What if the thing you never imagined yourself doing turned out to be something you were incredibly good at?

At 58, Brenda Dockendorf walked into a gym for the first time. She had never considered herself athletic and simply wanted to improve her health. What began as a 21-day fitness challenge became something she never could have predicted.

At 60, Brenda decided to try powerlifting. Today, at 64, she holds 10 Minnesota state records and is working toward an American bench press record.

But this conversation is about much more than lifting weights.

Brenda shares how she transformed her health, discovered a confidence she never knew she had, and found a community that encouraged her to keep going. We explore the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who see possibilities in us, finding something we genuinely enjoy, and being willing to try something new without knowing where it might lead.

Brenda's story invites us to ask: What else might be possible for me?

Brenda didn't walk into the gym with a plan to become a record-setting powerlifter. She simply wanted to improve her health.

One small decision led to another. Along the way, she discovered a strength she didn't know she possessed, found people who believed in her, and began imagining possibilities that had never crossed her mind.

Her story reminds us that we don't have to know where something will lead before we begin. Sometimes the act of trying opens doors we never knew existed.

00:00 Highlight Clip

00:24 Welcome

00:50 Introducing Brenda

03:05 Brenda’s Gym Challenge

04:59 Diabetes Wake Up Call

05:57 Why It Finally Stuck

07:04 Instilling Confidence

08:01 Bench Press Breakthrough

09:29 Training Routine Basics

10:39 First Powerlifting Meets

14:24 Winning Feels Foreign

15:16 Finding a Cheerleader

19:43 Motivation Without Quitting

20:31 Competing Across Ages

21:39 Breaking Age Myths

22:54 Becoming Gym Mom

24:40 Trainer To Record Chase

26:46 New Beginnings At Any Age

28:05 Advice To Start Now

29:28 Closing

If this conversation encouraged you to embrace a new challenge or rediscover a passion, I'd love for you to:

Remember, it's never too late to learn something new, chase a dream, or begin again. Your next chapter may be your most fulfilling one yet.

Follow Brenda Dockendorf's powerlifting journey and cheer her on as she works toward her next goal: an American bench press record.

Have you ever gone from thinking, “I want to do this” to finally saying, “I’m going to do it”?

Maybe you’ve decided to change careers, start a business, take on a physical challenge, move somewhere new, or finally pursue something you’ve been thinking about for years.

What happens in your brain when you make that decision?

In this episode of RenewHer, we’ll look at what’s happening behind the scenes as you move from desire and consideration to action—and why taking the first step doesn’t mean you have to know exactly how the story will end.

By the end of this episode, you’ll understand:

Sometimes the biggest change doesn’t begin with a giant leap.

It begins with one small decision:

“I’m ready to see what’s possible.”

If this conversation encouraged you to embrace a new challenge or rediscover a passion, I'd love for you to:

Remember, it's never too late to learn something new, chase a dream, or begin again. Your next chapter may be your most fulfilling one yet.

 Trying something new can feel uncomfortable—especially when you’re used to being good at what you do. But there’s a reason your brain benefits when you step outside the familiar.

In this episode, we look at what happens in your brain when you learn something new, why neuroplasticity matters, and how trying new things can help you build adaptability. We’ll also talk about why you don’t have to be good at something for it to be good for your brain.

If this conversation encouraged you to embrace a new challenge or rediscover a passion, I'd love for you to:

Remember, it's never too late to learn something new, chase a dream, or begin again. Your next chapter may be your most fulfilling one yet.

Connect with Genell

Have you ever wanted to make a change—and yet found yourself hesitating to take the first step?

Maybe you want to start something new, take on a challenge, pursue an interest you've put aside, or figure out what's next in this season of life.

You may not be lacking motivation. You may not even be afraid of change.

So why can it still feel so difficult to move forward?

In this Brain Note, we'll look at what happens in your brain when you're faced with uncertainty—and why understanding your brain's response can help you move forward with greater clarity and curiosity.

Your brain doesn't necessarily resist change.

It responds to uncertainty.

You don't have to know exactly how something will turn out before you take the first step. Instead, get curious about what your brain is trying to protect you from—and ask yourself:

What's one small step I can take anyway?

Sometimes the way forward isn't about eliminating uncertainty.

It's about becoming willing to move through it.

