When Rich Alderton left his high-powered corporate role on a Friday, signing off millions and fielding nonstop calls, he expected Monday to bring more of the same. Instead, the phone was silent. That stark contrast was the wake-up call: people had been in love with his title, not with him.

What followed was a journey into reinvention. Rich stepped away from corporate leadership to help others become more adaptable in a rapidly changing world. Along the way, he discovered just how unprepared most of us are for life’s biggest transitions.

Today, Rich joins me to talk about how to shift your mindset in the face of uncertainty, reframe fear as opportunity, and rediscover purpose in Chapter X.

We discussed:

Why we resist change (and how to stop fighting it)

The mental tool that makes uncertainty more manageable

What personal purpose looks like in life after work

How to move from fearing change to finding freedom in it

Redefining success when there’s no one left to grade you

Resources

High Performance Change

Follow Rich on LinkedIn

David Marlow is known as the Ikigai Guy. I didn’t know that when I first came across his writing. What I did know was that something in his work resonated deeply with me.

Today, we talk about what happens when your career comes to a close, and you're left facing the question: who am I now? David shares how he discovered the concept of ikigai, what it means to him, and how it shaped the way he moved through the end of his own career.

He offers a thoughtful process for reconnecting with purpose, and for paying attention to the parts of your life that make you feel most alive. We talk about identity, daily rituals, the power of reflection, and how a few small steps can open the door to something meaningful.

We also explore:

What ikigai means (and what it doesn’t)

How to quiet the noise enough to hear what’s true for you

Why a beginner’s mindset is key to moving forward

What it looks like to create your own “ikiverse”

How old memories and stories can point you back to what matters most

Resources:

Follow David on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the Ikiquest Newsletter

David’s website

Where to find The Ikigai Way:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Wiley Books

Richard Eisenberg is back. And this time, we’re diving into what his unretirement looks like now.

If you don’t know Richard’s story, he’s an “unretired” journalist who writes a column for MarketWatch and freelances for Next Avenue, Fortune, AARP, and Fodor’s. Richard calls this chapter “unretirement” — living it with purpose and intention.

Before all that, he was an editor at Next Avenue and Money magazine, and held senior roles at Yahoo! and Good Housekeeping. He’s also the author of two personal finance books and a proud Northwestern grad.

In our conversation, Richard shares his latest stories on medical debt, telehealth access, and the renewed value of travel advisors. He also opens up about caring for his mom during her dementia journey and what it taught him about starting financial conversations early.

Listen in to hear what Richard’s been up to since the last time we spoke.

We discussed:

What “unretirement” really looks like in practice

The importance of having early financial conversations with aging parents

Why telehealth access matters—and what could happen if it’s rolled back

A fresh look at travel advisors and how they’re evolving

Richard’s book recommendations and resources for deeper learning

The challenge of caregiving for aging parents with dementia

Resources

The View From Unretirement

Next Avenue

Fortune | Richard Eisenberg

Fodor’s Travel

Friends Talk Money

The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne

The Purpose Code by Jordan Grumet

Retirement Intelligence by Robert Laura

What happens when the career you built your life around stops feeling like it fits? Today, I’m talking to Jordan Grummet about what it really looks like to wrestle with purpose—especially during big life transitions like retirement.

Jordan opens up about losing his father at a young age, pursuing medicine to honor his legacy, and eventually realizing that career wasn’t fulfilling him. We covered the struggle between societal expectations and our own authentic path, and how to find meaning after a life-altering shift.

Jordan, an author and host of the Earn & Invest podcast, brings a perspective shaped by both his work in hospice care and his own experience of stepping away from a path that no longer felt right.

It’s a conversation about what happens when we let go of old identities and start figuring out what comes next.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why purpose feels like such a monumental challenge in retirement

Jordan’s story of legacy, loss, and what medicine couldn’t give him

The slow burn of professional misalignment and how he woke up to it

How powerful external voices influence our life choices

The Purpose Code path forward into a more meaningful second act

Resources

jordangrumet.com

The Purpose Code

Only 5% of homes in the U.S. are moderately accessible. Stairways, sunken living rooms, poorly designed bathrooms, and trip hazards are just the start.

