Shriver Media and Sounds True Present:
Hosted by Maria Shriver Journalist, author, and advocate
A Free, Seven-Day Online Event
October 24–30, 2022
Now with 6 new guests and 2 extra days!
Hosted by Maria Shriver Journalist, author, and advocate
A Free, Seven-Day Online Event
October 24–30, 2022
Now with 6 new guests and 2 extra days!
The live summit has concluded, but you may still enjoy the program in its entirety from
October 31 to November 1.
This event has ended … but you still have time to own all of this content!
Purchase the Upgrade Package to have lifetime access to all Radically Reframing Aging presentations, transcripts, and our special bonus package.
This event begins in:
This content will be available to view on Monday, October 24.
Session 1
Groundbreaking Experts
With life spans growing ever longer, the opportunities for our “third act” of life have never been greater. Maria speaks with Dan Buettner and Dr. Laura L. Carstensen about why our world must undergo a massive shift in consciousness to better support our increasing longevity, and what we can learn from cultures that are living the longest, healthiest lives.
Session Highlights
Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner is an explorer, journalist, National Geographic Fellow, and New York Times bestselling author. He discovered the five places in the world—dubbed Blue Zones—where people live the longest, healthiest lives. Dan now works in partnership with governments, large employers, and other entities to apply lessons learned from the Blue Zones to improve lives and communities. He is the author of the new book The Blue Zones Challenge: A 4-Week Plan for a Longer, Better Life.
Laura L. Carstensen, PhD
Laura L. Carstensen, PhD
Laura L. Carstensen, PhD, is a professor of psychology and public policy at Stanford University, and founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. Her research focuses on the motivational and emotional changes that occur with aging. A Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, she has served on the MacArthur Foundation’s Research Network on an Aging Society and the National Advisory Council on Aging to NIA. Laura is the author of A Long Bright Future, and architect of the New Map of Life™ initiative.
Session 2
Groundbreaking Public Figures
Navigating the physical and emotional effects of aging can be difficult for any person—even more so when it’s happening in the public eye. Maria Shriver speaks with entertainment icons Jamie Lee Curtis and Vanessa Williams about how this unique experience has shaped their perspective on aging, what fuels their inner fire, and why age has given them a stronger sense of freedom and self.
Session Highlights
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis is an actress, producer, director, inventor, and the author of 12 books for children. She has starred in such films as the Halloween series, A Fish Called Wanda, and Knives Out, and her TV credits include Anything but Love, The Heidi Chronicles, and Scream Queens. She produced and starred in the Letters from Camp podcast, and is the creator/host of the GOOD FRIEND podcast. Jamie is a recovering alcoholic and an outspoken advocate for children, animals, and the environment. She has two adult children with her husband, Christopher Guest.
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams is a multiplatinum recording artist and star of television, film, and theater. Her work has been recognized with numerous Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and SAG Award nominations, and her platinum single “Colors of the Wind” won the Oscar for Best Original Song. She wrote the New York Times bestselling memoir You Have No Idea, as well as an award-winning children’s book, Bubble Kisses. Vanessa is a strong advocate for equal rights and received the Ally for Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign. She is a mother of four.
What does it mean to you to radically reframe aging? In what ways do you think aging needs to be reframed?
Session expired
Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.
The Diamond Approach is offering live, online Inquiry groups to accompany this course at a discounted rate — $100 for eight, 90-minute sessions, where you’ll take turns with other students working one-on-one with an expert teacher. This is completely optional and available after purchasing Presence.
You can purchase it here.
To access your course, you will need to:
You may contact us Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm MT.
Email: support@soundstrue.com
Phone: US Customers 1.800.333.9185 #3
Phone: International Customers 1.303.665.3151 #3
We recommend the most recent version of Safari for Mac users or Google Chrome for PC users (with a second choice of Firefox). We do not recommend using Internet Explorer—but if you must, please use version 11 or higher.
To access Realization Unfolds: A Conversation between A.H. Almaas and Adyashanti, you will need to:
Unfortunately, it is part of the bundle, and substitutions are not allowed.
You can download the audio/video content onto your computer or Android mobile device. With the exception of eBooks, Apple has restrictions that prevent items from being downloaded directly to iOS devices, unless purchased from iTunes or Apple. Digital items may be downloaded to your computer and then synchronized to your iOS device via iTunes. Courses are also available to stream within the Sounds True App.
Live sessions are viewable on Mac and PC. You can stream them on Android and Apple mobile devices through the browser. If you are not using WiFi, please check with your mobile carrier, as additional data rates may apply.
