Retiring? You could wing it…but that’s not you. Be intentional about your future. Registration is now open for the next two Design Your New Life in Retirement Groups . Very Early Bird discount available for a limited time. Take the first step toward Future You today. _______________________ What if I told you the activities you dismiss as “just hobbies” were much more than just fun – and could be one of the most powerful tools for building resilience and maintaining mental sharpness as we age? A...
Jun 30, 2025•32 min•Season 8Ep. 352
Volunteering offers a multitude of benefits. And if you end up retiring sooner than you plan to, it can offer a bridge to what you may decide to do next. Yet, it’s easy to take on more than you’re ready for too soon. You’ll want to learn to set boundaries up front to protect your time and flexibility. Lisa Lewis shares her experiences and lessons learned about volunteering with boundaries. Lisa Lewis joins us from Tampa, Florida. _________________________ Bio Dr. Lisa T. Lewis is the Belief Syst...
Jun 23, 2025•19 min•Season 8Ep. 351
Michael Long, author of Taming the Molecule of More and co-author of The Molecule of More, joins us to discuss the science of dopamine, why we’re constantly chasing “more,” and how understanding brain chemistry can transform our approach to retirement and finding meaning. Michael Long joins us from the Washington, DC area. _______________________ Bio Michael Long is a physicist, writer, and co-author of the international bestseller The Molecule of More (translated into 25 languages, 500,000+ cop...
Jun 16, 2025•45 min•Season 9Ep. 350
Susan Hartzler, author of The Peace Puppy: A Memoir of Caregiving and Canine Solace , joins us to discuss her lessons learned in caregiving and volunteering with Therapy Dogs. Susan Hartzler joins us from California. ________________________ Bio Susan Hartzler is a lifelong dog lover and an award-winning writer who has figured out a way to live her life to the fullest as a single woman, not conforming to the social norms of marriage and children. Winner of the Angel on a leash Award from the Dog...
Jun 12, 2025•22 min•Season 8Ep. 349
It’s time for a recap of our best retirement podcast conversations from earlier this year. As you listen, ask yourself: What if I put this into action? Ready to learn more? Here are links to the full conversations: Stephanie Harrison Jordan Grumet Anne Laure Le Cunff Ethan Kross Bob Rosen Judith Nadratowski Alison Wood Brooks ______________________ Podcast Episodes You May Like The Very Best of 2024 Best of 2023 – Part Three The Very Best of 2022 _______________________ About The Retirement Wisd...
Jun 09, 2025•20 min•Season 8Ep. 348
Marc Cooper thinks you have an important choice to make. Will you become a wise elder or just someone who’s getting older? Marc Cooper joins us from Portland, Oregon. ___________________ Bio Dr. Marc Cooper is a former healthcare consultant, for almost 30 years – at the practice, corporate and organizational levels. Prior to his consulting career, Dr. Cooper was an academician, basic science researcher and practicing periodontist. He felt a shift later in life, leading him to create and lead an ...
Jun 02, 2025•24 min•Season 8Ep. 347
You’re more than your job. Much more. But it takes some time to transition once you retire. It can be especially challenging if you were forced to retire. Laverne McKinnon knows what it’s like to process job loss and what it takes to move forward. Laverne McKinnon joins us from Los Angeles. _______________________ Bio Laverne McKinnon ’s journey reflects a sincere commitment to helping individuals and organizations rediscover their capacity for impact and creativity. She balances multiple hats, ...
May 26, 2025•26 min•Season 8Ep. 346
Retirement is what you make of it. Do you have a second-act story as an entrepreneur in you? Connie Inukai, author of Retirement: Dream Big, Take Action, Make Money: 10 Amazing Second Act Entrepreneurs Tell Their Story , shares her experience in her second act as an inventor and “Grandmapreneur.” Connie Inukai joins us from Maryland. _______________________ Bio As a serial “Grandmapreneur®”, Connie Inukai speaks to retirees or soon-to-be retirees on the benefits of pursuing entrepreneurship in r...
May 19, 2025•23 min•Season 8Ep. 345
Is stress bad for you? Yes, but so is too little stress. Sharon Bergquist, MD, author of The Stress Paradox: Why You Need Stress to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier , shares her research on how good stress, in the right amount and at the right time, can enhance your well-being and longevity. Dr. Sharon Bergquist joins us from Atlanta. _________________________ Bio Sharon Horesh Bergquist, MD, is the author of The Stress Paradox: Why You Need Stress to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier. She ...
May 12, 2025•40 min•Season 8Ep. 344
Ted Page, founder of the blog Good Grampa, has a new book Good Grandpa: Stories from the Heart of Grandfatherhood coming out on Grandparent’s Day. We catch up on what he’s learned from others about grandfatherhood today and his own experiences as a grandfather. Ted Page rejoins us from Vermont. _____________________ Bio Ted Page is a storyteller and performer. His nonfiction stories have appeared in Boston Magazine and the Boston Globe Magazine , and his comedy screen credits include work with J...
