EPISODE 97: From Life to Death: A Story of Rebirth
“I remember being told ‘It’s not WHO’s on the air, it’s WHAT’s on the air’ — when I heard that, I knew that my days were numbered. ”— Howard Berger
While losing your job can be stressful at any age, for those over 50 it can be a life-changing crisis. Entering the job market over the age of 50 often brings with it a host of psychological issues, including anxiety, insecurity, depression, and emotional paralysis.
An analysis of employment data spanning the years 1990-2016 has shown that over 50% of workers who entered their 50s with stable, full-time employment were laid off or forced out at least once by their 65th birthdays. 9 out of 10 never again found work that matched their previous salary — and most never recovered financially from this loss.
This episode of the Living Jewishly Podcasts is an instalment of Crossing The Sea, a podcast about Judaism and mental health. Dr. Elliot Malamet speaks with Howard Berger, a former sports journalist who spent many years covering professional athletes for radio and print publications. The involuntary loss of his journalism career in 2011 led to years of emotional struggle — until his professional path took an unexpected turn in his late 50s and brought new meaning into his life.
“Every funeral service is the most important of all time — and that’s the only way to do it.”— Howard Berger
This episode discusses:
- The athlete/journalist relationship and how it has changed over the decades
- The emotions that Howard dealt with in the aftermath of being let go — and the trend in his industry that led to his firing
- The meaningful nature of Howard’s new career and the reverence he brings to his work
Highlights:
00:50 Intro
02:51 Dealing with professional athletes
05:06 The athlete/journalist relationship
06:52 Post-9/11 travel & other job-related stresses
09:01 Being let go
11:51 Immediate aftermath
13:40 Between the Posts & growing debt
16:14 Transitioning to funeral industry
20:38 Compassion & reverence
25:01 Covid-era funeral services
29:31 Jewish burial practices
32:28 Conclusion
Links:
Between the Posts
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Shalom!