What if happiness wasn’t something that happened to you, but something you chose—even in retirement?

In this solo episode, Jacquie reflects on a powerful message from her recent conversation with musician Ron Sowell: “It’s all up to you.” Drawing on stories from Ron’s life and the profound example of Viktor Frankl, she explores the idea that happiness isn’t about perfect circumstances, it’s about how we choose to engage with the season we’re in.

If you’re navigating the years beyond your career, wondering how to find meaning, joy, or direction, this episode invites you to reclaim your agency. Because growing old may be inevitable, but growing disengaged is not.

Key Topics Covered:

 * The difference between aging and growing old - Why vitality is a daily choice, not a number
 * What it means to “choose happiness”  - The difference between agency and toxic positivity
 * Ron Sowell’s example of a life built on alignment  - Choosing passion over security, and never looking back
 * Viktor Frankl’s lesson from the Holocaust  - How mindset becomes a final freedom, even in suffering
 * Reframing retirement as a meaningful phase  - Finding joy, purpose, and connection regardless of circumstances

MUSIC CREDIT: Ron Sowell - It's All Up to You (used with permission)

Choosing Happiness in the Second Half of Life

Ron Sowell is a lifelong musician, singer-songwriter, and performer who has spent decades exploring the transformative power of music. From stage performances to songwriting workshops, Ron’s life offers a rich example of how creativity and personal growth can intertwine—especially in the years beyond traditional career paths.  

Ron shares the pivotal moment he stepped off the law-school track and committed to music for life, the joy and meaning he finds in performing and mentoring, and the simple daily practices that keep him grounded and strong as the years add up. We talk Mountain Stage, creative purpose beyond “traditional retirement,” and why gratitude, meditation, and consistent movement are non-negotiables for staying vibrant.  

Key takeaways: 

* Purpose isn’t a job title. Ron never planned to “retire” from the thing that gives him energy—music. 

* Daily anchors matter: meditation, gratitude, and some form of strength/mobility work are simple but compounding. 

* Creative contribution evolves with age: performing, producing, and coaching other artists are natural extensions of a lifetime in music. 

* Community keeps you sharp: bandleading at Mountain Stage means constant learning and collaboration with top-tier musicians.  

Connect with Ron via his website: https://ronsowell.com or  @RonSowellMusic [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCbhfAYd3-R2xPZTmj0tWV8A]

Don’t Retire from Life: Music, Rituals, and Joy - with Ron Sowell

Retirement is supposed to be relaxing… so why does it sometimes feel louder than ever?

In this solo episode, I reflect on a conversation with my friend Lynda Camire — and explore what happens when retirement doesn’t deliver the peace we expected. Lynda retired with a plan. But within days, she found herself checking the clock, wandering into her old office, and feeling overwhelmed by a surprising emotion: boredom.

This episode is about the hidden noise that surfaces after the structure of work disappears — and why that noise isn’t a sign of failure, but a signal worth listening to.

What You’ll Learn:

 * Why boredom in retirement feels more like pressure than peace
 * How unstructured time can trigger unexpected emotions
 * The link between boredom and mental clutter
 * Why retirement doesn’t quiet your mind — it confronts it
 * How to reframe boredom as an invitation to experiment, reflect, and grow

 Key Takeaways:

 * Structure disappears faster than purpose appears.
 * Mental clutter loves a vacuum.
 * Boredom can be a bridge, not a wall.
 * You don’t need a five-point plan. You need a small spark.

Questions for Reflection:

 * Is this boredom… or is this mental clutter in disguise?
 * Am I judging myself for not being productive?
 * What have I stopped doing that I used to enjoy?
 * What am I trying not to feel right now?

If you’ve recently retired and find yourself feeling restless or “off,” this episode is for you. You’re not broken — you’re human. And you’re not alone.

 Tune in to learn how boredom might just be pointing you toward your next chapter.

Recognizing the Noise: When Boredom Isn’t Just Emptiness

What really happens when you close the laptop for the last time and step into retirement? In this candid episode, I sit down with my friend Lynda Camire, who recently retired from a long-standing career in finance with the Canadian government. She may not have had a retirement party, but she does have a lot of honest insights about what happens when the structure of the 9-to-5 disappears.

