In this compelling episode of Reinventing Retirement, host Cathy Paessun sits down with John McGory, a teacher, journalist, and author whose career has spanned education, politics, real estate development, and international teaching. John shares his unconventional path from eighth-grade government teacher and football coach to lobbyist, developer, and eventually ESL instructor in China. His story exemplifies the twists and turns of a life lived with curiosity and openness to new adventures. At age 60, John made a bold decision that would change his life: he moved to Wuhan, China, to teach English at a university. For six years, he immersed himself in Chinese culture, traveled extensively throughout the country, and built deep friendships with local colleagues and students. He worked part-time for various companies, including Johnson & Johnson, and contributed to Wuhan’s English-language newspaper. This chapter of his life offered him the freedom to pursue his lifelong dream of writing, leading him to complete his first book while living abroad. John’s time in China took a dramatic turn when he found himself trapped in Wuhan at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020. His firsthand experience during the lockdown formed the basis of his book, “The Wuhan Games,” a work of historical fiction that blends his journalistic background with creative storytelling. After being evacuated on the last rescue plane and spending two weeks in quarantine, John returned home to process his extraordinary experience through writing. Now teaching journalistic writing at Ohio Wesleyan University, he’s working on his second book while offering wisdom about retirement: have a plan, stay active, maintain friendships, and don’t beat yourself up about past decisions. His message is clear—face your fears and keep looking forward. The Wuhan Games by John McGory is available on Amazon. Reinventing Retirement is the property of Dr. Cathy Paessun and is produced by Tim Beeman for Such-N-Such Media.
