45 Forward

Thanks to advances in medicine and health, most of us are just at half-life when we reach our mid-40s, with many potentially productive years ahead. But there’s no road map to prepare us for this period. That’s where 45 Forward comes in. My show provides you with strategies to shift the traditional waiting-for-retirement model to a journey of compelling life chapters. Each show tackles an aspect of health, finance, family and friends, housing, work and personal pursuits as part of an integrated plan. Experts discuss topics like revitalizing relationships, creating mini-retirements, managing the maze of technology, finding your next homestead and caring for aging parents. The show instills confidence, and hopefully some comfort, amid the stresses permeating today’s society. Fear of the future is not knowing how to prepare for it. 45 Forward does not proffer prefabricated answers, but helps you shape your life amid the daily anxieties of our time.

The Well-Lived Life of a Serial Social Entrepreneur 02/24/2025

The Well-Lived Life of a Serial Social Entrepreneur There are many people who work for social service organizations during their lifetime, but few do it with the passion and vision of Paul Arfin. In today’s episode, Paul talks about his long and storied career, starting out in the Peace Corps and progressing though a series of groundbreaking social programs on Long Island. He’ll chronicle his multiple initiatives supporting youth organizations in the region, as well as Latin American migrant workers. Ever a pioneer, he'll describe his shift toward blending advocacy for both youth and older adults, as the New York coordinator for Seniors4Kids, the creator of the area’s first intergenerational day care program, and the founder and CEO of Intergenerational Strategies, a leader in promoting the engagement of all people of all ages, helping families age in place and fight against ageism. And while Paul is no longer managing organizations, he remains active in social justice programs and has rekindled another passion later in life, finding new love and connection after caring for his wife of more than 50 years, who passed away from Alzheimer's Disease. About the guest: Paul Arfin is a pioneer in the establishment of numerous social programs on Long Island spanning 58 years. Paul earned a master’s degree in in social work from Adelphi University and served as founder and executive director of nonprofit organizations since graduation. When John F. Kennedy was president, he joined the Peace Corps , serving in Columbia from 1963 to 1965. Paul founded a number of social service programs on Long Island, including Community Development for Youth in Huntington, the first youth Center in Suffolk County; the YMCA of Long Island’s Family Services Division; the Cold Spring Harbor Youth Center; Alma Latina, a service organization for Latin American migrant workers; and Seniors4Kids, for which he served as New York State Coordinator. In 2002 he founded and served as President of Intergenerational Strategies, Long Island’s leader in promoting civic engagement of people of all ages, creating programs to help people age in place and fight ageism. Among his credits are directing Long Island’s first intergenerational day program; the first mediation program in an American suburb; creating The Social Enterprise Alliance and establishing HomeShare Long Island. Paul served on number public committees and task forces in Suffolk County, including the Suffolk County Commission on Creative Retirement. He received the Pioneer Award from the New York State Adult Day Services Association; an Art of Caring Award from former governor George Pataki; and is an inductee into the Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame. He is the author of two books, “Portrait of a Peace Corps Gringo” and “Unfinished Business: Social Action in Suburbia - Long Island NY 1945-2014,” as well as numerous articles. /episode/index/show/c1cac479-1127-4b2f-9188-1c5dd3bcba1f/id/35373885

Can You Find Personal & Professional Success through the “5 Ls”? 02/19/2025

Can You Find Personal & Professional Success through the “5 Ls”? As we move through our fast-paced lives, year after year, trying to juggle personal, family and work demands, we inevitably face a pointed question: Has my life been a success? We’d like to think so, but how would we define success? And how would we achieve it—especially when we often find ourselves buffeted by unexpected circumstances, feeling out of balance and unfulfilled? In today’s episode, I talk with Sal LaGreca and Michael Mannix, co-founders of Unparalleled Performance and co-authors of “The 5Ls,” who will take us on a pathway to personal and professional success. What are these 5 Ls, the quintessential elements of success? Love, Laughter, Labor, Leisure and Leave--together. Drawing on their combined 70+ years of work and life experiences, along with the wisdom of a roster of successful individuals, Sal and Mike tell the story behind the 5 Ls and unpack simple, but powerful, real-life learning lessons and tools that have helped individuals from all walks and stages in their life. And they’ll describe the wellness programs and services offered by their leadership company, Unparalleled Performance, which focuses on helping people achieve the balance they need to change their lives for the better. About the guests: Sal LaGreca is Co-Founder of Unparalleled Performance and Co-Author of the “5Ls: The Gift of a Balanced Life.” Sal brings over 40 years of executive leadership from billion-dollar global businesses to middle market companies and start-ups. He was the Executive in Residence at St. John’s University and is a member of the Advisory Board of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University. The “5Ls” is Sal's brainchild. After being admitted to the partnership at KPMG, he attended, at the request of the firm, a Harvard University Executive Leadership Program with some of the top global business leaders focusing on the key components for success in business. This experience ignited the thought process for Sal that would lead him to the creation of the 5Ls program. Michael Mannix is Co-Founder of Unparalleled Performance and Co-Author of the “5Ls: The Gift of a Balanced Life.” Michael brings 30+ years of business experience spanning multiple industries, advancing to become an Executive Board Member of a Global BPO organization. He has a track record of proven success as a Strategic Operations and Business Development Leader, generating up to 100% in revenue growth, expanding market presence, and driving operational efficiencies that deliver dramatic gains in profitability. Throughout his career, Mike has always taken a "Servant Leader" approach. Combined with his passion for teaching, this methodology has enabled teams to continuously exceed their goals, creating a strong legacy of industry top talent. Beyond his 21+ years of creating and delivering impactful training programs in the corporate arena, he also teaches as an Adjunct Professor at New York University. In the collegiate space, he develops and administers classes in leadership, management, strategic planning, team building, and business development. He currently teaches at various levels including undergraduate, graduate, career professionals, the NYU High School Academy and NYUSPS Aspire—a scholarship program for rising high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented communities who will be first-generation college students. /episode/index/show/c1cac479-1127-4b2f-9188-1c5dd3bcba1f/id/35280925

