Latest / Thrive After 45® | Life After 45, Self-Trust, Midlife Women / What Changes When You Finally Listen? with Cheryl Holling
Transcript
- 0:00Hello, and welcome to today's episode of Thrive after 45.
- 0:05I'm Denise Drink Walter heart whisperer, midlife mirror and mentor.
- 0:10And every week I am honored to share energy and space with inspiring guests whose stories reflect so many possibilities of thriving beyond 45 together.
- 0:25Will uncover the whispers of the heart, the power of midlife transformation, and the wisdom that fuels expansion.
- 0:36What if the voices that stay with us the longest aren't the loudest, but the ones that listen deeply, speak honestly, and remind us that hope is still possible.
- 0:50It is such an honor and a privilege to welcome Cheryl hauling to our conversation today.
- 0:57Cheryl is a podcast producer, host, and voice talent whose work is grounded in authenticity.
- 1:04Warmth and a genuine love for human connection.
- 1:08With over five years in podcasting and a voiceover journey spanning more than four decades, she brings both seasoned experience and an ever curious heart to everything she does.
- 1:21Behind the mic, she's the creator, producer, and host of the award-winning podcast, 19 Stories from Fear to Hope, a show that.
- 1:31Opens the door to honest conversations with creative pioneers and voiceover music, broadcasting, writing, and coaching.
- 1:39Each episode invites listeners to face fear with courage.
- 1:43Stay rooted in their faith, and remember they are not alone in their journey.
- 1:48With close to 12,000 downloads and multiple industry recognitions, 19 stories has become a trusted space for real talk.
- 1:58Resilience and hope.
- 2:01And in 2023, Cheryl launched her second show, the Voice Kitchen, blending, storytelling, food, creativity, and Connection with a dash of Humor and Heart, because sometimes the most meaningful conversations.
- 2:15Happen when we gather and simply share as a voice talent.
- 2:19Cheryl helps clients bring their creative vision to life through professional emotional resonant performances across commercials, radio drama, Indus industrials.
- 2:30Retail campaigns and podcasting.
- 2:32She's known for being collaborative, easy to direct, deeply present, and for bringing a steady can-do spirit into every project.
- 2:43At the center of all of her work is a deep belief in kindness, encouragement, and resilience of the human spirit.
- 2:52Cheryl doesn't just use her voice, she creates space.
- 2:56For people to be heard.
- 2:58Please join me in welcoming the thoughtful, generous presence behind the mic.
- 3:04Cheryl Halling, so wonderful to have you here today.
- 3:08What a beautiful introduction.
- 3:10Thank you.
- 3:11Thank you.
- 3:11Thank you so very much.
- 3:13I'm, you know, it's so interesting being on this side of the mic.
- 3:18Um, as a guest because yeah, I'm used to doing the introductions and I hear my guests often say, who, who is that?
- 3:25Who are you describing?
- 3:27And I'm feeling the same way going, wow, this is your life.
- 3:31And yeah, so, so thank you.
- 3:34Thank you for that beautiful introduction.
- 3:36I appreciate it.
- 3:37Well, absolutely, and, and I wouldn't have it any other way because it's really important that all of our listeners.
- 3:46Understand the depth that you come to this conversation.
- 3:51You are a human being with a huge heart first, and that's what leads your life, your conversation.
- 4:01So I am so grateful to have you here with us today for so many reasons.
- 4:08And Me too.
- 4:09I mean, this has been a, a in the making.
- 4:11We met a while ago.
- 4:13Shout out to Andy Lyons because Thank you, met Andy.
- 4:17And, um, we've been talking about having this conversation for a while, and so here we are.
- 4:22You in your nice, warm.
- 4:27You and your nice warm climate and me in my freezing, I'm in Northern California and you're in, uh, Toronto.
- 4:35Yes.
- 4:36Yeah.
- 4:36Yeah.
- 4:36I, I mean those of you who are listening and not seeing on YouTube, I have a double sweater combo, and of course, underneath a sweaters like an undershirt because you still can't layer up enough.
- 4:48In Canada right now.
- 4:51Exactly.
- 4:52Yeah.
- 4:52And I almost wore my, my black turtleneck, but I thought, you know what?
- 4:55Can't go there when I'm talking to someone across the border and it's, they're really dealing with some, some inclement weather.
- 5:01So delighted to be here.
- 5:03Thank you so much, Denise.
- 5:04Absolutely.
- 5:07Before podcast titles, voice work.
- 5:11Recognition that's coming as it should because of your work is so empowering.
- 5:17Thank you.
- 5:18What do you feel life was maybe quietly preparing you for through the experiences that you've lived?
- 5:27Wow, that's such a great question and the simple answer.
- 5:32For this moment right here where I'm at.
- 5:34Mm.
- 5:34This conversation, um, in the bigger picture, you know, it's interesting when you say four decades of doing voiceover, right?
- 5:41It has not been linear.
- 5:44It has not been consistent.
- 5:46Mm-hmm.
- 5:46It has been very circuitous in Yeah.
- 5:48In, you know, as anyone in, in entertainment or in the performing arts.
- 5:54For some people it's linear.
- 5:56Some people.
- 5:57You know, they come out of the womb, here's your mic, they're off to go.
- 6:00You know, they're, they're off to the races, right?
- 6:02Um, I think.
- 6:06Really, it's prepared me for where I'm at right now at this stage in my life.
- 6:10I am a couple, I'll just say it, I'm a couple decades over 45.
- 6:15Yep.
- 6:15So to to say that Yeah.
- 6:17And be okay with that is empowering for me and hopefully for someone else because we have been, and gosh, I didn't mean to go off into this, but I No, this is great.
- 6:29Okay.
- 6:30Yeah.
- 6:30I think we've been so age shamed.
- 6:35As if, yeah, you, you, if you haven't, or even if you have done something by a certain age, that by the time you cross a certain threshold, I think especially for women.
