What if the very thing people told you was “too much” about you was actually your greatest gift?

In this soulful conversation, Wendy talks with Oneika Mays — meditation teacher, storyteller, and author — about what it really means to bet on yourself in midlife. Oneika shares how she moved from 20 years as a bookseller to teaching mindfulness (including groundbreaking work at Rikers Island), and how grief ultimately gave her the permission to pursue her lifelong dream of writing.

At 54, Oneika is stepping fully into a creative life — with a debut book on the way and a TV pilot already winning awards. Her story is a powerful reminder that reinvention is not one bold leap, but a series of brave choices to trust yourself again and again.

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much,” this episode is for you.

What you’ll hear in this episode

• 💛 Permission & self-trust: learning to listen to your own vision
• 📚 From books to mindfulness: Oneika’s journey from bookseller to teacher
• 🧘🏾‍♀️ Metta (lovingkindness): why self-love is the foundation of reinvention
• 🎯 Betting on yourself: celebrating small steps — even after 15 rejections
• ✨ Reinventing at 54: why it’s never too late to claim a creative life
• 🤝 You don’t reinvent alone: the village that helped her bet on herself

About Oneika Mays

Oneika Mays is a meditation and yoga teacher, storyteller, and author of Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation (HarperOne, March 3, 2026). She previously served as the first Mindfulness Coach at Rikers Island.

Connect with Oneika

• Website: https://oneikamays.com
• Instagram: @oneikamays
• Substack: https://oneika.substack.com/
• Preorder her book: Sit With Me (here or available wherever books are sold)

Mentioned in this episode

• Women Over 70 — Aging Reimagined Podcast
  The 2025 ASTRA award-winning weekly show celebrating women 70–110 who are rewriting the script on aging — plus their monthly Aging Reimagined Circle online.

Thank you for listening

If this episode inspired you, share it with a friend who needs a little permission right now. And if you haven’t already, follow the show and leave a review — it helps more women find their way to this community.

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Your feedback means everything to me! If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Castbox or leave a comment at reinventionrebels.com.

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Permission to Begin Again in Your 60s (or at Any Age): Trusting Yourself in Midlife

What does it really mean to give yourself permission to begin again—especially in midlife?

In this solo episode, Wendy explores why permission is often the first act of reinvention, how trusting yourself changes everything in your 60s (or at any age), and why midlife can be a powerful awakening rather than a crisis.

She shares personal reflections on self-trust, pivoting, hormonal shifts, and choosing a bigger, juicier life—plus gentle prompts to help you notice where you might be waiting for permission.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure, or afraid to change direction, this episode is your reminder that you’re allowed to begin again—right now.

✨ In this episode, Wendy shares:

🧩 Why permission is often the first act of reinvention
💬 How women are socialized to put themselves last—and how that shows up in midlife
🔍 What permission really means (and what it doesn’t)
🧠 How hormonal shifts can unlock boldness and clarity
🔄 Why pivoting isn’t failure—it’s recalibration
💛 Wendy’s personal story of giving herself permission to begin again
💪 Why self-trust is a muscle you build over time

Reflection questions to consider:

❓ Where might you be waiting for permission right now?
❓ Whose approval are you unconsciously seeking?
❓ What feels complete, even if you haven’t admitted it?
❓ What would trusting yourself look like today—not someday?

Podcast shoutout + Resources

I’m also giving a shoutout to my friend Suzy Rosenstein, host of the podcast Women in the Middle: Loving Life After 50. If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about midlife, reinvention, and navigating life with intention and curiosity, I know you’ll love her show.

I also reference my recent solo episode Reinventing at 61: How I’m Betting on Myself in 2026 (Without the January Pressure)—a great companion listen if you’re exploring intention, self-trust, and spaciousness this year.

Free resource: If this episode inspired you and you’d like to go deeper, I invite you to download my free audio, 5 Questions to Spark Your Curiosity and Inspire Your Reinvention Journey. It’s designed to help you reflect, notice what’s calling you, and gently reconnect with yourself—no pressure, no fixing.

PS: If this episode resonated, I’d love it if you shared it with a friend, sister, or colleague who might need a reminder that they’re allowed to begin again.

Loving the show? Text us and let us know! 😊

Support the show

*********
Thanks for joining me, let's reinvent and get inspired together!

Please Share What You Loved

Your feedback means everything to me! If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Castbox or leave a comment at reinventionrebels.com.

Let's connect:
Instagram: @reinventionrebels
Facebook: @ReinventionRebels

How I’m Betting on Myself in 2026 (Without the January Pressure)

As a new year begins, many of us feel the pressure to rush into resolutions, big goals, and nonstop productivity. In this short solo episode of Reinvention Rebels, I’m sharing a different approach to starting the year — one rooted in listening, intention, and self-trust, especially in midlife.

Rather than pushing for momentum or perfection, I reflect on how I’m betting on myself in 2026 in a way that feels quieter, more compassionate, and more sustainable. I share how shifting away from all-or-nothing thinking around diet and exercise, protecting my energy, and allowing clarity to unfold over time has changed the way I approach growth and reinvention.

If January feels louder or more demanding than you expected, this episode offers permission to slow down, tune in, and trust your own timing.

In this episode, I share:

✨ Why January pressure often leads to burnout instead of lasting change
🌀 How all-or-nothing thinking kept me stuck and what helped me move forward
💛 What betting on myself in midlife looks like now, at 61
🌱 Why consistency works better than perfection
🧭 How I’m approaching 2026 with intention instead of urgency
👂 Why listening before deciding can be a powerful form of self-trust

Reflection questions to consider:

❓ Where might you be rushing yourself right now?
❓ What’s one area where a softer, more sustainable approach might serve you better?
❓ What would betting on yourself look like if it didn’t involve pressure?

Podcast shoutout:

I’m also giving a shoutout to my friend Suzy Rosenstein, host of the podcast Women in the Middle. If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about midlife, reinvention, and navigating life with intention and curiosity, I know you’ll love her show.

Later this month, I’ll be back with another short solo episode focused on permission — and what it really looks like to give ourselves permission to try again, especially in midlife.

Thanks for listening and for being part of the Reinvention Rebels community.

PS: If this episode inspired you, and you’d like even more gentle inspiration, I invite to download my free gift, 100 Ways to Reinvent Yourself in Midlife. It's filled with ideas to spark curiosity and help you imagine what your next great adventure could look like.

Loving the show? Text us and let us know! 😊

Support the show

*********
Thanks for joining me, let's reinvent and get inspired together!

Please Share What You Loved

Your feedback means everything to me! If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Castbox or leave a comment at reinventionrebels.com.

Let's connect:
Instagram: @reinventionrebels
Facebook: @ReinventionRebels