The Humans vs Retirement Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Retirement is a modern invention, but your brain didn't get the upgrade. In this episode, I unpack why so many retirees feel restless, guilty, or underwhelmed, even when life looks "perfect on paper." It's not because something is wrong with you, it's because you're trying to run a 21st-century life on Stone Age wiring.

I explore the mismatch between modern retirement and ancient survival instincts, why you struggle to relax, why doing nothing feels uncomfortable, why spending feels risky, and why your brain craves purpose, progress and tribe. Most importantly, I share how to retrain your mind for this new chapter, without fighting your biology.

• Why retirement feels unsettling (and why it's not your fault)

• The clash between modern freedom and caveman brain wiring

• How dopamine, productivity and survival instincts mess with your retirement mindset

• Why your brain resists rest, spending and stillness

• Five ways to "upgrade the software" — from micro-missions to novelty, contribution and healthy discomfort

• How to feel useful, alive and excited again in retirement

👉 Pick one "Brain Upgrade" and try it for 7 days:

• Set a Micro Mission (e.g. walk 10k steps daily, plan a trip, finish a book)

• Add Novelty — try something new for 30 minutes a day

• Create Contribution — teach, help, give or mentor someone

• Introduce Healthy Discomfort — cold shower, tech-free evening, social challenge

At the end of the week ask:
How did it feel? What did it teach me about what my brain needs?

• Micro Missions, Contribution Loops & Novelty Windows — My behavioural retirement tools

Episode 11 — The Retirement Focus Ratio: Are You Solving the Wrong Problem?
Why most retirement plans are 90% about money… but most retiree worries are 90% about life. And how to fix the imbalance.

Retirement isn't a finish line; it's an emotional rollercoaster. In this episode, I break the myth of the "happily ever after" retirement and introduce The Retirement Reinvention Curve — an honest, human map of what really happens when the work stops and life after work begins.

From the initial shock and elation to the frustration, doubt, and eventual flourishing, I unpack the eight emotional stages we all go through when redefining identity, purpose, and meaning beyond the job title. This isn't about pensions or spreadsheets, it's about becoming who you are next.

• Why retirement isn't a single event but a psychological transformation

• The 3 phases and 8 stages of The Retirement Reinvention Curve

• How to recognise where you are, and why nothing is "wrong" with you

• The real reason traditional retirement advice skips the emotional work

• Practical ways to move through frustration and doubt toward purpose and joy

• Why rebuilding your identity takes time, curiosity, and compassion

👉 Draw your own Retirement Reinvention Curve.

Sketch a simple line from left to right — no artistic skills required.
Then mark:

• Where you've been

• Where you are now

• Where you want to go next

Write one sentence for each stage you've experienced:
"What did it feel like? What did it teach me?"
Then ask:
"What does my next phase need from me?"

Because awareness is the first step to reinvention.

• The Retirement Reinvention Curve — My framework for navigating the emotional journey after work.

Coming up in Episode 10:
Modern Software, Ancient Hardware

Why your brain wasn't built for retirement, and how to trick it into thriving in a world without structure, deadlines, or dopamine hits from work.

In this deeply insightful and refreshingly honest conversation, I sit down with retirement coach and former financial services executive Toni Petrillo, founder of Retire with Intention. We explore the emotional complexities and personal transformations that often define life after full-time work, diving into the hidden challenges retirees face, particularly around identity, relationships, and what Toni calls the "messy middle." From evolving partnership dynamics to redefining self-worth and navigating the in-between, this episode offers both practical wisdom and warm reassurance for anyone feeling unsettled in retirement.

• Why a solid financial plan isn't enough, and what you need instead

• The concept of "retiring with intention" and how to do it well

• How relationship dynamics shift after work ends (and how to prepare)

• The danger of rushing through retirement's "messy middle"

• Tools and exercises to rediscover identity, purpose, and self

• Why curiosity and honest self-reflection are underrated retirement superpowers

• The real reason so many retirees feel lost, even when everything looks great on paper

• Toni's journey from financial executive to retirement coach

• Letting go of your business card and your professional identity

• The new relationship rules for life post-career

• Setting boundaries with adult children and grandchildren

• Rebuilding your relationship with yourself in retirement

• Understanding and embracing the "messy middle" of post-work life

• Designing a retirement based on your individual AND shared vision

• The power of pausing, experimenting, and reflecting

• The underestimated emotional labour of retiring

• Why permission, especially to feel, pause, and evolve, is everything

• Retire with Intention — Toni Petrillo's coaching practice

• Harvard Online Course: Managing Happiness (mentioned by Toni)

• Statistics on Grey Divorce in the UK 

Stay Connected

Want more thought-provoking conversations like this one?