- 6:48And you know, I, I believe this is probably one of the incentives as to why you started this podcast, right?
- 6:53Is that somehow we're not relevant or we're not useful, or our voices don't hold weight or they don't matter.
- 7:03And I'm finally going.
- 7:05Mm.
- 7:05And I'll just say it.
- 7:06Yeah.
- 7:07I turned 65 in December.
- 7:09I'm finally owning that.
- 7:11No, all of this experience, the good, the bad, everything in between has prepared me for such a time as this.
- 7:20Hopefully, that answers your question.
- 7:21I love it.
- 7:22It, it absolutely does, and it opens up a door through the next conversation that I want to move it to, which is age.
- 7:34Experience are on our side, aren't they?
- 7:38Yes.
- 7:39Oh, yes.
- 7:40Oh, I certainly hope so.
- 7:42Some people get older and they don't learn anything.
- 7:45Right.
- 7:46Let's just get real about it.
- 7:47Right?
- 7:48Absolutely.
- 7:49And that's their choice.
- 7:50Mm-hmm.
- 7:51Totally.
- 7:52Their choice.
- 7:53The concept.
- 7:54And you said, you know, I think that's maybe why you brought the show in was to make sure women is our target audience.
- 8:01This, our conversations are.
- 8:03Not only for women, but they land for us in particular because we are talking about our experiences through the lens of our lives as women.
- 8:15And so what I find.
- 8:18So enlightening is that we are talking about thriving after 45.
- 8:25We know that that number was a number that landed for me to show women that you don't have to just thrive.
- 8:34After 45, we know we can thrive before that.
- 8:38Mm-hmm.
- 8:38But the outside world definitely tells us, oh, you're hitting that Mark.
- 8:43This is, you know.
- 8:44Hmm.
- 8:45Thanks for your contribution.
- 8:47Thanks for sharing.
- 8:47Thanks.
- 8:48You can go now.
- 8:49No, we're not going anywhere.
- 8:52We're getting bigger, stronger, and more rooted in who we are.
- 8:56And so I love what you're saying because congratulations on 65.
- 9:01I need to hear you say it.
- 9:03I'm like, what?
- 9:04Love it.
- 9:05What?
- 9:05How is that even possible?
- 9:06But yes, thank you.
- 9:08Isn't that true?
- 9:09I lay awake sometimes at night thinking.
- 9:12How can I actually be 62?
- 9:16That like, I'm not compute, that's not computing for me because I feel.
- 9:22Not 62, whatever that feels like in my mind, how we were taught what 62 looks like and should be like.
- 9:30Oh, okay.
- 9:31Yeah.
- 9:32Yes, exactly.
- 9:34The rocking chair, the knitting needles, nothing.
- 9:37Hey.
- 9:37No offense to people who knit.
- 9:38I know very young people who knit.
- 9:40I wish I could knit, but yes, I, I understand.
- 9:43Absolutely.
- 9:44And so we get to choose what we are going to do day after day, year after year.
- 9:51Mm-hmm.
- 9:52You know, decade after decade.
- 9:54And that gets to change and morph as we become stronger and knowing who we are as a person.
- 10:03Right.
- 10:03Yeah.
- 10:03And you know, it's so funny that you picked 45 because I actually loved 45.
- 10:09I was the most you, not saying that I'm not empowered now, but there was mm-hmm.
- 10:13Something about turning 45 and where I was at in my life that mm-hmm.
- 10:18Sur 40 was a little weird for me.
- 10:2045, I was really empowered.
- 10:23Mm-hmm.
- 10:23So it's so interesting that you picked this age.
- 10:26Yeah.
- 10:27Because I just see it getting richer and, and, and.
- 10:32More.
- 10:32Um, yeah, just richer, so, yeah.
- 10:35Yeah, yeah.
- 10:37And it's all in how we choose to frame it.
- 10:45Oh, anything is.
- 10:46Yeah.
- 10:46At any age.
- 10:47Yeah, sure.
- 10:48Of course.
- 10:48Yeah, totally.
- 10:49Totally.
- 10:50Because like you've said, the good and the not good, the bad and the ugly all exists because we're human and we have that experience.
- 10:59It's what we do with that at the end of the day.
- 11:02Yes.
- 11:03As to how it's going to help shape what we are going to do with this new information, with this new experience, with this new.
- 11:12Opportunities that are sitting in weight.
- 11:15Really?
- 11:15Mm-hmm.
- 11:16That's good.
- 11:17That's good.
- 11:17Yeah.
- 11:17You know?
- 11:18Yeah.
- 11:20Amazing.
- 11:20Tell me, tell us about.
- 11:24Your, um, 2023.
- 11:28What happened in 2023 that made you say, I want to put into practice another podcast.
- 11:36Here's what I want to do.
- 11:38Tell us how this came about.
- 11:40The sec you the second podcast.
- 11:42Yeah, because I just had, I had nothing else to do.
- 11:50Um, well.
- 11:52If I may, I'll back up to Yes.
- 11:54What the 19 stories came from.
- 11:55Please do.
- 11:56Yeah.
- 11:56Um, I had been sitting on another podcast idea for, well, let's see, from the time I turned, uh, well really, okay, let, I'll go back to my, my father had a, a cable television show for 16 years called.
- 12:14Alive after 65.
- 12:15Okay.
- 12:16And that was up until about six or eight months prior to dying, uh, passing at 92.
- 12:22And he would interview people all the way up to his, his, the eldest person he had was 104.
- 12:28Wow.
- 12:29And she was a yoga teacher.
- 12:30She was like German yoga teacher.
- 12:32She's like, don't, I'm not gonna try my do do my German accent.
- 12:36If you, if you don't exercise, you don't eat.
- 12:38I mean, that was her philosophy.
- 12:39You've gotta exercise every day really, uh, really thriving.
- 12:43But he called it alive after 65 because if you really think people are, society thinks people are dead after 45.
