Casual Mondays Podcast

About Casual Mondays Podcast

Welcome to Casual Mondays, the retirement podcast for those who’ve closed the office planner and opened the door to tomorrow. Whether you're planning for retirement or already made the transition, join us for conversations about what happens after you step away from the 9-to-5: from day one plans to shaping a second act that’s as fulfilling as it is flexible. Expect expert advice, inspiring stories, and actionable tips for designing a life that’s rich in experiences, purpose, and joy. Trade your desk for a deck chair. This is the retirement podcast for living your best life - every single day.

Publisher

Kevin Donahue

Category

business · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Dec 2025

Latest episode

27 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Apr 2026

   Your Job in Retirement? You are the CEO of Your Own Wellness

   You spent 30 years crushing quarterly targets. Revenue goals. Project deadlines. Performance reviews. You hit your numbers. And then you retired. Suddenly, all that strategic thinking, all that discipline, all that relentless focus... has no target. Until now. This episode reframes wellness as your primary "job" in retirement—not as an obsession, but as a strategy. Because here's the uncomfortable truth: you can have $5 million in the bank, but if you lose your health at 68, that money just funds medical bills instead of adventures. Your health determines the quality of every other retirement decision. Time to treat it that way. What You'll Learn Health as Enabler vs. Health as Obsession The critical distinction between optimizing for maximum health span (obsession) and optimizing for maximum life quality (enabler). Why your goal isn't being the fittest 55-year-old at the gym—it's being fit enough to hike Machu Picchu at 68 and play on the floor with grandkids at 72. The Four Departments of Your Health "Job" A strategic framework for managing wellness like you managed your career: Preventive Care (early detection), Movement & Fitness (maintaining capability), Nutrition (fueling properly), and Mental Health (cognitive and emotional wellbeing). Becoming Your Own Healthcare CEO How to actively manage your healthcare like a business: owning your medical records, interviewing doctors, understanding medications, and coordinating your healthcare team. You're not a passive recipient—you're the CEO. The Quarterly Health Review System A structured approach to tracking and improving your health metrics: reviewing data, celebrating wins, identifying challenges, making adjustments, and setting one measurable goal per quarter. Exactly what you did in your corporate career—except now you're the company. Evidence-Based Minimums for Fitness and Nutrition The specific, research-backed prescriptions from Mayo Clinic and Harvard: 150 minutes cardio, 2-3 strength sessions, balance training, and the 80/20 nutrition rule that gives room for pizza Friday. Join the Conversation Website: www.casualmondayspodcast.com (http://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/) Instagram: @casualmondayspodcast YouTube: Casual Mondays Podcast Casual Mondays Club: https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/ (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/) Stress-Test Your Retirement Plan with the Retirement Success Graph App Powerful. Secure. Free. Stress test your retirement plan against 100+ years of market data with the Retirement Success Graph app. See hundreds of possible futures for your portfolio. Test different scenarios—what if you spend more? Travel more? Live to 100? Click to Download (https://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/) Essential