The Encore Project Podcast

In this episode, Bill Leighty takes us back to Vinnie’s patio — a backyard in Tulsa where real estate men gathered every weekday at five o’clock for a decade, grilling steaks, telling stories, and doing something the researchers now know is as essential to survival as exercise: belonging somewhere. It’s an honest story, including the parts that weren’t easy. And it leads somewhere unexpected — to a front row at St. Rita’s Chapel, and to what Bill believes every man needs to find before it’s too late. The Editorial Team at The Encore Project is proud to bring you one of the most personal conversations we’ve had. 

In this episode, Bill Leighty shares something he rarely talks about — five decades of living with degenerative disc disease, COPD, arthritis, and the other quiet companions of a life lived hard and well. This isn’t a medical episode. It’s a conversation about how a man decides, early and then again and again, not to let his body write the story. The Editorial Team at The Encore Project presents this as one of the most honest conversations we’ve brought you — and one of the most useful. 

In this episode, Bill Leighty tells the story of the moment he sat down at his computer, typed a complicated question into ChatGPT, and watched everything change. He was in his late seventies. He had no tech background. And he had just discovered that the barriers he assumed were permanent were made of paper. The Editorial Team at The Encore Project believes this is one of the most important conversations we’ve brought you — not because it’s about technology, but because it’s about what happens when a man refuses to stop building. 

There’s a word Bill Leighty doesn’t use about himself: retired. In this episode, Bill traces the thread that runs from a fiery Op-Ed in a Tulsa newspaper to a planning commission chamber to fifty years at the lectern — and finally to The Encore Project. It’s a story about the voice you’ve always had, and what happens when you finally stop singing in the margins. The Editorial Team at The Encore Project is proud to bring you this deeply personal conversation. 

Most men have done the legal work — the will, the trust, the beneficiaries. But there is another kind of preparation that most men leave unexamined: the spiritual texture of their departure. In this episode, Bill Leighty reflects on what it means to leave with dignity, humility, and the faith you actually have — and why saying what you want before you can no longer say it may be the most important conversation you haven't had yet.

This episode explores the psychological dimension of financial transition in retirement — why men who are objectively secure still feel financially anxious, what the research says about paycheck identity and purpose, and one founder's honest account of betting his savings on a mission that hasn't paid him a dollar yet. If you've ever lain awake wondering whether you made the right call, this one is for you.  

Bill Leighty was sixty-two years old the first time he left the United States. What happened in Rome — a scammer at the bus terminal, a sidewalk dinner, an extraordinary evening on the lawn of the Augustinianum at the threshold of the Vatican, and three magical days at Lake Como — didn’t just change how he travels. It changed where he lives. In this episode, Bill shares the trip that rewired everything. The Editorial Team at The Encore Project is proud to bring you this deeply personal story.

 In this episode, we explore one of the most common — and least talked about — patterns among men in their later years: the habit of holding grief inside until it finds its own way out. Drawing on both personal experience and current research, this conversation examines what happens when the brave front becomes a way of life, and what it quietly costs the men who wear it. 

Bill Leighty was never afraid of technology — he bought an IBM PC Junior in 1984 and realtors called him for tech advice. His father, a decorated WWII Navy fighter pilot, was terrified of it. In this episode, Bill traces that contrast, from a word processor demonstration in a 1980s Tulsa office to the day AI changed everything about how he builds The Encore Project, and asks what it really means for a man to be brave. The Editorial Team at The Encore Project is proud to bring you this deeply personal conversation.

In this episode, we explore one of the most overlooked creative acts available to men in retirement: writing their own story. Not for publication, not for applause — but for the people who come after, and for the clarity that only comes from putting your life into words. From a Kansas railroad depot in the 1950s to the research on legacy writing and cognitive health, this conversation makes the case that your memoir is not a vanity project. It is maintenance.

Cruising solo as a senior man used to mean paying a single supplement that made the whole trip prohibitively expensive. That’s changed. The cruise industry has woken up to the solo traveler market, and the options for senior singles have never been better — from solo cabin categories and hosted social events to smaller expedition-style ships where solo travelers naturally connect. In this episode, we explore the best cruise lines and itineraries for senior men travelling alone, share practical tips for making the most of a solo cruise experience, and explain what to look for when comparing options.

Solo travel in retirement is one of the most liberating things a man can do — and one of the most underrated. No compromises on the itinerary, no waiting for others to be ready, no negotiating the day’s agenda. Just you, your curiosity, and wherever you decide to go. For senior men who’ve spent decades accommodating the schedules and preferences of others, solo travel offers something genuinely rare: complete autonomy. In this episode, we share the essential tips for travelling alone safely and confidently as a senior man, and highlight the destinations that are particularly well-suited to solo older travelers. 