All events are Eastern Time unless otherwise noted. Here is the schedule. Please use a time zone converter of your choice or thetimezoneconverter.com.
Player solutions:
The course videos are prerecorded. Videos noted as “Live” are live.
Click here for the Sounds True return policy.
Not worrying about what I can or can’t do mentally or physically. My maternal grandmother put an addition on her small log cabin, doubling its size, in her mid seventies using trees from her property & did much of the work herself. When she passed away at 92, all I wanted to remember her by was her tool box-antique tools and miscellaneous “stuff” and all. She made strength-being strong, female, and having a love for “construction”-normal, the creativity to build, and literally building, okay regardless of one’s age.
Aging might not have to be renamed but reframed. Life and health continues to exist in me at age 84. Perhaps Elder means many of us hold the capacity to be engaged, authentic, wise, generous, and love life holding a lot of history. We moved through and completed decades as we continue to keep adjusting to life with its ongoing issues.
After retiring three years ago, I find myself in exactly “where not to be” is…in a one-story home in a cul-de-sac out in the country. After working overseas for 25 years, I thought that moving back to the USA to be with family was a “good thing”, but little did I realize that my children are too involved with their own lives and families. I should have stayed in Europe and I regret having moved “back in time!”
European lifestyle is far more conducive and welcoming to living and aging. I will not expound on how the petroleum and automobile industries have manipulated our American psyches, but there is an Awakening taking place now in this country, albeit very late. I pray it is more powerful than money.
It inspires me to see like minded people.
Due to a mentally / emotionally draining environment, I gave up a job that I once loved. It was the best thing that I have ever done for myself.
I feel like I am in my late 30s again (but am in my mid 50s). I am shocked by who I see in the mirror.
But, I am able to dance and sing again. There is such beauty in the world around me.
At our age, we should be doing what gives us life!
At 72 I follow my heart. I stay curious and I smile! Plus I’m still working in my own small business because it is my
Passion!
Entering the “Third Act” is frightening but can also be exciting no matter what our financial, physical or cognitive condition. Just talking and exploring the topic of entering a new phase in life, transitioning away from what we’ve lived to redefining ourselves makes it all less scary. Saying stuff out loud! Hearing the experience, knowledge and hope of others! All this gives me more confidence I’m headed toward new opportunities. Thanks Ms. Maria.
Maria, Jamie and Vanessa. You are all beautiful inside and out. Thank you for all the inspiration and insights into aging. Sending lots of love.
Be a burden to your children!!
Love this
Funny to hear this for the 1st time because I have grown up with the ideas of adopting ways to do the opposite. Love it!
Most Black people have always eaten lots of green: collards, turnip and mustard greens AND their root/bulb, mustard greens, sweet potatoes. That’s Sunday dinner. Leftovers are Monday’s, Tuesday’s dinner and/or lunch. Beans too. Black-eyed peas, pinto beans, crowder pea, kidney beans
I agree with Anne below. I am 77 and just retired last year due to Covid. I probably would still be working remotely at a fulfilling job but the thought of returning to the various workplaces to do my job (am an engineering auditor) was not for me anymore. I loved being able to observe the manufacturing floor and speaking with the employees remotely as I think it placed them in a less stressful situation as I looked over their shoulders to assure that they were following the specifications. This series is wonderful to me.
I enjoyed session one and it affirmed that moving from a cul-de-sac in the suburbs of New Jersey to the city of Philadelphia was the right decision! This move has allowed us to engage with new people in many different social and cultural settings, reconnect academically and socially with the university we attended , and get out and walk in our neighborhood every day!
Basically western society needs to completely rewrite aging! I think Hollywood’s obsession via the male movie moguls with youth has ruined the beauty of a life well lived! Yes we deserve to look after ourselves to continue to have a meaningful life. But within that we shouldn’t HAVE to be the fittest we ever have, it’s a form of bullying when a person of 70 who gets out there is lauded over one who genuinely has arthritis! Bodies do break down, surely there can be gentleness as well as gung ho.
Not everyone is lucky to enough to have the opportunity to age. For me, I earn each wrinkle and each gray hair. I value them as they remind me that each day is special and to not only seize the joy but be the joy.
Loved the concept that at my age, I have earned a set at the adult table… this includes the license to reset my own expectations of what successful aging looks like.
The session 1 speakers were not reassuring to me at all about the or my future as a person who will be (knock wood) continuing to age. I have been treated unfairly already in a job situation based on my age in a field where you might not think it would happen. I want more freedom, less obligation, and less contact as I age. I want to be useful and find my purpose in support of my family, not being a Walmart greeter or a crossing guard til I’m 85. Yeah, the Session 1 speakers made me more depressed about aging than I felt before I listened. Thank goodness for Session 2.
