Pat Belding Interview: The Dream! Operating a Sports Bar in Retirement
Diana Landau | May 19, 2026
It’s baseball season again so you can be sure Carl is interviewing someone connected to the sport. In this interview, Pat Belding, a former marketing agency owner is now running a Sports Bar at age 66. Sure, some people have always thought it would be fun to have their own restaurant or bar “some day” but Pat is actually doing it. After he passed on his agency to his employees in 2021, he came face-to-face with his first retirement. Pat shares with us experiments tried, lessons learned and he’s still knocking it out of the park.
Pat is a native San Franciscan, growing up in the West Portal, the oldest in a family of 5. He says that as a kid, he was always curious, always trying something new and different. He also pushed the boundaries with his parents. “I had a great group of friends to keep me on track,” he says.
After college, he trained and worked in the graphic arts and creative industry, founding his own marketing agency, Belding Associates in 1984. He worked with Fortune 100 companies like 3M, Cisco, Google and more. Pat adds, “1992 was an exciting time. The whole industry was changing so dramatically.”
By 2021, the marketing industry had been utterly transformed by technology and social media. Pat shares that something shifted for him and he realized it was time to step away. “The transition was surreal. "I quickly learned I wasn't quite as relevant as I thought was!” But he began to realize that in (un)retirement he had the chance to do all things he had never had time for while he’d been working.
After completing all the house projects, Pat says his wife gently hinted that maybe he could find other places to put his energy. “I wasn't necessarily frustrated or bored. I just left myself be open to things.” Like many of our podcast guests, this was a period of experimentation for him. He volunteered to help restore hiking paths, worked for the US Census where he hired people and learned what it’s like to work with the federal government. He also worked for the SF Giants for a while. He says he never really had an “Aha” moment. “I still don't know if I’m doing it (unretirement) right, but it drives me to succeed.”
Pat is still pushing way beyond his comfort zone, this time with his current venture. Three years ago he started helping out at Frankie’s, a cool sports bar on the South Beach marina and just a short walk from Oracle Park, where the SF Giants play. Frankie's, originally named the Java Hut, has a special history--it's the oldest operating eatery on the San Francisco waterfront. It's been around for over a century.
One year into it, and with no prior experience in the food service industry, Pat started managing Frankie's and he's a part-owner as well. He says that daily he deals with customers, employees, food and beverage vendors, and everything in between. He’s building a solid team and hopes to be able to step back sometime in the future. “Right now I’m in the trenches! Be careful what you say ‘yes’ to.” In the off-season, Pat travels with his wife and spends time with family and friends, but Franke’s still keeps him pretty busy. And of course, he’s always cheering for the SF Giants to win.
Pat’s tips on (un)retirement:
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“Don’t be afraid to take chances. Stay curious!”
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“I think it’s really easy to stay in your comfort zone, especially as we get older. Now is the time to adopt a ‘Why Not? "mentality!”
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“Get engaged as much as possible, (with all ages) because there’s so much more you can add value to in your community and our world.”
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Andrew Motiwalla Interview: Mr. Travel - The Good Life Abroad
Diana Landau | April 14, 2026
Have you ever dreamt of living the good life abroad in your retirement? Carl's guest this month, Andrew Motiwalla, has created the perfect travel experience for those who want to spend a month or two in an European country while enjoying a built-in community for shared adventures. As a successful entrepreneur and CEO with 30 years of experience designing transformational programs, Andrew’s latest venture is The Good Life Abroad. This network of residential communities is designed specifically for active older adults who want to truly immerse themselves in European living.
Born in Chicago to Peruvian and Indian parents, Andrew’s passion for travel was ignited during a study abroad program in South America and later through his service in the Peace Corps. He founded an organization providing Peace Corps-like experiences for high school students, and he has since served as Chief Revenue Officer for several global groups. "They (the former students) have gone on to do amazing things. I'm very proud of the work I did there."
Now in his 50s, Andrew began reimagining his own "(un)retirement." He wanted to travel extensively without the burden of property ownership. "I wanted to go live somewhere and I wanted people to do stuff with," he explains. The Good Life Abroad offers exactly that: an immersive experience for active adults aged 55+ that provides both a local concierge service and a community of like-minded travelers.
"That process of immersion and then adaptation leads to growth that's super important as we get older," Andrew says.
Andrew Motiwalla's (Un) Retirement Tips:
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"Avoid "Tourist Mode": Don't try to pack everything in. Slow down to avoid burnout and leave space in your itinerary for serendipity".
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"Prioritize Friendships: As you age, focus on connections that give you energy rather than maintaining friendships that no longer serve you".
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"Push Your Comfort Zone: Continue to engage with new and different experiences. Pushing past your comfort zone is essential for continued growth".
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour: Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Alex Jeffery Interview: Director of The Power of Pickleball
Diana Landau | March 24, 2026
Bonus episode! Carl combined his two passions in this interview with Alex Jeffery -- Pickleball and Documentaries. Alex is an accomplished documentary filmmaker who recently released an in-depth documentary called the The Power of Pickleball. Alex co-owns the production company Bespoke Works with his friend and long-time collaborator, Paul Petersen. His first feature film, “A Chance Encounter,” won the audience choice award at the Heartland Film Festival in 2020 and then was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
His film “The Power of Pickleball” captures the essence and spirit of one of the country’s fastest-growing (and evolving) sports and it just was just released on Prime Video and Apple TV. Alex points out that although many people think pickleball just happened overnight, it has a history going back to the 1960’s.
A few years ago he was spending time with his Mom and Aunt, who are pickleball fanatics, and they said, “What if we made a documentary about Pickleball?” Not knowing much about it, Alex says they started reaching out to people to learn more. What struck him was how welcoming everyone was. “People opened their arms to us and started telling us their stories and wanted to share more about the sport.”