There's a particular kind of travel fatigue that sets in after you've seen enough beautiful things — the museums start to blur, the beaches all look alike, and you come home with photographs but not much else. Volunteer vacations solve that problem in a way that no itinerary upgrade can. For senior men in retirement, the combination of travel and meaningful work addresses something that goes deeper than sightseeing: the need to still matter somewhere, to contribute something real, to connect with people in a way that tourist exchanges never allow. This episode covers how volunteer vacations actually work — the types of opportunities available, from wildlife conservation in Costa Rica to teaching in Kenya to habitat restoration in national parks closer to home, how to choose an organization worth trusting, what the costs really look like and how to plan for them, and the safety and health considerations that matter for older volunteers traveling abroad. The research on what this kind of travel does for seniors' physical and mental health is compelling. More important, the stories of men who've done it tend to sound the same: they went to give something, and came home with more than they left with. 

Crossing time zones is one of the great pleasures of international travel — until you realize it creates a genuine challenge for anyone on a medication schedule. For senior men taking daily prescriptions, the question of when to take medications across multiple time zones is both medically important and surprisingly easy to get wrong. In this episode, we walk through the practical strategies for adjusting medication timing when travelling: how to work with your doctor before you leave, how to handle gradual vs. immediate time zone shifts, which medications require the most careful management, and how to keep your schedule organized while on the road.

The world is large, retirement is finite, and the question of where to go next deserves a serious answer. For senior men who want travel that delivers more than a checked box — travel that offers cultural depth, physical beauty, the right pace, and the kind of infrastructure that makes older travelers feel welcome rather than tolerated — some destinations simply rise to the top. In this episode, we share the top travel destinations for seniors, chosen for their accessibility, safety, natural and cultural richness, and the genuine warmth with which they receive older visitors. 

Managing a chronic illness or recovering from a health event doesn’t mean you have to stay home. In fact, for many senior men, the right travel experience — restorative, unhurried, and set in a place with clean air, good food, and a slower pace — is exactly what the doctor should be ordering. In this episode, we share the ten best places to travel when health is a primary consideration: destinations chosen for their gentle climate, excellent healthcare access, low physical demand, and the kind of restorative environment that actually helps you feel better rather than worse. 

A disability or mobility limitation doesn’t have to mean the end of travel — it means travel requires more planning. And for senior men who refuse to let physical limitations define the boundaries of their lives, the accessible travel movement has never offered more options. In this episode, we cover the practical strategies that make travel possible and enjoyable for older men with disabilities: how to research accessible destinations, what to look for in airlines and hotels, what resources and organizations exist to help, and how to advocate effectively for yourself when the system falls short.

After a lifetime of delayed gratifications and budget compromises, retirement is the moment to travel the way you’ve always wanted to. For senior men who value comfort, quality, and the kind of unhurried elegance that comes from staying somewhere genuinely exceptional, the world’s luxury destinations offer experiences that go far beyond a nice hotel room. In this episode, we explore the luxury travel destinations that deliver timeless elegance for older men — places where the service is attentive, the pace is right, the culture is deep, and the experience justifies every penny. 

Hiking is one of the most rewarding things a senior man can do — but showing up at the trailhead undertrained is a fast way to turn an adventure into an ordeal. The good news is that getting trail-ready doesn’t require months in a gym or extreme fitness. It requires a smart, progressive training plan that builds the specific strength, endurance, and balance that hiking demands. In this episode, we walk through exactly how senior men should train for hiking: the exercises that matter most, how to build up gradually, how to choose appropriate trails for your current fitness level, and how to take care of your body before, during, and after a hike. 

 If you've done Paris and Rome and come home feeling like you stood in line more than you actually traveled, you already know what this episode is about. The most famous destinations in the world have become remarkably good at processing tourists — and remarkably bad at delivering the kind of experience that stays with you. This episode is a guide to seven places that haven't been processed yet: the volcanic Azores rising out of the Atlantic, the Buddhist quiet of Luang Prabang on the Mekong, Norway's Lofoten Islands above the Arctic Circle, the culinary richness of Oaxaca, the wild unspoiled edges of Tasmania, the rolling villages of England's Cotswolds, and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan where happiness is official government policy. Each one chosen specifically for what men over 50 tend to want from travel — fewer crowds, more authenticity, a pace that lets you actually be somewhere rather than just pass through it. We'll cover what makes each destination worth the journey, the best time to go, and the practical details that make the difference between a good trip and a great one. 

