Welcome to episode 5 of The Awakening Woman: Ready to Rise.
Dear Listener,
This week, we have our third guest interview with Denise Drinkwalter, which was a truly beautiful and enriching conversation.
The podcast has been thriving, thanks to all of you, and I can’t wait to share the Thank You Bundle with everyone who enters the giveaway when the time comes.
If you are an active subscriber with a 4-star or higher activity level, you are automatically entered. Each participant receives the Thank You Bundle, regardless of whether they win one of the two spots I am offering to work with me (full details below, including how to increase your chances of winning one of those places).
Enjoy this episode and don’t forget to like, share and leave a comment to boost reach.
Florence U. x
What if midlife wasn’t a crisis — but a calling?
In this heart-opening episode, I’m joined by educator, speaker, and midlife mentor Denise Drinkwalter, who brings over 30 years of lived and professional wisdom to the conversation. Together, we explore what it means to stop waiting for permission and finally choose yourself — not just in theory, but in practice.
We talk about:
Why women feel rage in midlife (and how to honour it)
The invisible labour of motherhood and caregiving
The power of embodied decisions: “for you, by you, because of you”
Redefining happiness beyond external approval
How to model joy and sovereignty for the next generation
Denise’s energy is warm, wise, and radically empowering — and this episode is an invitation to re-meet yourself with grace, softness, and truth.
🎧 Listen in + enter the giveaway to win a spot in one of my sacred containers: The Awakening Path or Creatrix Rising.
✨ Shareable Quotes for this Episode
The Midlife Wake-Up
“I realised I’d given so much of myself away — to my work, my family, my kids — that I didn’t even know who I was anymore. It was time to come back to me.”
The “For You” Philosophy
“Every decision I make now has to be for me, by me, because of me. Not for anyone else’s expectations — just the truth of what I need in that moment.”
On Rage + Awakening
“That rage that shows up in midlife? It’s not wrong. It’s your soul saying: I’m done. I’m done with the lies. I’m done with the pretending.”
On Self-Trust
“The truth is, I don’t want to do what I used to do. I don’t want to chase, or prove, or please. I want to live from alignment.”
On Legacy & Leadership
“You’re modelling something to your children whether you intend to or not. So why not show them what it looks like to choose joy, to choose yourself?”
On Happiness as Practice
“I started asking myself: what makes me happy today? Not someday — today. And I stopped waiting for someone else to hand it to me.”
Giveaway Entry Details
You can gain an entry for each of the following:
Subscribe to this Substack — 3 entries
(Includes both new and existing subscribers with at least a 4-star Activity level by the deadline.)Share this episode on Substack or social media — 16 entries max for the giveaway (quote ideas below)
(Please tag me or email a screenshot if sharing off Substack.)Leave a comment on this or any episode — 8 entries max for the giveaway
Write a heartfelt review on Apple or Spotify — 2 entries max for the giveaway
(Email a screenshot of your review to florenceukpabiokwusogu@substack.com)
One female listener will receive a spot in The Awakening Path, another in Creatrix Rising, and everyone who enters will receive a Thank You Bundle filled with beautiful gifts from incredible women.
🕰️ Deadline: Midnight, 15th August (UK time)
I’ll be manually tracking entries via Substack notifications — tagging me and emailing me helps!
If you’d like to contribute to the Thank You Bundle or support this podcast in another way, please reach out. We’re building this together.
About Denise Drinkwalter
Denise Drinkwalter is a Midlife Renewal Coach, retired educator, and host of the Thrive After 45™ podcast. With a Master of Education in Leadership and over 30 years of experience, she now supports women in midlife through 1:1 coaching, her BecomingHER Mentor Membership, and the ME Academy.
Known as a heart whisperer, Denise helps women reconnect with their inner wisdom, rediscover purpose, and step into their next chapter with clarity and confidence.
Denise offers a lovely freebie on her website, an Empowerment Map to guide you on your journey.
You can also connect with Denise on her social links below:
Facebook Personal
Facebook Business
LinkedIn
YouTube
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