Shows / Encore Living
Encore Living
What if there’s more for you?
More possibility. More purpose. More of the life you’d really love to be living.
Welcome to Encore Living, a short weekday podcast with Dr. Thor Challgren about creating a life that feels more fully your own.
Each weekday, Thor shares a story, insight, question, or fresh perspective designed to help you think differently about what’s possible for your life.
Sometimes the biggest changes begin simply by noticing something you hadn’t noticed before, questioning an…
Episodes
- Encore Living
Having Breakfast for Dinner?? | EP 172
Who decided what we're supposed to eat for dinner anyway? When I realized I didn't have my usual dinner ingredients, I started wondering if I could just have…
- Encore Living
When It Comes to Cremation, I Apparently Have Options | EP 171
Apparently, I've reached the age where someone thinks I should be considering my cremation options. And they even invited me to lunch to discuss them! But this…
- Encore Living
Gosh, Humanity is Beautiful | EP 170
The New York City Marathon brought out something extraordinary in people, and it wasn't just the runners crossing the finish line. It was the strangers…
- Encore Living
Stop Moving the Goal Posts | EP 169
What happens when things are finally going your way, but you can't quite enjoy it? After watching UCLA's remarkable football turnaround, I noticed something…
- Encore Living
Ideas Are Everywhere | EP 168
Ever feel like you're running out of ideas? What if the problem isn't a shortage of ideas, but the belief that ideas are scarce? In this episode of Encore…
- Encore Living
You're the CEO of Your Life | EP 167
What if you were the CEO of your own life? Imagine your life is a corporation called You, Inc. As CEO, you're responsible for deciding how to invest its most…
- Encore Living
The Archaeologist from the Future | EP 166
What would an archaeologist 100 years from now think about the things you're worried about today? Inspired by comedian Jake Lambert's hilarious take on modern…
- Encore Living
What If You Don't Need More Time? | EP 165
What if the thing you think requires two hours could actually be accomplished in one minute? During a recent workshop, I was given just 60 seconds to come up…
- Encore Living
What If Someone Made a Documentary About You? | EP 164
What might you discover if someone followed you around for a day, observing your behavior and asking why you do the things you do? After watching the new…
- Encore Living
The Infinite Aisle | EP 163
What if there are far more possibilities available to you than you've ever imagined? In the final episode of this three-part Encore Living series, I return to…
- Encore Living
It's Already on the Shelf | EP 162
What if you didn't have to create the life you want? What if you could begin by simply choosing it? In part two of this three-part Encore Living series, I take…
- Encore Living
The Infinite Wallet | EP 161
What if you could begin every new adventure knowing you already had access to everything you needed? Imagine carrying an infinite wallet, not just filled with…
- Encore Living
You'll Cross Many Bridges | EP 160
What if the tolls you pay in life aren't costs, but investments in your future? In part two of my bridge series, I'm exploring two more ways that bridges can…
- Encore Living
Getting on the Bridge | EP 159
What if making a big change in your life is a little like crossing a bridge? Imagine you're in San Francisco. If you want to reach Oakland, you take the Bay…
- Encore Living
Make Your Problems Smaller | EP 158
What if you could take a problem out of your head and put it on the desk in front of you? Sometimes the problems we imagine become much bigger than the…
- Encore Living
Maybe | EP 157
What if you waited just five seconds before deciding whether something was good or bad? In today's episode of Encore Living, I share an ancient Taoist parable…
- Encore Living
The Sunshine Will Move | EP 156
What if the problem you're facing right now isn't going to last nearly as long as you think? At a recent conference, I noticed something unusual. Morning…
- Encore Living
Are You Wearing a Ring of Possibility? | EP 155
What does an ancient Roman emperor's signet ring have to do with creating the life you want? In today's episode of Encore Living, Dr. Thor shares an unexpected…
- Encore Living
An Unexpected Turn Isn't a Wrong Turn | EP 154
Have you ever felt like you were this close to reaching a goal, only to find yourself moving in the opposite direction? Last week, I was walking a labyrinth at…
- Encore Living
Turn Off the Algorithm | EP 153
When was the last time you discovered something interesting that you weren't even looking for? Recently, I started reading the Sunday New York Times. The…
