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July 17, 2025 13 mins

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Have you ever been told you're "too old" to pursue education? That outdated myth gets thoroughly debunked in this eye-opening exploration of lifelong learning and cognitive development. 

When DJ Mikey D shared his plans to return to school, he faced the all-too-common discouragement that education belongs to the young. What followed was a fascinating dive into research that reveals our cognitive abilities actually improve with age. Adults over 40 demonstrate superior problem-solving skills compared to younger learners, with Harvard studies confirming older students consistently outperform their younger counterparts in complex decision-making scenarios.

The education landscape has transformed dramatically, creating unprecedented opportunities through artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and adaptive learning platforms specifically designed to leverage adult learners' unique strengths. Financial barriers continue to fall, with 60% of employers now offering tuition assistance – nearly double the percentage from a decade ago.

The benefits extend far beyond career advancement. Adults who continue learning experience a 41% reduction in stress levels despite added responsibilities, a 32% decrease in cognitive decline risk, and report 23% higher life satisfaction scores. The impact creates powerful ripple effects, with children of adult learners 64% more likely to pursue higher education themselves.

We also explore the science of daily improvement, revealing our brains are most receptive to change in the first 90 minutes after waking. Just 20 minutes of daily learning shows a measurable increase in decision-making ability, creating a cascade effect that improves nutrition, movement, and sleep habits. The research confirms that small, consistent actions with self-compassion yield far better results than dramatic overhauls.

Ready to challenge artificial age barriers and tap into your brain's remarkable capacity for growth? Subscribe to Great Day Radio, sign up for our newsletter at GreatDayRadio.com, and stay tuned for our upcoming Boot Camp featuring lessons on becoming a mobile DJ and monetizing your own podcast!

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Let's start the show.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
You are listening to the People Station on
GreatDayRadiocom.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Hey, this is DJ Mikey D, along with my partner in
knowledge, dj D Marie.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hey everyone, it is always great to join you my
Great Day Radio fans.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
This motivational podcast show is rather personal
to me.
Just the other day, I wasexplaining to an older man that
I am planning on returning backto school in the coming months.
In doing so, the person made anoften too common of a statement
was explaining to an older manthat I am planning on returning
back to school in the comingmonths.
In doing so, the person made anoften too common of a statement
that I was too old andshouldn't waste my time.
Another female friend statedthat because I have a lot of

(00:57):
degrees already that I shouldnot pursue anymore.
While it is irritating, it alsomotivates me to not accept
these discouraging naysayers.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
Mikey D, I know you mentioned your degrees.
You already have.
What degrees are you pursuingover the next couple of years?

Speaker 1 (01:12):
I will be starting my master's in social work in the
coming months.
After that, I am consideringgoing back to law school and
specializing in family andestate law.
At some point in a few moreyears I plan on getting my
doctorate in educationalleadership.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
Wow, now that is ambitious.
I wish you nothing but success.
Okay, shall we continue thediscussion?

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Here's something that challenges everything we assume
about learning.
Studies show that cognitiveability can actually increase
with age, yet 82% of adults citebeing too old as their reason
for not pursuing furthereducation.

Speaker 3 (01:48):
That's such a fascinating disconnect between
perception and reality.
What do you think drives thatgap?

Speaker 1 (01:54):
Well, it really comes down to this outdated model
we've inherited from theindustrial age, you know, the
one that says education belongsin your early years, then it's
all about work until retirement.
But here's what's wild Researchshows that adults over 40
actually have superiorproblem-solving abilities
compared to younger learners.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
Hmm, that reminds me of a recent study from Harvard
that found older studentsconsistently outperform their
younger counterparts in areasrequiring complex
decision-making and patternrecognition.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Right and get this.
Companies that support employeeeducation see a 144% higher
return on investment compared tothose that don't.
It's like we're sitting on thismassive untapped potential just
because of some arbitraryage-related myths.

Speaker 3 (02:48):
You know what's really interesting about that?
The most successful techcompanies are actually leading
this shift, with some offeringunlimited education benefits
regardless of employee age.

Speaker 1 (02:59):
Speaking of shifts, let's talk about how the
education landscape hascompletely transformed, like
we're not just talking abouttraditional classroom settings
anymore.
Artificial intelligence,virtual reality, adaptive
learning platforms these toolsare making education more
accessible and effective thanever before.

