Courageous Retirement: Answer God's Call to MORE!

Sometimes the person standing between us and God's best isn't the person we're frustrated with—it's the one staring back at us in the mirror.

That's what this conversation did for me.

When I first heard Dr. Carolyn Warren Wiley's testimony, I expected to be challenged about the culture around me. Instead, I found myself convicted by my own pride.

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Carolyn shares how Jesus transformed h...

What do you do when you hear the words, "You have cancer"?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson sits down with author, speaker, and coach Dana Lyons in an intimate conversation about the emotional and spiritual journey that begins with a cancer diagnosis. Drawing from their own experiences as cancer survivors, Vona and Dana share honest reflections on fear, uncertainty, faith, and finding hope when life takes an un...

Darkness is loud right now. And if we're not intentional, it's easy to let it become all we see.

In this episode, Vona explores one of the most practical — and most powerful — shifts available to us: learning to train our eyes toward the light. Drawing from a memorable moment at a Toastmasters meeting, a morning spent at a young man's funeral, and the quiet faithfulness of her own father's final days, Vona offers a deepl...

Does God still have a calling on your life as you step into retirement? Absolutely — and in this episode, Vona makes the case that your best season is not behind you. It's just beginning.

Inspired by her own church's search for a pastor, Vona draws a powerful parallel between the formal call process and the calling God places on every one of our lives — yes, even yours, and yes, even now. From Moses to David to the every...

In a world quick to label people, it's easy to form opinions without ever knowing someone's story.

In this episode, Vona Johnson reflects on the subtle ways we categorize others — and invites us to pause. What if we trusted Jesus with what we don't understand, and chose to see people, not categories? Drawing on the transformation of Saul into Paul, she explores how faith can change the way we see others — and ourselves.

A...

Retirement doesn’t mean our purpose is behind us. In fact, it may be the season when our influence becomes the most meaningful.

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona reflects on wisdom from a 92-year-old woman who shared advice she wished she had received decades earlier. Her reflections spark a deeper conversation about purpose, grace, and the limited time we have to make a difference.

Vona also explores the idea of &...

Many of us carry more than we realize.

Over time responsibilities, commitments, possessions, and expectations slowly fill our “backpack” until one day the weight begins to feel heavier than it should.

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona shares a recent personal experience simplifying her website—and the surprising freedom that came from letting go of something that had quietly become too heavy.

Through thi...

Many people love the quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

But what if, in our search for that “why,” we’ve been looking in the wrong direction?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona explores the tension between chasing purpose the world’s way and following God’s calling. It’s easy...

What if the most important part of retirement planning has nothing to do with money?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona sits down with certified financial planner and consultant Kevin Berwald to explore a different starting point for retirement: putting Christ first.

Kevin shares why retirement is about far more than financial security, travel plans, or lifestyle goals. Instead, he encourages listeners to consider a deepe...

When Is “Enough” Enough to Retire? Faith, Finances, and Courageous Retirement (with Mike Perez)

How much is enough to retire?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson sits down with Mike Perez, author of Faith and Finances, to tackle one of the most common fears facing retirement-age believers: What if I don’t have enough money saved?

Together, they explore how retirement may require less than we assume...

Lately, I’ve sensed God inviting me into a shift — from striving to faithfulness. From doing more to loving more deliberately.

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, I share how retirement created space for Scripture to speak more deeply into my life — and how Romans 10 and 1 Corinthians 13 reshaped the way I see this season.

Retirement isn’t a winding down. It’s an invitation.
An invitation to ste...

Living Your Best Life in Retirement: Lessons from Legos and Faith

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson shares an unexpected lesson learned while building Legos with her grandson—and how it beautifully mirrors the opportunity retirement offers us.

By watching her grandson playing with legos, Vona reflects on what it means to “dump everything on the table,” reassess what we’ve built so far, and...

What if New Year’s resolutions are actually keeping you from something better?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson shares why she stopped chasing resolutions—and started listening for God’s direction instead. Rather than creating long lists of goals that fade by February, she embraces a simple but powerful practice: choosing a “Word of the Year” rooted in prayer and Scripture.

Vona ref...

A new season, a renewed focus, and an invitation to live with eternal intention

Life is short—how are you choosing to live it?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, I reflect on the reality that our days are limited and invite you into a conversation about living purposefully, not just productively.

Scripture reminds us, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:1...

Navigating grief during the holidays can feel especially heavy when the world expects joy, celebration, and togetherness.

In this compassionate episode of Courageous Retirement, host Vona Johnson welcomes clinical psychologist and grief educator Dr. Richelle to offer gentle help and practical support for anyone experiencing loss during the holiday season.

Together, they explore how grief is more than the loss of a lo...

What does your life say about your faith?

That is a question that can stop us in our tracks.

In this touching Christmas episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson invites you to slow down and reflect on the one thing that truly matters. Inspired by her annual Christmas card and a tender memory of her dad during the advanced stages of dementia, Vona shares how a simple phrase he repeated about her stepmom revealed...

Are you approaching retirement but still feel called to more?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson sits down with Beverly Smith, a Faith-Driven Executive Résumé Writer and Job Search Strategist, to break down the myths surrounding retirement and explore what it looks like to finish well before or after retirement.

Together, we talk about:
✨ Why retirement isn’t the end—it’s a ne...

Have you ever watched someone you love drift off the path you thought God had for them? It’s painful—but it doesn’t mean their story is over.

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson shares insight from Scripture and personal experience about what it means to trust God’s plan when life doesn’t look the way you expected. Discover how to walk in peace, even when others take detours, ...

When was the last time you checked your spiritual compass? It might be time to wake up your faith and walk in God’s direction again.

Have you ever realized you’ve been going through the motions—doing all the right things but missing the deeper purpose behind them? In this heartfelt episode, Vona shares a personal story that reminds us how easy it is to drift from God’s will without even noticing. She ...