What gives life meaning as we age? Is purpose something we’re born with — or something we can cultivate at any stage of life? And does it really matter for health and longevity?

In Episode 6 of Be Well Age Well, hosts Dr Susannah Ward and Dr John Ward explore the science and lived experience of meaning, purpose, and lifelong growth with one of Australia’s most respected leaders in healthy ageing, Emeritus Professor Julie Byles AO.

Professor Byles is a gerontologist and clinical epidemiologist with an extraordinary national and international career. She is Chair of the Hunter Ageing Alliance, Co-President of the International Longevity Centres Global Alliance, a member of the Lancet Commission on Long-Term Care, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science. In 2024, she was named the City of Newcastle’s Senior Citizen of the Year in recognition of her ongoing contribution to community and healthy ageing.

Drawing on decades of research, policy leadership, and real-world community engagement, Professor Byles brings clarity and nuance to a topic often spoken about in abstract terms but rarely explained with evidence.

Together, they explore:
The evidence linking purpose and meaning with healthier ageing and longevity
How purpose influences physical health, mental wellbeing, and cognitive resilience
The relationship between purpose, curiosity, learning, and engagement
Whether meaning is innate or can be learned and cultivated later in life
What “sufficient” purpose actually looks like — and why it’s deeply individual
The role of education, work, volunteering, relationships, and community
Broader societal and environmental factors that support meaning across the lifespan

A central message of this episode is empowerment: purpose is not fixed, and it does not disappear with age, illness, or changing roles. The brain remains adaptable, and meaning can evolve — often in quieter, more grounded ways — throughout life.

Key Takeaways & Suggested Actions:
A sense of purpose is a modifiable factor for healthy ageing
Curiosity, learning, and contribution protect wellbeing at any age
Meaning does not have to be grand — it can be found in connection, service, and growth
Communities and systems play a vital role in supporting purpose
It is never too late to re-engage, re-imagine, and re-invest in what matters

This episode reframes ageing away from loss and decline, and toward adaptation, contribution, and continued relevance, offering listeners both evidence and hope.

Thoughtful, inspiring, and deeply reassuring, this conversation invites listeners to reflect on what gives their life meaning — and how nurturing that sense of purpose can support not just longer life, but a better one.

What gives life meaning as we age? Is purpose something we&rsquo;re born with &mdash; or something we can cultivate at any stage of life? And does it really matter for health and longevity?
In&nbsp;Episode 6 of Be Well Age Well, hosts Dr Susannah Ward and Dr John Ward explore the&nbsp;science and lived experience of meaning, purpose, and lifelong growth&nbsp;with one of Australia&rsquo;s most respected leaders in healthy ageing,&nbsp;Emeritus Professor Julie Byles AO.
Professor Byles is a gerontologist and clinical epidemiologist with an extraordinary national and international career. She is Chair of the&nbsp;Hunter Ageing Alliance, Co-President of the&nbsp;International Longevity Centres Global Alliance, a member of the&nbsp;Lancet Commission on Long-Term Care, and a Fellow of the&nbsp;Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science. In 2024, she was named the&nbsp;City of Newcastle&rsquo;s Senior Citizen of the Year&nbsp;in recognition of her ongoing contribution to community and healthy ageing.
Drawing on decades of research, policy leadership, and real-world community engagement, Professor Byles brings clarity and nuance to a topic often spoken about in abstract terms but rarely explained with evidence.
Together, they explore:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The&nbsp;evidence linking purpose and meaning&nbsp;with healthier ageing and longevity</li>
<li aria-level="1">How purpose influences physical health, mental wellbeing, and cognitive resilience</li>
<li aria-level="1">The relationship between purpose, curiosity, learning, and engagement</li>
<li aria-level="1">Whether meaning is innate or can be&nbsp;learned and cultivated later in life</li>
<li aria-level="1">What &ldquo;sufficient&rdquo; purpose actually looks like &mdash; and why it&rsquo;s deeply individual</li>
<li aria-level="1">The role of education, work, volunteering, relationships, and community</li>
<li aria-level="1">Broader societal and environmental factors that support meaning across the lifespan</li>
</ul>
A central message of this episode is empowerment:&nbsp;purpose is not fixed, and it does not disappear with age, illness, or changing roles. The brain remains adaptable, and meaning can evolve &mdash; often in quieter, more grounded ways &mdash; throughout life.
Key Takeaways &amp; Suggested Actions:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">A sense of purpose is a&nbsp;modifiable factor&nbsp;for healthy ageing</li>
<li aria-level="1">Curiosity, learning, and contribution protect wellbeing at any age</li>
<li aria-level="1">Meaning does not have to be grand &mdash; it can be found in connection, service, and growth</li>
<li aria-level="1">Communities and systems play a vital role in supporting purpose</li>
<li aria-level="1">It is never too late to re-engage, re-imagine, and re-invest in what matters</li>
</ul>
This episode reframes ageing away from loss and decline, and toward&nbsp;adaptation, contribution, and continued relevance, offering listeners both evidence and hope.
Thoughtful, inspiring, and deeply reassuring, this conversation invites listeners to reflect on what gives their life meaning &mdash; and how nurturing that sense of purpose can support not just longer life, but a&nbsp;better one.

