Pat Belding Interview: The Dream! Operating a Sports Bar in Retirement
Diana Landau | May 19, 2026
It’s baseball season again so you can be sure Carl is interviewing someone connected to the sport. In this interview, Pat Belding, a former marketing agency owner is now running a Sports Bar at age 66. Sure, some people have always thought it would be fun to have their own restaurant or bar “some day” but Pat is actually doing it. After he passed on his agency to his employees in 2021, he came face-to-face with his first retirement. Pat shares with us experiments tried, lessons learned and he’s still knocking it out of the park.
Pat is a native San Franciscan, growing up in the West Portal, the oldest in a family of 5. He says that as a kid, he was always curious, always trying something new and different. He also pushed the boundaries with his parents. “I had a great group of friends to keep me on track,” he says.
After college, he trained and worked in the graphic arts and creative industry, founding his own marketing agency, Belding Associates in 1984. He worked with Fortune 100 companies like 3M, Cisco, Google and more. Pat adds, “1992 was an exciting time. The whole industry was changing so dramatically.”
By 2021, the marketing industry had been utterly transformed by technology and social media. Pat shares that something shifted for him and he realized it was time to step away. “The transition was surreal. "I quickly learned I wasn't quite as relevant as I thought was!” But he began to realize that in (un)retirement he had the chance to do all things he had never had time for while he’d been working.
After completing all the house projects, Pat says his wife gently hinted that maybe he could find other places to put his energy. “I wasn't necessarily frustrated or bored. I just left myself be open to things.” Like many of our podcast guests, this was a period of experimentation for him. He volunteered to help restore hiking paths, worked for the US Census where he hired people and learned what it’s like to work with the federal government. He also worked for the SF Giants for a while. He says he never really had an “Aha” moment. “I still don't know if I’m doing it (unretirement) right, but it drives me to succeed.”
Pat is still pushing way beyond his comfort zone, this time with his current venture. Three years ago he started helping out at Frankie’s, a cool sports bar on the South Beach marina and just a short walk from Oracle Park, where the SF Giants play. Frankie's, originally named the Java Hut, has a special history--it's the oldest operating eatery on the San Francisco waterfront. It's been around for over a century.
One year into it, and with no prior experience in the food service industry, Pat started managing Frankie's and he's a part-owner as well. He says that daily he deals with customers, employees, food and beverage vendors, and everything in between. He’s building a solid team and hopes to be able to step back sometime in the future. “Right now I’m in the trenches! Be careful what you say ‘yes’ to.” In the off-season, Pat travels with his wife and spends time with family and friends, but Franke’s still keeps him pretty busy. And of course, he’s always cheering for the SF Giants to win.
Pat’s tips on (un)retirement:
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“Don’t be afraid to take chances. Stay curious!”
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“I think it’s really easy to stay in your comfort zone, especially as we get older. Now is the time to adopt a ‘Why Not? "mentality!”
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“Get engaged as much as possible, (with all ages) because there’s so much more you can add value to in your community and our world.”
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Andrew Motiwalla Interview: Mr. Travel - The Good Life Abroad
Diana Landau | April 14, 2026
Have you ever dreamt of living the good life abroad in your retirement? Carl's guest this month, Andrew Motiwalla, has created the perfect travel experience for those who want to spend a month or two in an European country while enjoying a built-in community for shared adventures. As a successful entrepreneur and CEO with 30 years of experience designing transformational programs, Andrew’s latest venture is The Good Life Abroad. This network of residential communities is designed specifically for active older adults who want to truly immerse themselves in European living.
Born in Chicago to Peruvian and Indian parents, Andrew’s passion for travel was ignited during a study abroad program in South America and later through his service in the Peace Corps. He founded an organization providing Peace Corps-like experiences for high school students, and he has since served as Chief Revenue Officer for several global groups. "They (the former students) have gone on to do amazing things. I'm very proud of the work I did there."
Now in his 50s, Andrew began reimagining his own "(un)retirement." He wanted to travel extensively without the burden of property ownership. "I wanted to go live somewhere and I wanted people to do stuff with," he explains. The Good Life Abroad offers exactly that: an immersive experience for active adults aged 55+ that provides both a local concierge service and a community of like-minded travelers.
"That process of immersion and then adaptation leads to growth that's super important as we get older," Andrew says.
