Design Your Joyful Retirement

35. Who Made These Rules? with Jennifer Butz

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your age, but the invisible rules you've been living by? In this episode, I'm talking with Jennifer Butz, founder of WonderCrone, to explore what it means to break the societal scripts that shape how women think about aging, purpose, and what's possible after 50. After decades of living and working around the world, Jen noticed something striking: many cultures honor older women as wisdom holders, while ours often encourages us to become smaller, quieter, and less visible. Together, we explore how limiting beliefs quietly shape our lives, why lasting change happens through small acts of self-trust rather than dramatic reinvention, and how cultivating wonder can open doors to a more authentic next chapter. If you've ever caught yourself thinking, I'm too old for that, I should have this figured out by now, or Who am I if I'm no longer defined by my career or caregiving?, this conversation is for you. We explore: * Why the stories we tell ourselves about aging deserve to be questioned. * The most common limiting beliefs women carry into midlife and how to recognize them. * Why meaningful change is evolutionary, not revolutionary. * How giving yourself small "permission slips" can lead to profound transformation. * The role of wonder, curiosity, and playfulness in creating a fulfilling next chapter. * Why your lived experience is one of your greatest strengths. * How older women can embrace their voice, wisdom, and relevance in a culture that often overlooks them. Jen's take on aging is irreverent, warm, and deeply human. This one will stay with you. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now. 📲 Follow the show so you never miss an episode Website: Wondercrone.com [https://www.wondercrone.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-l-butz-6a2ab311/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-l-butz-6a2ab311/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wondercrone/ [https://www.instagram.com/wondercrone/] Weekly blogs can be found at wondercrone.com [http://wondercrone.com]. Jen has written four books that are available on Amazon: * Where Wisdom Meets Wonder: A Workbook of Renewal, Agency, and Direction. (2024) * Rebel Aging: Wisdom, Wonder, and a Few Shenanigans (2025) * The Wisdom and Wonder of Coloring (a journaling/coloring book to tap the right side of the brain) (2025) * What Darwin Can Teach Us About Aging in Power: An Evolutionary Lens on Resilience and Thriving (due out early 2027)

34. The Empress Has Entered the Chat with Kate Higgins

In this episode, I talk with Kate Higgins, a therapist-turned-spiritual life coach for unconventional women 40+, who brings 26 years of clinical experience, a decade of burlesque performing, and a hard-won midlife reinvention of her own. It's a rich, expansive conversation that will make you feel seen ~ and maybe a little more ready to claim what's yours. Kate speaks candidly about the four archetypal phases every woman moves through ~ Maiden, Mother, Empress, and Crone ~ and why understanding where you are right now has a way of shifting everything. She shares her powerful ritual, Craft Your Crown, a hands-on rite of passage designed to help women step fully into who they're becoming. We also get real about the Empress era ~ what it actually looks and feels like to set a boundary without apologizing or justifying. And we talk about what retirement can look like when you're long on creativity and community, even if you're short on savings. Kate's reminder that healing doesn't have to be so serious stayed with me. Joy is not a reward for doing the hard work ~ it is the work. Give this episode a listen ~ you'll walk away feeling more grounded, more crowned, and maybe a little more ready to cross the threshold. 👑 In This Episode We Cover: * The four archetypal phases of a woman's life * What the Empress era really looks and feels like * The Craft Your Crown ritual and why it works * Setting boundaries without apologizing or justifying * Alternative retirement models built on creativity and community * Why healing gets to be joyful, silly, and fun Resources & Links Mentioned: * Kate's Website: yourmagicalmidlife.com [https://www.yourmagicalmidlife.com/] * Instagram: @yourmagicalmidlife [https://www.instagram.com/yourmagicalmidlife] * Podcast: Your Magical Midlife [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-magical-midlife/id1709696388] * LinkedIn: yourmagicalmidlife.com [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katehigginslcsw/]

