logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2021
1h 11m

EXTRA LIFE: We Doubled Life Expectancy i...

Next Big Idea Club
About this episode
Over the past century, the average human lifespan has doubled. That astonishing statistic is the subject of a new book and PBS series by acclaimed science writer Steven Johnson called “Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer.” In this episode, he tells Rufus about the renegades who shamed milkmen, spiked public reservoirs, and rode rocket-powered sleds ... Show More
Up next
Jan 15
‘It’s a Real Company Run by Fake People’
Evan Ratliff started a company last summer. He and his co-founders came up with a name, hired a team, built a website, and launched an app. They interviewed interns, planned a company hiking trip, and fielded inbound interest from VCs. Normal startup stuff. Except for one thing: ... Show More
1h 5m
Jan 8
CRYPTO: Is It Quietly Transforming the Global Economy?
As the co-founder and CEO of Circle — the fintech powerhouse that issues USDC, a popular cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar — Jeremy Allaire has had a front-row seat to the crypto revolution. Circle now commands a market cap of over $20 billion, yet Jeremy insists it is still ... Show More
1h 16m
Jan 6
Why the Blockchain Is Still Critical to Our Future
Chris Dixon runs a16z crypto, a fund that has raised more than $7 billion. So it’s no surprise that when talking about the blockchain, he says things like, “ I've never seen a situation in technology where the gap between what I believe is the potential of the technology and the ... Show More
1h 9m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2021
How humanity doubled life expectancy in a century | Steven Johnson
<p>Doubling human life expectancy in a century is our greatest achievement, says author Steven Johnson. How did we make it happen -- and can we keep it going? Backed by fascinating historical anecdotes, he shares some life-lengthening innovations and reminds us of three key thing ... Show More
12m 6s
Dec 2021
How humanity doubled life expectancy in a century | Steven Johnson
<p>Doubling human life expectancy in a century is our greatest achievement, says author Steven Johnson. How did we make it happen -- and can we keep it going? Backed by fascinating historical anecdotes, he shares some life-lengthening innovations and reminds us of three key thing ... Show More
11m 38s
Mar 2023
Why We're Living Longer
Original broadcast date: March 22, 2022. In the last century, human life expectancy has doubled. This hour, we talk with writer Steven Johnson on the many breakthroughs that made this possible — and where we go from here. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.c ... Show More
50m 11s
Aug 2021
The Science Of Growing Young & Extending Your Lifespan w/Sergey Young EP 1153
<p>My guest today is Sergey Young, who is a prominent investor in age reversal and life extension research and one the world's most knowledgeable people on what the future holds for life extension. Advancing human longevity has become a passion of his the last few years after his ... Show More
1h 15m
Oct 2023
Make It So: Sir Patrick Stewart On Surviving Trauma, Staying Engaged & Lessons From The Artist Life
Beloved icon of stage and screen, my guest today is the singular Sir Patrick Stewart. The knighted Shakespeare thespian, captain of the Starship Enterprise, international treasure, and master storyteller is here and brings conversational delights lifted from 83 years of life. Tod ... Show More
1h 22m
Oct 2019
How can I live a longer life?
Human life expectancy has been increasing for decades. In many developed countries, we can now expect to live into our 80s, and it isn’t uncommon to live to 90 or even 100 years old. But eventually our bodies fail, old age is undoubtedly a clear indicator of approaching death. Th ... Show More
26m 28s
Aug 2023
How to Live Longer & Feel More Alive | Dan Buettner
<p>What if the secret to living longer wasn't just kale and spin class, but transforming your whole environment and community? </p><br><p>After decoding longevity hotspots he introduced as the Blue Zones, Dan Buettner discovered their vitality ensues from ecosystems promoting nat ... Show More
55m 55s
Mar 2022
Life in a Barrel
<p>This week, we flip the Disney story of life on its head thanks to a barrel of seawater, a 1970s era computer, and underwater geysers. It’s the chaos of life.</p> <p>Latif, Lulu, and our Senior Producer Matt Kielty were all sitting on their own little stories until they got thr ... Show More
53m 23s
Aug 2021
The Sunday Read: ‘How Long Can We Live?’
<p>Jeanne Calment lived her entire life in the South of France. She filled her days with leisurely pursuits, enjoying a glass of port, a cigarette and some chocolate nearly every day. In 1997, Ms. Calment died. She was 122.</p><p>With medical and social advances mitigating diseas ... Show More
41m 13s
Jan 2024
Midlife is a Chrysalis, Not A Crisis—Chip Conley On Why Life Gets Better With Age
What if we framed midlife not as a crisis but as a transformative chrysalis—a liminal period where profound awakenings unfold? What if we saw it as an opportunity to shed old layers, unfurl our wings, and share the pollen of our wisdom with the world? Guiding us from pupa to butt ... Show More
1h 59m