Andrew Motiwalla's (Un) Retirement Tips:
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"Avoid "Tourist Mode": Don't try to pack everything in. Slow down to avoid burnout and leave space in your itinerary for serendipity".
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"Prioritize Friendships: As you age, focus on connections that give you energy rather than maintaining friendships that no longer serve you".
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"Push Your Comfort Zone: Continue to engage with new and different experiences. Pushing past your comfort zone is essential for continued growth".
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour: Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Alex Jeffery Interview: Director of The Power of Pickleball
Diana Landau | March 24, 2026
Bonus episode! Carl combined his two passions in this interview with Alex Jeffery -- Pickleball and Documentaries. Alex is an accomplished documentary filmmaker who recently released an in-depth documentary called the The Power of Pickleball. Alex co-owns the production company Bespoke Works with his friend and long-time collaborator, Paul Petersen. His first feature film, “A Chance Encounter,” won the audience choice award at the Heartland Film Festival in 2020 and then was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
His film “The Power of Pickleball” captures the essence and spirit of one of the country’s fastest-growing (and evolving) sports and it just was just released on Prime Video and Apple TV. Alex points out that although many people think pickleball just happened overnight, it has a history going back to the 1960’s.
A few years ago he was spending time with his Mom and Aunt, who are pickleball fanatics, and they said, “What if we made a documentary about Pickleball?” Not knowing much about it, Alex says they started reaching out to people to learn more. What struck him was how welcoming everyone was. “People opened their arms to us and started telling us their stories and wanted to share more about the sport.”
The documentary, which took several years to make, starts at the beginning of the sport in Bainbridge Island, WA, weaves very personal stories of how the sport has changed players’ lives, covers the controversies and also the growth of the professional circuit. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Alex adds. “It’s really cool to see people from all walks of life discover pickleball and it gives them purpose again.”
Alex originally wanted to be an actor and moved to LA after college. Realizing LA was not right for him, he created his second act as a low-budget, independent film director. Based in Shreveport, LA, Alex loves mentoring film and acting students of all ages and experience. He also strives to a life-long student of the world and an avid traveler.
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Mitch Slater Interview: From Broadcast Producer to Advisor to Digital Creator
Diana Landau | March 10, 2026
It’s more about re"wiring” than retiring, Carl’s guest tells us. Appearing on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business and other major network’s, Mitch Slater is the host and producer of UBS-TV, where he interviews advisors, industry leaders and innovators helping to shape the future of the financial advisory biz. In his first career, Mitch hosted popular radio shows, and eventually became a producer for the Larry King Show. Larry urged Mitch to go to LA, and he worked on shows like Love Connection, Love Boat and others. (You'll have to listen to the episode to hear more—Mitch has stories!) Mitch then pivoted to success in the financial world for decades. And now, he’s combined all his skills and experience for an impressive third act.
Mitch grew up in Springfield, NJ not far from NYC. He loved acting and piano from an early age and grew up always wanting to be on the stage. As a teen he attended a theater program that included notable actors as teachers including Charlton Heston. “It taught us to be serious about acting and the craft,” Mitch says. In college he performed, DJ’d and interned wherever he could. “I’m an ‘out there’ person—I’m more comfortable on stage then off.”
Before graduating college, Mitch found the school's radio station and called it his home. While interning for another radio show, a twist of fate resulted in getting the chance to work on the air with Howard Stern. And while working on the Charlie Rose show, Mitch jumped at an opportunity to have a brief moment with Larry King and ask for career advice. They ended up having a 4-hour lunch which led to Mitch becoming a producer for Larry’s show. “I put myself into opportunities that never really would have happened but I took the risks.” Mitch says. “Overnight I was getting to work with childhood heroes like astronauts, Frank Sinatra, baseball stars, you name it.”
In the late 1980’s, he got engaged and looked for a more lucrative career. At his father’s urging he shifted to becoming a financial advisor and built a decades-long successful career. “It gave me a lifestyle I never would have dreamed. The financial business is really about relationships and I loved that part of it.”
Today, Mitch as truly come full-circle, combining his passions for radio and television with his experience in the financial world. He is the Executive Director of Digital Communications for UBS National Sales. He helps thousands master the art of telling their story on-camera, on podcasts and social media. He hosts and produces programs across UBS-TV, including UBS Front and Center. Mitch has been married for 38 years to his wife, Leslie, an editor at TIME and they have two children. Mitch says, “I’ve never been happier!”
