S2E12: Choosing Yourself After 40: Four Women on Doubt, Change, and the Pursuit of Joy

S2E12: Choosing Yourself After 40: Four Women on Doubt, Change, and the Pursuit of Joy

Four women. Four lived experiences. One shared truth. Midlife doesn’t ask for permission before it changes things. Your body shifts. Your circumstances shift. Your perspective sharpens. And with that comes doubt, discomfort, and the question of how you move forward. In this compilation episode, you’ll hear from Felicia, Joanna, Lauren, and Zen (Nancy Adzentoivich) as they share what it looks like to navigate change in real time. * Felicia on how grief pushed her to reevaluate what matters and pursue what she had been putting off * Joanna on adapting through injury and how persistence evolves as your body changes * Lauren on committing fully to what brings her joy and the freedom she finds in movement and flight * Zen on learning your body and building strength by working with it instead of against it These are real conversations. Real women navigating midlife as it actually unfolds. This episode is about recommitting to yourself. Not in theory, but in practice. Through movement, through challenge, and through the pursuit of a life that feels good to live. You can follow along on Instagram... Zen @Zen_Pole Joanna @joannalittlewoodjohnson_pole Felicia @feliciatheartist Lauren @Laurenfuckinghill If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you’re curious about starting your own movement practice, download the free GenX Pole Arts Starter Kit and begin at home. https://genxpolearts.com/ [https://genxpolearts.com/]

S2E11: How Curiosity Turned into a Lifestyle: A Conversation with Aerial Chains Artist Sara Tipton

In this episode of Fit Fierce and Fearless, I’m joined by Sara, an aerial chains artist and gymnastics coach from Wyoming. Sara and I actually met the way many people in our community do these days—through Instagram—thanks to a connection with a previous podcast guest, Karl. Sara’s story is a great example of how discovering something new later in life can completely change your path. She started aerial just before turning 40 after noticing a flyer for aerial silks classes at the gymnastics gym where she coaches. She originally thought it would help her become a stronger coach for her students—but that first class turned into a passion she couldn’t step away from. Not long after starting silks, Sara discovered aerial chains, and she knew immediately that it was the apparatus for her. In This Episode, We Discuss: * How Sara got started with aerial silks right before her 40th birthday * The moment she discovered aerial chains and knew it was her style * Why chains are both challenging and incredibly addictive * How aerial training builds strength, even if you start with zero upper body strength * The role her gymnastics background played in learning aerial * Why consistency is the key to progressing in aerial arts * How aerial has become something her whole family shares Her goal when teaching is simple: create more chains artists, not scare people away from the apparatus. 🔗 Connect with Sara: Follow @broncosara on Instagram Start your journey today! * Want to try pole? Join a class at your local studio or download the free GenX Pole Arts Starter Kit⁠ [https://genxpolearts.com/] to begin exploring at home. * Visit the Linktree [https://linktr.ee/genxpolearts] for links for upcoming workshops, YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvqjjw9V5K98ag525BFqe2aKHviSOIS6B] videos, and resources to support your pole journey.  ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to share, subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Your support helps uplift and empower more women over 40 in the pole dance community and beyond!

S2E10: The Fitness Mistress Reveals How to Reclaim Your Body at Any Age: a Conversation with Doreen