- 12:50Yeah.
- 12:50Try 65.
- 12:51Right, right.
- 12:52So he passed and, um, I was, I think.
- 12:58Uh, 48 at the time, and I sat on this idea of Thrive after 55.
- 13:05'cause I, I thought, well, let me pick an age that I was already past 45.
- 13:11And I wanted it to be an homage to my dad and the stories that he told, because he comes from a generation World War II vet, um, of where stories really mattered.
- 13:20Yeah.
- 13:21Where people sat around the dinner table, a multi-generational, and they told stories.
- 13:26Right.
- 13:27And, and sometimes by the time it got around the table it was completely different story.
- 13:32Yep.
- 13:32Right.
- 13:33And you've heard it a million times, but, um.
- 13:36So many of those stories weren't recorded.
- 13:39Hmm.
- 13:39So when he passed, I had been sitting on this idea, sitting on this idea, sitting this idea.
- 13:44And so when COVID hit right, I was like.
- 13:49You know what it, it is no longer about thriving after 55.
- 13:55I've gotta pivot on this and address the fear that people were feeling.
- 13:58It's 19 stories from Fear to Hope.
- 14:00Mm-hmm.
- 14:01It 19 stories was a nod to COVID-19, and it originally was thinking of calling it the audio journal, an audio journal of the times that we're going through.
- 14:10But I called it 19 Stories from Fear to hope to talk to creatives.
- 14:15Mm-hmm.
- 14:15And other people who had.
- 14:17Their life adversely affected by the pandemic who were facing.
- 14:22Unbelievable fear, like a lot of us were around the world.
- 14:25Mm-hmm.
- 14:25But not sitting in that.
- 14:27Right.
- 14:27Let's move from that fear into hope because that's what's gonna pull us through.
- 14:33Right?
- 14:34Yeah.
- 14:34And if I might digress for a quick second.
- 14:36Yeah.
- 14:36Please.
- 14:36Not to get political, but I am here in the United States and if you don't think that our country's filled with fear right now.
- 14:42Mm-hmm.
- 14:43And I'm sure we're helping Canada deal with some, we're spreading some of that.
- 14:48Your way.
- 14:49Yeah.
- 14:49Hope is what's gonna pull us through.
- 14:51Mm-hmm.
- 14:51Mm-hmm.
- 14:52So I pivoted that on that idea and now, almost six years later I'm still doing that story.
- 14:59And then a couple of years, uh, three years after I launched 19 stories mm-hmm.
- 15:05I thought of my mom who passed actually three months after my dad.
- 15:08Oh wow.
- 15:08Mm-hmm.
- 15:09And I thought of what her stories were and the nurturing and her career and.
- 15:17Food and her love language.
- 15:20And I thought of, well, in, in regards to voice talent, I already, I interview voice talent on 19 stories, but what about, and I talk about the stories being shared around the kitchen table.
- 15:31Mm mm-hmm.
- 15:32Um, the voice kitchen where recipes and voice talent blend of inviting.
- 15:37Voice talent into a virtual kitchen and having a conversation about their favorite family recipe, what it means to them.
- 15:46Oh wow.
- 15:46Mm-hmm.
- 15:47Um, the stories behind it, if it, if it's a new recipe for their new family or if it's been handed down through generations.
- 15:53So that's where that came from and it was, so one is kind of an homage to my dad.
- 15:59One is an homage to my mom and, um.
- 16:03Here I am.
- 16:03Still love it.
- 16:05Still doing it.
- 16:05Yeah.
- 16:06And you know what's coming through really loud and clear is you're sharing all those passionate, starting, what's the, what's the, um, seed that was planted to make these move forward?
- 16:18What's coming through for me very loud and clear is the need, the value, the foresight of connection.
- 16:29Hmm.
- 16:30Thank you.
- 16:30Thank you for saying that because yes, I mean.
- 16:34We're, we're in our booths.
- 16:35We're in our homes.
- 16:36Yeah.
- 16:36We're in a, a lot of people, solopreneurs or entrepreneurs, they work from home now.
- 16:42Mm-hmm.
- 16:43And connection.
- 16:44That's why with the power of podcasting for me to be able to join you.
- 16:47I'm here in Northern California.
- 16:49You're in Toronto.
- 16:50We're connecting over, I mean, who don't we all wish we had invested in Zoom.
- 16:57Right.
- 16:58But we're inve we're connecting this way.
- 17:00Yeah.
- 17:00And yes.
- 17:01Now more so than ever.
- 17:03Oh, connection.
- 17:04Thank you for, for picking up on that.
- 17:05Yeah, I appreciate that.
- 17:06Yeah, for sure.
- 17:08I love, you know, as soon as you shared your, your concept around voiceover kitchen, what lit me up inside is something that has always been a part of my life from I the day I can remember to now is where do.
- 17:29People congregate is in the kitchen.
- 17:31Mm-hmm.
- 17:32And that has never been lost on me.
- 17:36I know it's been lost in society at large, but if we can go back to a shared space around filling our souls and filling our bodies, what a beautiful combination.
- 17:50So thank you for the virtual, um, foundation that you're providing through that.
- 17:55'cause I think it's so valuable.
- 17:58So needed.
- 17:59You're welcome.
- 17:59And thank you for saying that.
- 18:01Thank you.
- 18:01Yeah.
- 18:01I, I, I think so.
- 18:02We all have the memories.
- 18:04Hopefully you have the memories Yeah.
- 18:06Of what it means.
- 18:06Even when you ha, you know, you're halfway out in the parking lot saying goodbye, and they're like, what?
- 18:13I just heard there was pie.
- 18:14Is there a I'm, I'm coming back in and then you're all back in the kitchen.
- 18:21Absolutely.
- 18:22Then you're coming back maybe for third.
- 18:23So yes.
- 18:24Thank you.
- 18:24Yeah, thank you for saying that.
