Reinventing Retirement

Cathy and Jeff continue their conversation with a focus on the stories that shaped his work, the opportunities that appeared along the way, and how each step naturally led to the next. Jeff reflects on early writing projects, memorable preservation efforts, and the moments that revealed how much history and architecture mattered to him. He shares examples of projects that succeeded, projects that...

Cathy continues her conversation with Jeff Darbee, exploring how his life and work evolved into a version of retirement that still feels full of purpose. Jeff reflects on the moment he and Nancy realized they no longer needed to work for income and could instead choose projects that brought joy, curiosity, and meaning. He talks about shifting from consulting to writing, teaching, and volunteering,...

Cathy talks with Jeff Darbee, a familiar name in Central Ohio and a lifelong advocate for historic preservation. Jeff and his wife, Nancy, have spent fifty years protecting and celebrating the architecture that defines communities across the region. Their story begins with the dramatic 1976 demolition of Columbus’s Union Station arcade, an event that not only sparked a movement but also brought Je...

Cathy talks with Richard Eisenberg , an award‑winning journalist and author who has spent nearly fifty years covering personal finance, retirement, and the changing landscape of work later in life. Richard shares how his career evolved from writing for young adults to focusing on people over fifty, and how his own path led him to what he calls unretirement . He explains why he left full‑time work...

Thinking about downsizing, relocating, or aging in place? Choosing where and how to live during retirement is about much more than real estate. It is about emotions, family, independence, and creating the life you want for the years ahead. In this episode of Reinventing Retirement: Health and Wellness, I sit down with Jim Perry, an experienced real estate professional, to discuss the emotional and...

In this insightful episode of Reinventing Retirement, host Dr. Cathy Paessun talks with registered dietitian and co-founder of Well Balanced Nutrition, Lucy Hayhurst, about an often overlooked but critical topic: hydration for adults over 60. As we age, our bodies go through changes that make it harder to recognize thirst and maintain proper fluid balance. Lucy explains why hydration becomes more...

Some conversations feel less like interviews and more like coming home, and this one is exactly that. Cathy sits down with someone she’s known for more than fifty years, a friend whose life has woven in and out of her own since childhood. Sue’s retirement story is shaped by resilience, creativity, and a quiet determination to keep moving forward, even when life hands you more than your share. Sue...

Destiny Burns joins Cathy for a conversation that feels like a roadmap for anyone wondering what reinvention can look like in life’s later chapters. Destiny’s story begins in Cleveland, winds through the Navy as a Russian linguist, moves into intelligence and the defense industry, and even includes a chapter as a volunteer firefighter in her late forties. Through each transition, she discovered th...

Diana Howes joins Cathy for a conversation that feels like a celebration of what reinvention can look like when you stay open, flexible, and willing to follow joy wherever it leads. Diana describes her life today as one filled with movement, connection, and purpose, much of it centered around Argentine tango. What began as a way to strengthen her knees turned into a passion that brings her exercis...

Cathy Paessun sits down with longtime friend and lifelong music tinkerer Ron Franke‑Polz for a conversation that begins in snowy northern Indiana and quickly opens into a story about coming home. Ron reflects on what it’s like to return to the town where he grew up, now just a couple of miles from his childhood house, and how familiar places feel both unchanged and completely new. As Cathy notes,...

TC Brown joins Cathy Paessun to talk about his journey from decades in journalism to writing his memoir, “Made in Taiwan: A Naive American’s Chaotic Journey to Manhood in an Exotic Culture During Radical Times.” TC spent nearly five years in the military during the Vietnam era, with most of that time stationed in Taiwan when he was just 18 years old. After his service, he built a...

In this compelling episode of Reinventing Retirement, host Cathy Paessun sits down with John McGory, a teacher, journalist, and author whose career has spanned education, politics, real estate development, and international teaching. John shares his unconventional path from eighth-grade government teacher and football coach to lobbyist, developer, and eventually ESL instructor in China. His story...

Tim Pressler spent over 40 years as an attorney before discovering an unexpected calling in retirement—becoming a professional Santa Claus. What started as suggestions from friends led him to Santa school, where he learned everything from posing for photos to creating backstories for curious children. When COVID-19 hit during his first year, Tim adapted by conducting 265 video chats with families...

Introducing Kimber Perfect – an active woman reinventing retirement her way. Kim spent her career supporting local government as a communications expert. Now, she’s able to support all the causes and candidates she loves. If you need a dose of inspiration, Kim is Perfect for you!