In this solo episode, Jacquie dives into the essential—yet often avoided—topic of long-term care, sparked by key takeaways from her interview with Raymond Lavine. She explores why long-term care planning matters, what can happen when caregiving needs arise unexpectedly, and how listeners can take practical steps now to protect their choices, finances, and family relationships.

Why this matters

Retirement dreams often focus on freedom and independence, but the reality is that many retirees will eventually need some form of care—sometimes suddenly. Planning ahead can mean the difference between empowered choices and stressful crisis management.

What we covered

 * How caregiving needs can disrupt retirement plans—often without warning
 * The hidden ripple effects: finances, family roles, and household dynamics
 * The true cost of care—money, time, energy, and emotional bandwidth
 * Raymond Lavine’s three core planning questions: Where? Who? How?
 * The importance of starting conversations early, before a crisis
 * Organizing vital documents and communicating your wishes
 * Understanding care costs in your area
 * Exploring long-term care insurance and why earlier is better
 * Making your home safer, one simple change at a time
 * Proactive steps for those who can’t or don’t want insurance

Key takeaways

 * Don’t wait for a crisis. Planning ahead preserves dignity, options, and family harmony.
 * Start small. Even simple conversations and small home changes make a difference.
 * Know your options. Research care costs, insurance, and local resources early.
 * Empower your family. Clear documents and communication prevent confusion and conflict.
 * Self-care matters. Healthy habits and a safe home reduce future risks.

READY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?

Have a chat with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discovery

New to Beyond Retirement? Start Here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/

Check out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.com/

Planning for the Unexpected: Is Long-term Care on Your Radar?

Retirement is supposed to feel like freedom… until caregiving enters the picture.  

Raymond Lavine is a caregiving planning advocate who helps families prepare for long-term care realities before a crisis hits. He’s the host of the podcast Planning with Purpose: The Caregiver’s Blueprint and co-author of the Amazon bestseller Empathy and Understanding in Business.  

Raymond shares how his parents’ experiences shaped his work, why even affluent families can get squeezed by care costs, and what changes—logistically, emotionally, and financially—when one person needs ongoing support.  You’ll also hear practical ways to reduce stress even if you’re not ready to buy a plan today: decluttering, home modifications, organizing documents, and building habits that make aging at home safer.  

Key Topics: 

 * Why families delay long-term care planning until a crisis 
 * How caregiving reshapes retirement for everyone involved 
 * The hidden logistics: meds, appointments, finances, bathing, transfers, and constant worry 
 * Why “having enough money” still doesn’t mean care won’t disrupt your life 
 * Planning choices: where you want care, who will manage it, and how you’ll pay 
 * Using care support to stay social, travel, and avoid getting “stuck” 
 * What people underestimate most: caregiving is “invisible” until it’s not 
 * Simple stress-reducers: declutter, improve lighting, add grab bars, swap knobs for levers
 * Keep documents and passwords in one place (digital + paper)  

Thoughts to ponder 

 * If caregiving started tomorrow, what would change first in your life? 
 * Who would coordinate care in your family—and do they know that? 
 * What would you want to protect most: dignity, independence, relationships, finances? 
 * What’s one small home change you could make this month to reduce risk?  

Action steps (try this in 7 days) 

1) Answer the “3 Care Questions.”      

 1. Where would I want care?      
 2. Who would manage it?      
 3. How would we pay? 

2) Create a “one place” folder.      

 * Health card/insurance info, key contacts, legal documents, medication list, passwords (securely stored). 

3) Do one safety upgrade.      

 * Add a grab bar, improve lighting, remove a rug, or swap a doorknob for a lever.  

Connect with Raymond: 

Website: https://lavineltcins.com

When Caregiving Changes Retirement: Planning Before the Crisis - with Raymond Lavine

In this solo episode, Jacquie draws inspiration from her conversation with Henry Quinlan—a publisher, memoirist, and passionate advocate for purposeful living in retirement. The episode explores how telling your story, reflecting on life’s turning points, and embracing new “second acts” can help you find meaning, connection, and fulfillment after the traditional working years.