Mitch Slater’s (un)retirement advice on reinventing yourself:
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Career choices: “Be different, Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Humanize it. Stay open to learning!”
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Reinvention: “It wasn’t so much about starting over, but reapplying all these decades of experience into a new format that kinda fits who I am today. I didn't abandon my last 35 years, I just translated it.”
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Tech/Media: “You don't have to choose the trends, you just have to be open to hearing about them. And that’s going to keep you relevant.”
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Support: “Just like in sports, everybody needs a coach. Seek those coaches out!”
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Tom Marks Interview: Survived 40+ Years in the Ad Biz to a Coming of Age in Retirement
Diana Landau | February 10, 2026
Discovering "the new you" after you retire and defining your true purpose takes many people by surprise. Carl interviews successful advertising executive, best-selling author/speaker and one of the leading voices on Retirement Happiness, Tom Marks.
Tom founded his own advertising agency, TMA+Peritus way back in 1983. He has written the bestseller "The Second-Best Business Book Ever Written" and his latest book is "Coming of Age in Retirement: An Advertising Executive's Story of Enlightenment and Revelation."
Tom was born in Chicago. His mother was a designer with her own company and his father was an advertising executive. His dad's biggest claim to fame was that he was the marketing genius behind Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn. "It was an idyllic childhood," he says. Growing up he always wanted to be in the advertising biz like his father and after graduating from Claremont McKenna College, he founded his own agency. He says he made the mistake of not having any clients at the start. "It was hard in the beginning but once you turn a corner, it's a dream." His clients included McDonald's, Footlocker, Honeywell and California Avocados to name just a few.
After working very long hours and weekends for decades, Tom had a retirement AHA moment. "I just felt like I was losing my mojo. I didn't want to work weekends or nights anymore. I could feel myself slowing down." His transition into retirement did not go well, however. "In a word, it was horrible! I made a lot of mistakes." He tells us he just started doing what other people were doing and lost his individualism. Tom made lots of lists. "I was on a hamster wheel and I needed to get off."
So he consulted friends for suggestions and one said he should write a memoir. "I discovered the writing process was fun for me." His latest best-seller is about finding your own path to happiness in retirement combined with a poignant, funny memoir. Tom lives in Tucson with his wife and has two more books coming out this year.
Tom Mark's Advice to Finding Happiness in (Un)retirement:
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"Be careful about what you read (about retirement.) So many of the books on retirement are about the "how" and not the "why."
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"In retirement, we are no longer defined by our professions. We shouldn't be defined by our possessions. We can be whoever, whatever, whenever we want to be. It's the part of life when individualism is at its greatest opportunity and importance."
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour: Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Jillian Johnsrud Interview: Learn How To Take Mini Retirements
Diana Landau | January 13, 2026
How can you retire soon, and often? Carl talks with author/speaker/coach Jillian Johnsrud about the how’s of taking mini-retirements and why they're so good for you. Jillian is the author and host the popular podcast “Retire Often” that helps individuals, companies and financial advisors make sabbaticals a reality—through coaching, consulting and training. Jillian is also an in-demand speaker on the subject of taking multiple mini-retirements.
Jillian grew up in a small town in Montana and after many years away has been back in Montana for over a decade. She grew up in a blue-collar family and she didn't really have big dreams back then. She was an anxious, shy kid with dyslexia. But she says one firm, earnest high school teacher inspired her. She told Jillian, “The spelling doesn’t matter, it’s a low skill set. A better skill set is to be able to tell a good story.” This concept had a huge impact on Jillian.
She worked her way through college, juggling various retail positions. After marrying, living very frugally and saving, she felt she had the financial independence at age 32 to take the leap to become a professional writer. And yes, she also has 5 kids. “I just truly enjoyed the process of writing,” she says, not worrying so much about financial gains from it at that time.
Jillian has personally taken a dozen mini-retirements. She tells us why it's important to do it, and how to create a sabbatical for yourself, including how to talk to your employers, even what to say to your questioning family and friends about it. For example, she says to develop a positive story around your time off, not just the "I'm so stressed out" approach. Think through how it might also work for your employer and how they can manage while you're out and benefit when you get back. She says it may even take a year to plan it. But it can be done!
