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Living to 100 Club

Living to 100 Club

Written by: Joseph M. Casciani PhD
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 The Living to 100 Club is an exciting take on getting older. The Living to 100 Club members turn aging on its head knowing and understanding age is only a number. The Living to 100 Club is for everyone of all ages who wants to maintain a positive outlook about our futures. The Living to 100 Club offers fresh and inspiring perspectives on aging successfully, no matter how much help we may need adapting to growing older. Whether we’re still running marathons or confined to a wheelchair, we can always keep a positive frame of mind, look forward to events in our future, and plan on living to 100. The Living to 100 Club brings together topics on successful aging, overcoming obstacles, staying positive in the face of adversity, healthy lifestyles, starting new chapters and doing what you can’t. The Living to 100 Club guests share their professional stories, give advice on wellness, and offer explanations about living life to its fullest.© 2024 Living to 100 Club, LLC Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Lessons from the Amazon Rain Forest: Flow, Perspective, and Aging Well

    Lessons from the Amazon Rain Forest: Flow, Perspective, and Aging Well
    Apr 27 2026
    What can the rainforest teach us about living well? About aging well? In this episode of the Living to 100 Club, Joe Casciani reflects on a journey into the Ecuadorian rainforest. This trip was colored with hiking muddy jungle trails and sharing lunch with a Kichwa family living in harmony with the forest. Standing on the equator with one foot in each hemisphere was a highlight. Along the way, a simple bracelet made of San Pedro wood beads offered an unexpected lesson. In Amazonian cosmology, the beads symbolize the continuity and flow of water. This is a reminder to move with life rather than against it. Joining the conversation is rainforest guide Alfredo Carrera. Alfredo was born and raised in the rain forest until age 13. As an adult, he has spent years helping travelers experience the extraordinary ecosystem of the Amazon basin and the wisdom of the cultures that live within it. Together they explore what nature, indigenous traditions, and travel itself can teach us about perspective, resilience, and the psychology of aging well. Key Takeaways • Nature has a way of restoring perspective.• Many indigenous cultures emphasize living with the natural world rather than controlling it.• Psychological flexibility — adapting rather than resisting — is a core ingredient of resilience.• Aging well often means learning to move with life’s currents rather than fighting them.
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    31 mins
  • How to Stay Engaged, Purposeful, and Connected as We Age — Practical Tools for Living Well

    How to Stay Engaged, Purposeful, and Connected as We Age — Practical Tools for Living Well
    Apr 27 2026
    In this episode of the Living to 100 Club, we explore how to age well. The focus is on staying engaged, purposeful, and connected in later life. Drawing on over four decades of experience, Dr. Joe Casciani shares practical insights and tools. These are designed to help individuals and families navigate aging with intention. This program includes a format twist. Dr. Hugh Pates steps into the interviewer’s role. He explores the work and philosophy of Living to 100 Club host, Dr. Joe Casciani. With more than four decades of experience working with older adults, Joe reflects on what first drew him to the field of aging. He shares what he observed early in his career that continues to shape his work today. In long-term care settings and beyond, he noticed a common pattern: following setbacks such as illness, loss, or changes in independence, many individuals begin to withdraw. While these transitions are undeniably difficult, Joe emphasizes that we spend far less time helping people adapt, regain footing, and ask an essential question: What’s next? This conversation explores a central theme of Joe’s work. Of course, we have made tremendous progress in extending lifespan. However, we have not devoted equal attention to helping people manage the psychological and practical challenges that come with living longer. Joe discusses his book, Living Longer IS the New Normal, which challenges outdated assumptions about aging. He introduces a more hopeful and realistic perspective—one that emphasizes continued growth, purpose, and engagement in later life. From there, the discussion turns to the development of several practical tools designed to translate these ideas into everyday use: Better, Longer & Happier (BLH) Card Decks – A series of structured, psychology-based prompts designed to facilitate meaningful conversations and engagement in senior living communities Conversation Starter Workbook – A guided resource for individuals and families to foster deeper, more meaningful conversations Living to 100 Planner – A comprehensive tool for organizing essential life information and reducing stress for families during times of need Living to 100 Companion – A daily reflection resource to encourage ongoing engagement and intentional living, in the form of a cell phone app Throughout the episode, Joe emphasizes that these tools are not about “filling time.” Instead, they are about creating opportunities for connection, reflection, and dignity. This is true whether in group settings, family conversations, or personal practice. Taken together, they represent a broader system designed to support people at different stages and needs. These are all centered around a common goal: helping individuals remain engaged, purposeful, and connected as they age. Key Takeaways Living longer requires a shift in mindset—not just medically, but psychologically Setbacks are inevitable, but adaptation and re-engagement are possible Many older adults seek deeper connection—not just activity Practical tools can help translate insight into meaningful daily action Aging well is not accidental—it benefits from intention and structure Resources & Links Explore tools and resources: www.livingto100.solutions Join the Living to 100 Community: www.livingto100.community Learn more about Dr. Casciani: www.livingto100.club
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    19 mins
  • Living with Purpose at Any Age: Stories, Risk, and Reinvention with John Graham

    Living with Purpose at Any Age: Stories, Risk, and Reinvention with John Graham
    Apr 24 2026
    What happens when a former U.S. diplomat turns his attention to purpose in later life? In this episode, John Graham shares why meaning doesn’t fade with age—it sharpens. John helps us better understand it means to live a meaningful life—especially as we grow older? In this Living to 100 Club episode, I’m joined by John Graham, an 83-year-old former diplomat, co-founder of the Giraffe Heroes Project, and creator of the popular “Badass Granddad” video series, reaching over 120,000 followers across social platforms. John has spent decades telling stories of individuals who “stick their necks out” to solve real-world problems. His work challenges the idea that aging is a period of decline. Instead, he makes a compelling case that later life can be a time of renewed purpose, creativity, and engagement. We explore: Why meaning—not money or status—becomes central in later life How storytelling can inspire action and connection The importance of risk, adventure, and reinvention at any age How John is reaching younger generations through short-form video What it means to stay relevant, engaged, and “alive” well into our later years John shares stories from his own life—often beginning with adventure and humor—before drawing out deeper lessons about civic responsibility, personal growth, and living with intention. This is a conversation about aging differently—seeing later life not as an endpoint, but as an opportunity to contribute, create, and connect in new ways. Mini Bio John Graham is the Project's Executive Director, its principal speaker/workshop leader and Director of Giraffe Heroes International—the overseas affiliates launched by the Project. He was a US diplomat for 15 years, where his assignments included revolutionary Libya, Viet Nam, NATO, the US Mission to the UN and a stint as foreign policy advisor to Senator John Glenn. He joined the Giraffe Heroes Project staff in 1983. His degrees are from Harvard and Stanford, and his mountain climbing credits include the first ascent of the north wall of Denali, a climb that’s never been repeated. He is the author of Outdoor Leadership, It’s Up to Us, Stick Your Neck Out and Quest. For Our Listeners John's Giraffe Heroes Project: Giraffe Heroes International John's 2-Minute Adventure story: Badass Granddad
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    41 mins
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