me during my 20s is that I probably had a toolbox, a toolbox that had a hammer in the nail, and but at 70, I have so many skills, so many experiences, so many assets that I can bring to the challenges of age.”Get In Touch with LynLyn’s new book: How To Be OldInstagramAccidental Icon WebsiteFull TranscriptSay hi to the AGEIST team!

Apr 10, 2024 • 49min
Your Formula For Reinvention with Barbara Roberts
In this episode, Barbara Roberts, an influential entrepreneur, discusses identity crises post major life transitions like selling a business. She emphasizes the importance of reinvention and navigating challenges with courage and purpose. The podcast also explores the evolving role of women in entrepreneurship and the corporate world, highlighting strides made and obstacles faced. Barbara's insights offer practical steps for self-reflection and growth during life changes.

Apr 4, 2024 • 46min
DEXA Scans: What They Are, and Why You Should Get One with Nick Holt
In this week's episode, we talk with Nick Holt, a passionate health coach and personal trainer, about the ins and outs of DEXA scans. These scans, Nick explains, are not just for measuring body fat and bone health (which is important to keep an eye on as we age), but are also vital for understanding overall metabolic health.Additionally, Nick shares insights on the difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat, emphasizing the health implications of each. We also explore the significant role of muscle mass in our bodies, not just for physical strength and function, but also for metabolic health and glucose regulation.What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)Thanks to our sponsors:InsideTracker – the dashboard to your Inner Health. Listeners get 20% off on all products at InsideTracker.com/AGEIST.Timeline Nutrition — our favorite supplement for cell support and mitochondrial function. Listeners receive 10% off your first order of Mitopure with code AGEIST at TimelineNutrition.com/ageist. LMNT Electrolytes — our favorite electrolytes for optimal hydration. Listeners receive a free 8-serving sample pack with their purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/AGEIST. Key Moments“I think it's a powerful tool to see how your training is going and if you're on the right track or if you need to change or modify anything which gets into the muscle mass conversation too, which is just as important for metabolic health in addition to performance.”“So a lot of the guys that I'm working with, we're on sort of a 6 to 12 month cadence with the test. I think it's a really good idea to have it as sort of like a baseline test at first and then chart out sort of a goal 6 to 12 months later to try to hit either a body composition goal, or a lot of people use it for some of their female friends who have had some osteopenia, osteoporosis.”"Visceral fat, which is in and around your organs is really inflammatory and can be quite problematic. But subcutaneous fat, the stuff that's kind of in between muscle, the jiggly stuff that's soft, and maybe doesn't look as nice, but is pretty innocuous." Get In Touch with NickNick Holt is a personal trainer and health coach based out of Tamarindo, Costa Rica.Surfing transformed his body from a debilitating back injury and got him in the best shape of his life in his 40s. He’s created a unique system of training that uses the principles of surfing, functional mobility, and strength training to help guys over 40 get leaner and stronger.You can grab a free copy of his Unlock Your Body Guide to learn the basics of how to build a strong, lean, and fit body at any ageFull TranscriptSay hi to the AGEIST team!

Mar 28, 2024 • 59min
Knees, Hips and Age with Dr. Vonda Wright, Orthopedic Surgeon and Team Doctor
In this week's SuperAge podcast, we're joined by Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic sports doc and surgeon renowned for her expertise in athletes and active individuals of all ages. Dr. Wright delves into the complexities of joint health, emphasizing the importance of cartilage and its vulnerability to wear and trauma. She underscores the significance of maintaining an anti-inflammatory lifestyle and the critical role of strength in protecting and supporting our joints. Her insights extend from the nuances of treating elite athletes to offering holistic strategies for those seeking to sustain their physical health into later life. Dr. Wright's approach is not just about treating the joint but about treating the whole person, and we love that.What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)Thanks to our sponsors:Timeline Nutrition — our favorite supplement for cell support and mitochondrial function. Listeners receive 10% off your first order of Mitopure with code AGEIST at TimelineNutrition.com/ageistSundays — Sundays is healthy, fresh dog food made of human-grade ingredients that is easy to store and serve. No synthetic nutrients or artificial ingredients. Just good quality food for your pup. Get 40% off your first order at http://SundaysForDogs.com/AGEIST or enter code: AGEIST at checkout.AmeriCorps Seniors — Get involved in your community through AmeriCorps Seniors’ volunteer opportunities and change your life. Go to AmeriCorps.gov/YourMomentKey Moments“But also one of the “clinical knowns” of aging is the pillar of inflammation. Inflammation is one of the 12 pillars of aging. And as we accumulate enough birthday candles to set our kitchens on fire, our bodies deal with inflammation less and less well, and that just contributes to this picture of cartilage wear, which is arthritis.”“Once you start wearing down your cartilage, it creates an inflammatory environment that we can measure in the joint fluid, which leads to more wear and tear and becomes a cycle. Before I go on with that, I want everybody listening to know that there are profound studies, however, that show that a lifetime of things like endurance running do not cause arthritis because you'll hear some very misled doctors say, ‘you better stop running and you're going to give yourself arthritis.’”“How can you create an anti-inflammatory lifestyle? Number one, I want to de-inflame your whole body by cutting out simple sugars and wasteful, simple carb foods. Right? Our bodies are not trash compactors. It matters what you put in them, especially if you want to get out of inflammatory pain.”Connect with Dr. Vonda WrightWebsiteInstagramPodcastSay hi to the AGEIST team!

