Longevity Out Loud

US Longevity Foundation and San Diego Seniors Community Foundation
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Medicine
  • Biweekly

By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older. The question isn't how long we'll live, it's how well. Longevity Out Loud unpacks the headlines and research shaping how America grows old: elder fraud, healthy aging science, policy, and intergenerational connection. Segments include Longevity Headlines, Fraud Watch, The Long View, and Featured Guest conversations with researchers, caregivers, and innovators. Hosted by aging-policy veteran Paul Downey and philanthropy leader Kris Kelly, every episode ends on a note of hope - because longevity should feel like a gift, not a warning.

Episodes

  1. 5h ago

    Why Generations Need Each Other with Donna Butts

    Imagine raising a grandchild at 70. School drop off. Doctor visits. Homework. And a retirement budget that was never built for a 10 year old.   That is life for 2.4 million children in America who live in grandfamilies, raised by a grandparent or other relative when parents cannot care for them.   In San Diego County alone, more than 80,000 grandparents live with their grandchildren, and about 20,000 are legally responsible for raising them. Your town has families like these too.   In this episode, Paul Downey and Kristoffer Kelly talk with Donna Butts, the national leader who spent 27 years leading Generations United. Her new book is Grandfamilies: Stories of Children and the Loving Relatives Who Raise Them.   Get the book here: https://shewritespress.com/product/grandfamilies/ All book sale proceeds support Generations United.   Donna does not just share statistics. She shares stories. A grandmother who went to court 127 times and spent down $100,000 in retirement savings to get custody of her grandson. A grandson raised by his grandparents Jack and Annie who became a grand success. Families who give up retirement to keep a child out of foster care.   You will hear: The real money and health costs for older caregivers, and the purpose that keeps them going Why age-integrated housing and community programs work better than isolating older adults Practical resources for kinship caregivers and advocates, wherever you live, including state grand fact sheets and Kinship Navigator programs How to push for policy change, from gu.org policy alerts to protecting TANF child-only grants and food programs An elder fraud alert from Jessica Buell on postcards for a fake Veteran Savings Program and Medicare open enrollment scams, and what to do instead: call the VA directly and check stopseniorfraud.org 3 things you will take away: Grandfamilies are everywhere, in every community, and they are keeping children safe, loved, and with family. Caregivers are paying the price, financially and physically, and they need real support, not just praise. Generations are stronger together, in the same home, the same neighborhood, and the same community programs.   Your action this week:   Know a grandparent or relative who is raising a child? Reach out. Ask what would help, really help. Then share this episode with them.   About our guest: Donna Butts is a national leader on intergenerational families. She served as Executive Director of Generations United for more than 27 years and is now a Senior Fellow there. She is the author of Grandfamilies: Stories of Children and the Loving Relatives Who Raise Them (She Writes Press, June 9, 2026).   Listen to Longevity Out Loud: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-out-loud/id6812928618 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6i1ONcYyWbqSoc3MzfRB1B YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LongevityOutLoudPodcast Podbean: https://longevityoutloud.podbean.com/   Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longevityoutloud TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longevityoutloud Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/longevityoutloud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/longevity-out-loud/   Follow the show so you do not miss the next episode, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. PST.   Have a topic or guest you want to hear? Email us at podcast@sdscf.org   Support our work. Longevity Out Loud is free for every listener. Your gift to SDSCF helps us keep it that way and supports our work with older adults.   Give today and learn more at https://sdscf.org

  2. Sep 25

    A Doctor's Case for Senior-Friendly ERs with Dr. Ted Chan

    Geriatric-Friendly ERs, Ageism, and Elder Fraud. In this episode of Longevity Out Loud, hosts Kristoffer Kelly and Paul Downey sit down with Dr. Ted Chan, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at UC San Diego Health and a national leader in aging and emergency medicine. Dr. Chan shares his vision for the Longevity Club and how preventive, community-based support can ease pressure on hospitals and emergency care, explaining how his medical background shapes the program from a physician's point of view. Dr. Chan was recently named inaugural executive director of the new West Health Accelerator, a six-year, $40 million initiative to improve coordinated patient care. As board chair of San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, he also shares how his work has driven San Diego to become the first region in the nation with all hospitals accredited for geriatric emergency care, improving outcomes for older patients when they need it most. The conversation turns to some of today's biggest challenges facing older adults: fears around AI and automation, age discrimination in the workplace, and the ongoing reality of ageism. Plus, what it really costs individuals and society when older adults are pushed aside. The hosts are also joined by Junne Esguerra of San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, who leads elder fraud prevention seminars nationwide. Junne breaks down the latest elder fraud trends and the most common scams targeting older adults today, along with practical tips to stay protected. This episode is brought to you by San Diego Seniors Community Foundation and US Longevity Foundation. Listen to Longevity Out Loud Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-out-loud/id6812928618 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6i1ONcYyWbqSoc3MzfRB1B YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LongevityOutLoudPodcast Podbean: https://longevityoutloud.podbean.com/ Follow the show so you do not miss the next episode, every other Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. PT. Have a topic or guest you want to hear? Email us at podcast@sdscf.org Longevity Out Loud is a program of the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, the community foundation for longer lives. Learn more at https://sdscf.org/

