Episode

SXSW 2026: We've Been Building Health Apps Wrong - E92

Podcast
Home of Healthspan
Published
Mar 30, 2026
Duration seconds
1242
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https://zencastr.com/z/fXB3IIfQ
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JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/home-of-healthspan-7069559/episodes/sxsw-2026-we-ve-been-building-health-apps-wrong-e92
Markdown
/podcast/home-of-healthspan-7069559/sxsw-2026-we-ve-been-building-health-apps-wrong-e92.md

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Summary

A few weeks ago, I attended SXSW 2026 and walked away with a bunch of questions: What if the very way we've been designing health apps is the reason they fail most people? Why do tools built to improve our wellbeing so often rely on perfect daily use - something almost no one can sustain? After attending SXSW 2026, one thing became clear: the dominant model of digital health is broken. Measuring success by engagement, streaks, and time on app doesn't reflect how humans actually behave - and it's limiting real impact. In this episode, I unpack the biggest insights from SXSW 2026 and explore a more human approach to health - one that embraces inconsistency, prioritizes meaningful behavior change, and rethinks what success in health tech should look like. In this episode you will learn: * Why South by Southwest (SXSW) is a hub for health, tech, and human behavior ideas. * The role of city energy and culture in driving wellness innovation. * How building real-life connections transforms business and health goals. * Key takeaways on AI, digital health, and the future of behavior change. * The latest thinking on women's health and GLP-1 medications. * How simple, enjoyable routines make lasting changes in health and life. Resources * Connect with Andrew on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandrewmcconnell * Follow Alively on Instagram for regular updates and insights: https://www.instagram.com/alively_official * Learn more about healthspan from Andrew's blog: https://www.mandrewmcconnell.com/blog This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency [https://www.zapods.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=home-of-healthspan]: https://www.zapods.com [https://www.zapods.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=home-of-healthsp…