Retirement Unfiltered

Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo
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Retirement Unfiltered is the podcast that skips the sugarcoating and talks honestly about what life after work really looks like. Hosted by Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo, this show explores the gap between the dream of retirement and the reality of living it – the identity shifts, emotional surprises, and "now what?" moments no one warned you about. Each episode combines candid conversation, humor, research, and real-life stories to help listeners navigate retirement as a major life transition, not just a financial milestone. From retirement syndrome and loss of structure, to living with intention, adopting a growth mindset, and experimenting with what comes next, Retirement Unfiltered is about designing a meaningful next chapter – one that fits who you are now. This podcast is for people who are retired, approaching retirement, or simply wondering how to turn more free time into a life that feels purposeful, connected, and fulfilling. Because retirement isn't the end of your story. It's the start of your next great chapter.

Episodes

  1. 04 | ReTRYment

    23 JAN

    04 | ReTRYment

    What if retirement is not about slowing down, stepping back, or fading out, but about trying new things without the pressure to get them right? In this episode of Retirement Unfiltered, Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo introduce the idea of ReTRYment – a reframe of retirement as a time for experimentation, curiosity, and new beginnings. Nan and Lisa start by challenging the outdated language and assumptions that still shape how many people think about retirement. Words like withdrawal, resignation, and retreat quietly frame this chapter as an ending. ReTRYment flips that script. It is about shifting from "What am I retiring from?" to "What am I retiring to?" and giving yourself permission to be a beginner again. They explore why adopting a beginner's mindset can feel uncomfortable after decades of being competent and accomplished, and why that discomfort is actually a gift. Trying new things lights up the brain, builds new neural pathways, and creates space for learning, play, and discovery. More importantly, it removes the weight of perfection. In ReTRYment, nothing has to turn into a lifelong passion or second career. You try, you learn, and you decide what fits. Through personal stories, including failed experiments and unexpected clarity, Nan and Lisa show how small, low-commitment experiments can provide powerful feedback. Some experiences spark joy. Others quickly reveal what is not worth pursuing. Both outcomes are valuable. ReTRYment is not about reinventing yourself overnight. It is about staying curious, following small sparks, and letting learning guide what comes next. This episode closes the first series by bringing insight into action and reminding listeners that retirement does not require a perfect plan – just a willingness to try. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why the language of retirement shapes how this chapter feels What ReTRYment means and why it reframes retirement as a beginning The power of a beginner's mindset after a long career How small, low-risk experiments, and failing fast create clarity Letting curiosity guide what comes next   About the hosts: Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo are co-founders of The Future of You and former leaders at Fidelity Investments. Through their work, research, and personal retirement journeys, they help experienced professionals design a more intentional and fulfilling life after work. https://www.thefutureofyou.com

    18 min
  2. 03 | Living with Intention

    23 JAN

    03 | Living with Intention

    Retirement gives you freedom, but it also leaves you with a wide-open calendar and a new challenge: deciding what actually matters now. In this episode of Retirement Unfiltered, Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo explore what it truly means to live with intention in retirement—moving forward with purpose instead of drifting or defaulting to staying busy. Nan and Lisa talk candidly about why filling time is not the same as living well, especially in a chapter that can last 20 to 30 years or more. They explore how many people enter retirement after decades of work with their lives tilted toward career and responsibility, only to feel disoriented when that structure disappears. Living with intention, they explain, is not about productivity or tackling long-ignored projects. It is about consciously choosing how you invest your time, energy, and attention. The episode introduces the idea of rebalancing a life portfolio by looking honestly at how time is spread across different areas of life. Nan and Lisa walk through five key areas to consider and explain how clarity often reveals imbalance. From there, they describe building a personal life mosaic, a mix of activities and roles that bring meaning, purpose, and energy back into everyday life. No two mosaics look the same, and the goal is not perfection, but alignment. They also highlight mindset as a critical factor in retirement, contrasting fixed and growth mindsets and emphasizing curiosity, openness, and experimentation. Retirement, they argue, is not a wind-down. It is a reset and a chance to keep learning, evolving, and shaping what comes next. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why freedom without direction can feel unsettling What living with intention actually means, and what it does not The difference between filling time and choosing what matters Rebalancing life across five key life sectors Creating a life mosaic that reflects your interests and energy How mindset shapes satisfaction and possibility in retirement   About the hosts: Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo are co-founders of The Future of You and former leaders at Fidelity Investments. Through their work, research, and personal retirement journeys, they help experienced professionals design a more intentional and fulfilling life after work. https://www.thefutureofyou.com

