Podcast Summary: Turning Points: Navigating Mental Health

Episode: Finding Purpose: Aging & Identity | S5E1
Host: Frances Leese (Tufts Health Plan | Boston Globe Media)
Date: October 8, 2025

Overview

This episode explores the profound transition of retirement, how aging reshapes personal identity, and the diverse ways individuals find renewed purpose later in life. Through the inspiring story of Paul and Jessica Schendel—who transformed their retirement into a decade-long initiative building a science education institute in rural Uganda—and insights from researcher Teresa Amabile, the discussion dives into losing and rediscovering identity, the emotional challenges and opportunities after leaving a career, and the power of connection and experimentation in redefining self and meaning in the later stages of life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Void" After Retirement: Facing Loss of Structure and Purpose

• Frances introduces the notion that retirement can feel like "standing at the edge of a cliff, staring into a void," where the structure of work drops away, leaving people to redefine who they are ([00:53]).
• Retirement is framed as both a challenge and an opportunity: the loss of an old identity can become the doorway to unexpected joy and reinvention ([00:53]).

2. Paul & Jessica Schendel’s Journey: Purpose Through Service

• Background:

  • Paul: Retired biochemist, former academic and biotech/pharma executive ([01:48]).
  • Jessica: Longtime social worker focused on trauma, families, and education ([02:24]).
  • Married with two daughters, four grandchildren.

• Catalyst:

  • With a child moving to Africa and Jessica’s connection to Uganda (where she volunteered at 18), they saw an opportunity for meaningful service together upon retirement ([03:09]).

• Initial Experience:

  • Arriving in rural Kanungu, Uganda, facing medical scarcity—"There were only a couple of doctors for about a quarter of a million people" ([04:58], Paul).
  • Paul discovers the lack of local science education limits the supply of future doctors and professionals.

• Transformational Pivot:

  • Advised by community leader Hamlet to focus on training science teachers, not scientists, addressing a critical educational gap ([06:30]).
  • Realization: "We could actually be creating something transformational here that could be a model for lots of places" ([07:30], Paul).

• Building the Institute:

  • Community engagement ensured the project was desired and sustainable ([07:58]).
  • Support emerged from unexpected places (e.g., a gym conversation led to architectural expertise and a state-of-the-art facility) ([09:25]-[10:11]).
  • "We ended up with this building with three laboratories... a computer science room, a lecture hall area... It was really quite a facility" ([10:11], Paul).
  • Over ten years, Paul and Jessica balanced life between Massachusetts and Uganda, then transitioned the institute to local control as it grew into a full university ([10:38]).

3. Measurable Impact and Full Circle Moments

• The program’s true testament: A student, inspired by a graduate of their institute, aspires to become a doctor—demonstrating generational impact ([10:52]).

4. Research Perspective: The Identity Crisis of Retirement

• Dr. Teresa Amabile, Harvard Business School Professor Emerita:

  • Interviewed 200+ retirees for her book "Retiring: Creating a Life that Works for You" ([12:14]).
  • "What happens to the individual's psychology when meaningful work goes away, when that part of your life is over?" ([12:29], Teresa).

• Key Findings:

  • Retirement isn’t only a financial decision; it’s an emotional, psychological, and identity shift ([13:01]).

  • The process involves four tasks ([14:12]):

    1. Deciding to retire
    2. Detaching from work
    3. Experimenting/exploring new interests
    4. Consolidating a new life structure

  • "Even people who insist their work doesn't define them are surprised by how much of their identity is still tied to their professional roles" ([14:37], Frances referencing Teresa's research).

5. Stories of Reinvention and Connection

• Irene’s story: Experienced a loss of respect and clear identity after retiring, illustrating challenges of detachment ([14:48], Teresa).

• Jay’s story: Used retirement to explore a passion (hot rodding cars), finding joy and a new community ([15:12], Teresa).

• On Paul & Jessica’s legacy:

  • "Many people talk about wanting to give back... but usually on a fairly small scale. That is what's so remarkable—they actually did it." ([15:51], Teresa).

6. Aging, Ageism, and Evolving Self-Perception

• Jessica reflects on shifting norms and expectations: grandmothers of past generations "would sit and read and knit and not much else... I'm just about that age now… People's expectations of the elderly have changed. I'm sure there is ageism, but the elderly contribute a lot." ([18:29], Jessica).
• "Plenty of life in the old dogs. Yeah." ([19:55], Jessica, with humor and affirmation).

7. Philosophies on Purpose and Staying Connected

• Paul: "To quote Shakespeare, to thine own self be true. Find something you can be passionate about. Don't be afraid to try, just go for it... Even if you fall short... it probably would have been a really fun ride." ([20:05])
• Jessica: "Keeping connected to other people. People are endlessly interesting... Don't curl up in a ball and only think about yourself... because that won't lead to anywhere." ([20:28])
• Teresa: "You can't do it alone... I don't think you can find your new sense of purpose, your new meaning, your new identities alone. Start experimenting with something before you retire." ([20:57])

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “What have we gotten ourselves into? I have no idea how to start a science education institute in rural Africa. This is just craziness.” — Paul Schendel ([00:33])
• “I never think about aging. People ask how old I am, I really have to think about it.” — Jessica Schendel ([01:40])
• “There were only a couple of doctors for about a quarter of a million people.” — Paul Schendel ([04:58])
• "We could actually be creating something transformational here that could be a model for lots of places." — Paul Schendel ([07:30])
• "It's hard to envision who you will be and what you will do with your time when you're not doing this." — Teresa Amabile ([13:31])
• "People do respect you while you're still working. And after, maybe not so much." — Teresa Amabile, relaying Irene’s story ([14:48])
• "I'm just about that age now, and the whole expectation of what I would be like at that age must have morphed as I've grown older... I think people are much more willing to concede that the elderly have a lot that they can and do contribute." — Jessica Schendel ([18:29])
• "Find something that you can be passionate about. Don't be afraid to try, just go for it... it probably would have been a really fun ride." — Paul Schendel ([20:05])
• "You cannot, I don't think you can find your new sense of purpose, your new meaning, your new identities alone." — Teresa Amabile ([20:57])
• "You don't retire, you refire." — Frances Leese, echoing Jessica ([21:44])

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:53 – Episode Theme: Mental health, aging, and the identity crisis at retirement
• 03:09 – Jessica’s connection to Uganda, shaping their retirement plan
• 06:30 – Pivot to science teacher training and vision for broader impact
• 09:25 – How community and chance encounters helped the project (the gym story)
• 10:38 – Lasting impact of the institute; stepping back for localized leadership
• 12:14 – Introduction of Teresa Amabile and her research on retirement transitions
• 14:12 – Four key psychological tasks of transitioning to retirement
• 18:29 – Jessica’s reflections on changing expectations of elders and ageism
• 20:05 – Paul, Jessica, and Teresa’s closing advice on pursuing passion and connection in later life

Tone and Takeaways

The tone is warm, candid, uplifting, and deeply human. Stories are told with humility and humor—Paul and Jessica downplay their achievements and shine a light on community collaboration, while also acknowledging vulnerability and uncertainty. Teresa Amabile’s research adds an analytical frame, stressing that finding new purpose after retirement takes conscious effort, experimentation, and strong connections with others.

Key Messages:

• Retirement and aging are as much about reinvention and discovery as they are about endings.
• Identity shifts can be daunting, but embracing experimentation and human connection leads to deeper purpose and joy.
• Taking risks, staying curious, being open to community, and remaining engaged are essential for well-being in later life.

For More Resources:
Visit globe.com/turningpoints for mental health support and further reading.