Resources Health Tracking Tools: MyFitnessPal - Nutrition and calorie tracking (myfitnesspal.com (https://www.myfitnesspal.com/)) Cronometer - Detailed micronutrient tracking (cronometer.com (https://cronometer.com/)) Apple Health / Google Fit - Activity and sleep tracking Strong app - Strength training tracking (iOS/Android) Strava - Running, cycling, hiking tracking (strava.com (https://www.strava.com/)) Finding Healthcare Providers: Zocdoc - Find and book doctors (zocdoc.com (https://www.zocdoc.com/)) Psychology Today - Find therapists (psychologytoday.com/us/therapists (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists)) Vitals - Doctor reviews and ratings (vitals.com (https://www.vitals.com/)) Fitness Resources: SilverSneakers - Fitness program for Medicare beneficiaries National Institute on Aging Exercise Guide (nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-physical-activity (https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-physical-activity)) YouTube: "Fitness Blender" (home workouts), "Yoga With Adriene" (accessible yoga), "HASfit" (senior fitness) Nutrition Resources: USDA MyPlate for Older Adults (myplate.gov/life-stages/older-adults (https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/older-adults)) Harvard Healthy Eating Plate (hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate (https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/)) Mental Health Resources: SAMHSA National Helpline - Free, confidential, 24/7: 1-800-662-4357 BetterHelp / Talkspace - Online therapy platforms 7 Cups - Free emotional support and counseling (7cups.com (https://www.7cups.com/)) Books Recommended: Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley & Henry S. Lodge, MD Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PhD Research & Academic Resources Preventive Care: Centers for Disease Control - Prevention Guidelines for Adults 50+ Preventive care highest-ROI healthcare investment; early detection improves outcomes cdc.gov/aging/ (https://www.cdc.gov/aging/) Exercise and Aging: Mayo Clinic - Healthy Aging Research 150 min/week moderate cardio OR 75 min/week vigorous; 2-3 strength sessions non-negotiable mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging) Harvard Medical School - Exercise and Cognitive Health Cardiovascular exercise protects cognitive function; strength training slows muscle mass decline health.harvard.edu (https://www.health.harvard.edu/) Nutrition: National Institute on Aging - Nutrition Guidelines Protein needs increase after age 50 (1-1.2g per kg body weight) nia.nih.gov (https://www.nia.nih.gov/) Harvard School of Public Health - Nutrition Research Healthy fats support brain health; added sugar drives inflammation hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource (https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/) Mental Health: National Institute of Mental Health - Retirement and Mental Health Retirement commonly triggers depression, anxiety, and identity crisis nimh.nih.gov (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/) University of California San Francisco - Cognitive Health and Aging Lifelong learning, social engagement, exercise protect cognition ucsf.edu (https://www.ucsf.edu/) Medication Management: American Geriatrics Society - Polypharmacy Research Polypharmacy major risk factor for adverse drug events; annual medication review essential americangeriatrics.org (https://www.americangeriatrics.org/) Patient Engagement: Mayo Clinic - Patient Engagement Research Informed, active patients have better outcomes than passive patients mayoclinic.org (https://www.mayoclinic.org/) Cardiovascular Health: American Heart Association - Retirement Welln...

