Latest / The Midlife Pivot / It's Not Too Late to Be You: Brenda Brody's Comeback Story | 003
Transcript
- Amanda: Today we are honored to welcome an incredible woman whose story is a powerful reminder that some of the most, unexpected challenges can become the catalyst for our greatest purpose. Brenda Brody is a breast cancer survivor, entrepreneur, advocate, the recipient of the Women of Courage Award from the Emmett Till... Legacy Foundation and founder of a thriving business helping major brands and C-suite leaders find their voice and tell their stories. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Brenda found herself searching for products and resources that simply didn't exist for women navigating treatment and recovery. Instead of accepting the status quo, she turned her experience into action, creating solutions that have helped countless women feel more confident, supported and empowered during their own journeys using her own voice to mentor cancer patients. Brenda also co-hosts the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Conquer Cancer's Your Stories podcast, but her story isn't just about surviving cancer. It's about reinventing yourself when life takes an unexpected turn. It's about resilience, purpose, and discovering that even in our darkest moments, there can be an opportunity to create something meaningful that impacts others. On the Midlife Pivot, we celebrate people who have embraced change, found strength through adversity, and transformed life's challenges into new beginnings. Brenda embodies everything this podcast is about. Brenda, thank you for joining us. We can't wait to hear your story and the lessons you've learned about courage, reinvention, and finding purpose on the other side of life's biggest pivots. Welcome to the midlife pivot. Welcome. Brenda: Thank you so much. Wow, what an intro. I appreciate you both. Amanda: Well, you are quite a woman. I have to say I am truly honored that you agreed to come on and share your story. I know you are very vocal about it and I think for those that sometimes aren't as vocal, it is helpful to have somebody that is comfortable and will share their story and your life, as I said in the intro, your life is not all about your cancer diagnosis. You have embodied Brenda: Mm-hmm. Amanda: so much within yourself and I'm just so proud to call you a friend on top of everything. But I guess getting started, tell us who Brenda Brody really is. Brenda: Well, thank you. Brenda Brody. Brenda Brody is a daughter of a 98-year-old mother, which I'm blessed to have in my life still. And Amanda: Wow! Wow! Brenda: I'm a middle child of three daughters and a mother to a 25-year-old, my Bella Rose, who is my life, a single mother, a divorcee. I've been a single mom since she was three. DC resident and well, we're in Maryland, but my entire family is based here. We're second generation. And I am a friend and a businesswoman and someone who just wants to make a difference in my life. Like you said, cancer was rough, but It didn't define my whole life, but the knowledge and the experience has given me a new purpose and and that's I think sums up Brenda Brody. Amanda: Unbelievable, Brenda. When you hear the word Pervit, what does it mean to you at this stage of your life? Brenda: It's interesting when you all asked me to be on and just with the title alone, I was thinking about where am I at and what is pivot? Because I don't feel I'm 61, so I'm a little older than Amanda. but I don't think I'm having like this major life pivot right now. Have I had major pivots in my life? Absolutely. so right now, midlife pivots been more about taking all the knowledge, everything I've learned, and giving back. Maybe not reinventing, but spending my time and my energy and my purpose in new ways. Amanda: Wow, and it is interesting because I didn't, never wanted this to be about necessarily just this midlife pivot. I think we all pivot and Brenda: Yeah. Amanda: in fact, in fact, I'll share something funny. My son came to me the other day and Brenda: Sure. Amanda: said, hey, I think I need to be on your podcast. He had a major pivot in his life where he went from an accountant. I mean, he was an accounting major. to becoming a schoolteacher. And it was a pivot. Granted, it wasn't at that midlife that we all look at it, but it was this huge pivot. So watch out, folks. You may get to see Aaron Siegel on this show at some point. Right? It is true. Brenda: I love that idea because it's true. I mean, I've had some of my biggest pivots have been when I was younger. I was a business major, but I was a performer, Amanda: Absolutely right. Brenda: and then I decided I didn't want to pursue