- Encore Living
The Power of One Word | EP 152
One word changed my entire experience of a two-hour dental procedure. I went to the dentist thinking I was having an appointment. But halfway through, I…
- Encore Living
The Rules You Didn’t Know You Had | EP 151
We all have unwritten rules about how the world is supposed to work. But what happens when someone breaks one? A strange elevator experience on a recent…
- Encore Living
I’m the Kind of Person Who Does This | EP 150
Sometimes changing what you believe about yourself starts with one small decision. While traveling in Italy, I found myself standing beside the beautiful blue…
- Encore Living
The Energy of Trying Something New | EP149
I recently got a Peloton bike, and I may have become a little bit of an evangelist for it. But this episode isn't really about Peloton. It's about something…
- Encore Living
What Do You Want Now? | EP 161
What do you want now?It sounds like a simple question. But after years of organizing your life around your kids, your spouse, your parents, your work, and…
- Encore Living
The Empty Nest Rules You Didn’t Know You Had | EP160
For years, your life has been organized around your kids: the school calendar, activities, family schedules, even when you take vacations.But now your kid is…
- Encore Living
The Empty Nest Milestone Nobody Celebrates | EP159
We celebrate our kids when they graduate, get into college, and head off into the world. But there’s another milestone that deserves some recognition too: you…
- Encore Living
It Gets Better | EP 158
How long does it take to feel okay after your kid leaves for college?I wish I could tell you it's a few weeks. Or even a few months. For me, it took longer…
- Encore Living
The Empty Nest Comparison Trap | EP157
Some college parents are reportedly spending thousands of dollars hiring professional designers to decorate their kids’ dorm rooms.Um… okay.But this episode…
- Encore Living
The Empty Nest Fog: What to Do When You Can’t See What’s Next | EP156
Your child has left for college. The calendar that once organized your life suddenly has wide-open spaces. And everyone seems to want to know the same…
- Encore Living
Starting Again With Time To Spare | EP155
Sometimes, starting again doesn’t begin with a plan, it begins with time.In this episode, I share the story behind something I did last year that surprised me…
- Encore Living
What Luke Skywalker’s "Day Off" Says About Midlife | EP154
After a big chapter ends, the hardest part isn’t knowing what’s next. It’s giving yourself permission to pause.###If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to…
- Encore Living
Empty Nester Parents: What If YOU Went Back to College? | EP153
If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.That’s where I share reflections like this, along with what…
- Encore Living
Before You Set Goals, Celebrate What You Lived Through | EP152
If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.That’s where I share reflections like this, along with what…
- Encore Living
Packing Away Decorations, Unpacking Who You Are Now | EP151
If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.That’s where I share reflections like this, along with what…
- Encore Living
College Decision Month—But What About Your Midlife Plan? | EP150
It’s April—aka College Decision Month. Your teen is making a huge life decision. But have you stopped to consider your own?Subscribe to Dr. Thor’s FREE Encore…
- Encore Living
Empty Nest Life: Why You Feel Lost (And Why That’s Totally Normal) | EP149
Feel lost after the kids leave? You're not alone. Today I share one shift that can change your empty nest experience.Subscribe to Dr. Thor’s FREE Encore Living…
- Encore Living
Transforming Your Life: The Journey from Complaints to Power PT2 #148
Ever found yourself caught in the traffic, complaining about how it's ruining your day? What if I told you that you can transform your life by simply changing…
- Encore Living
Breaking Down the Habit of Complaints - PT1 #147
Ready to break free from the endless loop of complaints? Join me in this first episode of a four part-series on complaining. In this episode, I explore why…
- Encore Living
T.G.I.TED - Anne Lamott and A Bird by Bird Approach to Life's Challenges #146
In this episode, I share my perspective on a TED talk given by author Anne Lamott. Her talk is called, "12 Truths I Learned From Life and Writing." You can…
- Encore Living
Unpacking The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles - Chapter 14 - #145
Can you truly attract abundance into your life by conveying the impression of increase to others? In this episode, I explore into Chapter 14 of Wallace D…
- Encore Living