• Subscribe to Humans vs Retirement on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Visit humansvsretirement.com for tools, downloads, and insights

• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it; you might just save them (and their family) from future chaos.

• Download for free my whitepaper - The Skill of Spending Money in Retirement

• Connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter - The Retirement Fix

• Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode helped shift your perspective! It helps spread the word.

In this powerful and entertaining episode, I'm delighted to be joined by podcasting legend Matt Halloran, co-founder of ProudMouth. Together, we explore why podcasting isn't just a tool for business; it's a deeply human medium that offers purpose, connection, and even legacy in retirement.

Whether you're a financial planner looking to build trust with your audience or you're approaching retirement and searching for a creative outlet to share your story, this episode is packed with insight, humour, and encouragement. From storytelling to encore careers, legacy creation to building an ecosystem around your voice, this one goes beyond the mic.

• Why podcasting is the perfect pursuit for your second half of life

• How telling your story can create a real connection and leave a lasting legacy

• The simple tools and mindset needed to launch a podcast, even in retirement

• How podcasting can transform how financial advisers build trust and attract clients

• Why "giving away your wisdom" isn't bad business, it's great business

• The 4-part formula for powerful content: storytelling, education, entertainment, and call-to-action

• My journey into podcasting and how Matt helped spark it

• The evolution of podcasting: from radio tapes to legacy libraries

• Podcasting as therapy, storytelling, and a vehicle for human connection

• How retirees can use podcasting to reinvent themselves post-career

• The magic of interviewing clients, friends, and family

• Building a podcast around your encore career or consultancy

• Using voice to build trust and deepen client relationships

• Pitfalls to avoid when starting and how to play the long game

• Why being proud of your voice is the first step to being heard

• ProudMouth – Matt's podcasting and marketing company for financial professionals

• The PodRocket Academy – Free courses to help you launch your podcast

• Book: Influence by Dr. Robert Cialdini

• Podcast: Ologies by Alie Ward (Matt's pick for top-tier podcast hosting)

Stay Connected

Want more thought-provoking conversations like this one?

• Subscribe to Humans vs Retirement on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Visit humansvsretirement.com for tools, downloads, and insights

• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it; you might just save them (and their family) from future chaos.

• Download for free my whitepaper - The Skill of Spending Money in Retirement

• Connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter - The Retirement Fix

• Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode helped shift your perspective! It helps spread the word.

In this episode, I had the privilege to sit down with world-renowned economist Dr. Jeff Brown to explore one of retirement's most misunderstood tools, annuities. But this isn't your typical dry financial chat.

Together, we unpack why guaranteed income might be the key to unlocking joy, confidence, and peace of mind in retirement.

With a perfect blend of behavioural science, practical wisdom, and a few sporting analogies thrown in for good measure, this conversation tackles the emotional and psychological dimensions of spending in retirement.

If you've ever thought annuities were boring or unnecessary, this episode might just change your mind (and your future).

• Why most people don't buy annuities, and why that might be a huge mistake

• The "under-annuitisation puzzle" and what it reveals about human behaviour

• How guaranteed income permits retirees to spend with confidence

• Why planning to "live to 90" is a dangerous oversimplification

• The impact of cognitive decline on financial decision-making

• How framing retirement as a complex human problem changes everything

• Innovative policy ideas and product designs that could change the retirement game

• Lifetime income vs lump sum: the psychology behind the choice

• Framing effects: how a few words can change your retirement plan

• Complexity theory in financial planning

• The power of defaults and nudges in retirement decisions

• Emotional burden of wealth vs income in later life

• The link between guaranteed income and happiness in retirement

• The decline of cognitive ability and how annuities can provide protection

• The role of tech and AI in the future of retirement advice

• TIAA (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association)

• License to Spend white paper – Blanchett, Finke

• Health and Retirement Study (HRS), US

• From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks

• The End of History Illusion – Gilbert, Wilson, & others

Stay Connected

Want more thought-provoking conversations like this one?

• Subscribe to Humans vs Retirement on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Visit humansvsretirement.com for tools, downloads, and insights

• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it; you might just save them (and their family) from future chaos.

• Download for free my whitepaper - The Skill of Spending Money in Retirement

• Connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter - The Retirement Fix

• Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode helped shift your perspective! It helps spread the word.

In this energising and heartfelt episode, I'm joined by Tony Taylor, a retired entrepreneur turned healthy ageing coach, functional medicine practitioner, and the creator of the 7 Pillars of Ageing Responsibly. After facing the retirement cliff edge head-on, Tony rebuilt his life with purpose, resilience, and a relentless curiosity. Together, we explore what it really means to age well in today's world, beyond the money talk and the small, intentional choices that lead to a longer, stronger, more connected life.

