The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

Retirement is a big transition. And for some, there’s another to navigate: becoming an empty nester. Dr. Rachel Glik, author of A Soulful Marriage: Healing Your Relationship With Responsibility, Growth, Priority, and Purpose , sees it as an opportunity to reset, recalibrate and strengthen a marriage. Dr. Rachel Glik joins us from St. Louis. ______________________ Bio Dr. Rachel Glik is the a...

You’re working on your physical fitness, but how about your emotional fitness? Dr. Ethan Kross visits with us to discuss his new book Shift: M anaging Your Emotions — So They Don’t Manage You .  Ethan Kross joins us from Michigan. _______________________ Bio Ethan Kross, PhD, is one of the world’s leading experts on emotion regulation. An award-­winning professor in the Uni...

After a successful, demanding, and high-stress career, how do you shift gears to a new, more balanced life in an early retirement?  Marybeth Crane shares her story and insights. Dr. Marybeth Crane joins us from Texas. _________________________ Bio Dr. Marybeth Crane is a retired board-certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeon. She specialized in sports medicine in private practice for over twenty...

In today’s complex, fast-paced world, what can we learn from philosophers? John Kaag thinks we can learn a lot. He’s created an audiobook Spring Training (for the Rest of Your Life), discussing his ideas highlighting Thoreau, Emerson and William James. He’s also the co-founder of Rebind, an AI company transforming classic literature into interactive, guided experiences. Rebind pa...

Ed Hajim shares his remarkable journey from a tumultuous childhood—moving through foster homes and orphanages after being kidnapped by his father—to becoming a successful businessman and philanthropist. Hajim explains how his experiences became advantages later in life, teaching him adaptability, resilience, and self-confidence that fueled his success at the University of Rochester and beyond. Now...

Will your next phase be your time? If you’re a people-pleaser, or know someone who is, you’ll want to hear from Hailey Magee, author of  Stop People Pleasing and Find Your Power . It’s time to set better boundaries, advocate for your needs and priorities and start living the life you’ve imagined. Hailey Magee joins us from Seattle. ______________________ Bio Hailey Magee is...

We spend a lot of time each day in conversation. What if you could get better at it? Alison Wood Brooks, author of the new book, Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves , shares her research and tips on how to master conversation, become a better listener, navigate difficult discussions – and what makes an effective apology. Alison Wood Brooks joins us from Massachus...

Can an experimental mindset help you navigate your transition to retirement? Anne-Laure Le Cunff, author of the new book Tiny Experiments , discusses how to b ecome a scientist of your own life and unlock new habits, interests, and behaviors for your next phase of life. Anne-Laure Le Cunff joins us from Austin. ________________ Bio Anne-Laure Le Cunff is the author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live...

Our guest today notes that “ retirement is a little bit like life. It’s likely to be different than you think it’s going to be .” David Horton, MD shares the story of his life wife Dee Dee, and carrying on her mission and legacy. He discusses her book, Layer Upon Layer , which he helped complete . David Horton joins us from Washington State. _____________________ Bio David...

A lot will change once you retire and you may need build a new a social circle. Natalie Kerr and Jaime Kurtz join us to share research-backed strategies you can use to build and strengthen meaningful relationships from their new book Our New Social Life: Science-Backed Strategies for Creating Meaningful Connection. Natalie Kerr and Jaime Kurtz join us from Virginia. ______________________ Bios Nat...

A great retirement takes work – and learning. In her seventh year in retirement, Judith Nadratowski joins us to share her lessons learned so far in her retirement journey – lessons that can help you plan better for yours. _____ Bio Judith Nadratowski is her seventh year of retirement after a 40-year career at Cleary Gottlieb, a top international law firm based in New York where she was...

What’s the current stage of retirement and aging in the US? And how did we get here? James Chappel discusses his new book Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age , the impact of The Gray Panthers and why The Golden Girls is “the most important TV show in the history of American aging.” James Chappel joins us from Durham, North Carolina. ___________________ Bio...

