“Ageing well is less about slowing down and more about choosing wisely.”

What happens when the working years slow down and the noise quiets?

In this episode, Hamza Idris is joined by Ken Kelling for a thoughtful conversation about ageing, purpose, identity, and redefining life after work.

Ken brings decades of leadership experience and personal reflection to explore how men can age with intention rather than fear, and why retirement should be seen as a transition, not an ending.

This is not a conversation about giving up.

It’s about recalibration.

Perspective.

And learning how to live well in every season of life.

This episode is for anyone thinking about legacy, longevity, and what it means to remain useful, grounded, and connected as life evolves.

🔑 What you’ll take from this episode:

• Why ageing should be approached with purpose, not anxiety

• The identity shift many men struggle with after work

• How to redefine success beyond productivity

• The importance of curiosity, learning, and service later in life

• Why community and contribution matter more with age

• How to prepare emotionally, not just financially, for retirement

⏱️ Episode Chapters

00:00 Reframing ageing as a new season

01:14 Welcome & introducing Ken Kelling

03:40 Ken’s career journey and leadership lessons

06:55 Identity, work, and the danger of over-identification

10:30 The emotional reality of retirement

14:10 Redefining success beyond productivity

18:25 Purpose, service, and staying useful

22:40 Curiosity, learning, and personal growth with age

27:05 Community, loneliness, and connection

31:30 Health, routine, and ageing well

36:20 Mentorship, legacy, and giving back

41:10 Faith, reflection, and perspective over time

46:00 What Ken wishes he knew earlier

49:30 Advice for men approaching later seasons of life

52:40 Final reflections on ageing with grace

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-man-podcast/id1784333559

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4v7TSM63Rhmdd4GxpUlIEa

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@modernjourneyhq?sub_confirmation=1

Website: http://www.tmmpodcast.com

🎙️ About The Modern Man Podcast

Honest conversations about masculinity, mental health, work, faith, and the human experience.

Less noise. More truth.

#modernmanpodcast #ageingwithgrace #retirementlife #menspurpose #legacy #modernmasculinity #lifetransitions #emotionalmaturity #faithandlife

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