Lynda shares how she planned her retirement, and how that plan didn’t include just how bored she’d be in the first few days. From wandering into her home office out of habit to watching the clock like she was still on the job, Lynda’s story is a refreshing reminder that even a well-planned retirement can feel disorienting at first.

We talk about:

 * The emotional surprise of Day One in retirement
 * What happens when there’s no daily agenda
 * Struggles with identity when you no longer say “I work for…”
 * Learning how to stop watching the clock
 * Her passion for cooking and possibly turning it into something more
 * Travel dreams that are still on the horizon
 * Why “if you’re unsure about retirement, you’re probably not ready”

Whether you’re counting down the days to your own retirement or already in it and wondering “what now?”, this episode offers a real, grounded perspective on navigating the unknown with a little humour, honesty, and Thai food.

Links & Resources:

Lynda's episode is part of our ongoing season focusing on Mental Health, Enjoyment, and Personal Growth in retirement.
Know someone struggling with the early days of retirement? Share this episode with them.

Listen to more episodes at:

https://beyondretirement.ca/podcast

https://zencastr.com/Beyond-Retirement

Or wherever you usually listen to podcasts!

Letting Go of the Clock: Real-Life Retirement - with Lynda Camire

The toughest negotiation of all isn't with someone else... it's within yourself. 

It occurs when you have to decide whether to stagnate or grow. Do you want to just stop? Sure, it's easier not to forge ahead sometimes, but it's not easier to live with the result.

The pain of regret or the pain of making change... which will you choose?

Episode 273 - Tough Negotiations

Episode Summary

In this deeply reflective episode, Jacquie speaks with J. Paul Nadeau, a man who spent his career saving lives through high-stakes negotiation, and later had to negotiate with something much closer to home: his own regrets.

As a decorated detective, international peacekeeper, and crisis negotiator, Paul’s professional identity was shaped by purpose and intensity. But what happens when that role ends? In retirement, Paul was confronted by what he calls “the ghost of missed opportunities” — a quiet but persistent voice of self-doubt and regret that tries to convince us our best years are behind us.

Together, Jacquie and Paul explore what it takes to keep growing after life’s big chapters have closed. They talk candidly about mental health, the ongoing nature of personal development, and how we can choose — day by day — not to let regret write our story.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that growth doesn’t stop when the job ends. In fact, that might be exactly when it starts to matter most.

Key Topics

 * Confronting identity loss after retirement
 * Understanding the “ghost of missed opportunities”
 * Emotional recovery after decades in high-pressure roles
 * Choosing daily growth over passive regret
 * The life-changing power of mindset, self-talk, and forgiveness

Memorable Quotes

 * “The ghost of missed opportunities… it comes for all of us. The key is not letting it win.”
 * “You didn’t leave your value behind when you left your job.”
 * “Growth is a choice we make — again and again — no matter how old we are.”

Listener Takeaways

 * Reflect on one regret you’ve been carrying. Is it still shaping how you see your future?
 * Ask yourself each week: What do I need more of right now?
 * Reframe your timeline — you’re not behind, you’re just in a new season of life.
 * Make one small move toward something you’ve always wanted to try.

Resources & Links

 * J. Paul Nadeau’s website: https://www.jpaulnadeau.com
 * Book: Take Control of Your Life
 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpaulnadeau

Don't Let the Ghost of Missed Opportunities Win - with J.Paul Nadeau

Reinventing yourself after retirement is an option we all have. 

It doesn't need to be a flashy, public spectacle. It can be as simple as deciding you're going to start choosing YOU first for a change. Maybe you've always wanted to take a pottery class; well, now you can!

Or maybe you have a book hiding inside you, clawing to get out. Now's the time!

You don't need anyone's permission... just follow what makes your eyes light up and your heart sing.