The internet has made lifelong learning more accessible than at any point in human history — and senior men are taking advantage of it in growing numbers. Whether you want to finally learn Spanish, master woodworking, study history, pick up coding, or earn a certificate in a new field, there’s an online platform built for exactly what you’re looking for. In this episode, we review the best online learning platforms specifically suited to older adults: what each one offers, how they differ in format and cost, and how to choose the one that matches your learning style and goals. 

GPS technology for older adults has matured far beyond turn-by-turn directions. Today’s GPS devices and apps can track location in real time, alert family members if a senior strays from a safe zone, and help emergency services find someone who’s fallen or become disoriented. For active senior men who drive, hike, travel, or simply want the peace of mind that comes with being findable, GPS is no longer optional — it’s essential. In this episode, we cover the best GPS options for older adults, explain how to choose the right device for your lifestyle, and walk through how to set it up for both your own use and for family awareness. 

A smart home isn’t just a tech enthusiast’s toy — for senior men, it’s a practical tool for safety, comfort, and independence. Voice-controlled lighting, smart thermostats, video doorbells, medication reminders, fall detection sensors — the technology that makes a home smarter also makes it safer and easier to manage as you age. In this episode, we walk through how to set up a smart home from scratch, which devices deliver the most value for older adults, how to choose a system that’s easy to use, and how to avoid the common setup mistakes that lead to frustration rather than convenience. 

Artificial intelligence sounds like something from a movie — until you realize it’s already running your email spam filter, powering the voice on your phone, and helping your doctor read your scans. For senior men, AI isn’t a threat or a mystery — it’s a set of tools that, used well, can make daily life easier, safer, and more connected. In this episode, we demystify AI for older adults: what it actually is, where it already shows up in your life, and how to start using it deliberately to manage health information, simplify tasks, and stay sharp. 

You put in the miles, but your health app says otherwise. For senior men who rely on step-tracking apps to monitor their activity and stay motivated, inaccurate counts aren’t just annoying — they undermine the whole point of having the tool in the first place. In this episode, we walk through the most common reasons health apps fail to track steps accurately, the simple fixes that resolve most problems, and how to choose a more reliable setup if the one you’re using keeps letting you down. 

Managing money in retirement requires a level of visibility and discipline that paper statements and annual reviews simply can’t provide. Financial apps have changed this — and for senior men willing to give them a try, the Pulse Financial App offers a clean, accessible way to track spending, monitor accounts, and stay on top of a retirement budget in real time. In this episode, we walk through what Pulse does, who it’s designed for, how it compares to other popular financial tools, and whether it’s a good fit for men in their 60s and beyond who want a clearer picture of where their money is going. 

Technology problems are frustrating at any age — but for senior men who didn’t grow up with computers, a frozen screen or a hacked account can feel genuinely alarming. The good news is that help is more available than ever, and much of it is specifically designed for older adults: patient, jargon-free, and genuinely supportive. In this episode, we walk through the best resources for senior tech support — from local programs and library services to online communities, manufacturer support, and trusted tech-savvy family members — and offer practical tips for staying safe and confident in a digital world.

Virtual reality has moved well beyond gaming — and for senior men whose mobility, health, or finances make physical travel difficult, it offers something genuinely remarkable: the ability to stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon, walk through the streets of Kyoto, or explore the Louvre without leaving home. In this episode, we explore the growing world of VR travel for older adults: the best headsets for seniors, the most compelling travel experiences available, the surprising cognitive and emotional benefits research is documenting, and how to get started without needing a technical background. 

Coding might be the last thing most senior men would consider taking up — but the case for it is surprisingly strong. Learning to write even basic code engages the brain in ways that few other activities match: it requires logical thinking, pattern recognition, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of building something that actually works. In this episode, we make the case for coding as one of the best brain workouts available to senior men, walk through the most accessible languages and platforms for older beginners, and share practical advice on how to get started without feeling overwhelmed. 

Technology has never been more useful for older adults — or more overwhelming. The gap between what’s available and what most senior men actually use is enormous, and that gap represents a real loss: of safety, convenience, health monitoring, and connection. In this episode, we cut through the noise and focus on the ten tech gadgets that deliver genuine value for men over 65 in 2025 — from wearable health monitors and voice-activated assistants to simplified smartphones and emergency response devices. No jargon, no gimmicks, just the tools that actually make a difference. 