business. And I was gonna perform. You know, it's you never know where it's gonna come. I think you might change the midlife to to all aspects of life. Good for him. Amanda: Right to pivoting. We'll have to change the neon sign at some point, is life's pivots. Brenda: Exactly. Amanda: Well, talking about pivots, you've said that your greatest pivot wasn't surviving cancer, but deciding what you wanted your life to look like afterward. that experience change the way you show up in your life and work? Brenda: I think I make every day and every interaction I have with everyone more focused, more meaningful. It changed my relationship with time. Time, time's different now for me. I treasure every moment I have. And you know, someone said the other day, I was in a meeting and someone said, you know, the days are long, but the years are so short. And that's truly how I feel. And every day I try and connect with people and make a difference. And Also, just to connect to to feel joy with my friends and my family. I I don't pass up opportunities to see people. And then that's literally what I'm doing right now. this weekend I decided I'm gonna go to to New York for a night to see friends that are coming from Germany. I don't know whether I would have done that before cancer. I'm not missing anything. Amanda: And love that. And I think we have to constantly remind ourselves. I think you've just given everybody such an incredible lesson because I do think that and we talk about that a lot. You we talk about how, look, I've also, mean, being able to have the privilege and benefit of watching my parents, you know, I say age, but be here for the second part of their lives and being able to be there. And I say that to them every day. Often, you know, my father will sometimes grumble and I'll say, you know what, dad, you have to wake up in the morning and say, thank you, God, for giving me another day. And that's what it's all about. You know, you can wake up and think the end of the world has happened or you can Brenda: Mm. Amanda: truly embrace and I look I'm a huge believer in that and I've had you know I've had my challenges over time and we all have we all experience those but it's how we turn those around look at the other side of the pictures so that is such an important and valuable message that you just gave to everybody. Brenda: W well and it's and I think during the moment it's really hard to see that. When you're going through that experience, whether it's cancer, divorce, whatever it is, whatever extremely painful life-changing moment that you're in, when you're in it you don't see it, but when you get out of it you realize just the benefits of finding joy and purpose. I mean, we only have one life that I know of. Amanda: guess what I'm learning, and that is so true, because I guess what I'm learning now at the stage is you know, one feels sometimes that they're walking down this dark tunnel and they just don't see the light at the end of it, but there's kind Brenda: Mm-hmm. Amanda: of like you're holding a flashlight and the batteries are kind of going out every now and again, but you know that there's that light at the end of it, and I think that is exactly it. I mean, there's no shame in grieving at the time, there's no shame in embracing the pain whether it be as you said, Brenda: Mm-hmm. Amanda: a medical diagnosis or a divorce or you know even we talk about empty nesting having our kids leave. That for me was a massive grieving process. mean you know Brenda: Exactly. Amanda: I was devastated when Nicole left. My whole world felt like it had completely and you you just having Bella there and now suddenly she was, I remember Brenda: Yeah, yes. Amanda: I remember I was talking about it when she went off to college Brenda: Yeah. Amanda: and you know it's kind of like how am I going to, how am going to you know wake up in the morning and what's my purpose? But we have to be believe that there is one. So yeah, Brenda: Yes. Amanda: a really valid point. And now question for you. How Brenda: So well said. Yes. Amanda: has your relationship with your own voice changed over the years? Brenda: Mmm, well, you know, it's funny because since I was born I've been singing, literally. So when we say voice, I was always using my voice, and I was using my voice like Amanda. I was always sharing stories and using it to act and sing and And then I took it from stage to my career. And I'm helping others use their voices in ways they didn't expect. And today I'm also using my voice for cancer patients. And I feel like I'm less afraid to use my voice. I feel that I'm just not afraid to say what's on my mind. even you know at this stage of my life, even if