Jillian says the first mini-retirement she took gave her time to refresh, regroup and find her creativity again. One of her mini-retirements included a 10-week road trip to 10 National Parks with her family. “So often we recognize there’s this window of time to do something, and if we don’t do it now, we will have missed the opportunity.” Now with teens at home, Jillian still finds time to take mini-retirements for extended travel, improving her mental and physical health, and more.
Jillian Johnsrud’s Tips for the Mini-Retirement Life:
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“Give yourself permission to pause from the life you've created. Taking off one, two or three months can change everything—including your perspective and goals for your future.”
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“View your retirement as a non-judgmental science experiment. Try new things, try other things, observe and discover what works best for you.”
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“Schedule some, but less in mini-retirement. Just winging it doesn't work. Experiment with different plans, routines and boundaries to help you realize the outcome you’re looking for.”
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Kevin Blake Interview: Mystifying Second Act as an Illusionist
Diana Landau | December 09, 2025
Carl is amazed when he interviews the one and only Kevin Blake. Kevin is different from most of our podcast guests in that he is only in his 30’s. But he definitely took a big risk to dive into his very successful second act and he shares what he learned with the rest of us. Kevin is a former marketing exec who left a successful career to follow his dream of becoming a magician/illusionist/mentalist. He now has a wildly popular show in San Francisco at the Palace Theater.
Kevin grew up in suburban Sacramento, CA. A big part of his childhood was spent going to swim practice and becoming a star swimmer in high school and the collegiate level (He would later go on to swim in the Trials for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics!)
After college and a degree in Psychological and Brain Science, Kevin landed at Wells Fargo and pretty quickly felt he wanted something different. Walking around one day in SF he saw a sign for a “Creative Agency” and knew he would rather be following a much more creative path. As a marketing exec, he created brand identities through digital, print, motion and video for big brands such as Lagunitas Brewing Company, Duraflame, JanSport Backpacks, Intel, and more.
While Kevin enjoyed that career, he always had a passion for magic and performing shows. He developed a side gig of online magic shows for companies all the while honing his craft. The pandemic actually became a big new opportunity for him. “I was making more (money) in two months than I was making for my yearly salary.” (You'll have to listen to the podcast to learn more about that!) “It gave me the freedom to be able to quit,” he tells us. He decided to go for it and work in magic full-time. His family and friends were nervous for him and supportive. “Nervous? Yes. But I was confident.”
Kevin has performed and has competed on a national level -- America's Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Now he performs for sold-out, live magic shows at the Palace Theater as well as for corporate business events. “I’m lucky I have a marketing background so I can sell tickets and promote my business,” he adds. When not performing, Kevin is constantly working on his show, and also spending time with his family. And yes, he’s still swimming.
Kevin Blake, on beginning a Second Act:
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“Your time is open. What do you do with that time? We all have to fill our time with things that create meaning for us.”
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“If you've always had a passion sitting in the back of your mind, try it as a side gig. Go for it, try it, experiment and see what you find. The only thing that can happen is that you'll learn a lot.”
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“If it (second act) was really, really comfortable I wouldn't have that same fire to hustle!”
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“Finding or creating your own small network of people who do what you do is critical.”
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Anthony Napolitano Interview: Forced Into Early Retirement and Now a Renaissance Man
Diana Landau | November 11, 2025
Anthony Napolitano retired two years ago, at age 52. He and Carl sat down to talk about the highs, lows and great insights into creating your own personalized Life Retirement Plan. As a former VP of Product/Service Strategy for HP and GoPro, Anthony has fully embraced his new role as Chief Enjoyment Officer. He is a man of many talents, including as a prolific blogger, wine educator and a coach for high school girls' volleyball teams.
Born in Hoboken, NJ, Anthony's parents were Italian immigrants in search of the American Dream. His father was an artist and his mother stayed home with Anthony and his brother. When he was still in grade school, his family moved to California to realize that dream. Anthony played four years of college baseball for Loyola-Marymount College. "My baseball career ended when I graduated," he tells us. "Somehow I got a job at a really big company." (Hewlett-Packard)
Over the course of 24 years, Anthony held many positions within the corporation's divisions, including as VP & General Manager for consumer subscriptions, retail photo solutions and more. "I was always wanting to learn and gain new skills and there was so much opportunity in that corporate world." He talks about having a great career there and then at 47, he began thinking about not only the financial part of retirement, but also what his non-financial life was going to look like. He began to study retirement in earnest. Two years later, his company downsized and it took him a year to find new employment. That's when he got really serious about crafting an early retirement.
