What if the future of healthcare wasn’t just about fixing what’s broken, but about discovering what’s possible? In this episode, Emily Paulsen speaks with Dr. Koen Kas, a molecular oncologist, healthcare futurist, and author of EPIC, about how technology is reshaping the way we think about wellness, illness, and aging.

Together, they explore the idea of “healthspan” over lifespan, the rise of AI-powered health companions, and what it could mean to build a care system around delight, prevention, and purpose. Dr. Kas shares real-world tools, from apps that detect early signs of Parkinson’s through voice patterns to at-home diagnostics for eye disease and sleep apnea, and challenges long-held assumptions about how care should be delivered. Throughout the conversation, he invites listeners to imagine a world where each person is supported by a “digital twin,” empowered with personal data, and encouraged to measure not just physical health, but emotional well-being and meaning.Key Takeaways:

• Healthspan matters more than lifespan: Dr. Kas emphasizes the importance of feeling well, energized, and purposeful, not just living longer, but living better.

• We’re moving from reactive to proactive care: Instead of waiting to get sick, technology now allows us to monitor early changes and support health before problems begin.

• Delight is a legitimate health metric: By designing health interventions that feel good, intuitive, and emotionally rewarding, we’re more likely to sustain long-term wellness habits.

• Digital twins could change everything: AI-powered companions that track our speech, sleep, movement, and mood could soon detect illness early and personalize care, without stepping into a clinic.

• Measurable doesn’t mean clinical: From smart toilets to emotion-sensing playlists, Dr. Kas shares how everyday tools are being reimagined to support emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

• Healthcare can be human-centered again: Tech isn’t replacing empathy, it’s enhancing it. Used thoughtfully, it can bring care closer to home, make it more personal, and even restore trust in the system.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way.

Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com

Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman

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The guest on this episode, Prof. Dr. Koen Kas, is a healthcare futurist and professor of Molecular Oncology & Digital Health at Ghent University, Belgium. He curates the global database of certified health apps and AI tools and is a sought-after keynote speaker. His books include Sick No More (shifting from reactive sick-care to proactive health) and Your Guide to Delight (crafting “wow” experiences and the personal digital twin). His new book, Epic, explores holistic longevity - showing how AI companions, creativity and data empowerment help people unlock their full potential and find purpose. 

Learn more on his website:  https://koenkas.com/ 

And pick up a copy of his book on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com.be/-/nl/Koen-Kas/dp/9463107053