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Act Three episodes
- Jake Schlesinger
Key Points:
Jake had a 30+ year career with the Wall Street Journal as a reporter and editor. His identity was very tied to his work.
He attended the Distinguished Careers Institute at Stanford, a program for people seeking reinvention in their 50s and 60s.
The program focuses on purpose, community, and wellness. Jake found the community aspect invaluable in supporting reinvention.
He explored topics like spirituality, improv, memoir writing, and play. These opened him up to new ways of thinking and being.
After the program, he serendipitously found a new role leading the United States-Japan Foundation.
He feels more open-minded and less ego-driven in this next phase of life.
United States-Japan Foundation: https://us-jf.org/
This podcast is sponsored by Good Morning Freedom, my retirement coaching firm. I help executives and professionals plan the non-financial part of their retirement, like how to discover new purpose and how you want to spend your time. I offer a 1:1 coaching retirement blueprint package where we work together to discover some new avenues of exploration for your Act Three. This coaching is completely custom and will provide you with a ton of resources and support as you transition to this new stage of life. For all the details, please go to goodmorningfreedom.com/services.
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraliveslife/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraliveslife/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.a.gray/
33 min - Dena Grushkin
Summary:
Dena was a special education teacher for 36 years in New Jersey public schools. She retired in 2018 at age 60.
In 2004, Dena visited Nigeria and was inspired to start the Dream School Foundation, providing educational resources and infrastructure to schools there. This became her passion project in retirement.
When funding ran out for Dream School, Dena pivoted to pursuing work she is passionate about that can also support her financially.
She got certified to teach yoga and now teaches yoga for women over 50, prenatal yoga, yoga for addiction recovery, and yoga for the elderly.
Dena also recently got a job as an educational consultant with the New Jersey Education Association, coaching teachers in underperforming school districts.
Key Takeaways:
It's important to have a purpose and passion project lined up for retirement. Dena was prepared with her nonprofit work when she left teaching.
Be open to pivoting when circumstances change. Dena creatively pieced together yoga teaching and educational consulting to continue doing meaningful work.
Look for opportunities to be of service, even if they are small. Helping others gives life meaning.
Links:
The Dream School Foundation website: http://www.dreamschoolfoundation.org
This podcast is sponsored by Good Morning Freedom, my retirement coaching firm. I help executives and professionals plan the non-financial part of their retirement, like how to discover new purpose and how you want to spend your time. I offer a 1:1 coaching retirement blueprint package where we work together to discover some new avenues of exploration for your Act Three. This coaching is completely custom and will provide you with a ton of resources and support as you transition to this new stage of life. For all the details, please go to goodmorningfreedom.com/services.
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraliveslife/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraliveslife/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.a.gray/
36 min - Marlon Weems
Marlon Weems spent over 30 years in the finance industry, beginning in the early 80s in Little Rock, Arkansas. In the mid-90s, he founded the state's first African-American-owned asset management firm.
He later acquired Security Investments of Conway from Saint Louis-based Mercantile Bank to found Weems & Company, the state's first Black-owned investment bank. He went on to hold several leadership positions on Wall Street.
In 2012, he and his family moved to North Carolina and began his writing career as an expert in capital markets analysis. A few years ago, he started The Journeyman, a newsletter exploring the intersection of American culture, politics, and anti-Black racism.
In addition to his newsletter, Marlon still takes on the occasional freelance project. In 2022, he authored a deep-dive report on applications for blockchain technology in healthcare for Boston Globe Media. He is currently working on a memoir about his experiences in finance.
Marlon lives on an island in North Carolina with his wife and two children. When he's not writing, you can find him on the beach or riding his bicycle up and down the island.
Key Points:
Marlon started his career in finance in the 1980s in Arkansas, later founding the first African American-owned investment bank in the state.
He moved to Wall Street in the late 1990s, working as a trader during turbulent economic times like the dot com crash and 2008 financial crisis.
In 2012 Marlon and his family relocated to North Carolina where he pivoted to writing, exploring race, culture, and politics.
He shared powerful stories of racism he faced when starting his business, like being denied office space and clients assuming he was white.
Marlon continues to freelance and is working on a memoir about his career. He sees his writings and the memoir as part of his legacy.
He has hope for younger generations who are informed, activated, and ready to take action for change.
Links:
Marlon's Substack: https://thejourneyman.substack.com
Marlon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlonweems
This podcast is sponsored by Good Morning Freedom, my retirement coaching firm. I help executives and professionals plan the non-financial part of their retirement, like how to discover new purpose and how you want to spend your time. I offer a 1:1 coaching retirement blueprint package where we work together to discover some new avenues of exploration for your Act Three. This coaching is completely custom and will provide you with a ton of resources and support as you transition to this new stage of life. For all the details, please go to goodmorningfreedom.com/services.
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraliveslife/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraliveslife/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.a.gray/
29 min - Diane Drey
Episode Summary:
In this episode, I interviewed Diane Drey, former CEO of Snowbird, a bottled water company. Diane led the company for over 30 years before selling it to Nestle in 2008. Since retiring, Diane has stayed active volunteering with SCORE, teaching financial literacy, mentoring new business owners, and authoring a book.