Unfortunately, hearing truth is often not reassuring, and can definitely be uncomfortable. May God Bless you.
I totally agree. I found this session really depressing.
Hi Stace, I felt the same way. Lost my job during covid and didn’t get it back. Downsized and wanted younger employees. I found my purpose with a company that produces a one-of-a-kind homeopathic hormone health solution for some of the signs of aging. Its a work from anywhere on your own clock opportunity that helps reduce the signs of aging while building residual income and help others do the same thing! I love it and the product results are incredible!
Let me know if you would like information. Sondra.rinsky.mbs@gmail.com
I would love to share this with you!
Sondra
Just watched two sessions on Day 1. Thanks so much for putting these ideas out there. I recognize myself in the ideas shared and have paid attention to all of it. I just turned 82 and want to celebrate rather than bemoan.
Sexuality
Society may dictate what it means to be a certain age. I can live outside that paradigm if I chose. I am 69 and I never imagined the life I currently live. My physical, spiritual and emotional life are in balance and I have joy.
wonderful, Rita. Any particular experiences you can share on how you lived outside that paradigm that brought you the balance in your life?
This topic has been part of me for the last 6 years I’m 56. I have had the courage to go gray(from my husband) & get compliments all the time. We must shed our fear of “looking” older. We are! Let’s embrace it & continue to talk about everything 💕thank you so much for sharing!
Mature! That is the word I prefer to describe the space I now occupy in my life. It falls gently on one’s ears in that it neither sounds negative not judgmental, as anyone can be mature at any period of their life. To be mature has a sound of dignity and that’s how I intend to move forward as I progress through my life!
I agree w/ Dan about improving cities to be walking AND BIKING friendly, however as in many cities gentrification displaces Black people causing them into worse situations even when they don’t sell e.g. property taxes
I have always felt youthful! I have been living my life in 10 year segments … like I’m 69 now which is my 9th year of my 60s. When I turn 70 it will be my birth year into the 70’s … and then I will turn 1 in my 70s. I love the PRO-AGING versus anti-aging.. I’m very much looking forward to rest of this summit.
Love this idea of living in 10-year segments! Thanks for sharing!
Love your theory, Angelina…gonna adopt it myself as I enter the 7th 60th year, and can look forward to being birthed again at 70!
Absolutely inspiring and energizing conversations. Taking it al in and can’t wait for tomorrow’s guest speakers.
I absolutely LOVE Jamie Lee Curtis’ ideas on aging, and “natural beauty”. I see too many young women (in their 20s and 30s) who are already getting procedures to alter their appearance. This idea of altering what we look like is insane! Also, I love Justine Bateman for her book “Face”. I hope these discussions will someday make a difference and allow women and girls to be more natural, and not feel the pressure to try to look perfect.
We can shift the paradigm in any of life’s stages by simply viewing ourselves as “ripening”… bringing completeness towards our personal form of perfection!
I like “ripening”. I think of it as “blossoming”. I’m 64 (had to think about it) and walk at least 10 miles a week and when the temps get to about 60 degrees ride my bike on great trails.
A beautiful and exciting start to our week together of learning, expanding, exploring, and living into our truth. The research and the shared experiences today lay the stepping stones to a better way, a better path is imagined, a better awareness of what is, and how uniquely blessed we are at this time to have 6 generations of wisdom on the planet to do great! Thank you for this event! “Tic Toc Tic Toc”
Wow, Super charging! Thank you for Day 1. Looking forward to the rest of the week.
Great energy and insights and much to consider.
Thank you for putting this together.
i enjoyed day one of the summit. I view being older and growing even older as a privilege and an honor.. Living longer provides past experiences that help enhance new experiences with lots of lessons and wisdom loaded inside. I believe it should be a priority to all of us who are 60 and above do whatever it takes to make this time in our lives great! This first session set the foundation to help us live until we die.
Come on y’all let’s dance today and each of our tomorrows.
Thank you
Dancing oooo. I love it. Sometimes my body does its thing w/o asking me. I often dance before I go walking if a certain upbeat jazz piece comes on while I ‘m getting ready even w/ a mouth full of toothpaste foam and the toothbrush. I laugh at myself sometimes
Hey Brandi,
This is the music that makes my body spontaneously dance WITHOUT my permission: Roy Ayers,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOExG4HIZu4&t=190s
Keep Moving!!!!
