The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living

Spring semester drop-offs don’t get the same attention as fall move-in… but for a lot of parents, they’re tougher than they expect. The house was full again. The routines came back. And then, just like that, they left.In this episode, we talk honestly about why the sadness shows up again when college kids head back after the holidays. Not for the first time… and not because anything is wrong. We talk about what’s different about winter break versus summer, how short visits mess with your emotional footing, and why even years into empty nest life, this moment can still catch you off guard.This conversation was inspired entirely by our Facebook community. Parents shared stories about pets waiting outside empty bedrooms, traditions that suddenly feel more fragile, and the quiet realization that “home” isn’t quite the same anymore… for anyone. We also talk about what actually helps once the kids are gone again… getting back into routine, being intentional, and accepting that this phase keeps shifting whether we’re ready or not.📖 Book updateOur upcoming book, The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, is coming soon.You can find details and updates here:https://www.theloudquiet.com/p/bookCHAPTERS0:00 Intro and why this episode happened1:20 Spring return sadness… again3:10 When “home” becomes a visit4:55 Winter break vs summer break6:40 Pets notice the empty rooms too8:30 Traditions feel different now11:10 Making memories without guilt14:30 Why January feels harder17:55 Getting back into routine19:45 Being intentional in this phase21:05 Wrap-up👋 Share your experience or see what other parents are saying in our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet📬 Want more like this? Get new episodes and extras in your inbox:https://theloudquiet.kit.com/signupWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).

The holidays are over, the fridge is still full of leftovers, and the routine hasn’t quite found its way home yet.In this episode, Rick and Clancy talk about what happens between Thanksgiving and “whenever we finally pull it together.” The extra food. The extra drinks. The social calendar that never lets up. And the moment, especially in your 50s, when your body makes it very clear that it noticed. They talk through why the holiday season turns into a free-for-all, how restriction can backfire, and why getting back to normal is usually less about a dramatic reset and more about rebuilding a rhythm that fits empty nest life.They also cover bloodwork reality checks, binge vs restriction thinking, supplements and skepticism, processed food, alcohol tolerance, and the uncomfortable truth that exercise alone doesn’t undo six weeks of “we’ll deal with it later.” This isn’t a resolution episode or a dry January lecture. It’s a practical conversation about returning to routine… imperfectly, gradually, and with a little more awareness than last time.📖 Upcoming bookOur upcoming book, The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, is coming soon.You can find details and updates here:https://www.theloudquiet.com/p/book📬 Want new episodes and extras sent your way?https://theloudquiet.kit.com/signup👋 Join the conversation with other empty nesters here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet🎧 All episodes and listening links live here:https://www.theloudquiet.comCHAPTERS0:00 Intro1:10 Why the holidays become a free-for-all3:55 Bloodwork as a reality check6:40 Binge vs restriction thinking9:55 Food, alcohol, and aging bodies13:45 Supplements, skepticism, and mixed messages17:05 Why routine actually matters20:10 One change beats a long list22:45 Returning to normal… eventuallyWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).#relationships #marriage #recreation #podcast #EmptyNesters #EmptyNesting #Lifeafterkidsleave #Transitiontoanemptynest #Parentingjourney #Reinventingourselves #Newchapterinlife #Emptynestchallenges #Findingpurpose #Rediscoveringhobbies #Relationshipafterkids #Self-discovery #Preparingforanemptynest #Reconnectingasacouple #Growingtogetherafterkidsleave #Familydynamicsafterkidsleave #Supportsystemsforemptynesters #Tipsforsuccessfulemptynesting