2. 

   13 Apr 2026

   The Social Network Reboot - Building Real Community After Your Career

   Your work friends are fading. Your social calendar feels empty. And asking someone to grab coffee at 53 feels like middle school all over again. This episode tackles the isolation epidemic that nobody warns you about in early retirement—and provides actionable frameworks for building authentic community when the built-in social structure of your career disappears. Because here's the truth: your work friendships were proximity-based, not choice-based. Now you have the opportunity to build something better. But it requires vulnerability, consistency, and a strategy. What You'll Learn Why Work Friendships Fade (And Why That's Okay) The uncomfortable truth that most retirement advice skips over: your work friends were sustained by shared context, not necessarily by shared values. When the office disappears, so does the relationship scaffolding—and that's transition, not betrayal. The Three-Tier Friendship Model A framework for understanding the structure of relationships you actually need: Acquaintance Network (20-30 people), Social Friends (5-10 people), and Deep Friends (2-4 people). Spoiler: You don't need 30 best friends. You need the right mix. Making Friends as an Adult (Vulnerability Required) How to build Tier 2 and Tier 3 friendships when you're no longer forced into proximity with people. Yes, it feels awkward. Yes, you'll get rejected. That's the price of admission. Quality vs. Quantity in Retirement Relationships The Harvard Study of Adult Development is clear: 2-3 deep connections matter infinitely more than 30 casual acquaintances. Here's how to redefine social success. The Five Community Circles Framework Where to actually find your people: Purpose-Driven Groups, Learning & Growth Groups, Activity-Based Groups, Faith or Philosophical Communities, and Neighborhood Connections. Join three. Show up consistently. Build from there. Key Insight:  Stop asking, 'Where can I find friends?' Start asking, 'Where can I contribute something meaningful?' When you show up with an agenda, people can feel it. When you show up authentically interested in the activity, the mission, the learning, friendships emerge naturally as a byproduct. CHAPTERS: 0:23 Introduction 2:34 Why Work Friendships Fade 7:08 The Three-Tier Friendship Model 12:32 Show Notes & Casual Mondays Club 13:36 Quality vs. Quantity in Retirement Relationships 17:58 The Five Community Circles Framework 21:49 The 75% Rule & Consistency Strategy 24:19 Your Four-Step Action Plan 27:01 Next Episode: Health as Your New Career Join the Conversation Website: www.casualmondayspodcast.com (http://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/) Instagram: @casualmondayspodcast YouTube: Casual Mondays Podcast Casual Mondays Club: https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/ (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/) Stress-Test Your Retirement Plan with the Retirement Success Graph App Powerful. Secure. Free. Stress test your retirement plan against 100+ years of market data with the Retirement Success Graph app. See hundreds of possible futures for your portfolio. Test different scenarios—what if you spend more? Travel more? Live to 100? Click to Download (https://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/) Primary Research Citations Friendship and Longevity: Harvard Study of Adult Development - 80+ year longitudinal study on happiness adultdevelopmentstudy.org (https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/) Social Connection in Retirement: Stanford Center on Longevity - Weak-tie relationships reduce isolation; hosting increases community integration longevity.stanford.edu (https://longevity.stanford.edu/) University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study - Research on social engagement in retirement hrs.isr.umich.edu (https://hrs.isr.umich.edu/) Community Building: National Alliance for Caregiving - Social integration takes 6-8 months of consistent effort caregiving.org (https://www.caregiving.org/) Corporation for National and Community Service - Volunteers report significantly lower isolation rates nationalservice.gov (https://www.nationalservice.gov/) Isolation and Loneliness: AARP Foundation - Activity-based groups most common pathway to retirement friendships aarp.org/aarp-foundation/ (https://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/) Journal of Gerontology - Consistency beats volume; 75% attendance threshold for friendship formation academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology (https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology) GREAT BIG DISCLAIMER The Casual Mondays Podcast is presented only for entertainment and/or educational purposes. Moreover, no listener/user should assume that any such discussion serves as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized advice from a registered investment professional. We do not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information presented on the podcast, this website, or other affiliated properties. Any third-party content or links are provided solely for convenience. Neither Kevin Donahue nor the Casual Mondays Podcast is a registered investment advisory firm, a law firm, or a tax advisory service, and neither is representing any spoken, written, or transmitted content as financial planning, tax, legal, or investment advice. All users are strongly advised to consult qualified professionals regarding any financial planning, tax, legal, or investment decisions.

3. 

