Jun 24, 2026

Jake Fishbein joined his first men’s group for research.

He was helping write a novel about men’s groups and thought he should probably see one from the inside.

What he didn’t expect was that the experience would change the course of his own life.

In this episode, we discuss why retirement can trigger an unexpected identity crisis, the challenge of separating who we are from what we do, and what it means to stay engaged with life long after a career ends.

We cover:

• Why retirement can trigger an unexpected identity crisis
• The challenge of separating who you are from what you do
• What it means to transition from achievement to eldership
• Why staying “in the arena” matters at every stage of life
• The fear of becoming irrelevant as we grow older
• Lessons from a woman who began her most meaningful work in her seventies

 

Keep Exploring:
If you enjoyed this conversation, check out Jake’s novel, The Men’s Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships.

Amazon Print
Amazon Kindle
Barnes & Noble Print
Barnes & Noble Nook

About Jake:
Jake Fishbein is an executive coach and facilitator who helps executives, non-profit leaders, and men wrestling with modern masculinity become better communicators and build relationships that actually nourish them. He’s the co-author of The Men’s Group: A Novel of Messy Friendships and the co-host of the podcast, With Love, Men. Learn more at www.jakefishbein.com.