How does one reach the pivotal moment that propels them into the next chapter of their life? For our guest today, that moment unfolded in a Starbucks, where Jeff Eamers stumbled upon a newspaper ad seeking volunteers for suicide prevention. Having battled his own demons for years, Jeff saw this not just as an opportunity, but as a calling.

In his past life, Jeff wore many hats—writer, director, producer, counselor—all while battling the tumultuous challenges of bipolar disorder. Now, he's found peace and purpose as a practicing psychotherapist and the voice behind the upcoming Three Moments in Time podcast. He lives in the California desert with his two dogs and 11 chickens.

Jeff's journey is one marked by resilience, vulnerability, and the unwavering determination to confront the darkest aspects of the human experience. But a word of caution: Jeff's story is unfiltered and may touch on themes of mental illness that could trigger some listeners.

We discussed:

The first hospitalization at 21 marked the onset of a series of mental health challenges for Jeff

How a major film opportunity brought Jeff from the advertising world to Los Angeles

Jeff reflects on the experience of navigating manic highs and depressive lows

Why he transitioned from Hollywood to suicide prevention counseling

How the sudden loss of his best friend served as a wake-up call

Why Jeff decided to pursue a new academic journey at 55

Jeff shares his understanding of the single most crucial factor in healing

Mental health in the high desert: A Yucca Valley man, animal rescue and the open landscape via Desert Sun

www.eamertherapy.com

What could be more crucial as we enter Chapter X than knowing our purpose? Today, I’m happy to have Ian Chamandy on board. He’s developed a groundbreaking program aimed at helping people define their purpose.

Ian is no stranger to purpose-driven work. As a founding partner of Blueprint Business Architecture, he's helped hundreds of companies define their unique essence in seven words or less. But Ian's mission goes beyond corporate boardrooms. He firmly believes that every single one of us has a unique purpose waiting to be discovered.

In this episode, Ian walks us through his method for defining purpose, showing us how it can transform not only our decision-making but also our personal fulfillment. Through stories and practical advice, he shines a light on the power of aligning our purpose with our values, talents, and aspirations.

We discussed:

The impact of a simple reminder Ian taped to the wall above his typewriter

How we can apply a key business principle to develop our own purpose

The magic of defining what makes you uniquely remarkable (in seven words or less)

Why discovering your purpose can help you make better decisions

Three things that defining your purpose will do as you transition into Chapter X

Visit Purpose(U) at purposeu.co

Ian Chamandy on LinkedIn

Today, we're catching up with Richard Eisenberg, who embarked on his "unretirement" journey in 2022 after stepping away from his role as Managing Editor for Next Avenue.

Over the past two years, Richard has gracefully navigated this new chapter, balancing writing, mentoring, volunteering, and personal exploration alongside his wife. As he continues to carve out his path, he generously shares his insights and experiences with us once again.

I’m thrilled to reconnect with Richard and dive into his experiences, observations, and ongoing discoveries in Chapter X. From his insights to the latest reads and learnings, it’s a privilege to explore the valuable lessons he's discovered along the way.

In this episode, we discussed:

How unretirement looks today for Richard two years in

What has been the biggest obstacle after leaving his full-time job

How Richard and his wife are leaning into what’s important to them

The current topics on aging that Richard is exploring with Next Avenue

Exploring the ranges of legacies and impact you can leave behind

Read “Work, Retire, Repeat” by Teresa Ghilarducci

Read “Unretired” by Mark Walton

Listen to the Friends Talk Money podcast

Next Avenue

Read Richard's stories on Medicare for Fortune.com

In 2019, Justin Roethlingshoefer looked like the picture of health from the outside. He was a world championship triathlete and CrossFitter with a successful career in the NHL. But then he started experiencing debilitating headaches combined with stomach issues and insomnia—health challenges he had never faced before.

Doctors told Justin he was in perfect health, but he knew it was a lie. He continued to push for more tests, eventually receiving a colonoscopy and endoscopy that found four precancerous polyps and a precancerous ulcer the size of a quarter in his stomach.

The revelation of his impending health crisis was a wake-up call for Justin to take control of his well-being. Now, as the co-founder of OWN IT Coaching, he aims to redeem global health by educating, empowering, and equipping individuals to take ownership of their well-being. Their mission is to reduce the leading cause of death in the United States—chronic illness, currently at 71%—to below 50% by 2030.