    15 min
  3. 02 | Retirement Syndrome

    23 JAN

    02 | Retirement Syndrome

    In this episode of Retirement Unfiltered, Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo name something many retirees feel but rarely talk about: Retirement Syndrome. After the excitement of leaving work fades, a surprising mix of emotions can surface – anxiety, restlessness, sadness, or a quiet sense of emptiness. This conversation explores why that happens, how common it really is, and why feeling unsettled in retirement means you are human. Nan and Lisa explain that Retirement Syndrome is a very real pattern that shows up when work identity, daily structure, and built-in community disappear all at once. Drawing from research, stories they hear in their work, and their own lived experience, they unpack why retirement often ranks as one of the most stressful life transitions – right alongside events like moving or divorce. They also address the guilt many retirees feel for struggling during a phase of life they were told should be nothing but joyful. The episode offers a clear, compassionate framework for understanding what is happening beneath the surface and why "staying busy" is not the same as building a fulfilling life. Most importantly, it reassures listeners that Retirement Syndrome is a normal part of transition – and that with intention, connection, and patience, it is something you can move through. In this episode, you'll hear about: What Retirement Syndrome is and why it catches so many people off guard Why losing a work identity can feel destabilizing, even after decades of planning Common, everyday signs of Retirement Syndrome, from restlessness to quiet grief Practical ways to navigate this phase with experimentation, connection, and grace Why Retirement Syndrome is temporary, not a permanent state   About the hosts: Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo are co-founders of The Future of You and former leaders at Fidelity Investments. Through their work, research, and personal retirement journeys, they help experienced professionals design a more intentional and fulfilling life after work. https://www.thefutureofyou.com

    15 min
  4. 01 | The Truth About Retirement

    23 JAN

    01 | The Truth About Retirement

    Retirement is often sold as one long victory lap – travel, golf, freedom, and endless fun. In this first episode of Retirement Unfiltered, hosts Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo pull back the curtain on what retirement actually feels like once the party ends. Drawing from their own experiences and the stories of hundreds of retirees they have worked with, they talk honestly about the parts no one prepares you for – the identity shifts, the empty calendar, and the uncomfortable "now what?" moments that follow leaving full-time work. Nan and Lisa share why retirement can be both liberating and unsettling at the same time, and why so many people feel blindsided when the structure, purpose, and social connection of work suddenly disappear. They reflect on their own transitions after decades at Fidelity Investments, realizing that while they were financially prepared, they had no roadmap for the life side of retirement. What followed were moments of restlessness, confusion, and the surprising realization that more free time does not automatically create meaning. This episode sets the tone for the podcast – candid, humorous, and grounded in truth – and explains why Retirement Unfiltered exists in the first place. It is a conversation for anyone who is retired, approaching retirement, or quietly wondering if they are the only one feeling this way. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why retirement is a major life transition, not just a lifestyle change The myth of the "highlight reel" retirement versus everyday reality How identity loss and an empty calendar can sneak up on new retirees Why planning for life in retirement matters as much as planning for money About the hosts: Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo are co-founders of The Future of You and former leaders at Fidelity Investments. Through their work, research, and personal retirement journeys, they help experienced professionals design a more intentional and fulfilling life after work.

    15 min
  5. Retirement Unfiltered Promo

    TRAILER

    Retirement Unfiltered Promo

    What really happens after you retire? Retirement Unfiltered is the podcast that skips the sugarcoating and talks honestly about what life after work actually looks like – beyond the financial plans and bucket lists. Hosted by Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo, this show explores the gap between the dream of retirement and the reality of living it. The identity shifts. The emotional surprises. The "now what?" moments no one warns you about. In this short trailer episode, Nan and Lisa introduce what Retirement Unfiltered is all about – and why retirement should be treated as a major life transition, not just a financial milestone. You'll hear why so many people feel unprepared for the life side of retirement, even when the money is in place. Each episode of Retirement Unfiltered blends candid conversation, humor, research, and real-life stories to help listeners navigate retirement with intention. Topics include retirement syndrome, loss of structure, purpose, mindset shifts, experimentation, and designing a meaningful next chapter that actually fits who you are now. This podcast is for people who are retired, approaching retirement, or simply wondering how to turn more free time into a life that feels purposeful, connected, and fulfilling. Because retirement isn't the end of your story. It's the start of your next great chapter. Follow or subscribe now and join us for Episode 1.

    1 min

Trailer

About

Retirement Unfiltered is the podcast that skips the sugarcoating and talks honestly about what life after work really looks like. Hosted by Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo, this show explores the gap between the dream of retirement and the reality of living it – the identity shifts, emotional surprises, and "now what?" moments no one warned you about. Each episode combines candid conversation, humor, research, and real-life stories to help listeners navigate retirement as a major life transition, not just a financial milestone. From retirement syndrome and loss of structure, to living with intention, adopting a growth mindset, and experimenting with what comes next, Retirement Unfiltered is about designing a meaningful next chapter – one that fits who you are now. This podcast is for people who are retired, approaching retirement, or simply wondering how to turn more free time into a life that feels purposeful, connected, and fulfilling. Because retirement isn't the end of your story. It's the start of your next great chapter.

Information

  • Creator
    Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Retirement Unfiltered
  • Provider