From hyperbaric chambers to AI-enabled talking dolls, journalist Kara Swisher separates longevity fact from fad on her new CNN series Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever.
“There are all these astonishing scientific breakthroughs generated, in many ways, by tech—whether it's mRNA technology, GLP-1s, AI and drug discovery and cancer research, gene folding, CRISPR—and it's getting drowned out in this noise of grift,” she says of the inspiration behind the show.
Over the course of six episodes, Swisher learned a lot about what it means to live well—not just how to survive but to truly thrive. She shares those secrets with Women’s Health editors Abby Cuffey, Jacqueline Andriakos, and Amanda Lucci on the latest episode of The Huddle, the podcast where we talk sports, sweat, and everything in between.
Prioritizing Healthspan
The life expectancy in the U.S. is 79 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but according to Swisher, that number only tells half the story. Because while our lifespan is 79 years, the average healthspan (i.e. the number of years we remain in relatively good health) is only 64 years—creating a 15-year gap, where resources are heavily allocated to sick care. Instead, says Swisher, we should invest that money early on in health care, nurturing habits and practices that will help keep us well.
“How do you sort of shift people's idea that they can do a number of things right now that don't need to be sold to them?” Swisher says. “Everything's commercialized and commodified in a way that doesn't really help anybody, and I want to help more people.”
The Brain Game
What are some of those things we can do right now to foster our healthspan? For one, try something new that challenges your brain.
“Cognitively, it's really important to do friction-filled things that you're not good at,” she says. “And I don't mean negative friction. I'm talking about something that takes a minute beyond a crossword puzzle.”
Swisher points to Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist, who leads by example by trying out new hobbies constantly. “He learned to make honey. He's ballroom dancing this month. He was a short-order chef for a minute,” she says. “His point was that you have to do things that cause friction in your life.”
So, if you were looking for permission to take those adult tap dancing lessons, now you have it.
Breaking the Ice
Swisher talks at length about the importance of community for maintaining cognitive function, and it’s not only about the people you know, but also the people you don’t know, she says. (Apologies, introverts!)
“There's some real cognitive benefits to talking to people you don't know,” Swisher says. “Even small encounters matter a great deal for your mental health and then your physical health, because mental and physical health and stress are all related to each other.”
The next time you’re riding in an elevator or waiting for the barista to make your latte, strike up a short conversation with the person next to you and see how it makes you feel. (And if you need a topic, why not share one longevity tip you’ve learned?!)
To hear more of Swisher’s healthspan advice—fermented foods, anyone!?—watch the latest episode of The Huddle above!