- 18:25So true.
- 18:25And you know, it's funny because what's coming up for me is when our kids were like early teens, you know, 16, 17, we had a rule because I was seeing.
- 18:38These electronic devices, uh, taking kids' attention.
- 18:43And we had a rule in our house where there was absolutely, whether you were in a restaurant, whether you were at our meal for supper, like a supper meal or a lunch or wherever in our house for a meal, all devices went in the middle of the table.
- 18:59Yes, wonderful.
- 19:01Face down if you couldn't turn it off.
- 19:04I can't make you turn.
- 19:06You know, I want them turned off, but if you couldn't turn it off, because whatever still had to be upside down in a restaurant setting, if you had to answer, you paid the whole bill.
- 19:17Okay?
- 19:19Well, that's an incentive for kids not to answer their call.
- 19:22Wow.
- 19:23Take note, parents.
- 19:25Take note.
- 19:26Take note.
- 19:26That's fantastic.
- 19:28It worked.
- 19:28You know what?
- 19:29I love that you did that because there have been times.
- 19:33That, and I'm guilty of, you know, I'm, look, I'm a foodie also.
- 19:37I live in Northern California.
- 19:38It's a, it is a food culture.
- 19:40I take pic if I had a beautiful meal, I'm taking a picture of it.
- 19:43Yeah, yeah.
- 19:43But the reason I, I love what you did is because my husband and I have been out and, we'll, we'll see teens at a table, right?
- 19:51Maybe 5, 8, 10.
- 19:54Mm-hmm.
- 19:56When we were growing up, I'll just speak for, for yes.
- 19:59Myself and my husband said the same thing.
- 20:01If you got a, a group of young boys and girls together.
- 20:07Yeah.
- 20:07What are you interested in as a young girl?
- 20:10Most of, mm-hmm.
- 20:10You're interested in boys.
- 20:11Mm-hmm.
- 20:11What are boys interested, but instead of, you know, and some of these young men and, and women are like knockout athletes and, but they're all at the table.
- 20:22Yeah.
- 20:22I have to have it within, but they're all at the table.
- 20:25Like this.
- 20:26Yeah.
- 20:27Head down and we're looking going, are you at Hello?
- 20:32Look what's in.
- 20:33Look who's in front of you.
- 20:34Yeah.
- 20:35Look at the opportunity you're missing.
- 20:37So I'm glad that you Yeah.
- 20:38That you did that.
- 20:39That's fantastic.
- 20:41Yeah.
- 20:41Yeah.
- 20:41It's, I mean, what that was like.
- 20:4417, 18 years ago now.
- 20:46I mean, when they were first new.
- 20:47Right.
- 20:48And, and, and it just was something we felt very strong.
- 20:52And I, you know, former educator, principal, Hey, I make a rule.
- 20:58Oh, it gets, it gets followed through on Don't mess with mom.
- 21:03Yeah.
- 21:04She, you can't pull any, so how are they now?
- 21:06I mean, are they, are they cognizant of that it as.
- 21:09As adults.
- 21:11Yeah.
- 21:11And that's, that's beautiful.
- 21:12Yeah.
- 21:13Yeah.
- 21:13Yeah.
- 21:13Cool.
- 21:14Um, still, you know, in their thirties our youngest is 30 and so, um, still very busy at that age and stage of life.
- 21:23Sure.
- 21:23So, but boy, when we come together and it's not very common, we're all together in the same room at the same time.
- 21:30'cause we're across the nation.
- 21:32We're not all in one central location.
- 21:34So when we do get together, it's such.
- 21:38Value time.
- 21:40I love that.
- 21:41It's so, yeah, it's so important and we love it'cause it's rare, but when it, when it happens, we're um, we're in the room.
- 21:51When we're in the room, we're in the room.
- 21:54Yeah.
- 21:54Beautiful.
- 21:55Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- 21:56And so what you do with your shows, bringing people connections through conversation and experiences is just such a beautiful way to help tether the importance of human relationship and the value that it has.
- 22:14Thank you.
- 22:14Yeah, I, I appreciate that.
- 22:15And I know you as a, a fellow podcaster, there may be times you feel what's called pod fade.
- 22:22In, uh, podcasting and I, I will tell you, it is sometimes we put our material out there and our conversations out there, and we never know if people are listening.
- 22:33I mean, I happen to know, I'm very fortunate.
- 22:35I'm sure you get feedback as well, but Wow.
- 22:38When you do an episode and maybe you don't hear any, you, we, we look at our stats, I mean, for people who are on podcasts.
- 22:45Sure.
- 22:45Oh, absolutely.
- 22:45STAs, you can see who's listening.
- 22:47If you have more, um, detailed stats, you can see where they're look listening worldwide.
- 22:52Right.
- 22:53But you might, I might have an episode out there for months.
- 22:57Mm-hmm.
- 22:58And then I'll get an email or I'll get a review about that particular episode about how a morsel of that conversation helps someone at exactly the right time.
- 23:11Mm-hmm.
- 23:11And I've always said, I really believe if it's for an audience of one, mm-hmm.
- 23:16Yeah.
- 23:17If it's, if it helps one person in their day, yeah.
- 23:21Then I feel like I've been of service and it all makes, it, makes it all worthwhile.
- 23:27You know, Cheryl, what you're talking about really resonates and, and for me, I haven't hit that wall of, Ugh.
- 23:34I just wait.
- 23:38Okay.
- 23:38I'll, or maybe not, maybe not.
- 23:41I don't, you know what I find I.
- 23:44I get to meet so many incredible human beings from around the globe that I would never, ever have a chance to in any other way.
- 23:56And what a gift, because I leave every conversation more fulfilled, every time I feel the same way.
- 24:06Right.
- 24:06I feel the, yeah.
- 24:07Yeah.
- 24:07That's beautiful.
- 24:08So.
