When Rich Alderton left his high-powered corporate role on a Friday, signing off millions and fielding nonstop calls, he expected Monday to bring more of the same. Instead, the phone was silent. That stark contrast was the wake-up call: people had been in love with his title, not with him.

What followed was a journey into reinvention. Rich stepped away from corporate leadership to help others become more adaptable in a rapidly changing world. Along the way, he discovered just how unprepared most of us are for life’s biggest transitions.

Today, Rich joins me to talk about how to shift your mindset in the face of uncertainty, reframe fear as opportunity, and rediscover purpose in Chapter X.

We discussed:

Why we resist change (and how to stop fighting it)

The mental tool that makes uncertainty more manageable

What personal purpose looks like in life after work

How to move from fearing change to finding freedom in it

Redefining success when there’s no one left to grade you

Resources

High Performance Change

Follow Rich on LinkedIn

David Marlow is known as the Ikigai Guy. I didn’t know that when I first came across his writing. What I did know was that something in his work resonated deeply with me.

Today, we talk about what happens when your career comes to a close, and you're left facing the question: who am I now? David shares how he discovered the concept of ikigai, what it means to him, and how it shaped the way he moved through the end of his own career.

He offers a thoughtful process for reconnecting with purpose, and for paying attention to the parts of your life that make you feel most alive. We talk about identity, daily rituals, the power of reflection, and how a few small steps can open the door to something meaningful.

We also explore:

What ikigai means (and what it doesn’t)

How to quiet the noise enough to hear what’s true for you

Why a beginner’s mindset is key to moving forward

What it looks like to create your own “ikiverse”

How old memories and stories can point you back to what matters most

Resources:

Follow David on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the Ikiquest Newsletter

David’s website

Where to find The Ikigai Way:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Wiley Books

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