May 05, 2025•38 min•Season 8Ep. 343
Use retirement as a catalyst to detach from unhealthy attachments that may be holding you back from living life the way you really want to. Life is shaped by our attachments. Things like security, pleasure, and validation are healthy, but they can be overdone and become a drag on our well-being. Dr. Bob Rosen’s new book Detach: Ditch Your Baggage to Live a More Fulfilling Life offers antidotes to 10 unhealthy attachments that can weigh people down. Dr. Bob Rosen joins us from Virginia. _________...
Apr 28, 2025•27 min•Season 8Ep. 342
What retirement regrets lie ahead? You can learn a lot from other people’s experiences and avoid some retirement regrets that have derailed others. Our guest, Noah Sheidlower of Business Insider, joins us to discuss what he learned from a recent series on retirement regrets he and his colleagues reported. Noah Sheidlower joins us from New York. ______________________ Bio Noah Sheidlower is an economy reporter with Business Insider. He joined in June 2023 and covers retirement, immigration, and e...
Apr 21, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 341
This podcast covers the non-financial aspects of planning for retirement. But make no mistake – you have to get your money right. Lane Martinsen is the author of 5W Retirement Blueprint: Maximize your Retirement Income through Holistic Planning , which describes his approach of holistic retirement planning. Lane Martinsen joins us from Arizona. ______________________ Bio Lane G. Martinsen is a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, an Investment Advisor Representative, and a Retirement Income Certified...
Apr 17, 2025•20 min•Season 8Ep. 340
Retirement is a big transition. And for some, there’s another to navigate: becoming an empty nester. Dr. Rachel Glik, author of A Soulful Marriage: Healing Your Relationship With Responsibility, Growth, Priority, and Purpose , sees it as an opportunity to reset, recalibrate and strengthen a marriage. Dr. Rachel Glik joins us from St. Louis. ______________________ Bio Dr. Rachel Glik is the author of A Soulful Marriage: Healing Your Relationship With Responsibility, Growth, Priority, and Purpose ...
Apr 14, 2025•26 min•Season 8Ep. 339
You’re working on your physical fitness, but how about your emotional fitness? Dr. Ethan Kross visits with us to discuss his new book Shift: Managing Your Emotions — So They Don’t Manage You . Ethan Kross joins us from Michigan. _______________________ Bio Ethan Kross, PhD, is one of the world’s leading experts on emotion regulation. An award-winning professor in the University of Michigan’s top-ranked Department of Psychology and its Ross School of Business, he is the director of the Emotion ...
Apr 07, 2025•38 min•Season 8Ep. 338
After a successful, demanding, and high-stress career, how do you shift gears to a new, more balanced life in an early retirement? Marybeth Crane shares her story and insights. Dr. Marybeth Crane joins us from Texas. _________________________ Bio Dr. Marybeth Crane is a retired board-certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeon. She specialized in sports medicine in private practice for over twenty-five years and successfully built a multi-million-dollar private practice from humble beginnings. In...
Mar 31, 2025•29 min•Season 8Ep. 337
In today’s complex, fast-paced world, what can we learn from philosophers? John Kaag thinks we can learn a lot. He’s created an audiobook Spring Training (for the Rest of Your Life), discussing his ideas highlighting Thoreau, Emerson and William James. He’s also the co-founder of Rebind, an AI company transforming classic literature into interactive, guided experiences. Rebind pairs books with original interactive commentary from some of today’s greatest thinkers who serve as expert guides, feat...
Mar 27, 2025•25 min•Season 8Ep. 336
Ed Hajim shares his remarkable journey from a tumultuous childhood—moving through foster homes and orphanages after being kidnapped by his father—to becoming a successful businessman and philanthropist. Hajim explains how his experiences became advantages later in life, teaching him adaptability, resilience, and self-confidence that fueled his success at the University of Rochester and beyond. Now dedicated to giving back, he focuses on helping young people through scholarships and education ini...
Mar 24, 2025•46 min•Season 8Ep. 335
Will your next phase be your time? If you’re a people-pleaser, or know someone who is, you’ll want to hear from Hailey Magee, author of Stop People Pleasing and Find Your Power . It’s time to set better boundaries, advocate for your needs and priorities and start living the life you’ve imagined. Hailey Magee joins us from Seattle. ______________________ Bio Hailey Magee is a certified coach who helps people around the world break the people-pleasing pattern and master the art of self-advocacy. H...
Mar 17, 2025•23 min•Season 8Ep. 334
We spend a lot of time each day in conversation. What if you could get better at it? Alison Wood Brooks, author of the new book, Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves , shares her research and tips on how to master conversation, become a better listener, navigate difficult discussions – and what makes an effective apology. Alison Wood Brooks joins us from Massachusetts. ________________________ Bio Dr. Alison Wood Brooks is the O’Brien Associate Professor of Business A...
