Chapter X with Michael Kay

In 2015, Kevin Roth was diagnosed with stage-three melanoma. Although the cancer had been removed, his doctors said there was a 70 percent chance it would return and he would be dead within three years.

Hearing these words prompted Kevin to begin an earnest spiritual search for the true meaning in his life. He packed his bags for San Diego and created a “New Story” for his life—a life that was happy, cancer-free and brought him to a greater understanding of himself. 

Kevin is also an internationally known dulcimer player, singer, songwriter, and recording artist.  He sang the theme song for the hit PBS television show, Shining Time Station, gaining millions of fans worldwide. Today he guides people from all walks of life in ways they can create a life of fun, health, happiness, and lasting meaning. 

His new book Between the Notes (Practical Ways to Find Your Inner Groove and Dance to a Beat That Makes Your Heart Sing) will be released in January 2023. In today’s episode, he talks about becoming aware of behaviors that don’t serve us.

We discussed:

• Why success and earning lots of money isn’t enough for fulfillment
• How a life-changing diagnosis prompted Kevin to embrace a new path
• The relationship between spirituality and finding satisfaction in life
• Why we must be aware of how we’re feeling (and make adjustments)
• The key difference between gratitude and happiness

https://kevinroth.org

If you feel unfulfilled in life, it may be because you're on a path that doesn't allow you to explore your interests or passions. As a society, we put a lot of pressure on following our passions—but what if the trick to finding purpose was really about lowering expectations?

Eric Teplitz is a "life enthusiast" and personal coach. In addition to pursuing his own personal growth, he’s passionate about helping others open themselves up to a more expansive sense of what is possible. As a coach, Eric provides a space where others can overcome resistance to following their passions, curiosities, and dreams so they can live a more fulfilling life.

Eric joins me today to share his journey of twists and turns, the power of brushing up against your limits, and how to approach endeavors with a spirit of exploration.

We discussed:

• What happens when expectations don't match your experiences 
• How repeated career disappointments took a cumulative toll on Eric
• One major relationship you’re guaranteed to carry with you for life
• The journey of self-exploration that follows setting an impossible goal
• How to explore your potential by purposely testing your own limits

Website: http://ericteplitz.com/

"Opening to Greater Possibilities" (online course): https://ericteplitz.thinkific.com/

The Person You Want to Be (podcast): https://thepersonyouwanttobe.buzzsprout.com/

Think about how you feel after listening to the news. Do you feel energized and positive? Or do you feel like you're being hung by your feet from 100 stories up? 

There is a huge bias in our society towards creating negativity, according to today’s guest. Paul E. Johnson Jr. joins me to discuss the power of optimism and how to practice it. He is the host of The Optimistic American podcast, whose goal is to create space in the news and media for an optimistic view of America.

Paul has a significant background in business, politics, and government. At 30 years old, he was elected as the youngest mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, and has managed several state campaigns for presidential candidates. 

In this episode, Paul shares how we can feel enlivened by things we might not see at first glance. And I know you will love conversation as much as I do. 

We discussed:  

• How a career in politics led to Paul’s revelation about negative bias
• How we can find our optimistic space in a negative world
• The harmful effects of labeling people with whom we disagree
• 3 factors that are essential to finding motivation and meaning
• The simplest way we can add to our quality of life in retirement

The Optimistic American Podcast

Leaving work behind isn’t just about one person. Retirement can have an unexpected impact on our relationships too. That is why today’s episode is truly special. 

For the first time, I’m welcoming the spouse of one of our community members to the show. I've enlisted the help of Melissa Bernstein to share her experiences in her husband David's transition to life after work.  

Melissa Bernstein is an occupational therapist and a certified chef devoted to eating healthy—and teaching others how to do the same. She has over 35 years of clinical and consulting experience. Together, Melissa & her husband co-authored The Power of 5: A Journal for Health, Longevity and Wellness.

Her ideas and experiences are a guide to successful transitioning into Chapter X. In this episode, we discussed:

• How her husband’s pending retirement impacted Melissa’s career
• What the biggest discussions about his retirement looked like
• Why the adjustment period is about giving ourselves permission
• How a joint schedule helped the couple find common ground
• The key factor for every couple in a successful marriage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Powerof5Life

Instagram @powerof5testkitchen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerof5life/

Website: https://www.powerof5life.com/melissa-bernstein/

www.Powerof5testkitchen.com 

YouTube Channel: Power of 5 Life

What does it take to achieve the extraordinary? It turns out mindset is a vast part of becoming an Olympic champion. Today, we’ll hear from author, Olympic gold medalist, and performance coach Joe Jacobi. 

I’m so happy to welcome Joe back to the podcast to share some important lessons from his latest book Slalom: 6 River Classes About How To Confront Obstacles, Advance Amid Uncertainty, & Bring Focus To What Matters Most. 

Using the river as a metaphor for life, Joe’s latest work is a must-read packed with inspiring ideas on navigating uncertainty. In this episode, he talks about how we can start developing the momentum and skills for taking on the bigger confrontations of life.