   24 Mar 2026

   Resolution Reset - Abandoning Your Failed Plans and Making This Year Count

   You crushed every Q4 target for 30 years. Hit your numbers. Delivered projects. Earned promotions. But your personal resolutions? Failed by February. Again. Here's the thing: the framework that made you successful at work doesn't work in retirement. And until you understand why, you're going to keep disappointing yourself every January. This episode introduces the Values-First Resolution Framework and the Three-Resolution Maximum—a system designed specifically for life after career. In This Episode Why corporate goal-setting fails in retirement (and the four things you lost when you left) The Values-First Resolution Framework: four questions that transform surface-level goals into sustainable identity shifts The Three-Resolution Maximum: why research shows people with more than three resolutions have single-digit success rates The only three categories that matter: Physical Anchor, Connection Commitment, and Growth Goal The Quarterly Reset System: four checkpoints per year that turn static goals into living commitments One Start, One Stop, One Continue: a low-pressure framework that keeps life fresh without overwhelming your decision-fatigued brain Key Insight: Your resolutions aren't sacred. They're hypotheses about what will make your life better. If the hypothesis is wrong, change it. Join the Conversation Website: www.casualmondayspodcast.com (http://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/) Instagram: @casualmondayspodcast YouTube: Casual Mondays Podcast Casual Mondays Club: https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/ (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/) Stress-Test Your Retirement Plan with the Retirement Success Graph App Powerful. Secure. Free. Stress test your retirement plan against 100+ years of market data with the Retirement Success Graph app. See hundreds of possible futures for your portfolio. Test different scenarios—what if you spend more? Travel more? Live to 100? Click to Download (https://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/) Primary Research Citations University of Scranton – Resolution success rate research (8% achievement, 80% abandoned by February) Stanford Center on Longevity – Goal-setting in post-career life; intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation research University of Rochester – Self-determination theory; intrinsic motivation completion rates Journal of Clinical Psychology – Resolution maintenance study; three-or-fewer success rates above 40% Harvard Study of Adult Development – 85+ year longitudinal study on happiness; relationships matter more than anything American Psychological Association – Intrinsic motivation in aging; retirement transition research Harvard Business School – Adaptive goal-setting; reassessment and adjustment benefits MIT AgeLab – Decision fatigue in older adults; cognitive overload from excessive commitments University of Pennsylvania – Habit formation research; 66-day habit formation timeline Additional Resources Book: Retire Retirement by Tamara Erickson (Harvard Business Review) Study: "Positive Retirement" Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2023 AARP Foundation – Research on goal-setting in later life Episode Links Casual Mondays Podcast: casualmondayspodcast.com (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/) Retirement Success App: retirementsuccessapp.com (https://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/) Your Assignment Before your next milestone (birthday, New Year, anniversary, Monday), answer the four values-first questions: What do I want to be true about me one year from now? Why does this really matter to me? What's the smallest sustainable version? What am I willing to stop doing to make room? Then write your three resolutions: Physical Anchor, Connection Commitment, Growth Goal. Put your first Quarterly Reset on the calendar for March 1st. Because retirement isn't about waiting for the perfect moment to start. It's about making any moment count. GREAT BIG DISCLAIMER The Casual Mondays Podcast is presented only for entertainment and/or educational purposes. Moreover, no listener/user should assume that any such discussion serves as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized advice from a registered investment professional. We do not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information presented on the podcast, this website, or other affiliated properties. Any third-party content or links are provided solely for convenience. Neither Kevin Donahue nor the Casual Mondays Podcast is a registered investment advisory firm, a law firm, or a tax advisory service, and neither is representing any spoken, written, or transmitted content as financial planning, tax, legal, or investment advice. All users are strongly advised to consult qualified professionals regarding any financial planning, tax, legal, or investment decisions.

4. 

