Becoming a Sage with Dr. Jann Freed

Hosted by Jann Freed

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Jun 2026

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Dr. Jann discusses living, aging, and retiring the word "retirement" with interesting guests from diverse backgrounds and walks of life.

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60 recent

June 10, 202630 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Rob Walker

Rob Walker is a journalist covering design, technology, business, the arts, and other subjects. He has contributed to The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Atlantic,  NewYorker.com, Design Observer, The Organist,  and many others. His latest book is The Art of Noticing. He is on the faculty of the Products of Design MFA program at the School of Visual Arts. Find his Art of Noticing newsletter at robwalker.substack.comWe talk about why it's important to pay attention, stay awake, and resist the constant battle for our focus. He describes how noticing leads to curiosity and curiosity to creativity, and he reminds us that the most valuable things to notice are the ones everyone else overlooks. Listen to learn how to stay alive to your life and live by design rather than by default.

May 12, 202630 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Paul Long

Paul Long is a storyteller who spent nearly 50 years delivering information and content for others.First, 15 years in television journalism and then 34 years as an Emmy Award winning content creator for global brands.Starting in 2010, he began exploring how to find his New Way Forward in life as he approached olderhood. Since then, he has been researching, learning, experimenting and now sharing with others ways to avoid the pitfalls of retirement and olderhood by designing a life that is health, active and meaningful to take full advantage of the new reality of olderhood. You can find Paul on YouTube, Substack, LinkedIn and his website, www.NewWayFWD.com

April 15, 202628 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Kelly Byrnes

Kelly Byrnes on Culture, Courage, and the Leadership Lessons That Still Matter in the Age of AIKelly Byrnes is the Founder and CEO of Voyage Consulting Group, helping leaders strengthen their organizations through culture and talent strategy. A former Chief Talent Officer and MBA professor at Rockhurst University, she's advised 75+ organizations and coached 200+ executives. Kelly co-founded Culture Matters, hosts the Leadership Book of the Month broadcast, and recently released The Basics of Gen AI: The Essential Guide for Business Leaders and Professionals. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. She was named one of the region's Most Influential Women and inducted into the Kansas City Business Hall of Fame.

March 19, 202625 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Danny Morel

Danny Morel is an entrepreneur turned spiritual guide who has helped thousands to achieve true abundance in their finances, relationships and health through deep healing work and spiritual awakenings. Danny offers private coaching, speaking, and his AWAKEN Your Highest Self events that draw upwards of 600-700 attendees at every event. He is also a recognized thought leader who is frequently featured in major national media such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider.Purchase his book Awaken Your Highest Self: The Limiting Beliefs That Keep You Stuck–And the Heart Work That Sets You Free here⁠ http://dannymorel.com/book⁠

February 25, 202625 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Jerry Foster, Part Two

Jerry Foster is the founder of Foster Group, which was founded in 1989.  Foster Group provides fee-only financial planning, asset management and life planning services to clients throughout the U.S. He has written articles for national publications and speaks both in the U.S. and internationally regarding personal and business leadership, generational generosity, and thriving in the third season of life. Jerry has been married to Nancy for over 45 years, raising four wonderful children, as well as multiple foster children (no pun intended). They have 15 grandchildren, who keep them active beyond measure.

February 11, 202627 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Jerry Foster, Part One

January 20, 202629 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Michael F. Kay

Michael F. Kay is an author, Certified Life Coach, and host of the popular retirement podcast Chapter X. Michael is based in New Jersey, and he was a financial professional for over 25 years before turning his attention to advising retirees on the non-financial aspects of retirement including finding purpose and contentment. Previously, Michael was a CFP and adjunct professor at New York University. Michael and his writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Psychology Today.Michael is the author of multiple books, including his latest, How to Craft Your Chapter X, which is scheduled to release in early February.

November 19, 202526 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Dina Denham Smith

Dina Denham Smith is an executive coach and strategic advisor who helps senior leaders build capacity, scale impact, and thrive in complex environments. She has coached leaders at top companies including Google, Netflix, Goldman Sachs, Stripe, and Adobe.Her practical approach draws on early career experiences being placed in high-stakes leadership roles—often as the only woman in the room—managing major clients, mergers, IPOs, and strategic initiatives. She learned firsthand that top-level success requires more than expertise.Dina’s framework centers on three pillars: Results (strategic focus and outcomes), Relationships (trust and influence), and Resilience (high performance without burnout).Previously, she served as EVP of a private equity firm, helping grow sales 15x, led a 75-person team at a digital agency, and began her career in consulting at PwC.She holds an MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and an MBA from the University of Michigan and is credentialed by the ICF and EMCC. A prolific thought leader, she has written 60+ leadership articles and co-authored the bestselling Emotionally Charged (Oxford, 2025). She lives in the Bay Area with her family.

October 14, 202544 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Jenny Lisk

Jenny Lisk is the founder of the Widowed Parent Institute. She is an award-winning author and widowed mom dedicated to helping widowed parents increase their family’s well-being.Jenny’s books, Future Widow and Widowed Parents Unite, along with her show, The Widowed Parent Podcast, guide the journey of solo parenting after loss.Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Katie Couric Media, Yahoo Life, ParentMap, and more. She lives in Redmond, Washington, with her two teenagers.

September 23, 202525 min

Becoming a Sage: A Conversation with Sari Botton

Sari Botton publishes Oldster Magazine, Memoir Land, and Adventures in Journalism. She was the Writer in Residence in the creative writing department at SUNY New Paltz for Spring, 2023. Her Oldster Magazine on Substack has over 67,000 monthly subscribers.