- 24:09I, uh, it's, it's such a win-win, and I just, I love having real authentic conversations with people who are in the room to be present throughout our, our time together.
- 24:23Just like yourself.
- 24:25Yeah.
- 24:27Yay.
- 24:32So.
- 24:34You mentioned about, you know, didn't, I don't think you said specifically legacy, but your, your father's memory, your mother's memory.
- 24:43Mm-hmm.
- 24:44When it's all said and done, what would you most like to be remembered for?
- 24:54I love that question because it's not only.
- 24:58A question, an answer for you.
- 25:00It's for you asking me that I, it makes me think, right?
- 25:05Yeah.
- 25:05Yeah.
- 25:05And I can tell you if you asked me even a couple of years ago Yep.
- 25:12It would be different than it's now.
- 25:13Mm-hmm.
- 25:14Certainly would be different 20, 30 years ago.
- 25:18Yeah.
- 25:19But I mean, this as sincere as I, I as your question is.
- 25:25Mm-hmm.
- 25:25I think now.
- 25:27Both because of having not always been that in my life.
- 25:34Mm-hmm.
- 25:34I've always had an awareness of how, what, what our language and our words mean to people.
- 25:38Right.
- 25:39Because I have been hurt by words, but I guess right now I would really love to be remembered as being kind and being encour an encourager.
- 25:50Mm-hmm.
- 25:51That to me is probably more important than.
- 25:54Whatever awards I've been winning or whatever, accolades, because that we know that it doesn't go right.
- 26:02It doesn't go with us as, as we've heard the, the term.
- 26:05You will never see a U-Haul behind a hurts.
- 26:08It's just not gonna happen.
- 26:10Yeah.
- 26:10So it, I think if I would want, when someone thinks of me that they would again think mm-hmm.
- 26:17Remember kindness and, and encouragement.
- 26:21I love that and I love how you shared how it's changed over time.
- 26:27Mm.
- 26:27Mm-hmm.
- 26:28And that tells me how much, uh, introspective person you are, but also how much you have grown over the years, and what a beautiful gift to give yourself.
- 26:43Thank you.
- 26:44Right.
- 26:44Thank you.
- 26:44And I, I think that's also having come from the gener, you know, be mm-hmm.
- 26:48Being the descendant of the folks that I come from and their kindness and, and their encouragement and, um, at a time, you know, they're still beautiful people in the world.
- 26:59You're, you're, yeah.
- 27:00You are one of'em.
- 27:00I'm sitting in having a lovely conversation with one of them, but we are, excuse me, we are seeing a, you know, we're seeing a lot right now.
- 27:11Yeah, and we need more kindness and encouragement, and I think we're being called to.
- 27:19Oh yeah, right?
- 27:20Yeah.
- 27:20Called to show and model what is possible through the buck and the mire.
- 27:27Because we have choices.
- 27:28We have choices, as we talked about at the beginning.
- 27:31We have choices of what we want to do and how we want to live our lives, and if we live our lives through our truth lens and adapt and change as required when things are reflected back and we go, oh.
- 27:46Nope, that isn't what I should, I get to change that script.
- 27:50I, I, you know, need to reframe that in a different way so that it comes out the way that I want to be remembered.
- 27:59By and for.
- 28:01So yeah, on a daily basis too.
- 28:03Oh, as I've said it, I'll say it again.
- 28:05'cause I, I almost feel like in some ways when I'm the guest, I feel like it's a confessional because I will stink up the room.
- 28:13I, I will, you know, there have been times that I just,'cause I, I do my inventory.
- 28:18You, you were spot at the, the end of the day.
- 28:20I go, yeah, how did I move through my day?
- 28:22Was I kind mm-hmm.
- 28:23Was I whatever?
- 28:24Yeah.
- 28:24Or was, you know, we all have, um.
- 28:27An aroma we leave with people and I don't mean, yeah, some, sometimes it's literal, but I mean an aroma of an essence of who we are.
- 28:36Yeah.
- 28:36And did we leave a beautiful fragrance or did someone go, I'm so glad there that there oof couldn't wait for that to be over.
- 28:45Yeah.
- 28:45That encounter to be over.
- 28:47Right.
- 28:47Do you know what I'm saying?
- 28:48Oh, a hundred percent.
- 28:50What I love about what you're saying, I like to take it even deeper.
- 28:55And not only how you left others, but how did you leave yourself?
- 28:59Hmm.
- 29:00Ooh, that's good.
- 29:01How kind were you to yourself?
- 29:04How encouraging were you to yourself?
- 29:09That's good.
- 29:09Oh, right.
- 29:15Although I can watch this back.
- 29:16I'll take notes.
- 29:19That's good.
- 29:20Yeah.
- 29:20'cause we leave ourselves out of the script.
- 29:24We're always kind of doing for everybody else, which is another reason why I have these conversations because I want women to understand that when we leaves our ourselves at the door and do for everyone else, we are not showing up fully.
- 29:43And so now is the opportunity to, you hit the nail on the head, Denise.
- 29:49Mm-hmm.
- 29:49Because you know, I, you know, it's like.
- 29:52We've heard it said before, the oxygen mask as it drops down, because if you don't.
- 30:00Do your own.
- 30:01Mm-hmm.
- 30:02Breathing your life breath.
- 30:03How on earth are you gonna show up fully for other people?
- 30:06So that's beautifully.
- 30:07That's beautiful.
- 30:08Absolutely.
- 30:09You know, it, it really anchored in one time, I have to share this story with you because it's, it's so funny.
- 30:17Principle of the building, the fire department comes to do a drill.
- 30:23I always know sometimes they trick us and they put a little pretend flame and lock the door so the kids can't go out that section Really?
- 30:33So they have to reroute it.
- 30:35It changed since I, oh my gosh.
- 30:38So, wow.
- 30:39The one group got rerouted.
- 30:41Mm-hmm.
- 30:42No problem.
- 30:43Head count.
