In this uplifting, research-rich conversation, Dr. Dori Mintzer talks with gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight, author of JoySpan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half. Together they explore how to move beyond fear and decline-based views of aging and instead cultivate dignity, health, and joy throughout a longer life.
Dr. Kerry explains “JoySpan” as enduring well-being and contentment, an inside-out joy that can coexist with grief, illness, and real-life challenges, distinct from both lifespan and healthspan. She introduces the JoySpan Matrix of four internal strengths: Grow, Connect, Adapt, and Give, sharing practical, everyday ways listeners can keep learning, build nourishing relationships, enhance coping skills, and create meaning and legacy in later life.
Through stories from her decades of work in gerontology and powerful research findings on mindset and aging, Dr. Kerry shows how internalized ageism and a “decline aging mindset” can limit both length and quality of life, and what it looks like to replace fear with agency, curiosity, community, and conscious preparation for our future selves. Listeners come away with simple, doable practices, like gratitude, reaching out to others, and starting or joining circles and book groups, to expand their own JoySpan at any age.
About the guest
Dr. Kerry Burnight (“Dr. Kerry”) is a gerontologist on a mission to “make older better.” She taught geriatric medicine and gerontology for 18 years at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, co‑founded the nation’s first Elder Abuse Forensic Center, and founded TheGerontologist.com.
Recognized as “America’s gerontologist,” she has been an invited speaker at the White House Elder Justice Summit and the U.S. Department of Justice, and has appeared on CBS News, NBC News, The Doctors, Money Matters, and The Dr. Phil Show. She is a sought‑after keynote speaker and shares research-based strategies for optimizing dignity, health, and joy in longevity through her book JoySpan, her podcast, blog, and active presence online.
Connect with Kerry:
What to do next:
- Click to grab our free guide, 10 Key Issues to Consider as You Explore Your Retirement Transition
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