Mar 20, 2024 • 57min
Why Seeking Awe is Vitally Important with Caroline Paul
Today's SuperAge episode features author, pilot, and lifelong adventurer Caroline Paul, who shares her insights on the importance of outdoor adventure and its positive impacts as we age. Caroline emphasizes the significance of embracing new experiences, breaking through societal norms, and the unique empowerment that comes from stepping outside one's comfort zone. Her personal journey, highlighted by her various outdoor exploits, illustrates how engaging with nature can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life in one's later years. Caroline's message is clear: aging isn't about slowing down but about rediscovering oneself through adventure and exploration.What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)Thanks to our sponsors:InsideTracker – the dashboard to your Inner Health. Listeners get 20% off on all products at InsideTracker.com/AGEIST.Fatty15: C15 is the first essential fatty acid to be discovered In 90 years. Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. Get 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit here or enter code: AGEIST at checkout.LMNT Electrolytes — our favorite electrolytes for optimal hydration. Listeners receive a free 8-serving sample pack with their purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/AGEIST. Key Moments“I used to be a whitewater rafter who did first descents with a team of women around the world. We did rivers that hadn't been done before and that kind of thing. I mean, it's cool to be first at things. When I was a firefighter, I wanted to be the first into the fire.”“There are some [awe] triggers for awe. And one of them is just vastness.”“Actually, turning your focus away from your self outward has been shown to be much better for your mental health. I'm not taking away from therapy or massages or anything, but it's worth saying that if we need to feel better, focusing outwardly is a valuable component of self-soothing.”Connect with CarolineWebsiteTough Broad BookInstagramLinkedInFull Episode TranscriptSay hi to the AGEIST team!

Mar 13, 2024 • 34min
Age-Related Temperature Regulation, Menopause, & Sleep with Shyla Michelle
In this week's SuperAge podcast, we explore the inspiring journey of Shyla Michelle, a former trial attorney who channeled her personal struggles with sleep into a pioneering venture. Shyla shares her experiences with sleep difficulties, intensified by a high-stress legal career and hormonal changes, which led to the creation of Muslin Comfort. She delves into the unique properties of muslin fabric and how it aids in temperature regulation, offering relief not just for menopausal symptoms but for anyone seeking a better night's sleep. Shyla's story is a testament to how personal challenges can inspire innovative solutions, impacting lives beyond one's own.What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)Thanks to our sponsors:Muslin Comfort – Made by a busy Mama who was tired (literally) of sleep-disrupting night sweats. Experience the best sleep of your life under the blanket (i.e. comforter) that is taking over the internet! It sold out 5x! Truly breathable & temperature-regulating due to muslin's unique 100% cotton weave, so you stay cozy (not sweaty). Use code: “AGEIST15” for 15% off your order. Sundays: Sundays is healthy, fresh dog food made of human-grade ingredients that is easy to store and serve. No synthetic nutrients or artificial ingredients. Just good quality food for your pup. Get 40% off your first order here or enter code: AGEIST at checkout. DIVI – take back control of your hair and scalp health, and do it with Divi's clean, science-backed ingredients. Listeners get 20% off your first Divi order at diviofficial.com/AGEIST or enter code "AGEIST" at checkout.Timeline Nutrition — our favorite supplement for cell support and mitochondrial function. Listeners receive 10% off your first order of Mitopure with code AGEIST at TimelineNutrition.com/ageist. Key MomentsDavid:Temperature regulation is not something that's talked about a lot, but honestly, it's no joke.Shyla:Well, I do think overall like to be more gender specific. I think it does affect women more. I mean, we get pregnant, we get birth. We have these huge hormonal fluctuations and then we're trying to work and we're trying to do it all. We're trying to be superwomen, right? Because that's what's expected in our modern world. And then our body, our nervous system is giving us clues that you're not okay."Honestly, isn't that what happens? Right? You become an A-hole. Because you're so irritable. You don't even have patience for yourself. Like, like how far does the lack of sleep go in terms of what's even happening with our world today?"Connect with ShylaMuslin ComfortInstagramSay hi to the AGEIST team!

