Your kids leaving isn’t an ending; it’s an open door to a more intentional version of you. Many of us spend decades organizing our entire identities around our children, only to feel a staggering sense of loss when the house goes quiet.

In this conversation, we explore why the term "empty nest" is so limiting and how to navigate the "forced reckoning" of midlife transitions without losing your sense of purpose.

My guest is Gretchen Rubin, one of the world's most influential observers of happiness and human nature. She is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers including The Happiness Project and Life in Five Senses, and the host of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

• A simple linguistic shift that changes how you view your children’s independence
• The "Book vs. Tree" personality framework that explains why you and your partner might be clashing over the future
• A 30-second "identity test" to see if you are at risk for a rocky life transition
• The "Minimum Acceptable Contact" rule for keeping a healthy bond with adult children without overstepping
• How to use "clutter clues" to rediscover a passion you abandoned years ago

If you’ve ever felt like your world is shrinking as your children’s worlds expand, this conversation offers the roadmap to reclaim your space and your joy. Press play to start your next chapter.

You can find Gretchen at: Website | Instagram | Happier with Gretchen Rubin - Podcast | Episode Transcript

Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Michael Pollan about the elusive nature of consciousness and why it is currently under siege. Michael shares why our awareness is the most precious thing we own and how we can reclaim our attention in an age of constant distraction.

Check out our offerings & partners:

• Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the Wheel
• Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tired of saying yes when you mean no and feeling resentful later? In this powerful compilation episode, you’ll learn how to set healthy boundaries without guilt, conflict, or losing the people you care about.

If you’re exhausted from overgiving, overworking, people-pleasing, or overfunctioning, this conversation will feel deeply familiar. We explore why so many high-functioning adults struggle to communicate limits and how small, clear boundary shifts can radically change your relationships, work life, and inner peace.

Today’s episode features insights from therapist and bestselling author Nedra Glover Tawwab, author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace, and psychotherapist and relationship expert Terri Cole, author of Boundary Boss. Together, they unpack the psychology of boundaries, codependency, people-pleasing, and how to finally talk true and live free.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• A one-sentence boundary formula that prevents arguments and shuts down guilt spirals
• The hidden secondary gain that keeps you stuck in overgiving and overfunctioning
• The six dysfunctional boundary styles and how to identify your “boundary blueprint”
• A simple way to set time boundaries at work without risking your job
• Practical scripts you can use when someone asks intrusive questions or ignores your limits

If you’re ready to stop feeling unseen, stretched thin, or quietly resentful, press play and learn how to create the boundaries that make a good life possible.

Episode Transcript

You can find Nedra at: Website | Instagram

You can find Terri at: Website | Instagram | Discover Your Secondary Gain | The Terri Cole Show

Next week, be sure to tune in for my conversation with Gretchen Rubin about what actually happens when kids leave home and how that season reshapes identity, relationships, and purpose.

Check out our offerings & partners:

• Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the Wheel
• Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trying to eliminate anxiety can make it worse. Do this instead…

If you wake up with a tight chest, a racing mind, or a constant sense of unease, this conversation offers clarity, relief, and a more grounded way forward.

In this episode, we unpack what anxiety actually is, why it shows up the way it does, and how to tell the difference between normal anxiety and anxiety that starts running, or even ruining your life. You’ll learn how fear, uncertainty, and your nervous system interact, and why trying to eliminate anxiety often makes it worse.

Dr. Tracey Marks is a psychiatrist, mental health educator, and creator of one of the most trusted science-based mental health platforms online. With over twenty years of clinical experience, she translates neuroscience into practical tools, and she’s the author of Why Am I So Anxious? Powerful Tools for Recognizing Anxiety and Restoring Your Peace.

In this conversation, you’ll discover

• How to tell when anxiety is helping you versus quietly harming you
• A simple way to recognize when worry has crossed into catastrophizing
• Why anxiety can feel physical even when medical tests come back normal
• The overlooked body-based tools that calm your nervous system naturally
• A healthier expectation for anxiety that makes it easier to live with

Anxiety doesn’t mean you’re broken. But ignoring how it works can keep you stuck. Press play to understand what your mind and body are asking for, and learn how to respond with more clarity and self-trust.

You can find Tracey at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Nedra Glover Tawwab and Terri Cole about life-changing boundaries, how to say no without guilt, and how to stop overgiving.

Check out our offerings & partners:

• Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the Wheel
• Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.