someone might not agree, I'm okay with that. Where when Amanda: Yeah. Brenda: I was younger, I was always fearful. I see it with my daughter. she doesn't like to make waves. And I was that way. I wanted to please people. I wanted everyone to love me and be happy, and so I know Amanda and I have a lot in common, mom. Amanda: Stop pointing at me! Stop pointing at me! Yeah. I know, but you know what, Brenda? It's liberating. It is liberating. When you just Brenda: We do so yes. Yes. Amanda: don't give, and this is an adult podcast, when you just don't give a fuck anymore. And you just don't. Brenda: That's right. That's right. Amanda: You have to be able to, you know, just... I used to be exactly the same way and she used to say to Brenda: Yeah. Amanda: me for God's sake, do you care? What do you care what other Brenda: Yeah. Amanda: people think? But we do and it took Brenda: Yes. Amanda: it took turning for me that was absolutely midlife. It took getting to 50 Brenda: Mm. Amanda: and Realizing not everybody's gonna like you and that's okay. It is Brenda: It is. Amanda: okay. You don't like me unsubscribe You know, just unsubscribe. Brenda: Right right, exactly. Amanda: I'm not for everybody. I'm not everybody's cup of tea, but I'm okay with that. And that's why I started this. My mom and I kind of, she said to me, have this voice, use it. do it with me, I'm scared. Brenda: Yeah. Well, it's a great duo. But Mel Robbins, yeah, let Amanda: But it. Brenda: them. I agree. The minute I heard that, it was so simple, but it was freeing. Yeah. Amanda: Let them. Let them. They don't like you? Yeah. Yeah. It was life changing. It was life changing. came, it couldn't have, for me, it couldn't have come at a more opportune moment in my life. So you co-host the American Society for Cancer Oncology. Conquer Cancer's Your Stories podcast, But you also mentor cancer patients. that work really mean to you? Brenda: it's so personal. I was inspired to do it when I was sick And I mentor all different types of cancer patients, not just breast, but when I was going through it, breast cancer patients are the most giving people I've ever met. I had women, a one cousin, friends of my cousins, friends of my friends come in, take off their shirts, show me their boobs. Tell me I'm going to be okay. Tell me what I was gonna feel. Tell me what I was gonna go through. And I was still depressed. I I still really was in bed for seven months if I wasn't in the hospital. I didn't do well on the on everything I went through, on the double mastectomies and the chemo and everything. But I knew when I finished that it was my what was my why for having it. And it was to do the same that others did for me. And so I started by it's on my LinkedIn. When I'm in meetings, I share that I'm a survivor and that I mentor breast cancer patients. I've literally had a very high-level pharmaceutical executive come to me and say, Will you mentor my head of breast cancer oncology? Amanda: Wow. Brenda: She's an oncologist, a breast oncologist, and she's going through this and doesn't know what to do. And look, I'm not a doctor, but I helped them find resources. And this woman had not lived here long. So I helped her find doctors. I helped her find therapy. You know, it's the mind, body, and spirit, and all those things that you get the diagnosis. And you don't know what to do. So for me, mentoring helped me get away from Brenda and literally the PTSD of realizing that I had significant breast cancer. W once you get the diagnosis, you don't know what to do. But afterwards, being able to help others get you out of yourself, out of your fear, and provide hope for others, provide guidance for others to organizations that they can they can be mentored through, both physically, medically, mentally. Because people don't think about all those things. So I'm grateful. I mentor all different types of patients. I mentor caregivers. I even got involved on the board of an organization Hope Connections for Cancer, which I didn't even know existed when I was sick. And it's a free, fully free organization that provides professionally led support groups. And they put you in with if you have prostate cancer, if you know, with your exact disease and with your exact stage. So y if you're stage two, grade three, I was an aggressive stage two, but if you're not very aggressive, you're not in with people that are looking at end of life. it's an amazing, amazing organization and and it's gone virtual now. Yes. And it's local to us, which is incredible. So yeah, Amanda: What an amazing resource. Wow. Brenda: but all those things I found after. I wish I had when I was sick, but now I'm able to bring that to others. And