Shows
Empty Nest QuestGuided Reflection For Seasonal ShiftsWe slow down to notice how seasonal change lands in the body and mind, then use breath, posture, and simple journal prompts to turn fall from a stressor into a source of intention. A short, guided practice helps you ground, listen, and choose how you want autumn to feel.• normalising sensitivity to seasonal changes • posture setup for grounding and stability • rib-directed breathing and heart awareness • free-writing on what fall brings up • envisioning an ideal fall day and feelings • present-moment body and mood check • closing with self-kindness and gratitude"Let this simmer in your...
2025-10-3009 minEmpty Nest QuestHow Reading Can Refill Your Life When the House Gets QuietWe talk with our dear friend Gladys Autry about using books and audiobooks to bring warmth, connection, and joy back into a quieter home. We share narrator tips, light starter picks, and how fiction can make this stage of life feel less lonely while giving you energy to pursue what’s next.• why audiobooks can soften an empty house and build a reading habit• narrator and multi-cast tips, with Julia Whelan as a go‑to• the value of fiction for empathy, imagination and rest• light, engaging recommendations to restart reading• time‑split stories and sense of pla...
2025-09-2941 minEmpty Nest QuestParenting from Self-Trust: Breaking Free from the Helper-Fixer TrapEver caught yourself frantically trying to teach your teen everything before they leave home? That panic isn't helping either of you.Healing specialist Liz McNulty joins Melynda for an illuminating conversation about the subtle ways our fears manifest in parenting—and how to shift toward something more powerful. Through personal stories and professional insights, they explore the paradox at the heart of effective parenting: when we focus on our own alignment rather than controlling our children's experiences, everyone benefits."When I was being the fixer," Liz explains, "it's because ego-wise I wanted to be seen as...
2025-09-2344 minEmpty Nest QuestSocial Scrolling: Amping up our AwarenessEver looked at someone's social media and felt your life didn't measure up, only to discover later they're struggling just like everyone else? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation, we dive deep into the world of social comparison and how it's specifically affecting women in midlife.The statistics point to why we are more anxious than we have ever been—the average woman spends 3-4 hours daily on her phone (that's a full day each week!). Midlife women have experienced a 50% increase in anxiety and depression since 2020.Social media has evolved from occasional photo alb...
2025-09-1524 minEmpty Nest QuestBeyond the School Calendar: Finding Rhythm in Your Next ChapterWe explore how empty nesters can harness the "back to school" energy and create their own seasonal reset, even when the school calendar no longer dictates their lives.• The importance of creating your own renewal traditions when you enter the empty nest years• Small ways to mark new seasons: journal purchases, haircuts, home rearrangements• Why today can be your "new year" instead of waiting for January 1st• Making goals attainable rather than overwhelming• Finding unexpected passions: birdwatching, gardening, cooking• How preparing food at home connects to health and inflammation management• The power of minds...
2025-09-0819 minEmpty Nest QuestSeason 2 Wrap UpParenting adult children demands a radical shift from directing every aspect of their lives to becoming their mentors, friends, and encouragers. This transformation challenges us to manage our own anxieties while supporting our children's increasingly independent decisions—whether they're studying abroad or moving across the country.The transition creates space for personal growth and renewal. When our daily responsibilities shift, we can finally pursue interests we've long postponed. Maybe it's addressing health challenges with new dietary approaches (goodbye gluten, dairy, soy, corn, caffeine, and added sugar!), or finally completing that Pilates certification you've contemplated for fifteen years. Th...
2025-06-1719 minEmpty Nest QuestReclaiming Your Identity When Roles ChangeHave you ever caught yourself adding an already-completed task to your to-do list just for the satisfaction of checking it off? That desire for validation through accomplishment speaks to a deeper struggle many of us face, especially as we navigate midlife transitions.This episode dives into day eight of Tommy Newberry's "40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life," exploring the powerful concept of spiritual identity theft. As our roles shift—children growing up, careers evolving, bodies changing—many of us find ourselves asking: Who am I now? What's my purpose? Do I still matter?The transformative message here...
2025-06-0211 minEmpty Nest QuestFrom Hot Mess to Wholeness: Ditching the Midlife Crisis ScriptThe transition through midlife presents an opportunity. We often look at this season as a "hot mess" or the old midlife Crisis label, but what if it is a chance for personal rebirth rather than crisis, inviting us to unravel everything that no longer aligns with our soul's purpose? Our internal dialogue and the language we use to describe our lives profoundly shape our experiences, creating either limitations or possibilities for growth and transformation.• Our self-talk influences our perception more than anything else, filtering what we notice and experience• Women waste enormous energy obsessing about a...
2025-05-2624 minEmpty Nest QuestYou Are What You ThinkFive powerful words can transform your empty nest journey: "Our focus determines our feelings." This transformative principle from Tommy Newberry's "40 Days to a Joyful Life" offers a roadmap to rewiring your mind for joy during midlife transitions.At any moment, you can choose where to direct your attention—toward what's present or what's missing, what's working or what's broken, what you've achieved or where you've fallen short. This seemingly simple choice shapes your emotional reality more profoundly than most external circumstances. As I've discovered in my own life, this principle (which Newberry calls the "4-8 Principle" from Ph...
