The Four Pillars of Aging Well | Allison O’Shea on Staying Independent, Prepared & Confident
Act Three
How do you take control of your aging journey—before a crisis forces your hand? In this episode of the Act Three Podcast, I sit down with Allison O’Shea, founder of Openly Aging and author of Openly Aging: The Four Pillars to Keep Control. With over 20 years of experience as an executive director in senior living, Allison has seen firsthand the difference between families who plan ahead and those who wait until it’s too late. Together, we explore Allison’s Four Pillars of Aging Well: Support Systems – building the right mix of family, friends, and professionals Living Environment –...
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Kristen Cavallo’s Third Act: From Global Ad CEO to Design Museum Visionary
Act Three
Kristen Cavallo’s Third Act: From Global Ad CEO to Design Museum Visionary How do you reinvent yourself after running a world-class ad agency? 🌍 In this candid Act Three conversation, former MullenLowe Group & The Martin Agency CEO Kristen Cavallo reveals how she swapped Super Bowl spots for museum walls—and why a solo 400-mile Camino de Santiago trek became the catalyst for a brand-new purpose. ▶️ What you’ll learn in this episode 0:00 Intro & Cara Gray’s mission 1:25 Why Kristen planned her exit three years in advance 5:44 The LinkedIn “informational...
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Dr. Karen Falkenberg's Journey from Chemical Engineer to Strength Training Advocate
Act Three
In this episode of Act Three with host Cara Gray, we welcome Dr. Karen Falkenberg, a lifelong innovator whose career transitions from chemical engineering to championing human potential through teaching, neuroscience, and strength training. Join us as we explore Karen’s inspiring journey—from overcoming a life-altering car accident to launching the online health and fitness coaching company, Tiger's Eye Life, with Ryan MacQueen. Learn how Karen empowers busy professionals to enhance their vitality through strength training, nutrition, and mindset coaching, proving that transformation is...
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Embracing Life's Third Act with Ann Medlock
Act Three
In this episode of 'Act Three,' host Cara Gray welcomes Ann Medlock, a renowned writer, activist, and founder of the Giraffe Heroes Project. They explore Ann's multifaceted career and her new book 'Breadcrumbs: 18 Clues on the Path to a Meaningful, Exciting Life.' From discussing the pitfalls of the Golden Rule to embracing the risks of life and the importance of meditation, Anne shares her wisdom and experiences. They also delve into the significance of service in retirement and the challenges of balancing kindness, forgiveness, and justice. Tune in to gain insights on how to thoughtfully...
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Embracing Transformation: Alicia Johnson on Wonder-Based Trauma Recovery and Reinvention
Act Three
In this episode of Act Three, hosted by Cara Gray, we delve into a captivating conversation with Alicia Johnson, a writer and transformation specialist. Alicia discusses her upcoming book, 'Buried Treasure,' which blends memoir and practical guidance for trauma recovery through wonder and self-revelation. She also shares her inspiring journey of returning to the modeling industry with Ford Models, breaking barriers as a mature, curvy model. Join us as Alicia talks about her approach to aging, her work in personal and professional renewal, and her exciting future projects, including her...
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Finding Purpose through Service and Courage with John Graham
Act Three
In this episode of 'Act Three,' host Cara Gray sits down with John Graham, an author, adventurer, former diplomat, and executive director of the Giraffe Heroes Project. John shares his incredible journey of seeking purpose, from hitchhiking through revolutions to climbing dangerous mountains and serving as a U.S. Foreign Service officer and a peacebuilder with the United Nations. He discusses the transformative power of finding meaning through service and highlights his work with the Giraffe Heroes Project, which inspires people to take courageous actions for the common good. Cara and John...
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Transforming Life's Challenges into Opportunities: Kevin Newby's Journey & Insights
Act Three
In this episode of Act Three, host Cara Gray welcomes Kevin Newby, a versatile professional with over 25 years of experience in startups, marketing and executive leadership. Kevin discusses his journey from traditional advertising to digital, his experience with startups, and the challenges of corporate transitions and acquisitions. He also shares personal insights from his throat cancer diagnosis and how it influenced his career and led him to executive life coaching. Kevin offers a compelling narrative on self-advocacy, professional growth, and the power of mentorship. This episode...