Loved This Episode?

If this conversation encouraged you to embrace a new challenge or rediscover a passion, I'd love for you to:

Remember, it's never too late to learn something new, chase a dream, or begin again. Your next chapter may be your most fulfilling one yet.

A year ago, Genell stood at the top of Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia, wearing a red hat and knowing she had done something she wasn't sure she could do.

Eight ascents. 31,200 feet of elevation. 31.2 miles. About 35½ hours with only 30 minutes of sleep.

One year later, she returned to 29029—but this time, she wasn't climbing.

She was volunteering at the summit aid station in Steamboat, Colorado, alongside her husband.

And being on the other side of the experience gave her a perspective she couldn't have had a year earlier.

In this episode, Genell shares what it was like to watch other participants struggle, persevere, and reach their own summits—and to recognize so much of her own journey in theirs. She reflects on the volunteers and coaches who supported her the year before, the power of encouragement, and why sometimes the most important thing 

And perhaps most unexpectedly, returning to 29029 reignited something in Genell: curiosity about what's still possible.

Could she do it again? On a different mountain? With a different approach?

She doesn't know yet.

And she doesn't need to.

For now, she's taking the next step.

You don't have to see the whole mountain. Just take the next step.

Your mountain may not look like anyone else's. Your summit may not be someone else's summit. And you may not know exactly how you're going to get there.

But you can take the next step.

And when you need help, let people help you. When you're able to help someone else, do that, too.

Because while we may each have our own mountain, we don't have to climb it alone.

00:00 Highlight - One Step Mindset
00:35 Welcome
01:12 Whistler Anniversary
02:24 What is 29029
03:22 Volunteering Summit Station
04:38 Aid Station Memories
06:06 Community Makes It Possible
07:32 Different Summits Count
08:34 The Last Hiker’s Finish
10:19 Coach Reunion Flashback
11:26 Curiosity: What’s Next
12:13 One Hike Perspective
13:59 Giving Back Lesson
14:34 Your Mountain: Next Step
16:40 Closing Reflections
17:58 Final Call to Action

If this conversation encouraged you to embrace a new challenge or rediscover a passion, I'd love for you to:

Remember, it's never too late to learn something new, chase a dream, or begin again. Your next chapter may be your most fulfilling one yet.

What happens when the life you thought you were building suddenly changes?

After more than 35 years in corporate marketing leadership, Louise Taylor was laid off at 59. Then COVID brought her job search to a halt. What could have been the end of one chapter became the beginning of an entirely new life.

Today, Louise is the founder of The Firefly Effect, where she helps heart-centered entrepreneurs build businesses that reflect who they truly are.

But her reinvention goes much deeper than a career change. Louise shares her journey of learning to stop hiding, find her voice, embrace authenticity, and create a life that feels aligned with who she is today.

➡️ Being laid off at 59 and navigating an unexpected career transition
➡️ How COVID created a forced pause that changed the direction of her life
➡️ Moving from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship
➡️ Why authenticity became central to Louise's work
➡️ Learning to stop hiding and take down the "mask"
➡️ The impact of suppressing emotions and needs for years
➡️ Discovering ADHD in her 60s and learning to embrace her neurodivergence
➡️ Moving from downtown Toronto to a slower, more intentional life
➡️ Giving yourself permission to want something different
➡️ What it means to truly renew your life

✅ Sometimes an ending is an invitation.
✅ Authenticity starts with knowing yourself.
✅ What you once saw as a weakness may be part of your strength.
✅ You are allowed to want something different.
✅ What got you here may not be what gets you there.

00:00 Highlight Clip - Start Where You re
00:36 Welcome
01:02 Meet Louise
03:54 The Layoff at 59
06:28 When COVID Changed Everything
08:33 The Forced Pause and Reset
11:23 A New Door Opens: Consulting
16:59 The Identity Crisis of Starting Over
20:15 The Origin of the Firefly Effect
29:23 Staying Invisible to Stay Safe
31:18 Breaking Down the Mask
36:04 When the Body Stores Trauma
43:54 Discovering ADHD at 62
47:00 Leaving Toronto for Small Town Life
51:22 Would She Have Changed Without the Push
56:43 Advice for Women 50+
57:47 What Renewing Your Life Means to Louise Today
60:00 Closing

Learn more about Louise and The Firefly Effect through the links in the episode description.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisemctaylor/
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://fireflyeffect.ca/

Brene Brown TED Talk: The Power of Vulnerability

The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.

