Is There A Hack to Live Longer?

I spoke with Dr. Ezekiel “Zeke” Emanuel, an oncologist, bioethicist, author and health policy expert who has advised several U.S. presidents, to discuss how to live longer. We also touched on the U.S. health care system, AI and the politicization of public health.

Most of what makes people healthy isn’t what you see in the news or on social media. It’s what you might expect: enough sleep, a balanced diet, move more, preventive care and social connection—habits that, over time, make a big difference. Dr. Emanuel’s top tip for a longer, happier life may surprise you: throw a dinner party with friends tomorrow evening. Good food, stimulating conversation and genuine connection are his “wellness trifecta”—all achievable in one evening.

Both of us have written books with evidence-based guidance on how to prevent premature death (I call it a “formula”; he uses “rules”). We agreed on many core principles but not everything.

On our health care system, Dr. Emanuel didn’t hold back. Every strong health system must deliver five things: universal coverage, sustainable costs, rising care quality, narrowing disparities and public satisfaction. Most countries hit two or three; the U.S. is 0-for-five. We’re excellent at complex cancer care but fail at basics such as blood pressure control and prevention. Our one-year heart attack survival rate lags Canada and the United Kingdom. The core problem: we pay for procedures, not health. Primary care, the part of medicine that keeps people well, gets a sliver of the money and prestige it deserves.

On AI, Dr. Emanuel was bullish. New research shows AI may already match or beat human clinicians on several tasks, and he thinks it could become the first line of care by 2030, especially where doctors are scarce—whether in rural Ethiopia or rural America.

We closed with the challenges ahead: the politicization of childhood vaccines, eroding public trust and a health system sliding toward higher costs and fewer people covered. I asked for his prescription, for individuals and for the country. For individuals: pick one habit and stick with it for six to eight weeks. For the country: stop tinkering with a broken health care system and pursue real structural reform—first, get rid of deductibles.

So is there a hack to live longer? No. But the basics work, and you can start tonight—invite friends to dinner.

Watch our full conversation above and please let me know what you think.

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