33. Your Intuition Is a Diagnostic Tool ~ with Dr. Kaye Brundidge

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Kaye Brundidge, an anesthesiologist and medical intuitive who spent decades in operating rooms before dedicating her work to helping women truly understand their bodies. It's a warm, eye-opening conversation that will make you feel seen and more equipped than ever to take charge of your health. Dr. Kaye speaks candidly about what she witnessed in her years of practice: women who were brilliant advocates for everyone around them, but had never learned to advocate for themselves. She's here to change that. From the science behind how unprocessed emotions show up in the body, to the very real power of complementary practices like tapping, acupuncture, and mindfulness ~ she makes a compelling, accessible case for treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. We also dig into the state of women's healthcare in America ~ why only 1-2% of medical research dollars go toward women's health, what the system gets wrong about menopause and perimenopause, and why your intuition is not something to be dismissed. Dr. Kaye leaves us with simple, practical encouragement ~ bring an advocate to your appointments, ask the questions, and carve out quiet time to reconnect with your inner signal. Give this episode a listen ~ you'll walk away feeling more informed and empowered to advocate for the care you truly deserve In This Episode We Cover: * The intersection of medicine and intuition * Why women are so often dismissed by the healthcare system * How trauma lives in the body before it becomes disease * The science behind our energetic field and emotional health * Complementary practices that support whole-body healing * The state of women's healthcare research in America * Perimenopause, menopause, and why they deserve more attention * How to advocate for yourself in medical settings * Why reclaiming your inner signal is one of the most powerful things you can do Resources & Links Mentioned: * Oshun Energy Medicine [http://www.oshunenergymedicine.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oshun_energy_medicine_oem/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaye-brundidge-md-45a70910/] * Pivotal Ventures [https://www.pivotalventures.org/] — Melinda French Gates' foundation focused on women's health and equity * Design Your Joyful Retirement Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/design-your-joyful-retirement/id1711665820] — subscribe and leave a review!

32. All Downhill From Here? Hard Pass ~ with Diane Amelia Read and Teresa Lisum

What does wellness actually mean in midlife ~ and why do so many of us wait for permission to prioritize it? In this episode, I talked with Diane Amelia Read and Teresa Lisum for an honest, energizing conversation about movement, identity, and what it really looks like to age well. We talk about busting the stories we've been handed about getting older, why five intentional minutes beats zero perfect ones, and how showing up imperfectly is still showing up. In this episode: * Why movement is the non-negotiable ~ and how to make it sustainable * The myth of the "right time" to start taking care of yourself * Why "selfless" is not the compliment we think it is * How to define wellness on your own terms * The power of community and accountability * What to do when life blows up and self-care feels impossible Connect with Diane Amelia and Teresa: Linkedin: Diane Amelia Read [https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-amelia-read/] LinkedIn: Teresa Lisum [https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresalisum/] Email: The Vitality Continuum at hello@thevitalitycontinuum.com [hello@thevitalitycontinuum.com] EventBrite: The Vitality Continuum at https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/34531589843?ref=eofblike [https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/34531589843?ref=eofblike] YouTube: Podcast Evolving Women [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdIljnri80CvfCy5NpHi3XAYY4VWIZWVv] with Teresa Lisum

31. What's The Story You've Been Holding? with Dr. Xanthe Golenko

By the time you hit 50, you've lived enough life to fill a few books. But most of us don't think our stories are worth telling. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Xanthe Golenko about why that couldn't be further from the truth. Xanthe was a dancer in France, then a researcher studying older adults. When she introduced life story books into care homes, something magical happened ~ families reconnected, staff saw the whole person, and the storytellers themselves transformed. That's when she realized: storytelling isn't just about preserving the past. It's about connection, healing, and claiming your voice in the present. We talk about: * Why your "everyday" moments are exactly what other women need to hear * The power of telling your story in a safe space * How to move from "I don't have a story" to sharing something deeply personal * What would you do if you weren't afraid? * Practical ways to start telling your story Your story doesn't need to be extraordinary to be powerful. It just needs to be yours. Connect with Xanthe: Website: https://gettingartsyafter50.com/ [https://gettingartsyafter50.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getting_artsy_after_50/ [https://www.instagram.com/getting_artsy_after_50/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565782329665 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565782329665] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanthe-golenko-b0993752/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanthe-golenko-b0993752/]