When I sat down to record this episode, I felt something I didn’t expect: a wave of emotion so strong it almost stopped me in my tracks. Fifty episodes. Fifty honest, vulnerable, messy, beautiful conversations and I realized this wasn’t just a milestone for the podcast. It was a milestone for me.

When I started Life After Launch, I wasn’t trying to figure out the empty nest for the first time. I had already lived the shock, the silence, the identity unraveling, the “Who am I now that no one needs me at 11pm?” moments. But what I didn’t realize then and what hit me today is how deeply this community was craving a place to feel seen. A place where your feelings weren’t minimized, rushed, or dismissed. A place where you could simply say, “Oh. It wasn’t just me.”

Season One became that place because you showed up with honesty, tenderness, and courage — every single week.

And then, right in the middle of all this reflection and gratitude, life knocked me flat. I got sick,really sick, in a way that forced me to stop everything. No multitasking, no pushing through, no staying “busy” just to stay busy. I had nothing to do but lie there and listen. And the only thing I could hear was the message I’d been ignoring for far too long:

Slow down. Pause. Breathe. Be.

That unexpected pause became the turning point of this episode and honestly, of this season. It made me see how much I’ve been sprinting through my own life. It made me realize how often I’ve filled every minute out of habit, not intention. And it reminded me that before I walk into my daughter’s wedding this sacred, emotional, once-in-a-lifetime moment ,I want to be present. Not exhausted. Not scattered. Not squeezed between tasks.

So as we close Season One, this episode is my love letter to you. It’s my reflection on what these 50 episodes taught me, what getting sick clarified for me, and why I’m choosing to pause before we move into Season Two.

Because Season Two? It’s stirring inside me already. And I want to walk into it fully grounded — for me, and for you.

• Why reaching 50 episodes shifted something in me emotionally
• What surprised me most about the honesty and vulnerability in this community
• How getting sick forced me into a pause I didn’t know I needed
• The realization that I’ve been sprinting through my own life and what I plan to do differently
• Why your daughter’s wedding (or other milestones) deserve your full presence, not your multitasking
• How this heart-centered pause will make Season Two deeper, richer, and more connected

If you're sitting in that quiet in-between space, the space between who you were and who you're becoming, I hope this episode reminds you that nothing about your feelings is wrong. You deserve the pause. You deserve the breath. You deserve a life that doesn’t rush past you. And you deserve to know that in this empty nest chapter… you are not alone.

We’re walking it together.

Always.

I remember the morning after my youngest left for college.

The house was quiet, peaceful, but unsettling. For years, every part of my day had revolved around my kids. And suddenly, I didn’t know what to do with the silence. If you’ve felt that same ache, that strange mix of freedom and loss, you’re in the right place.

Hi, I’m Allison, and this is Life After Launch. The podcast where we talk honestly about the empty nest transition and what it means to rediscover who you are after the kids leave home. In this solo episode, I’m answering real listener questions about identity, purpose, marriage, and self-care in midlife, and I’ll share practical ways to feel more grounded, hopeful, and empowered today.

This isn’t about “filling your time.” It’s about reclaiming your life with curiosity, compassion, and confidence.

• How to create a “Curiosity Calendar” to explore new passions and reconnect with your sense of self after years of parenting.
• The key mindset shift from ‘Manager’ to ‘Mentor’ when it comes to staying connected with your adult children, without smothering them.
• A simple daily ritual that starts with one question: “Today will be a success if…” to bring structure and meaning back into your days.
• How to rekindle connection in your marriage (or any partnership) using the Paired app and intentional conversation starters.
• The truth about guilt-why doing things just for you isn’t selfish, it’s modeling healthy self-care for your family.
• How to rediscover your passions and purpose through an honest personal inventory of what used to bring you joy—and what might again.

You’re not broken, you’re becoming. This chapter isn’t the end of something; it’s the beginning of someone: you.

Take one step at a time, one curiosity at a time, one small act of care for yourself at a time. That’s how you rebuild a life that feels meaningful and full again.

If this episode spoke to you, please follow Life After Launch wherever you listen, leave a review, and share it with another parent navigating this new chapter.

Want to be a guest on the show? Apply to share your story.

email us - navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com/

After her youngest left for college and the divorce papers were signed, Annie found herself in a quiet house that suddenly felt unfamiliar. As a newly single empty nester, the stillness was more than silence and it was a space filled with memories, questions, and a kind of emptiness she hadn’t prepared for.

Slowly, through conversations, connection, and a willingness to sit with what felt uncomfortable, she began to shape a new rhythm.

In this episode, I’m joined by Annie Clay, a Boston-based yoga teacher and health coach whose reflections on midlife have deeply resonated online. Annie’s story caught my attention because she speaks with such grounded honesty about starting over in her 50s. Together, we explore the emotional landscape of this life transition, from the loneliness of being the only single person in your friend group to the quiet joy of finding your own rhythm again.

Annie shares how female friendships helped her rebuild a sense of belonging, why she’s choosing peace over performance when it comes to dating in your 50s, and how she's using this stage for real, grounded personal growth.

Here’s what we talk about:

• Why becoming an empty nester can stir up both grief and hope
• Why starting over feels harder in midlife and what to do about it
• How new female friendships can help you feel seen and supported
• The emotional toll of social media fears when you’re building something new
• What Annie let go of emotionally in order to truly move forward
• How clarity slowly returns when we allow ourselves to embrace uncertainty

If you're sitting in that quiet in-between space, not quite sure who you're becoming, I hope this conversation meets you gently. You’re not late. You’re not behind. You’re exactly where your next chapter begins.

To the life taking shape in the silence,

Allison

Want to be a guest on the show? Apply to share your story.

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com

Email: navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com