Reinvention

In this candid conversation, Jacquie reconnects with friend and guest Robaire Nadeau, a seasoned professional who is choosing reinvention over retirement. Robaire shares what it means to return to university at “north of 60”, why age shouldn’t define what’s possible, and how personal passion can become the compass for a new chapter of life.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to start again, this conversation is a warm reminder that it’s never too late to follow your curiosity, lean into your potential, and reimagine your future.

Following his retirement from full-time legal practice, Robaire founded the Centre for Contextual Negotiation™, where his team teaches others to navigate complex conversations, not with tricks or tactics, but through deep listening, presence, and perspective-taking. He sees negotiation not as argument, but as the art of helping people get to the heart of what matters.

In one of the episode's more unexpected twists, Robaire introduces his alter ego as a mentalist, someone who blends performance, psychology, and human insight. He describes his work as "Magic for the Intelligent Mind."

This practice allows him to connect with people on an emotional and philosophical level, challenging assumptions and sparking curiosity. It’s not about deception; it’s about awakening awareness.

If you're interested in having Robaire work his magic on your group, reach out to him at https://stateofmind.ca [https://stateofmind.ca/]

Reinvention at Any Age with Robaire Nadeau

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflects on the powerful insights from her recent conversation with cognitive scientist Dr. Therese Huston—and explores what they mean for life after work.

Retirement isn’t just a financial shift—it’s a cognitive, social, and emotional transformation. Jacquie walks listeners through the science behind memory changes, crystallized intelligence, and the identity shift that often hits after leaving full-time work. She discusses why cognitive challenges, social connection, stress management, and focused attention are critical pillars of brain health in retirement—and how to cultivate them intentionally.

From avoiding multitasking burnout to using meditation and green tea to protect your hippocampus, this episode is packed with practical tools and mindset shifts to help you thrive.

Key Topics:

 * How identity and purpose shift after retirement
 * Why social interaction is a cognitive necessity, not a luxury
 * The dangers of retirement multitasking—and how to stay focused
 * Real ways to manage chronic stress for brain protection
 * The role of movement, mindfulness, and daily habits in long-term brain health

Thought to Ponder:

Are you structuring your retirement years for brain engagement, or letting distraction take the lead?

Try This:

Choose one activity this week that offers all three benefits: social connection, cognitive challenge, and joy.

Brain Health in Retirement

Dr. Therese Huston discusses why cognitive changes in later life don’t always signal decline and how to stay mentally strong with simple, science-backed strategies.

Key Topics Covered:

 * The difference between normal memory lapses and concerning cognitive decline
 * How the brain actually gets better at certain things with age
 * Why “brain training” apps might not be as effective as you think, and what works better
 * The surprising link between movement and memory
 * How multitasking, stress, and  even retirement routines can cloud mental clarity
 * Daily strategies for staying sharp without overhauling your life
 * The emotional impact of memory concerns and how to manage that inner dialogue

Action Steps:

 * Replace multitasking with focused, single-task attention once per day
 * Build a new memory-friendly habit around your existing routine (e.g., walking while reviewing your to-do  list)
 * Reframe “forgetting” as a cue to slow down, not as a failure
 * Grab your own copy of Sharp: 14 Simple Ways to Improve Your Life with Brain Science

You can contact Dr. Huston via her website: https://theresehuston.com

Don't forget to check out her new book, Best Brain Ever, hitting stores on December 2, 2025!

Staying Sharp: Brain Science for a Better Retirement with Dr. Therese Huston

What really happens after retirement?

If you’re approaching retirement—or already there—and wondering what now?, you’re not alone. The world is full of financial advice for retirement, but there’s far less about how to actually live a fulfilling life once the 9-to-5 ends.

Beyond Retirement is the podcast that explores what comes after the career chapter. Whether your retirement was planned or unexpected, joyful or jarring, you’ll find real stories, honest conversations, and practical inspiration here.

Join host Jacquie Doucette as she shares her own journey and speaks with people who’ve reimagined life after work—some fully retired, some shifting gears, and all discovering new meaning in this next stage. From finding purpose to building community, embracing play, and navigating change, we’ll explore how to create a life that truly fits.

Because retirement isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning.

Let’s figure out what comes next, together.

Jacquie Doucette

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