2025-05-1218 minEmpty Nest QuestThe Positives of MenopauseThe journey through menopause and the empty nest phase isn't just about navigating physical changes—it's an invitation to reconnect with your emotional landscape after decades of putting others first.Many of us have spent years running on fumes, managing our families and responsibilities while neglecting our own emotional wellbeing. When this season of life arrives with its whirlwind of changes, it often feels overwhelming—like being suddenly thrust from a peaceful stream into rushing rapids. But what if we viewed this transition differently? What if, instead of resisting the current, we learned to float downstream and disc...
2025-05-0516 minEmpty Nest QuestThe Truth About HRT: Debunking Menopause MythsEver wondered why your mother's generation was so afraid of hormone replacement therapy? In this eye-opening conversation with returning guest Brookes Vaughn, we unravel decades of misunderstanding surrounding menopause treatment, diving deep into the flawed Women's Health Initiative study that scared millions of women away from potentially life-enhancing care."Estrogen is the only drug proven to reduce the risk of heart disease in women," Brookes reveals, highlighting just one of many startling facts about hormone therapy that have been overshadowed by outdated research. The discussion moves beyond hot flashes to explore how estrogen affects everything from brain...
2025-04-2838 minEmpty Nest QuestMenopause Madness Series Part 2Trust your instincts. When you don't feel like yourself during perimenopause or menopause, that alone is reason enough to seek help. This powerful validation emerged as we reflected on our conversation with women's health expert Brooks Vaughn and shared our personal journeys through the hormonal maze of midlife.Many women struggle for years with debilitating symptoms—from night sweats that destroy sleep to brain fog that makes you question your sanity—believing they simply need to "push through" this phase. We're here to tell you there's a better way. Through our own trials with seeking medical support, we d...
2025-04-2122 minEmpty Nest QuestFinding Joy Beyond Motherhood: Interview with Anna McArthurAnna MacArthur joins us to discuss her powerful new book "Hope for Moms: It's Tough Out There, But So Are You," offering wisdom for mothers who feel everyone else has parenting figured out while they're just trying to keep everyone alive.• Examining how we often use children as "walking report cards" to validate our parenting• Creating a "Yes, No, Maybe" system to prioritize what truly matters for your family• Finding your authentic self beyond motherhood through Anna's "This Sounds Fun" list approach• Understanding that self-care goes deeper than bubble baths—it's about valuing yourself as worthy
2025-03-3132 minEmpty Nest QuestMenopause Madness Series with Jennifer & MelyndaHormone health isn't just about managing hot flashes—it's about reclaiming your sense of self when everything feels off-kilter. Jennifer and Melynda dive deep into the misunderstood world of perimenopause and menopause, sharing their personal journeys with hormone replacement therapy while emphasizing there's no one-size-fits-all solution.After their enlightening conversation with women's health specialist Brooks Vaughn, the hosts unpack a critical truth: women deserve support when they "don't feel like themselves," not dismissal or instructions to simply push through. Both share their struggles with finding knowledgeable providers, with Jennifer detailing how relentless night sweats destroyed her sleep qu...
2025-03-2422 minEmpty Nest QuestMenopause Madness: Interview with Brookes Vaughan, The Women's Health CompanyWhat if that feeling of "I just need to get my act together" isn't about organization or willpower, but your hormones? Brookes Vaughan, founder of The Women's Health Company, joins us to untangle the confusing web of perimenopause and menopause – two terms often used interchangeably but representing distinctly different phases of a woman's life.Brookes brilliantly explains that menopause literally means "stopping of the monthly" and occurs when you've gone a full year without a period (around age 51 for most women). Perimenopause, however, is that rollercoaster 5-10 year journey leading up to menopause that can begin as ea...
2025-03-1734 minEmpty Nest QuestEmpty Nest to Self-Discovery: The Power of Understanding Your EnneagramDiscover the transformative power of the Enneagram for empty nesters with Debbie Huckabee, certified Enneagram coach and therapist. After spending years prioritizing others' needs as a Type Nine "Peacemaker," Debbie found liberation through understanding her personality type just before her nest began emptying. This knowledge sparked an inspiring journey from advertising executive to mental health counselor, proving it's never too late to pursue your passions.The conversation demystifies the Enneagram's nine personality types, explaining how this framework reveals our core motivations and fears, not just our behaviors. Unlike typical personality assessments, the Enneagram illuminates why we do...
2025-03-1141 minEmpty Nest QuestRediscovering Joy: A Guide to 40 Days of Mindset ChangeIn this enlightening episode, we invite listeners to embark on a journey of joy through engaging discussions around the book "40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life" by Tommy Newberry. As your host, Jennifer, delves into relatable strategies and heartfelt stories, we touch upon the transformative power of mindset shifts and how these shifts can lead to a more fulfilling life in midlife and beyond. The conversation revolves around the Philippians 4:8 principle, which forms the cornerstone of the book, offering practical wisdom designed to inspire you to embrace joy amidst life's challenges.We explore how consciously choosing your thoughts...
