The Retirement Project

The Retirement Project shares real life experience of real people as they navigate life after paid work.

In this new podcast series we discuss what really happens after you clock off paid work, possibly for good—and start writing your next chapter.

The show shares intimate, funny, and inspiring conversations with people navigating the emotional, social, and personal side of retirement.

It’s not just about managing money—it’s about finding purpose, identity, meaning and joy. Whether you’re counting down to retirement or already there, these stories will make you laugh, think, and maybe even reimagine what’s next.

About me

Hi,

My name is Helen Darke. Having just retired myself, I'm deeply curious about people experiences of life beyond paid work and what ‘retirement’ means to them. Not the money side of things. I leave that to the experts, but the mindset, changing relationships and other stuff.

After 40+ years in the workforce, including a 25+ year career in financial services marketing and transformational change, it’s time for me to manage my personal change and focus on The Retirement Project. There’s a tsunami of us late baby boomers hanging on at work, or recently retired, and I truly believe our stories are worth sharing.

So, I'm following my passion and speaking with retirees and pre-retirees about work, identity, how they planned for, or managed the change, how their relationships may have changed and their hopes and dreams for the next chapter of a life well lived.