Courage, Confidence & Taking Action Archives - Beyond Retirement

🎙️284 – Are You Living in Your Wheel House – with Kim Costa

Staff Writer — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 15:00:06 +0000

In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette talks with Kim Costa about finding the right place to live in retirement.

You’ll learn why retirement is a “third life”, not an ending, how life changes can cause your “perfect home” not to fit anymore, and practical ways to stay put, if that’s what you want, plus how to clarify what’s working for you.

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.

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.

Her new book, Live in Your Wheel House, is available now for preorder and ships March 24th! https://amazon.com/dp/B0GKTB5Z7C

Connect with Kim:

Website: lifestylefoundations.com
Socials: KimECosta

Listen to the podcast

This episode explores:

- Life-change triggers for moving (career end, empty nest, health shifts, grandkids geography)
- Home fit vs life-stage fit (“forever home” meaning changes from 20 to 60)
- Lock-and-leave downsizing and maintenance reduction (yard, shoveling, taxes, upkeep)
- Eight-area “wheel of life” scoring to identify a “flat tire” driving a move
- Mobility-proofing and aging-in-place considerations (primary bedroom location, stairs, access)
- Repurposing unused rooms for second-act interests (writing, yoga, podcasting, hobbies)

Themes:

- Identity After Work
- Personal Growth & Lifelong Learning
- Community & Connection
- Health, Fitness & Aging Well
- Creating a Fulfilling Routine
- Life Transitions & Reinvention

The post 🎙️284 – Are You Living in Your Wheel House – with Kim Costa appeared first on Beyond Retirement.

🎙️282 – Midlife is Priceless, Not A Crisis – with Sairan Aqrawi

Staff Writer — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 15:00:26 +0000

In this inspiring episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie sits down with Sairan Aqrawi, a civil engineer, certified coach, and founder of the Gem Thrive Academy. From STEM to soul-searching, Sairan shares how she helps women over 50 rediscover their “hidden gem” — a unique passion, gift, or calling buried under years of work, family, and obligation.

Whether it’s painting, public speaking, or building furniture in your garage, your gem doesn’t need to make money to be meaningful. Sairan’s bold, no-nonsense approach helps women reclaim midlife.

Key Discussion Points:

What Is a Hidden Gem?
• How Sairan defines a core genius or life task
• Why women’s talents often get buried under career and caregiving
Midlife as a Launchpad, Not a Crisis
• Why 50+ is the perfect time to reflect and reset
• Rejecting terms like “empty nest” and “midlife crisis”
Coaching with Clarity, Action, and Consistency
• Sairan’s 3-month transformation model for women
• Why clarity is the foundation of any successful change
Redefining Success After Retirement
• Not every passion needs to become a business
• Celebrating and sharing talents just for joy
The Emotional Reality of Reinvention
• Fear of failure and cultural conditioning
• Building confidence through competence
The Power of Identity and Integration
• Balancing engineering and emotional intelligence
• Using both IQ and EQ to lead and thrive

To find out more about Sairan and the GemThrive Academy, visit sairanaqrawi.com

Beyond Retirement themes discussed:

Purpose & Meaning in Retirement
Identity After Work
Personal Growth & Lifelong Learning
Mindset & Self-Talk
Courage, Confidence & Taking Action
Life Transitions & Reinvention

The post 🎙️282 – Midlife is Priceless, Not A Crisis – with Sairan Aqrawi appeared first on Beyond Retirement.

🎙️278 – Retirement Reimagined – with Lynn Katz

Staff Writer — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 15:00:17 +0000

In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette talks with Lynn Katz, retired school principal, author, and Board of Education member, about redefining life after retirement. You’ll learn how to transition from a demanding career into a more intentional lifestyle, how creativity can emerge in unexpected ways, and how to stay open to growth, plus a simple mindset shift you can try this week.

What We Cover:

Why retirement is not an ending but a shift in energy and priorities — moving from constant urgency to intentional living
How Lynn transitioned from school principal to published author — discovering creativity after a full career
The difference between schedules and goals in retirement — why structure doesn’t have to disappear
Staying open to new experiences — from writing to painting to playing the ukulele
Why you don’t need a perfect retirement plan — and how figuring it out as you go can work

About the Guest:
Lynn Katz is a retired school principal, author, and Board of Education member who has embraced retirement as a time for growth, creativity, and contribution. After decades in a high-demand leadership role, she transitioned into writing fiction and exploring new creative outlets. Her work reflects her deep experience in education and her belief that retirement can be one of the most fulfilling and expansive stages of life.

Links & Resources:
• Website: https://www.lynnkatzauthor.com

• Books: The Surrogate, Chester and the Magic 8 Ball

• Newsletter/Blog: Available through her website

Beyond Retirement Themes Discussed:

Personal growth after retirement
Identity and lifestyle shifts
Creative reinvention
Learning and exploration

Topics:
life after retirement, personal growth in retirement, retirement lifestyle design, retirement routines, finding purpose after retirement, creative life after work, retirement transition, identity after career, retirement planning mindset, meaningful retirement

The post 🎙️278 – Retirement Reimagined – with Lynn Katz appeared first on Beyond Retirement.

🎙️276 – Don’t Retire From Life – with Ron Sowell

Staff Writer — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 15:00:31 +0000

In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette talks with Ron Sowell, lifelong musician and NPR musical director, about living with passion beyond traditional retirement. You’ll learn how to follow your intuition, why creativity never retires, and how to choose happiness daily.

What We Cover:

Following intuition over expectations — Ron’s decision to choose music over law school
Creativity as a lifelong path — why artists don’t “retire” from what they love
Designing a fulfilling life — building days around passion, relationships, and purpose
Aging vs. growing old — why mindset determines how we experience later life
The power of gratitude — how starting the day intentionally shapes everything
Happiness as a choice — how perspective creates your lived experience

About the Guest:

Ron Sowell is a lifelong musician, singer-songwriter, and performer who has spent decades exploring the transformative power of music. From live performances to songwriting and teaching, Ron’s career reflects a deep commitment to creativity and personal expression. He is also the musical director for NPR’s Mountain Stage, where he collaborates with world-class artists and continues to evolve his craft.

Links & Resources:

Website: https://ronsowell.com
Facebook: Ron Sowell Music
Album: Dance Till the Music Stops (available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube)

Beyond Retirement themes discussed:

Purpose & Meaning in Retirement
Personal Growth & Lifelong Learning
Mindset & Self-Talk
Resilience & Emotional Strength
Community & Connection
Health, Fitness & Aging Well
Creating a Fulfilling Routine
Courage, Confidence & Taking Action
Life Transitions & Reinvention

Topics:

life after retirement, purpose after retirement, creativity in later life, aging mindset, happiness as a choice, living intentionally, retirement identity, passion after retirement

The post 🎙️276 – Don’t Retire From Life – with Ron Sowell appeared first on Beyond Retirement.