In this episode, we discussed:

Finding his purpose to redeem the health of the world at age 11

Why Justin believes we can use data to take ownership of our health

5 different markers of health that research found can prolong our live

How we can access data to determine our health decisions

The ways we can educate ourselves about lifestyle changes and health

Read “The Power of Ownership” by Justin Roethingshoefer

Find out more about testing with Own It Coaching

Own It Coaching

It’s never too late to adopt an active lifestyle, even in retirement. Today’s guest, Leon Sirulnick, has been retired for 17 years now. His life has been filled with extraordinary adventures—and I can say he’s truly done it on his terms.

Today's guest is very special to me. Back in 2002, I met Leon for the first time in my office. He walked into our meeting, threw a stack of papers onto my desk, and firmly announced he was ready to retire.

That one meeting was a turning point in my financial life planning career. In this episode, you’ll meet the man who I consider to be the father of the Chapter X project, and today, we're replaying this episode to highlight the impact he had on shaping our approach to retirement. Tune in to hear the complete story.

When Leon knew it was time to retirement from his career in television

The unexpected reason why his first few weeks of retirement were the toughest

How he responds to people when they ask what he does during the days

How Leon (and his wife Rhonda) stay socially connected with others

Leon’s secret to being able to enjoy an active life in retirement

Why one important meeting with him changed Michael’s entire life

The Paper Clips Project

When Jerry Werner retired, he found himself in an unexpected slump. Getting hit by the retirement blues was a surprising experience for someone as goal-oriented and optimistic as the former Navy SEAL. Thankfully, a nudge from his son reignited his enthusiasm to finish a book project he'd started to write.

The driving force behind Jerry's book was his desire to leave a lasting and meaningful legacy for his grandchildren. From his exciting Navy career to his transition into business leadership, Jerry's path has been rich with diverse experiences.

Today, he reflects on the adventurous journey that has brought him to this point. I came into this conversation with high hopes, and I can honestly say that Jerry exceeded every expectation. As we dive into his story, he candidly shares the highs and lows of his journey.

What's truly inspiring is how Jerry's resilience shines through as he shares what it takes to craft a fulfilling post-career life.

In this episode, we discussed:

How a childhood dream to visit Mars ignited a lifelong journey that shaped Jerry’s life

What lessons he learned from being tortured in a prisoner-of-war camp

The biggest life lesson Jerry wishes to impart to his grandchildren

Why the intensity of reliving difficult memories put Jerry off from writing his book

Jerry’s best advice for crafting a meaningful post-career life

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In a world where fresh starts are often idealized but rarely explored, my guest today takes us behind the scenes of his own transformative journey.

I'm truly excited to welcome Howard Epstein, a lifelong resident of Omaha, Nebraska, who recently retired as the Executive Director of The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Now, he's embracing a new role as an adjunct professor at Creighton University School of Law, teaching a class in nonprofit organizations.

With a background that spans family businesses, a 17-year stint in private law practice, and extensive involvement in Omaha's charitable and philanthropic community, Howard has a wealth of experiences to share.

In this episode, we dive into Howard’s fascinating journey—one that navigates through several career shifts. From his days in accounting to managing a fruit and vegetable business, exploring biology, and practicing law, it's a story of adaptation and growth.

We discussed:

How a casual client comment prompted Howard to begin a new career at age 61

Why Howard decided to leave his nonprofit career behind in the last year

What the first morning felt like after waking up to a new life chapter

The biggest lesson Howard's learned in this past year of retirement

What discussions he had with his wife in the decision leading up to retirement

The number one piece of advice he would give to folks considering to retire

Finding your mission in life is no easy feat, but Ken Mifflin cracked the code. Join us today as we unravel the steps of his remarkable journey toward discovering purpose. While not labeling himself as "retired," Ken has skillfully redefined his life around activities aligned with his deepest values.

As a seasoned management consultant and aspiring author with a background at Procter & Gamble, McKinsey & Company, and Andersen Consulting/Accenture, Ken provides unique insights into navigating the transition from a career to a purpose-driven post-professional life.

From his voluntary contributions to his family life in Greenwich, CT, Ken's story offers valuable perspectives on purposeful living in the next chapter. Get ready for an insightful exploration of intentional living, career transitions, and the art of crafting a meaningful retirement journey.

We discussed:

Why your past career is preparing you for what you do in retirement

The creative endeavor Ken is working on now (and how it's different from his career)

Why we feel pressure once we’ve discerned our mission in life

How Ken juggles responsibilities while nurturing his passion project

Why you have to intentionally look for a path in this next chapter