Larry Hagner was nine months old when his father left. For years, he searched for answers about the man he barely knew and the impact that absence had on his life.

Today, Larry is the founder of The Dad Edge podcast, where he has spent more than a decade helping men become better husbands, fathers, and leaders.

In this episode, Larry shares his story, from growing up without a father to raising four sons of his own. We discuss fatherhood, generational patterns, personal responsibility, and what it takes to be the father you didn't have.

In this episode, we covered:

• How Larry's experiences growing up influenced the father he became
  
  
• Why repairing mistakes quickly is a critical parenting skill
  
  
• The messages our parents pass down (and how to decide which ones to keep)
  
  
• How to start breaking unhealthy generational patterns
  
  
• What Larry has learned from raising four sons
  
  
• Why good intentions are not enough and what to do instead

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Resources

Podcast: The Dad Edge Podcast

Website: The Dad Edge

What if the goal isn't just to live longer, but to remain capable of doing the things you love for as long as possible?

After decades as a physician, surgeon, and medical innovator, Dr. Arnon Krongrad believes we've been asking the wrong question. Rather than chasing longevity, he's focused on something he calls "functional supremacy."

Today, Arnon challenges conventional thinking about health and aging. You'll hear why he believes physical, cognitive, and emotional function may matter far more than simply adding years to our lives.

We discuss:

• How to prepare for a life you still want to be living decades from now
  
  
• Why the best health goal may have nothing to do with a number on a chart
  
  
• The challenge of staying physically, mentally, and emotionally sharp as we age
  
  
• What becomes possible when you stop measuring success by lifespan alone
  
  
• How to build a future worth staying healthy for

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Ezz: https://worldofezz.com

Learn more about Ezzpedition 2026: https://www.worldofezz.com/ezzpedition2026/

What if the things you loved most as a kid still hold clues about the life you actually want now?

I still remember Yankees games crackling through a transistor radio tucked under my pillow long past bedtime. For Ben Orlando, it was realizing those moments were never really about baseball at all.

I'm talking with psychotherapist, writer, and Midnight Library of Baseball host Ben Orlando about masculinity, nostalgia, and what happens when men lose the thread back to themselves.

We explore why the hobbies we dismiss as "not serious" often point to something much deeper, and why reconnecting with joy and authenticity matters even more as we get older.

You'll hear about:

• Why certain childhood memories stay with us for life
  
  
• How men lose themselves in careers and responsibilities
  
  
• The importance of reconnecting with joy and nostalgia
  
  
• Why hobbies and passions matter more than we think
  
  
• The emotional power of shared memories
  
  
• What older men regret most at the end of life
  
  
• Why it's never too late to reconnect with yourself

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Resources

• Podcast: Midnight Library of Baseball
  
  
• Website: midnightlibraryofbaseball.com
  
  
• Instagram: @midnightlibraryofbaseball
  
  
• Therapy: benorlando.com

Many fathers spent their lives learning how to provide for their families. But emotional connection often became much harder to pass down.

My guest today is Marc Azoulay, therapist and founder of Men's Therapy Online. Marc works with men navigating relationships, identity, purpose, and emotional health across different stages of life.

In this episode, Marc shares his own journey through addiction, recovery, and self-discovery. We look at the emotional disconnect many men experience with themselves, their children, and each other.

You'll hear about:

• Why Marc believes many men were never taught emotional connection
  
  
• The frightening turning point that forced him to reevaluate his life
  
  
• How different generations of men struggle with identity, work, and purpose
  
  
• The reason why emotional openness between men still feels uncomfortable
  
  
• How curiosity can help parents strengthen relationships with adult children

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Resources:

Mens Therapy Online

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


Support independent bookstores on Bookshop.org

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

Stepping away from a career that has defined you for decades is rarely a clean break.

For founders and professionals alike, retirement isn't just leaving the work behind. It means untangling identity, habits, and a sense of responsibility that doesn't simply turn off.

My guest today is Dave Yeske, co-founder of Yeske Buie. After more than 35 years in financial planning, he and his wife made the intentional decision to step away from the firm they built together.

As Dave shares, even a well-planned transition doesn't remove the emotional weight of letting go. We explore what it means to build something you can eventually leave—and what unfolds after you do.

In this episode, we covered:

• What makes it so difficult for founders to step away
  
  
• The gap between knowing everything will be fine (and actually feeling it)
  
  
• Why retirement can bring unexpected emotions
  
  
• How identity is often tied to professional roles more than we realize
  
  
• Why meaningful moments in this stage of life don't have to be big to matter
  
  
• How joy can become a useful filter for deciding how to spend your time

Resources:

Retirement Plan (an Oscar nominated short film from The New Yorker)