   9 Feb 2026

   Creating Structure Without the 9-to-5

   It's 10:47 on a Tuesday morning. You're still in your pajamas, scrolling your phone. You had vague plans—organize the garage, call a friend, hit the gym. But there's no meeting at 11. No deadline at noon. No boss wondering where you are. It's now 11:23, and you're thinking: "I've been retired for three months. Why does every day feel like Saturday, but without the satisfaction of having earned it?" Welcome to the paradox of retirement: you finally have all the time in the world, and somehow none of it feels like yours. This episode tackles the challenge of building rhythm without rigidity—creating a daily structure that serves your freedom instead of constraining it. In This Episode Why total freedom without structure becomes chaos in disguise The Structure Paradox: Two extremes that both fail (The Structured Achiever vs. The Flexible Explorer) The Four Pillars Framework for retirement rhythm: Anchor Commitments, Peak Energy Blocks, Intentional White Space, Evening Closure Why the first 90 days of retirement set your pattern for years to come How to honor your chronotype and protect your peak hours for meaningful work The counterintuitive practice of scheduling nothing—and why it matters Creating psychological closure when there's no office to leave Key Insight: Structure without flexibility isn't structure—it's just a job with no paycheck. But freedom without structure isn't freedom—it's chaos in disguise. The goal is structure that serves you, not structure that controls you. Chapters 00:00 The Paradox of Retirement 06:59 Finding Structure in Freedom 09:25 Listener Voicemails 12:29 Pillar 1: Anchor Commitments 16:08 Pillar 2: Peak Energy Blocks 19:46 Pillar 3: Intentional White Space 22:52 Pillar 4: Evening Closure 26:38 Implementing Your Structure 33:40 Next Episode Preview Join the Conversation Website: www.casualmondayspodcast.com (http://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/) Instagram: @casualmondayspodcast YouTube: Casual Mondays Podcast Casual Mondays Club: https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/ (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/) Stress-Test Your Retirement Plan with the Retirement Success Graph App Powerful. Secure. Free. Stress test your retirement plan against 100+ years of market data with the Retirement Success Graph app. See hundreds of possible futures for your portfolio. Test different scenarios—what if you spend more? Travel more? Live to 100? Click to Download (https://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/) Primary Research Citations Mayo Clinic – Research on healthy aging and routine development; evening closure rituals and sleep quality National Institute on Aging – Guidelines for senior daily activity planning; 3-5 weekly anchor commitments recommendation British Heart Foundation – Study on retirement wellness and structure; 3-7 weekly commitments optimal balance; 90-Day Window research University of Pennsylvania – Research on habit formation in later life; aligning activities with natural energy peaks American Geriatrics Society – Recommendations for active aging routines University of Michigan – Time use and well-being in retirement; first 90 days as critical adjustment period; 15-20% unstructured time recommendation Harvard Medical School – Cognitive health and daily structure; unstructured time essential for mental restoration Stanford Center on Longevity – Routine and purpose research; psychological closure rituals Key Framework: The Four Pillars Pillar 1: Anchor Commitments 3-5 recurring weekly activities that give your week shape—physical anchors (exercise routines), social anchors (regular connections), and purpose anchors (meaningful projects). These are non-negotiable commitments you choose because they serve your ikigai, health, or relationships. Pillar 2: Peak Energy Blocks Protecting your natural high-energy hours for high-value activities. Your chronotype doesn't retire. Match your most important work to when your brain is sharpest—whether that's 9-11 AM or 8-10 PM. Pillar 3: Intentional White Space Scheduled nothing. 30-60 minutes daily and one half-day weekly with zero commitments. Protected time for spontaneity, rest, and whatever emerges. If you don't schedule white space, low-value busyness will fill it. Pillar 4: Evening Closure An intentional end-of-day ritual that signals "today was complete." A five-minute review, a transition activity (evening walk, specific drink), or a shutdown ritual (clear counter, set tomorrow's anchor items). Your brain needs an end point—give it one. Your Assignment: The Five-Day Structure Experiment Monday through Friday, implement the Five-Step Structure Builder: Choose Your 3 Weekly Anchors (by Sunday) – One physical, one social, one purposeful Identify Your Peak Energy Window (this week) – Just notice when you're naturally at your best Protect One Peak Hour (starting tomorrow) – Block it for high-value activity, not email or errands Schedule 30 Minutes of Nothing (daily) – Put "White Space" on your calendar and honor it Create Your Evening Closure (starting tonight) – Choose one small ritual that signals "day's done" At the end of each day, ask yourself: "Did my structure serve me today, or did it constrain me?" "What one tweak would make tomorrow better?" By Friday evening, you'll have real data on what works for you. GREAT BIG DISCLAIMER The Casual Mondays Podcast is presented only for entertainment and/or educational purposes. Moreover, no listener/user should assume that any such discussion serves as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized advice from a registered investment professional. We do not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information presented on the podcast, this website, or other affiliated properties. Any third-party content or links are provided solely for convenience. Neither Kevin Donahue nor the Casual Mondays Podcast is a registered investment advisory firm, a law firm, or a tax advisory service, and neither is representing any spoken, written, or transmitted content as financial planning, tax, legal, or investment advice. All users are strongly advised to consult qualified professionals regarding any financial planning, tax, legal, or investment decisions. These show notes match the reference format while capturing the essence of Episode 3's content about creating daily structure in retirement. The notes emphasize the practical Four Pillars Framework and provide clear action steps for listeners to implement immediately.

5. 