then the podcast, I got involved in ASCO in kind of a roundabout way. I was invited to a fundraiser one of my mom friends, one of Bella's friends' mothers, who was an NIH oncologist. And I thought I was going to a breast cancer event. It turned out it was an event to raise money for female researchers in oncology. I know you all won't be surprised, 30% underfunded community. And I was blown away, but they weren't raising a lot of money that year. And I said I'd love to help. And I became a co-host and I helped them increase their fundraiser a thousand percent financially. And that money goes to ASCO to their Conquer Cancer Foundation. And then I met their CEO, Dr. Cliff Huddis, who I became very close friends with. And we get together often when he's in town throughout the year, just just learning from each other. But that led me to, they said, hey, why don't you do the podcast? And so it's me and two oncologist researchers. And they give Amanda: Amazing. Brenda: me the interviews when they want to bring the science to all of us who are laymen in this area and or patients for me to help them share their stories to help others. It's really beautiful. I I've been very fortunate for years now to work with them. Amanda: I'll tell you Brenda, you absolutely Brenda: Yes. Amanda: amaze me. You're awesome. You really are listening to you. You know, give inspiration to people. I'm just awestruck. I'm sitting here listening and thinking what a woman. Really, you've done so much for others who need you and I know so many people who are going through it and who have been through it and listening to you is such a comfort. don't know, look at this woman. Look at her, she's wonderful, she's gorgeous and she's done so much and she's still doing after Brenda: Thank you. Amanda: all the tragedy she's had. So really, I'm absolutely amazed. And I can identify, I can identify with you, because having been through you know this in a parallel with infertility, Brenda: Yes. Amanda: being able to help and mentor and be there for others has been so rewarding and it just changes your whole perspective. So I get it. I do Brenda: Yeah. Amanda: get that how this can really just change your own feeling on how you manage moving forward. And you know what? The same way as infertility will always be a part of who I am, breast cancer Brenda: Mm-hmm. Amanda: will always is be a part of who you are. Whether you're in remission, whether you're beyond your childbearing years, whatever it is, it gives you that purpose of, you know what, I'm gonna turn, and I say it on every podcast, we're gonna turn that frown upside down. And it's about making Brenda: That's right. Amanda: lemonade out of lemons. And you can look at it and think my world has just come to an end and I, my God, or you could say, no. I'm gonna fight this. I'm gonna figure out how to make this into something that it can be. It doesn't have to be Brenda: That's right. Amanda: this dark cloud that we talk about all the time. So, yeah. Brenda: That's right. Well, and you've done Amanda: All right, I'm gonna. Brenda: that too. You've done that too using your voice and not being a victim who couldn't conceive in a in a regular manner. And that and I feel that that's the Amanda: No, no. And I watch it. mean, I sit and I... Brenda: important thing for for people who are listening. When you go through something tragic like this, if you don't look at yourself as the victim, but look at it as a life experience that you survived, and how can now you thrive Amanda: Yeah, exactly. Brenda: and share it with others? I think that's what Amanda: Absolutely. Brenda: Yeah. Amanda: So you, this one is a fun one and I didn't throw it in the bio because I wanted to throw it out here. And because I... I kind of had heard rumblings. knew that this was something that you were going back to, but I didn't really understand. So you're going to tell us all about it. You recently returned to the stage after 30 years. Tell us a little bit about that and what that has taught you. Brenda: taught me a lot of empathy for others. Well, as we talked about, I was a perform musical theater performer. I wanna make sure we're clear. I'm not a pop singer, but I was a musical theater performer when I was younger in toured. And I really have not sung in 30 years. And two of my friends that are musical directors were working on a show. I don't know whether you know it called The Hexagon Review. And it's a Amanda: Mm-mm. Brenda: show that the Princeton Club started many, many years ago. And they write original song parodies political and they raise money for different causes every year. It's been happening in DC for 70 years. And Amanda: Hmm. Brenda: they were honoring a woman that I was in a show called Mrs. Foggy Bottom and Friends, and it was a political DC political satire. And They wanted someone from the cast to be in it and honor her. hence they called me and I'm like, I don't know whether I can do this. And they said, we'll give you voice lessons, we'll hook you up. I only had two months to prepare, but I can tell you it was amazing, it was fun, it was nerve-wracking. I don't know whether you've been around any professional performers before, but we don't eat three hours before we go to bed. We don't eat spicy foods. We are exercising every day, we are vocalizing every day. We're in serious voice lessons. We have a lot of voice rest. Are you getting the picture? I had two months to get Amanda: getting the picture. Brenda: my voice like you when you're on your Peloton and you're getting your muscle back together. I'm doing that with my voice. And I take it very seriously because I had done it professionally. So I did it. I'm so proud of myself. And the big lesson I think I learned was I empathize with everyone I help go on stage when they're afraid, because it was nerve-wracking for me. But I channeled those nerves and I'm proud of myself. And I think it also tells me and others. It's never too late to be you. And that was such a big part of my life when I was young. And I'm still some Amanda: Isn't that amazing? Brenda: of my best friends that are like family to me are my friends from musical theater. Amanda: Now there's a question for you. Do you think women sometimes feel pressure to completely reinvent themselves midlife? That's a good one. Brenda: Yes, I do. Amanda: I like that one, that is a good one, yeah. Brenda: I f thank you. That's really that is a wonderful, wonderful question. I do think it happens a lot. I see it with my friends. the fifties midlife and the sixties midlife are a little different. the fifties were empowering and I don't think everyone was trying to like go, what's this last chapter look like? But when you get close to 60 and and you are 60 and a lot of folks retire, but they have been defined a lot by their careers and they don't know what to do and they think they need to come up with something completely out of the box. And look, I've gone through that. I went through that over the last few years trying to say, is there anything I should be doing differently? And what I realized is Pulling from all my experiences, pulling from all my knowledge in business and theater and personal skills and relationships with, you know, friends and family and mentors, you don't necessarily need to reinvent. Can you Amanda: Yeah. Brenda: embrace who you are and do it with even more focus and passion and purpose? if everyone tried to totally reinvent themselves, I think there'd be a lot of very anxious, menopausal postmenopausal women. Amanda: Which is kind of funny because we do often talk about reinvention on the podcast. But okay, so answer it this way then. Brenda: That's my perspective. Amanda: No, no, no, and I like that and I think it's very valid. I think it's incredibly valid. But then has your definition of success changed at the stage of your life? Brenda: Most definitely. Absolutely one hundred percent. I was an aggressive. Excited, well, I'm still excited, but an aggressive young 20-30-something, and I was going to take over the world, and I was all about the next sale and the next this and the next that, and and then of course, once I became a mom and a divorcee and a single mom, I was gonna do this and that and this and and everything for my child I possibly could. But what what's happened now is success. to me is not being aggressive, it's being assertive. It's still finding those things that make a difference in life, but I don't have to prove as much to myself or others. I'm a different person. I show up differently at work. And I still love what I do. I can't imagine doing anything else. I really do love it. so I think I show up for my clients and my colleagues, a lot of the younger women and men that I mentor. then the young kids that I mentor that are getting out of college. I had three calls yesterday helping folks try and figure out what they're gonna do in their lives. that's how success is to me, making a difference. It's it's and I know that's kind of the running theme we've talked about, you know, on Amanda: Yeah, yeah. Brenda: this podcast, but that's what success is to me, is making a difference in the lives of the people I love and the people I don't know that I believe in. Amanda: Sometimes I even find that. I find that sometimes, more so for the people that don't know me. If I can provide, Brenda: Yeah. Amanda: and I did that