In this episode, I’m joined by Doreen—also known as The Fitness Mistress—whom I connected with through Instagram. After seeing a bit of her pole journey and learning about her background in fitness, I knew I wanted to have her on the podcast. Doreen has an incredible story and brings so much honesty and wisdom to the conversation. We talk about everything from her start in fitness in her mid-40s, to preparing for a bodybuilding competition, to navigating menopause and discovering pole dancing along the way. It’s a conversation about resilience, body changes, healing, and learning to reconnect with ourselves through movement—something I know so many of us can relate to. In This Episode, We Discuss: * How Doreen’s fitness journey began at age 45 * Preparing for a bodybuilding competition and the unexpected impact of menopause * The differences between bodybuilding strength and pole mobility * Learning pole later in life and how it builds confidence * The physical and emotional changes during perimenopause and menopause * Why sleep and recovery are essential for strength and muscle growth * Pelvic floor health and how it supports overall strength and wellness * Why building muscle and bone strength is crucial as we age * The reminder that it’s never too late to start moving and investing in your health  When we’re carrying stress, grief, or unresolved emotions, it often shows up physically in our bodies. And when we begin to work through those things internally, the external transformation often follows. 🔗 Connect with Doreen: Follow @arisen_fitness on Instagram Start your journey today! * Want to try pole? Join a class at your local studio or download the free GenX Pole Arts Starter Kit⁠ [https://genxpolearts.com/] to begin exploring at home. * Visit the Linktree [https://linktr.ee/genxpolearts] for links for upcoming workshops, YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvqjjw9V5K98ag525BFqe2aKHviSOIS6B] videos, and resources to support your pole journey.  ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to share, subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Your support helps uplift and empower more women over 40 in the pole dance community and beyond!

S2E9: Strength, Freedom, and Flow: A Conversation with Dahlia

In this episode, I sit down with Dahlia to explore her journey with pole dancing. We talk about how embracing this practice reshaped her body, mind, and sense of self. From releasing fear and body insecurities to building strength, confidence, and creative freedom, Dahlia shares how fully committing to pole has changed her life. This conversation is about more than fitness—it’s about trust, resilience, and joy, and finding freedom in your body. In This Episode, We Discuss: * How pole can help you overcome fear and self-doubt. * Ways to build strength, flexibility, and confidence through movement. * How connecting with your body and with the roots of the pole dance can be empowering and freeing. * Simple practices for recovery, warm-ups, and staying healthy as you train. * How to trust yourself and your instincts in both fitness and life. * Ways pole can reshape your relationship with aging and body image. * How to channel life stress and challenges into creative movement. * The value of incremental progress and celebrating small wins. * How embracing your sensuality and feminine energy can be joyful and confidence-building. * How to balance athletic discipline with playful experimentation. Pole lets me play, experiment, and push my limits in a safe space, it builds and strengthens the trust I have in myself, and that trust in myself translates to every part of my life. 🔗 Connect with Dahlia: Follow @dahlia.poles on Instagram Start your journey today! * Want to try pole? Join a class at your local studio or download the free GenX Pole Arts Starter Kit⁠ [https://genxpolearts.com/] to begin exploring at home. * Visit the Linktree [https://linktr.ee/genxpolearts] for links for upcoming workshops, YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvqjjw9V5K98ag525BFqe2aKHviSOIS6B] videos, and resources to support your pole journey.  ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to share, subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Your support helps uplift and empower more women over 40 in the pole dance community and beyond!

S2E8: From Ballroom to Pole Baddie at 57 and Why She’ll Never Stop: a Conversation with Tammi

In Episode 55 of Fit, Fierce and Fearless, I sat down with Tammi - someone who’s been part of my pole journey since my first competition. We competed against each other at my first Pole Sport Organization competition in LA right after COVID. It was just the two of us in our category. I was terrified. She had blue hair and a whole vibe. I thought, “Oh my God… how is this going to go?” Turns out? She’s one of the most real, hilarious, strong, unapologetically-weird (her words!) women I know. And this conversation? It’s one of my favorites. In This Episode, We Discuss: * Building upper body strength from scratch * Why consistency matters more than talent * Overcoming fear of heights (and shaking 20 feet in the air!) * The mental rewiring that happens when you push through fear * Learning to trust your body and yourself * Doing something just for you * The difference between competing for validation vs. self-growth * The unexpected mental health benefits of pole 🔗 Connect with Tammi: Follow @BeALilith on Instagram Start your journey today! * Want to try pole? Join a class at your local studio or download the free GenX Pole Arts Starter Kit⁠ [https://genxpolearts.com/] to begin exploring at home. * Visit the Linktree [https://linktr.ee/genxpolearts] for links for upcoming workshops, YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvqjjw9V5K98ag525BFqe2aKHviSOIS6B] videos, and resources to support your pole journey.  ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to share, subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Your support helps uplift and empower more women over 40 in the pole dance community and beyond!