Chapter X with Michael Kay

Doug Fleener woke up on an airplane with no idea how he got there. That was the moment his life began to change.   Today, Doug shares the story of hitting bottom and rebuilding his life one decision at a time. He reflects on addiction, recovery, and the importance of learning how to pause before reacting.   Today, Doug is an author and speaker whose work centers on a simple but powerful question:...

As we move into the later chapters of life, many of us begin to think differently about health. Not just how long we'll live, but how well we'll live. What if the symptoms we accept as "normal aging" are actually signals pointing to something deeper?   In this episode, I'm joined by Reed Davis, a double board-certified holistic health practitioner and founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition. Re...

Why is it often easier to know what we don't want than to ask for what we do?   In this episode, I'm joined by Paul Quinn, author of The Big Ask: Unlock the Possibilities in Your Work Life and Dreams with Courageous Requests. Paul began his career as an actor before moving into corporate training and writing, where he became fascinated by the moments that spark real change.   Today, we explore how...

Many men feel caught between the identity they built at work and the person they hope to become. Today's guest helps us explore that space.   Doug O'Brien has spent his career studying how our stories shape the way we live and the way we move through change. Before entering this work, Doug lived an entirely different life as a classical pianist, a Carnegie Hall performer, and a punk rock musician...

Modern medicine can treat almost anything. Yet it often misses the root of what makes us sick.   Dr. Ravi Kumar is a neurosurgeon who trained at the Mayo Clinic and spent years in operating rooms before realizing he needed to step away. He sold everything and moved his family to India, where he worked in mission hospitals under the most basic conditions.   Those experiences changed the way he view...

What happens when life forces us to confront the unexplainable?   Today's guest, Dr. Gregg Korbon, is a retired anesthesiologist whose life took an extraordinary turn after the loss of his nine-year-old son, Brian.    A lifelong man of science, Gregg was suddenly faced with experiences that defied logic and ultimately changed the course of his life. In this deeply moving conversation, Gregg shares...

For nearly 30 years, Peter Haskell's voice was a familiar one across New York. As a reporter for WCBS Newsradio 880, he covered some of the region's most defining moments.   When a rare vocal disorder forced Peter to step away from the microphone, it brought an unexpected crossroads. What followed was a shift toward gratitude, purpose, and a renewed belief in the power of stories and kindness.   T...

At 68 years old, Rand Timmerman looked in the mirror and thought his life was over. A decorated Vietnam War veteran and successful attorney, he had been undone by alcoholism and the toll of PTSD. Yet what seemed like the end became the beginning of a new path.   Now more than a decade sober, Rand shares how recovery gave him the strength to take on an extraordinary challenge with his brother: hiki...

What happens when life as you know it is suddenly pulled out from under you? For Ray Martin, the unraveling of his marriage, the death of his father, and the collapse of his career all came within months of each other. Left with nothing familiar to hold onto, Ray made a choice to let go of clinging to the life he had built. What began as a six-month sabbatical turned into a 14-year journey across...

  Life after work doesn't come with a roadmap. But my guest today shows what can happen when you stay curious and keep saying "yes."   David Danon has worn many hats: sailor, hair stylist, yoga teacher, Hollywood crew member, and musician. Now, in his seventies, he continues to surf, foil, and coach others on healthy aging. His journey is proof that reinvention can happen at any age.   In this epi...

Some people step into retirement without a clear plan, while others see it as an open canvas. My guest today, Thom Barrett, retired at 55 after a successful career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and chose to fill his canvas with adventure, creativity, and service. From kayaking off the coast of Antarctica to building furniture in his workshop, Thom has lived a life of bold exploration. Even as he faces...

Most of my conversations on Chapter X explore purpose, meaning, and navigating life after a career. Today's episode takes us in another direction. My guest is Dr. Elliot Justin, founder of FirmTech and an expert in men's sexual health.   Today, we talk about why sexual health is often left out of the conversation in the doctor's office. We also look at how technology and data can enhance the way m...

What would it take to trust something you can't explain? Aaron French didn't plan to become a spiritual mentor. He began as a biologist, then built a successful corporate career. On the surface, everything seemed great. But underneath, he felt pulled in a different direction. In this episode, we talk about how that shift unfolded and what it's like to follow moments that don't always make sense, b...

I've always been drawn to people who've done the hard work of figuring themselves out. Dr. Glenn Berger is one of those people.   At 17, he was working in one of the top recording studios alongside Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra. By 37, he was writing jingles for toys, using drugs every day, and wondering how his life had gotten so far off track.   In this episode, Glenn shares how he felt lost in li...

When John Geraghty was 29, he looked at his life and realized the path he was on wasn't leading anywhere he wanted to go. Struggling with alcohol, he decided to change everything. That choice set him on a journey of growth and helping others find what lights them up.   In this conversation, John shares what he's learned about why the traditional idea of retirement often leaves people feeling lost,...

  Alex Potts helped thousands of people plan for retirement until it was his turn. And like so many of us, he found himself asking what now?   This episode is a special one. Alex isn't just a respected leader and former CEO. He's also a longtime friend. We've known each other since the '90s, and I've had the privilege of watching him grow into an authentic, grounded, and service-minded leader.   O...

Agi Keramidas made a major life shift when he left behind a stable but unfulfilling life in Greece to follow a calling he couldn't quite explain. Today, he shares how a midlife awakening (his words) sparked a journey of personal growth. Eventually it would lead Agi to launch his podcast, Personal Development Mastery, and write his book, 88 Actionable Insights for Life.  He talks about listening to...

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 be...

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 mo...

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...

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...

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 h...

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...

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 pa...

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...