- 30:44Everybody gives the signal and there's one child missing because they said, come with me.
- 30:50Right?
- 30:51So the fire chief is everything Good.
- 30:54Principal drink Walter.
- 30:56And I'm like my, I'm just a mess.
- 30:59Knowing this is a pretend drill, but my, I went into fright, like, I'm like, oh, I've lost a kid.
- 31:06This isn't okay.
- 31:08So I went to him and I said, no, we have some, we have a child missing from this class.
- 31:15And he said, what are you gonna do?
- 31:17I said, I gotta go back in and get them.
- 31:19And he looked at me and.
- 31:24Uh, there's a fire.
- 31:25Don't you know there's a fire.
- 31:25No, you won't.
- 31:27Yes, right.
- 31:28I would put myself at risk when all of these experts were standing here having, and that was like doof.
- 31:37Hello.
- 31:39Safety first for you.
- 31:42Right?
- 31:42And that's something that has always been a new guiding force for me.
- 31:47Wait a minute, am I filling myself up first, my own cup first before I start to give to others, right?
- 31:55And so when we put ourselves in panic mode, we go back to, you know, not always ourselves first.
- 32:03That is okay to do look after you, and then everyone else benefits from that.
- 32:12And yet, if I may add to that mm-hmm.
- 32:14You were willing to lay down your life to find that child and with, without getting too biblical.
- 32:23I mean, he.
- 32:26Yeah.
- 32:26And with, and then not knowing your faith, Jesus left the 99 to get the one.
- 32:31Right.
- 32:31And as a principal, your, your heart and also the mother in you.
- 32:35Right?
- 32:35Oh, the, the mother in you going, I am not gonna let this child Yeah.
- 32:40Be, be by the way.
- 32:41So where was the, where was the child?
- 32:43Where was that?
- 32:44Came out with the other, with the other firefighter who had taken them and they came out the doors.
- 32:50It's like, okay, could I, you could check my, uh, heart rate now because, hello?
- 32:56Could you not have told me that before?
- 32:58I ran back into the burning building?
- 33:00Right?
- 33:00What happened?
- 33:02Oh, yo.
- 33:02Yeah.
- 33:02Well, they didn't let me go in.
- 33:04He grabbed my arm and said, Denise, we're here.
- 33:08I said, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- 33:10He said, I know you wouldn't have, but.
- 33:12I need you to really think about that, right?
- 33:14Because you're, you've got a responsibility to all including yourself, right?
- 33:20So it was just one of those, you know, automatically put everybody else first.
- 33:24And then when we do that, we're the last of the list, if even on it.
- 33:31And.
- 33:32As we learn about thriving after 45 and beyond, we begin to understand the importance, value and power in giving back to ourselves first.
- 33:45That we matter.
- 33:47That we matter exactly.
- 33:49Exactly.
- 33:50Exactly.
- 33:51Yeah.
- 33:51That's good.
- 33:51That's a good story.
- 33:52Thank you for sharing that.
- 33:53Yeah, no, you're welcome.
- 33:55Still, I can remember.
- 33:57I can remember the day.
- 33:58You know, it's just one of those memories that you never lose, right?
- 34:01Mm-hmm.
- 34:04Is there a conversation that you've had as a host or maybe just being Cheryl that you remember has actually changed you?
- 34:15Then how did it alter the way you listened or showed up in the world even now?
- 34:22Ooh, I, I and, and this, wow.
- 34:29That stumped me a little bit because I'm fortunate that I've had numerous conversations that have mm-hmm.
- 34:37Changed me.
- 34:38Mm-hmm.
- 34:39Um, in allowing, you know, there is a, there is an art to really listening.
- 34:45Versus I heard you.
- 34:48Yeah.
- 34:48Right.
- 34:50Yeah.
- 34:50Um, it, it's kinda like if you have a conversation with your spouse and maybe they're preoccupied and you said, um.
- 34:59I crashed the car and they go, oh, well.
- 35:01Oh yeah, well just be careful backing up next time I go, well, did you hear me?
- 35:05I crashed.
- 35:05Yeah.
- 35:07I mean, maybe that's a weird, uh, example, but I've had numerous conversations where people have really opened up to me.
- 35:15Mm-hmm.
- 35:16Because not that I've gone for, um, a sensationalistic question to get a, an answer to take advantage of a situation, but I felt not, but.
- 35:29However, I felt that that was a story or something they wanted to tell.
- 35:34Yeah.
- 35:35And so I, I took a chance in mm-hmm.
- 35:38Asking the question, and by their response it taught me of maybe how to move through a situation with grace, or how to be more forgiving or how to apply a business.
- 35:51You know, implement that into something I haven't tried before.
- 35:56Right, right.
- 35:57Yeah.
- 35:57So as far as one particular one, it's not a cop out to say I've had numerous.
- 36:04'cause I really have.
- 36:04I'm very right, very fortunate and very grateful that I've had numerous ones, um, right.
- 36:11And, and more times than not when I am experiencing like, pod fade of mm-hmm.
- 36:17Wow.
- 36:17You know, podcasting can be hard at times because at, at least at this point, I haven't farmed out my editing or mm-hmm.
- 36:24My research or, or anything else.
- 36:27But then I will go back and listen to a conversation that I went, ah, this is why I'm doing it.
- 36:34This is why I'm doing it, because it fed me again.
- 36:38So if it fed me again.
- 36:40Then perhaps it's also feeding others.
- 36:43Yeah.
- 36:44Um, yeah.
- 36:45So hopefully that I love that question.
- 36:47Yeah.
- 36:47Yeah.
- 36:48You know, what's coming up for me as you're sharing is there is a real art and a real talent to listening.
- 36:59Hmm.
- 37:00And when we listen to understand and not listening to respond, the game changes.
- 37:08Right.
- 37:10Yeah.
- 37:11Yeah.
