What happens when life forces you into a chapter you never planned for?

After decades building a successful career in technology, writing books, and growing a business, Jeffrey Ton suddenly found himself stepping away from work to become a full-time caregiver for his wife following a devastating diagnosis.

In this episode, Jeff shares how revisiting memories of traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail with his wife helped him process grief, rediscover meaning, and reconnect with the person she has always been beyond her illness.

Their journey became the foundation for his newest book, Uncharted Moments: Love, Legacy, and the Lewis & Clark Trail.

In this episode, we covered:

• Why becoming a caregiver forced Jeff to let go of a business and identity he loved
  
  
• What anticipatory grief taught him about navigating uncertainty and change
  
  
• The remarkable story behind retracing the Lewis and Clark Trail together
  
  
• How slowing down changed the way Jeff and his wife experienced life
  
  
• The powerful lesson Jeff learned about pausing during chaos
  
  
• How one simple phrase became a philosophy for navigating difficult seasons of life

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Resources

Website: www.JeffreySTon.com


Amazon: Uncharted Moments: Love, Legacy, and the Lewis & Clark Trail by Jeffrey Ton


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A lot of people say they want to stay active or do work that still matters to them after they retire.

But then they rest, travel, or wait for the right opportunity to show up. Over time, that can turn into long stretches without structure or direction in life.

I'm really glad to welcome Lynn Friesth back to the show. He left corporate life in 2015 and has spent the last ten years helping others turn their experience into coaching, consulting, or project-based work in the next chapter.

We talk about:

• Why many people drift in retirement instead of designing what's next
  
  
• The idea of a "portfolio life" and moving beyond your job title
  
  
• Lynn's G.L.E.A.N. process for uncovering the value in your experience
  
  
• Why starting with identity matters more than starting with action
  
  
• The mindset shift from needing certainty to being willing to experiment
  
  
• How curiosity becomes an advantage as you move into something new
  
  
• Where AI fits in (and why experience still matters)

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Resources

Podcast: "Creating Your Encore Life" - https://www.lynnfriesth.com/podcast

Website: https://www.lynnfriesth.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnfriesth

Rusty Gardner realized he wasn't listening to his son during their phone calls. So he stopped what he was doing and went for a walk.

That new habit changed their conversations. Then it changed his mornings, and eventually it turned into something he couldn't ignore.

Rusty spends a lot of time reflecting on identity and the different "passages" we move through as we get older. Today, we explore what happens when you start paying attention to what actually feels different.

We discuss:

• How Rusty built a completely new career without a clear plan
  
  
• The moment he realized he wasn't fully present with his son
  
  
• How walking became a daily practice for connection and clarity
  
  
• What he's learned about identity through life's different decades
  
  
• His experience facing aging, mortality, and a major life "passage"
  
  
• Why following your energy can reveal what actually matters

Resources:

Just Walking: https://justwalking.com

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@justwalking.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justwalkingwithrusty

Email:

rusty@justwalking.com