What you’ll hear in this episode

 * Why retirement isn’t just about stopping work, but about moving toward something meaningful
 * The power of memoir and storytelling for self-discovery and legacy
 * How reflecting on your life’s “plot twists” can reveal hidden strengths and new opportunities
 * The value of curiosity, creativity, and staying engaged at any age
 * Practical ways to start writing your story—even if you don’t consider yourself a writer
 * Henry Quinlan’s approach to living with optimism, humor, and purpose in later life

Key takeaways

 * Retirement is a new beginning. It’s a chance to design a life that excites you, not just a time to wind down.
 * Everyone has a story worth telling. Memoir writing can clarify your values, celebrate your journey, and leave a legacy for loved ones.
 * Reflection brings meaning. Looking back at challenges and turning points can help you see how far you’ve come—and what you still want to do.
 * Curiosity keeps you young. Stay open to new interests, skills, and connections, no matter your age or background.
 * You don’t have to be a professional writer. Start with small stories, favorite memories, or lessons learned—what matters is capturing your unique perspective.

Beyond the Finish Line: Memoir, Meaning, and New Beginnings After Work

What really happens after the retirement celebration ends?   

Henry Quinlan is the founder and CEO of Omni Publishing Company and a lifelong publishing professional who found renewed purpose after retirement. He now focuses on helping seniors tell their stories, publish memoirs, and rethink happiness and fulfillment in later life. A Senior Achiever at the MIT AgeLab, Henry also speaks widely on retirement, relationships, and artificial intelligence for seniors.  

In this episode, Henry Quinlan shares decades of insight into why happiness doesn’t automatically arrive with retirement and how meaning, connection, and curiosity shape a fulfilling next chapter.  

Key Topics Covered 

 * The emotional transition into retirement 
 * Why men often struggle more than women after leaving work 
 * Memoir writing as a therapeutic and legacy-building tool 
 * The myth that retirement guarantees happiness 
 * Giving, contribution, and relationships as sources of fulfillment 
 * Artificial intelligence and its impact on seniors and society  

Connect with Henry: https://www.goldenyearslibrary.com/

Happiness is Not Guaranteed in Retirement - with Henry Quinlan

In this solo episode, Jacquie reflects on insights from her conversation with Dr. Denise Taylor and explores a quieter, more sustainable approach to intentional living in retirement. Instead of asking, “What should I do now?”, Jacquie invites listeners to consider, “How do I want to live now?” The episode focuses on creating rhythm (not busyness), choosing curiosity over striving, and finding meaning that isn’t tied to productivity.

What you’ll hear in this episode

 * Why intentional living isn’t always about doing more
 * The shift from “What should I do?” to “How do I want to live?”
 * How many retirees leave the job—but keep the pace, pressure, and identity of work
 * Rhythm vs. routine: listening to your energy instead of living by urgency
 * Why stillness can feel uncomfortable (and why it’s often exactly what we need)
 * Curiosity as a key driver of well-being as we age
 * How “Back in my day…” thinking quietly closes doors—and how to keep them open
 * The identity question that can surface after retirement: “If I’m not that anymore… who am I?”
 * Why meaning doesn’t require output, metrics, or a new label
 * The difference between working longer because it’s joyful vs. working longer as avoidance

Key takeaways

 * Intention starts with rhythm, not goals. Your days don’t need to be packed to be purposeful.
 * Rhythm is energy-aware living. Notice when you feel alert, when you need rest, and when you’re simply done.
 * Curiosity keeps the future open. You don’t have to be good at something to explore it.
 * Meaning isn’t the same as productivity. Presence, listening, and care can be deeply meaningful.
 * Not every season calls for acceleration. Some seasons call for integration, simplification, and rest.

READY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?

Have a chat with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discovery

New to Beyond Retirement? Start Here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/

Check out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.com/

Living Intentionally: Choosing Curiosity, Rhythm, and Meaning

What if retirement wasn’t about filling your time — but about choosing how you want to live?  

 Dr. Denise Taylor is a chartered psychologist, later-life specialist, and author whose work focuses on meaning, wellbeing, and identity beyond full-time work. With over four decades of experience blending psychology, research, and lived experience, Denise challenges conventional narratives about retirement and aging.  

