ROAR: Michael Clinton on Why It's Time to Stop Acting Old—and Start Living Loud Again
The Not Old - Better Show
Paul Vogelzang
4.7 • 106 Ratings
🗓️ 17 April 2026
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
ROAR: Michael Clinton on Why It's Time to Stop Acting Old—and Start Living Loud Again
The Truth About Aging No One Tells You—and What to Do About It Now
Today's episode is brought to you by Wayfair, Every Style Every Home.
We don't talk enough about what happens after success.
In my latest conversation with Michael Clinton—former President of Hearst Magazines and author of ROAR Into the Second Half of Your Life—we explored a question many professionals quietly face: What now?
For decades, the narrative has been clear—work hard, achieve, and then eventually step aside. But what if that model no longer fits the reality of longer, more active lives?
Michael offers a different perspective: don't retire—refire.
What stood out most is how often limitation isn't physical—it's psychological. Many people begin to scale back not because they have to, but because they believe they should.
The real shift is internal. Moving from external validation to internal alignment. From what looks impressive… to what actually feels meaningful.
If you're in the second half of your career—or thinking about what comes next—this conversation may challenge more than your plans. It may challenge your assumptions.
🎧Listen on KLOI Community Radio!
#Leadership #CareerGrowth #Aging #FutureOfWork #Purpose #LifelongLearning
You can learn more about Michael and his work at roarforward.com, and as always, you can explore this episode and our full library at notold-better.com. Today's episode is brought to you by Wayfair, Every Style Every Home.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Not Old Better Show, Good Housekeeping interview series on radio and podcast. |
| 0:10.6 | The show covering all things health, wellness, culture, kitchen, cooking, and more. |
| 0:15.8 | The show for all of us who aren't old, we're better. |
| 0:19.0 | Each week, we'll interview superstars, experts, and ordinary |
| 0:22.9 | people doing extraordinary things, all related to this wonderful experience of getting better. |
| 0:29.2 | Now here's your host, the award-winning Paul Vogelsang. |
| 0:33.2 | Today's episode is brought to you by Wayfair. It's Wayday at Wayfair from April 25th through the 27th. |
| 0:40.9 | You can score the best deals in home, like up to 80% off with free shipping on everything. |
| 0:47.8 | Wayfair.com. Check it out now. |
| 0:50.7 | Our guest today is Michael Clinton. |
| 0:52.8 | Michael Clinton has done something most of us only talk about. |
| 0:57.2 | He's lived multiple lives, all in one lifetime. By way of introduction, from humble beginnings |
| 1:06.1 | in a Pittsburgh housing project to becoming the president and publishing director of Hearst |
| 1:11.7 | magazines. Michael Clinton is also a writer at large for Esquire and a regular contributor to |
| 1:18.7 | men's health. Michael Clinton rose to great heights in the media world, yet came from a nearly |
| 1:25.5 | impoverished background. |
| 1:31.6 | Michael Clinton grew up in a working-class family in Pittsburgh, the oldest of six kids. |
| 1:38.5 | He was the first in his family to go to college before moving to New York with $60 to his name. |
| 1:39.4 | Can you just imagine? |
| 1:46.1 | In just 10 years, Michael Clinton would become publisher of GQ magazine, making him the youngest person ever to hold the job at that time, to running marathons on all seven continents, |
| 1:54.2 | flying planes, traveling to more than 120 countries. |
| 2:00.1 | He's done a lot more in one lifetime than many of us. And then at a moment, |
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