The Blueprint to Longevity – An MHM sit-down with Dan Buettner, National Geographic Fellow and Founder of Blue Zones.
San Antonio, Texas (July 23, 2026) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) has released The Blueprint to Longevity, a thought-provoking podcast conversation featuring MHM President and CEO Jaime Wesolowski and Dan Buettner, National Geographic Fellow and founder of Blue Zones.
In the episode, Wesolowski and Buettner explore the origins of the Blue Zones framework and reflect on how a single conversation sparked a transformative partnership between MHM and communities along the Texas-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley. Their discussion highlights the power of collaboration, community insight, and a shared vision for improving health and well-being.
“My first conversation with Dan blossomed into a meaningful collaboration rooted in the strengths and assets of the communities Methodist Healthcare Ministries walks alongside,” said Wesolowski. “I am excited for audiences to learn more about the Blue Zones framework and how one bold idea led to a transformative partnership with the potential to impact nearly one million people living in the Rio Grande Valley.”
The episode was recorded in June at the Aspen Institute in Colorado during Aspen Ideas: Health (AIH), a global gathering of visionaries and thought leaders across various sectors, including health care, research, advocacy, and policy.
Since 2024, MHM has led panel and roundtable discussions at the conference. To learn more about MHM’s 2026 sessions, Transformative Allies: Re-engineering the Architecture of Partnership and Power and Longevity in Unexpected Places: The Road to Helping People Live to 100, click here.
The podcast is available now on major streaming platforms.
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.: Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org.
About Blue Zones
Blue Zones employs evidence-based ways to help people live better, longer. The company’s work is rooted in explorations and research done by founder and National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner in blue zones regions around the world, where people live extraordinarily long and/or happy lives. The original research and findings were released in Buettner’s bestselling books The Blue Zones Solution, The Blue Zones of Happiness, The Blue Zones, Thrive, and Blue Zones Kitchen—all published by National Geographic books. A hit docuseries, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, was released on Netflix in 2023. Using original Blue Zones research, Blue Zones works with cities and counties to make healthy choices easier through permanent and semi-permanent changes to our human-made surroundings. Participating communities have experienced double-digit drops in obesity and tobacco use and have saved millions of dollars in healthcare costs. For more information, visit www.bluezones.com.
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