Send Jay comments via text When your children launch or your career ends, a strange silence can set in—and with it, the big question: What’s Next? In this inspiring episode, Jack Calhoun, founder of Encore Career Lab, shares a hopeful, practical path from drifting to purposeful direction. He discusses how many of us face an identity crunch when titles no longer define us—and how to use agency, values, and curiosity to craft a second act that truly fits. Jack unpacks the paradox of choic...

Send Jay comments via text When the house gets quiet, your nervous system often gets loud. For many, the departure of children triggers deep questions about marriage, identity, and personal desire—questions long shelved but now impossible to ignore. In this heartfelt episode, author and somatic relationship coach Laurie James shares her journey through caregiving, betrayal, and loneliness, and how she found her way back to breath, presence, and choice. We explore how your body and nervous sys...

Send Jay comments via text What if the empty rooms in your home are an invitation to a bigger, richer life? In this inspiring episode, best-selling author and performer Troy Horne joins us to explore how to redesign your future after 40 by tapping into your greatest asset—your experience. From Broadway breakthroughs as Tom Collins in RENT to co-authoring a mindset book with his son, Troy demonstrates how creativity, courage, and compassion can flourish alongside family priorities—and how to m...

Send Jay comments via text What if staying close to your adult children didn’t require long calls, perfect timing, or instant replies? In this episode, author Tammy Cohen introduces a straightforward, impactful practice: short, consistent texts that convey love, gratitude, and wisdom without expectation or pressure. Think of them as modern lunchbox notes—daily messages that meet your kids where they are, cut through digital noise, and nurture trust over time. Tammy shares how her own mindset ...

Send Jay comments via text Downsizing and decluttering can be overwhelming—it's not just lifting boxes, but making tough decisions while battling guilt, perfectionism, and “what if I need this?” In this episode, professional organizer Tracy Hoth of Simply Squared Away shares a clear, compassionate path to lighten your home—and your mind. Tracy introduces her proven SPACE method — Sort, Purge, Assign, Contain, Energize — which applies from small junk drawers to whole-house moves. Tracy redefin...

Send Jay comments via text What if the space between parenting and grandparenting became your most vibrant, alive season? In this episode, entrepreneur and community-builder Carol Tice shares her transformative journey—from selling their Seattle home to living full-time on the road in a 24-foot RV. Discover how she and her husband designed a life centered on mobility, minimalism, and meaningful work, turning “someday” into their everyday reality. Carol recounts their pandemic-era trial run—he...

Send Jay comments via text When the house quiets, your mind often rushes in. For many, this transition from full-time parent to empty nester triggers overwhelm—and the need to pause intentionally. In this episode, author and coach Jenny Phillips introduces her "Yellow Light Moments" framework to help reclaim rhythm, energy, and joy without sacrificing what came before. Jenny shares her personal turning point—alone on a Florida beach—where she discovered the power of slowing down for cl...

Send Jay comments via text When your children leave home, the loudest voice isn't always the one you want to hear—it's your inner critic. It whispers doubts, tells you "you shouldn't," "you can't," or "you're not enough," leaving you feeling stuck and uncertain about how to move forward. However, there's a practical, proven framework that can quiet the noise and help you reclaim your peace: Positive Intelligence (PQ). In this episode, we sit down with coach Kevin Gazarra to demystify PQ and e...

Send Jay comments via text What happens when your identity, built over decades of parenting, no longer feels required all the time? Neena Perez’s powerful story reveals that the empty nest is not an end—it's a beginning. After overcoming trauma and embracing single motherhood, Nina transformed her life into that of a chef, transformational coach, author, and podcast host—all after her children left home. In this inspiring episode, Nina shares her no-nonsense approach to reinvention: “We don’t...

Send Jay comments via text Resilience isn't just a helpful skill—it's essential for thriving, especially when navigating the emotional landscape of the empty nest. In this empowering episode, life strategist, bestselling author, positive psychology expert, and motivational speaker Valorie Burton shares transformative insights from her latest book, Rules of Resilience, offering practical tools for parents to not only survive but flourish during this major life transition. We explore key...