with my patients, you know, when I was in the infatility world, these people weren't, I didn't know them from Adam, but they being able to provide that sense of comfort and support and was so empowering that something, it will sit with me for the rest of my life. You I will always hold onto that. And it was hard for me to give up a 30 year career. I was it my choice? And I did it. But I have to say that that's something to this day I will always hold onto. It was such a... empowering feeling in knowing that I could be a little old me at the time. I who was I? But you know what? Who am I? And that, I changed that narrative. Brenda: That's the key. Amanda: Absolutely. I am. I am that resource. again, I wish it hadn't taken me to my fifties to realize that. I wish it had been, I had been younger. Brenda: That's okay. You've got plenty of time now. Plenty. Amanda: do! have 50, well I'm going to be 57 so I have 43 years still to go. Brenda: There you go. Amanda: So, yep, we're going to go to 100. So are you, so shut up! Okay? Brenda: My mom's showing you you can. Amanda: And your mother certainly showed, I mean that is just wild. Unbelievable. mean that is just jealous. That is just wild. If Brenda: She is Yeah, it's just it's beautiful. Amanda: someone listening to you today has recently received a life-changing diagnosis, or is facing a major setback, What would you want them to know? Brenda: There's hope. That's the first Amanda: Amen. Brenda: thing. There is hope and ask for help. I didn't ask for help as much as I should have because Amanda: Ugh. Brenda: I was this single working woman taking over the world and I've always done everything for myself. now my family was there for me and my close friends. but but there were things that I wish. in my career during that time, with my daughter during that time, I wish I would have asked for more help. That that would Amanda: Ugh. Brenda: be another thing. And to breathe. Breathe through it and find your community that's gonna help you through it. And be honest with them and let them know what you need from them. Amanda: excellent. All right, well, we always like to end with our signature question. So I am going to ask you this. What has been your greatest midlife pivot or pivot, we can take the word midlife out of it, your greatest pivot, and how has it the person you are today? Brenda: think my greatest life pivot, not midlife, but my greatest life pivot was after my business degree, which I love my father. May he rest in peace. He wasn't paying for a theater degree, and I'm grateful I have it now from the American University. But after I got the degree, I had some job opportunities and I chose to sing for a living. And being true to the artist who I am and who I was, it helped me find my voice and find my people and my career. And if it wasn't for me having that moment and that big pivot, but I wouldn't have the career I have if I didn't have my business degree. That my father always reminded me about. Because I'm working with top executives of global companies. I needed that knowledge as well. So that would be my biggest one, Amanda: You are just I mean, I knew, you know, when I was coming up with who I wanted on this podcast, I'll actually give you a huge compliment. Kayla was actually who said to me, Mom, you have to have Brenda Brody on your podcast. And I'm like, my god, Kayla, you are so right. So whatever impact you have had on my daughter, I appreciate because, or you can thank her, because she absolutely identified you as somebody that she wanted to hear more from. And I'm so appreciative. Brenda: I love that. Well, I remember when she was trying to analyze her career, you set us Amanda: Two, yeah. Brenda: up to have a great, we had a a beautiful afternoon together. And she's a rock star. So thank you, Kayla. Amanda: But yeah, mean, I am so truly, I am truly honored. knew that you would be a rock star and so you have been, but we're gonna throw this out at you. We love Brenda: Okay. Amanda: to do some of these rapid fire questions. We are gonna throw, mom and I will kind of each give you one. Don't put too much thought Brenda: Okay. Amanda: into it. One word answers if you can, but let's go. You ready? All right. Brenda: I'm ready, I think. Amanda: What's one word that best describes this chapter of your life? Brenda: Purposeful. Amanda: I've got another one. What daily habit keeps you grounded? Brenda: I wake up, I make my gratitude list, I do a small meditation in the morning. Amanda: That's it. Yeah. Brenda: and being with my friends, my family, my chosen family, and laughing and just loving on them and having that that that helps keep me grounded. If I don't get time with the