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

Some mornings, the silence hits differently. You wake up, wander into a quiet kitchen, and there’s no one to remind about practice or to ask if they did their homework. After years of pouring into everyone else, the stillness that follows can feel jarring. As an empty nester, it’s easy to wonder: where do I begin now?

In this episode, I walk you through the personal story behind the workbook, why I built it, and how it’s become a lifeline for so many women navigating the same season. I created The Empty Nest Reset because I needed something more than comforting words… I needed structure, clarity, and guidance. This season asked me to rediscover what life could look like on my own terms and to reclaim your life with purpose after such a major identity shift.

You’ll hear what I went through when the routines stopped, how I found myself spiraling, and the transition planning that helped me climb out of it. I’m sharing real tools: the exact daily prompts I used, the mindset shifts that stuck, and the emotional patterns I had to unlearn. This is where your emotional reset begins through acknowledging the grief and learning to move with it.

We will talk about:

• The moment I realized I had no roadmap for life after launch day
• How the MOVE method helps you shift from control to connection
• The emotional and relational cost of staying stuck in “fixer mode”
• The practical way to start showing up for yourself again
• Why emotional healing needs to happen before reinvention
• A gentle invitation to reconnect with your spouse without pressure

This episode is for the woman standing in that in-between space: ready for self-discovery, but unsure how to take the first step in this new chapter in life. Let this be your next small, intentional step toward personal growth.

To the strength in starting again,

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

For so many women over 50, especially those who’ve been a full-time mom, the empty nest brings more than just the absence of children. It brings a quiet space that can feel unfamiliar, a sense of identity loss, and a deep longing for connection. It stirs the tender question that sits quietly beneath the surface: What now?

In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly Hess, a successful entrepreneur, wife, and brand-new empty nester. Just two months into this major life transition, Kelly opens up with refreshing honesty about the emotional waves she’s riding: everything from redefining her daily rhythm to navigating relationship changes with her husband after decades of parenting together.

We talked about the build-up, the anticipatory anxiety that starts long before the last child leaves. We also explore what happens after: the quiet gaps in the evening, the restless thoughts, and the unexpected joy of discovering who you are when you're no longer needed in the same ways. Kelly shares the things that helped, the ones that didn’t, and the simple rituals she’s creating to reconnect with her own sense of self-discovery.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why having a career doesn’t always soften the blow of the empty nest
• A gentle bedtime practice to begin the shift from caregiving to intentional living
• The surprising emotional toll of “having it all together” and still feeling unmoored
• Small but meaningful coping strategies that create structure and comfort
• How music and simple breathing techniques became anchors during uncertain moments
• What it looks like to slowly start finding purpose again, with softness and grace

Where you are right now is exactly where you’re meant to be. You might be just beginning this change, or maybe it’s still approaching. If you're longing for comfort, clarity, or simply to feel understood, this conversation is here for you.

To the beauty of this new chapter,

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

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how quickly everything changes when the kids leave. The routines vanish, the texts slow down, and suddenly, I’m standing in the quiet of my own life wondering what fits and what doesn’t anymore.

If you’re sitting in that same space, navigating an empty nest, shifting relationships, or feeling the subtle ache of reinvention, I want you to know: you're not the only one.

In this episode, I’m talking about what I call The Great Friendship Shift, how our connections evolve in midlife and why that’s not a bad thing. As women in midlife, we’re often holding so much: aging parents, changing bodies, redefined purpose. It’s no wonder some friendships start to feel out of sync. But there’s clarity here too. I’ve come to realize that this season calls for healthy boundaries, intentional relationships, and a deep commitment to emotional honesty with ourselves and others.

This is a real, unfiltered look at what I’ve learned through my own shifts. No fluff. Just truth, reflection, and a little tough love because that’s what friendship requires now.

Here’s what I’m unpacking:

• How I’m navigating female friendship and social connection after the empty nest
• Why a personal values inventory reshaped how I choose friends
• The importance of friendship boundaries and honoring my emotional energy

If your world feels like it’s shifting, if your calendar is emptier but your heart is heavier, I hope this episode feels like a soft place to land. This is a season of curation, not loss. And you get to decide what stays.

To the beauty of this new chapter,

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

The day I dropped my daughter off at college, everything changed. I gave her a kiss, said goodbye, and got on the plane with a pit in my stomach. That moment marked the start of a quiet I wasn’t ready for and a chapter I didn’t quite know how to begin.

If you’re navigating an empty nest, feeling the stretch of a big life transition, or just wondering where you fit into this next season, you’re not alone.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing what it really felt like to come home to a quiet house and a full heart. As a midlife mom and life coach, I’ve spent years helping others through change, but this time, I had to walk through it myself. I’ll take you inside those early emotional days, and the slow, honest process of creating a new chapter that feels like mine.

You’ll hear the messy, real parts of the journey, along with what helped me come back to myself in the process. It’s a story of grief, yes, but also of self-discovery, reflection, and small steps toward intentional living.

Here’s what I’m sharing:

• The raw emotions I felt coming home to an empty house
• The quiet fears I had about my marriage and identity
• How I gave myself permission to feel everything without rushing to fix it
• A journaling practice that helped me reconnect with my desires
• How I use Sunday planning to support my mental wellness and structure my week
• Simple ways I started creating joy again (on my terms)
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If you’re in this season too where everything feels unfamiliar and tender, I hope this episode gives you comfort and a few gentle tools to help you move forward. You don’t have to figure it all out at once. You just have to start where you are.

To the beauty of this new chapter,

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

Can you believe it? Forty episodes in! In this milestone episode of Life After Launch, I'm taking a moment to look back at this beautifully complicated empty nest chapter and share everything I’ve learned about midlife reinvention, emotional well-being, and designing a life of intentional living after the kids leave.

This season of life is full of contradictions: joy and grief, freedom and uncertainty, self-discovery and letting go. I open up about what this transition has truly taught me and the quiet power of giving ourselves permission to evolve.

We talk about how strange it feels to not know every detail of our kids’ lives anymore, and how to find peace (and even joy) in that space. We also dive into what it really means to design this next phase of your life with intention—not by accident or default, but on purpose.

If you've been feeling the tug between who you were as a parent and who you’re becoming now, this one's for you. Because the truth is: this next chapter isn't just about our kids launching—it's about us launching, too.

Listen in and find out everything I have learned about midlife self-discovery while everything continues to change during the empty nest. Here's to the next 40 episodes!

Connect with Life Coach Allison Goldberg

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

Find out more about empty nest coaching here, or shoot me an email: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com

navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com