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What happens when the career that shaped your identity, your routine and your relationships suddenly comes to an end?

In this episode of Walking Into Retirement, Peter and DAS are joined by Louise from Australia to explore the reality of life after work.

They talk about preparing for retirement, finding new purpose and structure, replacing workplace connections, discovering a new identity, and the unexpected freedom of having time without feeling guilty about how you use it.

Louise shares how writing became her new passion, why staying socially connected matters, and why having a plan for retirement is important, but remaining open to whatever life brings next may be even more important.

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What actually makes us wise?

Is it simply getting older and collecting a few more scars, stories and questionable decisions along the way?

In this episode of Walking Into Retirement, Peter Taylor and DAS take a stroll through the idea of wisdom, exploring what experience teaches us, how our perspective changes as we get older, and whether we really become wiser or simply better at pretending we know what we are doing.

Along the way, they reflect on the lessons that matter, the things we wish we had known earlier, and why perhaps one of the greatest benefits of growing older is having something useful to pass on.

Oh and DAS is unhappy about a new word he has found and there is also some Lego involved.

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What happens when retirement is still several years away, but you start imagining life without work?

In this episode, Chris shares her hopes, concerns and expectations, from more time for travel, volunteering and family, to the unexpected pressures of becoming more available to ageing parents.

Exploring the loss of structure, recognition and measurable achievement, and asking whether retirement really means freedom or simply finding new ways to create purpose, meaning and balance.

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Did he fall over or was it a fall?

DAS explains his personal sporting injury which becomes a surprisingly powerful moment of reflection. Rather than focusing on the fact that he fell, DAS reflects on how lucky he was not to be seriously injured and how the experience suddenly made life feel more immediate and precious.

The conversation challenges the idea that retirement should simply become another project built around purpose, goals, achievement and productivity. After decades of being conditioned to achieve, from school exams and career milestones to targets, deadlines and responsibilities, perhaps retirement is the first stage of life where achievement doesn't have to be the point.

And Peter helpfully reminds DAS that, in the words of Douglas Adams, that the art of flying is falling over and managing to miss the ground.

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In this episode, Peter and DAS, with their guest Jill, reflect on the power of roots, family, and what it means to move through life's transitions. From generations who were born, baptised and buried in the same village church to parents who left in search of new opportunities, the conversation explores how our backgrounds shape us.

They also discuss the experience of a well-planned retirement, the importance of preparing for the transition, and the unexpected feeling of becoming 'lighter' once work is left behind.

It’s a thoughtful conversation about finding contentment, being comfortable with a slower pace of life, and embracing retirement as a natural new chapter. Along the way.

DAS jokes that Walking Into Retirement is really just 'cheap therapy', and perhaps there's more than a little truth in that.

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If every day is now like a Saturday where does the structure come from and is it important anyway?

Peter and DAS go for a walk, get lost, and discover the perfect metaphor for the state of elderescence.

They further explore the paradox - that when we are busy days feel long but years feel short, yet when, in retirement, days feel leisurely weeks can disappear because there are fewer memorable markers.

And reflect on the idea that memory is built on novelty.

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Three years after leaving corporate life, this episode reflects on the journey our guest, David, made taking back control and embracing the opportunity for continuous growth.

It explores the power of defining how you want to feel rather than simply what you want to do, and how a simple coffee with a trusted friend (in this case DAS) can provide the perspective needed during times of change.

The conversation concludes with the move into executive coaching, a role that brings together both personal freedom and lifelong learning.

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In this episode, during a hot sunny walk along the beautiful river Wye at Symonds Yat, Peter and DAS explore community.

We are, after all, social creatures and the value of community through work is something other guests on the podcast has spoken to. But what happens when that 'work' community ends and what do you replace it with in life?

DAS accuses Peter of being a social 'loiterer' and Peter enjoys the walk even though he was expecting to just be in a pub.

By land and by boat the dynamic duo walk, talk and enjoy.