The Story We Tell About Aging: Growing Bolder with Marc Middleton

What if one of the most powerful influences on how we age is the story we tell ourselves about what aging means? In this inaugural episode of *Aging with Intention*, Dr. Nicole Dawson sits down with Marc Middleton, Founder and CEO of Growing Bolder, for a wide-ranging conversation about possibility, purpose, preparation, and the way our beliefs about aging shape the choices we make throughout life. Marc has spent nearly two decades sharing the stories of ordinary people who continue to pursue meaningful, active, engaged lives regardless of age or circumstance. Together, Nicole and Marc explore why aging should not automatically be framed through decline and limitation, how we can prepare now for the lives we want later, why community and purpose matter, and what healthcare professionals can do differently when working with older adults. This is not a conversation about denying the realities of aging. It is about recognizing that challenge and possibility can exist at the same time—and that we may have far more influence over our aging trajectories than we think. The episode closes with a simple but powerful challenge: **What story are you telling yourself about aging?** **About Marc Middleton** Marc Middleton is a multiple Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, author, speaker, and filmmaker and the Founder and CEO of Growing Bolder, a media company that creates and distributes active-lifestyle content for older adults. He hosts the national television programs *Growing Bolder* and *What’s Next!*, as well as the *Growing Bolder* podcast. He is also the writer and director of the Emmy-nominated documentary *Conquering Kilimanjaro* and the author of *Growing Bolder: Defy the Cult of Youth*. A former Orlando sports and news anchor, Marc is also a seven-time Masters Swimming world record holder. For nearly 20 years, Growing Bolder has shared stories of people who continue to love and engage with life regardless of age or challenge, with a focus on mindset, possibility, and belief in what can still be ahead. **A Central Idea from the Conversation** Marc’s work emphasizes looking at aging through a lens of **opportunity and possibility rather than only loss and limitation**, while still acknowledging the very real challenges that can accompany aging. His keynote work similarly focuses on the gap between what may now be possible in later life and the way aging is still commonly perceived and experienced. **Learn More About Marc & Growing Bolder** **Growing Bolder:** https://GrowingBolder.com **Growing Bolder Longevity Club:** https://club.growingbolder.com/club-individual-plan/ **The Bold Start & Growing Bolder Insider:** https://growingbolder.com/insider-sign-up/ **Book:** *Growing Bolder: Defy the Cult of Youth, Live with Passion and Purpose -* https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Bolder-Youth-Passion-Purpose/dp/0984930019/ **Follow Growing Bolder** Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowingBolder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingbolder YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrowingBolder