Population 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]

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]

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]

5 Forces Reshaping Cities: Is Your City Resilient Enough?

Explore the Geography of Prosperity Index: https://geographyofprosperity.com/ [https://geographyofprosperity.com/] Is your city built to last? In a world facing demographic shifts, climate disruptions, and automation, this question is more pressing than ever. Many US cities are thriving now, but will they be equipped to navigate the future? I teamed up with Jaymes Cloninger and his incredible team at Motivf to create the Geography of Prosperity Index, a ranking of 250 U.S. cities based on five key dimensions of resilience. Unlike other rankings that just measure growth or wealth, our index looks at long-term sustainability, that is, how cities are positioned to thrive in the next 20 to 30 years. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the findings, share which cities top the list, and explore why some surprising metros are leading the way in resilience, governance, and forward-thinking planning. You’ll learn - How different cities have built regional advantages - Why population renewal is key to future prosperity, and which cities excel at it - How climate resilience depends on planning, not just geography. - The meaning of automation readiness and which cities are best prepared for AI - Why social cohesion helps cities survive crises and political conflict - How governance quality often matters more than wealth or growth - Why small cities outperform larger metros in resilience and social cohesion 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]

The 7 Demographic Changes That Will Define the Next 20 Years

The world is changing, but not in the way we might have expected. We have long been accustomed to a future marked by population growth, economic expansion, and the promise of more. Yet, quietly but profoundly, that era is coming to an end. In this episode, we examine a critical shift that will reshape the way we live, work, and even fight wars. As we move into an era of demographic change, new challenges emerge, including permanent labor shortages, the rise of artificial intelligence, and a re-drawing of geographic borders. The challenges are not distant predictions but current trends that demand our attention and action. Join me for a stark but necessary look into the seven powerful forces shaping our future and the new world we must build to accommodate them. You’ll learn - How the end of population growth is altering the global landscape - The implications of shrinking and aging populations on economic systems - How permanent labor shortages are affecting different sectors - Why AI and automation are now necessary for countries to survive - How the care economy is evolving to manage the aging population - The impact of casualty-averse societies on warfare - Why migration and climate risks are reshaping migration patterns globally - How geography is being redefined in a digital world 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]