TED Radio Hour: How to Find Joy and Success as a Late Bloomer

Release Date: August 1, 2025
Host: Anoush Zomorodi
Description: Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers. Host Manoush Zomorodi inspires us to learn more about the world, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves.

Introduction to Late Bloomers

In this enlightening episode of the TED Radio Hour, host Anoush Zomorodi delves into the concept of being a late bloomer—individuals who find success and joy later in life, challenging societal norms that often prioritize early achievements. The episode features a series of compelling stories and expert insights that shed light on overcoming the pressures of a linear life path.

Dory Shafrir: Embracing a Non-Linear Life Path

Dory Shafrir, a writer and author of the memoir "Thanks for the Joy and Weirdness of Being a Late Bloomer," shares her personal journey of feeling perpetually behind her peers.

• Struggling with Milestones (01:07 - 05:09):
  Dory recounts feeling "like having to keep up with my peers was something that I felt very deeply" (01:07). She discusses her challenges in establishing a career in media after moving to New York, grappling with undefined personal and professional goals.

• Redefining Success (06:52 - 07:45):
  Dory emphasizes the joy in discovering and embracing one's true self: "learning who you are and being comfortable with who you are" (07:04). She highlights the freedom that comes with self-acceptance, especially in her later years, allowing her to prioritize personal happiness over societal expectations.

• Confronting Biological Realities (04:55 - 06:41):
  Dory touches on the pressures of the biological clock, sharing her arduous journey to motherhood in her early 40s: "In the fertility world, that is ancient" (05:09). She laments the unfairness of biological constraints while celebrating her eventual success.

Albert Laszlo Barabashi: The Universal Laws of Success

Physicist and network scientist Albert Laszlo Barabashi challenges the notion that creativity and significant contributions peak early in one’s career.

• Debunking Einstein’s Claim (09:15 - 13:00):
  Barabashi investigates Einstein's assertion that major scientific contributions are unlikely after age 30. Through examining the careers of hundreds of thousands of scientists, he finds that high-impact work is often produced within the first 20 years of a career, primarily due to higher productivity levels. He states, "The chances of me publishing a paper whose impact would overcome my earlier papers is less than 1%" (15:03).

• Success Across Ages (15:26 - 18:01):
  Barabashi reveals that creativity doesn’t diminish with age; rather, it's the willingness to continue producing work that does. He shares the inspiring story of John Fan, who won a Nobel Prize at 85 after continuing his research post-retirement.

• Expanding Beyond Academia (18:16 - 25:05):
  Exploring entrepreneurship, Barabashi notes that older founders have higher success rates in selling their companies: "The older you are, the more likely that you will actually hit the stock market or sell the company successfully" (19:31). He underscores the importance of continued effort and persistence regardless of age.

• Addressing Gender and Racial Disparities (20:51 - 24:39):
  Barabashi discusses the higher attrition rates among women in scientific careers: "Women are 3% more likely to leave academia than men at every year of their career" (21:24). He emphasizes the need to recognize and mitigate these disparities to allow success regardless of gender or race.

• Networking in Creative Fields (23:13 - 24:15):
  In the art world, Barabashi explains that "value in art only emerges through networks" (23:13). Success in creative fields relies heavily on community and network effects, highlighting that recognition often depends on external validation rather than inherent quality.

Ashton Applewhite: Combating Ageism

Ashton Applewhite, an anti-ageism activist and author of "This Chair: A Manifesto Against Ageism," explores the pervasive issue of ageism and its impact on individuals’ perceptions of aging.

• Personal Journey and Realizations (28:12 - 32:55):
  Ashton shares her awakening to ageism in her mid-50s, realizing that "our fears about aging are way out of proportion to reality" (28:26). She challenges societal stereotypes, noting that only 4% of older Americans live in nursing homes and that dementia rates are decreasing.

• The U-Curve of Happiness (29:55 - 31:06):
  Ashton introduces the U-curve of happiness, explaining that people are often happiest at the beginning and end of their lives, with a dip in midlife.

• Challenging Internalized Ageism (31:06 - 32:55):
  She discusses how society’s negative messages about aging become internalized, affecting self-identity and behavior. Ashton advocates for neutralizing age-related language and embracing aging as a natural, non-derogatory process.

• Rethinking Retirement and Success (35:31 - 40:57):
  Ashton emphasizes the importance of intergenerational collaboration to address economic disparities and promote equitable opportunities for all ages. She urges listeners to "think about our own attitudes towards age and aging" (40:57), advocating for a more inclusive and supportive approach to aging.

Riley Moines: Maximizing the Retirement Years

Riley Moines, author of "The Four Phases of Retirement: What to Expect When You’re Retiring," provides a roadmap for navigating the often tumultuous journey of retirement.

• The Four Phases of Retirement (41:41 - 47:47):

  • Phase One: Vacation (41:41): Enjoying newfound freedom with no set routine.
  • Phase Two: Loss and Confusion (45:00): Experiencing boredom and a loss of identity, potentially leading to depression.
  • Phase Three: Trial and Error (47:20): Experimenting with new activities to regain a sense of purpose.
  • Phase Four: Reinvention and Service (47:47): Finding meaningful ways to contribute, often through community service and sharing expertise.

• Practical Advice (46:00 - 47:47):
  Riley encourages retirees to remain active and engaged, emphasizing that "it's important to keep trying and experimenting with different activities" (47:20) to avoid slipping back into feelings of loss and aimlessness.

Listener Stories: Real-Life Late Bloomers

The episode concludes with heartfelt stories from listeners who identify as late bloomers, showcasing diverse paths to success and fulfillment later in life.

• Examples Include:
  • Susan McGregor (48:19 - 48:37): Overcame early developmental delays to achieve academic and professional milestones.
  • Anoush Zomorodi (48:52 - 50:04): Pursued culinary school after turning 50, embracing new passions.
  • Others: Individuals share their journeys in fields such as sailing, education, and the arts, illustrating that it's never too late to pursue dreams and redefine success.

Conclusion: Embracing the Late Bloomer Journey

The episode wraps up by reinforcing the central message that success and joy are attainable at any stage of life. Through personal narratives and expert insights, TED Radio Hour encourages listeners to challenge societal expectations, persevere through challenges, and embrace their unique timelines.

Notable Quotes:

• "Success can come at any time. It could be your very first or very last paper of your career. It's totally random." — Albert Laszlo Barabashi (16:54)
• "In an ageist culture, age is derogatory. It should be neutral." — Ashton Applewhite (27:35)
• "Creativity doesn't vanish with age. Creativity remains; it's the willingness to try that sometimes fades." — Albert Laszlo Barabashi (25:54)

For further exploration:

• Albert Laszlo Barabashi's Talk: "The Universal Laws of Success" – Available at ted.com
• Ashton Applewhite's Talk: "A Manifesto Against Ageism" – Available at ted.com
• Riley Moines's Talk: "The Four Phases of Retirement" – Available at ted.com
• Dory Shafrir's Memoir: "Thanks for the Joy and Weirdness of Being a Late Bloomer"

By sharing these diverse perspectives, the TED Radio Hour episode on late bloomers offers a refreshing and empowering take on aging and success, inspiring listeners to find their own paths to fulfillment irrespective of societal timelines.