 In this conversation, Denise shares why curiosity, slowing down, and letting go of relentless productivity may be the keys to a more meaningful later life — and why it’s okay to choose a quieter, more intentional path.  

Key Topics Covered 

 * The evolution of retirement over time 
 * From physical rest to reinvention and choice 
 * Identity beyond professional titles 
 * Who we are when the job title falls away 
 * Being versus doing 
 * Learning to slow down without guilt 
 * Curiosity as a driver of healthy aging 
 * Staying mentally and emotionally engaged 
 * Conscious aging and alternative narratives 
 * Moving away from relentless striving  

Connect with Denise: 

Website: https://denisetaylor.co.uk/   [https://denisetaylor.co.uk/]

Substack: https://ageingreimagined.substack.com/

Letting Go of Striving in Retirement - with Dr Denise Taylor

In this solo episode, Jacquie reflects on a conversation that lingered long after the microphones were off: Scott Walker's retirement-fueled decision to reunite his college band, The Resisters, with help from Lutefish technology. The episode explores how rekindling old passions can restore connection, identity, and joyand why retirement is less about stopping and more about returning to the parts of ourselves that were always there.

What youll hear in this episode

 * Why Scott's line You can't make new old friends hits so deeply in retirement
 * How distance doesn't have to mean disconnectionand how technology can bridge the gap
 * The idea of a secret identity: the passions we set aside during the busy middle chapter of life
 * A simple reflection prompt: What did you get lost in before adulthood took over?
 * Why structure matters (and why motivation often follows action)
 * How shared purpose builds real connectionand why loneliness isnt solved by staying busy
 * Practical takeaways to help you reconnect with people and passions in your own retirement

Key takeaways

 * Old friendships are a unique kind of wealth. People who knew you before titles and responsibilities can help you reconnect with who you are.
 * Technology is a tool, not a threat. Used intentionally, it can support real human connections across distance.
 * Your early passions are clues. The things you loved before life got busy often point toward what will feel meaningful now.
 * Structure creates momentum. Weekly rituals and commitments make it easier to begin even when you feel rusty.
 * Connection is the reward. The activity may be the excuse, but the deeper outcome is belonging.

READY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?

Have a chat with Jacquie:  https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discovery

New to Beyond Retirement? Start Here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/

Check out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.com/



Connection & Purpose in Retirement

What if your retirement party didn’t involve a bad chicken dinner and awkward speeches… but a full-on rock show?

In this episode, Jacquie sits down with Scott Walker (newly retired, lifelong “closet musician”) and Patrick Finn + Whitney Winkels from Lutefish, the company behind a low-latency setup that lets musicians rehearse together online, in real time. Scott shares how he used Lutefish to reunite his college band, The Resistors, for a retirement-party performance after decades apart, and why the weekly rehearsals became about more than music: friendship, identity, and getting back to the parts of yourself you set aside during the “35-year detour” of career and family. If you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I without my job?” this episode will give you a fresh, practical way to answer it.  

What we covered

 * Why Scott refused a traditional retirement party (and what he did instead) 
 * How Lutefish makes real-time online rehearsal possible (low latency) 
 * The weekly rehearsal cadence that rebuilt connection and friendship 
 * “You can’t make new old friends” and why frequency matters 
 * The band’s origin story: dumb luck, dorm rooms, and finding rare musicians 
 * Playing live with Scott’s son (and why it mattered) 
 * The “secret identity” concept: build it before retirement 
 * A simple prompt: what made you lose track of time between ages 10–20? 
 * Why it’s never over for musicians (and creatives of any kind) 

 Key takeaways 

 * Retirement isn’t the end of your identity—it’s the return to it. 
 * Connection gets easier when you’re doing something together (not just “catching up”). 
 * A deadline can be a gift: it forces momentum and practice. 
 * Your “secret identity” is often hiding in what you loved as a kid. 
 * Technology can support what matters most: relationships, joy, and meaning.  

