Chapter X with Michael Kay

Our modern world emphasizes a need for change. Yet when we have major disruptions in our lives, we seek routine and structure. Why is that?

On this week’s show, I’m joined by a guest who reminds us how important routines are for living a life with deeper meaning. Angel Iscovich is a philosopher who happened to be trained in medicine. 

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and immigrating to the United States made for a world of opportunity, leading to a journey of thought, medicine, and compassion in the hopes of making for a better world.

Angel recently authored the new book The Art of the Routine, where he explores the concept of routineology and how creating a routine that works for you can improve longevity, performance, and adaptability.

Tune in to hear:

• Why humans perform best with consistency and structure in our lives
  
  
• What a “time bubble” is (and why disrupting your time bubble is so painful)
  
  
• Why we instinctively seek routine when have too much change at once
  
  
• How to cope with the loss of social relationships after retirement
  
  
• Angel’s advice on how to defeat distractions and stick to your routines
  
  
• The power of synchronizing your biological clock with a daily schedule

www.angeliscovich.com

Keith Renninson built up a successful career in the financial services industry for more than two decades until he hit a midlife crisis. After realizing he wasn’t satisfied with where his life and career were headed, Keith decided to travel alone to the Himalayas to find himself again.

As he landed, terrible snow storms began to hit the Everest region. Keith found himself lost in the mountains within the first four hours of his trek. His new award-winning book “Tenacity: You Don’t Have to Get Lost in Nepal to Find Yourself, But it Helps!” is based on the trip.

Today he’s an award-winning author and keynote speaker known as “The Tenacity Expert.” He helps people overcome burnout and stress so they can experience more freedom, fulfillment and fun. 

In this episode, he shares more on:

• How several passion projects became the catalyst for Keith’s midlife crisis
• A change in plans resulted in getting lost near Mt. Kanchenjunga (and the story of his rescue)
• What it really takes to bounce back from life’s biggest challenges
• The important role of common sense plays in building tenacity and resilience
• A simple “three-finger-method” Keith learned for calming himself down
• Defining retirement by what makes you feel like you’ll live a long time

https://www.keithrenninson.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithrenninson

What do we really know about successful aging? We often focus on what happens to our bodies as we grow older but, in reality, healthy and successful aging is about more than just physical changes.

In today’s episode, Dr. Tracey Gendron dives into the topic of aging as a biological, psychological, social and spiritual process. She serves as Chair for the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology and as Director for the Virginia Center on Aging.

With over 25 years of experience as a grant-funded researcher and as a nationally recognized speaker, Tracey is dedicated to raising awareness about ageism. In an era where society is rife with negative messages about aging, her message on ending ageism is more important than ever. 

We covered:

• Ageism and generational rhetoric in the time of COVID-19
  
  
• The repercussions of negative vs. positive views on our own aging
  
  
• Rethinking retirement as a social institution instead of a life stage
  
  
• What successful aging really means (and who should define it)
  
  
• Debunking the biggest myth about how older adults adopt technology
  
  
• One key mindset shift that can help you better navigate aging

www.traceygendron.com

Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It

With all of the tragic events going on in the world, we’re seeing some of the impact reflected in the global economy and stock market. Times of unrest often introduce new uncertainty to the market. 

If you’re investing, it’s normal to feel nervous about what this means for your portfolio. Today’s guest joins me for a serious discussion on the markets and what you should be thinking about right now as an investor. 

In this episode, you’ll meet Apollo Lupescu from Dimensional Fund Advisors. An expert on the markets, Apollo is currently Dimensional’s Vice President and “secretary of explaining stuff.” He share mores on: 

• The four major current events that are driving the market in early 2022
  
  
• What investors should be doing right now as a result of this uncertainty
  
  
• Two distinct ways in which investors define a successful portfolio
  
  
• How our emotions and fear influence our investment decisions
  
  
• How investors can reduce the noise in their investment process
  
  
• What to do with your portfolio when retirement is approaching
  
  
• Why Apollo is deeply optimistic about the stock market as a whole

https://www.dimensional.com/

“You’re not too old and it’s not too late.”

That’s the philosophy of today’s guest, Harry (Rick) Moody, Ph.D. He went from Vice President for Academic Affairs with AARP to proudly retired, engaging in an encore career where he helps small nonprofits grow.

My jaw dropped as I listened to Rick’s ruminations about the world and his place in it. After this episode, I think you’ll agree that his wisdom, experience, and gifts he brings to the world are remarkable.

Rick is the author of many scholarly articles and books, including co-author of Aging: Concepts and Controversies and The Five Stages of the Soul. In 2011 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society on Aging—and in 2008 he was named by Utne Reader Magazine as one of “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.” 

Today he’s the editor of the “Human Values in Aging” newsletter and his current book, Climate Change in an Aging Society, will be published next year by Routledge. 

In this episode, you’ll hear from Rick on:

• His encore career helping small nonprofits with fundraising and marketing
  
  
• How we face three big enemies in aging—denial, distraction and despair
  
  
• Why the ability to engage and disengage supports our wellbeing
  
  
• Dealing with despair (and why it means you’re closer to finding your path)
  
  
• One question to begin asking with when you’re looking to find yourself

www.hrmoody.com

The Five Stages of the Soul:Charting the Spiritual Passages that Shape Our Lives

Aging: Concepts and Controversies

Email Rick at [email protected] to access his “Human Values in Aging” newsletter

Life’s opportunities aren’t always planned. And if you’re open to possibilities, the road can be filled with great, unexpected surprises. 

