Up First from NPR A New Chapter, Later in Life
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Dec 28, 2025 
Anthony Brooks, a WBUR reporter and creator of the 'Third Act' series, shares inspiring stories of people reinventing themselves later in life. He reveals how a personal health scare fueled his passion for this subject. Hear about Tom Andrew, who became a deacon at 61, and Juliana Richardson, who transitioned from law to create HistoryMakers, archiving Black oral histories. Brooks discusses the challenges and financial barriers of late-life reinvention, while also highlighting the joy of pursuing passion projects, as seen with the Ace of Cups band.
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Later Life As A New Beginning
- Anthony Brooks found that many people treat older age as a new beginning rather than an end.
- Longer lifespans and growing numbers of older adults enable meaningful second careers and purpose-driven reinvention.
From Medical Examiner To Deacon
- Tom Andrew quit his job as New Hampshire chief medical examiner at 61 to address the opioid crisis differently.
- He went to seminary to become a deacon and work with youth to prevent drug misuse.
Longer Lives Reshape Life Stages
- Life expectancy increased from ~47 in 1900 to around 80 today, shifting how we view life stages.
- This demographic change reframes 50s–60s as potential midpoints, not endpoints, for new ventures.