As children, we’re all asked what we want to be when we grow up. We tend to see the decision as finite when it isn’t. The Happiest Retirees podcast refocuses the lens to ask, now that you’re grown up, what do you want to do? How do you want to reinvent yourself? Who do you want to be? By going straight to the source — the happy retirees themselves — we capture the essence and the stories of their post-career lifestyles. Where have they stumbled? Where have they triumphed? How did they discover the core pursuits and passions that get them out of bed in the morning?
Over the past decade, host Ryan Doolittle has worked with Wes Moss to research and produce two books, countless articles, the long-running Money Matters radio show, and his successful Retire Sooner podcast. He’s a writer and comedian living in Los Angeles. He’s been both unhappy and happy, and he prefers the latter.
00:00-You Can Do Just About Anything
03:29-Transitions & Empowering Older Adults in Tech
09:21-Mindset Matters
10:33-A Birthday Card Contest Turned Etsy Business
15:48-Tradeshows & Strategy
22:06-Immerse Yourself in Something Joyful
28:21-Retirement Rewirement
33:30-Practicality Problems
36:42-Ikigai!
40:50-Core Pursuits & Staying Active
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As children, we’re all asked what we want to be when we grow up. We tend to see the decision as finite when it isn’t. The Happiest Retirees podcast refocuses the lens to ask, now that you’re grown up, what do you want to do? How do you want to reinvent yourself? Who do you want to be? By going straight to the source — the happy retirees themselves — we capture the essence and the stories of their post-career lifestyles. Where have they stumbled? Where have they triumphed? How did they discover the core pursuits and passions that get them out of bed in the morning?
Over the past decade, host Ryan Doolittle has worked with Wes Moss to research and produce two books, countless articles, the long-running Money Matters radio show, and his successful Retire Sooner podcast. He’s a writer and comedian living in Los Angeles. He’s been both unhappy and happy, and he prefers the latter.
00:00-You Can Do Just About Anything
03:29-Transitions & Empowering Older Adults in Tech
09:21-Mindset Matters
10:33-A Birthday Card Contest Turned Etsy Business
15:48-Tradeshows & Strategy
22:06-Immerse Yourself in Something Joyful
28:21-Retirement Rewirement
33:30-Practicality Problems
36:42-Ikigai!
40:50-Core Pursuits & Staying Active
Carving Out A Spooky Retirement: Halloween With Ken Klinker
Happiest Retirees
41 minutes
1 year ago
Carving Out A Spooky Retirement: Halloween With Ken Klinker
Ken Klinker loves carving pumpkins. He started doing it for his kids 30 years ago. He’d come home from work and head straight to the shed—eager to sculpt some groovy orange gourds. His wife spent so much time alone in the house that she started calling herself “The Pumpkin Widow.”
But retirement has given Ken the freedom to turn that passion into a thriving core pursuit that even pays for itself. He switched to foam pumpkins because they didn’t rot and launched his own Etsy shop. Take a spin down his digital aisles to find some terrific work. I never knew I needed to see John Wayne, Beetlejuice, or Barbie in pumpkin form, but it turns out I did.
Ken and I talked about his evolving art, favorite charity, media appearances, and primary collaborator. You’ll be happy to hear how a balanced retirement has allowed him to revoke his wife’s “Pumpkin Widow” status.
So, pour a cup of hot cocoa, put on your Halloween costume, and listen for ways you might be able to carve out your own happy retirement.
00:00-Ken Klinker Love Pumpkin Carving
04:44-The Birth of the Etsy Shop
06:30-400 Pumpkins on Display
09:00-Pop Culture Patterns
12:54-Ken in the News
17:13-Custom Designs
19:25-Giving Back
21:40-Knowing When to Retire
27:16-Core Pursuits
30:40-Facing Challenges
34:26-The Perfect Day
35:27-Teacher’s Aides
37:38-Grandkids & Advice for Retirees
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Happiest Retirees
As children, we’re all asked what we want to be when we grow up. We tend to see the decision as finite when it isn’t. The Happiest Retirees podcast refocuses the lens to ask, now that you’re grown up, what do you want to do? How do you want to reinvent yourself? Who do you want to be? By going straight to the source — the happy retirees themselves — we capture the essence and the stories of their post-career lifestyles. Where have they stumbled? Where have they triumphed? How did they discover the core pursuits and passions that get them out of bed in the morning?
Over the past decade, host Ryan Doolittle has worked with Wes Moss to research and produce two books, countless articles, the long-running Money Matters radio show, and his successful Retire Sooner podcast. He’s a writer and comedian living in Los Angeles. He’s been both unhappy and happy, and he prefers the latter.
00:00-You Can Do Just About Anything
03:29-Transitions & Empowering Older Adults in Tech
09:21-Mindset Matters
10:33-A Birthday Card Contest Turned Etsy Business
15:48-Tradeshows & Strategy
22:06-Immerse Yourself in Something Joyful
28:21-Retirement Rewirement
33:30-Practicality Problems
36:42-Ikigai!
40:50-Core Pursuits & Staying Active