Helping People with Disabilities Lead Independent Lives—with Canine Companions 02/10/2025

Discovering the Path to Lasting Love in Today’s Troubling World 02/03/2025

Discovering the Path to Lasting Love in Today’s Troubling World As we look forward to the end of winter, there’s always a bright spot in February—Valentine’s Day, our annual celebration of romantic love and friendship. But love can be complicated and hard to find (and keep) these days, amid the swift currents of social and cultural change. Many marriages end in divorce; children are estranged from their families; sexual abuse remains a troubling societal concern; friendships are fractured over politics; and people of all ages report widespread loneliness. Our world of relationships is in crisis. So how do we move forward? In today’s conversation, I talk with Beatty Cohan, a nationally recognized psychotherapist and sex therapist, who is also an advice columnist, radio host and author of “For Better For Worse, Forever: Discover the Path to Lasting Love.” Beatty will talk about our universal aspirations to find true love—and her intriguing research that resulted in a 10-step formula that teaches you how to assess who’s right or wrong for you BEFORE committing to any serious relationship. She’ll describe her experiences serving on Florida’s Commission and Marriage and Family Support Initiatives and her efforts to combat domestic violence. And she’ll offer incisive observations about relationships and mental health from her decades of private practice, working across all age groups—individuals, couples and seniors—helping people relearn the lost art of conversation, heal relationships and rekindle love and friendship. ABOUT THE GUEST: Beatty Cohan is a nationally recognized psychotherapist, sex therapist, author of “For Better, For Worse, Forever: Discover the Path to Lasting Love,” and advice columnist for Dan's Paper's in the Hamptons and Palm Beach. She is also a national speaker, national radio and television expert guest and host of the weekly ASK BEATTY Show on the Progressive Radio Network, which airs live every Monday afternoon from 3-4 P.M. EST. Beatty has a private practice in New York City and East Hampton. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, she earned her master’s degree in social work from McGill University in Montreal, Canada and post-graduate specialization in marriage and family therapy and sexual dysfunction. She treats adults and adolescents of all ages and stages in life whose problems include depression, anxiety, early childhood sexual abuse, addictions of every kind and relationship and sexual issues. /episode/index/show/c1cac479-1127-4b2f-9188-1c5dd3bcba1f/id/35071715

Financial Planning for Childfree Families: A Distinctly Different Script 01/27/2025

Financial Planning for Childfree Families: A Distinctly Different Script When experts talk about financial planning for retirement, many of them assume that people are following a standard life script—go to college, get married, buy a house, have kids and a career until traditional retirement. But a growing number of adults do not have children, and in fact, are choosing to be child-free. According to one recent survey, 47% of U.S. adults younger than 50 say they are unlikely to ever have kids. In today’s episode, I talk with Bri Conn, the Chief Experience Officer of Childfree Wealth, a firm that specializes in financial planning for adults who are childfree by choice. Bri will talk about what it means to be childfree and the ways in which childfree financial planning may look vastly different from traditional planning. She’ll explain the concept of FILE, which stands for “Financial Independence, Live Early.” It’s an innovative approach, Bri says, that helps people plan their lives with the goal of ensuring their money needs are met, but instead of stopping work entirely in retirement, they might consider the pursuit of an evolving career or passion that is flexible, enjoyable, and on their own terms. There are still common concerns, like “Who will take care of me when I’m older?” but through such planning, childfree people can choose and design a life around their own wants and needs. About the Guest: Bri Conn is the Chief Experience Officer of Childfree Wealth, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping childfree and permanently childless people. She is also a Childfree Wealth Specialist® and the co-host of the Childfree Wealth podcast. Childfree Wealth has been featured on Fortune, Forbes, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, and many other publications. In her free time, Bri loves hiking, running, or enjoying the beauty of nature. Her core values are community, education, social participation, and sustainability, and she is committed to integrating these into everything I do. /episode/index/show/c1cac479-1127-4b2f-9188-1c5dd3bcba1f/id/34931065

