What if aging well has less to do with trying to stay young—and more to do with becoming stronger? In this episode, I sit down with Jody Florman, Certified Wellness Coach and living proof that vitality doesn’t have an expiration date, to explore strength, resilience, body confidence, and what it really means to thrive as we age. At 68, Jody challenges many of the assumptions women are handed about getting older. Rather than accepting midlife as the beginning of inevitable decline, she sees it as an opportunity to consciously rebuild—to become stronger physically, clearer mentally, and more grounded in who you are. And Jody knows something about rebuilding. Her life has taken her through a creative career spanning design, mural work, entrepreneurship, London, Los Angeles, and now Sedona, alongside divorce, financial collapse, burnout, reinvention, and more than one experience of starting over. Those experiences ultimately shaped the work she does today. Together, we explore why physical strength becomes increasingly important as women age, but also why strength is about much more than muscle. It influences confidence, independence, energy, resilience, and our relationship with our changing bodies. We talk about the stories women absorb around aging, body image, fitness, beauty, and what we're supposedly capable of after a certain age—and what happens when we decide those stories no longer belong to us. Jody also shares her approach to creating sustainable wellness without punishment or perfectionism. Instead of chasing impossible standards or temporary transformations, she encourages women to build habits and lifestyles they can actually carry forward for the rest of their lives. Because aging is inevitable. Declining into a smaller version of yourself doesn't have to be. Perhaps getting older isn't about desperately holding onto who you used to be. Perhaps it's an invitation to discover how powerful you can still become. In this episode, we explore: • Why strength becomes increasingly important as women age • Rethinking cultural narratives around women and aging • Building and maintaining physical confidence in midlife and beyond • Strength, energy, mobility, and independence • The relationship between physical strength and emotional resilience • Body image as our bodies change • Moving beyond punishment-based approaches to fitness • Why perfectionism can sabotage sustainable wellness • Creating habits you can maintain for the rest of your life • Starting over without believing you've started too late • Mindset and the stories we tell ourselves about aging • Reclaiming creativity, confidence, and possibility • What Jody has learned about vitality at 69 • Why your strongest years may still be ahead of you About Jody Florman Jody Florman is a Certified Wellness Coach who works with women in midlife who are ready to feel strong, vibrant, and fully at home in their bodies again. A lifelong creative, designer, muralist, entrepreneur, and problem-solver, Jody's unconventional career has taken her from London to Los Angeles and through multiple chapters of personal and professional reinvention. Today, she brings that same spirit of rebuilding to women's wellness, helping clients improve physical confidence, energy, strength, body image, and the mindset patterns that can keep them stuck. Her approach combines health and wellness coaching, breakthrough tools, and intuitive energetic work with an emphasis on sustainable change. Based in Sedona, Arizona, Jody coaches privately and continues to expand her work around fitness, mindset, aging, and women's empowerment. Her philosophy is simple: Aging is inevitable. Feeling old is optional. And midlife isn't a crisis. It's a reclamation. Connect with Jody Website: https://www.jodyflorman.com Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Henry Hawk. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.