Be Well Age Well is an 8-part health and wellbeing podcast that asks a simple but powerful question:
It’s not just about how long you live — but how well you live and age.

Hosted by an inspiring father–daughter doctor duo, this series brings together credible science, lived experience, and practical wisdom to help listeners optimise their health, function, and quality of life at every age.

Your hosts are:
Associate Professor Dr John Ward, 81-year-old Physician Geriatrician, and NSW Senior Australian of the Year 2024, and
Dr Susannah Ward, 44-year-old Specialist Physician of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chair of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Member Health & Wellbeing Committee, author, speaker, yoga and mindfulness teacher, and Founder of Ataraxia Collective.

With warmth, humour, and a touch of generational banter, John and Susannah translate complex, evidence-based medicine into clear, practical steps that listeners can actually use — whether they’re health professionals, patients, mid-life optimisers, or simply curious humans wanting to live well.

Across eight expertly curated episodes, Be Well Age Well explores the science of ageing and the six core pillars of functional longevity:
Exercise for life and independence
Nutrition for long-term health
Sleep and recovery
Social connection 
Living with meaning & purpose
Reducing toxins
Flexible growth, purpose, and adaptive change

Episodes:

1: The Science of Ageing

2: 1st Pillar: Exercise

3: 2nd Pillar: Nutrition

4: 3rd Pillar: Sleep

5: 4th Pillar: Social connections

6: 5th Pillar: Living a life with meaning and purpose

7: 6th Pillar: Avoiding toxins

8: Making changes and building healthy habits

Each episode features leading national experts and finishes with key takeaways and suggested actions, making the series ideal for both personal growth and professional development.

Why listen?
Because this isn’t wellness fluff or fear-based anti-ageing hype trying to sell you stuff and take your money. Age Well Be Well is a reliable source of credible, engaging, and refreshingly human advice — a thoughtful, evidence-based guide to ageing well, hosted by two generations of doctors who truly walk the talk together.

Useful. Succinct. Entertaining. Evidence-based.
Join us and discover how to live your best life — no matter your age or stage.

Reach out to Dr Susannah Ward here www.ataraxiacollective.com.au

Be Well Age Well&nbsp;is an 8-part health and wellbeing podcast that asks a simple but powerful question: It&rsquo;s not just about how long you live &mdash; but how well you live and age.
Hosted by an inspiring&nbsp;father&ndash;daughter doctor duo, this series brings together credible science, lived experience, and practical wisdom to help listeners optimise their health, function, and quality of life at every age.
Your hosts are:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Associate Professor Dr John Ward, 81-year-old Physician Geriatrician, and&nbsp;NSW Senior Australian of the Year 2024, and</li>
<li aria-level="1">Dr Susannah Ward, 44-year-old Specialist Physician of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chair of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Member Health &amp; Wellbeing Committee, author, speaker, yoga and mindfulness teacher, and Founder of&nbsp;Ataraxia Collective.</li>
</ul>
With warmth, humour, and a touch of generational banter, John and Susannah translate complex, evidence-based medicine into&nbsp;clear, practical steps&nbsp;that listeners can actually use &mdash; whether they&rsquo;re health professionals, patients, mid-life optimisers, or simply curious humans wanting to live well.
Across eight expertly curated episodes,&nbsp;Be Well Age Well&nbsp;explores the science of ageing and the&nbsp;six core pillars of functional longevity:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Exercise for life and independence</li>
<li aria-level="1">Nutrition for long-term health</li>
<li aria-level="1">Sleep and recovery</li>
<li aria-level="1">Social connection&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Living with meaning &amp; purpose</li>
<li aria-level="1">Reducing toxins</li>
<li aria-level="1">Flexible growth, purpose, and adaptive change</li>
</ul>
Episodes:
1: The Science of Ageing
2: 1st Pillar: Exercise
3: 2nd Pillar: Nutrition
4: 3rd Pillar: Sleep
5: 4th Pillar: Social connections
6: 5th Pillar: Living a life with meaning and purpose
7: 6th Pillar: Avoiding toxins
8: Making changes and building healthy habits
Each episode features leading national experts and finishes with&nbsp;key takeaways and suggested actions, making the series ideal for both personal growth and professional development.
Why listen? Because this isn&rsquo;t wellness fluff or fear-based anti-ageing hype trying to sell you stuff and take your money.&nbsp;Age Well Be Well&nbsp;is a reliable source of credible, engaging, and refreshingly human advice &mdash; a thoughtful, evidence-based guide to ageing well, hosted by two generations of doctors who truly walk the talk together.
Useful. Succinct. Entertaining. Evidence-based. Join us and discover how to live your best life &mdash; no matter your age or stage.
Reach out to Dr Susannah Ward here <a href="https://www.ataraxiacollective.com.au">www.ataraxiacollective.com.au</a>