   19 Jan 2026

   Finding Your Ikigai - Your Reason for Being

   You've retired. You can fill every hour with activities—golf, volunteering, travel—and still feel empty. You're busier than when you worked, but something fundamental is missing. This episode introduces the Japanese concept of ikigai (your reason for being) and explores how to discover genuine purpose beyond staying busy. Ikigai isn't found in a lightning-bolt moment on a mountaintop. It's cultivated through experimentation, reflection, and small daily adjustments. In this episode, we explore why the Okinawans—who live longer than almost anyone on Earth—never even had a word for retirement: because they never stopped having a reason to wake up. In This Episode Why staying busy doesn't equal purposeful living (and the Sunday night feeling that never goes away) The four circles of ikigai, adapted specifically for retirement Three retirement ikigai archetypes: The Mentor, The Creator, and The Connector The Three-Month Ikigai Experiment framework for discovery How to weave purpose into daily life through small, consistent alignment Why your ikigai at 55 will look different from your ikigai at 75 (and why that's not failure) Key Insight: Your job was never your ikigai. Your job provided structure around your ikigai. Now that the structure's gone, we need to find what was underneath it all along. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Casual Mondays Podcast 00:27 Discovering Ikigai: The Secret to Longevity 01:30 Welcome and Community Engagement 03:08 The Activity Trap in Retirement 04:50 Understanding Ikigai and Its Importance 15:45 The Four Circles of Ikigai 28:10 Practical Steps to Find Your Ikigai 42:27 Conclusion and Next Steps Join the Conversation Website: www.casualmondayspodcast.com (http://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/) Instagram: @casualmondayspodcast YouTube: Casual Mondays Podcast Casual Mondays Club: https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/ (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/) Stress-Test Your Retirement Plan with the Retirement Success Graph App Powerful. Secure. Free. Stress test your retirement plan against 100+ years of market data with the Retirement Success Graph app. See hundreds of possible futures for your portfolio. Test different scenarios—what if you spend more? Travel more? Live to 100? Click to Download (https://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/) Primary Research Citations Dan Buettner's Blue Zones Research – Okinawa longevity studies and ikigai correlation data Stanford Center on Longevity – Purpose and aging correlation research; growth mindset application to purpose discovery Okinawa Centenarian Study – Ikigai and longevity data; cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits Harvard Study of Adult Development – 85+ year longitudinal study on happiness; purpose matters more than wealth findings Japanese Ministry of Health – Ikigai research and public health data; life satisfaction regardless of income level University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study – Purpose in retirement transitions; noticing vs. grand planning MIT AgeLab – Daily routine and purpose integration; satisfaction from consistent vs. occasional alignment American Psychological Association – Intrinsic motivation in aging; retirement transition research National Institute on Aging – Successful aging and adaptable sense of purpose Additional Resources Book: Retire Retirement by Tamara Erickson (Harvard Business Review) Study: "Positive Retirement" Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2023 AARP Foundation – Research on social identity in later life Dr. Nancy Schlossberg, University of Maryland – Transition theory research Episode Links Casual Mondays Podcast: casualmondayspodcast.com (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/) Retirement Success App: retirementsuccessapp.com (https://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/) Your Assignment Create your four-circle ikigai diagram: What do you LOVE? What are you GOOD AT? What do others NEED? What gives you JOY? Then identify one small experiment to try this week. Not a life overhaul. A single test to see how one intersection feels. GREAT BIG DISCLAIMER The Casual Mondays Podcast is presented only for entertainment and/or educational purposes. Moreover, no listener/user should assume that any such discussion serves as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized advice from a registered investment professional. We do not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information presented on the podcast, this website, or other affiliated properties. Any third-party content or links are provided solely for convenience. Neither Kevin Donahue nor the Casual Mondays Podcast is a registered investment advisory firm, a law firm, or a tax advisory service, and neither is representing any spoken, written, or transmitted content as financial planning, tax, legal, or investment advice. All users are strongly advised to consult qualified professionals regarding any financial planning, tax, legal, or investment decisions.

6. 