In this episode, you’ll hear the story of a man who learned to embrace the unknown at a young age rather than follow a linear lifeplan, and how traveling off the beaten path led him to find a career with purpose.

Today’s guest and I go back nearly 30 years. I first met Jeff Markowitz during my early days in the financial services business; it was always a highlight to speak with him. Jeff is the author of five mysteries, including the award-winning dark comedy, Death and White Diamonds. 

He spent more than 40 years creating community-based programs and services for children and adults with autism before retiring in 2018 to devote more time to writing. 

Here’s a glance at our conversation:

• Why taking a gap year after school was the most important thing Jeff ever did
  
  
• How he successfully transitioned from teaching to becoming a mystery writer
  
  
• The life-changing impact of ‘practicing for retirement’ for more than 14 years
  
  
• What opportunities have made the most positive change in Jeff’s retirement
  
  
• The extraordinary feeling of walking out of the office for the last time
  
  
• Retirement timing for couples (when one spouse retires before the other)

www.jeffmarkowitz.com

Something we often don’t realize until later in life is that time is our single most valuable resource. When work ends, we finally have control over how we spend our time—and it’s up to us to make the most of it.

Volunteering your time to support a cause you care about is something you will never regret. And one of the defining causes of our time is climate change. Today I have the immense fortune to speak with Bill McKibben, an author, educator, and environmentalist who was one of the first voices on climate change in the 1980s. 

He helped found 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, and recently helped found Third Act to build a progressive organizing movement for people over the age of 60. In this episode, we talk about using our voices and actions to shape our generation’s legacy. 

We covered:

• How Bill is helping build the first big global grassroots climate campaign 
• Why people are rising up to prevent this potential legacy of our generation
• The unique way men with financial backgrounds can help fight against climate change
• How to leave our kids and grandchildren with the best part of our childhoods
• The strength of groups vs. individuals in a social change movement 
• Ways to get involved with concrete action (in as many or as few hours per week)

350.org

Third Act

BillMcKibben.com

It’s one thing to define our personal values, but it’s another story to actually live by values and align our actions with what we believe. 

The events that have transpired since 2020 have undoubtedly tested our principles, values, and beliefs. And yet it’s not often I get to have a conversation with a friend who has the ability to get to the heart of navigating so many tough issues.

My dear friend, Rabbi Daniel Cohen, joins us today to share his perspective on gratitude, life’s challenges, and more. He has served as the Senior Rabbi at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange, New Jersey since 1999. 

In this episode, the theme of our conversation is about what we can do to find strength during a crisis. Together, we discussed:

• Why community becomes our safety net when we navigate difficult times
  
  
• How stressful moments are the biggest test of keeping in line with our values
  
  
• Learning to see the big picture so we can win our perspective back
  
  
• The art of finding joy in the smallest things (and letting go of our assumptions)
  
  
• Seeking acceptance in a world that’s become fundamentally different 

Gear Diary

Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel

In the coming Super Age, there will be more people older than 65 than those under the age of 18. Today’s episode delves into the reasons why this upcoming period poses great potential, but is also fraught with incredible peril if we do nothing to solve for it. 

My guest on today’s episode is Bradley Schurman, a demographic futurist who deals with the business of longevity. 

In his latest book, The Super Age: Decoding Our Demographic Destiny, Bradley explores our inconsistent relationship with aging, how ageism impacts us today, and the possibilities for personal and societal prosperity during the Super Age. 

Imagine a retirement that looks like a period of evolution, where we change our role in society, rather than stepping to the side. If that vision sounds dynamic and exciting to you, I think you’ll find today’s conversation captivating.

We discussed:

• The unique challenges of retiring from physical jobs vs. knowledge jobs
  
  
• Staying aware of how we speak to older adults (and avoiding childlike talk)
  
  
• Why having strong sense of life purpose is the greatest drug there is
  
  
• How social connectedness is the best solution for extending a healthy lifespan
  
  
• One motivation in the workforce that unites all ages, income levels & positions

The Super Age

Looking Toward the Future: Three Big Trends for 2022

The New World of Work: Pros and Cons for Older Workers 

Bradley Schurman on LinkedIn

The Super Age Twitter 

When opportunity knocks, are you ready to open the door? Opportunities rarely fall in our laps—we have to be looking for opportunities before we can seize them. The good news is life's possibilities often show up when we take on new challenges that stretch us out of our default setting.

Today I’m joined by a guest who exemplifies what it means to make the most of change. At the age of 77, David Eisenstadt continues to work, create, and live the life he values most. 

He traveled many paths from his early life in Western Canada to his life today, as he and his wife manage a thriving public relations firm. Under The Radar – 30 Notable Canadian Jewish Musicians is his first book, and in this episode, David tells us how the unexpected project began as a simple hobby.

We discussed:

• The role of fate in shaping your career path from its early beginnings
   
• How a conflict with his employer’s values led David to launch a PR firm
  
  
• Two meaningful life lessons his late father taught him about communicating
  
  
• Taking advantage of opportunities create richness and depth in our lives 
  
  
• The unexpected hobby that has taken on an extra dimension to David’s life

https://undertheradarbook.com/