Welcome to Population Next, the podcast that helps business leaders and policymakers navigate the biggest—and most overlooked—threat to their future: demographic change. Hosted by Bradley Schurman, author of The Super Age and a leading expert in population dynamics, this show is your guide to turning challenges into opportunities.
Each episode explores how shifting population patterns—declining birth rates, aging societies, and accelerated global migration—are transforming the way we work, live, and do business. With expert insights, real-world case studies, and forward-thinking guests, Bradley breaks down complex trends into clear strategies. Learn how to build generationally-dynamic teams, adapt to emerging labor markets and technologies, and create future-proof organizations that thrive during this period of demographic disruption.
If you’re a C-suite executive, director, or founder who wants to lead with foresight, build resilience, and unlock new market potential, this podcast is your competitive edge. Tune in to Population Next on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube—and be the first to see what’s coming next.
Gen X Retirement Crisis: How to Prepare Before It’s Too Late
The looming retirement crisis is hitting Generation X with a cold reality check. As this generation moves closer to their retirement years, many are finding themselves woefully unprepared for the financial demands ahead. What once seemed like a distant concern is now fast approaching, with startling implications for the future.
Today, we revisit a previous conversation with Kerry Hannon and Janna Herron, experts in personal finance and retirement planning. They share how Gen X, often overlooked in retirement discourse, can navigate a changing financial landscape, especially when many still find themselves financially stretched.
Kerry and Janna also explain how the old model of simply saving for the future is evolving into a more dynamic vision of life after work. It's not just about having enough in the bank; it's about creating a life that’s fulfilling, sustainable, and full of opportunities.
You’ll learn
- The true definition and purpose of retirement
- What "re-retiring" means and how it offers more flexibility for the future
- How to make the most of your financial resources before retirement
- Exploring second acts and flexible work after retirement
- Why Gen Xers should be proactive in their political engagement
- Managing debt and preparing for a comfortable retirement
- How policy changes affect personal finances
Subscribe to Bradley’s Newsletter:
Join (for free) the only newsletter breaking down global demographic trends into actionable strategies for your business and your community.
Subscribe here → https://populationnext.substack.com/ (https://populationnext.substack.com/)
Order Bradley’s Book:
The Super Age: Decoding Our Demographic Destiny: https://a.co/d/gmG6t2P (https://a.co/d/gmG6t2P)
Get in Touch with Kerry Hannon:
Website: https://kerryhannon.com/ (https://kerryhannon.com/)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryhannon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryhannon)
Get in Touch with Janna Herron:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janna.herron.77/ (https://www.facebook.com/janna.herron.77/)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janna-herron-4031681 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janna-herron-40316814)
Get in Touch with Bradley Schurman:
Substack: https://populationnext.substack.com (https://populationnext.substack.com/)
Website: https://www.bradleyschurman.com/ (https://www.bradleyschurman.com/)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman (https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradley.schurman (https://www.instagram.com/bradley.schurman)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyschurman/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyschurman/)
Subscribe:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman?sub_confirmation=1 (https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman?sub_confirmation=1)
15 Apr 2026
Is the World on the Verge of a Major War?
The world stands on the precipice of unprecedented geopolitical turmoil. The United States is engaged in an active conflict with Iran, while tensions continue to escalate across Ukraine and Sudan, creating a complex web of instability. The ripple effects of these crises are far-reaching, impacting everything from oil markets to military resource allocations.
In this episode, I explore the demographic forces at play behind these conflicts, revealing how aging populations, shrinking economies, and desperate leaders shape the very terrain on which wars are fought. We will talk about the increasing likelihood of a global conflict, not driven by one monumental event, but by a series of smaller, cascading failures within the fragile world order.
Amidst this chaos, one pressing question remains: Can the existing world order, which has maintained relative peace for the past 80 years, survive the onslaught of modern geopolitical pressures? Let’s explore this further together.
You’ll learn
- How demographic decline is exacerbating geopolitical instability
- Why desperate leaders are more likely to escalate conflicts than seek peace
- How the current global system is weakening under pressure.
- Why the economic interdependence between nations can no longer protect us
- The role of AI and disinformation campaigns in modern hybrid warfare
- Why resource scarcity is a growing flashpoint
- How Europe’s inability to respond creates a void in global governance
- How small, seemingly contained conflicts could trigger a larger global war
- What historical patterns suggest about the future of global conflict
- The risks of ignoring global demographic shifts
Subscribe to Bradley’s Newsletter:
Join (for free) the only newsletter breaking down global demographic trends into actionable strategies for your business and your community.
Subscribe here → https://populationnext.substack.com/ (https://populationnext.substack.com/)
Order Bradley’s Book:
The Super Age: Decoding Our Demographic Destiny: https://a.co/d/gmG6t2P (https://a.co/d/gmG6t2P)
Get in Touch with Bradley Schurman:
Substack: https://populationnext.substack.com (https://populationnext.substack.com/)
Website: https://www.bradleyschurman.com/ (https://www.bradleyschurman.com/)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman (https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradley.schurman (https://www.instagram.com/bradley.schurman)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyschurman/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyschurman/)
Subscribe:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman?sub_confirmation=1 (https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman?sub_confirmation=1)
1 Apr 2026
The Metabolic Revolution Happening in Your Backyard | METAFITRX Founders
The future of human health isn't being built in a hospital but in places like Richmond, Virginia. In this episode of Population Next, I sit down with Melissa and David, the husband-and-wife founders of METAFITRX, a longevity, weight loss, and performance lab bringing clinical-grade metabolic testing to everyday people.
Melissa launched the company in 2020 after 15 years in the fitness industry, determined to cut through fad diets and trendy workouts with real data, including DEXA body composition scans, VO2max assessments, and Resting Metabolic Rate analysis. David joined in 2021, adding two decades of expertise in health promotion and workplace wellness.
Together, they're part of a broader movement redefining what healthy communities look like from the inside out. If the future of people, places, and prosperity runs through individual health, this conversation is where it starts.
You’ll learn
- How METAFITRX offers metabolic testing to everyday people
- The core assessments during metabolic testing
- Is BMI an accurate measure of metabolic health?
- Insurance and regulations necessary in the fitness industry
- Is Zone 2 training effective or just hype?
- How to use GLP-1s correctly for metabolic health
- Questions to ask before starting a weight loss journey
- Nutritional myths to avoid for optimal health
Subscribe to Bradley’s Newsletter:
Join (for free) the only newsletter breaking down global demographic trends into actionable strategies for your business and your community.
Subscribe here → https://populationnext.substack.com/ (https://populationnext.substack.com/)
Order Bradley’s Book:
The Super Age: Decoding Our Demographic Destiny: https://a.co/d/gmG6t2P (https://a.co/d/gmG6t2P)
Learn More About METAFITRX:
Website: https://metafitrx.com/ (https://metafitrx.com/)
Instagram: http://instagram.com/metafitrx/ (http://instagram.com/metafitrx/)
Get in Touch with Bradley Schurman:
Substack: https://populationnext.substack.com (https://populationnext.substack.com/)
Website: https://www.bradleyschurman.com/ (https://www.bradleyschurman.com/)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman (https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradley.schurman (https://www.instagram.com/bradley.schurman)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyschurman/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyschurman/)
Subscribe:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman?sub_confirmation=1 (https://www.youtube.com/@bradleyschurman?sub_confirmation=1)
Who has been a guest on Population Next
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Ryan Frederick
Beth Pinsker
Eugene Healey
Joshua Herring
Cindy Gallop
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
56,727
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
43
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
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