Thinking about Antarctica? Here's what you need to know
Three special episodes this week: a bucket-list trip to Antarctica, grief and love with Bob Carr, and a practical guide to soft launching your retirement.
For years, Antarctica has sat on many people’s bucket lists.
But unlike most holidays, it’s not the sort of trip you book on a whim. It’s expensive, remote, weather-dependent and often requires planning more than a year in advance.
So is it actually worth it?
In this week’s episode of Prime Time, I sit down with regular Prime Timer Mike Chesworth, who has just returned from Antarctica, to get the unfiltered truth about what it’s really like.
We talk about everything from choosing the right expedition, booking timelines, the level of fitness required and costs, to the wildlife, the scenery, the notorious Drake Passage and the unexpected highlights of travelling through South America along the way.
If Antarctica is on your list for 2027, 2028 or beyond, this conversation will help you understand what the experience is really like before you commit.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE OF THE PODCAST HERE:
Love, grief and the life that follows
Nobody puts grief on their retirement plan. But by the time we reach our 50s, 60s and beyond, most of us have experienced loss in some form. A parent. A sibling. A close friend. And for many people, eventually, a life partner.
In this special Prime Time Book Club episode, I sit down with former NSW Premier Bob Carr to discuss his deeply personal memoir, Bring Back Yesterday, written after the sudden loss of his wife Helena following 50 years of marriage.
What follows is an honest conversation about grief, widowhood and the challenge of rebuilding a life when the person who shared your memories, routines and plans for the future is no longer there.
Bob reflects on what he calls “the leftover life”, the survival strategies that helped him through the darkest days, and why friendship, routine and purpose become so important after profound loss.
This is a conversation about grief, but it’s also a conversation about love, resilience and finding a way forward when life doesn’t unfold as planned.
BONUS EPISODE: How to soft launch your retirement
Retirement doesn’t have to be a hard stop.
In fact, for many people, the best transition is a gradual one — reducing work, exploring new interests and creating a lifestyle that balances income, purpose and freedom.
In this special June series, I’ve teamed up with Aware Super to explore the new rhythm of retirement and what it really looks like in practice.
In this episode, I sit down with Bambi Price, founder of War On Wasted Talent, and Peter Hogg, General Manager of Guidance & Advice at Aware Super, to discuss how to “soft launch” your retirement without losing your sense of purpose, or your paycheck, overnight.
Together, we explore why more Australians are choosing a phased approach to retirement, how to stay connected to meaningful work, and the practical steps you can take now to design a transition that works for you.
Throughout June, we’ll also be exploring:
How to soft launch your retirement
Finding your “new you” and creating purpose in the second half of life
Funding your dream retirement
From Bec’s Desk
Three episodes for you this week - Bob Carr’s we released on the Epic Retirement Newsletter on the weekend, because it talks to a very challenging and difficult topic of losing your partner after a lifetime together.
Then, for the important topics, we’re talking about how to Soft Launch your retirement - really phasing into it. And it’s a panel show - a new format for us - with Bambi Price, someone who really knows how the workforce is changing as well as Peter Hogg from Aware Super.
And finally, today we’re talking about Antarctica, and what it’s like to really see it. Mike Chesworth is such an adventurer - he makes me want to get out there and do more travel!
I’m working from home this week, on courses and education - and loving every minute of the Live Q&As on our course. I’m also enjoying the crisp morning walks, the time working on valuable and useful content and the complete lack of airport delays and lost days travelling!
Last week I popped down to Sydney for the Chant West Superannuation Fund awards. I wrote an interesting piece for the weekend’s newspapers about all the cool things superfunds are doing that most people dont know about and could be using! You can read it here - no paywall.
I do want to ask our Prime Timers - how long until you’re considering retirement. It helps us to have a little snapshot of this from time to time to make sure we’re delivering the info and conversations you need and want.
And, if you have ideas, inspiration or things that baffle you - reply to this email and let me know what they are. I always love to hear from you!
Until next week - Make your Prime Time count!
Bec Xx