Your young adult’s path may look messy, stalled, or off-script… and that doesn’t mean something is wrong.In this guest episode, we’re joined by Joanna Lilley, a therapeutic consultant who works with young adults and their parents during the often complicated transition into adulthood. Joanna helps families navigate college decisions, mental health challenges, academic setbacks, and those moments when forward motion feels unclear.We talk about the difference between being college capable and college ready, why gap years can be useful when they’re intentional, and how parents can respond when academic probation, burnout, or “I don’t think this is for me” conversations come up. Joanna also shares practical guidance on boundaries, communication, and how curiosity can be more productive than fear when things don’t go as planned.This conversation is for parents who need reassurance that progress doesn’t always look linear… and that detours can still lead somewhere meaningful.🎧 Joanna’s podcast, Success Is Subjective:https://www.successissubjective.org/🌐 Joanna’s consulting work and parent resources:https://lilleyconsulting.com/📖 Our upcoming book, The Loud Quiet - Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, is coming soon. You can find details and updates here:https://www.theloudquiet.com/p/bookCHAPTERS0:00 Intro1:07 College capable vs college ready4:10 When parents misread readiness7:32 Gap years and intentional pauses12:13 Academic probation and hard conversations16:44 Boundaries when kids stall out22:01 Failure to launch concerns27:01 Signs parents shouldn’t ignore30:43 How families find outside help34:10 Why nonlinear paths still work👋 Join the conversation in our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet📬 Get new episodes and extras in your inbox:https://theloudquiet.kit.com/signupWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).

That weird stretch between Christmas and New Year’s… when no one knows what day it is, the snacks never stop, and you start thinking about what just happened and what might be coming next.In this New Year’s Day episode, we look back on 2025 and talk about what surprised us most… how this podcast grew way beyond what we expected, how the community took on a life of its own, and how the empty nest feels different than it did a year ago.We also talk about what’s ahead in 2026… including the book that grew directly out of this podcast and the conversations happening inside the community. No resolutions. No pressure. Just a realistic look at where we’ve been and what we’re excited to launch next.📘 Book updateIf you want sneak peeks, preorder bonuses, early chapters, and launch-day news for the upcoming book, sign up here:https://www.theloudquiet.com/p/book👋 Join the conversation in our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet📬 Get episodes and extras in your inbox:https://theloudquiet.kit.com/signupCHAPTERS0:00 Intro and Happy New Year1:45 The weird week between Christmas and New Year’s3:10 Looking back on 20255:20 When the podcast became more than “just us”7:35 Why guests changed the show9:45 The page vs the group (and why both exist)11:20 The book and what’s coming next14:05 Why 2026 feels like a launch16:10 What we’re excited about this year18:30 Wrapping up and thanks👋 Share what this season looks like for you and join the conversation:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet📬 Want book sneak peeks and weekly extras?https://theloudquiet.kit.com/signupWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).

We’re releasing this episode on Christmas Day, and it felt like the right time to bring this one back.This is a Greatest Hits re-release of Episode 20, originally recorded after our very first holiday season as empty nesters… when both kids came home from college and the house went from quiet to very full, very fast. It was the first time we experienced that swing back to shared meals, full schedules, late nights, and just being the four of us again.We talk through what surprised us, what we loved, and what we noticed about ourselves as parents and as a couple. The traditions that still mattered. The pressure we let go of. And the strange mix of activity and stillness that showed up when the nest filled back up… even temporarily.If you’re heading into a season where your kids come home and everything shifts again, this one might feel familiar.📘 Coming soon in early 2026… The Loud Quiet book Be the first to get sneak peeks, preorder bonuses, and launch-day news. Pre-orders open soon… join the list for early access: https://www.theloudquiet.com/p/book/👋 Share your holiday experiences or join the conversation in our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here:https://www.theloudquiet.comCHAPTERS0:00 Christmas Day re-release intro1:20 First holidays as empty nesters4:15 When the house gets loud again7:30 Living life together, not scheduling it11:05 Holiday traditions that still matter14:40 Letting go of “perfect”18:05 Seeing your kids differently now22:15 New Year’s Eve, our way26:10 Quiet moments we didn’t expect30:45 What we want to rememberWant to be a guest on The Loud Quiet – Empty Nest Living?Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethostDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).#relationships #marriage #recreation #podcast #EmptyNesters #EmptyNesting #Lifeafterkidsleave #Transitiontoanemptynest #Parentingjourney #Reinventingourselves #Newchapterinlife #Emptynestchallenges #Findingpurpose #Rediscoveringhobbies #Relationshipafterkids #Self-discovery #Preparingforanemptynest #Reconnectingasacouple #Growingtogetherafterkidsleave #Familydynamicsafterkidsleave #Supportsystemsforemptynesters #Tipsforsuccessfulemptynesting