Anthony worked for GoPro and soon was part of another downsizing. "In a way they made the decision (to retire) for me. I'm really grateful. I was so relieved and joyful." He lived his Retirement Life Plan in that first year. He bases his plan on the four pillars of Health, Mindset, Purpose and Relationships. At the end of each year, Anthony holds himself accountable and actually grades himself on how he's doing in each of the four pillars. He is now as busy as he wants to be. "It's (retirement) isn't just a project to finish. I'm going to keep evolving," he says. "There is not one day, one hour that I wish I kept working!"
Anthony Napolitano's (Un)Retirement Insights:
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"Start making a list of the things you want to do in retirement and then hold yourself accountable."
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"Say 'No' more. It is really important to be intentional about your commitments. Try not to over-commit too soon."
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"Have time that is structured and also un-structured. It's a balance I'm trying to strike now."
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"Every week I make a point to reach out to an old friend or people who've been important in my life, to reconnect. It's so rewarding."
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Fritz Gilbert Interview: Mr. Retirement -- Author of "The Retirement Manifesto"
Diana Landau | October 21, 2025
Ok, this is a BIG DEAL! Carl interviews a retirement legend in this 100th EPISODE!
Carl chose retirement expert/book author/speaker/do-gooder Fritz Gilbert as his 100th podcast guest. Fritz's award-winning blog, The Retirement Manifesto, is focused on helping people achieve a great retirement. Since 2015, Fritz has written 441 articles and 1 million words about how to live your best life in retirement. Fritz retired after more than three decades in corporate America, where he progressed through the various levels of a multinational corporation serving the global aluminum industry. He's still changing lives, read on!
Fritz grew up in the small town of Hillsdale, MI with his parents and two older sisters. His father was a college professor and his mother a teacher. This meant their summers were free to explore the great outdoors, one of Fritz's true passions. It's no surprise that Fritz was a curious, hi-energy kid. He says he wanted to be an NFL punter growing up, then to be a doctor. He attended Wittenberg University in Ohio. He says, "My father always told me I could be whatever I wanted to be." On a whim as a senior, he interviewed with an aluminum industry exec that evolved into a highly successful 33-year career.
Tired of the corporate world's politics, he retired in 2018. But, three years before retirement and this is important, he started thinking and strategizing about what his ideal retirement life would look like in 2015. "I got out at 55," he tells us. He started a blog, which he had never done before and kept on writing. He wrote the 10 Commandments of Retirement, which focuses on attributes to keep in mind daily in retirement, such as; have a great attitude, pursue your passions, stay flexible to change, try new things and more. "I would have never dreamed that 10 years later the blog would become so successful with over 16,000 followers. I was curious and I took that first step!"
He wrote and wrote about not just the financial parts of retirement, but the equally (if not more so) purpose parts of retirement. "I love the relationships I've had too. It's a deep subject, I'm still writing. It's turned into something I love to do." Recently Fritz decided not to do a full-time blog after 10 years so he has time to pursue other passions. He loves to mountain-bike in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, spend time with family, work in the garden, and lots more.
Fritz is also helping his wife with her passion, Freedom for Fido, a community group that builds fencing for low-income families that have dogs chained in the yards. They've built 187 fences in 6 years with the coordination of several hundred volunteers. "It's created this incredible network, we're getting exercise building fences, and I can't even begin to tell you about the impact we're making on the community." Just like that little kid in Hillsdale, Fritz is still high-energy, loving the outdoors and still curious!
Fritz Gilbert's (Un)Retirement advice:
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"Learn to listen and follow your curiosity. Look for things that might interest you and take that step."
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"The path to fulfillment and enjoyment is to just try new things. Do as many as you can. Some will hit and some will miss. But enjoy the ones you like and keep going!"
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The 90-10 Rule: People focus 90% on the financial part before retirement. It's amazing--once you're in retirement, you spend about 10% thinking about the financial part and 90% thinking about what you are going to do now. It's the purpose side of retirement that people need to think about before they retire."
