The Fourth Quarter Podcast

Doug Talmadge & Ted Enea

Living the last quarter of your life with intention around health, fitness, nutrition and joy! Learning from others and tuning in to hear live one on one coaching that educates, inspires and motivates you to move!

  1. 2d ago

    EP028: The August Reset; Stop Negotiating With Comfort

    Send us Fan Mail Traffic that makes you want to scream, a calendar packed with obligations, a body that does not always cooperate, and a brain that keeps “negotiating with comfort” even when you know better. That is the real backdrop of healthy aging, and it is exactly what we talk about today as Doug and Ted go host-to-host and get honest about what it takes to reset in the fourth quarter of life. We start with a deceptively simple mindset shift: “it can always be worse.” Then we put it to work with a story about gridlock outside San Francisco, where frustration becomes a chance to practice calm, breathing, and perspective. Doug shares a mental refresh from backpacking in Desolation Wilderness, including the benefit of a phone detox, the beauty of slowing down, and the reality of managing foot issues while still showing up for the life he is building. From there we get practical with an August reset plan you can adapt to your own season: signing up for events to create momentum, monthly resolutions that keep you from drifting, and the fundamentals we keep hearing from experts and guests alike sleep, protein, hydration, movement, and strength. Ted lays out his targets (miles on the bike, push-ups, steps, intermittent fasting, and daily balance practice) while we emphasize realistic goals, accountability, and recalibration when life changes. If you want a healthier routine without the all-or-nothing mindset, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

  2. Jul 30

    EP027: Are You Prepared For Retirement; Beyond Finances?

    Send us Fan Mail Retirement can feel like freedom right up until you wake up to an empty calendar, no deadlines, and a quiet phone. That’s why this conversation with Nick “Ziggy” Zygaczenko hit us so hard. He puts it simply: retirement isn’t a vacation, it’s a transition. And if you only prepare financially, you can still end up stuck, drifting, or letting your health slide in the years that matter most. We dig into what real retirement planning looks like when you include healthy aging, mindset, and daily habits. Nick shares how he rebuilt his routine by writing goals down, setting minimum standards (like a daily mile), and tracking the moments he “dropped off” so he could learn instead of spiral. We also talk about consistency as identity, not perfection, plus why community is a health strategy. Finding your people at a gym, walking group, or neighborhood can replace what work used to provide: social connection, structure, and purpose. Nick also opens up about being diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly after retiring and how he handled the fear by moving his body and clearing his mind, including long walks after treatment. It’s an honest reminder that we can’t control aging, but we can control how we show up for it. Subscribe, follow, and share the show with someone navigating retirement or restarting their health, and leave us a review so more people can find these fourth quarter conversations.

  3. Jul 23

    EP026: Movement Mindset & Balance After 60

    Send us Fan Mail Two days of doing nothing can matter more than you think, especially as we get older. We kick things off by reflecting on community, grief, and why “showing up is winning” after a weekend birthday challenge built around walking and push-ups, with everyone modifying to their own ability instead of falling into comparison. Then we sit down with Hans Karlsson, director of rehabilitation and co-owner of The Six Wellness Clinic in Santa Rosa, California. Hans treats first responders as “working athletes,” and he explains what that mindset changes in rehab, recovery, and long-term performance. We talk about the most common physical therapy realities in the fourth quarter of life, from post-hospital weakness to chronic conditions, and why consistent movement helps protect independence. Hans also shares the practical framework he uses with older adults, including his memorable “48-hour rule” to avoid rapid deconditioning. We go deeper on balance and fall prevention through vestibular training, what simple tests can reveal about your balance system, and how strength training fits into nearly every plan. We also cover Parkinson’s disease and why exercise helps keep the brain-to-muscle signal active, plus a clear explanation of why knee pain can improve when you rebuild strength, restore tracking, and keep joints moving. If you care about healthy aging, physical therapy insights, strength training over 50, and staying capable for life, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge to move, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

  4. Jul 9

    EP025: Embracing Grief: The Night A Cheeseburger Changed Everything!

    Send us Fan Mail Grief can make you feel like your body is electric, like you’re back in the storm without warning, even years later. We wanted to tell the truth about that, so we invited David Linnell back to the show. David is the Director of Meals on Wheels Diablo Region, a CrossFit guy, and a servant-hearted leader but today he shares the part of his life that reshaped everything: losing his son Justin after a 14-year battle with opioid addiction that began when Justin was just 14 years old and ended with fentanyl.  We talk through what addiction looks like inside a family: the fear of “the call,” the chaos of relapse, and the fragile wins that can come with treatment tools like Vivitrol. David also walks us into the aftermath, including the federal case and the victim impact statement he was asked to give in court. Then the story takes an unexpected turn: the night before court, a stranger feeds him after hours and introduces himself with the same first name as the dealer. That moment flips David’s posture from rage to a kind of grounded compassion, leading him to speak to the dealer’s mother with empathy and a challenge to keep showing up for her son.  We also get practical about healing in the fourth quarter of life: grief counseling, leaning on friends, finding peace outdoors through camping and fly fishing, and giving ourselves permission to cry when it hits. David’s hurricane metaphor for grief is one you’ll want to share with someone you love.  If this conversation moves you, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. And if you want to support our community work, look for the donation link for Meals on Wheels and come out for Ted’s birthday challenge on July 18.

