Social bonds may be the most overlooked key to longevity. In this episode, Ken Stern, author of Healthy to 100, explains how connection, purpose, and community can profoundly extend healthspan. 

Drawing on insights from Japan, Singapore, Korea, Spain, and Italy, he reveals how cultures that value older adults achieve healthier, longer lives. He contrasts this approach with the U.S., where technology-driven isolation and ageist norms undermine health and life expectancy. Intergenerational programs, lifelong learning, and community design that fosters everyday contact offer practical remedies for urban, high-stress environments. 

In this conversation with Peter Bowes, Stern challenges the “three-stage life” model and reframes later years as a period for contribution rather than decline.

Ken Stern is the founder of The Longevity Project and author of “Healthy to 100: Lessons from the World’s Healthiest Countries.” A former CEO of National Public Radio, he focuses on reimagining work, retirement, and social connection for healthier, longer lives.

Time-line

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The Live Long and Master Aging (LLAMA) podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice. If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.