Emotional maturity — the ability to manage your own emotions, respond rather than react, communicate honestly, and show genuine empathy — is the single most important skill in any close relationship. And it’s a skill that many men, despite decades of life experience, haven’t fully developed. In this episode, we lay out a practical blueprint for emotional maturity in relationships specifically designed for senior men: what it looks like, why it matters more than ever in later life, and the specific habits and practices that build it — whether you’re in a long marriage, a new relationship, or navigating family dynamics that have needed attention for years. 

 An active retirement isn’t about being busy for its own sake — it’s about being engaged: physically, mentally, socially, and purposefully. Men who thrive in retirement don’t drift into it; they design it. They build routines that energize rather than drain, relationships that sustain rather than deplete, and activities that grow them rather than just fill time. In this episode, we share the practical tips and mindset shifts that help senior men move from a passive retirement to an active one — and from a life that’s merely comfortable to one that’s genuinely alive. 

Freelancing in retirement offers something most men never had during their careers: the ability to do exactly the work you’re best at, with the clients you choose, on the schedule you set. For men with decades of professional expertise, freelancing is often the most natural bridge between a full career and full retirement — a way to stay engaged, supplement income, and contribute meaningfully without surrendering the freedom that retirement is supposed to deliver. In this episode, we walk through how to identify your freelance niche, find your first clients, set your rates, and build a practice that works for the life you actually want. 

 For some men, retirement isn’t about settling down — it’s about finally getting out. Whether the vision is slow travel through Europe, extended stays in Southeast Asia, or a full circumnavigation of the globe, retiring around the world is more achievable than most men realize. The logistics are manageable, the costs can be lower than staying home, and the experience of living rather than just visiting a place is transformative. In this episode, we walk through how to plan a world retirement: the financial preparation, the visa and residency considerations, the health insurance questions, and the mindset shifts that make the difference between a trip and a life. 

Volunteering in retirement isn’t charity — it’s one of the smartest investments a senior man can make in his own health, happiness, and sense of purpose. The research is striking: men who volunteer regularly after retirement live longer, report higher life satisfaction, and experience lower rates of depression than those who don’t. In this episode, we explore why volunteering has such a powerful impact on the aging man, how to find the right opportunity that matches your skills and interests, and how to commit in a way that creates genuine connection rather than just filling time. 

For most men, the family home is both their largest asset and their strongest emotional anchor. But in retirement, keeping that home isn’t always the smartest financial or lifestyle decision. Selling and renting offers a set of advantages that are worth taking seriously: liquidity, flexibility, freedom from maintenance, and the ability to right-size your living situation for how you actually want to live now. In this episode, we lay out the case for selling and renting in retirement, walk through the financial math, and help senior men think through the emotional and practical dimensions of one of the biggest decisions of their later years. 

Change doesn’t slow down in retirement — it just changes shape. Where work once defined your days, retirement opens up an unstructured expanse that can feel liberating or disorienting depending on how prepared you are for it. Add in the health changes, the losses, the shifting social dynamics, and the identity questions that come with no longer being defined by what you do, and you have a season of life that demands genuine adaptability. In this episode, we offer a practical, honest guide to navigating the most significant life changes senior men face — with resilience, purpose, and the recognition that adaptation is a skill that can be learned. 

You don’t need money to start a nonprofit — you need a mission, a network, and the willingness to do the unglamorous work of building something from the ground up. For retirees who have a cause they care about and decades of professional experience to bring to it, starting a nonprofit is one of the most meaningful ways to spend the next chapter. In this episode, we walk through the full process: defining your mission, understanding the legal requirements, building your board, accessing free and low-cost resources, and finding the first donors who will believe in what you’re building before anyone else does. 

Retirement is not the end of your productive life — for many men, it’s the beginning of their most entrepreneurial one. Free from the constraints of a corporate ladder, a boss, and someone else’s agenda, retired men are starting businesses in record numbers. And they’re succeeding at higher rates than younger entrepreneurs, because they bring something no accelerator can teach: decades of experience, an established network, and the clarity that comes from knowing exactly what they’re good at. In this episode, we walk through how to identify the right business idea, how to start lean, and how to avoid the most common mistakes retired entrepreneurs make. 

Retirement gives you the one thing that was always in short supply during your working years: time. The question is what you do with it. For senior men who’ve spent decades deferring the trip, the adventure, the curiosity they didn’t have room for, retirement is the invitation to finally show up for all of it. In this episode, we explore what it actually looks like to enjoy retirement with intention — through travel that goes beyond the tourist trail, through exploration that engages your mind and body, and through discovery of interests and passions that may have been waiting for decades. 

