Most men spend more time planning a two-week vacation than they do planning the 20 years they will live in retirement. If you’re only thinking about your money, you might be heading for a crash.

In this episode of Minutes to Midlife, I sit down with AARON KIRSCH, CFP and DR. LAURA ZETTEL-WATSON, PHD, CPG, authors of The Rewarding Retirement Workbook, to discuss the "Check Engine Light" of midlife. We dive deep into why high-achievers often end up unhappy despite financial success, and the key essentials you need to build a life of meaning—not just wealth.

What We Cover:

Why the "Midlife Crisis" is actually a golden opportunity.

The difference between Hedonic (Pleasure) and Eudaemonic (Meaning) happiness.

How to "Train for your 70s" starting today.

The 3 Health Pillars you are probably neglecting.

(00:00) Intro: Why Money Isn't Enough
(00:36) The Problem with "One Size Fits All" Retirement
(01:32) The "Unhappy Millionaire" Trap
(03:19) The Midlife "Check Engine Light"
(07:06) Why Men Fail to Invest in Themselves
(07:56) Eudaemonic vs. Hedonic Goals (The Real Secret)
(09:17) The Big Three: Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise
(12:01) The "Train for your 70s" Mindset
(12:42) One Small Habit to Change Your Life Today
(16:10) Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go Years
(17:50) Final Wisdom: Practice Grace
(20:22) Rapid Fire: "This or That" Game
(21:14) How to Find Aaron & Laura

Mentioned in this Episode:

📄 Free Health Worksheet Download: https://bit.ly/44nAPyr
📘 The Rewarding Retirement Workbook: https://a.co/d/idEWmfQ
🌐 Aaron & Laura's Website: https://www.rewardingretirementworkbook.com/

Join Our Community:

Website - https://minutestomidlife.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnnypilkey/
Support the Show - https://ko-fi.com/minutestomidlife

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER Just a quick heads-up: What we discuss on this podcast is for general information only and is not medical advice. For any health-related questions, please consult with your doctor.

Clinical Psychologist DR. ALI MATTU reveals why the "midlife crisis" is a myth, how to recognize your biological "stop signal," why lone wolves perish, and the truth about the "Dreaming Error."

Dr. Ali Mattu is a clinical psychologist and content creator who has helped millions of people understand the psychology behind their daily struggles. He served as an Assistant Professor at Columbia University and specializes in anxiety and cognitive behavioral therapy.

He explains:

Why you feel lost (The "Dreaming Error" explained)

Why depression may be a biological "Stop Signal"

How to discern what life is asking of you right now

(00:00) Intro: The "Dreaming Error"

(02:18) Why Midlife Crisis is a Myth

(05:45) The Biological Reality (Hormones & Aging)

(06:53) The "Bridge Generation" Stress

(07:58) Why Life Feels Harder Than Our Parents'

(12:04) Shame & The Social Media Trap

(14:23) The Loss of "Monoculture"

(16:03) Why Men Need Shoulder-to-Shoulder Connection

(19:56) You Are Not A Lone Wolf

(23:09) Redefining Masculinity & Strength

(26:12) The Captain Picard Model of Manhood

(28:04) Depression as a Biological "Stop Signal"

(31:37) Dr. Ali's Personal Story (Postpartum Struggle)

(38:23) What is Life Asking of You?

(42:07) Finding Control/Dr. Ali's Health Wake-Up Call

(45:31) Neuroplasticity: It's Never Too Late

(46:30) Strength Training for Real Life

(49:46) Experimenting with Micro-Changes

(51:49) Game: "This or That" (Rapid Fire)

(55:09) Where to Find Dr. Ali

Follow Dr. Ali:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrAli

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alimattu/

Website - https://braverwithanxiety.com

Join Our Community:

Subscribe - https://www.youtube.com/@MinutestoMidlife

Website - https://minutestomidlife.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnnypilkey/

Support the Show! - https://ko-fi.com/minutestomidlife

What's our show all about? (Hint: it's you)