How Retirement Can Rewire Your Brain — For The Worse
The Real Reasons So Many Retirees Feel Lost
How Your Home Equity Can Power A Better Retirement
Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap, Star Ratings, and Prior Authorization Explained
The Yass Method of Chronic Pain Management

#093

How Retirement Can Rewire Your Brain — For The Worse

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Retirement is often envisioned by retirees as an eternal vacation. No alarms, no deadlines, no meetings. But as retirement life coach and neuroscience expert Cyn Meyer explains, that sudden stop can do strange things to the brain. After years of chasing goals and deadlines, your mind is wired for achievement. So when the structure disappears, it doesn’t relax, it actually panics. Many retirees experience what Cyn calls “retirement shock,” where the loss of routine and purpose quietly rewires the brain toward anxiety, depression, or a deep sense of aimlessness.

Cyn joins Matt to explain what’s really happening inside the brain when you stop working — and how to prevent negative effects. Through her Rewire Retirement Method, Cyn helps retirees replace structure with growth, rediscover purpose through small daily habits, and create new pathways for meaning that last well beyond a career. In this episode, she reveals how to use your brain’s natural adaptability to build the vibrant, purpose-filled retirement most people never prepare for.

If you enjoyed this episode of The Matt Feret Show, you may also enjoy:

How Your Home Equity Can Power a Better Retirement

The Real Reason(s) So Many Retirees Feel Lost

How Retirement Can Rewire Your Brain — For The Worse

Listen to the episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Alexa Flash Briefing, iHeart, Acast or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Brought to you by Prepare for Medicare – The Insider’s Guide  book series. Sign up for the Prepare for Medicare Newsletter, an exclusive subscription-only newsletter that delivers the inside scoop to help you stay up-to-date with your Medicare insurance coverage, highlight Medicare news you can use, and reminders for important dates throughout the year. When you sign up, you’ll immediately gain access to seven FREE Medicare checklists.

"Proactively gain clarity. So proactively ask yourself and probe your subconscious brain, but you could get there by just journaling actively every single day just for five minutes about what you imagine your retirement life to be. What you imagine pre-retirement to be. What you imagine, like ‘semi-retirement'. I always hear, ‘Should I retire or should I not?’"

"We all know there's more to life than money. There's more to joy and self-actualization and emotional and mental wellness than just having money in the bank. That's the top of the iceberg and below that are all these invisible factors that we don't plan for so the tangible is the money. But then there's so much more to life and retirement than just financial planning so there's purpose, passion, your sense of contribution, even your sense of freedom and flexibility, feeling relevant, sharing your unique gifts, that's one of my absolute favorites, your sense of belonging which is not just… fitting into like a club, it's literally like who you're aligned with, right? In these different elements throughout your life."

"Otherwise, you just end up in that retirement rut. It directs itself typically into depression and anxiety if you don’t direct it somewhere clear. And so rather than thinking of it as a hard stop, it’s more of where can I direct and reroute my learning? Because we already know that we’re capable of learning anything new, right? And so when we stop working, it’s not just that eternal vacation where we’re on break and we don’t need to learn and achieve anymore. You just need to figure out where you want to achieve and what that looks like."

#092

The Real Reason(s) So Many Retirees Feel Lost

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Retirement is supposed to be a reward at the end of decades of hard work. It’s supposed to be the long-awaited time of relaxation and peace of mind. But what if it’s not? For countless retirees, that dream doesn’t match reality. The structure that once gave life rhythm — the routines, titles, and purpose that defined their days — vanishes overnight. What’s left is often an unsettling mix of confusion, boredom, and even despair.

Retirement planner and mindset mentor George Jerjian joins Matt to explain why this happens, and what retirees can do to avoid it. After years of helping people navigate this transition, George has seen how easy it is to “drift into oblivion” once the paychecks stop and the identity fades. In this episode, he breaks down the hidden dangers of traditional retirement, why financial planning alone isn’t enough, and how his DARE Method helps people rediscover meaning, purpose, and joy in the second half of life.