Mar 6, 2024 • 46min
Using AI to Predict Death with Sune Lehmann
In this week’s episode, we welcome Sune Lehmann, a network and complexity scientist at the Technical University of Denmark. Sune shares insights into his revolutionary work using algorithms to predict health outcomes, income, and mortality, drawing on extensive datasets from Danish citizens. He emphasizes the power of viewing human lives as sequences of events, akin to language, and how this perspective can lead to groundbreaking predictions about individuals' futures. We also get into the ethical considerations and future implications of this research, highlighting the balance between predictive accuracy and the importance of shared risk in insurance. Additionally, he touches on the once-Danish-now-global phenomenon of cold water swimming, illustrating how this practice offers a unique sense of well-being and mental clarity.What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)Thanks to our sponsors:LMNT Electrolytes — our favorite electrolytes for optimal hydration. Listeners receive a free 8-serving sample pack with their purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/AGEISTTimeline Nutrition — our favorite supplement for cell support and mitochondrial function. Listeners receive 10% off your first order of Mitopure with code AGEIST at TimelineNutrition.com/ageistInsideTracker – the dashboard to your Inner Health. Listeners get 20% off on all products at InsideTracker.com/AGEISTKey Moments“From a certain perspective, human lives are sequences, right? You're born, you are seen by a doctor. They do some measurements and all of that information can be structured to create, let's say, the sentence of your life.And so what we did is that we took an enormous dataset and we used the same technology that lies underneath the AI large language models, and we built a kind of general model for human lives.”“That model, as long as you have training data, can really predict anything about humans. I mean, it might do things with kind of varying quality, but for the things that we've tested it, it performs better than any other algorithm that we can find.”“So lots of people have kind of contacted me saying let's let's use this for something that's actually meaningful and useful. And I think, you know, what's amazing about what we do is that we also model not just the medical data, but the data around the life that people live.”Connect with SuneArtificial intelligence can predict events in people's livesPersonal websiteX (twitter)TranscriptSay hi to the AGEIST team!

Feb 29, 2024 • 48min
The Politics of Longevity
In this week's episode, Dylan Livingston discusses his work with the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives, focusing on advocating for longevity science in the political arena. He emphasizes the importance of aligning with different political perspectives to promote the field's growth and the need for more foundational research and FDA support. Dylan also highlights the economic and health benefits of advancing longevity science and calls for public involvement in political advocacy to drive change in health policy and research funding.What kind of SuperAger are you? Check the SuperAge Quiz and find out! (visit: ageist.com/quiz)Thanks to our sponsors:Fatty15: C15 is the first essential fatty acid to be discovered In 90 years. Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. Get 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit here or enter code: AGEIST at checkout. Sundays: Sundays is healthy, fresh dog food made of human-grade ingredients that is easy to store and serve. No synthetic nutrients or artificial ingredients. Just good quality food for your pup. Get 40% off your first order here or enter code: AGEIST at checkout. LMNT Electrolytes — our favorite electrolytes for optimal hydration. Listeners receive a free 8-serving sample pack with their purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/AGEIST. Key Moments“Alliance for Longevity Initiatives is a5001c for nonprofit organization focused on representing the longevity, biotech industry and general movement on Capitol Hill.”“This is the next generation of health care. And, you know, it's their job as members of Congress to support and spread awareness around this topic and ultimately try to push more resources towards this effort.”“You know, this is a major driver of economic growth. Right. I'm sure you have seen the longevity dividend argument, which, you know, the latest iteration argues, I think, $37 trillion in GDP gains for one extra healthy year of life expectancy–and even if that's off by, you know, 90%, that's still a, you know, $3.7 trillion is still worth pursuing.”“So really right now, there are two or three major asks that I know will help the longevity industry and thus I believe, increase healthy lifespan in the U.S. First and foremost, there needs to be more foundational research for this space in geroscience in general from the federal government. I believe in 2023, 0.6% of the budget went to geroscience research at the NIH and aging is responsible for 70% of daily deaths. The second thing we want to get done is we want to help or really we want to help companies better design clinical trials through guidance from the FDA and support through congressional action. So those are the two big wishlist items you know, ultimately what we'd like to see in the long term, maybe medium long term, is a longevity initiatives bill.”Connect with DylanAlliance for Longevity InitiativesLinkedInTranscriptSay hi to the AGEIST team!