  3. Sep 20

    Why Connection Is Medicine for Seniors with Bob Kelly

    In this episode of Longevity Out Loud, hosts Kris Kelly and Paul Downey sit down with Bob Kelly, visionary founder and CEO of the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF), to talk about senior isolation, aging in place, and the future of senior philanthropy.  Before launching SDSCF, Bob spent two decades as president and CEO of The San Diego Foundation, leading effective philanthropy across the region. Earlier in his career he held senior leadership roles at the American Cancer Society and Sharp HealthCare.  Today he also serves on the boards of Mingei International Museum, the San Diego Hunger Coalition, and Voice of San Diego, and sits on one of nine committees overseeing Rotary International's $1.5 billion in assets.  Bob shares the history behind SDSCF and the difference its programs have made for older adults across San Diego. The conversation moves into this week's hot takes segment on senior isolation and social isolation in older adults. One in three seniors lives alone, raising their risk for disease, scams, and declining health. Kris and Paul discuss the No Senior Alone campaign and why social connection may be the most powerful form of preventive care available, with real consequences when it's missing.  They also break down the staggering $6.7 billion a year in Medicaid costs tied to senior health decline, and what communities can do to reduce senior isolation before it gets worse. Later, Director of Programs Junne Esguerra returns with the latest on elder fraud prevention, covering current scam tactics targeting older adults and practical tips families can use to protect seniors from financial exploitation. This episode is brought to you by the San Diego Community Seniors Foundation and US Longevity Foundation. Subscribe to Longevity Out Loud for more conversations on senior care, aging in place, and the longevity economy. Listen to Longevity Out Loud Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-out-loud/id6812928618 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6i1ONcYyWbqSoc3MzfRB1B YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LongevityOutLoudPodcast Podbean: https://longevityoutloud.podbean.com/ Follow the show so you do not miss the next episode, every other Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. PT. Have a topic or guest you want to hear? Email us at podcast@sdscf.org Longevity Out Loud is a program of the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, the community foundation for longer lives. Learn more at https://sdscf.org/

  4. Sep 16

    Living Longer, Living Better with Guest Laura Chapman

    This week on Longevity Out Loud, hosts Kristoffer Kelly (Director of Partnerships) and Paul Downey (Chief Advocacy Officer) sit down with Laura Chapman, Senior Social Impact & Sustainability Specialist at Wells Fargo, for a candid conversation about protecting older adults' financial security. Laura pulls back the curtain on the elder fraud landscape - the scams evolving fastest, the warning signs families often miss, and what financial institutions are doing to help seniors bank safely and confidently. She shares why financial wellness is just as central to aging well as physical health. Real talk on money, safety, and independence - no fluff, no filters. Listen to Longevity Out Loud Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-out-loud/id6812928618 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6i1ONcYyWbqSoc3MzfRB1B YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LongevityOutLoudPodcast Podbean: https://longevityoutloud.podbean.com/ Follow the show so you do not miss the next episode, every other Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. PT. Have a topic or guest you want to hear? Email us at podcast@sdscf.org Longevity Out Loud is a program of the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, the community foundation for longer lives. Learn more at https://sdscf.org/

    Living Longer, Living Better with Guest Laura Chapman
  • 4 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older. The question isn't how long we'll live, it's how well. Longevity Out Loud unpacks the headlines and research shaping how America grows old: elder fraud, healthy aging science, policy, and intergenerational connection. Segments include Longevity Headlines, Fraud Watch, The Long View, and Featured Guest conversations with researchers, caregivers, and innovators. Hosted by aging-policy veteran Paul Downey and philanthropy leader Kris Kelly, every episode ends on a note of hope - because longevity should feel like a gift, not a warning.

Information

  • Creator
    US Longevity Foundation and San Diego Seniors Community Foundation
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Longevity Out Loud