If you enjoyed this episode of The Matt Feret Show, you may also enjoy:

How Your Home Equity Can Power a Better Retirement

Understanding Energy: The Industry, How to Invest, and What's Next with CEO of LGX Energy Corp. Howard Crosby

The Real Reason(s) So Many Retirees Feel Lost

Listen to the episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Alexa Flash Briefing, iHeart, Acast or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Brought to you by Prepare for Medicare – The Insider’s Guide  book series. Sign up for the Prepare for Medicare Newsletter, an exclusive subscription-only newsletter that delivers the inside scoop to help you stay up-to-date with your Medicare insurance coverage, highlight Medicare news you can use, and reminders for important dates throughout the year. When you sign up, you’ll immediately gain access to seven FREE Medicare checklists.

“Of course it's important and we need it. But when the focus is overly on the money, we're missing a trick here. And the thing is, our lives are very important. We don't realize this until we have a rendezvous with death, which I had. And so when you have a rendezvous with death, you suddenly realize that time is crucial. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that every single day is a new life. It's a new beginning. Because we're not guaranteed to get up in the morning tomorrow. In fact, some of us may not make it to the end of the day.”
-George Jerjian

“I'm telling you, if you lie to yourself long enough, you believe the lie. And then the ego comes in. Now, here's the thing though. What nobody tells you is the minute you retire, your identity is compromised. So let me lay it out as to how this works.”
-George Jerjian

“Go to a country or a place that you've always wanted to go and explore. And you will see things about yourself and about your own life from a different perspective. And that changes how you see things and how you think. So coming back to your point, travel is really important, grandkids and family hugely important, but you can still do both now.”
-George Jerjian

Host’s Links:
All Things Medicare: prepareformedicare.com

Decoding Social Security: prepareforsocialsecurity.com

My Written Works on Amazon: www.amazon.com/stores/Matt-Feret/author/B09FM3L4WW

The Matt Feret Show YouTube: www.youtube.com/@themattferetshow

Network with me on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattferet

Follow me on X: twitter.com/feret_matt

See behind the scenes on Instagram: www.instagram.com/matt_feret/

Join our community on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themattferetshow/

Follow me on Instagram:Matt Feret (@matt_feret) • Instagram photos and videos

 

Guest Links:

Webpage:  https://georgejerjian.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgejerjian/

Instagram: @georgejerjian

Youtube: @retirementrebellion

#091

How Your Home Equity Can Power A Better Retirement

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For most retirees, the house they live in is also their biggest untapped asset. Home equity often sits quietly on paper, doing nothing while retirement savings shrink and costs rise. Yet that same equity can be converted into income and peace of mind — WITHOUT selling the home.

In this episode, I sit down with retirement expert Matt Helton to unpack how home equity could be the key to a better retirement. Matt has helped countless retirees turn their homes into reliable, flexible financial tools — not through risky loans or sales, but through smart planning and modern FHA-backed programs designed to protect homeowners. He explains how these options work, the most common mistakes retirees make, and why fear and misinformation still keep so many people from taking advantage of what’s right in front of them. I learned a lot in this interview, and I think you will too!

How Your Home Equity Can Power A Better Retirement

Listen to the episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Alexa Flash Briefing, iHeart, Acast or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Brought to you by Prepare for Medicare – The Insider’s Guide  book series. Sign up for the Prepare for Medicare Newsletter, an exclusive subscription-only newsletter that delivers the inside scoop to help you stay up-to-date with your Medicare insurance coverage, highlight Medicare news you can use, and reminders for important dates throughout the year. When you sign up, you’ll immediately gain access to seven FREE Medicare checklists.

“We have an epidemic where people are slipping, falling, getting dementia, all kinds of stuff. And let's just say that you end up in the hospital, because you're the one that pays the bills, right? So they say, oh yeah, I take care of my own bills. So you end up in the hospital for three months. You wake up in 90 or 120 days, and you hadn't made a single payment. And you haven't been able to tell anybody because you were out of it. What do you think about the lender, your favorite bank, what do you think may have happened or done to your house in the last 90 or 120 days?”

