Show Notes
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 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-l-butz-6a2ab311/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wondercrone/ Weekly blogs can be found at 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)
More from Design Your Joyful Retirement
What does it look like to begin again when the life you knew no longer fits?
Gen X women are pretty good at figuring things out ourselves. But when independence becomes our default, asking for help can feel surprisingly hard. In this episode, we talk about: Why independence became such a defining Gen X trait How "I'll figure it out myself" can become a limiting pattern Why asking for help can feel especially difficult for women How therapy can give us a place to sort things out without the emotional entanglements of everyday life Why good friendships matter as we move into this next chapter Contact Tracy at: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Huffington Post Article ~ The Most Common Issues GenXers Bring Up in Therapy
In this week's Design Your Joyful Retirement episode, I'm talking with Raquel Durden ~ veteran, cancer survivor, yoga teacher, author of Dial Down: Moving from Chaos to Calm, and proud "wellness weaver."
One of the things I love about midlife is that we start asking different questions. Do I really want to keep doing this? What would I do if I had more freedom? What might be possible if I stopped doing things simply because they're familiar? But even when we know we want something to change, that doesn't mean we know exactly what comes next. In this episode with Alison Lebwohl, we talk about her gradual transition from a 23-year career in state government to building her own consulting business. Rather than having a mapped out plan, her business grew organically, one opportunity at a time. Maybe there's something you've been thinking about ~ a career change, a new business, a different way of working, more time for yourself, or simply a life that feels more like you. The next chapter doesn't have to be perfectly planned. It just has to feel true to you. Connect with Alison on LinkedIn or via email
What if this season of life isn't something to survive, but an opportunity to create intentionally? In this episode, I'm talking with Marelda Rodrigues, certified health coach, menopause educator, and founder of Sovereign Becoming™, to explore how menopause, retirement, and other life transitions can become powerful invitations to reconnect with yourself and design a next chapter that truly fits. We talk about: Why menopause is more than a physical transition The connection between health, identity, and purpose How to approach your next chapter with intention instead of autopilot Reflection: What do you want the next chapter of your life to feel like? LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mareldarodrigues/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignbecoming/ Website: https://mareldarodrigues.com