Skip to content
The Mel Robbins PodcastThe Mel Robbins Podcast

Live a Healthier, Happier, and Longer Life: The Secrets to Feeling Young Forever

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — Today, an absolute powerhouse is here to give you the key to living a longer, happier, healthier, and more meaningful life. “I’m 86, but I look and feel 57,” says Mel’s mother-in-law, Judie Robbins. Judie is the most happy, alive, vibrant, and well-connected person Mel knows. She’s back on the podcast and is sharing her best life advice and all new secrets for longevity, vitality, and how to create a long and happy life that you actually enjoy. You’ll also learn the crucial life lessons that most people learn too late, but you won’t after what you hear today. After today’s episode, you’ll know one thing for sure: No matter your age, the best years of your life are ahead of you. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-175 Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:03:04: This 87-year-old’s workout routine for better health and happiness. 00:04:45: One easy trick to feel more motivated in the morning. 00:07:31: How to find the energy to exercise every day, even in old age. 00:09:14: What a daily walk can do for your mental and physical well-being. 00:11:30: Judie’s smoothie recipe to build muscles even at 87. 00:13:30: You will never believe what Judie has every morning with breakfast. 00:16:46: How Judie starts every day to jumpstart her metabolism. 00:18:34: Judies #1 tip for keeping connection and community at any age. 00:20:39: How to use your calendar to find more meaning in your life. 00:23:18: What we all get wrong when it comes to fostering friendships. 00:25:00: How to deal with losing someone you love. 00:26:03: Plan a trip; it’s so incredibly important. 00:28:13: Why volunteering can help you find purpose and passion. 00:30:15: If you feel overwhelmed with grief right now, listen to this. 00:31:22: The story about how Judie went skydiving at 85. 00:33:27: Our family tattoo and its sentimental meaning. 00:34:34: What Judie learned during her psychedelic trip. 00:37:01: Why do we lie to make other people happy? 00:39:26: Judie’s biggest regret over 80 years. 00:41:03: If you feel like the best days of your life are behind you, do this. 00:46:41: How to use group messages to stay better connected. 00:49:01: How your social life might help you live longer. #longlife #lifeadvice #happierlife #healthierlife — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah #lifeadvice #selfdevelopment #habits

Mel RobbinshostJudie Robbinsguest
May 20, 202451mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Eighty-Six And Energized: Judy Robbins’ Real Secrets To Longevity

  1. Mel Robbins interviews her 86‑year‑old mother‑in‑law, Judy Robbins, about how she stays healthy, happy, social, and adventurous well into her late 80s. Judy shares her simple but consistent routines: daily four‑mile walks, light strength and stretching via yoga, a mostly simple diet (with unapologetic ginger snaps and wine), and a strong emphasis on social connection. Beyond habits, she explains how mindset, curiosity, volunteering, and deliberately seeking community helped her rebuild life after widowhood, travel solo, and even live in Cambodia in her late 70s. The conversation reframes longevity as less about perfection and more about movement, connection, courage, and loving your life as it is.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Move your body every day, even if it’s “just” walking.

Judy has walked at least four miles daily for over 50 years and says it gives her energy, lifts her mood, and has become a non‑negotiable habit—she feels worse if she skips it.

Pair exercise with something you enjoy to make it sustainable.

She only listens to audiobooks while walking, which turns movement into a reward and keeps her eager to get outside to hear the next chapter.

Prioritize social connection; don’t wait for others to call you.

Judy proactively hosts dinners, joins community activities, calls old friends, and even moved into a retirement community, emphasizing that loneliness is dangerous for health and mood.

If you want older loved ones to be more active, do it with them.

Instead of lecturing parents or grandparents, Judy suggests inviting them for walks, classes, or activities together—shared experiences are more motivating than advice.

You’re never too old to start something new or scary.

From starting to run in her 30s to biking in New Zealand, living in Cambodia, skydiving at 80, bungee jumping, getting a tattoo, and doing a therapeutic MDMA journey at 85, Judy treats fear as a signal to lean in, not pull back.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

It can be five, but it can’t be less.

— Judy Robbins (on her daily four-mile walk)

You can’t sit home and wait for people to call you.

— Judy Robbins

Loneliness will just bring you down… If you stay connected, you don’t feel alone.

— Judy Robbins

We don’t have a lot of time in this world, so I think you reach for the golden ring when you can still see it.

— Judy Robbins

Stay in love. Love yourself, love your friends, love your life.

— Judy Robbins

Judy’s daily movement and exercise routine in her 80sApproach to food, indulgence, and realistic “healthy enough” habitsThe critical role of social life, friendships, and community in longevityReinventing life after loss through adventure and volunteeringMindset shifts with age: caring less what others think, more about self-respectPractical advice for adult children supporting aging parents or grandparentsFinding purpose, gratitude, and courage later in life

High quality AI-generated summary created from speaker-labeled transcript.

Get more out of YouTube videos.

High quality summaries for YouTube videos. Accurate transcripts to search & find moments. Powered by ChatGPT & Claude AI.

Add to Chrome