Chapter X with Michael Kay

Richard Eisenberg is back. And this time, we're diving into what his unretirement looks like now.

If you don't know Richard's story, he's an "unretired" journalist who writes a column for MarketWatch and freelances for Next Avenue, Fortune, AARP, and Fodor's. Richard calls this chapter "unretirement" — living it with purpose and intention.

Before all that, he was an editor at Next Avenue and Money magazine, and held senior roles at Yahoo! and Good Housekeeping. He's also the author of two personal finance books and a proud Northwestern grad.

In our conversation, Richard shares his latest stories on medical debt, telehealth access, and the renewed value of travel advisors. He also opens up about caring for his mom during her dementia journey and what it taught him about starting financial conversations early.

Listen in to hear what Richard's been up to since the last time we spoke.

We discussed:

What "unretirement" really looks like in practice

The importance of having early financial conversations with aging parents

Why telehealth access matters—and what could happen if it's rolled back

A fresh look at travel advisors and how they're evolving

Richard's book recommendations and resources for deeper learning

The challenge of caregiving for aging parents with dementia

Resources

The View From Unretirement

Next Avenue

Fortune | Richard Eisenberg

Fodor's Travel

Friends Talk Money

The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne

The Purpose Code by Jordan Grumet

Retirement Intelligence by Robert Laura

What happens when the career you built your life around stops feeling like it fits? Today, I'm talking to Jordan Grummet about what it really looks like to wrestle with purpose—especially during big life transitions like retirement.

Jordan opens up about losing his father at a young age, pursuing medicine to honor his legacy, and eventually realizing that career wasn't fulfilling him. We covered the struggle between societal expectations and our own authentic path, and how to find meaning after a life-altering shift.

Jordan, an author and host of the Earn & Invest podcast, brings a perspective shaped by both his work in hospice care and his own experience of stepping away from a path that no longer felt right.

It's a conversation about what happens when we let go of old identities and start figuring out what comes next.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why purpose feels like such a monumental challenge in retirement

Jordan's story of legacy, loss, and what medicine couldn't give him

The slow burn of professional misalignment and how he woke up to it

How powerful external voices influence our life choices

The Purpose Code path forward into a more meaningful second act

Resources

jordangrumet.com

The Purpose Code

Only 5% of homes in the U.S. are moderately accessible. Stairways, sunken living rooms, poorly designed bathrooms, and trip hazards are just the start.

Greg Cantore's journey has spanned bicycle mechanics to defense work and leading nonprofit programs. But his mother-in-law's experience living in a house that wasn't designed for her needs opened his eyes to the bigger issue.

After modifying her home, and later adjusting to her needs in assisted living, Greg realized there was a larger need for accessible, supportive home solutions. Today, he runs Little Deeds, a company dedicated to making homes safer and more accessible for aging individuals.

Your home should support you as you age. Find out how Greg is helping make that a reality for so many.

We discussed:

How universal design makes homes safer and more accessible as we age

Greg's career journey—and how it led him to create Little Deeds

The challenges people face with aging in place

Simple ways to make your home safer and more accessible

Why it's important to plan ahead with home modifications

Resources

Little Deeds

You don't have to spend hours in the gym to stay strong and mobile as you age. My guest, Mark Firehammer, created myFeelness to help men remain functional without grueling workouts or fitness gimmicks.

At 43, Mark's body started pushing back. There were aches, stiffness, and limits he couldn't ignore. He knew something had to change but wasn't willing to spend hours in the gym.

That led him to rethink movement entirely. Mark found a way to stay strong, mobile, and pain-free through small, mindful movements. Now, he's helping other men do the same with a system that keeps you moving without intense workouts.

If you care about moving well, feeling good, and staying strong as you get older, you'll want to hear this one.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Simple daily moves to check how well your body is working

• Why your nervous system is the key to better movement

• How paying attention to your body can improve your health

• The problem with mainstream fitness advice and what actually works

• What it really means to be "Out of Function" (and how to fix it)

• A small mindset shift that could help you avoid serious health problems

Resources:

myFeelness

Living Well Without Fitness on YouTube

Mark Firehammer on Instagram

Mark Firehammer on LinkedIn

If you had to make an important healthcare decision today, would you know what to do?

My guest, Dr. Corinne Auman, is an expert in aging. She helps people and families figure out senior healthcare, retirement planning, and life's unexpected changes. She's a psychologist, CEO of Choice Care Navigators, and author of Keenagers.

Most of us don't think about aging until we have to, like when a parent falls or we realize our own home might not work for us as we get older. Suddenly, we're faced with tough choices about Medicare, long-term care, and what it means to age well.

Today, Dr. Auman shares why planning ahead is so important, how to talk to loved ones about it, and what steps you can take now to have more options later. I think you'll find this episode both eye-opening and helpful.