Speaker 3 (03:20):
That technological evolution must be having a huge
impact on adult learnersspecifically, right.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Oh man, exactly.
The data shows that flexiblelearning options have increased
adult student enrollment by 67%over the past five years.
But here's what's reallyfascinating it's not just about
convenience.
These new learning platformsare actually designed to
leverage the unique strengths ofadult learners.

Speaker 3 (03:48):
Well, that makes me think about the whole financial
aspect too.
I've seen some prettyinnovative approaches to making
education more affordable foradult learners.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, and this is crucial, About 60% of employers
now offer some form of tuitionassistance, which is up from
just 35% a decade ago.
Plus, there is this wholeecosystem of grants and
scholarships specificallydesigned for adult learners that
most people don't even knowexists.

Speaker 3 (04:17):
The economic benefits must be pretty significant when
you look at the big picture.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
So check this out.
Adults who return to educationmid-career see an average salary
increase of 38% within threeyears.
But you know what's even moreinteresting?
The benefits go way beyond justfinancial gains.

Speaker 3 (04:38):
That's fascinating.
What other benefits are wetalking about?

Speaker 1 (04:41):
Well, studies show that continued learning actually
reduces the risk of cognitivedecline by up to 32%.
It's like education isliterally keeping our brains
young.
And here's another mind-blowingstat People who engage in
lifelong learning report 23%higher life satisfaction scores.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
The way you're connecting these dots really
shows how this impacts everyaspect of life.
The mental health benefitsalone seem worth considering.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
Exactly, and let me share something really powerful
about that.
Researchers have found thatadult learners experience a 41%
reduction in stress levels whenthey're actively engaged in
education, despite the addedresponsibilities.
It's like learning becomes thisform of mental wellness.

Speaker 3 (05:28):
That's such an important point about the
holistic benefits, though Iimagine balancing everything
must be quite challenging.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
You know what's interesting about that challenge
?
It actually becomes a strength.
Adult learners develop theseincredible time management
skills.
Studies show they're 27% morelikely to complete their
programs compared to traditionalstudents, and they're bringing
all this real-world experiencethat makes the learning so much

(05:57):
richer.

Speaker 3 (05:59):
The ripple effects of that kind of personal growth
must extend far beyond theindividual.

Speaker 1 (06:04):
That's well, that's exactly right.
When someone pursues educationlater in life, they're not just
transforming their own future,they become these powerful role
models in their communities.
The data shows that children ofadult learners are 64% more
likely to pursue highereducation themselves.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
Sounds like we're really talking about changing
the whole narrative around ageand learning.

Speaker 1 (06:28):
And that's really the heart of it, isn't it?
Every time someone challengesthese artificial age barriers,
they're helping to rewrite ourcultural story about what's
possible.
The research is clear Ourcapacity to learn and grow
doesn't diminish with age.
It just transforms and in manyways it actually gets better.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
That's such a powerful way to look at the
journey of continuous learning.

Speaker 1 (06:54):
Let me leave everyone with this thought In a world
where change is the onlyconstant, maybe the real
question isn't why keep learning?
But how can we afford not to?
Because the data shows thatlifelong learning isn't just
about staying relevant, it'sabout staying alive, in the
fullest sense of the word.

Speaker 3 (07:13):
Well, that is a wrap for us.
Thank you so much for joiningthe conversation.
If this podcast benefited youin some way, please comment by
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Speaker 2 (07:46):
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(08:07):
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These are just a couple of thetopics, so stay connected and
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Get ready for our next episode.

Speaker 3 (08:29):
Welcome back to Great Day Radio's motivational
podcast, segment 2.
Here's something that blew mymind.
Neuroscience shows that ourbrains are actually most
receptive to change in the first90 minutes after waking up, but
most of us spend that timescrolling through our phones or
rushing to work.

Speaker 1 (08:46):
That's fascinating, and it really makes you think
about how we could better usethose precious morning moments
directly into this whole conceptof daily improvement.

Speaker 3 (08:59):
The latest research suggests that successful people
aren't just working harder,they're strategically using
these biological windows ofopportunity.

Speaker 1 (09:05):
Hmm.
So how exactly do they takeadvantage of these optimal times
?

Speaker 3 (09:11):
Well, one key pattern is maintaining a constant state
of learning.
Studies show that people whodedicate just 20 minutes a day
to learning something new show a23% increase in decision-making
ability over six months.