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Carin Stutz Interview: Restaurant Industry Icon Pays It Forward
Diana Landau | September 23, 2025
Carin Stutz has been Somebody -- an icon in the food service and restaurant world for decades. Carl interviews her about her meteoric career starting in service and working her way up to Division VP for Wendy's International, Exec VP for Applebee's, President of Global Business Development for Brinker International (Chili's Grill & Bar, Maggiano's Little Italy, etc.) and now the good work she is doing to give back to the restaurant industry she loves. Her industry awards and accolades are a very long list.
After college she started as a management trainee for Wendy's and quickly fell in love with the restaurant biz. "I think I learned early on that you have to advocate for yourself," she says. Carin has held top-level positions at seven different restaurant organizations, where she led hundreds of franchises across multiple brands in 34 countries.
Carin (un)retired two years ago at age 67. Her Mom was ill and she says she started realizing that quality of life can deteriorate quickly. "You start thinking about how much time you have left. It was a wake-up call." Carin now sits on nine boards and has founded a global network called GLEAM, which is 100% volunteer-run and provides mentoring and career enhancement opportunities to those in the restaurant industry. "I feel so much has been given to me. I wanted to give back," she adds.
When not mentoring, volunteering, and speaking all over the country, Carin spends time traveling with her husband, enjoying family and friends and tries to attend two concerts a week. She says, "Just say YES to more things. Get outside. Do something. Stay active!"
Carin Stutz's (Un)retirement Tips:
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"What do you do when the applause dies? (After a big career.) You ultimately have to recognize your own accomplishments because it really does stop and you need to be okay with that."
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"I was working all the time so I didn't have hobbies when I (un)retired. I started thinking about what I didn't have in my life and what I could have now."
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"Have friends! There's something about friendship that lifts you up and just enriches your soul."
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour: Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog
Best of "Pickleball Chronicles with Traver"
Carl Landau | September 02, 2025
It's BONUS day in the Landau Tiki Bar this week. We're featuring The Best of "Pickleball Chronicles with Traver". Even if you're not a pickleball enthusiast, you'll really enjoy this episode. Six fun-filled and heartfelt stories.
Uh, let's scratch that. It's total Pickleball Mania -- anecdotes, insights, quirks, crazy cliches, true confessions! All in less than 30 minutes!
Traver West joined me on the show about 2 years ago. He works at Pickleball Central, the world's largest pickleball company in the world. We have fun every month just talking about the sport we both love...PICKLEBALL.
Enjoy our 6 favorite segments of "Pickleball Chronicles with Traver"!
• Valentine’s day, sweet customer anecdotes
• Playing in adverse conditions
• How my DJ career has helped in pickleball
• Being a good pickleball partner
• Turning a bad run around
• The growth of Pickleball
David Johnson Interview: The King of Pickleball Industry Begins His Second Act
Diana Landau | August 12, 2025
Carl is excited to interview David Johnson, an internationally recognized pioneer and leader in the pickleball industry. He co-founded Pickleball Central in 2006 with his wife Anna Copley at the dawn of the modern day pickleball renaissance. He built the company into the largest pickleball retailer and led the acquisition of Pickleball Tournaments and Pickleball Inc. while leading Pickleball Central to tens millions of dollars in sales annually before selling the company to Dundan Capital, owner and operator of the PPA Tour, Major League Pickleball, Pickleball Brackets and other related companies. And David has found new ways to give back to the industry in his (un)retirement.
David had an adventure-filled childhood, born in North Dakota and then living in Copenhagen, Denmark for 4 years. His father was a Lutheran pastor and his family traveled extensively while David was growing up. Right after graduating college in Seattle, David formed a software consulting business with partner and then launched Pinnacle Publishing in the early 1980's. (Seeing a serial-entrepreneur pattern yet?)
David has launched at least 7 different companies, everything from software to publishing to online funeral planning. But he saw a BIG opportunity with Pickleball. He and his wife, Anna, first started with a website selling t-shirts and merchandise, then pickleball equipment and the business took off. Sales soared to $40 million annually at Pickleball Central and eventually David and Anna decided to sell the company.
Carl asks about the stress of the transition. "When we sold, Anna retired immediately. I stayed on for a year and then retired. I took a full 8 months where I didn't do anything pickleball-related. But I started feeling a little antsy." So, David decided to do some consulting involving developing pickleball facilities, which led to him forming the International Association of Pickleball Facilities (IAPF). His team advises businesses and cities on building facilities. They've created a conference and trade show and also publish a magazine, "The Business of Pickleball" and more. David says they help their clients understand building requirements, develop programming, avoid mistakes and take that next important step--build a sense of community within a pickleball facility. "So when people come to play, they have a great time!" he emphasizes. When David isn't working in his new pickleball (ad)ventures, he spends time with his family in Seattle and yes, plays some pickleball.
