Check out the full episode: greatness.lnk.to/1811
"There are 722,000 people who are centenarians living in the world... almost three quarters of a million people that are a hundred. That's a lot more than most people suspect." - Dr. William Li
Dr. William Li's great uncle didn't just live to 104 - he planned his own 100th birthday party, created the guest list, and hosted the entire celebration himself. This wasn't some frail centenarian barely holding on; this was a man who embodied what Dr. Li has spent years researching: the biological secrets of those who don't just survive to 100, but thrive there. When scientists started studying the gut bacteria of supercentenarians (people living to 114 and beyond), they discovered something extraordinary - four specific bacteria that spike dramatically in those who reach these remarkable ages: Odoribacter, Christensenella, and most fascinating of all, Akkermansia - the same bacteria that might help stage four cancer patients achieve complete remission through immunotherapy.
What makes Dr. Li's revelations so powerful isn't just the science - it's how accessible these insights are. Your gut bacteria aren't set in stone; they're a living ecosystem you can influence through the foods you eat and the choices you make daily. When he explains that 70% of your immune system lives in your gut wall, communicating with your bacteria "like college students shouting at each other through a cheap wall in a dorm room," you suddenly understand why what happens in your gut determines not just how long you live, but how vibrantly you live. This conversation bridges the gap between cutting-edge longevity research and practical wisdom you can apply to your life starting today.
Sign up for the Greatness newsletter: http://www.greatness.com/newsletter