- 37:12And that's why I love, that's why I love having conversations with people because I love listening, to understand, to deepen my understanding and make sure I really heard what I heard and where I didn't tear it properly.
- 37:30I, I desire people to reframe so that I really understand where people are coming from.
- 37:37And you know now more than ever.
- 37:39Mm.
- 37:39And I, I'm, sometimes, I'm, I'm bad at this.
- 37:42Sometimes I, I do operate in a echo chamber mm-hmm.
- 37:47Where I need to hear something that reaffirms my beliefs because Yeah.
- 37:52The alternative is too much to Right.
- 37:54To even bear or comprehend.
- 37:56Yeah.
- 37:56However, I do know that unless we.
- 38:01Learn as I will say, from my country right now.
- 38:04Mm-hmm.
- 38:04Where we're at.
- 38:05Mm-hmm.
- 38:05Or just even in society.
- 38:07Mm-hmm.
- 38:08To have difficult conversations, like you said, with really the interest to understand.
- 38:15Versus being Right.
- 38:17Right, exactly.
- 38:17Versus I've got my opinion and you are not going to, I need you to give me something that agrees with me.
- 38:23Yeah.
- 38:24We are never gonna open the divide.
- 38:26Now, having said that, there are people you don't allow.
- 38:31Right.
- 38:32'cause they're dangerous and they're hurtful.
- 38:34Yes.
- 38:34And they're not good conversations.
- 38:36Right?
- 38:37Absolutely.
- 38:38Yeah.
- 38:38No, absolutely.
- 38:39And, and totally fair and understand that 100%.
- 38:43Yeah.
- 38:44Um, it's all about the connection piece again, isn't it?
- 38:49Really?
- 38:49It comes down to being available to connect in a way that allows us to learn.
- 38:59About ourselves and about others in and amongst the world that we live in.
- 39:05And yeah.
- 39:06What a hope.
- 39:06Hopeful.
- 39:07Yeah.
- 39:07Oh, go ahead.
- 39:08Sorry.
- 39:08No, I was just gonna say what an opportunity, right?
- 39:11If Yeah, if we, if we realize that life is really, um, it's a lifelong.
- 39:18We're, we're talk about Miss Principle, we're life is school, right?
- 39:24Yeah.
- 39:25And hopefully we're learning till our last breath, learning about ourselves, learning about the world, learning about each other, learning about our passions, our podcasting, whatever.
- 39:35'cause I think the moment we stop learning, yeah.
- 39:40Is when when we stop, when we, yeah.
- 39:42You know, when we get stuck and, mm-hmm.
- 39:46Yeah.
- 39:46Anyway, that's, no, I don't need to go on a sermon about it.
- 39:49No.
- 39:50You know what?
- 39:50I'm smiling because that's exactly what I say.
- 39:54If I stop learning, my vision is that that'll be my last breath, because that's what I believe life to be.
- 40:04Um, there is no finish line in learning in life.
- 40:10Right.
- 40:10That's how I view it, so, excuse me.
- 40:13Yeah.
- 40:13Yeah.
- 40:15I knew we were gonna have such a deep, incredible, connected conversation.
- 40:20I just knew it.
- 40:21I'm so grateful.
- 40:22I'm grateful too.
- 40:24I'm grateful too.
- 40:25Thank you.
- 40:26Yeah.
- 40:27So much.
- 40:28Is there anything you would love to share with our audience before we wrap up today's conversation about thriving after 45 and doing it for you by you because of you?
- 40:42I think you just answered that question.
- 40:44No, really.
- 40:45I, I, well, I will say.
- 40:49It's really important to define what thriving means for you.
- 40:53Mm.
- 40:53I love that.
- 40:54I, I, I can't tell Denise, I cannot tell you what it means to thrive for you.
- 41:01Yeah.
- 41:01I only know what it means.
- 41:02Like I said, my definition.
- 41:05Has changed, you know?
- 41:06Yeah.
- 41:07My definition of what I want, would want my legacy to be.
- 41:10Mm-hmm.
- 41:10I think you need to, we need to make that decision and define that for ourselves because, you know, in social media, as beautiful as it is mm-hmm.
- 41:20We also see the best curated life of other people and yeah, we wanna present our own lives that way as well.
- 41:31Mm-hmm.
- 41:32But.
- 41:34You could be 45 and be burnt out on the grind and realize that is not the direction you wanna go in.
- 41:41Mm-hmm.
- 41:41You could be 65 and go, I have never felt more creative and alive and I am gonna go for X, Y, and Z.
- 41:49Yeah.
- 41:50And there's no one out there to tell me otherwise.
- 41:54Mm-hmm.
- 41:55But that, you know, so it's not thriving is not age related.
- 42:00Mm.
- 42:00So.
- 42:01So that's the first thing.
- 42:02Thrive is not age related.
- 42:04Mm-hmm.
- 42:05And then secondly, define what, please define what it means for yourself and don't let someone else define that for you.
- 42:11Like you're not, you know, you're not doing enough, you're doing too much.
- 42:15You're, you shouldn't be you.
- 42:17Who are you to dream this at this age?
- 42:19Who are you not to dream this at this age?
- 42:22Mm-hmm.
- 42:22Mm-hmm.
- 42:22So, so yeah.
- 42:24Define it for yourself.
- 42:26Yeah.
- 42:26And, um, know that it's not age related.
- 42:29Love that.
- 42:30Thank you.
- 42:31Those two things and, and I would love to add, just as you shared, it can change and morph over time and that is absolutely fine.
- 42:40It doesn't have to be, but I said when I was 50, I was doing this.
- 42:46It's okay.
- 42:47Yes.
- 42:48It might be 55 or it might take a turn to the left.
- 42:51And that's okay too.
- 42:52'cause who knows what.
- 42:53That path will show you as you move along.
- 42:56You have the power to make the decisions, to make those changes as life comes forward for you.
- 43:03Right.
- 43:03And reveals it.
- 43:04Reveals, yeah.