Online dating has become the most common way people meet romantic partners at every age — including men in their 60s, 70s, and beyond. But for senior men who didn’t grow up with apps, the learning curve can feel steep, and the whole process can seem designed for someone half their age. In this episode, we cut through the confusion and give senior men a clear, practical guide to online dating: which platforms work best for older adults, how to write a profile that accurately represents who you are, how to communicate effectively before meeting, and how to stay safe while remaining genuinely open to connection. 

 As men age, the quality of their family relationships becomes one of the strongest predictors of their health, happiness, and longevity. Yet many senior men find themselves emotionally distant from their adult children, estranged from siblings, or simply too busy with the habits of independence to invest in the bonds that matter most. In this episode, we make the case for family as the most important relationship investment a senior man can make, explore the common barriers that erode family closeness over time, and offer practical ways to deepen those bonds — even across distance, old wounds, or years of emotional reserve. 

 Grandparenting today looks nothing like it did a generation ago. Families are spread across time zones, screen time competes with face time, and the cultural and technological gaps between grandparents and grandchildren have never been wider. But the research is clear: a close relationship with a grandparent is one of the most protective factors in a child’s development — and for the grandparent, it’s one of the most meaningful sources of purpose and joy in later life. In this episode, we explore how senior men can be genuinely present and influential grandparents in the modern world, bridging the generational divide with intention and creativity. 

 A surprising number of men reach their 60s and realize, with some discomfort, that they don’t have close friends — not really. Acquaintances, yes. Former colleagues. Neighbors they wave to. But not the kind of friends you can call when things are hard, or who would notice if you went quiet for a week. This episode is for those men. We talk about why male friendship so often fades in the working decades, why it matters so much to rebuild it now, and exactly what steps a man with no close friends at 60 can take today to start changing that. 

 Making friends as an older man is genuinely harder than it was at 25 — there’s no campus, no team, no office to serve as the social infrastructure that once made connection automatic. But the need for friendship doesn’t diminish with age; if anything, research shows it becomes more critical to health and longevity. In this episode, we tackle the practical challenge of forging new friendships in your senior years: where to look, how to take the first step, how to move past the surface-level acquaintance stage, and how to build the kind of friendships that actually sustain you. 

 Somewhere in the busy decades of career and family, many friendships quietly faded. Not through conflict or falling out — just through distance, time, and the relentless forward motion of life. In retirement, those old connections often come to mind with unexpected warmth, and for many senior men, reaching back out feels both appealing and awkward. In this episode, we talk about why old friendships are worth rekindling, how to make the first move without it feeling strange, and how to rebuild the kind of deep male friendships that research consistently shows are one of the strongest predictors of health and happiness in later life. 

 When senior couples decide to marry, they often find that the traditional wedding playbook doesn’t quite fit. The big venue, the formal reception, the expense — none of it may reflect who you are or what this moment actually means. The good news is that a second or third marriage later in life is an opportunity to do it entirely your own way, and the results are often more meaningful and more memorable than anything that follows convention. In this episode, we explore ten creative wedding ideas specifically suited to senior couples — from intimate destination ceremonies and backyard celebrations to themed gatherings and meaningful elopements. 

 Grief doesn’t just belong to the person who lost someone — it moves through a marriage, reshaping how two people communicate, connect, and lean on each other. For senior couples who may have been together for decades, navigating shared or individual grief can be one of the most difficult tests a relationship faces. In this episode, we explore how grief affects the dynamics of a long-term marriage — why partners often grieve differently, how that difference creates distance, and what couples can do to find their way back to each other without forcing the other person’s timeline. 

Not every senior man who wants a close relationship wants to get married again — and not every man who doesn’t want to remarry wants to be alone. The spectrum of what men in their 60s, 70s, and beyond actually want from relationships is broader and more nuanced than our cultural defaults suggest. In this episode, we explore the real differences between companionship and marriage for older men: what each offers, what each costs, why men choose one over the other, and how to have honest conversations with a partner about what you’re actually looking for. 

Dating after 65 can feel like being handed a rulebook written for a completely different game. The apps are unfamiliar, the social dynamics have shifted, and many men find the whole thing exhausting and slightly undignified — yet the desire for genuine companionship doesn’t go away just because the process is uncomfortable. In this episode, we talk honestly about why dating feels so hard for senior men, what gets in the way emotionally and practically, and how to approach the search for connection in ways that feel authentic rather than forced. You don’t have to love dating to find a meaningful relationship.