Send Jay comments via text When your focus shifts from raising children to looking at your own next chapter, it’s easy to see this as an ending. But in reality, it’s the beginning of one of life's most emotionally enriching phases. In this inspiring episode, Dr. Deborah Heiser—host of The After 40 Podcast and founder of The Mentor Project—reframes aging and empty nesting as opportunities for growth, connection, and fulfillment. While society often emphasizes physical decline with age this per...

Send Jay comments via text The transition to an empty nest can feel like an identity crisis for parents who have dedicated years to raising children. The question then arises: what’s next? How do you find purpose, passion, and fulfillment in this new phase of life? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Janelle explains the two stages of human development: the unconscious “boot camp” where we seek external validation, and the conscious “creating heaven on earth” phase, where we connect deeply with ou...

Send Jay comments via text Feeling completely lost or mentally overwhelmed after your kids leave home? You're not alone—what many perceive as empty nest syndrome might actually be undiagnosed ADHD or executive function challenges magnified by life transitions. In this enlightening episode, executive function expert Corie Wightlin sheds light on how the departure of children can unmask underlying brain struggles with organization, motivation, emotional regulation, and time management. When chi...

Send Jay comments via text Are you feeling trapped in your empty nest years but can't quite understand why? That paradox of being busy yet unfulfilled, with success feeling just out of reach, is more common than you think—especially among men who struggle to verbalize these emotions. In this powerful episode, John Mylant unpacks the deeper reasons behind these feelings and offers a transformative perspective on how to move forward. He explores the ongoing battle between our subconscious...

Send Jay comments via text Feeling lost after your kids leave the nest? You're not alone. For decades, many parents’ identities have been intertwined with their roles at home, making the empty nest transition feel daunting. But what if this shift is an exciting opportunity to rediscover who you truly are—and craft a future that excites you? In this enlightening episode, mind mapping expert John Diggs, known as the "Mappaneering Mentor," shares how a simple visual thinking tool can be a cataly...

Send Jay comments via text Is true love still possible after 40? Heidi Friedman’s remarkable journey—from her divorce to dating 104 times over ten years—reveals a transformative path to authentic connection and genuine partnership later in life. Drawing from her extensive experiences and interviews with happily married couples, Heidi shares inspiring insights and practical wisdom for anyone navigating love in midlife. In this candid conversation, Heidi discusses how therapy helped her break p...

Send Jay comments via text What if the empty nest isn't the end of your parenting journey, but a new beginning—an opportunity to reconnect with yourself? In this enlightening episode, Bernadette Catalana, author of Daughter Lessons: Wise and Witty Reflections on Leading, Learning From, and Loving our Daughters, challenges us to reframe this pivotal life transition. Throughout the conversation, Bernadette dismantles common misconceptions that launching adult children signifies failure or...

Send Jay comments via text Feeling lost now that your nest has emptied? You’re not alone—but that silence in your home doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Instead, it can be the opening note to your most authentic chapter yet. In this transformative episode, we explore how major life changes—like empty nesting, career shifts, or personal reinvention—are rooted in who we want to become, not just how we’ll do it. Through relatable stories like Lisa, who questioned if bin...

Send Jay comments via text When your children leave home, your primary identity as a parent shifts—often leaving a sense of emptiness and questioning, "Who am I now?" According to research, nearly 80% of adults aged 50-64 feel dissatisfied with their sense of purpose, highlighting how challenging this transition can be. But what if this period is also an opportunity for a personal renaissance? In this empowering episode, we explore how to transform the emotional turmoil of the empty nest into...

Send Jay comments via text Graduation season often brings a sudden, gut-wrenching realization: your child is leaving, and life as you've known it is about to change forever. This episode explores that pivotal moment when parents shift from full-time caretakers to part-time advisors. Instead of resisting or pretending the change isn’t happening, discover how embracing the mantra "Let Life Evolve" can transform this challenging time into an opportunity for growth and renewal. We div...