Beyond Retirement

What really happens after the retirement celebration ends? In this episode of Beyond Retirement , Jacquie Doucette talks with Henry Quinlan—founder of Omni Publishing Company and a senior achiever at the MIT Age Lab—about what happens after the “retirement glow” wears off. They discuss why many retirees (especially men) struggle with identity and connection, how memoir writing can be both therapeu...

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflects on insights from her conversation with Dr. Denise Taylor and explores a quieter, more sustainable approach to intentional living in retirement. Instead of asking, “What should I do now?”, Jacquie invites listeners to consider, “How do I want to live now?” The episode focuses on creating rhythm (not busyness), choosing curiosity over striv...

What if retirement wasn’t about filling your time — but about choosing how you want to live? In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette talks with Denise Taylor about rethinking life after full-time work. You’ll learn how to shift from striving to thriving, why curiosity is essential for aging well, and how to create a more intentional rhythm in your life. Denise shares how her own “re...

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflects on a conversation that lingered long after the microphones were off: Scott Walker's retirement-fueled decision to reunite his college band, The Resisters, with help from Lutefish technology. The episode explores how rekindling old passions can restore connection, identity, and joy, and why retirement is less about stopping and more about...

What if your retirement party skipped the awkward speeches and rubbery chicken… and turned into a real rock show? In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette talks with Scott Walker, a newly retired executive-turned-musician, and the team behind Lootfish about reconnecting with passion and friendships after retirement. You’ll learn how to rediscover old interests, rebuild meaningful con...

In this solo reflection episode, Jacquie unpacks the biggest insights from her conversation with Kim Costa (author of Live in Your Wheelhouse) and translates them into practical questions listeners can use to evaluate whether their current home still fits the life they want in retirement. The throughline: your home isn’t just a building—it’s a support system for your health, relationships, routine...

Kim Costa, a top 5% Realtor with Atlanta Fine Homes & Sotheby’s International Realty and creator of the Wheel House Method, shares how to use a Wheel-of-Life approach to decide whether to stay, go, or renovate in retirement. You’ll hear why “home” is more than square footage, how life changes create a “void” your current space may no longer fill, and how to make choices that support enjoyment...

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie digs a bit deeper into the idea Sairan Aqrawi brought up in her interview: that we all have "hidden gems" within us, and that as we hit midlife, we have the opportunity to uncover them. Recommended Actions Allow yourself time for reflection Experiment and explore Build a supportive community Reframe your mindset about aging Give back or mentor oth...

In this inspiring episode of Beyond Retirement , Jacquie sits down with Sairan Aqrawi, a civil engineer, certified coach, and founder of the Gem Thrive Academy. From STEM to soul-searching, Sairan shares how she helps women over 50 rediscover their “hidden gem” — a unique passion, gift, or calling buried under years of work, family, and obligation. Whether it’s painting, public speaking, or buildi...

What happens when your carefully planned retirement takes an unexpected turn? On this week’s solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflected on this question. Here are 3 key takeaways for anyone planning their next chapter: Build Your Lifeline Early: Relationships with family, friends, and community are just as crucial as financial planning. The support Susie and Tony received made all the di...

On this episode of Beyond Retirement, host Jacquie Doucette welcomes Soozie and Tony Cisneros, a couple whose retirement dreams took an unexpected turn. Just as they prepared to embark on new adventures together, both received life-changing cancer diagnoses—on the very same day. In this candid conversation, Soozie and Tony share the shock and uncertainty of facing treatment, the ways their family...

Retirement doesn’t need a master plan. In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette reflects on Lynn Katz’s journey from school principal to author and community leader, showing how freedom, curiosity, and small daily goals can guide a deeply fulfilling retirement. Whether you’re newly retired or still figuring it out, this episode offers practical insight into designing a path that...