Matt Helton: “This is literally a mortgage on your home like everyone's had their whole life. Just a regular mortgage so the client still owns their house. They can still sell their house. They can still pass it on to their kids. There's no difference. The only real difference is instead of having to make a payment they have an optional payment, but that's the biggest misconception. They think that the bank is like buying their house out. No different. All the equity is still there. So a lot of people, what they'll do is because of that, they'll get some equity now because we can only lend low percentages. They may live in their home for 10 years. They'll still have equity. And then they sell their home and use the other part of the equity to move into an assisted living. So it's kind of a strategy. It buys some time because if you have that money, you can have in-home care come and help you.”

Host’s Links:
All Things Medicare: prepareformedicare.com

Decoding Social Security: prepareforsocialsecurity.com

My Written Works on Amazon: www.amazon.com/stores/Matt-Feret/author/B09FM3L4WW

The Matt Feret Show YouTube: www.youtube.com/@themattferetshow

Network with me on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattferet

Follow me on X: twitter.com/feret_matt

See behind the scenes on Instagram: www.instagram.com/matt_feret/

Join our community on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themattferetshow/

Follow me on Instagram:Matt Feret (@matt_feret) • Instagram photos and videos

Guest Links:

Podcast youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@servingseniorspodcast

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-helton-7b3bab6/

#90

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap, Star Ratings, and Prior Authorization Explained with Bob O’Connor

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It’s Medicare busy season - and smart decisions now can save you thousands.

In this episode, Matt Feret sits down with Bob O’Connor, a 20-year Medicare veteran who once ran one of the nation’s largest Medicare Advantage markets. Together they explain the biggest questions people have during the Annual Election Period (AEP):

  • Should you choose Medicare Advantage or a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan?
  • Do Medicare star ratings actually matter - or are they just marketing?
  • What does it mean that prior authorization is being tested in Original Medicare?
  • What happens if your Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued in 2026?
  • How can you avoid common mistakes with drug formularies, provider networks, and out-of-pocket costs?

This conversation pulls back the curtain on how plans are really designed and gives you a practical framework to compare options. If you or a loved one are turning 65—or reviewing coverage during the Annual Election Period—this episode will help you make confident Medicare choices.

Need personalized help? Visit PrepareforMedicare.com to learn more, or schedule a free consultation at BrickhouseAgency.com. No obligation to enroll.

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap, Star Ratings, and Prior Authorization Explained with Bob O’Connor

Listen to the episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Alexa Flash Briefing, iHeart, Acast or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Brought to you by Prepare for Medicare – The Insider’s Guide  book series. Sign up for the Prepare for Medicare Newsletter, an exclusive subscription-only newsletter that delivers the inside scoop to help you stay up-to-date with your Medicare insurance coverage, highlight Medicare news you can use, and reminders for important dates throughout the year. When you sign up, you’ll immediately gain access to seven FREE Medicare checklists.

“Star ratings don’t tell the whole story. If a plan is below 4 stars in a market full of 4-plus options, benefits can get squeezed.” – Bob O’Connor

“Millions could lose coverage due to service-area reductions. Doing nothing is the worst option—know your Special Enrollment rights.” – Bob O’Connor

“People often chase extras, but the bigger question is: how stable is this insurer over time?” – Bob O’Connor

All Things Medicare: PrepareforMedicare.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-t-oconnor

#089

The Yass Method of Chronic Pain Management with Founder Dr. Mitchell Yass, DPT

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In this episode of The Matt Feret Show I interview pain management pioneer Dr. Mitchell Yass. Dr. Yass is a physical therapist with over thirty years of experience treating individuals with chronic and episodic pain. Dr. Yass shares how he became disillusioned with traditional methods of treating chronic pain through his experience as a physical therapist and why he decided to develop his unique approach to pain management. He also shares expert advice and guidance to those questioning their experience with chronic pain treatment.