We discussed:

Start planning your future home in your 50s

What we often get wrong about retirement communities

How to bring your loved ones into the conversation

The 3 main phases of retirement

Who we can turn to for guidance on our next steps

Resources:

Keenagers by Dr. Corinne Auman

www.CorinneAuman.com

Today, we're taking a different approach. Instead of focusing on men's transitions, we're diving into the journey women face in their next chapter.

My guest, T. Kari Mitchell (TK), is a transformational speaker, author, and integrative wellness coach who has dedicated her second half to helping women reclaim their health, confidence, purpose, and power after retirement so they can truly flourish in their golden years.

After 32 years as a teacher, she boldly transitioned into holistic coaching and motivational speaking at 62. Now, through her programs, TK helps boomers overcome challenges and rediscover their potential. We explore the transitions women face, including shifting identities, hormonal changes, and societal expectations.

Guys, this is the episode to share with the women in your life because growth is better when we do it together. TK's energy is contagious, and I think you'll walk away with a new perspective on how we can all grow into the next stage of life.

We covered:

The mindset shifts that help women step into their next chapter with confidence

How past experiences can open the door to new passions and opportunities

The societal challenges that women face as they age (and how to push back)

Practical ways men can better support the women in their lives

How women can start reclaiming their purpose today

Resources

https://www.lifestyle120.com

With freedom comes the risk of losing direction. When we're younger, the world feels full of possibilities. But as we get older, our focus narrows—one job, one partner, one path. Over time, our routines can make it harder to see new opportunities.

In this episode, Paul Wilson explains how mental blocks can keep us stuck and shares how to break free and explore what's still out there. After a bicycle accident and a broken arm in 2017, Paul found a new career path.

Now, Paul is a life coach, business coach, and hypnotherapist who helps people overcome feeling stuck through his practice, A Happy Head. He developed the Shift Process, a method that uses small mindset shifts to create big transformations.

Paul shares how to remove the mental "blinkers" that limit personal growth, especially as we navigate life transitions like retirement.

How a broken arm led to a new career

When Paul realized he had found a superpower

3 ways to discover new hobbies or interests

What hypnosis can do for you (and what it can't)

The difference one phone call can make for retirees

Connect with Paul:

A Happy Head Business Coaching with Paul

Willie Handler was born to Holocaust survivors. Though his home was loving, the trauma his parents endured left deep scars that shaped his life in ways he only came to understand much later.

During the pandemic, Willie began exploring his family's history and the intergenerational trauma he carried. What started as a way to honor his parents became a transformative journey. It unearthed buried memories, led to tough therapy sessions, and inspired his powerful new book, Out From the Shadows.

Along the way, Willie interviewed nearly 100 others with similar stories. He brings their voices together in a book that sheds light on the resilience of generations shaped by unimaginable pain.

My conversation with Willie left me in awe of his courage. His story is one of reinvention and hope—and I can't wait for you to hear it.

We discussed:

Why growing up with distant parents left Willie in survival mode

How a HR consultant convinced Willie to retire

When he realized it was time to unearth his survivor experience

The challenges Willie faced in getting the memoir published

His advice for aspiring authors in their Chapter X

Resources:

williehandler.com

Willie on Substack

Willie on Instagram

Out From the Shadows

Deep Into the Weeds

The Road Ahead

Loved Mars, Hated the Food

For Larry O'Nan, leaving work behind wasn't about slowing down. It was a chance to step into a new chapter of intentional living and service.

With decades of experience guiding faith-based organizations, Larry raised millions for global initiatives and inspired others to lead with purpose. But his journey didn't stop there.

Redefining what it means to live fully, Larry has embraced failure as a tool for growth, mastered the art of saying no to what doesn't align with his strengths, and found meaning in every phase of life, even after retirement.

His story is a testament to the possibilities that unfold when we approach each day with intention and courage.

Resources

Follow Larry on Facebook

Connect with Larry on LinkedIn

Intentional Living and Giving

Email Larry at [email protected]

At 70, Edward Doherty ran a virtual Boston Marathon. At 72, he published his first book. If anyone knows the secret to defying odds, it's him. Ed is a man who radiates optimism—his story not only touched my heart but also reignited my spirit, and I'm sure it will do the same for you.

In this episode, Ed takes us through his journey from the restaurant industry to consulting, after a pandemic-induced furlough. He shares the hurdles he faced and how he turned persistence into his greatest strength.

Ed heads up Ambrose Landen Consulting, helping organizations with strategic planning, leadership development, and employee engagement. At 72, he published his first book, Observations at the Speed of Life.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation on resilience, personal growth, and the legacy we all have the power to create.

We discussed:

• How Ed pivoted after being furloughed during the pandemic

• Why failure is only valuable if you learn something from it

• How Ed's wife inspired him to become a runner in his 60s

• Running the Boston Marathon virtually around Fenway Park at age 70

• How publishing a book made Ed reflect on his legacy

• The power of optimism in recognizing potential in others

Resources:

Ambrose Landen Consultant

Observations at the Speed of Life