In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Docette talks with Lynn Katz about how sometimes retirement isn't what you expected. Lynn Katz is a retired school principal, curriculum writer, and educator who has reinvented herself as a fiction author in retirement. With a deep passion for storytelling, Lynn now writes both adult and middle-grade fiction, bringing her years of experience working wi...

What if happiness wasn’t something that happened to you, but something you chose —even in retirement? In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflects on a powerful message from her recent conversation with musician Ron Sowell: “It’s all up to you.” Drawing on stories from Ron’s life and the profound example of Viktor Frankl, she explores the idea that happiness isn’t about perfect circ...

In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette talks with Ron Sowell, lifelong musician and NPR musical director, about living with passion beyond traditional retirement. Ron shares the pivotal moment he stepped off the law-school track and committed to music for life, the joy and meaning he finds in performing and mentoring, and the simple daily practices that keep him grounded and strong...

Retirement is supposed to be relaxing… so why does it sometimes feel louder than ever? In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflects on a conversation with her friend Lynda Camire — and explores what happens when retirement doesn’t deliver the peace we expected. Lynda retired with a plan. But within days, she found herself checking the clock, wandering into her old office, and feelin...

What really happens when you close the laptop for the last time and step into retirement? In this candid episode, I sit down with my friend Lynda Camire, who recently retired from a long-standing career in finance with the Canadian government. She may not have had a retirement party, but she does have a lot of honest insights about what happens when the structure of the 9-to-5 disappears. Lynda sh...

In this solo episode, Jacquie discusses the ghost in your closet. It's the "Ghost of Missed Opportunities," as explained by J. Paul Nadeau in the previous episode. Do you let it out, or is it kept under lock and key? Always remember: The toughest negotiation of all isn't with someone else... It's within yourself. It occurs when you have to decide whether to stagnate or grow. Do you want to just st...

Episode Summary In this deeply reflective episode, Jacquie speaks with J. Paul Nadeau, a man who spent his career saving lives through high-stakes negotiation, and later had to negotiate with something much closer to home: his own regrets. As a decorated detective, international peacekeeper, and crisis negotiator, Paul’s professional identity was shaped by purpose and intensity. But what happens w...

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie discusses the idea that reinventing yourself after retirement is an option available to all of us. It doesn't need to be a flashy, public spectacle. It can be as simple as deciding to start choosing YOU first, for a change. Maybe you've always wanted to take a pottery class; well, now you can! Or maybe you have a book hiding inside you, clawing to...

In this candid conversation, Jacquie reconnects with friend and guest Robaire Nadeau, a seasoned professional who is choosing reinvention over retirement. Robaire shares what it means to return to university at “north of 60”, why age shouldn’t define what’s possible, and how personal passion can become the compass for a new chapter of life. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to start ag...

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement , Jacquie reflects on the powerful insights from her recent conversation with cognitive scientist Dr. Therese Huston—and explores what they mean for life after work. Retirement isn’t just a financial shift—it’s a cognitive, social, and emotional transformation. Jacquie walks listeners through the science behind memory changes, crystallized intelligence, an...

Dr. Therese Huston discusses why cognitive changes in later life don’t always signal decline and how to stay mentally strong with simple, science-backed strategies. Key Topics Covered: The difference between normal memory lapses and concerning cognitive decline How the brain actually gets better at certain things with age Why “brain training” apps might not be as effective as you think, and what w...

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie discusses the ideas presented by Ian Chamandy in the previous episode. Do you know what makes YOU uniquely remarkable? If you do, you're probably in the minority of retirees, because most of us haven't spent much time thinking about our purpose in those terms. We can all describe what we did or what our job title was, but that doesn't make us uniq...

🧭 Episode Summary In the inaugural guest episode of Season 6, Ian Chamandy of Purpose U explores the power of purpose —and why defining it in seven words or less can transform your retirement journey. Together, Ian & Jacquie dive into how knowing your unique gift can provide clarity, boost confidence, and serve as a personal decision-making tool—especially during major life transitions, such...