Episode SummaryWhat happens to your business when an aging parent moves in and needs your care? Wendy Green, founder of Hey Boomer and host of the Boomer Banter Podcast, faced exactly this — and instead of powering through, she made a deliberate choice to scale back her podcast and refocus her energy on the work that gives her the most fulfillment for the least burnout. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, Wendy shares how she built a "fleet" of ventures — coaching, a podcast, a Substack newsletter, group coaching, travel experiences, and in-person classes at continuing care communities — and how she used a simple return-on-investment framework (time, energy, fulfillment, not just money) to decide what to keep, pause, or let go when caregiving for her 96-year-old mother became her new full-time responsibility. This conversation is a candid, practical roadmap for the millions of women who are simultaneously entrepreneurs and family caregivers — a reality the entrepreneurship world rarely discusses honestly.Key TakeawaysCaregiving is a business risk that deserves real planning, not silent sacrifice. According to AARP, the majority of family caregivers are women, many in the same 50+ age range building or running businesses — making caregiving a mainstream entrepreneurial challenge, not an edge case.You don't need every credential before you start. Wendy earned a coaching certification and change leadership credentials, but she stresses that certifications gave her confidence, not permission — waiting for "one more course" is often just delay disguised as preparation.Evaluate ventures using time and fulfillment, not just income. When caregiving demands increased, Wendy assessed each business activity by asking what it gave her versus what it cost her in time and energy, then cut the parts (like heavy podcast promotion) that drained her most for the least return.Solopreneurship is lonely — collaboration fixes it. Wendy co-founded the Age-Wise Collective, a peer-support network of 12+ women podcasters over 50 who cross-promote, share resources, and problem-solve together instead of competing.Reinvention isn't always about starting over — sometimes it's rediscovery. Wendy is shifting her focus from building new things to rediscovering past skills and interests, describing her next phase as "rediscover and redefine" rather than reinvent.Protecting your mindset matters as much as protecting your schedule. While caregiving for a mother who says "96 is enough," Wendy holds onto her own age-positive beliefs by journaling daily, noticing small wins, and staying connected to people and work that make her feel useful.About This EpisodeIn this episode of Build Your Own Boat, host Janine Vanderburg talks with Wendy Green, a certified professional coach and founder of Hey Boomer, about the entrepreneurial journey most business podcasts skip: what happens when you have to recalibrate your growing venture because a parent needs your care. Wendy walks through her path from a computer science career and corporate training roles into coaching, podcasting, and teaching — and then candidly describes putting her podcast on hiatus to prioritize caregiving for her 96-year-old mother, while still finding ways to stay financially and personally engaged through in-person classes and writing. The conversation covers building multiple income streams ("a fleet of boats"), avoiding the trap of over-preparing before launching a venture, using a peer support network to combat entrepreneurial loneliness, and a practical, three-part framework for deciding what stays and what goes when life happens.About the Guest: Wendy GreenWendy Green is a certified professional coach, speaker, and founder of Hey Boomer, a platform dedicated to helping adults navigate the second half of life with purpose and confidence. She hosts the Boomer Banter Podcast, a long-running show (270+ episodes) that has become a go-to resource for people exploring aging, transition, and reinvention after 50. Wendy holds change leadership credentials from Georgetown University and a professional coaching certification, which she draws on in her one-on-one coaching practice, her monthly Banter Circle group coaching community, and in-person classes she now teaches at continuing care communities near her home in Greenville, South Carolina. She also writes Thriving Through Time, a Substack newsletter exploring caregiving, personal growth, and life balance, and co-founded the Age-Wise Collective, a peer network of women podcasters over 50. Wendy is currently caregiving for her 96-year-old mother while continuing to coach, teach, and write — a real-time example of the recalibration she now speaks openly about.Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do you balance running a business with caregiving for an aging parent?Wendy Green recommends evaluating every business activity by what it gives you versus what it costs you in time and energy, then scaling back or pausing ...
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Jul 28 202642 Min.