Back To The Nest

[Thoughtful Conversations] From Hedge Funds to Higher Questions with Bruce Gimpel

In this episode, Douglas sits down with Bruce Gimpel for a thoughtful conversation about ambition, reinvention, spirituality, and the search for meaning beyond professional success. Bruce spent decades in the demanding world of hedge funds and high finance, where performance, pressure, and achievement shaped daily life. But alongside his professional career, he was also pursuing something less visible — a lifelong search for deeper understanding and fulfillment. After stepping away from finance, Bruce redirected his energy toward volunteering, nonprofit work, and personal growth. His journey eventually led him to complete five separate 10-day silent meditation retreats — experiences that challenged him to slow down, sit in stillness, and examine life from a completely different perspective. Together, Douglas and Bruce explore what happens when high achievement no longer feels like the full answer, and why so many successful people eventually begin asking deeper questions about purpose, identity, and inner peace. In this episode: * What life inside the hedge fund world was really like * The emotional cost of constant performance and achievement * Why success alone often fails to create fulfillment * Bruce’s transition into volunteering and nonprofit work * Lessons learned from five 10-day silent meditation retreats * The power — and discomfort — of silence and stillness * Identity shifts during retirement and reinvention * Moving from external validation to internal reflection * Why lifelong curiosity matters more than having answers * What it means to become a “seeker” later in life This episode is an honest exploration of the second half of life — not as a winding down, but as an opportunity to grow in entirely new directions. If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s more to life than accomplishment, this conversation will resonate deeply.

[Thoughtful Conversations] When Identity Change with Brent Bowden

What happens when the thing that once defined you… no longer does? In this episode, Brent shares his journey from being an NFL punter to building a life in the corporate world—and the identity reckoning that came with that transition. Together, we explore how meaning is built outside of work, why tying your entire identity to one role can be so fragile, and what it really takes to live a purposeful, grounded life after a major career shift. Brent opens up about why he no longer leads with his NFL career when meeting new people, what athletes mean when they say “an athlete dies twice,” and how the character traits developed through elite sports can be translated into a meaningful life beyond the field. Whether you’re a former athlete, someone navigating a career transition, retirement,  or simply questioning how much of your identity is wrapped up in your job—this conversation offers perspective, honesty, and a powerful reminder that meaning is something you build, not something you earn through titles. In This Episode, We Cover: * How to make meaning outside of work * Brent’s journey from the NFL to the corporate world * Why Brent chose not to lead with his former NFL career when meeting new people * The importance of diversifying your identity * What it means when people say “an athlete dies twice” * The emotional and psychological transition from professional sports to life after football * How Brent translated the character traits developed in football into his post-NFL life * The connection between meaning, purpose, and responsibility

Tinned Fish, Entrepreneurship, & The Year of the Fire Horse [with Sonia]

Join Leah and Sonia as they exchange acorns! More from Sonia: * Sonia's Website: https://www.soniaholstein.com/ [https://www.soniaholstein.com/] * Sonia's IG: @youllwantseconds [https://www.instagram.com/youllwantseconds/] * Sonia's Substack: https://substack.com/@youllwantseconds [https://substack.com/@youllwantseconds] More From Leah * Subscribe to my personal Substack [https://leahkern.substack.com/?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=1e11b9] * Listen to my other podcast, Shoulders Down [https://shouldersdownpodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Email me: Leah@leahkernrd.com [Leah@leahkernrd.com]

Alternative Deodorants, Meatballs, Decluttering, & The Radio [with Victoria]

Join Leah and Victoria as they exchange acorns! More From Leah * Subscribe to my personal Substack [https://leahkern.substack.com/?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=1e11b9] * Listen to my other podcast, Shoulders Down [https://shouldersdownpodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Email me: Leah@leahkernrd.com [Leah@leahkernrd.com]

High School Reunions, Felted Acorns, Social Work & Lorazepam [with Beatrix]

Join Leah and Bea as they exchange acorns! More From Leah * Subscribe to my personal Substack [https://leahkern.substack.com/?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=1e11b9] * Listen to my other podcast, Shoulders Down [https://shouldersdownpodcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Email me: Leah@leahkernrd.com [Leah@leahkernrd.com]