| | | | There’s a stat in the latest Edward Jones longevity report that really scared me: Americans are, on average, spending the last decade of their lives in poor health. That’s 10 years of missed opportunities, diminished independence and often, steep medical costs—$4,500 to $6,500 per year, per person—not including long-term care.
It’s sobering—but not inevitable.
While “lifespan” has long been the default marker for longevity, a new term has quietly been gaining ground: healthspan. It shifts the focus from how long we live to how well we live, a framework especially relevant to those of us in midlife.
That’s because we’re at the sweet spot: old enough to see the stakes, young enough to change course.
And extending your healthspan doesn’t require a life overhaul. The report highlights simple course corrections—like stress reduction, preventive care, regular movement and dietary tweaks—that create measurable improvements. It's about being proactive now to protect your quality of life later.
So whether you’ve already started your wellness game or are just beginning to think more seriously about the future, here’s your gentle nudge: this is the time. The small steps you take today are investments in a vibrant, capable, connected version of yourself 10, 20, even 30 years from now. |
| Meet the Media Powerhouse Still Asking the Big Questions Katie Couric has never been one to slow down. The legendary journalist and founder of Katie Couric Media has spent decades breaking barriers, challenging norms, and reshaping the way we understand the world—and she’s still going strong. Whether she’s spotlighting underreported stories, advocating for cancer research or embracing her new role as a grandmother (known affectionately as "Gogo"), Couric remains driven by curiosity, purpose and a deep sense of public service.
In this exclusive interview, she shares what continues to motivate her, how she advises women to get unstuck in midlife and why being an entrepreneur is more fulfilling than she ever imagined. |
How do you continue to stay so motivated and engaged by the work you do? You've had this incredible long career. You've interviewed everybody—all of the heads of state, the biggest movie stars. What still motivates you? I think I picked a career in journalism because it satisfies an insatiable curiosity I have. And I see my work as almost a public service. In this age of disinformation, and with so much content coming at all of us so fast and furiously, I feel I want to help illuminate issues and educate people and give them some kind of context to the news that's happening. So, for me, my job is incredibly meaningful, because I think it's really important, which keeps me going and keeps me wanting to do it for a long, long time.
You have clearly found a purpose and a passion for your work. So many women in midlife get stuck, and they don’t have that. What advice would you give them for getting unstuck? I think women need to be keenly aware of what's happening around them. I think they need to stay engaged and informed, because the world is changing so fast, and I think you should always know your strength and really dive in head first to what you care about. You know, I think the key to life is having a job that doesn't feel like work that you love, that you would do if you were paid nothing. And so, I would say: “What do you really love? What do you want to do?” And then, try to figure out a way to do it.
I also think it's smart to look out and see white spaces—what would I like to see? What needs of mine are not being filled, and how can I personally fill that void? And then I think networking with people, talking with people, joining forces with other people. A lot today is about aggregation and how you get a bigger platform by joining forces with other people. But there's so many exciting things happening, and I think you just have to go for it—even if it's scary and even if it's risky. You have to roll up your sleeves and just go for it.
You've been running your own media company for several years now. What do you love most about being an entrepreneur? I love the fact that, as George W. Bush would say, "I'm a job creator," and I'm helping people find their passion and do what they find fulfilling. That gives me great joy and satisfaction. I like being my own boss, and if I want to do something, I don't have to ask permission. I like being able to gravitate toward things that I think are really important. I like not having to be a slave to ratings or the whims of the general public. I just like creating content that I think is really important and that my followers think is important, and helping them understand this complicated world and become better citizens and healthier and just more informed. That's just incredibly satisfying for me.
How do you find flow—that state where you're just fully immersed and present in the moment? I think [for me, finding flow is about] my friendships and my relationships; I'm a real people person. I always have been. I think having a connection with other people is what fills me to the brim, honestly. And I love just talking about important things with people I love and people I respect. For me, expertise and intelligence actually keeps me in my flow, because it helps me have a better understanding of what's going on in the world. And just really good conversations. I know that sounds crazy, because sometimes they are agitating, right? Especially today, when there's so much anxiety about all this change, but it's really where I find fulfillment.
Want to hear more from Katie Couric? Sign up for one of Katie Couric Media’s newsletters—we’re partial to Body and Soul, which delivers the latest in health from medical experts on a weekly basis.
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Getting to the Core of Pelvic Health Pelvic health is one of those topics that rarely comes up in everyday conversation—until it becomes impossible to ignore. Hormonal shifts like menopause affect everything from vaginal tissue elasticity to the strength of your pelvic floor muscles. These changes can sneak up subtly—think: difficulty emptying your bladder fully, pelvic pressure or heaviness, even straining during bowel movements.
Yet too often, we accept these symptoms as the cost of aging rather than what they actually are: medical issues with effective solutions. Seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist is one of the most proactive and empowering steps you can take. These specialists do far more than just treat symptoms—they educate, assess and create tailored plans designed to help women feel stronger, more in control and more at home in their bodies.
Pelvic health also extends to the everyday habits we’ve picked up without realizing their long-term effects. From hovering over toilet seats to peeing “just in case,” many of us unintentionally undermine our bladder and pelvic function. Learning the proper way to pee (yes, that’s a thing!) can make a significant difference over time.
And while education is essential, so is visibility. When public figures speak openly about their pelvic floor struggles, it helps normalize the conversation and reduce shame. Take Peloton instructor Christine D’Ercole: she recently took to Instagram to share that she peed herself while doing a box jump at the gym. Her candid story didn’t just resonate—it opened up the floodgates of solidarity, showing that pelvic floor dysfunction is not a personal failure, but a common experience that deserves care, not silence. |
READING The Pathway to Flow by Danish neuroscientist Dr. Julia F. Christensen, a joyful blend of neuroscience and creativity that offers a seven-step method to help you calm your mind, lift your mood and tap into your everyday magic. partner.
CELEBRATING Unilever’s first-of-its-kind study linking higher levels of a common skin bacteria to reduced stress and improved mood. This scientific breakthrough about the skin–brain connection is yet another reminder that beauty and wellbeing are more connected than we ever imagined.
CLEARING our schedules from August 10–13 in the hopes of scoring an invite (or early birthday gift) to Maria Menounos’s first-ever Heal Squad Retreat at Canyon Ranch, where expert-led rituals, healing insights and serious sunrise energy await.
SUPPORTING the 1 Million More Women (1MMW) movement, a grassroots campaign reshaping the future of healthcare by listening to the people it too often overlooks—women. This bold initiative, launching July 1, aims to gather one million stories by 2035, using women’s lived experiences to drive the research, policies and systems we urgently need. |
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