The documentary, which took several years to make, starts at the beginning of the sport in Bainbridge Island, WA, weaves very personal stories of how the sport has changed players’ lives, covers the controversies and also the growth of the professional circuit. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Alex adds. “It’s really cool to see people from all walks of life discover pickleball and it gives them purpose again.”
Alex originally wanted to be an actor and moved to LA after college. Realizing LA was not right for him, he created his second act as a low-budget, independent film director. Based in Shreveport, LA, Alex loves mentoring film and acting students of all ages and experience. He also strives to a life-long student of the world and an avid traveler.
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Mitch Slater Interview: From Broadcast Producer to Advisor to Digital Creator
Diana Landau | March 10, 2026
It’s more about re"wiring” than retiring, Carl’s guest tells us. Appearing on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business and other major network’s, Mitch Slater is the host and producer of UBS-TV, where he interviews advisors, industry leaders and innovators helping to shape the future of the financial advisory biz. In his first career, Mitch hosted popular radio shows, and eventually became a producer for the Larry King Show. Larry urged Mitch to go to LA, and he worked on shows like Love Connection, Love Boat and others. (You'll have to listen to the episode to hear more—Mitch has stories!) Mitch then pivoted to success in the financial world for decades. And now, he’s combined all his skills and experience for an impressive third act.
Mitch grew up in Springfield, NJ not far from NYC. He loved acting and piano from an early age and grew up always wanting to be on the stage. As a teen he attended a theater program that included notable actors as teachers including Charlton Heston. “It taught us to be serious about acting and the craft,” Mitch says. In college he performed, DJ’d and interned wherever he could. “I’m an ‘out there’ person—I’m more comfortable on stage then off.”
Before graduating college, Mitch found the school's radio station and called it his home. While interning for another radio show, a twist of fate resulted in getting the chance to work on the air with Howard Stern. And while working on the Charlie Rose show, Mitch jumped at an opportunity to have a brief moment with Larry King and ask for career advice. They ended up having a 4-hour lunch which led to Mitch becoming a producer for Larry’s show. “I put myself into opportunities that never really would have happened but I took the risks.” Mitch says. “Overnight I was getting to work with childhood heroes like astronauts, Frank Sinatra, baseball stars, you name it.”
In the late 1980’s, he got engaged and looked for a more lucrative career. At his father’s urging he shifted to becoming a financial advisor and built a decades-long successful career. “It gave me a lifestyle I never would have dreamed. The financial business is really about relationships and I loved that part of it.”
Today, Mitch as truly come full-circle, combining his passions for radio and television with his experience in the financial world. He is the Executive Director of Digital Communications for UBS National Sales. He helps thousands master the art of telling their story on-camera, on podcasts and social media. He hosts and produces programs across UBS-TV, including UBS Front and Center. Mitch has been married for 38 years to his wife, Leslie, an editor at TIME and they have two children. Mitch says, “I’ve never been happier!”
Mitch Slater’s (un)retirement advice on reinventing yourself:
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Career choices: “Be different, Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Humanize it. Stay open to learning!”
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Reinvention: “It wasn’t so much about starting over, but reapplying all these decades of experience into a new format that kinda fits who I am today. I didn't abandon my last 35 years, I just translated it.”
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Tech/Media: “You don't have to choose the trends, you just have to be open to hearing about them. And that’s going to keep you relevant.”
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Support: “Just like in sports, everybody needs a coach. Seek those coaches out!”
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
Tom Marks Interview: Survived 40+ Years in the Ad Biz to a Coming of Age in Retirement
Diana Landau | February 10, 2026
Discovering "the new you" after you retire and defining your true purpose takes many people by surprise. Carl interviews successful advertising executive, best-selling author/speaker and one of the leading voices on Retirement Happiness, Tom Marks.
Tom founded his own advertising agency, TMA+Peritus way back in 1983. He has written the bestseller "The Second-Best Business Book Ever Written" and his latest book is "Coming of Age in Retirement: An Advertising Executive's Story of Enlightenment and Revelation."
Tom was born in Chicago. His mother was a designer with her own company and his father was an advertising executive. His dad's biggest claim to fame was that he was the marketing genius behind Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn. "It was an idyllic childhood," he says. Growing up he always wanted to be in the advertising biz like his father and after graduating from Claremont McKenna College, he founded his own agency. He says he made the mistake of not having any clients at the start. "It was hard in the beginning but once you turn a corner, it's a dream." His clients included McDonald's, Footlocker, Honeywell and California Avocados to name just a few.
After working very long hours and weekends for decades, Tom had a retirement AHA moment. "I just felt like I was losing my mojo. I didn't want to work weekends or nights anymore. I could feel myself slowing down." His transition into retirement did not go well, however. "In a word, it was horrible! I made a lot of mistakes." He tells us he just started doing what other people were doing and lost his individualism. Tom made lots of lists. "I was on a hamster wheel and I needed to get off."
So he consulted friends for suggestions and one said he should write a memoir. "I discovered the writing process was fun for me." His latest best-seller is about finding your own path to happiness in retirement combined with a poignant, funny memoir. Tom lives in Tucson with his wife and has two more books coming out this year.
Tom Mark's Advice to Finding Happiness in (Un)retirement:
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"Be careful about what you read (about retirement.) So many of the books on retirement are about the "how" and not the "why."
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"In retirement, we are no longer defined by our professions. We shouldn't be defined by our possessions. We can be whoever, whatever, whenever we want to be. It's the part of life when individualism is at its greatest opportunity and importance."
• I Used to be Somebody World Tour: Croatia
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.
