How to find joy and success as a late bloomer

TED Radio Hour

NPR

Social Sciences, Society & Culture, Science, Technology

4.4 • 21.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 August 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Many of us feel pressure to hit big life milestones on a timeline. But what if age is an asset, not a liability? This hour, TED speakers examine the benefits and drawbacks of being a late bloomer. Guests include writer Doree Shafrir, network scientist Albert-László Barabási, anti-ageism activist Ashton Applewhite and retired educator Riley Moynes. Listeners also share stories.

Original broadcast date: November 11, 2022.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the TED Radio Hour.
0:04.1	Each week, groundbreaking TED Talks.
0:06.8	Our job now is to dream big.
0:08.2	Delivered at TED conferences.
0:09.9	To bring about the future we want to see.
0:12.0	Around the world.
0:12.9	To understand who we are.
0:14.8	From those talks, we bring you speakers and ideas that will surprise you.
0:20.0	You just don't know what you're going to find.
0:21.9	Challenge you.
0:22.7	We truly have to ask ourselves, like, why is it noteworthy?
0:25.1	And even change you.
0:26.3	I literally feel like I'm a different person.
0:28.4	Yes.
0:29.4	Do you feel that way?
0:31.1	Ideas worth spreading.
0:33.4	From Ted and NPR.
0:37.5	I'm Anoush Zamoroti, and today on the show, Late Bloomers.
0:43.3	For most of her life, writer Dory Schaffir, felt like she was always late.
0:50.4	Oh, yes. Mm-hmm.
0:51.8	This idea of having to keep up with my peers was something that I felt very deeply.
0:57.0	Late to becoming a hip teenage girl.
	...

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