David Johnson's (un)retirement advice:
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"I think (un)retirement can be more successful if you make sure you have some accountability that you apply to what you're doing. I found in the 8 months when I wasn't doing anything that I got bored. I didn't feel like I was accountable to do anything useful. Give yourself some structure, some accountability."
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"Focus on the things you enjoy and just look for opportunities. It might be advising smaller businesses that are just getting started as a way to expose yourself to other opportunities out there. On LinkedIn you can get some really good intel on an industry you're interested in."
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"I was sort of a behind-the-scenes guy. I am not fond of listening to my own voice. To get out of my comfort zone, I've really tried to work on in the last years or so, to be more public and forward-facing. I've moderated a number of panels in the industry and we're doing videos. I've got to push myself. Practice is the way to do that and get comfortable."
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour: Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog
Meet the (Un)Retirement Experts: Interviews with Joe Casey & Judi Nadratowski
Diana Landau | July 15, 2025
This is a special bonus episode where Carl interviews The (Un)Retirement Experts. First up is the GOAT of retirement podcasts, Joe Casey, who has hosted more than 350 episodes of "Retirement Wisdom". He's a true retirement pioneer. Before his first retirement at 52, Joe had a very successful career working as a SVP for Merrill Lynch. He pivoted to executive coaching and retirement coaching after going back to earn 2 additional masters degrees, in Executive Coaching and Gerontology. "I was curious how it all worked," he tells us. He is also the author of "Win the Retirement Game."
Although Joe loves exec coaching and as well as helping people design their new lives in retirement, he says one regret he has is that he jumped into full-time right away and didn't take off any time in between. "When I started out, (again), I said, I'll do it until I get it right. I'm still doing it!"
Joe's (un)retirement advice:
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"Embrace retirement. Try new things. Know where to draw the line. What pace of work works for you now?"
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"Two common missteps are 1) Taking on too much too soon, and 2) Treating retirement as a vacation for too long."
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"Be willing to be really bad at something as you learn. (Which is really hard for people who have been very successful in their careers.)
Carl also interviews Judi Nadratowski. Judi is a relative newbie to retirement. She retired from an international law firm six years ago. She had worked for her firm for 40 years, helping to manage 1,000 professional staff and 800 lawyers in 9 different offices. She says that when she turned 60, she started looking at her life as more finite. She is now a successful writer, blogger and contributor exploring modern retirement.
"I didn't do much planning at all," she says. "I should have given retirement more thought. But on the other hand, I'm not sure I really would have known who I was until I was in this (new) place." She wanted to do something new, something different and more creative with less stress. Judi looked for inspiration everywhere, including following retirement sites on LinkedIn. "That really got me writing about lifestyle, changes and growth in this phase of life. It's allowed me to work through some things, to see myself in a new way."
Judi's (un)retirement advice:
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"Learning to say 'No' was hard. You start to question yourself. Am I being too lazy? Am I not seeing this in the right way? It's about discernment and knowing what fits and having the confidence to walk away (from another work opportunity) to something else that you're going to build."
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"Let go of old definitions. I gradually started to see what served me well in my career was not going to serve me so well now. How do you define success now? It's more about enjoying the ride than the end goal."
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I Used to be Somebody World Tour: Croatia
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Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog
Nick Mueller Interview: Mr. World War II Museum - Co-Founder & Former CEO
Diana Landau | June 10, 2025
We must learn from the past to move forward, and Carl's guest this week, Nick Mueller, PhD, has made a huge impact on our world. Nick's "day jobs" as a distinguished teacher, historian, Dean and then Vice Chancellor at the University of New Orleans led him to play a key role in developing learning programs and a University Conference Center in Innsbruck, Austria as well as a UNO Research and Technology Park. But his leading role as the Founding President and CEO of the world-renowned National World War II Museum (and campus) in New Orleans was a remarkable achievement. And he's not done yet.
