What if “retirement” isn’t the finish line… it’s just a label we’ve outgrown? Don Akchin breaks down why the after-career chapter can be your most creative, meaningful season—if you treat it like a beginning, not a fade-out.

In this episode of Life & In Between, Diana and Patrick sit down with writer and former journalist Don Akchin to talk about the emotional reality of life after a career—and why the old idea of retirement doesn’t fit the world we’re living in anymore. Don introduces the concept of “The AfterWork”: a fresh, modern way to think about your post-career years as a new beginning instead of an ending.

You’ll hear why identity loss can hit hard when the work titles disappear, how structure matters more than people expect, and why experimenting (and even failing) becomes oddly liberating when the world isn’t grading you anymore. Don also shares a powerful lens from his book—“planners vs. wingers”—and why either approach can win… or crash… depending on how you stay connected to purpose. Along the way, the conversation gets real about relationships, loneliness, and the kind of wisdom that says: do your best work, but don’t let the work swallow your whole self.

Where to find Don (links)

• Don’s website (best one-stop shop): donakchin.com

• His newsletter on Substack — The EndGame: theendgame.substack.com

• His book — The AfterWork: Finding Fulfilling Alternatives to Retirement (Amazon):

Listen / watch

• 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sBKdruFkbqKZmPpvrrKTo?si=_iES7OEsQ0-PARLqpKc3VQ

• 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retirement-is-dead-meet-the-afterwork-a-new/id1809054005?i=1000751060638

  
  

• ▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/K5Pzlk5jWbI?si=mFiXo_6rSYHzbf2r

  
  

• 🎵 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/070e0e82-f222-45d0-9836-78d922968cab/episodes/977476ff-b534-4fd8-b237-22f5bd2a2588/retirement-is-dead-meet-the-afterwork-a-new-beginning-not-an-ending

• ▶️ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-life-and-in-between-291557046/episode/retirement-is-dead-meet-the-afterwork-a-new-beginning-not-an-ending-324472432🌐 Website: ⁠www.lifeandinbetweenpodcast.com⁠

What if the thing that broke your life… became the very thing that built your purpose?In this powerful, unscripted “cafecito-style” conversation, we sit down with Stephen and Julie Wagstaff—a Canadian couple whose story carries equal parts grit, humor, faith, and hope.

Stephen shares the moment that changed everything: August 2, 1996, when a dive into shallow water resulted in a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic at just 19. But this isn’t a story about what was lost—it’s about what was rebuilt. Together, Stephen and Julie walk us through the real journey: the trauma, the resilience, the marriage work, the caregiving realities, and how purpose can rise out of pain.

You’ll also hear how their nonprofit, SwagAbility, was born from a season of intense hardship—Stephen’s extended hospital stay, Julie’s cancer journey, and a deep desire to help others thrive where life finds them. Their mission is grounded in practical support—like life coaching, counseling, and assistive/adaptive technology support—and a fierce commitment to showing up for people navigating life-altering circumstances, including caregivers, people living with disability, and veterans.

This episode goes beyond inspiration. We talk honestly about:

• Authenticity (and why people freeze up the moment things feel “official”)

• Caregiver burnout—the resentment nobody wants to confess, and why it’s normal

• Marriage and communication (the “3 keys” are… communication, communication, and communication 😄)

• Hope in dark seasons, faith, and finding purpose when life feels like it’s closing in

• Why “pain is pain” and comparison helps nobody

• What it really means to build community when you feel alone

If you’re in a transition caring for a loved one, facing illness, navigating disability, rebuilding after trauma, or just trying to make it through a hard chapter, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Keywords / Topics: caregiving, caregiver burnout, disability advocacy, spinal cord injury, quadriplegic story, cancer survivor story, faith and resilience, marriage communication, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, life coaching, counseling support, nonprofit organization, veteran support, Life & In Between Podcast.

Connect with Stephen & SwagAbility
If you’d like to support their mission, request help, or learn more about their resources:

• Website: swagability.com

• General support / inquiries: info@swagability.com

• Donations: donations@swagability.com

• Donate: Visit swagability.com and click the Donate button (they use a platform that takes 0% from your donation).

Stephen shared that SwagAbility is currently a registered nonprofit in both Canada and the U.S., and they’re working toward 501(c)(3) status in the U.S. to provide tax receipts for donors.

From Heartbreak to Pages: Turning Pain into Creative Power | Nikki Allen 🧣☕ Grab your comforter, wrap it around you, and press play.Because this episode isn’t “just a conversation” … it’s a come-back-home-to-yourself kind of moment.In this intimate, one-on-one episode of Life & In Between Podcast, I’m joined by Nikki Allen — singer, songwriter, filmmaker, philanthropist, and author of Loved You, Hated You — a story born from a song, shaped into a screenplay, and finally written as a novel because fiction gave her the courage to tell the truth.Nikki opens up about surviving a toxic, abusive relationship, the moment the “light bulb” went off, why leaving isn’t as simple as “just go,” and what it really takes to choose yourself — even when your heart is still attached.And baby… we don’t stop there.We also dive into self-love, spiritual growth, dating yourself, “frequency,” and the quiet power of learning to sit with your own thoughts without judgment.✨ In this episode, you’ll hear:How people can be in a toxic relationship and not fully recognize itWhy we stay (and the excuses we make when they’re “good sometimes”)What “give yourself grace” really means while you’re trying to leaveThe lyrics behind “Loved You, Hated You… and now I’m releasing you”How to date yourself, enjoy your own company, and rebuild your identityWhy your energy shifts what you attract — and how to protect your peaceA real talk moment on spirituality, “woo woo,” and taking what works for youIf you’ve ever loved too hard, stayed too long, or you’re rebuilding yourself brick by brick…this is your sign. Share it with a friend who needs it.💛 Connect with Nikki Allen:Website: https://officialnikkiallen.com/Book site: https://nikkiallen.com/📚 Get Loved You, Hated You:Available on Amazon and Barnes & NobleSigned gift box option mentioned in the episode: theempresscompany.com🖤 Subscribe + Support:Like, subscribe, and share Life & In Between Podcast on YouTube + Spotify.If this resonated, pass it on — you never know who’s silently surviving.#LifeAndInBetweenPodcast #NikkiAllen #LovedYouHatedYou #SelfLove #HealingJourney #EmotionalHealing #ToxicRelationships #ChooseYourself #WomenHealing