I’m 68 and my body is ossifying!!!
So I’m walking (7-10k daily) and also now on the mat, on the floor, stretching daily
Hey Laura,
Love that word “ossifying” (had to look it up to ensure it was what I thought it was. I was in the vicinity. If you can water exercise is fab: swimming, jogging, aerobic, Zumba. I used to do water jogging when my 32 yrs old was about a year. The Y had a nursery. GET WET, LAURA!
That’s been the lesson I learned from my father (now 93)…”Keep Moving!!!” I was so worried about what the pandemic would do as far as preventing him from keeping moving. He’s back at the health club now (more in conversation with others than heavy exercise…but engagement with others)! My mother is now the Wordle wise-one for a cohort of random facebookers. Engagement. and yes, keep moving! thanks.
LOVE this!! Wonderful conversation – we all need to write to our congressmen/women to ask about tax breaks for moving our older parents in with us! And, yes to naps! Good for toddlers and good for us.
Can’t wait to continue this summit!
Thank you Maria!
Naps are fab. But I can’t. My mind is always racing w/ ideas. Here’s an idea. Ever thought of mentoring some children. There are plenty who’d do better in life if only they had a mentor
Thank you for a thought provoking and very positive discussion.
I’m 74, retired at age 66. I mostly refer to myself as “getting older.” The two main “creative” or “productive” things I do with my life are 1) run my little home as a “residence house” for three other middle-aged women, and 2) travel cross country every year (living in my Prius all the way) and up into Nova Scotia to work on my “wee house.” The travel is more exciting than the work I do in Cape Breton. Not too bad. But NOT ENOUGH! Your first day here has inspired me. Thank you.
WOW, Sue
Thanks for the ideas. Love em❣️
An interesting conversation (Session 1) which reflected many of my beliefs and assumptions about living a long life. I am 64 and retired thirteen years ago to focus on a better quality of life. So far the plan is working well for me! Regarding the language of ‘Old Age’ I prefer positive descriptive words (mature/wise/experienced). So, for example, I could describe myself as approaching a Mature Phase of Life. My mother, who is about to celebrate her 92nd birthday, lives independently in a UK retirement village, having moved there 18 months ago. It has taken a while for her to settle into her new home often commenting how many Old People live there. Clearly she does not identify as Old and I aim to follow her wisdom.
When are we going to start integrating Senior Living with younger people such as college students. You have this great big beautiful life, then you’re put into cold storage via a massive marketing lie. Integration will enrich these communities and help keep people more vital than pottery class. And yes I have evidence where this is wildly successful. How ? Because it’s normal in the lifespan of being human .
Excellent!
Learned so much in such a short period of time.
Believe it or not, I refer to myself as old, (65), and am proud of it. When I look back at my life, I am amazed and perplexed as to how i became the person i am today.
The majority of my life as been spent in what I call survival mode. In survival mode, I had to work daily in order to eat and have a roof over my head. Unfortunately, this mode required me to go through most of my life with tunnel vision. Even though I was privileged to be born and raised in America, I realized early on, I was like a rat on a wheel. In order to move, I had to eat, in order to eat, I had to work. And if I stopped, there was no one to pick up the pieces. I really was oblivious to what a Good Life was. Now, here I am, 65 and FINALLY able to breath, refocus and look at life without my blinders. It’s a whole new world, filled with opportunity. My priorities have changed. I am able to finally see the BIG picture and figure out how I can contribute to our changing society. Too bad it took me 65 years to reach this point. I’m glad, I’m old.
I love the reminder of connection and friends…it can be difficult to ‘make new friends’ as we age….so putting this into a health context is great! Thanks…great first session.
We are consumed with the idea of material waste ( which is very important) but we are not with the idea of peoples waste. Years of experience of love of suffering of navigating life of knowledge turned into esfinge that society throws away without a blink .
Getting an error code-101102 The video won’t load
It is interesting but As a french speaking, it is difficult sometimes to understand if there is NO SUBTITLES”
I don’t look in the mirror
Thank you Maria for hosting day one. It was amazing!!! I would love to know if Dan has a list of blue zone cities in America that he would recommend for people to consider? It would help to have it to develop a roadmap to retirement
Yes he does in his book. Not many in the US.
