Let me introduce you to a man who makes most of us look like we’re running on dial-up.
His name is Dominick Critelli.
He’s 104 years old.
Born in Italy. Fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Survived World War II. Then became a history teacher.
And after spending two hours with him… I’m convinced he could still walk into a classroom today and command the room like a boss.
Not even kidding .
He speaks with the clarity of someone in their 70s.
Played two songs on the saxophone for me, poured us both glasses of wine, and laughed so hard I thought we were going to get kicked out of the nursing home (we weren’t in one, but still).
He is, hands down, one of the sharpest, funniest, most alive humans I’ve ever met.
And our brand new interview with him just dropped on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
But this isn’t just a “Wow, look how old he is” kind of episode.
This is a masterclass in resilience.
Dominick talks about the darkest corners of World War II.
What it felt like to stare death in the face.
What it meant to come home and start again - without losing yourself in the process.
He also shares the secrets to being married for 50+ years without ending up in a true crime documentary.
(“Say yes. Smile often. And pour the wine.”)
And then?
He gives his tips on how to live forever.
No, not the weird Silicon Valley version that involves blood boys and cold plunges.
The real kind.
The kind where you stay curious, stay laughing, and never forget who you are.
One of my favorite moments?
I asked him, “Do you ever feel old?”
He laughed and said, “Only when the mirror tells me. But the mirror’s a liar.”
Mic. Drop.
There’s something magical about someone who has lived through every era - and still wakes up excited.
Still shows up with joy.
Still remembers the power of a good joke and a glass of Chianti.
This interview isn’t just about history.
It’s about now .
It’s about how to keep going, even when everything feels heavy.
It’s about how to keep love alive when the world keeps changing.
It’s about how to hold on to your spark - when the candles on your birthday cake could set off a fire alarm.
Dominick reminded me that “what got us here won’t get us there.”
That the secret to a meaningful life isn’t perfection. It’s curiosity.
It’s the willingness to keep asking questions. To keep dancing when the music changes. To upgrade your process - even when you’ve been doing it the same way since 1946.
He’s lived through bombs. Recessions. TikTok.
And he’s still learning. Still laughing. Still teaching.
Which got me thinking…
If a man who’s seen everything still believes in love, joy, and Italian wine.
What’s stopping the rest of us, ?
I hope this episode cracks your heart open a little.
I hope it reminds you that life doesn’t slow down unless you let it.
And I hope it makes you call your grandpa.
(Or your weird uncle. Or that neighbor who always waves like he’s seen some things.)
Because the people who’ve lived the longest often have the most to teach us about living.
Dominick taught me more in two hours than most self-help books do in 300 pages.
And now I get to share it with you.
So pour yourself something good. Get cozy. And come meet the man who turned 104 into a masterclass.
