Ageism: Redesigning Age with the Founder of AGEIST, David Stewart

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/4snddq/ageistfinal_-_7_6_21_118_PMbn75v.mp3

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Through his online publication AGEIST, David Stewart is using real people and real stories to inspire, motivate and connect people from all ages and walks of life. In today’s episode, we sat down with David to discuss AGEIST, companies catering towards “aging” demographics, and real stories from Ageist and David’s podcast SuperAge.

First, we asked David what the inspiration was behind creating Ageist. He explained that his idea for Ageist came from his own curiosity about how the world views aging and those who are older. He noticed how when discussing midlife, people often looked upon it with a negative lens, as if aging were an issue that needed immediate attention and curing. With Ageist, he strives to normalize the process of aging and make it relatable rather than something to fear or despise. We then asked about his background in photography, and David said that his camera skills have helped him when designing Ageist. With an already keen eye for photography, David used his past experience to create Ageist’s unique, aesthetically pleasing look for readers to enjoy.

When asked about how Ageist hopes to change the media’s portrayal of aging, David said that unlike other publications, Ageist presents aging in an inspirational and aspirational point of view. Rather than cater to an older or younger audience, Ageist is relatable to all ages so that everyone feels seen and can look upon their individual aging journey in a more positive way. We then asked about the process of directing marketing companies towards the right demographic, and David said that in many instances, the process can get complicated. In his opinion, since everyone has such an individual perspective on themselves and their aging, trying to target towards a specific audience can often end with many feeling left out and unheard. For Ageist’s name, David said it came from a desire to find a name that was cool and would catch people’s attention. David had also heard language surrounding aging that was often incorrect or uncomfortable to listen to, so by choosing the name Ageist, he hoped to use the attention he’d get to change the narrative on aging.

We then asked David why he personally thinks Ageist has such a varying age range in their demographic, and he told us it is because Ageist catches the eye of its readers. Ageist writes content that is interesting that caters to all its readers, and rather than share celebrity stories that are unattainable, the content is centered around real people and their real lives. We discussed one of Ageist’s stories about a woman named Joanna, and David explained to us that Joanna is a woman in her seventies who used to struggle with her health. She was not active and was on many medications, and one day, her daughter confronted her about it. After her daughter told her that she would end up in a home in a few years if she did not change, Joanna was motivated to focus on her health. Now, at 74 years old, Joanna is in great shape and off medication. David then mentioned that both Joanna and her daughter were on his podcast, SuperAge, to discuss Joanna’s health journey. David said that when he asked Joanna’s daughter the difference between training a younger person and someone older, she answered that there was no difference. To her, both younger and older bodies could work out and recover the same way. David argued that this perspective is often unheard due to the media’s narrative that we have to slow down and do less as we age. To change this, he suggested that media platforms start telling viewers and readers the truth and that we have to start embracing discomfort as we age. Although things may come easier when we’re younger, it does not mean that they become impossible when we are older.

We also asked David about the concept of aging and place, and he told us that many houses with older residents are beginning to incorporate more wellness aspects. Since we tend to be more prone to injury as we age, architects have started implementing details in homes to cater to such injuries and needs, such as having bedrooms with attached bathrooms on the first floor rather than upstairs. David also mentioned the women who work with him at Ageist and how, in his experience, it is the midlife females who excel as entrepreneurs. They are hardworking, dedicated and have tapped into the skills from life experiences that help run businesses. Finally, we asked David about his thoughts on purpose versus passion, and he told us that in his opinion, he disagrees with the notion that people should follow their passions. He said that many people reach a certain point in their life where they don’t know what to do, and that during that time, they should pursue what they believe they are good at and what their purpose is rather than their passion. David believes that people should focus on how they can make an impact, contribute to the world and help others and that doing so will then become a passion.

David Stewart

About David, From AGEIST’s Website:

David is the founder and the face of AGEIST. He is a passionate champion of the modern 50+ lifestyle, and a leading authority on the mindset and aspirations that drive this influential demographic. As the go-to reference on people in our age group, he frequently shares his expertise and insights, with major media publications including WSJ, The Times of London, CNN, South China Morning Post, Forbes and Fortune. He also consults for a wide range of Fortune 500 brands and businesses. An entertaining and lively speaker, he delivered the keynote at The Global Wellness Summit in Singapore, Monocle Quality of Life, HIMMS Las Vegas and many other large-scale venues. He will be speaking at the Aspen Brain Institute Expert Series on June 20, 2021. Before he launched AGEIST, Stewart was an award-winning photographer, doing magazine covers and global advertising campaigns.

About AGEIST, From Their Website:

AGEIST is a media company dedicated to championing the vitality, influence and contributions of the modern 50-plus demographic, and an agency that advises businesses, brands and organizations on emerging trends and how to better understand, speak to and engage this important and growing segment.