Greg Cantore’s journey has spanned bicycle mechanics to defense work and leading nonprofit programs. But his mother-in-law’s experience living in a house that wasn’t designed for her needs opened his eyes to the bigger issue.

After modifying her home, and later adjusting to her needs in assisted living, Greg realized there was a larger need for accessible, supportive home solutions. Today, he runs Little Deeds, a company dedicated to making homes safer and more accessible for aging individuals.

Your home should support you as you age. Find out how Greg is helping make that a reality for so many.

We discussed:

How universal design makes homes safer and more accessible as we age

Greg’s career journey—and how it led him to create Little Deeds

The challenges people face with aging in place

Simple ways to make your home safer and more accessible

Why it’s important to plan ahead with home modifications

Resources

Little Deeds

You don’t have to spend hours in the gym to stay strong and mobile as you age. My guest, Mark Firehammer, created myFeelness to help men remain functional without grueling workouts or fitness gimmicks.

At 43, Mark’s body started pushing back. There were aches, stiffness, and limits he couldn’t ignore. He knew something had to change but wasn’t willing to spend hours in the gym.

That led him to rethink movement entirely. Mark found a way to stay strong, mobile, and pain-free through small, mindful movements. Now, he’s helping other men do the same with a system that keeps you moving without intense workouts.

If you care about moving well, feeling good, and staying strong as you get older, you’ll want to hear this one.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Simple daily moves to check how well your body is working

• Why your nervous system is the key to better movement

• How paying attention to your body can improve your health

• The problem with mainstream fitness advice and what actually works

• What it really means to be "Out of Function" (and how to fix it)

• A small mindset shift that could help you avoid serious health problems

Resources:

myFeelness

Living Well Without Fitness on YouTube

Mark Firehammer on Instagram

Mark Firehammer on LinkedIn

If you had to make an important healthcare decision today, would you know what to do?

My guest, Dr. Corinne Auman, is an expert in aging. She helps people and families figure out senior healthcare, retirement planning, and life’s unexpected changes. She’s a psychologist, CEO of Choice Care Navigators, and author of Keenagers.

Most of us don’t think about aging until we have to, like when a parent falls or we realize our own home might not work for us as we get older. Suddenly, we’re faced with tough choices about Medicare, long-term care, and what it means to age well.

Today, Dr. Auman shares why planning ahead is so important, how to talk to loved ones about it, and what steps you can take now to have more options later. I think you’ll find this episode both eye-opening and helpful.

We discussed:

Start planning your future home in your 50s

What we often get wrong about retirement communities

How to bring your loved ones into the conversation

The 3 main phases of retirement

Who we can turn to for guidance on our next steps

Resources:

Keenagers by Dr. Corinne Auman

www.CorinneAuman.com

Today, we’re taking a different approach. Instead of focusing on men’s transitions, we’re diving into the journey women face in their next chapter.

My guest, T. Kari Mitchell (TK), is a transformational speaker, author, and integrative wellness coach who has dedicated her second half to helping women reclaim their health, confidence, purpose, and power after retirement so they can truly flourish in their golden years.

After 32 years as a teacher, she boldly transitioned into holistic coaching and motivational speaking at 62. Now, through her programs, TK helps boomers overcome challenges and rediscover their potential. We explore the transitions women face, including shifting identities, hormonal changes, and societal expectations.

Guys, this is the episode to share with the women in your life because growth is better when we do it together. TK’s energy is contagious, and I think you’ll walk away with a new perspective on how we can all grow into the next stage of life.

We covered:

The mindset shifts that help women step into their next chapter with confidence

How past experiences can open the door to new passions and opportunities

The societal challenges that women face as they age (and how to push back)

Practical ways men can better support the women in their lives

How women can start reclaiming their purpose today

Resources

https://www.lifestyle120.com