Movement, Meaning, and Midlife Power

What does it mean to keep getting stronger, more connected, and more alive as we age?

In this episode of The Masterlete Podcast, Wendy Lutter sits down with lifelong mover, master rower, and award-winning storyteller Gretchen Sage Martinson for a conversation about movement, community, and healthspan. From team sports in her youth to discovering competitive rowing at age 50, Gretchen shares how being “in the boat together” — literally and metaphorically — has shaped her physical health, mental resilience, and sense of purpose.

Gretchen opens up about the power of team-based movement, why individual fitness never fully worked for her, and how rowing became both a physical practice and a form of presence. She reflects on aging, menopause, recovery, and the often-overlooked reality of women navigating healthcare as older athletes — including a powerful personal story about advocating for herself after a serious accident.

The conversation also explores storytelling as a form of community care. Gretchen shares the origin of Herd, the women-centered storytelling collective she co-founded after winning a MOTH competition, and why creating spaces where women are truly seen and heard is essential for well-being at every age.

This episode is a reminder that healthspan isn’t just about living longer — it’s about staying engaged, capable, connected, and curious for as long as possible.

Topics covered

• Discovering competitive rowing at 50
• Why team sports and shared practice matter in midlife
• Movement as mental and emotional regulation
• Aging, menopause, and recovery without resignation
• Advocating for yourself as a female athlete in healthcare
• Community, storytelling, and the birth of Heard
• What it really takes to keep moving — better and longer

This episode is perfect for anyone who believes movement is more meaningful when it’s shared — and that the second half of life still holds plenty of power.