Key Topics Covered:
- Running a family business for multiple decades
- Preparing for retirement by selling her company
- Finding purpose in retirement through volunteer work
- Serving as SCORE chapter chair and creating an advisory board
- Developing a financial literacy program called Money 101
- Authoring a book to help condo boards with building facade inspections
- Balancing retirement with physical fitness and family time
Diane's Advice for New Retirees:
- Make a list of your passions and pursue them urgently like time is running out
- Find ways to give back to the community
- Spend quality time with family
- Focus on physical health and wellbeing
Resources:
- Score: https://www.score.org/
- For more details on Diane's Money 101 program, reach out to her directly: [email protected]
- A Step by Step Guide to Navigating the Facade Inspection Safety Program: New York Edition
This podcast is sponsored by Good Morning Freedom, my retirement coaching firm. I help executives and professionals plan the non-financial part of their retirement, like how to discover new purpose and how you want to spend your time. I offer a 1:1 coaching retirement blueprint package where we work together to discover some new avenues of exploration for your Act Three. This coaching is completely custom and will provide you with a ton of resources and support as you transition to this new stage of life. For all the details, please go to goodmorningfreedom.com/services.
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraliveslife/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraliveslife/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.a.gray/
47 min - Marty Whalen
Episode Summary:
In this episode, I interviewed Marty Whalen, former CEO of a family-owned office solutions business that was sold to Xerox in 2012. After the sale, Marty participated in Notre Dame's Inspired Leadership Initiative to help plan the next chapter of his life. He is now semi-retired, splitting time between Indiana and Montana. Marty is also the co-founder of Crossroads Solar, a solar panel company that employs formerly incarcerated individuals.
Key Topics Covered:
- Running a multi-generational family business - Preparing for retirement and business exit strategy - Finding purpose and meaning in retirement - Programs like Notre Dame's Inspired Leadership Initiative - How to make career transitions in retirement - Hiring and providing second chances for formerly incarcerated - Balancing retirement with purpose-driven work
Book Recommendations from Marty:
"The Year of Yes" by Shonda Rhimes
"From Strength to Strength" by Arthur C. Brooks
Marty's Company:
Crossroads Solar
This podcast is sponsored by Good Morning Freedom, my retirement coaching firm. I help executives and professionals plan the non-financial part of their retirement, like how to discover new purpose and how you want to spend your time. I offer a 1:1 coaching retirement blueprint package where we work together to discover some new avenues of exploration for your Act Three. This coaching is completely custom and will provide you with a ton of resources and support as you transition to this new stage of life. For all the details, please go to goodmorningfreedom.com/services.
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraliveslife/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraliveslife/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.a.gray/
27 min - Meg Green
Meg founded wealth management firm Meg Green & Associates, Inc in 1984. Today, she's happily retired, and her long time partner, Todd Battaglia, is now Owner,President/CEO of the firm. She is extremely proud to be the Founder of what is today, one of the leading wealth management firms in the nation. Meg Green & Associates, a team of 14 dedicated professionals, manages over $800 million dollars for their clients, which consist mostly of wealthy individuals, families and small businesses as well as the sports and entertainment industries.
Meg has also embraced a media career since the mid 80's, with her own show, talking about money on WIOD radio and NBC. For many years, she answered readers' questions in her Miami Herald column called Money Dilemmas.
In 2000, she bought her dream retirement home in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. She then switched to spots nationally on CNBC's Closing Bell until retirement in 2016.
Currently she's enjoying life with her husband in Cabo and out in Calabasas, CA near her son and daughter and four grandsons. Most importantly, she's embraced walking away from work - without guilt!
Key Topics Covered:
Meg's journey building her wealth management firm starting in 1984 and embracing a media career at the same time.
Her transition process of retiring from the firm, including consulting for a year and maintaining continuity for clients.
Meg's initial struggle with the retirement transition and feelings of guilt/panic before embracing her new life.
How she stays active and social in retirement through pickleball, book club, and time with family/grandkids.
The importance of financial security in retirement to enable the retirement lifestyle you want.
Tips for meeting people and building community after retiring to a new location.
Meg's satisfaction with her career helping clients and paving the way for women in finance.
Her advice to enjoy retirement guilt-free and focus on fun - "play mahjong, play poker, have fun!"
Meg's Former Firm: https://www.mgawealth.com/
This podcast is sponsored by Good Morning Freedom, my retirement coaching firm. I help executives and professionals plan the non-financial part of their retirement, like how to discover new purpose and how you want to spend your time. I offer a 1:1 coaching retirement blueprint package where we work together to discover some new avenues of exploration for your Act Three. This coaching is completely custom and will provide you with a ton of resources and support as you transition to this new stage of life. For all the details, please go to goodmorningfreedom.com/services.
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraliveslife/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraliveslife/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.a.gray/
26 min - Trailer - Act Three
The past few years have caused many of us to rethink how we live our lives. And for those of you approaching retirement, the question becomes more urgent - now what? How do you find new meaning and purpose?
I'm Cara Gray, retirement coach, multi-passionate entrepreneur and seeker of life's answers. Join me as I explore inspiring conversations with those thriving in their "third act." Hear first-hand as former executives, professionals, and creatives share their authentic journeys of self-discovery.
Learn how they forged new identities, found community, manage wellness, and uncovered what makes them feel alive. And though each story is unique, they all paint a hopeful picture of how to live with purpose, passion, and vitality at any age.
Join me each week as I unlock wisdom and insights from those thriving in Act Three. Because it's never too late to thoughtfully shape the rest of your life.
2 min
About Act Three
From the publisher's feed
The past few years have caused many of us to rethink how we live our lives. And for those of you approaching retirement, the question becomes more urgent - now what? How do you find new meaning and…
purpose? I'm Cara Gray, a consultant, multi-passionate entrepreneur, and seeker of life's answers. Join me as I explore inspiring conversations with those thriving in their "third act." Hear first-hand as former and current executives, professionals, and creatives share their authentic journeys of self-discovery. Learn how they forged new identities, found community, manage wellness, and uncovered what makes them feel alive. And though each story is unique, they all paint a hopeful picture of how to live with purpose, passion, and vitality at any age. Join me each week as I unlock wisdom and insights from those thriving in Act Three. Because it's never too late to thoughtfully shape the rest of your life.