Life After Launch: Navigating the Empty Nest

What happens when your kids grow up but still need you in new ways? What do you do when you're trying to help without taking over?

This week I sat down with Bernadette Catalana, attorney, author, and mom of two grown daughters, for a real conversation about the ongoing motherhood journey. Together, we explore the hard parts of parenting adult children, how the mother daughter relationship changes over time, and what it takes...

Ever wonder what your partner is really thinking about the kids leaving home? What if you could get inside his head and hear the unspoken fears, the surprising joys, and the honest truth about what this new chapter means for your marriage? Well, today in a special episode, I’m sitting down with my husband, Joel, for a raw and honest conversation about his experience as an empty nester. 

We’re pulling back the ...

Are you standing in your quiet kitchen, feeling a void that even work can't fill? There's nothing wrong with you, and there are proactive ways to feel like yourself again. Today, I’m exploring a topic often left unspoken: the profound emotional shift that happens when our homes become quiet after our kids launch.

Many of us imagine an empty nest filled with relaxation and new hobbies, but the reality f...

What if we’ve been looking at our children's success all wrong? Senior year hits, and we're on an unexpected rollercoaster. It’s not just our kids’ transition; it’s ours, too. While they figure out who they are without us, we must figure out who we are without them. It’s a messy, beautiful, often terrifying process of letting go. Today, I speak with Stuart Dow, Head of School at Emery Weiner. He has a front-row seat to what...

Ever looked around and felt like your child's launch doesn't fit the "typical" path? What if their dream doesn't involve a dorm or a degree? Today, we're redefining what a successful launch truly looks like.

Many of you have asked me: What happens when your child's launch doesn't follow the straight-to-college path? We often hear about the "one-dimensional path": high school, college, job,...

The countdown to college drop-off has begun, and with it, all the questions: "Did I do enough? Will they be okay? Will I be okay?" Today, we're giving you a game plan for their first year away! 

Joining me today is my incredible friend and empowerment coach, Sunni Markowitz, to tackle the big anxieties parents face when their kids head off to college. We discuss setting realistic expectations for f...

Just when you were getting used to the quiet house and your newfound freedom, they're back! Are you ready for the beautiful, messy, and totally unexpected reality of having your college kids home for the summer?

If you’re like me, these next months, you’re diving into a major plot twist in your empty nester journey, the summer return of our college kids. I know that feeling of pure excitement, stocking the...

As empty nesters, we finally have the space to look back and ask: "Who am I now?" Join me as I reflect on lessons learned from my 20s, 30s, and 40s! 

Today, I open up about my personal journey through different decades of my life – my 20s, 30s, and 40s – and share the lessons I've learned that resonate deeply with where we are now as empty nesters. I talk about my struggle with people-pleasing in m...

Does it feel like our bodies threw a massive party (that we didn't RSVP to) when our kids went off on their adventures? If you're nodding, feeling lost and cranky, you're in the right place. This episode is for YOU.

I've been eager for this episode because when I started going through "it," I felt confused and alone. One minute you're juggling carpools and college applications, and the next, you'r...

Ever been completely inspired by someone's story of overcoming adversity? Get ready, because today's guest will amaze you with her resilience and ability to create the life she wants!

Today, I sit with DeAnna, whose life journey has been filled with both challenges and triumphs. We discuss her experiences growing up, including navigating her parents' struggles and becoming a teen mom. DeAnna shares how she found the ...

Feeling lost now that the kids are gone? You're not alone! Today, I'm tackling your real questions and giving you practical tools to feel grounded and empowered in this next chapter.

Today, I answer listener questions about navigating the empty nest. So many of you are asking about losing their sense of purpose, finding a new identity, balancing involvement with adult children, feeling lost, reconnecting with a spouse, g...

Do you ever look at other people and wonder why your life feels so much harder? I'm here to tell you a secret: no one has it all together, not even me. Today, I get vulnerable and share some of my own personal struggles, revealing that even as a life coach, I'm still navigating the ups and downs of life. I talk about my battles with unreasonable worry, the need to give myself permission to shut down, and the importance of s...

Have you ever felt completely blindsided by someone you trusted, leaving you questioning everything? Let's talk about betrayal, why it hurts so deeply, and how we can heal. Today, I speak with Dr. Debi Silber, the founder of the Post Betrayal Transformation Institute, about the complex issue of betrayal. We discuss what betrayal is, why it's so painful, and how it can manifest in different relationships, particularly in the...

Has life ever thrown you a curveball that forced you to completely reinvent yourself? This episode is all about embracing change and discovering hidden strengths even after you’re kids have left the nest.

Today, I talk with Elle Hart, a strengths consultant and self-intelligence coach, about her inspiring journey. Elle shares her experiences as a stay-at-home mom, the unexpected turn her life took with a divorce as her youngest ...

Is empty nesting getting a bad rap? Today on Life After Launch, we’re exploring why this phase is so underrated and how to navigate its unique challenges and opportunities.

Today, I chat with Anthony Damaschino, an author and expert on all things empty nesting. We explore why empty nesting isn't discussed enough as its own distinct life stage and the surprising statistics around things like divorce in this phase. Anthony sha...

Ever feel like you're navigating a maze as your kids transition into adulthood, unsure if you're helping or hovering? Let’s explore that together.  

Today, I get personal and chat with my daughter, Jordan, about what it's really like for young adults when they leave the nest and start "adulting." We dive into her experiences post-college, from career twists and turns to figuring out finances and navigating ne...

When Bradi lost her 19-year-old son Jack to a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl, her world shattered.

In this deeply moving conversation, she opens up about Jack’s vibrant spirit, his struggles with anxiety, and how he turned his pain into purpose through his mental health brand, Happy Jack.

Bradi shares the raw truth about grief, the silent dangers facing young people, and the power of speaking out—so that no other parent h...

This week, I’m sitting down with Annie, a courageous single mom who’s navigating life as a divorced empty nester.

We’re talking about what it really feels like to lose your familiar identity and rediscover yourself on the other side. From building new friendships in unexpected places to letting go of the fear of starting over, this is an open-hearted conversation for anyone facing big life changes.

If you’ve ever felt stuck...

When your kids move far from home, how do you stay close without feeling left behind? In this episode, I sit down with empty nester Brenna, a mom of three whose children now live in different states—and even another country.

We have an honest conversation about the emotional ups and downs of long-distance parenting, the little things that help us stay connected, and the surprising joys that come with this new chapter. From Face...