Listen "Would you want to live until 150?"
Episode Synopsis
During an unguarded conversation between President Putin and President Jinping in Beijing, the Chinese leader suggested that scientific developments meant that by the end of the century people might live until 150. So, what is it like to live to an old age and will 150 years ever be possible? We bring together two women in Australia, Janet and Myfanwy, with a combined age of 202. One of them still drives. The other stopped getting behind the wheel at 96. They say they both enjoy busy lives. Janet at 102 doesn’t relish the thought of being 150 though: “Think how doddery and staggery you would be.” And Mwfanwy adds: “I don’t want to live forever!” In another conversation, 87-year-old Elaine in the United States has this advice: “We’ve all been through difficult times, we’ve all had terrible things happen to us, but you just get past it, and you put one foot in front of the other and you just keep on going.” We also hear from three distinguished researchers who discuss the reality of living a long life and the science of anti-aging. This edition is from BBC OS Conversations, where we bring people together to share their experiences. Presenter: Rahul Tandon
BBC producers: Iqra Farooq, Akwasi Sarpong, Laura Cress and Ash Mohamed
Boffin Media producers: Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson (Photo:An elderly man holding a walking stick. Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
BBC producers: Iqra Farooq, Akwasi Sarpong, Laura Cress and Ash Mohamed
Boffin Media producers: Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson (Photo:An elderly man holding a walking stick. Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
More episodes of the podcast The Documentary Podcast
Kibera Ballerinas
01/01/2026
Four Months in Gaza
31/12/2025
When Christian nationalists come to town
30/12/2025
BBC correspondents' look ahead to 2026
28/12/2025
Not-so-golden weddings
27/12/2025
Why I chose to adopt
27/12/2025
The lord and dance: Michael Flatley
26/12/2025
The gift of science
25/12/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.