Why We Believe We're Too Old (And What to Do About It) with Sally Duplantier
From Late Bloomer Living Podcast by Yvonne Marchese
May 20, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 274
About this episode
Sally Duplantier discusses internalized ageism and the importance of action in overcoming age-related barriers to achieving one's goals.
What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you want isn't your age — it's the story you're telling yourself about your age? Sally Duplantier started her first business at 28, retired twice, went back to school in her mid-60s, earned a master's degree in gerontology, published seven peer-reviewed research papers, and is currently finishing her doctorate at 75. And she'll be the first to tell you she's not special — which is exactly the point. In this conversation, Sally breaks down the science of internalized ageism and why so many of us quietly absorb the world's low expectations for older adults without even realizing it. She draws on Dr. Becca Levy's landmark Yale research showing that a positive attitude about aging can add 7.5 years to your life — and explains why simply deciding to think differently isn't enough. The real shift, she says, has to come from action. Small, specific, sometimes terrifying action. We also get into the trap of "comparanoia" — comparing yourself not just to other people but to the younger version of yourself — the Japanese concept of ikigai as a gentler alternative to the pressure of finding your purpose, and the one scary email…
People in this episode
Host: Yvonne Marchese
Guest: Sally Duplantier
Topics covered
- ageism
- self-improvement
- personal development
- aging
- mental health
- purpose
Keywords
- internalized ageism
- positive attitude about aging
- gerontology
- comparanoia
- ikigai
- Wellness Wednesdays
- personal growth
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Zing, MyZingLife.com
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