Courageous Retirement: Answer God's Call to MORE!

Sometimes the person standing between us and God's best isn't the person we're frustrated with—it's the one staring back at us in the mirror. That's what this conversation did for me. When I first heard Dr. Carolyn Warren Wiley's testimony, I expected to be challenged about the culture around me. Instead, I found myself convicted by my own pride. In this honest and ho...

What do you do when you hear the words, "You have cancer"? In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona Johnson sits down with author, speaker, and coach Dana Lyons in an intimate conversation about the emotional and spiritual journey that begins with a cancer diagnosis. Drawing from their own experiences as cancer survivors, Vona and Dana share honest reflections on fear, uncertainty...

Darkness is loud right now. And if we're not intentional, it's easy to let it become all we see. In this episode, Vona explores one of the most practical — and most powerful — shifts available to us: learning to train our eyes toward the light. Drawing from a memorable moment at a Toastmasters meeting, a morning spent at a young man's funeral, and the quiet faithfulness of her own f...

Does God still have a calling on your life as you step into retirement? Absolutely — and in this episode, Vona makes the case that your best season is not behind you. It's just beginning. Inspired by her own church's search for a pastor, Vona draws a powerful parallel between the formal call process and the calling God places on every one of our lives — yes, even yours, and yes, even now...

In a world quick to label people, it's easy to form opinions without ever knowing someone's story. In this episode, Vona Johnson reflects on the subtle ways we categorize others — and invites us to pause. What if we trusted Jesus with what we don't understand, and chose to see people, not categories? Drawing on the transformation of Saul into Paul, she explores how faith can change...

Retirement doesn’t mean our purpose is behind us. In fact, it may be the season when our influence becomes the most meaningful. In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona reflects on wisdom from a 92-year-old woman who shared advice she wished she had received decades earlier. Her reflections spark a deeper conversation about purpose, grace, and the limited time we have to make a difference....

Many of us carry more than we realize. Over time responsibilities, commitments, possessions, and expectations slowly fill our “backpack” until one day the weight begins to feel heavier than it should. In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona shares a recent personal experience simplifying her website—and the surprising freedom that came from letting go of something that had quietly become t...

Many people love the quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” But what if, in our search for that “why,” we’ve been looking in the wrong direction? In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona explores the tension between chasing purpose the world’s way and following God’s calling . It’s easy to get c...

What if the most important part of retirement planning has nothing to do with money? In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona sits down with certified financial planner and consultant Kevin Berwald to explore a different starting point for retirement: putting Christ first . Kevin shares why retirement is about far more than financial security, travel plans, or lifestyle goals. Instead, he e...

When Is “Enough” Enough to Retire? Faith, Finances, and Courageous Retirement (with Mike Perez) How much is enough to retire? In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona Johnson sits down with Mike Perez, author of Faith and Finances , to tackle one of the most common fears facing retirement-age believers: What if I don’t have enough money saved? Together, they explore how retirement may requi...

Lately, I’ve sensed God inviting me into a shift — from striving to faithfulness. From doing more to loving more deliberately. In this episode of Courageous Retirement , I share how retirement created space for Scripture to speak more deeply into my life — and how Romans 10 and 1 Corinthians 13 reshaped the way I see this season. Retirement isn’t a winding down. It’s an invitation. An invitation t...

Living Your Best Life in Retirement: Lessons from Legos and Faith In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona Johnson shares an unexpected lesson learned while building Legos with her grandson—and how it beautifully mirrors the opportunity retirement offers us. By watching her grandson playing with legos, Vona reflects on what it means to “dump everything on the table,” reassess what we’ve bui...

What if New Year’s resolutions are actually keeping you from something better? In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona Johnson shares why she stopped chasing resolutions—and started listening for God’s direction instead. Rather than creating long lists of goals that fade by February, she embraces a simple but powerful practice: choosing a “Word of the Year” rooted in prayer and Scripture....

A new season, a renewed focus, and an invitation to live with eternal intention Life is short—how are you choosing to live it? In this episode of Courageous Retirement, I reflect on the reality that our days are limited and invite you into a conversation about living purposefully, not just productively. Scripture reminds us, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm...

Navigating grief during the holidays can feel especially heavy when the world expects joy, celebration, and togetherness. In this compassionate episode of Courageous Retirement , host Vona Johnson welcomes clinical psychologist and grief educator Dr. Richelle to offer gentle help and practical support for anyone experiencing loss during the holiday season. Together, they explore how grief is more...

What does your life say about your faith? That is a question that can stop us in our tracks. In this touching Christmas episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona Johnson invites you to slow down and reflect on the one thing that truly matters. Inspired by her annual Christmas card and a tender memory of her dad during the advanced stages of dementia, Vona shares how a simple phrase he repeated about...

Are you approaching retirement but still feel called to more? In this episode of Courageous Retirement , Vona Johnson sits down with Beverly Smith, a Faith-Driven Executive Résumé Writer and Job Search Strategist, to break down the myths surrounding retirement and explore what it looks like to finish well before or after retirement. Together, we talk about: ✨ Why retirement isn’t the end—it’s a n...

Have you ever watched someone you love drift off the path you thought God had for them? It’s painful—but it doesn’t mean their story is over. In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson shares insight from Scripture and personal experience about what it means to trust God’s plan when life doesn’t look the way you expected. Discover how to walk in peace, even when others take detours, an...

When was the last time you checked your spiritual compass? It might be time to wake up your faith and walk in God’s direction again. Have you ever realized you’ve been going through the motions—doing all the right things but missing the deeper purpose behind them? In this heartfelt episode, Vona shares a personal story that reminds us how easy it is to drift from God’s will without even noticing....

Retirement isn’t just about making your money last — it’s about making your life count. In this special Courageous Retirement episode, host Vona Johnson teams up with guest host Michael Fritzius to co-lead a dynamic panel featuring three experts in purpose, financial planning, and travel. Together, Dan Simon , Mike Perez , and Amanda Hietter discuss how retirement can become your most meaningful,...

Is This YOUR Turning Point? Are you truly living out your purpose and showing love to others, as Jesus commanded in Luke 10:27?  In this episode, we take a closer look at the Great Commission’s call to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) in a world filled with diverse and often conflicting beliefs. Our culture’s “you do you” mentality can easily pull us away from God’s truth and the foundation of our C...

Living with or caring for someone with dementia is one of life’s hardest journeys—but also one filled with moments of unexpected grace. In this episode of 'Courageous Retirement,' host Vona Johnson sits down with chaplain Ben Boland to share stories of faith, love, and loss after both recently walking with their fathers through dementia. Together, they discuss: ✅ Recognizing early signs...

Are you struggling to find meaning and support during tough times?  In this heartfelt episode of 'Courageous Retirement,' host Vona Johnson discusses the profound impact of words and the importance of acknowledging our emotions. Sharing personal stories from her father's recent passing, Vona emphasizes the necessity of community and the power of expressing genuine feelings.  Explore...

What does it really cost to step into a retirement that honors God? In this episode of Courageous Retirement , host Vona Johnson invites you to look beyond bank accounts and bucket lists to discover what truly matters when leaving the working world behind. Drawing from the story of Zacchaeus, Vona shows how even the most unlikely people can find acceptance, transformation, and purpose in Jesus. Sh...

In this episode of 'Courageous Retirement,' Vona explores how God’s nudges often lead us to unexpected but beautiful transformations. She’s joined by Amanda Hietter, a luxury travel advisor who left her paralegal career to step fully into entrepreneurship—and into the life God was calling her to live. Amanda shares her inspiring story of faith, fear, and freedom—revealing how she trusted...