people I love, I'm off center. I can tell. Amanda: Love that. Alright, what book has had the greatest impact on your journey? Brenda: anyone that knows me that that's listening knows I don't read a lot. I do a lot of audiobooks, but hold on, I'm looking I know, I know. Amanda: Me too. That's okay, I count those. I count those. Brenda: Okay, so well, I loved The Color of Water. that's an old book. Amanda: Yes. Brenda: I love that book. just about you know, you never know a book by its cover, and I I just love that book. So that book changed me, but There's a w I I have it right here. There's a one that my this is my book, this Amanda: look at us! Brenda: is my bookshelf. But there is a woman that I met through my mentor's daughter, who's like a a godchild to me. they're actresses in LA. And she had a horrible experience. basically her husband was cheating on her right after they got married. but she found purpose, and then she found a wonderful man, and she has a kid now, and everything, but she wrote a book called Eat, pray, fuck my life. And it is so good. Amanda: yes. Brenda: It's from a very young person's perspective of what she went through, but I just appreciated her honesty, her grit. some of the things that she went through, people our age haven't gone through. And she went through them in her early 20s. Yes, I will. Amanda: to read it. Show us the cover. Show it to us. Brenda: Yes, let me see. Her name is Gabrielle Amanda: That is awesome. Brenda: Stone. She'll be thrilled that I'm giving her a shout out. But I love I loved her book. So she gave it to Amanda: I love that. Brenda: me when I was out there and I yes, so that would be one. Amanda: I love that. Alright, What's something you wish woman knew about breast cancer? Brenda: It's not a death sentence. I yeah. Amanda: All right. Brenda: I think a lot of times when people get diagnosed, they just go to the end of their life and there's just so much modern medicine that most of the time it's not. Most of the time you'll be thriving in no time once you get through your journey. Amanda: Well, look at you. You're a perfect example. Brenda: Yeah, thank you. Amanda: you are. What Brenda: Thank you. Amanda: brings you the most joy today? I can see everything does, but something special that gives you the most joy. Brenda: I think laughing and being with friends and family. I think people. People, my cl my close network, that brings me the that re reinvigorates me, that brings me the most joy. Amanda: last but certainly not least, what's next for Brenda Brody? Brenda: That's a really good question. yes. Amanda: Is there anything left for Brenda Brody to do? Brenda: I want to keep I I think what's what's left for me is to keep doing more of what I do. Keep doing more in my career that I love so much. keep doing more in cancer, cancer research knowledge. for folks and mentoring breast cancer patients and survivors. and you know seeing my daughter thrive and one day grow up and get married and have children. I think that's that's please. Yeah. Amanda: Please God, please God. Absolutely, absolutely. Well Brenda, honestly, I had no doubt that this would be an easy conversation with you. So we both do, we just appreciate your time and the fact that you were willing, this was something new. We're just in that embryo stage of this podcast, but I do have, you know what? I have that feeling that I think we're out to do good things just like you've done. And Brenda: Yes. Amanda: I'm so proud that I get to do this with my mom. and you've made this even more meaningful for, I believe both of us. I think you truly have. I had no doubt that you would, but you really have. And I can't thank you enough for being a part of this and embracing me and saying, hell yeah, I'm doing your podcast. When can I be on? And thank you for your patience as we sorted out the teething problems, but I am excited and who knows when we're, you know, when we're still doing this in five years time, we'll have you back on and see where Brenda Brody Brenda: Wonderful. Amanda: is now. only a pleasure to have you here. Really, you are an unbelievable person. Thank you. Brenda: Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. And congratulations to you both. Amanda: Thank you, Brenda. We're excited and we're excited to see where this goes. yeah, folks, we really do appreciate you taking the time to listen to us, to get to hear our wonderful guests and our wonderful speakers. And you know where you can find us on all podcast platforms. Make sure that you like, comment, subscribe and come back for more because you never know who we'll have next week. So from us here at the Midlife Pivot. Goodbye everybody. Bye Brenda.