The Superpowers of Longevity

Think performance peaks when you're "young"? Think again. Research shows you can unlock a surprising set of superpowers as you age. In this episode of Flow Radio, peak performance expert Steven Kotler sits down with Chip Conley to explore how older minds excel at pattern recognition, complex problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. You'll learn why age brings unique advantages in both business and life. Conley shares insights from his time as Airbnb's Head of Global Hospitality, where they called him their "modern elder." Today, he runs the Modern Elder Academy, teaching people how to thrive in midlife and beyond. Tune in to discover why your best years might still be ahead—and how to make the most of them. In This Episode: 00:00 The Birth of a Modern Elder 07:52 The Hidden Advantages of Aging Brains 13:35 The Midlife Crisis Myth 18:48 Why We Need Midlife Wisdom Schools 23:55 Becoming a Beginner Again 29:15 Flow States and Longevity32:45 Breaking Down Age Apartheid 35:22 The Longevity Paradox36:51 Beyond Lifespan: Intro to Zest Span About The Guest: Successful hospitality entrepreneur and bestselling author Chip Conley is on a mission to reframe our relationship with aging. As the founder of MEA, the world's first midlife wisdom school with regenerative communities, Conley is disrupting both the idea of higher education and senior living. He has both a BA and MBA from Stanford University and an Honorary PhD in Psychology from Saybrook University. He’s been a TED speaker at the prestigious annual conference multiple times. Episode Resources: Website: https://chipconley.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chipconleysf/ X: https://x.com/ChipConley Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/chipconley/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/chip.conley.3/‍ Modern Elder Academy: https://www.meawisdom.com/ Chip’s Books: https://chipconley.com/my-books/ Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research Collective Flow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research and training company. If you’re interested in learning the science-backed techniques we used to train top executives at Facebook, Audi and even the Navy SEALs, click the link here: https://www.flowresearchcollective.com ‍ Follow Flow Research Collective: YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠ ‍ Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.