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The Artichoke Assessment
From:
Dorian Mintzer, Ph.D. BCC -- Retirement And Beyond Expert Dorian Mintzer, Ph.D. BCC -- Retirement And Beyond Expert
For Immediate Release:
Dateline: Boston, MA
Tuesday, July 14, 2026

 

In this episode, Dorian welcomes back Renee, founder of Positivity Pro, for her third appearance on the show. Renee returns to talk about her new book, The Artichoke Assessment, a guide that uses the humble artichoke as a powerful metaphor for self-discovery, career transitions, and finding what truly brings you joy.

Renee explains why she chose the artichoke over the more familiar “peeling an onion” metaphor: an onion makes you cry and leaves you with nothing at the center, but an artichoke has real layers (called bracts), a challenging “choke” you have to work through, and a tender, nourishing heart waiting underneath. She shares the story of the dinner party where the idea was born, walks through how she's used the artichoke as an assessment tool with real clients, and connects it to Japanese principles like Ikigai, Kaizen, and Chado that emphasize patience, intention, and small steady steps.

Whether you're navigating retirement, a career change, or simply feel like something is missing even though life looks good on paper, this conversation offers a gentle, reflective framework for slowing down and reconnecting with what really matters.

About Renee

Renee is the founder of Positivity Pro and has spent many years working with individuals and organizations through transitions and change. She is the author of The Artichoke Assessment, a guide built around using the artichoke as a metaphor and tool for self-reflection, and previously co-authored an earlier, much longer book back in 2007. Renee is known for bringing humor, warmth, and a deep well of client experience into her work helping people find clarity and joy in their lives.

Connect with Renee

What to do next:

Dorian Mintzer, M.S.W., Ph.D., BCC (Board Certified Coach) is a coach, therapist, teacher, and writer with extensive clinical experience. She speaks to professional and community groups. As a coach, she helps women, men, and couples reinvent themselves in the second half of life. She is a co-founder of Certified Retirement Coaching 2.0., the host of Revolutionize Your Retirement Radio podcast, and the founder and host of a monthly webinar on the 4th Tuesday of each month: Revolutionize Your Retirement Interview with Experts Series for professionals and the public. She weaves adult development, holistic life planning, and positive psychology into programs that tap and shape clients' energies into roadmaps for wiser, more enhanced living.

She has written about many topics pertaining to the second half of life and aging. She is the author of Honoring the Art of Our Lives: An Interview with Alan C. O'Hare, co-author of The Couples Retirement Puzzle: 10 Must-Have Conversations for Creating An Amazing New Life Together, and has also contributed to Out Of The Box Retirement: Creative Ideas, Role Models, New Possibilities; Rightsourcing Retirement: Best Practices for Employers and Employees; Not Your Mother's Retirement; 70 Things to Do When You Turn 70; 80 Things to do When you Turn 80; Six Secrets For a Happy Retirement; 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel; Live Smart After 50!; 65 Things To Do When You Retire; Remarkable and Real; and Making Marriage a Success. She is also co-producer of The Career Playbook: Second Half Plays.

She's been featured in various media such as the WSJ, NY Times, USA Today, Washington Post, NPR, ABC Evening News, and the Today Show. She delivered a TEDx talk on "Embracing your Bonus Years: A Time to Grow, Learn and Evolve."

For more information on Dorian Mintzer, visit her website at https://www.revolutionizeretirement.com.

 
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News Media Interview Contact
Name: Dorian Mintzer
Title: Owner
Group: Revolutionize Retirement
Dateline: Brookline, MA United States
Direct Phone: (617) 721-7800
Main Phone: 617 721-7800
Cell Phone: 617 721-7800
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