Interested in Your Ancestry? How to Start Your Geneology Journey 01/17/2025

Two Old Friends Share their Journeys Helping People Navigate Life’s Changes 01/13/2025

Two Old Friends Share their Journeys Helping People Navigate Life’s Changes Today, on the 5th anniversary of the 45 Forward podcast, my guest is Dr. Andrea Gould-Marks, a licensed psychologist, entrepreneurial coach, podcaster and seminar leader, based in Arizona—who also happens to be my life-long friend. We’ll be talking about our collective experiences over the years promoting creative strategies through times of change, offering resources and guidance for people navigating life’s crossroads, both personally and professionally. We’ll share our respective evolutions to where we’ve come today: I, with Roel Resources, moving to podcasting and writing about 45 Forward, my mission to help people thrive with purpose and productivity through the second half of life; and Andrea, with a unique career as a therapist, creating Lucid Learning Systems and co-founding Boom Talk Media, “to inspire and nurture the human journey with insightful media” as society undergoes the effects of rapid and often unrelenting change. We’ll reflect on the importance of friendship (including our own) and social connection today, and the need for “friendliness” in a culture driven apart by political differences. And, we’ll talk about our thoughts and hopes for the coming year—as well as how we can plan, adapt and succeed during a time of great uncertainty. About the Guest: Dr. Andrea Gould-Marks is a licensed psychologist, entrepreneurial coach and seminar leader, based in the Tucson, Arizona area. Her work with groups and individuals provides creative guidance for people navigating life’s crossroads, both personally and professionally. With decades of expertise as a clinical and organizational psychologist, Andrea shares her skills and personal experiences to support the best of each of us in our relationships — the building blocks of a satisfying life. Her work in educational and business settings has shaped her multifaceted approach toward well-being, guiding clients toward well-integrated and purpose-filled lives. Along with her unique career as a therapist, Andrea is the Owner of Lucid Learning Systems and Co-founder of Boom Talk Media, which just begins with podcasts and broadens into an array of other projects, including newly published booklets she calls “Relief-Lets.” Together with “BB” Peters, their mission, is “to inspire and nurture the human journey with insightful media as we undergo the effects of rapid personal and global change.” /episode/index/show/c1cac479-1127-4b2f-9188-1c5dd3bcba1f/id/34825155

Encore - Can We Stay on the Crest of Ken Dychtwald’s Age Wave? 01/06/2025

How Do We Move on from the Sudden Loss of a Loved One? 12/30/2024

How Do We Move on from the Sudden Loss of a Loved One? As we come to the close of another year, it is a time when we naturally look both backward and forward. In looking back, it is often a time when we (individually and collectively) reflect on passings—the death of important people in our lives. Some of them are lost through long, debilitating declines; others are lost suddenly, wrenched from us without morning. Either way, we mourn the losses; we seek ways to cope with and process our grief; to preserve their memories and find ways to move on. In today’s episode, I’m talking with Rachel Zimmerman, the author of “Us, After,” a memoir centered on the death of her husband, who committed suicide at the age of 50. As an award-winning journalist, her story naturally begins with a search for answers: How could the man she’d married, a devoted father and MIT professor with many friends, with no history of mental illness, have done this? But her exploration ends up being much more than a search for facts. Her book examines the devastation and resurgence of domestic life; the mental struggles between private and public lives; the secrets we keep; the work of motherhood; and the rediscovery of love, and the good of what remains. It is a deeply personal, absorbing and yes, inspiring, story. About the Guest: Rachel Zimmerman is an award-winning journalist who has written about health and medicine for more than two decades. She’s a contributor to The Washington Post and previously worked as a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal and a health reporter for WBUR, Boston’s public radio station, where she co-founded a popular blog and podcast. Her essays and reporting have been published in The New York Times; Vogue.com; New York Magazine’s The Cut; “O” The Oprah Magazine; The Atlantic; Slate; and The Huffington Post, among others. She received an MS from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a BA from Sarah Lawrence College. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Massachusetts. /episode/index/show/c1cac479-1127-4b2f-9188-1c5dd3bcba1f/id/34562415