Aging Fast & Slow

About Aging Fast & Slow

Join Drs. Sarah Szanton and Deidra Crews from Johns Hopkins as they engage cutting-edge scientists, policy experts, and thought leaders to better understand structural discrimination, resilience, and the impact on aging across the lifecourse. The podcast series features conversations with experts to explore the health disparities caused by structural discrimination and discuss programs and policies that aim to move the health equity needle. Learn More: https://nursing.jhu.edu/agingfastandslow

Publisher

Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Jan 2020

Latest episode

6 May 2025

Latest episodes

28 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 May 2025

   Wired for Connection: The Health Impact of Social Ties

   Social connection is more than a feel-good concept—it’s a cornerstone of community resilience and public health. In this episode of Aging Fast & Slow, Dr. Thomas Cudjoe of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine discusses the science behind social ties, how isolation undermines both individual and community well-being, and what it takes to build stronger, more connected neighborhoods. Join us for a conversation that sheds light on the power of human connection to foster healthier, more resilient communities. REFERENCES: Cudjoe TKM, Boyd CM, Wolff JL, Roth DL. ⁠Advance care planning: Social isolation matters⁠. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020 April. Cudjoe TKM, Kotwal AA. ⁠Social distancing amid a crisis in social isolation and loneliness⁠. J Am Geri Soc 2020 May 20. Cudjoe TKM, Roth DL, Szanton SL, Wolff JL, Boyd CM, Thorpe Jr., RJ. ⁠The epidemiology of social isolation: National Health & Aging Trends Study⁠. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2020 Jan 1. Cudjoe TKM, Selvakumar S, Chung S, Latkin CA, Roth DL, Thorpe Jr., RJ, Boyd CM. (2021). ⁠Getting under the Skin: Social isolation and biological markers in the National Health and Aging Trends Study⁠. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Golden SH, Cudjoe TKM, Galiatsatos P, Brownlee D, Flanagan E, Crews DC, Maruthur N, Brown M, Ashby A, Hellmann DB, Knox T, Anderson ME. ⁠A perspective on the Baltimore Freddie Gray riots: Turning tragedy into civic engagement and culture change in an academic department of medicine⁠. Acad Med. 2018 December.

2. 

   1 Apr 2025

   Beyond the Meal: Rethinking Support for Older Adults

   In this episode of Aging Fast & Slow, we explore how home- and community-based services—like Meals on Wheels—can enhance the well-being of older adults. Dr. Kali Thomas, Associate Director of Health Services Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing’s Center for Equity in Aging, joins us to discuss the evolving landscape of long-term care. From in-home support to assisted living, we examine innovative policies and approaches designed to meet both the medical and non-medical needs of our aging population. References: Home-Delivered Meals Thomas KS, Parikh R, Zullo AR, Dosa D. (2018) Home-Delivered Meals and Risk of Self-Reported Falls: Results From a Randomized Trial. J Appl Gerontol. 2018 Jan;37(1):41-57. PMID: 27798291. Thomas KS, Smego R, Akobundu U, Dosa D. (2017) Characteristics of Older Adults on Waiting Lists for Meals on Wheels: Identifying Areas for Intervention. J Appl Gerontol. 2017 Oct;36(10):1228-1242. PMCID: PMC4877281. Thomas KS, Akobundu U, Dosa D. (2016) More Than A Meal? A Randomized Control Trial Comparing the Effects of Home-Delivered Meals Programs on Participants’ Feelings of Loneliness. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc. Sci. 2016 Nov;71(6):1049-1058. PMID: 26613620 Thomas KS, Mor V. (2013) Providing more home-delivered meals is one way to keep older adults with low care needs out of nursing homes. Health Aff (Millwood). 2013 Oct;32(10):1796-1802. PMCID: PMC4001076. Thomas KS, Gadbois EA, Shield RR, Akobundu U, Morris AM, Dosa DM. (2018) “It’s not just a simple meal. t’s so much more”: Interactions between Meals on Wheels Clients and Divers. J Appl Gerontol. 2018 Dec 20:733464818820226 [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 30569811.

3. 

   18 Dec 2024

   The Best of Aging Fast & Slow: A Recap of Powerful Conversations

   Drs. Sarah Szanton & Deidra Crews revisit key moments from past episodes on structural resilience, sharing insights on health equity and more.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

906,564

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

25 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

59

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

77

Contact Aging Fast & Slow

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.