Unpacking The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles - Chapter 11 - #144
Can mere thoughts alone bring riches, or is action an essential ingredient for success? In this episode, I explore Chapter 11 of Wallace D. Wattles' timeless…
- Encore Living
Unpacking The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles - Chapter 7 - #143
Immerse yourself in a transformative journey as we crack open the wisdom of Wallace Waddles' 1910 classic, the Science of Getting Rich, and uncover the…
- Encore Living
Unpacking The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles - Chapter 4 - #142
Are your thoughts shaping your destiny, or are you simply going through the motions of life? In this episode, I dive into the mind-expanding pages of Wallace…
- Encore Living
T.G.I.TED - Programming Your Mind for Success with Carrie Green #141
Have you ever felt that nagging self-doubt creep in just as you're about to pursue your dreams? That moment when you ask yourself, "Who am I to do this?" In…
- Encore Living
#140: Navigating the Long Haul: Strategies for Endurance
Are you staring down a seemingly endless stretch of time or a monumental task that feels insurmountable? How do you maintain your focus and keep your spirits…
- Encore Living
#139: Navigating Purpose: How Visualization Maps the Way to Achievement
Have you ever found yourself stuck in the middle of a seemingly endless traffic jam, unsure when it will finally clear up? It's a universal frustration we've…
- Encore Living
#138: Changing the Case: UPPERCASE Thinking for Life's Lowercase Challenges
We all face challenges in life, but what if we could change the way we think about them? Instead of dwelling on the lowercase hurdles, why not focus on the…
- Encore Living
#137: When The Circumstances Don't Show Up in the Vacation Photo
In today's episode, I pose a question: when you look at a picture, do you see the circumstances behind the photo? And do they matter? I recently returned from…
- Encore Living
#136: T.G.I.TED - Exploring the Call to Learn, Teach, and Maintain Perpetual Curiosity
You reach a point in life, and you think to yourself, I’ve done everything I want to do in life. But have you? I just watched a TED talk that’s made me…
- Encore Living
#135: Put Yourself First Pt 4: Exploring a Two-Month Purpose
Ready to challenge the norm and explore a new perspective on your life's purpose? In this finale of my 'Put Yourself First' series, I talk about creating a…
- Encore Living
#134: Put Yourself First Pt 3: Give Yourself Permission to Shine in Your Next Life Chapter
What if the next chapter of your life sees you accomplishing something even more significant than being a parent? That's the question at the heart of the…
- Encore Living
#133: Put Yourself First Pt 2: Celebrating Personal Achievements and Embracing Life Transitions
After ushering my daughter off to her new life chapter, my house fell silent and an overwhelming sense of emptiness, mingled with accomplishment, washed over…
- Encore Living
#132: Put Yourself First Pt 1: Navigating the Next Phase of Life after an Empty Nest
Ever found yourself with an empty nest and suddenly confronted with the question, "What's next?" I know exactly how that feels. When my daughter first moved…
- Encore Living
#131: Deepak Chopra's 7th Spiritual Law of Success - The Law of Dharma or Purpose in Life
Ready to unlock the key to true affluence and discover your unique purpose in life? Promise yourself this transformative journey as we wrap up our enlightening…
- Encore Living
#130: Deepak Chopra's 6th Spiritual Law of Success - The Law of Intention and Desire
What if the key to greater success and peace in life lay in releasing our grip, rather than holding on tighter? As we weave our way through the profound wisdom…
- Encore Living
#129: T.G.I.TED - Challenging the Myths: Age and Success
Get ready to challenge your preconceived notions about age and success! Today's episode shines a spotlight on the inspirational TEDxTalk by data scientist…
- Encore Living
#128: T.G.I.TED - How to Reframe What "Failing" Means
In today's episode, I talk about a TED talk I recently watched. It's by Jonathan Fields and it's called, "Turning Fear Into Fuel." In this T.G.I.TED series…
- Encore Living
#127: Gary Keller's ONE THING and Why You Shouldn't Lead a Disciplined Life
We all admire people who seem to lead disciplined lives, right? Well, maybe not all of us. Gary Keller, author (with Jay Papazan) of the bestselling book, "The…
- Encore Living
#126: Gary Keller's ONE THING and 5 Reasons Not to Multitask
How many things can you do at once and still be effective? According to Gary Keller, author of "The One Thing," the answer is one. When you try to multitask…