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Shaping a Lifelong Legacy in the Performing Arts with Elvi Moore
Act Three
In this episode of 'Act Three,' host Cara Gray sits down with Elvi Moore, a distinguished figure in the performing arts world whose career spans over five decades. From her beginnings as an associate professor at the University of Chicago to her roles at the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Ballet, Elvi shares her journey and contributions to the arts. She also discusses founding the Laurel Fund for Performing Arts and her continued retirement endeavors, including owning Curves franchises and promoting young artists. Dive into Elvi's inspiring story and explore how purpose and...
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The Healing Power of Laughter: Transforming Lives and Workplaces with Dani Klein Modisett
Act Three
In this episode of Act Three, host Cara Gray welcomes Dani Klein Modisett, a comedian, writer, actor, and founder of Laughter On Call. Dani shares her compelling journey of developing laughter therapy for Alzheimer’s patients, inspired by her mother’s diagnosis. The discussion expands to her innovative work using comedy to enhance workplace culture, her transition to virtual services during COVID-19, and her initiatives like 'Lunchtime Laughter' live streams. Through personal anecdotes and professional experiences, Dani underscores the profound impact of laughter on mental wellness,...
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Mastering Life Transitions with Scott Wozniak: From Child Actor to Business Leader
Act Three
In this episode of 'Act Three,' host Cara Gray brings on Scott Wozniak, CEO of Swoz Consulting, to dive deep into his multifaceted career journey. With an impressive background that spans professional acting, non-profit leadership, and strategic consulting for global giants like Chick-fil-A, Scott shares invaluable insights on navigating career transitions. Learn how Scott's early experiences in theater under his mother's direction planted the seeds for a lifelong pursuit of impactful leadership. Discover why Scott believes that true growth comes from stepping into the unknown, and how his...
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Dave Evans is a lecturer at Stanford, management consultant, and co-founder of Electronic Arts. He is the co-author of the books Designing Your Life, Designing Your Work Life, and Designing Your New Work Life.
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The conversation focuses on applying the principles from Designing Your Life to retirement and Act 3 of life.
Key Takeaways
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The pandemic caused people to re-evaluate their lives and careers, leading to an increased interest in "designing your life." Many realized that going back to the pre-pandemic status quo was no longer desirable.
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Quiet quitting reflects long-standing workplace disengagement and lack of meaning, not a new phenomenon. The difference now is an unwillingness to continue tolerating lack of meaning and purpose at work among younger generations.
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Personal practices like meditation, journaling and yoga are important for cultivating awareness and meaning. They help develop capacities for being present and having "alive" experiences.
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Impact and meaning are different. Impact comes from accomplishments focused on the future. Meaning comes from experiences of coherence, community, flow and wonder in the present moment.
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In retirement and Act 3, wayfinding to discover the next version of oneself often takes much longer than expected. Exploration is a project in itself, not just a quick step to figuring everything out.
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Later life can be uniquely satisfying as people gain more freedom and complete earlier accomplishments. The invitation is to not just continue previous patterns out of fear, but discover greater meaning and aliveness.
Mentioned Resources
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Books:
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Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
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Designing Your New Work Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
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Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
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The Second Mountain by David Brooks
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Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
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Website: www.designingyour.life
This podcast is sponsored by Good Morning Freedom, my retirement coaching firm. I help executives and professionals plan the non-financial part of their retirement, like how to discover new purpose and how you want to spend your time. I offer a 1:1 coaching retirement blueprint package where we work together to discover some new avenues of exploration for your Act Three. This coaching is completely custom and will provide you with a ton of resources and support as you transition to this new stage of life. For all the details, please go to goodmorningfreedom.com/services.
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraliveslife/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraliveslife/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.a.gray/