Most things come with a “best by” date—a quiet suggestion that usefulness, quality, or value has a shelf life. Judy Gay never bought into that idea.

Judy joined Experience Momentum at 63. She began training seriously later in life, took on triathlons in her 70s, and stepped into powerlifting well after most people are told to slow down. At 81, she’s not telling a story about what she used to do—she’s reflecting on what happens when you keep choosing to engage with strength, even as it changes.

Judy didn’t stumble into her strength. She built it—by showing up consistently, taking herself seriously, and surrounding herself with people who believed in growth at every age. She found belonging without shrinking herself, and community that didn’t lower the bar—but helped her clear it.

As seasons changed, Judy stayed in relationship with her strength. She listened when her body asked for adjustment, adapted without quitting, and found ways to keep moving forward even when “strong” needed to look different than before. Strength, for her, was never something to leave behind—only something to meet where it was and carry into whatever came next.

This conversation is a reminder that strength doesn’t disappear when it evolves. It accumulates. And when you keep choosing to engage with it—honestly, consistently, and on your own terms—it continues to redefine what’s possible.

Summary

When senior engineering leader Theresa Aristarco faced long COVID and burnout, her world suddenly got small — walking the dog became impossible, and even daily tasks drained every ounce of energy. But what happened next redefined her idea of success. In this powerful conversation, Theresa shares how she chose health over the high-powered career that once defined her, building a support team, finding strength through therapy and physical recovery, and ultimately transforming her life through creativity and coaching. From learning to ask for help to finding joy in the simple act of baking bread, her story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the courage it takes to start again.

Keywords: resilience, burnout recovery, long COVID, vulnerability, reinvention, holistic healing, redefining success, coaching, leadership transformation.

Chapters

00:00 From Burnout to Breakthrough
06:44 The Turning Point: A New Perspective on Health
13:57 Building a Support Team for Recovery
21:42 Celebrating Triumph: The Wedding Day
23:35 Reclaiming Health and Creativity
28:22 Transformative Journey Through The Artist's Way
30:45 Redefining Success: Health First
33:53 Coaching Through Transitions
38:43 Building a Sustainable Coaching Business
41:04 Taking the First Step Towards Change
43:26 Finding Meaning in Struggles
46:13 Rapid Fire Insights and Reflections

Keywords

orthopedic surgery, cycling, reinvention, healthcare, Mischief Bikes, resilience, passion, risk-taking, patient care, medical innovation

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Chris Wahl shares his remarkable journey from being a top orthopedic surgeon to founding Mischief Bikes, a custom bike shop in Seattle, WA. He discusses the motivations behind his career changes, the challenges faced in both medicine and cycling, and the importance of resilience, joy, and community in pursuing one's passions. Dr. Wall reflects on the lessons learned from difficult cases in surgery, the evolving landscape of healthcare, and the significance of taking risks to redefine what is possible in life.

Sound Bites

• "The courage to reinvent yourself."
• "Good judgment comes from experience."
• "The time is now."

Chapters

00:00
The Leap from Surgery to Cycling

03:04
The Journey into Medicine

06:10
Defining Moments in Orthopedics

09:12
Learning from Challenges

11:56
The Changing Landscape of Medicine

15:02
Risk and Innovation in Surgery

17:59
Reflections on a Medical Career

20:57
Healthcare Challenges and Future Directions

24:09
The Joy of Cycling and New Beginnings

28:29
Family Adventures on Bikes

32:45
The Joy of Biking and Community

36:13
A Journey of Reinvention

40:51
Crafting Mischief: The Art of Bike Building

45:57
Legacy and Lessons Learned

50:54
Rapid Fire Insights