Anatomy of the Spirit, by Caroline Myss

If this conversation encouraged you to embrace a new challenge or rediscover a passion, I'd love for you to:

Remember, it's never too late to learn something new, chase a dream, or begin again. Your next chapter may be your most fulfilling one yet.

Have you ever noticed how quickly your brain can go to “What if?”

What if something goes wrong?
What if I made the wrong decision?
What if something happens to someone I love?

Worry can feel like preparation. We think through possibilities, analyze potential outcomes, and try to anticipate what might happen next.

But there’s an important difference between problem-solving and worrying.

In this episode, we explore why we worry, what happens when our brains start generating possible problems, and how we can get caught in a worry loop—even when there may be nothing we can actually do about the outcome.

Ask yourself: Am I solving a problem—or am I rehearsing a possibility?

If there’s something you can do, take the next step.

But if there isn’t, continuing to think through every possible outcome may not give you more control.

Sometimes, the most helpful thing you can do is recognize:

I don’t have to solve a problem that doesn’t exist yet.

Until next time, remember: not every “what if?” needs an answer.

If this conversation encouraged you to embrace a new challenge or rediscover a passion, I'd love for you to:

Remember, it's never too late to learn something new, chase a dream, or begin again. Your next chapter may be your most fulfilling one yet.

At every stage of life, there are opportunities to learn, grow, and explore what's next.

In this episode of RenewHer, I sit down with my longtime friend, Rachel Kyllo, whose story is a powerful reminder that life after 50 can be a season of continued growth, curiosity, and discovery.

Throughout her 40+ years of building a successful corporate career, Rachel continually found ways to grow beyond the workplace. Whether training for her first marathon in her 60s, exploring gourmet cooking, or developing a passion for food photography, she reminds us that pursuing new passions can be woven into every season of life.

We also talk about the leadership lessons Rachel learned during her corporate career, the value of having a coach, the importance of accountability, and why staying curious may be one of the keys to continuing to learn, grow, and explore at every stage of life.

Whether you're considering a career transition, retirement, a new hobby, or simply wondering what's next, Rachel's story will inspire you to embrace new possibilities with confidence and curiosity.

Follow Rachel's food photography and culinary adventures on Instagram:

@cabinfoodlove

Email: [email protected]

If this conversation encouraged you to embrace a new challenge or rediscover a passion, I'd love for you to:

Remember, it's never too late to learn something new, chase a dream, or begin again. Your next chapter may be your most fulfilling one yet.

Have you ever noticed how a small, ordinary moment can reveal something much bigger about yourself?

In this episode of RenewHer Reflections, I share a story about my dog Peyton and our daily walks. As she’s gotten older, our walks—especially during the warmer months—don’t always go the way I expect them to. Sometimes she stops, rests, changes direction, or simply decides she’s done.

For a while, those moments challenged my patience. But over time, I began to see those walks differently.

What started as a simple morning routine became a reminder that the way we experience everyday moments often has less to do with what happens and more to do with how we approach it.

This reflection is an invitation to pause and consider: Where might your own expectations be creating frustration—and what might you notice if you looked at the moment in front of you a little differently?

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear about it. Have you ever found yourself struggling to focus because of constant noise or other distractions? Share your experience in the comments or connect with me on social media.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little more understanding—and a little more grace—for their brain.

Have you ever been so distracted by constant noise that you couldn't think straight? That's exactly what happened to me this week as construction crews spent days replacing our shared driveway. The endless backup alarms, heavy equipment, and nonstop activity left me feeling mentally exhausted, tense, and far less productive than usual.

What I discovered is that I wasn't imagining it—and neither are you if you've ever struggled to focus in a noisy environment. In this episode of Brain Notes, I share my personal experience and explain the fascinating brain science behind why constant noise is so difficult to ignore. You'll learn what's happening inside your brain, why your patience may wear thin, and a few simple ways to protect your focus when your environment is working against you.

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear about it. Have you ever found yourself struggling to focus because of constant noise or other distractions? Share your experience in the comments or connect with me on social media.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little more understanding—and a little more grace—for their brain.