How does one reach the pivotal moment that propels them into the next chapter of their life? For our guest today, that moment unfolded in a Starbucks, where Jeff Eamers stumbled upon a newspaper ad seeking volunteers for suicide prevention. Having battled his own demons for years, Jeff saw this not just as an opportunity, but as a calling.

In his past life, Jeff wore many hats—writer, director, producer, counselor—all while battling the tumultuous challenges of bipolar disorder. Now, he's found peace and purpose as a practicing psychotherapist and the voice behind the upcoming Three Moments in Time podcast. He lives in the California desert with his two dogs and 11 chickens.

Jeff's journey is one marked by resilience, vulnerability, and the unwavering determination to confront the darkest aspects of the human experience. But a word of caution: Jeff's story is unfiltered and may touch on themes of mental illness that could trigger some listeners.

We discussed:

The first hospitalization at 21 marked the onset of a series of mental health challenges for Jeff

How a major film opportunity brought Jeff from the advertising world to Los Angeles

Jeff reflects on the experience of navigating manic highs and depressive lows

Why he transitioned from Hollywood to suicide prevention counseling

How the sudden loss of his best friend served as a wake-up call

Why Jeff decided to pursue a new academic journey at 55

Jeff shares his understanding of the single most crucial factor in healing

Mental health in the high desert: A Yucca Valley man, animal rescue and the open landscape via Desert Sun

www.eamertherapy.com

What could be more crucial as we enter Chapter X than knowing our purpose? Today, I’m happy to have Ian Chamandy on board. He’s developed a groundbreaking program aimed at helping people define their purpose.

Ian is no stranger to purpose-driven work. As a founding partner of Blueprint Business Architecture, he's helped hundreds of companies define their unique essence in seven words or less. But Ian's mission goes beyond corporate boardrooms. He firmly believes that every single one of us has a unique purpose waiting to be discovered.

In this episode, Ian walks us through his method for defining purpose, showing us how it can transform not only our decision-making but also our personal fulfillment. Through stories and practical advice, he shines a light on the power of aligning our purpose with our values, talents, and aspirations.

We discussed:

The impact of a simple reminder Ian taped to the wall above his typewriter

How we can apply a key business principle to develop our own purpose

The magic of defining what makes you uniquely remarkable (in seven words or less)

Why discovering your purpose can help you make better decisions

Three things that defining your purpose will do as you transition into Chapter X

Visit Purpose(U) at purposeu.co

Ian Chamandy on LinkedIn

Today, we're catching up with Richard Eisenberg, who embarked on his "unretirement" journey in 2022 after stepping away from his role as Managing Editor for Next Avenue.

Over the past two years, Richard has gracefully navigated this new chapter, balancing writing, mentoring, volunteering, and personal exploration alongside his wife. As he continues to carve out his path, he generously shares his insights and experiences with us once again.

I’m thrilled to reconnect with Richard and dive into his experiences, observations, and ongoing discoveries in Chapter X. From his insights to the latest reads and learnings, it’s a privilege to explore the valuable lessons he's discovered along the way.

In this episode, we discussed:

How unretirement looks today for Richard two years in

What has been the biggest obstacle after leaving his full-time job

How Richard and his wife are leaning into what’s important to them

The current topics on aging that Richard is exploring with Next Avenue

Exploring the ranges of legacies and impact you can leave behind

Read “Work, Retire, Repeat” by Teresa Ghilarducci

Read “Unretired” by Mark Walton

Listen to the Friends Talk Money podcast

Next Avenue

Read Richard's stories on Medicare for Fortune.com