- 43:04Something so beautiful that you never considered.
- 43:07Or at the same time, if I, if I may put this out there.
- 43:10Mm-hmm.
- 43:11You know, PE.
- 43:13Because you're on a certain path and maybe you've made momentum.
- 43:16Mm-hmm.
- 43:16And maybe you are in the term.
- 43:18I I really don't like it, but I know it.
- 43:20And the grind, right?
- 43:21Yeah.
- 43:22Yeah.
- 43:24Life happens.
- 43:25There's a Either a family emergency.
- 43:28Yeah.
- 43:28Or your children.
- 43:29Or your parents.
- 43:31Especially if you're in the sandwich generation where your parents are elderly.
- 43:35Yeah.
- 43:35And your children Oh yeah.
- 43:36Are younger.
- 43:37Mm-hmm.
- 43:37And something presents itself and you need to take time to take care of what's in front of you versus what you should be doing.
- 43:47That's, that's something that's right there that demands your attention.
- 43:50And it doesn't mean if you let go of this for a while Right.
- 43:54You won't course correct and get back on that path.
- 43:58Mm-hmm.
- 43:59Thank you for that.
- 44:00Yeah.
- 44:01Yeah.
- 44:02Life like we've talked, not always linear and that's okay.
- 44:06That's okay.
- 44:07That's where the lessons and the growth gets to happen.
- 44:10The pain sometimes too.
- 44:11Absolutely.
- 44:12Yes.
- 44:13Right.
- 44:14But it's all parts.
- 44:15Sorrow.
- 44:15Yes.
- 44:17All of it.
- 44:17All of it, yeah.
- 44:18Absolutely.
- 44:19And it's, it's gonna be okay.
- 44:22Because you're going to be able to listen to 19 stories from Fear to Hope, and you're gonna be able to listen to I ca IV.
- 44:34The Kitchen.
- 44:34Help me.
- 44:35What's the name of the other?
- 44:36The Voice.
- 44:36The Voice Kitchen.
- 44:37Thank you.
- 44:37The recipes and voice talent blend.
- 44:40There you go.
- 44:41The Boy Kitchen and Thrive after 45.
- 44:45Right.
- 44:47Yeah.
- 44:48And, and also get your nails done as beautifully as Denise, so you're not self-conscious about your under nail.
- 44:54Yeah.
- 44:56Yes, definitely after Thrive, after 45, you, your midlife mentor, Denise, drink Walter.
- 45:03Um, so yes.
- 45:05Yeah, yeah.
- 45:06We're, we're out here and we are all about connection, conversation, and empowering.
- 45:14Through kindness and encouragement for sure.
- 45:18Hmm.
- 45:19Cheryl, thank you so much for being here today.
- 45:23What a gift to have this time with you.
- 45:26Uh, it's been so good.
- 45:28I'm gonna call you back in a couple of years and we're gonna see where it's changed in terms of what your legacy will be.
- 45:34'cause it will change.
- 45:36It might even just deepen.
- 45:37It might not change, but it might grow deeper.
- 45:40Who knows?
- 45:40I hope Make a weight of the mic.
- 45:43I, how does this work?
- 45:45How do I turn it on?
- 45:47I would, I, we won't wait that long then we'll just do it.
- 45:53We'll just do it.
- 45:53Oh, no.
- 45:55Just kidding.
- 45:56Love it.
- 45:56Thank you.
- 45:56Thank you.
- 45:58Very, very much, and I really appreciate you creating this vehicle for people to come on and share their stories.
- 46:04I'm catching up on some of your episodes before we got on and yeah, I just love the plethora of, uh, the, the diversity, I should say.
- 46:14Yeah.
- 46:15Women that you have on and their stories and what they're doing, and it's a, a beautiful venue that you've created a, a opportunity for people to come on and have wonderful conversations such as this one.
- 46:26So thank you.
- 46:28Thank you.
- 46:29Thank you for being here.
- 46:30I, I'm, I'm honored to have this opportunity to share space in this way.
- 46:35It's such a, it's a blessing.
- 46:37Somebody would've asked me three years ago, five years ago, you're gonna run, you're gonna host a pod, no podcast me What?
- 46:45And yet here you are.
- 46:48We don't know.
- 46:49We don't know, right?
- 46:50Mm-hmm.
- 46:51It's being open.
- 46:52Yeah.
- 46:53Yeah.
- 46:53The leading.
- 46:54Yeah.
- 46:55Yeah, exactly.
- 46:56Yeah.
- 46:56Being available is really important.
- 46:58Um, and we can't do that if we're following others' scripts.
- 47:02So when you do things for you, by you, because of you, these types of shifts get to happen.
- 47:09So like you shared.
- 47:12Whatever thriving is for you is what you get to move towards.
- 47:19Yeah.
- 47:19Nobody decides that for you.
- 47:21It's yours.
- 47:22Yeah, because shift happens.
- 47:25Mm.
- 47:25There you, doesn't it?
- 47:28Oh, yeah.
- 47:31Every day.
- 47:34Uh, before we close, I do want to share something gently.
- 47:39I'm currently stewarding the early formation of a live in-person experience called Ignite the inner Uprising.
- 47:49Mm.
- 47:50And it's being creative for women and midlife who feel that quiet pull towards something more truthful, embodied more their own.
- 48:00It's not an event that I'm rushing or loudly promoting.
- 48:04It's being built really slowly with care and deep respect for the women in midlife whom it's meant to serve.
- 48:13So if your body leaned in at.
- 48:15At any point today during our conversation, if something here resonated beyond just words, I want you to know this.
- 48:25There will be a place to come and gather.
- 48:30So for now, simply stay connected.
- 48:33Follow share, like give us your reviews so that more women can find us.
- 48:40And when the timing is right, you will hear more.
- 48:45Have a wonderful day.
- 48:47Take care of yourselves, and we are here to thrive after 45.