Are you thinking big enough about your retirement? You’ll have time for the things you always wanted to do but didn’t have time for in your full-time working years. With a blank canvas to work with, what are the meaningful personal goals you’d like to pursue now? How you start can make the difference. Caroline Adams Miller joins us to discuss her new book Big Goals: The Science o...

What’s your purpose now? It’s a big question, an important one – and one that many people get stuck on when they retire. Dr. Jordan Grumet believes we need to change how we think about purpose. He rejoins us to discuss his new book The Purpose Code: How to unlock meaning, maximize happiness, and leave a lasting legacy . Jordan Grumet joins us from Illinois. ______________________...

What mindset are bringing to this winter season? Kari Leibowitz joins us to discuss her book How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days with interesting and useful ideas on how to make this winter special. Yes, special. Kari Leibowitz joins us from Amsterdam. ____________________ Bio Kari Leibowitz, author of How to Winter , is a health psychologist, speaker, an...

Happy New Year! What will make you happy this year? Our guest today, Stephanie Harrison, author of New Happy , believes that it’s time to retire the old beliefs about happiness. If you’re moving on from full-time work, you’ll want to hear her research-based ideas to reimagine what happiness will be like in this new phase of life – and how to move on from the “old happ...

Thinking of retiring? Start here with our  Best Books on Retirement summaries. _____________________ Before we move on to a new season of the podcast, let’s catch up on our best conversations with a question in mind: Which one of these retirement lessons can I apply in 2025? Click the links below for the full conversations: How Not to Age – Dr. Michael Greger The Portfolio Life – Christina W...

Make 2025 your year! Free  2-part Workshop to build 3 new habits January 3 and 10th  – 12 Noon Eastern – 1 hour via Zoom Sign Up here _________________________ While we focus on the non-financial aspects of retirement here, your money clearly matters. With a new year around the corner we check back in with economist Larry Kotlikoff, author of Mo ney Magic: An Economist’s Secrets to More Money,Less...

Make the New Year Your  Best   Year Free  2-part Workshop to build 3 new habits January 3 and 10th  – 12 Noon Eastern – 1 hour via Zoom Sign Up here _______________________ As the year winds down, it’s time to reflect – and look ahead. Carol Orsborn, author of the new book Spiritual Aging: Weekly Reflections for Embracing Life , explains why it’s a wise move to continue that prac...

Make the New Year Your Best Year Free 2-part Workshop to build 3 new habits January 3 and 10th  – 12 Noon Eastern – 1 hour via Zoom Sign Up here  _______________________ It’s a great time of year to slow down. But what about next year? Is it time for slow living? Stephanie O’Dea, author of Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World , shares her pers...

It’s time to catch up on any of our best podcast conversations you may have missed this fall. Listen to any of the full podcast conversations below: Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You – Teresa Amabile The Good Life – Marc Schulz The Art of the Interesting – Lorraine Besser, PhD Passion and Purpose – Jim Ansara How to Retire – Christine Benz __________________ Other Best Of Episodes...

Retiring? Don’t drift into the lazy river. Design Your New (active and interesting) Life. Learn More _______________________ In days gone by, people used to think they were done – and headed off to retirement. Not any more. Now, the questions to ask yourself  are what’s my potential for the likely decades that lie ahead? And how can I live well – and wisely? Ben Lytle, form...

It’s Thanksgiving here in the US. And there’s always a lot we can be grateful for – if we’re paying attention. This Best Of episode spins through a few of our guests who shared their experiences, insights and wisdom about gratitude. Often they found gratitude to be extremely valuable in times of adversity in their lives. I think they just might inspire you to keep gratitude...

Is 2025 your year? Join our Design Your New Life in Retirement Program – two new groups start in January. Early registration discount ends November 30th | Only a few spots left. Learn more ______________________ When you’re retiring, you think of what you’re leaving. Your work. Your paycheck. Your office. Your colleagues. But what’s next? There are many benefits to taking on...

Your retirement? You could wing it, but that’s not you. Design Your Future.  Join our Design Your New Life in Retirement Program – two new groups start in January. Learn more _______________________ To retire or to work longer? There’s another option that may be just right for you – semi -retirement. We catch up with Liz Weston, who retired from NerdWallet earlier this year on ho...