  5. Jul 2

    EP024: Lisa Gets Her Buzz From Climbing Mountains, Not Drinking Coffee!

    Send us Fan Mail A lot of people say they want to “age well.” Lisa Enea Giuliano actually lives it and she does it with muddy shoes, ski edges, a pickleball paddle, and a mindset that refuses to quit when things hurt. She’s 68, relentlessly active, and proof that the fourth quarter of life can be strong, adventurous, and deeply joyful when you commit to movement and keep adapting. We get into how her athletic identity started early, including competing alongside boys in track, and how a single moment during COVID turned into a full-on hiking mission. Lisa breaks down what it’s like to chase big mountain goals like the Catskill 3500 challenge and the Adirondack high peaks, plus how she trains at home, why she plays pickleball like it’s the championship, and what “bagging a peak” feels like when you earn the view. We also go beyond fitness. Lisa talks honestly about knee pain, injections, and the real work of staying mobile, then shares something many people miss: type 2 diabetes can be genetic even if you look “fit.” We discuss medication support, protein, strength, and why regular health checkups matter. And one of our favorite parts is “Dinner at Nana’s,” her weekly no-TV family tradition that keeps her connected to her kids and 11 grandkids. If you want practical motivation for healthy aging, active lifestyle habits after 60, and the belief that movement is medicine, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave us a review so more people find the show.

  6. Jun 25

    EP023: Do You Stop Playing Because You Get Old, Or Do You Get Old Because You Stop Playing?

    Send us Fan Mail Your body changes with age, but the part of you that loves to compete doesn’t automatically disappear and pretending it should is a mistake. We sit down with Nick Lusson, Athletic Director at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, to talk about what he’s learned working with athletes across the full age spectrum, from youth players to fourth-quarter competitors and even people still setting goals in their 80s, 90s, and beyond.  We get into why unstructured “just go play” time matters, not only for kids, but for adults who want to stay sharp, confident, and engaged. Nick breaks down how pickup-style play builds problem-solving, self-efficacy, and the kind of ownership that keeps an active lifestyle from fading when motivation dips. Then we push into the bigger framework: lifespan vs healthspan and a third idea we love, your play span, how long you can keep doing the sports and activities that make you feel alive.  You’ll hear practical guidance for training in the fourth quarter of life without building a fragile, one-sport body. We talk anti-specialization, varying your routine with strength training, mobility, and balance, and why community is often the difference between “I’ll start Monday” and actually showing up. Nick also shares the mirror test and the discipline-over-motivation mindset, plus a grounded message for former athletes who want to restart after years off: forgive yourself, start small, and respect recovery.  If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review so more people can find The Fourth Quarter. What’s one goal you want to train for this year?

  7. Jun 18

    EP022: What If Your Dad’s Greatest Lesson Was Unspoken

    Send us Fan Mail Father’s Day can be joyful, complicated, or both and sometimes it’s the one day that makes you replay your whole childhood in a few minutes. We go off the cuff with raw stories about our dads: what we misunderstood when we were young, what we admire now, and what we’re still working through as men living in the fourth quarter of life. We talk about dads who weren’t always at the games because they were grinding to provide, and how adulthood changes the way we read that absence. We dig into the unspoken lessons that shaped us anyway: honesty in business, treating people with dignity, staying calm when things go wrong, and the kind of leadership that never asks others to do what you won’t do yourself. Along the way, we share family-business memories, laugh at a couple of “how did that even happen?” moments, and reflect on generosity that expects nothing in return, including caring for people on the margins. We also zoom out into longevity and health mindset: why family becomes the strongest motivation to stay fit, why men’s health and prostate health matter as we age, and a perspective shift we love when stress hits hard: “Could money solve that problem?” If yes, maybe it’s not the real problem. We close with a tender song tribute and a simple challenge to choose a better perspective, even if your story with your dad is imperfect. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave us a review. Then tell us: what’s one thing your father did that you only understand now?

  8. Jun 11

    EP021: Wrinkles, Stairs, And A Beer On The Beach

    Send us Fan Mail She’s about to turn 83, she flew to Greece alone, hiked rocky gorges and crater rims, and somehow came home with more energy than most people half her age. That’s why we call Betty Stanfield our guiding light. We start by catching up on what it takes to keep moving in the fourth quarter of life, even when travel, schedules, and fatigue hit hard. We also share an update on Mitch, who’s starting GLP-1 medication and doing it with a plan. We talk plainly about GLP-1 weight loss, the real risk of muscle loss, and why strength training, high-protein nutrition, and quality foods matter even more when your appetite drops. If you’re curious about GLP-1s, sustainable fat loss, addiction recovery support, or just building a healthier routine, this part is packed with practical direction. Then Betty breaks down how she prepares for healthy aging and solo travel: research the terrain, pack light, expect stairs and cobblestones, and “pretend like you’re training for a marathon” before you go. We get into jet lag strategy, listening to your body, and why everyday movement (bending, walking, taking the stairs) is not a hassle, it’s a gift. We close with a reminder to give yourself grace and to focus less on wrinkles and more on the energy you bring into a room. Subscribe for more stories and coaching, share this with someone who needs a nudge to move, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

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About

Living the last quarter of your life with intention around health, fitness, nutrition and joy! Learning from others and tuning in to hear live one on one coaching that educates, inspires and motivates you to move!

Information

  • Creator
    Doug Talmadge & Ted Enea
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Fourth Quarter Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Fourth Quarter Podcast