The Big Shift

Inside E Street explores the phase of life where people who are entering their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s may find themselves looking for new purposes.  When your gut calls for change, what do you do? We profile Meredith McKenzie, Janet Pretti, and Mark Judge.

See also: Excerpt from 'The Big Shift.'

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Man attempting to fly.

After raising a family and working in real estate for 20 years, McKenzie, 58 years old, decided she wanted to find her passion, her purpose.  She found it in working to restore a river in Los Angeles called the Arroyo Seco.  Janet Pretti, 43, and Mark Judge, 59, just completed a year-long Encore Fellowship that placed them in nonprofits to help them transition into public service jobs.

Back in the studio, Marc Freedman and Timothy Will join Lark McCarthy to discuss Freedman’s new book, The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife—and a movement that attempts to redefine what comes after middle-age and when we will retire.  Freedman is also Founder of Civic Ventures and co-founder of the Purpose Prize and Experience Corps.  Tim Will won the 2009 Purpose Prize for bringing broadband to his Appalachian community so that farmers could link directly with restaurants and sell their produce.