• Why retirement often starts with confusion, not celebration

• How to build your own "power hour" to set up each day with intention

• The vital difference between lifespan and healthspan

• How to avoid the three silent killers of retirement: complacency, disconnection, and loss of purpose

• Why strength training, sleep, and curiosity may be more important than your pension pot

• The overlooked power of cross-generational relationships

• What resilience really means, and how to build it at any age

• Tony's personal story: from business owner to active ageing advocate

• The cliff-edge effect of retirement and how to navigate it

• The 7 Pillars of Ageing Responsibly:

  1. Sleep

  2. Resilience

  3. Purpose

  4. Complacency

  5. Strength

  6. Curiosity

  7. Connection

• How to rethink your day-to-day structure in retirement

• Why men need to do a better job of building social connections

• Cold showers, olive oil, and "shopping bag carries" as unlikely tools for longevity

• Why mindset is the ultimate muscle to train

• Tony's blog: Aging Responsibly

• Book: The Sleep Book by Dr. Guy Meadows

• Mentioned: Eckhart Tolle – The Power of Now

Stay Connected:

Want more thought-provoking conversations like this one?

• Subscribe to Humans vs Retirement on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Visit humansvsretirement.com for tools, downloads, and insights

• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, you might just save them (and their family) from future chaos.

• Download for free my whitepaper - The Skill of Spending Money in Retirement

• Connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter - The Retirement Fix

• Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode helped shift your perspective! It really helps spread the word.

In this inspiring and thought-provoking episode of Humans vs Retirement, I sit down with The Executive Book Coach, Helen Wilkie to explore why retirement may be the ideal moment to write the book you've always dreamed of. From memoirs to how-to guides, legacy to creativity, Helen shares practical insights and soulful encouragement for anyone curious about turning lived experience into lasting written impact. Whether you're scribbling down notes already or just entertaining the idea, this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn

• Why retirement can be the most powerful time to write a book

• The difference between a book being your legacy vs holding your legacy

• How the writing process helps you rediscover purpose, identity, and structure

• The most common obstacles that stop people from starting and how to overcome them

• The importance of editing, time-blocking, and defining your "why" before writing

• How ghostwriting and book coaching work (and why it's not cheating)

Key Topics

• Creativity in the second half of life

• How to write a book after retirement

• Purpose and identity beyond work

• Memoirs, business books, and other nonfiction options

• Fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome

• Writing as an experience, not a task

• Turning vague ideas into a finished manuscript

• Legacy, storytelling, and honouring your life

Resources & Mentions

• Helen Wilkie's free gift: How to Write a Memoir PDF and 20-minute exploratory session
  Email Helen at: helen@theexecutivesbookcoach.com with subject line: "Memoir Guide"

• Helen's memoir: Rare Steak, Red Wine, Hot Tango

• Recommended reading: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

• Learn more about Helen: https://theexecutivesbookcoach.com

Stay Connected

Want more thought-provoking conversations like this one?

• Subscribe to Humans vs Retirement on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Visit humansvsretirement.com for tools, downloads, and insights

• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, you might just save them (and their family) from future chaos.

• Download for free my whitepaper - The Skill of Spending Money in Retirement

• Connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter - The Retirement Fix

• Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode helped shift your perspective! It really helps spread the word.

In this eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Stuart Ritchie, chartered tax advisor, estate planning expert, and author of Who Will Get My Money When I Die, to explore one of the most emotional and misunderstood aspects of later-life financial planning: inheritance tax.

This episode isn't about doom and gloom, it's about taking control. Whether you're planning for your own legacy, thinking about your children's future, or simply want to make sure the government doesn't get more than its fair share, this is a must-listen.

• Why inheritance tax is about more than just money, it's about clarity, fairness, and family harmony

• The critical role of wills and why DIY ones often cause more harm than good

• What lasting power of attorney actually does and why it's vital even if you're married

• How to avoid common traps when it comes to gifting, trusts, and tax bills

• Why talking to your family before you die might be the greatest gift you give them

• Wills and the rules of intestacy: what really happens if you don't plan

• The psychology of leaving a legacy: control, conflict, and clarity

• Power of Attorney: the two types and the risks of not setting one up

• Blended families, second marriages, and planning with complexity in mind

• Lifetime gifting and the 7-year rule explained

• Life assurance, pensions, and the new inheritance tax reforms

• The emotional and practical costs of poor estate planning

• Stuart Ritchie's book: Who Will Get My Money When I Die? – available on Amazon

• Stuart's firm: www.ritchiephillips.co.uk

• The Economist & Kaiser Family Foundation study on end-of-life priorities

• UK Government: Rules of Intestacy

Take 15 minutes today to reflect on this question. If you were to pass away tomorrow:

• Do you have a valid will in place?

• Have you named executors and powers of attorney you trust?

