In this episode, Bill Leighty takes us back to Vinnie’s patio — a backyard in Tulsa where real estate men gathered every weekday at five o’clock for a decade, grilling steaks, telling stories, and doing something the researchers now know is as essential to survival as exercise: belonging somewhere. It’s an honest story, including the parts that weren’t easy. And it leads somewhere unexpected — to a front row at St. Rita’s Chapel, and to what Bill believes every man needs to find before it’s too late. The Editorial Team at The Encore Project is proud to bring you one of the most personal conversations we’ve had.
Insight Map
This episode is about the third places in a man’s life — the patios, the pews, the poker games — and why losing them is more dangerous than most men realize. The data is clear: chronic loneliness rivals smoking as a health risk for older men. But the answer isn’t clinical. It’s a backyard, a front row, a group of people who notice when you don’t show up. The Editorial Team at The Encore Project invites you to listen — and then ask yourself where your front row is. Visit theencoreproject.org to read the full article and share your own story.