Links 

 * Lutefish: https://lutefish.com/
 * Their story: https://lutefish.com/blogs/the-hook/finding-the-groove-again-38-years-later-with-a-little-help-from-a-lutefish-stream  [https://lutefish.com/blogs/the-hook/finding-the-groove-again-38-years-later-with-a-little-help-from-a-lutefish-stream]
 * NAMM – National Association of Music Merchants – https://namm.org  [https://namm.org]
 * Smith’s Olde Bar Atlanta – https://sobatl.com  [https://sobatl.com]
 * Evan Walker - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1s9kO42Yz9yhP7RGDI08d9  [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1s9kO42Yz9yhP7RGDI08d9]
 * The Resistors - https://theresistors.com

A Modern Take on a Retro Activity - with Scott Walker, Whitney Winkels & Patrick Finn

In this solo reflection episode, Jacquie unpacks the biggest insights from her conversation with Kim Costa (author of Live in Your Wheelhouse) and translates them into practical questions listeners can use to evaluate whether their current home still fits the life they want in retirement. The throughline: your home isn’t just a building—it’s a support system for your health, relationships, routines, and sense of peace.

Why this matters (the “retire TO” connection)

Retirement isn’t only a financial transition—it’s a lifestyle transition. Jacquie invites listeners to think proactively about what they’re retiring to: a daily rhythm, a community, and an environment that supports who they are now (not who they were 20 years ago).

What we covered

 * Why a “forever home” can stop fitting as your life evolves
 * The idea of evaluating your home based on how it supports your lifestyle—not just your stuff
 * Kim Costa’s Wheelhouse Method: looking at life in eight dimensions to spot what’s out of sync
 * Options beyond moving: renovating, downsizing, repurposing rooms, and experimenting with new routines
 * The often-forgotten role of spirituality/grounding and nature in retirement happiness
 * Timing: avoiding the stress of waiting too long (or moving too quickly)
 * Living authentically in your “third life” and letting go of stereotypes about what retirement should look like

Key takeaways

 * Your home should support your life stage. What worked at 25 may not work at 55 or 65.
 * A home decision is also a life decision. It impacts your mobility, energy, relationships, and joy.
 * Not every solution requires a move. Small changes can create big alignment.
 * Don’t ignore the “soft” needs. Peace, sunlight, nature, and spiritual grounding matter.
 * Plan before it becomes urgent. The best moves are made from choice, not pressure.

WANT TO KICKSTART YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?

Start here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/

Book a FREE call with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discovery

Check out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.com





Move, Reno, Repurpose - How to Decice

Kim Costa, a top 5% Realtor with Atlanta Fine Homes & Sotheby’s International Realty and creator of the Wheel House Method, shares how to use a Wheel-of-Life approach to decide whether to stay, go, or renovate in retirement. You’ll hear why “home” is more than square footage, how life changes create a “void” your current space may no longer fill, and how to make choices that support enjoyment and personal growth in your next chapter.

What we cover

 * Why retirement is a “third life,” not an ending
 * The Wheelhouse Method: using eight life areas to clarify what’s working and what isn’t
 * How life changes (empty nest, health shifts, career ending, family moving) can make a once-perfect home stop fitting
 * Downsizing options: lock-and-leave living, reducing maintenance, and freeing up equity
 * Practical ways to stay put: “shut down” unused floors, adjust thermostats, and reduce cleaning/expenses
 * Repurposing rooms for who you are now (hobbies, writing, yoga, podcasting)
 * The most neglected area on the wheel: spirituality (connection to nature, grounding, sunlight)
 * Avoiding “should” decisions (e.g., moving somewhere because it’s what people do)
 * Try-it-first strategies: house-sitting, seasonal stays, and inviting family to test a destination home
 * Biggest regret drivers: moving too fast, not thinking it through, and market pressure

Key takeaways

 * Your home should match your current life stage. What worked at 25 may not work at 60.
 * Fix the pain point—but don’t create a new problem. Consider health care access, finances, and connection before you leap.
 * Enjoyment is allowed. Retirement is a season to reclaim what you loved—and design your space to support it.
 * Small changes count. You can often improve fit by repurposing rooms and reducing unused space.

Connect with Kim:

 * Website: lifestylefoundations.com [https://lifestylefoundations.com/]
 * Socials: KimECosta

Look for her new book, Live in Your Wheel House, available now!

Are You Living in Your Wheel House? - with Kim Costa

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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