If you enjoyed this episode of The Matt Feret Show, you may also enjoy:

Breathe Better, Sleep Better with Dr. Steven Park, Otolaryngologist and Author of Sleep, Interrupted

Preventing Cancer with a Plant-Based Diet with Dr. Dominic Brandy, M.D., the Cancer Veggie Doc

Exploring Gentle Yoga over 50 with Yogi Author Laura Rodriguez

The Yass Method of Chronic Pain Management with Founder Dr. Mitchell Yass, DPT

Listen to the episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Alexa Flash Briefing, iHeart, Acast or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Brought to you by Prepare for Medicare – The Insider’s Guide  book series. Sign up for the Prepare for Medicare Newsletter, an exclusive subscription-only newsletter that delivers the inside scoop to help you stay up-to-date with your Medicare insurance coverage, highlight Medicare news you can use, and reminders for important dates throughout the year. When you sign up, you’ll immediately gain access to seven FREE Medicare checklists.

“For the average person, they only see themselves in their chronic pain. See, they don't realize that they are part of hundreds of millions of others. And that in fact, with that understanding, it shows there's something systemic going on.”

“I think people should start thinking about their pain and what they can do to take responsibility and see how maybe some doctors aren't so great at resolving pain, and maybe there is an alternative that's outside the realm of the norm.”

Host’s Links:

All Things Medicare: prepareformedicare.com

Decoding Social Security: prepareforsocialsecurity.com

My Written Works on Amazon: www.amazon.com/stores/Matt-Feret/author/B09FM3L4WW

The Matt Feret Show YouTube: www.youtube.com/@themattferetshow

Network with me on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattferet

Follow me on X: twitter.com/feret_matt

See behind the scenes on Instagram: www.instagram.com/matt_feret/

Join our community on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themattferetshow/

Guest’s Links:

The Yass Method website

Amazon bookstore

YouTube

LinkedIn

#088

Detoxifying Your Home with Therese Forton-Barnes, Founder of Tee’s Organics and Green Living Gurus

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In this episode of The Matt Feret Show I interview Therese Forton-Barnes, a green-living expert, advocate, and business owner. Therese and I discuss her mission of detoxifying American households, and she identifies the top products mindful consumers may want to avoid. Therese shares insight into her process of downsizing toxins in her home and provides helpful resources listeners can explore to learn more about the ingredients in their cleaning supplies, drinking water, and health and beauty products.

If you enjoyed this episode of The Matt Feret show, you may also enjoy:

Preventing Cancer with a Plant-Based Diet with Dr. Dominic Brandy, M.D., the Cancer Veggie Doc

How to Overcome a Sedentary Lifestyle & Increase Your Health with Personal Trainer, Sammy Wilson

Holistic Wellness and Decentering Pharmaceuticals with Pharmacists Sylvia and James Boblak

Detoxifying Your Home with Therese Forton-Barnes, Founder of Tee’s Organics and Green Living Gurus

Listen to the episode on Apple PodcastsSpotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Alexa Flash Briefing, iHeart, Acast or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Brought to you by Prepare for Medicare – The Insider’s Guide  book series. Sign up for the Prepare for Medicare Newsletter, an exclusive subscription-only newsletter that delivers the inside scoop to help you stay up-to-date with your Medicare insurance coverage, highlight Medicare news you can use, and reminders for important dates throughout the year. When you sign up, you’ll immediately gain access to seven FREE Medicare checklists.

“It’s a matter of just educating yourself a little bit. Don't throw everything away. Look at what you're using. Concentrate on that a little bit. And if there's something you just can't get rid of, you have that one thing that you just are addicted to. It's okay! But try to start eliminating every other area that you possibly can.”

“According to the CDC, our homes are more polluted than the outdoor air. And that is because of all the products people are using in their homes, bringing in their homes, spraying in their homes, using candles in their homes.”

“If you're going to take a step in the right direction, fragrance-free, free and clear, that's a step in the right direction. I know people are like, well, I use the one that says ‘for allergies’ or whatnot. Good step in the right direction. There are brands on the market today that are a better step in the right direction.”

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Matt Feret is the host of The Matt Feret Show, which focuses on the health, wealth and wellness of retirees, people over fifty-five and caregivers helping loved ones. He’s also the author of the book series, Prepare for Medicare – The Insider’s Guide to Buying Medicare Insurance and Prepare for Social Security – The Insider’s Guide to Maximizing Your Retirement Benefits.

For up-to-date Medicare information, visit:
www.prepareformedicare.com

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