Thank you, Ms. Shriver! These discussions are AMAZING! I so very much appreciate how they are so right-on-point! I’ve always been an independent thinker, even as a youth. I realized I don’t have to participate in societal required expectations. I set my own standards (for myself) to live mindfully and emotionally comfortable with myself. I don’t worry about what others think about me. Having all this time during lockdown, with all my plans to move on in life temporarily stalled, and not constantly being with others, I’ve had the time to listen and learn from a lot of knowledgeable people about so many subjects I feel like learning about. I’ve learned a lot! I’ve also taken to time to work on what I truly think about myself. Life was always too busy to stop and think about that. Realizing who I truly am has helped to remove mental roadblocks and I no longer worry about the future. I can move forward in the flow of life and take on whatever opportunities or hurdles lie ahead. That’s real freedom!
Pity this is so America based – I am in the Uk and can’t relate to most of it.
How is it different there?
While I do not dispute your point, I am curious about it being “America based”. How so? Today”s speakers? The books or writers mentioned? Otherwise, the life experiences seemed universal, although neither my parents nor I am famous. Because I lived overseas for many years, as an ex patriot I was often aware of the “American spin” on world events but I am genuinely curious as to this summit being perceived as “America based”. I hope you will elaborate. Thanks!
I was thinking the same thing. It would be better to be more generically based
So Sorry I hope as it progresses it will include all.
Great start and THANK YOU Maria for getting this summit arranged! It will give many of us the opportunity to test our views, hear new thoughts and ideas – and genuinely figure out, what it is we want to do with the 3rd part of our lives. Exciting times ahead!
Fabulous! Go us amazing Women leading the way and re- imagining ageing the best years of our life and not giving a f—–k what others think! YES!
This is all very interesting but kind of hypothetical for people who are not as privileged as these guests. Some of us don’t want to work at difficult or tedious jobs past 65. We’re exhausted and don’t have the “freedom” JLC and Vanessa Williams are talking about.
I agree Judy that many people welcome retirement as a release from work that is monotonous or challenging mentally or physically. I am not wealthy, but I was blessed to find a career that I absolutely enjoyed to the very last day. I retired because although I had enjoyed that part of my life, I wanted to see what else I might enjoy doing. I believe that this summit’s purpose was to focus more on the idea that one shouldn’t “have to” retire because of one’s age if he/she doesn’t want to do so- that.we don’t suddenly become obsolete or useless over, say 65.
I just retired from a job I like but still done with at 70+ and Im enjoying the idea of the Creative…whats next…and the freedom to do that. Yes, Im living on my SS and its tight but Im going to give it a go. Ive been working since 9 years old started with paper routes…Im ready
I was thinking the same thing, Judy. Financial security also plays a large part in the picture. The injustice of poverty and the unspoken systemic social caste system, too, no matter the age of people.
I agree Judy. Thats why I recently joined a company that produces a one-of-a-kind homeopathic hormone health solution to some of the discomforts of aging! Its also a work from anywhere solution that helps us create residual income while helping others too!
Let me know if you would like some information. I’d love to share it with you!
Sondra
Practical, grounded commentary from women who come across as very authentic. Thanks for sharing.
The term “aging” should be discarded and replaced with terms signifying growth, experience, and wisdom. Life is immeasurably richer as we live each day.
Infirmity is neither the constant nor the inevitable companion of growing in years.
As we are so blessed to live longer, we must care for our bodies, minds, and spirits so that we may receive this gift in full.
Before this summit even begins, I would hope we are all open to the wide expanse of aging experience. In response to you, Mary Keane, because you expressed so well what you want and maybe know, I would question this, with the experience of SO many elders who are not ‘blessed’ to be living longer, not able to care for oneself, and even care for one’s mind or spirit…due to the aging process…whatever that is defined to be! This immediately reminds me to be patient, to listen and to hear…to be present. Thank you!
Couldn’t agree more Mary.
Aging (or Ageing as we spell it o’er here in London) = Living.
On my podcast The Big Middle, I’ve been trying to rehab the word old too. Culture is fluid. We made it, we can change it. A start is to stop using old as a synonym for all that’s bad. By mere chronological measure, I’m old at 64 but I’m embracing my future with gusto by staying engaged and curious, bursting with biz ideas and plotting a move to The Luberon.
I lost the love of my life to a rampaging malignant melanoma when he was just 41. And my pocket-rocket Mum suffered horribly with stage 1V ovarian cancer until she died at 52.
This blessing of longer life in relatively good health is a gift not to be a squandered.
I agree. I recently started working with a company that produces a one-of-a-kind homeopathic hormone balancing solution to some of the negative aspects of aging. I named my business Mind Body Spirit for that reason. If you would like any information on how this might help you like its helping so many, email me. Sondra.rinsky.mbs@gmail.com
Thanks so much! I would love to share information with you!
Sondra