In 1979, a group of elderly men walked into a retreat center. One week later, they walked out stronger, faster — even biologically younger.
There was no medication. No surgery. The only thing that changed was the way they saw themselves.
That study launched one of the most groundbreaking research careers in psychology — and it changed how we understand aging, illness, limitations, and the possibilities that are available to all of us.
Dr. Ellen Langer is a Harvard psychologist, the first tenured woman in Harvard’s psych department, and one of the most cited scientists in her field.
She’s widely recognized as the GOAT of mindfulness research — not the meditation kind, but a radically different approach rooted in active noticing and the restoration of personal agency.
In this episode, we explore: — The now-famous Counterclockwise Study that challenged aging itself — How our mindset shapes everything from stress to disease outcomes — The quiet ways we limit ourselves through language, labels, and expectation — And what happens when we stop blindly trusting “the facts” — and start trusting what we feel
Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:49 - Sponsor (Magic Mind) 3:52 - The Counterclockwise Study 7:42 - We Live In Mental Prisons 14:43 - The Definition of Mindlessness 17:30 - Are We Making Ourselves Sick? 28:42 - Our Perception of Getting Older 36:35 - Stress is the Biggest Killer 45:56 - Dealing With Mental Health Issues 54:20 - Is There a Negativity Bias In The Brain? 58:49 - Labeling Theory 1:06:22 - Dealing with Relational Conflict 1:15:19 - Are Emotions Choices? 1:25:16 - Social Comparison 1:32:52 - Do Mind-shifts Get Easier? 1:42:53 - Feeling Like You’re Behind 1:54:21 - Dr. Langer’s Greatest Challenge
Get 50% off your first month subscription at Magic Mind: https://magicmind.com/mighty50 (use code MIGHTY50)
Mighty Pursuit Links: Website: https://www.mightypursuit.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightypursuit/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mightypursuit/ X: https://x.com/MightyPursuit
Dr. Ellen Langer Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenjlanger/ The Mindful Body (Book): https://amzn.to/4ke6nf5
For business inquiries: hello@mightypursuit.com
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com