Have you ever looked in the mirror during midlife and wondered, Who am I now? Between menopause, changing relationships, grief, career shifts, and the endless demands of caring for everyone else, it's easy to lose sight of yourself.

In this inspiring conversation, I'm joined by Wendy Valentine, host of The Midlife Makeover Show and author of Women Waking Up. Wendy shares her remarkable journey from divorce, chronic illness, financial hardship, and deep loss to creating a life filled with purpose, health, and joy. Together, we explore why menopause isn't just something to survive—it's an opportunity to wake up, reclaim your power, and become the woman you're meant to be.

In this episode:

[01:14] Wendy shares the incredible story of how divorce, chronic illness, grief, financial hardship, and menopause became the catalyst for completely reinventing her life

[05:37] Why "Choose your hard" became the mindset shift that helped Wendy stop staying stuck and start building the life she truly wanted

[08:31] The powerful exercise of defining your future self instead of focusing only on goals—and how it changes everything

[11:10] The daily practices that helped Wendy recover physically, emotionally, and mentally, from therapy and journaling to movement, meditation, and nourishing her body

[14:56] How our thoughts, self-talk, and energy influence our health, relationships, and ability to heal

[17:34] Sara and Wendy discuss why hormones, supplements, and lifestyle matter—but mindset and emotional well-being are often the missing piece

[19:40] Why so many women unknowingly identify with their diagnosis, and how releasing those labels can create space for healing

[21:27] How sharing our stories creates a ripple effect of hope and reminds other women they don't have to navigate midlife alone

[23:52] The importance of allowing emotions to move through us instead of staying stuck—and why giving yourself permission to feel is an essential part of healing

[28:00] Wendy opens up about how childhood abandonment shaped decades of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and self-abandonment

[30:49] Why prioritizing yourself isn't selfish—it's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and the people you love

[32:15] Wendy shares where listeners can find her book, podcast, and free resources for creating their own midlife transformation

Connect with Wendy Valentine
Wendy Valentine is an internationally published author of Women Waking Up: The Midlife Manifesto for Passion, Purpose, and Play, founder of Midlifology™, keynote speaker, and host of the globally top 1% ranked podcast, The Midlife Makeover Show.

After navigating divorce, menopause, job loss, debt, chronic illness, and an empty nest, Wendy transformed her own life and now inspires women around the world to embrace midlife as a powerful new beginning. Her message is simple: midlife isn't a crisis—it's a catalyst.

Today, Wendy helps women reconnect with their purpose, overcome fear, and create lives filled with joy, confidence, and possibility. When she's not speaking or recording her podcast, she splits her time between Portugal and traveling throughout the U.S. in her RV.

Website: https://wendyvalentine.com

Podcast: https://themidlifemakeovershow.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellowendyvalentine

Book: Women Waking Up

Connect with me, Sara Poldmae:

Website: https://risingwomanproject.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmae

Check out my new Substack! A chance to meet with me directly in The Gathering.

https://mymenopausemedicine.substack.com/

My upcoming wellness retreats.

https://www.wetravel.com/users/meadow-hill-wellness

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