Mar 10, 2025•36 min•Season 8Ep. 333
Can an experimental mindset help you navigate your transition to retirement? Anne-Laure Le Cunff, author of the new book Tiny Experiments , discusses how to become a scientist of your own life and unlock new habits, interests, and behaviors for your next phase of life. Anne-Laure Le Cunff joins us from Austin. ________________ Bio Anne-Laure Le Cunff is the author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World . She’s a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and writer. A former Google ...
Mar 03, 2025•26 min•Season 8Ep. 332
Our guest today notes that “ retirement is a little bit like life. It’s likely to be different than you think it’s going to be .” David Horton, MD shares the story of his life wife Dee Dee, and carrying on her mission and legacy. He discusses her book, Layer Upon Layer , which he helped complete. David Horton joins us from Washington State. _____________________ Bio David Horton, a retired oncologist turned book editor, spent his career driven by a deep passion for science and genuine connection...
Feb 24, 2025•25 min•Season 8Ep. 331
A lot will change once you retire and you may need build a new a social circle. Natalie Kerr and Jaime Kurtz join us to share research-backed strategies you can use to build and strengthen meaningful relationships from their new book Our New Social Life: Science-Backed Strategies for Creating Meaningful Connection. Natalie Kerr and Jaime Kurtz join us from Virginia. ______________________ Bios Natalie Kerr, Ph.D. , is a social psychologist and award-winning professor at James Madison University,...
Feb 17, 2025•34 min•Season 8Ep. 330
A great retirement takes work – and learning. In her seventh year in retirement, Judith Nadratowski joins us to share her lessons learned so far in her retirement journey – lessons that can help you plan better for yours. _____ Bio Judith Nadratowski is her seventh year of retirement after a 40-year career at Cleary Gottlieb, a top international law firm based in New York where she was most recently Manager, Partnership Resources & Executive Committee Matters. You can read more of Judith’s i...
Feb 10, 2025•28 min•Season 8Ep. 329
What’s the current stage of retirement and aging in the US? And how did we get here? James Chappel discusses his new book Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age , the impact of The Gray Panthers and why The Golden Girls is “the most important TV show in the history of American aging.” James Chappel joins us from Durham, North Carolina. ___________________ Bio James Chappel is the Gilhuly Family Associate Professor of History at Duke University and a senior fellow at the Duke...
Feb 03, 2025•33 min•Season 8Ep. 328
Are you thinking big enough about your retirement? You’ll have time for the things you always wanted to do but didn’t have time for in your full-time working years. With a blank canvas to work with, what are the meaningful personal goals you’d like to pursue now? How you start can make the difference. Caroline Adams Miller joins us to discuss her new book Big Goals: The Science of Setting Them, Achieving Them, and Creating Your Best Lif e and how you can use a research-backed method to set chall...
Jan 27, 2025•25 min•Season 8Ep. 327
What’s your purpose now? It’s a big question, an important one – and one that many people get stuck on when they retire. Dr. Jordan Grumet believes we need to change how we think about purpose. He rejoins us to discuss his new book The Purpose Code: How to unlock meaning, maximize happiness, and leave a lasting legacy . Jordan Grumet joins us from Illinois. _________________________ Bio Jordan Grumet, born in Evanston, Illinois in 1973, found the spark to become a doctor after a deeply personal ...
Jan 20, 2025•25 min•Season 8Ep. 326
What mindset are bringing to this winter season? Kari Leibowitz joins us to discuss her book How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days with interesting and useful ideas on how to make this winter special. Yes, special. Kari Leibowitz joins us from Amsterdam. ____________________ Bio Kari Leibowitz, author of How to Winter , is a health psychologist, speaker, and writer. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from Stanford University, served as a US-Norway ...
Jan 13, 2025•25 min•Season 8Ep. 325
Happy New Year! What will make you happy this year? Our guest today, Stephanie Harrison, author of New Happy , believes that it’s time to retire the old beliefs about happiness. If you’re moving on from full-time work, you’ll want to hear her research-based ideas to reimagine what happiness will be like in this new phase of life – and how to move on from the “old happy.” In addition to her book, I highly recommend her newsletter , and join over 1 million people who also love her work. Stephanie ...
Jan 06, 2025•27 min•Season 8Ep. 324
Thinking of retiring? Start here with our Best Books on Retirement summaries. _____________________ Before we move on to a new season of the podcast, let’s catch up on our best conversations with a question in mind: Which one of these retirement lessons can I apply in 2025? Click the links below for the full conversations: How Not to Age – Dr. Michael Greger The Portfolio Life – Christina Wallace The Balancing Act in Retirement – Stew Friedman The Fourth Quarter – Allen Hunt Living Like You Mean...
Jan 03, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 323
