Aging Without Experts

Listeners send in questions we don’t see until we hit record. We’re not experts, just curious people willing to dive into topics cold, something we rarely make time for.

James from Ecclefechan, Scotland set us the first question today - “Why do we age?”

William argues we age because our cells replicate poorly, while Stuart sees aging as damage from external forces rather than time itself.

William thinks milestones like birthdays are mostly excuses to celebrate and don’t change how he feels; turning 39 or 50 is all the same to him. He believes aging is about balance, at 47 he doesn’t fixate on the number, stays connected with younger friends to feel energized, and stresses personal responsibility.

William also notes that in South Korea, people are considered one year old at birth, showing how age is just a number, though he still believes we should stay aware of the biases it can create.

Kev from St George’s, Bermuda now puts forward the next question - “You say you aren’t the go to experts, but some argue it's better to listen to people who know what they are talking about when considering the big issues”.

Stuart stresses the importance of questioning so‑called experts and considering all factors, noting that what he and William share is simply their opinion in the moment and could change with more life experience.

William reinforces that him and Stuart aren’t experts, just offering perspectives to spark thinking, and invites listeners to challenge them, saying disagreement fuels better discussion.

Stuart believes people should explore topics on their own before turning to experts, while William agrees that experts matter but shouldn’t fully replace personal reflection.

Both value forming your own view first, then adjusting as you hear others. Stuart adds that these conversations also reveal how they process ideas. William emphasizes that his views are genuine, never meant to persuade, only to contribute to the dialogue.

What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠[e-mail]

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