I Cashed Out My 401(k) to Build a Women’s Only Retirement Community

I Cashed Out My 401(k) to Build a Women’s Only Retirement Community

Author: The New York Times December 17, 2025 Duration: 27:58
When it came time to retire, Robyn Yerian didn’t feel like she had enough money saved. She didn’t want to depend on her children or end up in a nursing home, so she cashed out what she had in her 401(k) and bought a plot of land in East Texas. She built spots for tiny homes and called the area the Bird’s Nest. Over time, the Bird’s Nest has become home to a community of women who are rethinking retirement. On this episode of “Modern Love,” Yerian and Cheryl Huff, a longtime resident of the Bird’s Nest, describe what it feels like to grow older together with the support of other women, and discuss why they can’t imagine doing it any other way.

For two decades, the Modern Love column in The New York Times has offered a uniquely intimate window into how people navigate relationships, heartbreak, and connection. That same spirit of honest, personal storytelling finds its voice in this weekly podcast, hosted by Anna Martin. Here, the written essays are brought to life, often by notable actors, and expanded upon through Martin’s thoughtful conversations with the authors and other guests. They delve into the aftermath of the published story, exploring what was learned and how lives have unfolded since. You’ll hear about love in its many forms-romantic, familial, platonic, and self-love-across a spectrum of experiences that are by turns heartbreaking, awkward, humorous, and profoundly uplifting. This isn’t about fairytales, but the real, messy, and transformative moments that define us. The Modern Love podcast, from The New York Times, continues that essential tradition of sharing our most vulnerable stories to see our own lives more clearly. New episodes arrive every Wednesday.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Modern Love
Podcast Episodes
Finding the Magic, Just in Time (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:20
Clare Cory was 59 years old and had been single almost her whole life. She thought her love story was over. Then everything changed.
A Therapist’s Emotional Tool Kit for a Better Holiday Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:07
The holiday season is upon us. It’s a wonderful time, but if we’re being honest, it’s also a little stressful. Whether you’re worried about hosting a big family gathering, talking with cousins who have very different per…
There's a Better Way for Couples to Talk About Money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:47
According to Ramit Sethi, a personal finance author and coach, a lot of couples get stuck bickering about everyday purchases. If you’re hung up on what’s in the cart at Target, or who’s buying too many iced teas on the w…
On Our Third Date, I Asked for a Joint Bank Account [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:54
Janene Lin loathed the moment when the dinner bill would hit the table. When her date would pay, she felt like her love was for sale. Splitting the bill felt like no one had anything at stake. Most of the time, she would…
The Love Poem Andrea Gibson Wrote for Their Widow...and for You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:32
Andrea Gibson was the poet laureate of Colorado and a giant of the spoken word poetry scene. This past July, Gibson died of ovarian cancer, leaving behind their devoted fans, friends, family and longtime partner, the poe…
W.N.B.A. Star Natasha Cloud Doesn’t Play When It Comes to Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:29
Natasha Cloud is a powerhouse. The New York Liberty point guard seems to have it all: a successful W.N.B.A. career, fierce confidence and a loving relationship with her girlfriend and teammate, Isabelle Harrison. On and…
The Woman Who Can Make Affairs Disappear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:53
In cities across China, there’s a special kind of consultant you can hire if you find out your spouse is cheating. They’re called “mistress dispellers,” and their job is to work their way into your spouse’s life, get clo…
Malala Thought She’d Never Fall in Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:53
When she was 15 years old, Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban, targeted for saying that young women should have the right to an education. By the time she woke from the ensuing coma, the world had already cast her…
Tessa Thompson on Finding What You Want (What You Really, Really Want) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:50
Tessa Thompson’s latest role is an infamously chaotic one: Hedda Gabler. Adapted from the classic play by Henrik Ibsen, “Hedda,” in select theaters Oct. 22, casts Thompson as a 1950s housewife who feels snubbed by an old…
For Her 70th Birthday, She Hired an Escort [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:54
Gail Rice, a writer and a therapist, was approaching her 70th birthday. She had given up on dating apps and hadn’t had a romantic connection with anyone in years. But for her 70th, she wanted a very specific birthday pre…