What If You Didn’t React Right Away?
Chapter X with Michael Kay
Doug Fleener woke up on an airplane with no idea how he got there. That was the moment his life began to change. Today, Doug shares the story of hitting bottom and rebuilding his life one decision at a time. He reflects on addiction, recovery, and the importance of learning how to pause before reacting. Today, Doug is an author and speaker whose work centers on a simple but powerful question: What if? We talk about how that question creates space for perspective and action, especially during major life transitions. We discuss: The moment Doug realized his life needed to change ...
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What Your Annual Physical Doesn’t Tell You with Reed Davis
Chapter X with Michael Kay
As we move into the later chapters of life, many of us begin to think differently about health. Not just how long we’ll live, but how well we’ll live. What if the symptoms we accept as “normal aging” are actually signals pointing to something deeper? In this episode, I’m joined by Reed Davis, a double board-certified holistic health practitioner and founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition. Reed helps people understand what’s really happening inside their bodies by looking beyond standard lab work and surface-level symptoms. In this episode, we discuss: Why...
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Learning to Ask for What You Want with Paul Quinn
Chapter X with Michael Kay
Why is it often easier to know what we don’t want than to ask for what we do? In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Quinn, author of The Big Ask: Unlock the Possibilities in Your Work Life and Dreams with Courageous Requests. Paul began his career as an actor before moving into corporate training and writing, where he became fascinated by the moments that spark real change. Today, we explore how identity, fear, and unspoken rules shape the choices we make. Paul also shares stories that show how a single, well-timed question can open doors we didn’t know were there. ...
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Letting Go of Old Narratives with Doug O’Brien
Chapter X with Michael Kay
Many men feel caught between the identity they built at work and the person they hope to become. Today’s guest helps us explore that space. Doug O’Brien has spent his career studying how our stories shape the way we live and the way we move through change. Before entering this work, Doug lived an entirely different life as a classical pianist, a Carnegie Hall performer, and a punk rock musician in New York City. Over time, he shifted into teaching and storytelling in a way that opened a new path for him. In this conversation, Doug shares how the stories we hold can keep...
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A Better Way to Age with Dr. Ravi Kumar
Chapter X with Michael Kay
Modern medicine can treat almost anything. Yet it often misses the root of what makes us sick. Dr. Ravi Kumar is a neurosurgeon who trained at the Mayo Clinic and spent years in operating rooms before realizing he needed to step away. He sold everything and moved his family to India, where he worked in mission hospitals under the most basic conditions. Those experiences changed the way he views medicine, aging, and what it really means to heal. In this episode, Dr. Kumar shares what he’s learned about the lifestyle choices that support our long-term health. How...
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Beyond Reason with Gregg Korbon
Chapter X with Michael Kay
What happens when life forces us to confront the unexplainable? Today’s guest, Dr. Gregg Korbon, is a retired anesthesiologist whose life took an extraordinary turn after the loss of his nine-year-old son, Brian. A lifelong man of science, Gregg was suddenly faced with experiences that defied logic and ultimately changed the course of his life. In this deeply moving conversation, Gregg shares how tragedy cracked his heart open to a world beyond reason. Together, we explore what it means to find meaning after unimaginable loss—and how love, grief, and trust can...
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Life After the Mic with Peter Haskell
Chapter X with Michael Kay
For nearly 30 years, Peter Haskell’s voice was a familiar one across New York. As a reporter for WCBS Newsradio 880, he covered some of the region’s most defining moments. When a rare vocal disorder forced Peter to step away from the microphone, it brought an unexpected crossroads. What followed was a shift toward gratitude, purpose, and a renewed belief in the power of stories and kindness. Today, Peter continues his lifelong calling to tell meaningful stories through his work with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and as an adjunct professor of journalism at Fordham...
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Hiking the Appalachian Trail at 72 with Rand Timmerman
Chapter X with Michael Kay
At 68 years old, Rand Timmerman looked in the mirror and thought his life was over. A decorated Vietnam War veteran and successful attorney, he had been undone by alcoholism and the toll of PTSD. Yet what seemed like the end became the beginning of a new path. Now more than a decade sober, Rand shares how recovery gave him the strength to take on an extraordinary challenge with his brother: hiking the Appalachian Trail in their seventies. Along the way, they faced storms, solitude, and moments of reckoning that reshaped how Rand understands resilience, purpose, and second chances....
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Finding Your Path After Loss with Ray Martin
Chapter X with Michael Kay
What happens when life as you know it is suddenly pulled out from under you? For Ray Martin, the unraveling of his marriage, the death of his father, and the collapse of his career all came within months of each other. Left with nothing familiar to hold onto, Ray made a choice to let go of clinging to the life he had built. What began as a six-month sabbatical turned into a 14-year journey across Asia. Along the way, Ray discovered mindfulness and a new definition of success that wasn’t tied to titles, possessions, or status. His experiences became the foundation of his book Life Without a...
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Reinvention at Any Age with David Danon
Chapter X with Michael Kay
Life after work doesn’t come with a roadmap. But my guest today shows what can happen when you stay curious and keep saying “yes.” David Danon has worn many hats: sailor, hair stylist, yoga teacher, Hollywood crew member, and musician. Now, in his seventies, he continues to surf, foil, and coach others on healthy aging. His journey is proof that reinvention can happen at any age. In this episode, David shares: How sailing and surfing shaped his outlook on life Why curiosity has opened unexpected doors throughout his journey The lessons yoga and meditation...
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Life after work doesn’t come with a roadmap. But my guest today shows what can happen when you stay curious and keep saying “yes.”
David Danon has worn many hats: sailor, hair stylist, yoga teacher, Hollywood crew member, and musician. Now, in his seventies, he continues to surf, foil, and coach others on healthy aging. His journey is proof that reinvention can happen at any age.
In this episode, David shares:
How sailing and surfing shaped his outlook on life
Why curiosity has opened unexpected doors throughout his journey
The lessons yoga and meditation taught him about resilience and peace
Why vigilance and resolve are essential for healthy aging
The importance of creating purpose beyond career identity
Resources:
Visit David’s website