Speaker 1 (09:25):
You know what's interesting about that.
I recently read that CEOs ofFortune 500 companies spend an
average of five hours per weeklearning new skills outside
their industry Exactly.

Speaker 3 (09:36):
And here's where it gets really fascinating.
This learning mindset createswhat researchers call a growth
cascade effect.
When people commit to learning,they naturally start making
better choices in other areas oftheir lives.

Speaker 1 (09:48):
Like what kind of choices?

Speaker 3 (09:50):
Well.
Take nutrition, for example.
Studies from Harvard MedicalSchool show that people who
actively engage in learning are42% more likely to make
healthier food choices.
It's like their brain getsprogrammed to seek optimization
in all areas.

Speaker 1 (10:04):
That makes so much sense.
I've noticed that on days whenI'm really engaged in learning
something new, I'm less likelyto reach for those 3 pm sugar
fixes.

Speaker 3 (10:14):
And here's what's really interesting about that
connection Researchers havefound that blood sugar stability
can improve cognitive functionby up to 33%, so it becomes this
positive feedback loop.

Speaker 1 (10:25):
Oh, wow.

Speaker 3 (10:26):
So the better food choices actually enhance our
ability to learn and growstudies show that even three
minutes of movement every hourcan increase brain plasticity by
27%.
It's not about marathontraining.
It's about consistent, smallactions.

Speaker 1 (10:44):
That reminds me of something I read about how
Silicon Valley executives arenow incorporating movement
snacks throughout their day,like two-minute dance breaks or
quick stretching sessions.

Speaker 3 (10:56):
Right, and what's fascinating is how these
movement breaks affect ourability to process information.
Research from Stanford showsthat walking meetings increase
creative output by an average of60 percent.

Speaker 1 (11:06):
Well, that certainly challenges the traditional idea
of sitting at a desk all day tobe productive.

Speaker 3 (11:13):
Speaking of challenging traditional ideas,
let's talk about meditation andreflection.
The data here is prettyremarkable Just 10 minutes of
daily meditation can reducestress levels by 31% and improve
focus by 16%.

Speaker 1 (11:27):
Those are impressive numbers, but I think a lot of
people struggle with meditation.
What do the experts say aboutgetting started?

Speaker 3 (11:35):
Well, here's something interesting Studies
show that starting with just 60seconds of focused breathing can
trigger the same neurologicalbenefits as longer sessions.
It's about consistency morethan duration.

Speaker 1 (11:47):
That's much less intimidating than trying to sit
still for 30 minutes right away.

Speaker 3 (11:52):
And you know what ties all of this together Sleep,
sleep.
The National Sleep Foundationrecently published data showing
that improving sleep quality byjust 8% can enhance learning
retention by up to 29%.

Speaker 1 (12:05):
That's incredible.
It really shows how everythingis connected.

Speaker 3 (12:08):
And here's the most encouraging part.
Research shows that people whofocus on gradual improvement
rather than dramatic changes are71% more likely to maintain
their positive habits long term.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
So it's really about making small sustainable changes
rather than trying to transformeverything overnight.

Speaker 3 (12:27):
Exactly.
The data shows that people whoapproach self-improvement with
compassion and patience arethree times more likely to
achieve their goals, compared tothose who take an
all-or-nothing approach.

Speaker 1 (12:38):
That's such a powerful message that being kind
to ourselves actually leads tobetter results.

Speaker 3 (12:45):
And perhaps the most important finding of all.
Studies show that people whoview each day as a fresh start
experience 44% less anxietyabout past mistakes and are 67%
more likely to take positiveaction toward their goals.

Speaker 1 (12:58):
That really brings it all together the power of
combining small actions with agrowth-oriented mindset.

Speaker 3 (13:05):
Well, looking at all this research, it's clear that
the path to improvement isn'tabout dramatic transformations.
It's about consistent smallsteps forward, backed by science
and supported byself-compassion.

Speaker 1 (13:17):
Well, I feel lifted and motivated.
What an amazing podcast show.
I hope you were able to gainsome knowledge about your
potential and your capability topursue learning and with
greater focus.
Until next time, my party peepshave an amazing day.
You are listening to the bestpodcast from the USA to the UK

(13:39):
on greatdayradiocom.
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