This Is 50: What’s Hard, What’s Great, What Matters

What if being in your fifties is actually the best age to be? 
 
Franck Pedretti gets real about embracing the middle years in this entertaining episode of ThirtyFiveSixtyFour. A former professional snowboarder turned French TV host and filmmaker, Franck brings his European perspective to aging with humor and wisdom. Ever find yourself feeling caught between your youthful brain and your middle-aged body? Franck has. He shares how his mind still says "backflip" while his back screams "chiropractor appointment first!" But there's something beautifully liberating about this stage too. "When you're 51, you're young in the club of five-zero," he says with characteristic charm. The secret to thriving? Accept your limitations, maintain your health, and embrace the wisdom you've earned. 
 

Have you been living to work instead of working to live? Franck challenges listeners to reconsider priorities before it's too late. From navigating fatherhood with an 11-year-old who wants dad to "drop into the halfpipe" to contemplating post-empty-nest adventures in an RV, Franck shares how midlife brings perspective that twenty-somethings can't comprehend. He discusses the wave of divorces he's witnessed among friends hitting their fifties and the importance of healing past wounds. But ultimately, Franck's message is optimistic: "My best age is obviously now." With his contagious energy and thoughtful insights, this episode reminds us all that with age comes not just limitations, but a profound understanding of what truly matters in life. 
 
Franck Pedretti is a dynamic creative force who began his career as a professional snowboarder before transitioning to French television, where he hosted sports programs for six years including Olympic coverage. Now based in San Diego, this 53-year-old French native directs films and produces documentary work through his creative lens. When not creating visual stories, Franck embraces active fatherhood with his 11-year-old son, sharing his love for outdoor adventure while balancing the physical realities of middle age. His European perspective brings a refreshing take on aging gracefully, making him both an entertaining storyteller and thoughtful philosopher on midlife's unique challenges and opportunities. 
 
In this episode: 

• (00:00) Introducing French Creative and Former Snowboarder Franck Pedretti 

• (04:15) From Professional Snowboarding to French TV Hosting 

• (08:30) Being 53: When Your Body Unsubscribes from Your Brain's Newsletter 

• (13:52) Sleep is Key: The Middle-Age Health Reality Check 

• (18:47) Navigating Friendship Through Divorce Waves in Your 50s 

• (23:15) The Hardest Part of Aging for Active Men 

• (29:20) Why Now is His Favorite Age: "I'm Young in the Club of 5-0" 

• (35:43) Looking Forward to the 60s: RV Dreams and Work-Life Balance 

• (39:20) Work to Live, Not Live to Work: Midlife Priorities 

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ThirtyFiveSixtyFour is a podcast for listeners between the ages of 35 and 64. Available on all major podcast platforms, the show offers an engaging journey through the various challenges and experiences of midlife. ThirtyFiveSixtyFour presents a distinct departure from the traditional midlife crisis storyline. Instead, it champion