Podcast Summary: Post Reports – “How to be a ‘super ager’”

Date: September 20, 2025
Host/Reporter: Maggie Penman
Guest: EJ (Edna Jane), 90-year-old D.C. resident; Dr. Eric Topol, Cardiologist & Author

Overview

This episode explores the secrets of “superagers,” focusing on the real-life example of EJ, a spirited and active 90-year-old woman living in Washington, D.C. Through interviews with EJ and life span expert Dr. Eric Topol, the podcast reveals what researchers have discovered about thriving in old age—and offers practical, research-backed insights on how anyone can cultivate a longer, more vibrant life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

EJ: A Portrait of a Superager (00:32–06:54)

• EJ’s Vibrant Life:
  • EJ is known in her neighborhood for her energy: gardening, weightlifting, and driving her green Mini Cooper.
  • Her t-shirt: “You don’t stop lifting when you get old. You get old when you stop lifting.” (00:54)
  • At 90, EJ can bench press 55 pounds, leg press 250 pounds, and attends the gym 4-5 times per week, often with a trainer.
    • Quote: “I can bench press £55 and I can leg press 250.” – EJ (00:57)
  • For her 80th birthday, she attended trapeze school, finding joy and freedom in swinging through the air.
    • Quote: “It was fun, particularly falling. You’re just falling through air and you know you’re not going to get hurt. That’s the beauty of it.” – EJ (01:37)
• Independent Yet Social:
  • Never married (“just lucky,” as she jokes), yet maintains a wide and active social circle.
  • Maggie recalls EJ’s 90th birthday “rager,” packed with friends of all ages.
  • Despite living alone, EJ is never lonely—she’s always engaged in community and neighborly connections.
• A Life of Resilience and Growth:
  • Grew up in poverty outside Pittsburgh during the Depression; father worked in mines, symbolized by his lunch bucket over her stove.
    • Quote: “I was born into abstract poverty. We lived in a little frame house with no central heat and no air conditioning. And the pipes always froze in the winter.” – EJ (04:49)
  • Chose nursing as a practical way to get an education, leading to a diverse career across the country, including helping start Chicago’s first ICU.
  • Post-retirement, continued to volunteer (20 years at the Folger Shakespeare Library), staying intellectually engaged.
    • Quote: “I told them, you know, I like Shakespeare, but… I did it for 20 years. It was great fun.” – EJ (05:49)

The Science of Superaging: Dr. Eric Topol Interview (09:21–12:20)

• Largest Study of Superagers:
  • Dr. Topol studied 1,400 “superagers” (85+, free from chronic age-related diseases): took 7 years to find them, and they constitute less than 1% of people their age.
    • Quote: “They probably comprise well less than 1% of people in their 80s… It wasn’t how long they lived. It was that they lived so elfolate.” – Dr. Topol (09:54)
• Genes Aren’t the Key:
  • Genetics mostly did not explain why these people thrived; the vast majority had no genetic secret to long life.
    • Quote: “Their genes didn’t reveal much. So sometimes it’s the genes, but most of the time, the vast majority of time has nothing to do with their DNA.” – Dr. Topol (10:24)
• The Common Characteristics:
  • Superagers tend to have a sunny, optimistic disposition, remain physically active, and are intellectually and socially engaged.
    • Quote: “They had a very sunny disposition. They’re optimistic people. They were physically active. They tended to be educated more.” – Dr. Topol (10:35)
  • Social connection is vital; isolation is detrimental to health as we age.
    • Quote: “We’ve seen such remarkable data. As people get older, they tend to live in a cave, and humans were social animals...So that’s another thing that people should be working on is…not being so isolated and lonely, but rather striving for, you know, interactions with other people.” – Dr. Topol (11:14)
  • Volunteering, community service, and a sense of purpose are recurring themes.
    • Quote: “They have a purpose. They’re doing all kinds of stuff. A lot of them volunteering, community service stuff…That is a common theme. And you don’t find that in the DNA either…that’s a behavioral trait, which is mutable.” – Dr. Topol (11:58)

Advice for Aging Well: Lessons From EJ (and Science) (06:14–06:54 & 12:25–12:54)

• Physical Activity: Exercise is non-negotiable for EJ, who believes it’s a universal cure.
  • Quote: “You think diet and exercise will cure anything? Well, I do.” – EJ (06:14)
  • Advice: “Be active.” – EJ (06:53)
• Stay Socially Engaged: Hanging out at the gym, volunteering, staying curious, and building community ties are central to health and happiness.
• Purpose and Modesty: Finding joy in everyday goals (gardening, being kind) is important.
  • Quote: “What’s extraordinary about is nothing. It’s just the way someone lives their life. People who sit around and don’t do anything, I don’t think they live that long.” – EJ (12:25)
  • Quote: “Just to take good care of my gardens and to be nice to people.” – EJ (12:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bravery and Living Fully:
  “I am 35 years old and I am not half as brave or as extroverted or as adventurous as EJ is at 90.” – Maggie Penman (02:07)

• On Genetic Fate:
  “I have terrible family history. It was liberating. You know, maybe I won’t follow in my parents and my aunt uncle’s footsteps.” – Dr. Topol (10:57)

Important Timestamps

• 00:32–01:37 – Introduction to EJ and her lifestyle
• 03:31–04:41 – EJ’s upbringing and early life
• 06:14–06:54 – EJ’s advice: Be active; value of gym community
• 09:21–12:20 – Interview with Dr. Eric Topol: scientific findings on superagers
• 12:25–12:54 – EJ’s reflections on what makes a meaningful, long life

Final Insights

The “superager” secret isn’t an unattainable genetic lottery, nor is it about feats of extreme athleticism. Instead, it’s about simple, consistent habits: activity, optimism, intellectual curiosity, social engagement, and a sense of purpose.
EJ’s example—lifting weights, learning trapeze at 80, volunteering, and tending her garden—mirrors what science reveals about longevity. As Dr. Topol emphasizes, these behaviors are under our control: you can cultivate them at any age, and the benefits go far beyond living longer—they mean thriving.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode delivers a hopeful, science-backed message: anyone can take actionable steps now to improve their odds of joyful aging. Whether it’s taking up a new hobby, hitting the gym, building relationships, or volunteering, the keys to “superaging” are within reach—and exemplified every day by people like EJ.