We discussed:

• What we need to really focus on during the pursuit of contentment
• How the standards of American culture challenge our peace of mind
• Why comparing ourselves to others isn’t necessarily a bad thing
• How we can manage our daily energy levels more effectively
• 3 important questions to start asking yourself every day
• Why we typically get our perception of life’s obstacles all wrong
• The first step to doing the things we want to achieve in our lives

Connect with Joe

Slalom by Joe Jacobi

www.JoeJacobi.com

This week on the Chapter X podcast, our friend Richard Eisenberg is back with an update on his own retirement. He also discusses some of the latest top stories and podcasts to check out, including some suggested books to read.

Richard is almost a year into what he calls “unretirement.” In this chapter, he’s stayed busy writing a column for MarketWatch, contributing to digital platform Next Avenue, and co-hosting the Friends Talk Money podcast.

In this episode, we talk about how the definition of retirement has changed from our parents’. I know without a doubt, you’ll come away both inspired and well-informed. Listen in for our conversation on:

• Which part of ‘unretirement’ Richard is enjoying the most
• Three new stories about aging to watch out for
• Why it pays to delay claiming social security benefit (if you can)
• What you should think about before making alternative investments
• The most surprising lesson Richard has learned in this chapter

Cursed Friends on Comedy Central

Caregiving can turn your retirement plans upside down 

Want a happier retirement? Longtime friendships can be a source of joy 

Think Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Art? Think Again

Latest episodes on the Friends Talk Money podcast

Like a Rolling Stone by Jann Wenner

Win the Retirement Game by Joe Casey

I’ve been nudging today’s guest to join me on the show over the last two years. Today, I’m so happy to introduce you to a member of the Chapter X community, Dr. Lloyd Kilmer.

Dr. Lloyd Kilmer has devoted his life to education. With over four decades of experience in K-12 and higher education, “intrepreneurship” was a key part of his leadership style. In his encore career, Lloyd has co-created a company that serves the needs of struggling students academically and socially.

In this episode, Lloyd reflects on this time of meaning and exploration—or what he refers to as his “last quarter of the game.” We talked about the personal growth in retirement he’s experiencing through mentoring and a deeper sense of self-awareness.

Listen in to learn about:

• The unforgettable lessons Lloyd learned from his dad’s 30-year retirement
• How a Boy Scouts winter camping trip helped Lloyd find his calling

• Stepping outside your comfort zone to enjoy the golden moments  

• The biggest benefits of starting a business after retirement
• How to avoid getting bored in a long (and unfulfilling) retirement

Performance Learning

Is happiness temporary? We think happiness is just on the other side of our goals, like earning a promotion at work or banking a higher salary, but shooting for achievement doesn’t always lead to being happy.

The truth is we control only 40% of the lasting happiness we experience in life. In today’s episode, keynote speaker Anthony Poponi explains how we can focus on taking intentional actions that actively shape our lives to elicit more happiness. 

Anthony is a corporate trainer, coach, speaker and author of “Focus on the 40,” specializing in improving team dynamics, communication and productivity in the workplace. His work is based on research in neuroplasticity, positive psychology and leadership to focus on a flourishing life.

We discussed:

• Why developing self-awareness matters for the life you want
• Debunking the most common myths about what happiness is
• How to intentionally squeeze more joy out of every day
• Navigating the complexity of building relationships 

• The difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships

Head-to-Toe Transformation Workbook

Anthony Poponi on Linkedin

The human mind has only one need, according to today’s guest. And that’s the perpetual need to express our authentic identity.

John Voris is a philosopher, writer and a human motivation researcher. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in philosophy and has never stopped his quest for answers to the deep questions. 

His work explores the very things that make us tick, the roots that make for success or failure in our work, relationships, and personal well-being. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to John Voris with a truly fascinating conversation on becoming your greatest self. 

In this episode, he explains the power that drives your personality and how to start living a more authentic life every day. 

Here’s a glance at what we discussed:

• The four virtues of human behavior (and why we can’t escape them)
• Types of sychological factors that motivate us and guide our behavior
• The significance of assessing yourself as you transition into retirement
• How to fully align yourself with what you do and who you are
• How archetypes can help us understand why we have conflict with others

Discover the Power That Drives Your Personality by John Voris

Learn to Sell What They Are Buying by John Voris

www.johnvoris.com

John Voris on Quora

Chapter X is the perfect opportunity to investigate your passions, but it doesn’t mean you have to reinvent yourself. Rediscovering your old interests may hold the clues to what you should pursue next.

Michael Brailove is an 84-year-old New Jersey native who spent his career in adult education. Today, in widowhood and retirement, Michael focuses on staying as engaged as possible in life through his passion for kayaking, pottery, and gardening. 

I first met Michael in the middle of a bustling street fair. In this episode, I’m thrilled to sit down for a conversation with the artist and learn how he not only rediscovered his passions, but also allowed them to flourish.

We discussed:

• What life was like in Berkeley during the political unrest of the 1960s
• Transitioning into the field of adult education as a career
• How kayaking became a part of Michael’s transition into retirement
• Reigniting his former creative passion for sculpting and arts
• Why self-awareness is key for identifying your true passions

Connect with Michael

Michael on Instagram