Nick was born to German immigrant parents in Philadelphia and grew up in Louisville, KY. His father was a Baptist minister and theologian and the family of six traveled the country, often staying with other families. By age 18, Nick says he'd been to 46 U.S. states and 7 countries.
After college, Nick's passion for teaching led to his exemplary career in academia. Everything changed one afternoon in 1990 when Nick and his good friend and colleague, Stephen Ambrose, sat down to discuss creating a National World War II Museum. Stephen was a historian (best selling author and a true celebrity in the day), WWII expert and was finishing a new book. Stephen had located a historical site and had 1,000 oral histories about D-Day. Most importantly, he recognized a huge opportunity to create the museum and knew Nick Mueller could bring the vision to life. Nick adds, "We went broke three times, made a lot of mistakes, we didn't know anything about building a museum, but Steve was so mesmerizing and the board stuck around."
The museum opened in 2000. Thirty-four years and $400 million later, plus steadfast support from Tom Hanks, Tom Brokaw, Steven Spielberg and Congress, the well-regarded museum has seven pavilions and is ranked by TripAdvisor as the #3 American museum and #8 worldwide museum to visit. Nick attributes America's part in WWII to resilience and the classic David and Goliath. "It's a powerful, good story that Americans can be proud of and draw strength from."
In 2017, Nick was going to try to retire again but he's been busy writing books, speaking and leading WWII-themed tours in Europe. At 85, he just launched his latest book, "Preserving the Legacy: Creating the National WWII Museum". Nick looks to the future with enthusiasm. "I'm looking forward to however many years I have ahead of me!"
Nick Mueller's (un)retirement advice:
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"I'm trying to simplify my life. My wife would like me to start with my office."
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"I wasn't running anything anymore and that was a huge change. I have no big deadlines now except the ones I set for myself."
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"Everyone says Follow your passion. Your passions are limited by your age and the time you have left to pursue them. So you have to adjust a little bit."
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour: Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Wayne Schmidt Interview: A Traveling (Un)Retirement Adventure 92 Countries and Counting!
Diana Landau | May 13, 2025
"Digital Nomad" Wayne Schmidt pauses long enough for Carl to interview him in this episode. Wayne and his wife, Sally, decided to resign from their jobs in 2017 and began a new lifestyle by traveling the world. So far, they've been to 92 countries! Wayne, a former corporate exec and entrepreneur, has crafted a business that lets him and Sally wander the globe and live their travel dreams.
Wayne grew up in a small town in Australia. "I was a good country boy," he tells us. In high school, he taught himself computer programming. A teacher noticed and even though Wayne's family was poor and he wasn't planning on college, the teacher enrolled him and secured a scholarship. "Thanks to my teacher, he changed my entire life."
After college, Wayne worked as a corporate exec in the accounting and insurance industries as well as founding his own computer start-up company. After 18 years as an entrepreneur, he went back to working in corporate. At the end of 2017, he and his wife were on a long vacation and he started thinking he wanted to keep on traveling. He and Sally talked it over, resigned from their jobs and sold the majority of their assets (including their home and cars) in 3 weeks. They began 2018 "....with no plans, no direction, no jobs--absolutely nothing!"
Wayne says he's made every mistake possible but has no regrets. "There's nothing I haven't done wrong in 8 years!" But he also emphasizes that people in their 50's and 60's have the net worth to travel. He acknowledges that since his parents have passed away and they have no children, that frees them up in a big way. He adds that the traveling life has really improved their marriage and they couldn't be happier. "We have a greater tolerance for other cultures, we have a much slower pace of life and we have become much less focused on a life of consumption and more on giving."
Wayne and Sally call Belgrade, Serbia their homebase now. They say the people are wonderful, it's very affordable and centrally located. "We can fly to Vienna in an hour and have lunch!" They have a website, Travel.Dine.Stay to share what they've learned and he now works about 2.5 days per week providing marketing consulting for accounting firms. Wayne says, "I call it a leap of faith. Be prepared to fall over. It's alright!"
Wayne's (un)retirement tips:
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"Don't plan. The more you plan, you set yourself for failure. Go with the flow. I'm a much nicer person than I was eight years ago."
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"I am not rushing to my grave. We want to go slow. Give me a three-hour meal any day!"
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"Avoid the mainstream media's "top 10" lists of places to visit. Personally, we love a language barrier."
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"Get a financial planner and be prepared to take some risks, even doing something unusual."
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog
