Meet Wendy Valentine

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wendy Valentine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Wendy, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I developed resilience because I had to. Throughout my life, I’ve faced a series of intense challenges that shaped who I am today. I became a single mother as a teenager, endured the heartbreaking loss of my husband when he was just 26, experienced physical abuse, and found myself in and out of toxic relationships. But each challenge, much like the pressure that creates a diamond, strengthened my resolve and built my resilience.

By the time I hit my mid-forties, life handed me a whole new set of challenges that felt insurmountable. I was faced with a mountain of debt, unemployment, divorce, a dried-up bank account, an empty nest, chronic illness, depression, anxiety, and the devastating loss of my brother. It felt like my world was crumbling, and I was sinking fast. But then, a life preserver was tossed my way—a vision of driving an RV across the country. In that vision, I saw a new and improved Wendy behind the wheel, living a life filled with purpose, financial freedom, a healthy body, a peaceful mind, and true happiness.

Driving an RV across the country seemed crazy, but staying in a state of misery seemed even crazier. I realized that both paths required effort, so I decided to pour my energy into building a better life for myself. I began to see my demolished life not as a disaster, but as an opportunity to reconstruct something new and beautiful.

Over the next two years, I discovered the solutions to regain my health, reinvent myself, and rebuild my life, eventually driving my dream RV into the desert sunset. That’s when The Midlife Makeover Show was born—a podcast that started as a passion project but quickly grew into something much bigger. Through the show, I’ve been able to share my journey, inspire others, and connect with amazing individuals who are navigating the challenges of midlife.

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about turning adversity into opportunity and forging a new path forward. For me, it meant creating a whole new life that’s more aligned with my passions and purpose. Each hardship has been a stepping stone toward becoming the person I am today, and I believe that we all have the power to rise from the ashes and build the life we truly desire.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m Wendy Valentine, a speaker, certified professional life coach, and author of Women Waking Up—a book and mission close to my heart, which focuses on helping women reignite their spark and embrace the magic of midlife. What excites me most about what I do is seeing the transformative power of women stepping into their power, shedding fear, and rewriting their stories. It’s a process I know all too well, having walked through the fire of personal challenges in my own midlife journey, and now I’m dedicated to guiding other women through theirs.

One of the platforms I’m most proud of is The Midlife Makeover Show, my podcast ranked in the top 1% globally and #1 in midlife on iTunes and Spotify. The show is a source of inspiration for listeners, helping them embrace midlife with passion and purpose. I bring on experts and everyday women to share their stories, and the feedback from listeners has been incredible—people are realizing that midlife isn’t an ending but a powerful new beginning.

In addition to the podcast, I’ve got some really exciting projects on the horizon. My book, Women Waking Up: 7 Steps to Midlife Greatness, is set to release in 2025, and it’s all about empowering women to embrace the changes that come with midlife and turn them into opportunities for growth and joy. It’s been a labor of love, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with the world.

Another exciting venture is my F.R.E.E.D.O.M. at Midlife Group Coaching Program, launching in January 2025. This program is designed to help women kick fear to the curb, reclaim their joy, and live life on their terms. Through group coaching and guided exercises, we’ll dive deep into what it means to live a fulfilling life at midlife and beyond.

And for those looking for more peace and clarity in their lives, I’m also rolling out a Midlife Meditation Series. These meditations are designed to help women ground themselves, connect with their inner power, and navigate midlife with ease and grace.

Whether I’m hosting retreats, traveling across the USA in my motorhome, Felicia, or enjoying the beauty of Madeira, Portugal, I’m living proof that life only gets better with age. I believe wholeheartedly that midlife is the perfect time for reinvention, adventure, and fun!

You can join me on this wild ride by tuning into the podcast, following my journey on Instagram @wendy_valentine_, or learning more at wendyvalentine.com. There’s so much magic waiting to unfold in midlife, and I’m here to help women discover it!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, I would say the three most impactful qualities that helped me overcome challenges and create the life I love today are resilience, self-awareness, and courage. These qualities were cultivated over time, often through difficult experiences, but they became the foundation for my personal transformation.

Resilience was something I had to develop early on in life. As a single mother in my teens and after facing the tragic death of my husband at just 26 years old, I learned that resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about moving forward despite the challenges. I developed the mindset that no matter what life throws at me, I have the power to get through it and come out stronger on the other side. For anyone just starting their journey, I would say: embrace your hardships. They are shaping you into someone stronger and more capable than you might realize.

Self-awareness became a crucial skill as I navigated my midlife transformation. I had to look within and take ownership of the patterns, beliefs, and habits that weren’t serving me. Self-awareness is about understanding who you are and where you want to go, and it requires an honest look at your life. My advice for developing self-awareness is to spend time in reflection—whether through journaling, meditation, or simply being still. Ask yourself the hard questions, and don’t shy away from the answers. The more you know yourself, the more empowered you become to make meaningful changes.

Lastly, courage was pivotal. Reinventing your life at any stage takes immense bravery, especially in midlife when it can feel like the best years are behind you. I had to muster the courage to leave behind an old life that no longer aligned with who I wanted to be and create something new from scratch. My advice is simple: be bold in your pursuit of what lights you up. Fear is natural, but don’t let it stop you. The more you step outside your comfort zone, the more your courage grows, and the more you’ll see what’s possible.

For anyone just beginning their own journey of transformation, I encourage you to focus on cultivating these three qualities. Resilience will help you endure the tough times, self-awareness will guide you in the right direction, and courage will give you the strength to take action. Trust the process and know that everything you need is already within you.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m always looking to collaborate with inspiring individuals who are passionate about helping others thrive in midlife. On The Midlife Makeover Show, I love featuring guests who specialize in all things related to midlife—whether it’s relationships, empty nest syndrome, menopause, mindset, health, divorce, travel, retirement, or any other topic that resonates with this pivotal time in life. I also welcome guests who have overcome significant challenges at midlife and made incredible comebacks. Their stories of resilience and transformation are exactly what my audience needs to hear to feel inspired and empowered.

If you’re an expert in any of these areas or have a personal story of triumph at midlife, I would love to hear from you and explore the possibility of having you as a guest on the show. You can nominate a guest at midlifemakeoverguest.com.

On the flip side, I’m also excited to collaborate as a guest on other podcasts to speak about my upcoming book, Women Waking Up: 7 Steps to Midlife Greatness. My mission is to help women become their next best version of themselves, and I would love the opportunity to share how the principles in my book can help your audience reclaim their joy, confidence, and power in midlife. Let’s connect and see how we can inspire and uplift midlifers together!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photographs: Lisa Kathan
Book Cover: New World Library

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