   25 Dec 2025

   Who Am I Without A Business Card? The Identity Shift

   Who Am I Without My Business Card? Navigating the Retirement Identity Crisis For years, your professional role provided: Instant social recognition ("Oh, you're a surgeon? Impressive!") Clear measures of success (promotions, bonuses, titles) Structured identity ("I'm a teacher," "I'm an engineer") Built-in purpose (projects, deadlines, deliverables) When that scaffolding disappears, even the most self-assured people feel unmoored. Traditional retirement at 65 comes with social scripts. People understand it. Expect it. Celebrate it. Early retirement at 50? Society doesn't quite know what to do with you yet. You're too young for "retired" to feel comfortable. Too established to pivot to something entirely new. And the typical response—"Must be nice!" or "What do you DO all day?"—can feel more like interrogation than celebration. Stanford Center on Longevity (https://longevity.stanford.edu/) researchers found that people who retire before 60 face unique psychological challenges as they navigate uncharted social terrain. There's no roadmap. No cultural consensus. No clear answer to "What comes next?" Join the Conversation Website: www.casualmondayspodcast.com (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/) Instagram: @casualmondayspodcast (http://www.instagram.com/casualmondayspodcast.com) YouTube: Casual Mondays Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@CasualMondaysPodcast) Casual Mondays Club:  https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/ (https://www.casualmondayspodcast.com/newsletter/) Stress-Test Your Retirement Plan with the Retirement Success Graph App Powerful. Secure. Free. Stress test your retirement plan against 100+ years of market data with the Retirement Success Graph (http://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/download) app. Click to Download (http://www.retirementsuccessapp.com/download) Primary Research Citations: American Psychological Association (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-19054-001) – Retirement transition and identity research Harvard Business School (https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?research=6674) – Executive identity post-retirement studies Stanford Center on Longevity (https://longevity.stanford.edu) – "Phoenix Career" methodology and generativity research University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (https://hrs.isr.umich.edu/about) – Psychological adjustment data Dr. Nancy Schlossberg, University of Maryland (https://www.transitionsthroughlife.com) – Transition theory research Additional Resources: Book: Retire Retirement by Tamara Erickson (https://amzn.to/4iXOQJa) (Harvard Business Review) Study: "Positive Retirement" Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2023 AARP Foundation research on social identity in later life Episode Links: Casual Mondays Podcast: casualmondayspodcast.com (http://www.casualmondayspodcast.com) Retirement Success App: retirementsuccessapp.com (http://retirementsuccessapp.com) Stream This Episode on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEJyB6u_w10) Click here to view the episode transcript. (https://share.transistor.fm/s/d7f0b90e/transcript) GREAT BIG DISCLAIMER: The Casual Mondays Podcast is presented only for entertainment and/or educational purposes. Moreover, no listener/user should assume that any such discussion serves as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized advice from a registered investment professional. We do not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information presented on the podcast, this website, or other affiliated properties. Any third-party content or links are provided solely for convenience. Neither Kevin Donahue nor the Casual Mondays Podcast is a registered investment advisory firm, a law firm, or a tax advisory service, and neither is representing any spoken, written, or transmitted content as financial planning, tax, legal, or investment advice. All users are strongly advised to consult qualified professionals regarding any financial planning, tax, legal, or investment decisions.

7. 

   9 Dec 2025

   Welcome to Casual Mondays

   Welcome to Casual Mondays, the retirement podcast for those who’ve closed the office planner and opened the door to tomorrow. Whether you're planning for retirement or already made the transition, join us for conversations about what happens after you step away from the 9-to-5: from day one plans to shaping a second act that’s as fulfilling as it is flexible. Expect expert advice, inspiring stories, and actionable tips for designing a life that’s rich in experiences, purpose, and joy. Trade your desk for a deck chair. This is the retirement podcast for living your best life - every single day. Please help others find the show by rating it in your podcast app and sharing it on social media. __________________________________________________ SHOW NOTES: SEND YOUR VOICE MESSAGES: Record your retirement story or feedback on the podcast at www.casualmondayspodcast.com CONNECT WITH US: HOME:  www.CasualMondaysPodcasts.com INSTAGRAM:  www.instagram.com/CasualMondaysPodcast YOUTUBE:  www.youtube.com/@CasualMondaysPodcast FACEBOOK:  www.facebook.com/CasualMondaysPodcast EPISODE THEMES: FOUNDATION: Identity, Purpose, Structure, and Goals DAILY LIVING: Community, Health, and Experiences WORK & RELATIONSHIPS: Encore Careers and Partnership Dynamics MANAGING YOUR RESOURCES:  Time, Wealth, and the Money Mindset GROWTH & EXPLORATION: Learning, Geographic Freedom LEGACY & VISION: Impact and Long-Term Planning

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