2025-03-0318 minEmpty Nest QuestEmbracing Chaos: Finding Joy and Balance in Everyday LifeWhat if embracing life's chaos could actually bring you peace? Join me, Melynda, as I guide you on a quest to find balance and joy amid life's ups and downs. Through personal reflections and spiritual grounding techniques, you'll discover how centering yourself can lead to stability and calm, no matter how tumultuous the times. Whether it's placing a hand on your body to feel your presence or learning from upcoming guests like an author on motherhood or an Enneagram coach, this episode is filled with insights on redefining midlife with grace and understanding.Let's explore the art...
2025-02-2419 minEmpty Nest QuestHow Jennifer is Beating the Odds in EntrepreneurshipEmbarking on the entrepreneurial journey can often feel like jumping without a parachute, a sensation I know all too well. Through 25 years of business ventures, I've found my parachute in the mantra "Stop Stopping," which has propelled me through every challenge, from starting a restaurant with no more than hosting experience to recuperating from open heart surgery. This episode of the Empty Nester Entrepreneur podcast is a rich tapestry woven from my life stories, serving as a beacon for those seeking to ignite their entrepreneurial fire and push beyond the boundaries of fear and uncertainty.My narrative...
2025-02-1718 minEmpty Nest QuestGalentine's Day and the Joyful Journey AheadThis episode offers a playful yet poignant exploration of Valentine’s Day, filled with laughter and relatable stories about love in midlife. The hosts share personal anecdotes about past Valentine's experiences while discussing the broader theme of emotional wellness and positive thinking. • Reflecting on life’s current challenges and their impact • Importance of self-care and intentional living • Discussing the pressures of Valentine’s Day expectations • Sharing funny stories from their own Valentine's adventures • Emphasizing the value of connection, both romantic and platonic • Offering strategies for maintaining a positive mindset • Celebrating the diversity of love beyond so...
2025-02-1228 minEmpty Nest QuestOpen Heart Surgery at 39: Jennifer's Journey in Healing and the Power of New BeginningsWhat if a seemingly routine check-up could change the course of your life? Join us on the Empty Nest Quest as we kick off Heart Month with a personal tale of unexpected heart health revelations. This episode is an invitation to explore the nuances of heart health for women, especially during menopause and perimenopause. I share my surprising journey of discovering a congenital heart defect—a bicuspid aortic valve—during a mandatory physical at work. Despite a clean bill of health and no family history, the experience was a wake-up call about the importance of regular check-ups and being mind...
2025-02-0334 minEmpty Nest QuestIns and Outs for 2025What if the state of a restaurant's bathroom really does mirror the kitchen's hygiene? Join us on the Empty Nest Quest as we kick off 2025 with some unexpected bathroom humor and pivot to the challenges life has thrown our way, reminding us to embrace grace and flexibility. As we set our intentions for the new year, we suggest aligning our monthly goals with the seasons, allowing us to flow naturally through the year's changes. We also tease some playful and serious insights on what’s "in and out" for us this year, inviting you to explore life’s ebbs and...
2025-01-2746 minEmpty Nest QuestDiscovering Clarity in the Quiet Nest...Meditation with MelyndaAs the holiday season approaches, it's a time for reflection and preparation, especially for those of us experiencing the empty nest phase. Have you ever noticed how time seems to bend and warp when you enter this stage of life? Join Meliyda, as she guides you through a soothing meditation and journaling exercise to help you reconnect with your inner self. We'll explore the unique perception of time during the empty nest experience, considering how personal growth and changes in family dynamics influence our view of the world. This episode encourages you to pause, breathe deeply, and ground yourself...
2024-12-0926 minEmpty Nest QuestRedefining Holiday Expectations in MidlifeWhat if the holiday season could be your time to redefine midlife, free from the pressures of perfection and tradition? Join us as we share how we’re navigating these transformative years, starting with a heartwarming tale from Jennifer’s adventures in Oregon with Johnny, where the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest dispelled any preconceived notions they had. Meanwhile, Melinda opens up about the whirlwind of activities as the school year wraps up, all while holding onto the cherished family ritual of picking out a real Christmas tree despite the looming tree shortages. Thanksgiving takes the spotlight as our...
2024-12-0226 minEmpty Nest QuestDoing Life with Your Adult Children - Part 4 of 4 Family Holidays with Flexibility and GraceHave you ever found yourself juggling multiple roles, only to discover a moment of peace in the chaos? That's exactly what happened when Melinda faced a health scare and I managed a busy life with five kids. Recording from separate locations for the first time, we talk about the flexibility this affords us amidst our packed schedules. Melinda offers a poignant reminder of the importance of regular skin checks following her procedure and shares joyful moments with her puppy. Meanwhile, I savor a rare moment of solitude while my husband and son embark on a much-anticipated father-son adventure, setting...
2024-11-2543 min