• Have you had conversations with those closest to you about your wishes?

• Do you know the potential tax implications of your estate?

Clarity now brings peace later, for you and everyone you love.

Want more thought-provoking conversations like this one?

• Subscribe to Humans vs Retirement on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Visit humansvsretirement.com for tools, downloads, and insights

• Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it—you might just save them (and their family) from future chaos.

• Download for free my whitepaper - The Skill of Spending Money in Retirement

• Connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter - The Retirement Fix

• Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode helped shift your perspective! It really helps spread the word.

What really matters in retirement? After the spreadsheets are done, the portfolio's in place, and the paycheque has stopped, what's left?

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, I sit down with Fritz Gilbert, author of Keys to a Successful Retirement and founder of The Retirement Manifesto, to explore the non-financial side of life after work. We dive into the real questions: How do you stay fulfilled? Where do you find purpose? And how do you avoid the emotional pitfalls so many retirees never see coming?

Fritz shares his "10 Commandments of Retirement", a personal code he created before stepping away from corporate life and how each one has guided his journey. From "Make No Obligations" to "Keep Eternity in Mind," these principles offer a practical, heartfelt framework for anyone who wants to retire with intention, freedom, and joy.

• Why mindset matters more than money in retirement

• How to create your own guiding principles for life after work

• The 90/10 Rule: Why most people focus on the wrong things before retiring

• How Fritz skipped the "retirement depression" so many experience

• Why giving yourself space and grace in your first year can change everything

• How to find (or rediscover) your purpose in the second half of life

• The surprising power of legacy, contribution, and shared purpose

• Fritz's "10 Commandments of Retirement" and how they've held up over time

• The emotional challenges many retirees face and how to prepare for them

• What it means to shift from saving to spending, from doing to being

• The founding story of Freedom for Fido and how it brought deeper meaning to retirement

• The role of mindset, curiosity, and experimentation in building a rich post-career life

• Why "retirement planning" must include much more than your finances

• How to craft your own post-career mission, values, and personal compass

• The Retirement Manifesto Blog

• Keys to a Successful Retirement by Fritz Gilbert – Buy on Amazon

• Fritz's article: The 10 Commandments of Retirement

• Freedom for Fido Charity

Want to retire well?

Start by writing your own commandments. Define your values, your purpose, and what a great life looks like before you leave work.

• Follow & connect with Fritz: LinkedIn

• Subscribe to Humans vs Retirement on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Connect with Dan: LinkedIn

• Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode helped shift your perspective!

In this uplifting and thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Patrice Jenkins, author of What Will I Do All Day?, to explore the real heart of retirement beyond financial plans.

Together, we dig into why retirement is not simply about staying busy, but about rediscovering meaning, purpose, identity, and joy.

Patrice shares insights from her decades of counseling and interviews with retirees, offering a compassionate, practical guide to navigating the messy, magical transition into post-career life.

• Why financial readiness alone doesn't guarantee a happy retirement.

• The emotional stages of transitioning into retirement and why patience is crucial.

• How to rediscover passions, build social portfolios, and embrace "space."

• Why successful retirements often include a form of meaningful "work."

• How to avoid the trap of being "busy but unfulfilled."

• Simple frameworks to plan your next two years, not just your next thirty.

• The difference between hiding out and holding out when nearing retirement.

• The importance of purpose, agency, and intention in retirement planning.

• Why internal validation matters more than external praise after leaving work.

• How relationships - spouses, adult children, friendships - evolve post-retirement.

• Embracing play, experimentation, and curiosity in later life.

• Strategies to transition through the inevitable "messy middle" of change.

• How to think differently about work as part of a fulfilling retirement.

• What Will I Do All Day? by Patrice Jenkins

• Patrice's Website — patricejenkins.com

• Richard Leider's The Power of Purpose 

• Book Mention: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins

The 'What Lit You Up?' Reflection

Grab a pen and a notebook. Reflect and jot down:

• What activities made you lose track of time when you were 10 years old?

• What hobbies or interests did you abandon during your working years?

• What would you do with a free afternoon if no one was watching?

Circle one that sparks excitement and design a small experiment to try it out in the next two weeks!

Retirement isn't the end of the story, it's the beginning of a new one.

The key isn't to stay busy; it's to stay true. Stay curious. Stay purposeful.

Whether you're months away from retirement or years in, there's always an opportunity to dream, to experiment, and to build a life you're excited to wake up to.

If you enjoyed this episode, please:

• Subscribe to The Humans vs Retirement Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts

• Leave a rating and review, it really helps!

• Share this episode with someone who's thinking about (or struggling with) their retirement journey.

• Download for free my whitepaper - The Skill of Spending Money in Retirement

• Follow me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter - The Retirement Fix