ELLEN LANGER: question everything

The podcast explores the concept of mindfulness and its impact on health, aging, and overall well-being, featuring Ellen Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard. Langer challenges conventional views by defining mindfulness as active noticing and questioning assumptions, rather than meditation. She shares insights from her studies, including one where elderly men experienced improved vision and memory by living as if they were 20 years younger. The conversation touches on the power of placebos, the importance of self-respect over external validation, and Langer's perspective that everything is malleable and subject to change. She advocates for adding more life to years rather than focusing solely on extending lifespan, emphasizing that stress is a major impediment to well-being.