Meet Brenda Ridgley | Author, Speaker, Retreat Leader & Life Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brenda Ridgley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brenda, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking almost always involves making a decision that sparks a change. Change can be scary and uncomfortable and that is why so many people get stuck in their comfort zones by playing it safe. I believe that taking risks and breaking free from your comfort zone is where real life really begins. A life that is interesting, even exciting, and creates growth and new experiences. My story demonstrates this pretty well.

As I raised my family over the decades and dove deep into my roles as wife, mother and professional, unintentionally I gave up my own individual interests & passions. Looking from the outside in, one would say I had it all, a loving husband, happy healthy kids and a beautiful home. I lived a comfortable life; however, I found myself stuck in a rut of dissatisfaction and melancholy. I had let myself go. No, I don’t mean the midlife weight gain, makeup free, everyday yoga pants routine, although that happened too. I had let go of who I was before life’s responsibilities piled on. I let go of my own interests, activities and most importantly, the closeness of my friendships. I didn’t remember who I was outside of the roles I served, and I no longer knew where I fit in outside of my family.

After a few years meandering this midlife funk, I had finally had enough. I prayed to GOD, the UNIVERSE, and any higher power that would listen to help guide me out of this dark place and back where I could be eager and excited about life again. My intuition (and discontent) led me to do some research on my undiagnosed condition. Surprisingly, what I discovered was, I was lonely.

How could this be? I was surrounded by people 24/7 and had commitments from dawn until dusk! The truth was that although I had thousands of “friends” on social media, I wasn’t putting myself out there to be really seen and known. Even my closer friends with history had been neglected, probably because they didn’t NEED anything from me and they had busy lives too.

I knew I had to make a change… scary! I had to get off my comfy couch and out of the house so I could meet new people and be seen! I needed to reconnect with old friends and get a little vulnerable and tell them what was going on with me. Baring my soul and sharing my thoughts, fears and failures felt very risky! What if they were too busy and rejected my invitation? What if it just made things weird? Meeting new people? How? Again, risky and weird! I decided I had to take the risk, otherwise I would reside in this funk forever.

To make a long story a little less… long, I did it. I was nervous and at times very uncomfortable. I reconnected with a handful of old friends and learned about what was going on in their life and shared mine. I was surprised to find my reaching out was met with acceptance and appreciation, and more than once I was validated in hearing “I feel the same way too.”

Over the next year I found my spark by reconnecting with “my people” and found where I belong. In 2020 I was challenged/invited to compete in the Mrs. Colorado America pageant. Although my first response was “heck NO!” I took another BIG risk and put myself out there, literally to be JUDGED! I did not win or even place, but accepting that challenge and taking a risk inspired me to write my first book “Lady and the Tribe; How to Create Empowering Friendship Circles”. With the success of the book and hearing so many other women’s stories of being “stuck” in midlife, I was inspired to become a Mindvalley certified life coach. Since then, I have built my “Whole YOU-niverse” business with a coaching practice, speaking services, and the Whole YOU Retreats for women.

So, to wrap up your question; how do I think about risk? My answer is… fondly. Today I am living a charmed life that I love. All because I took a few risks, I am LIVING life instead of letting it happen to me, and I have a growing purpose-driven business I am passionate about. Stepping (or leaping) out of your routine & taking a risk, although initially scary, presents new opportunities, ideas, and adventures almost without continuing effort.

Note to editor, I realize this may be more than you were hoping for. No offense taken if any or all of it is cut. :’)

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Whole YOU-niverse empowers midlife women to reclaim their passion, purpose, and power through transformational retreats, structured coaching programs, and sisterhood-based tribe building. Rooted in heart-centered connection, guided reinvention, and holistic self-care, we offer a path to meaningful, soulful living in life’s most pivotal chapter.

What sets me apart from other retreats and coaches?

1. Targeted Midlife Focus + Life Transitions. I deeply understand the specific challenges midlife women face and design programs to guide them toward meaning, passion, and purpose
2. Community-Centered Tribe-Building. The Whole Youniverse is rooted in helping women build “their Tribe”—a community of connection and mutual support. That sense of sisterhood is deeply woven into every offering—from retreats to coaching circles and even the Find Your Lady Tribe podcast.
3. Whole Person Integration. We don’t just touch the mind—we combine wellness elements like yoga, nutrition, HIIT, self-care, spiritual practices, and coaching. This holistic, “mind-body-spirit” approach is consistently emphasized in retreat locations and program designs
4. Expertise + Credibility. My qualifications—including a master’s in HR development, Mindvalley coaching certification, a published author, and experience as a speaker—distinguish my offerings from many uncredentialed coaches.
5. Multi-Platform Engagement. The combination of a podcast, speaking engagements, blog, coaching, retreats, and ecommerce broadens my reach significantly compared to life coaches focused only on coaching calls or digital products.

The Whole YOUniverse is where midlife women rediscover themselves through connection, coaching, and community. Not just a retreat. Not just a coaching call. A movement. A sisterhood. A whole YOU transformation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting, I would focus our time on “being” together more than “doing” things. We would spend hours in my back yard by the koi pond catching up on our lives, share our struggles as well as hopes & dreams for the future. We might grab a cup of coffee at the quaint Java Stop, Longmont’s oldest coffee shop. For an adventure, I would take her to Rocky Mountain National Park for some moderate hikes like Ozuel Falls or Cub Lake Trail. We would hit a local brewery like Rock Cut Brewery in Estes, or Mirror Image near our Firestone home in Frederick Colorado. I recently started playing Pickleball, so if she were agreeable maybe we would spend an afternoon at play. A favorite spot for dinner would be either the Pump House Brewery, The Roost, Jefe’s or Sashi Sushi.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband of 31 years Parker Ridgley is my rock, my life partner, my greatest advocate and cheerleader. He believes in me more than I do myself and I am grateful. I couldn’t do any of this important work without his support. I wouldn’t want to host retreats without my “left hand” gal Stacey Stedman, a health coach, author, and founding presenter for the Whole YOU Retreat. My Tribe can’t go without mention. They hold me up, cheer me on and help me discipline my disappointments. Great books like Conversations with God by Neal Donald Walsh and A Course in Miracles received by Helen Schucman continue to inspire me. I am a student of thought leaders Eckhart Tole, Abraham Hicks, and the Dalai Lama.

Website: https://www.wholeyou-niverse.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendaridgley

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaridgley

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrendaRidgley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brendaridgleyconnections

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/whole-you-retreat-longmont-3?osq=whole+YOU

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaRidgley

Other: Linktree – https://linktr.ee/brendaridgley

Image Credits
Reamsnyder Media