Empty Nesters-THIS is the best time of your life. Your little birdies have left the nest…or are about to, you have done your job and now it’s time to focus on you. This does not make you selfish, this is necessary, you can not pour from an empty cup. This is the time to redefine who you are and what your purpose is for this next chapter of your life, which we believe is the best chapter yet! You will become a better mom, wife, friend and most important rediscover the fire within you. Leeeeee ...
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From Hot Mess to Wholeness: Ditching the Midlife Crisis Script
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24:01The transition through midlife presents an opportunity. We often look at this season as a "hot mess" or the old midlife Crisis label, but what if it is a chance for personal rebirth rather than crisis, inviting us to unravel everything that no longer aligns with our soul's purpose? Our internal dialogue and the language we use to describe our lives…
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Five powerful words can transform your empty nest journey: "Our focus determines our feelings." This transformative principle from Tommy Newberry's "40 Days to a Joyful Life" offers a roadmap to rewiring your mind for joy during midlife transitions. At any moment, you can choose where to direct your attention—toward what's present or what's missing…
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The journey through menopause and the empty nest phase isn't just about navigating physical changes—it's an invitation to reconnect with your emotional landscape after decades of putting others first. Many of us have spent years running on fumes, managing our families and responsibilities while neglecting our own emotional wellbeing. When this seas…
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The Truth About HRT: Debunking Menopause Myths
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38:06Ever wondered why your mother's generation was so afraid of hormone replacement therapy? In this eye-opening conversation with returning guest Brookes Vaughn, we unravel decades of misunderstanding surrounding menopause treatment, diving deep into the flawed Women's Health Initiative study that scared millions of women away from potentially life-en…
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Trust your instincts. When you don't feel like yourself during perimenopause or menopause, that alone is reason enough to seek help. This powerful validation emerged as we reflected on our conversation with women's health expert Brooks Vaughn and shared our personal journeys through the hormonal maze of midlife. Many women struggle for years with d…
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Finding Joy Beyond Motherhood: Interview with Anna McArthur
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32:13Anna MacArthur joins us to discuss her powerful new book "Hope for Moms: It's Tough Out There, But So Are You," offering wisdom for mothers who feel everyone else has parenting figured out while they're just trying to keep everyone alive. • Examining how we often use children as "walking report cards" to validate our parenting • Creating a "Yes, No…
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Menopause Madness Series with Jennifer & Melynda
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22:09Hormone health isn't just about managing hot flashes—it's about reclaiming your sense of self when everything feels off-kilter. Jennifer and Melynda dive deep into the misunderstood world of perimenopause and menopause, sharing their personal journeys with hormone replacement therapy while emphasizing there's no one-size-fits-all solution. After th…
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Menopause Madness: Interview with Brookes Vaughan, The Women's Health Company
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34:44What if that feeling of "I just need to get my act together" isn't about organization or willpower, but your hormones? Brookes Vaughan, founder of The Women's Health Company, joins us to untangle the confusing web of perimenopause and menopause – two terms often used interchangeably but representing distinctly different phases of a woman's life. Br…
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Empty Nest to Self-Discovery: The Power of Understanding Your Enneagram
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41:28Discover the transformative power of the Enneagram for empty nesters with Debbie Huckabee, certified Enneagram coach and therapist. After spending years prioritizing others' needs as a Type Nine "Peacemaker," Debbie found liberation through understanding her personality type just before her nest began emptying. This knowledge sparked an inspiring j…
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Rediscovering Joy: A Guide to 40 Days of Mindset Change
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18:11In this enlightening episode, we invite listeners to embark on a journey of joy through engaging discussions around the book "40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life" by Tommy Newberry. As your host, Jennifer, delves into relatable strategies and heartfelt stories, we touch upon the transformative power of mindset shifts and how these shifts can lead to a mor…
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Embracing Chaos: Finding Joy and Balance in Everyday Life
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19:07What if embracing life's chaos could actually bring you peace? Join me, Melynda, as I guide you on a quest to find balance and joy amid life's ups and downs. Through personal reflections and spiritual grounding techniques, you'll discover how centering yourself can lead to stability and calm, no matter how tumultuous the times. Whether it's placing…
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How Jennifer is Beating the Odds in Entrepreneurship
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18:41Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey can often feel like jumping without a parachute, a sensation I know all too well. Through 25 years of business ventures, I've found my parachute in the mantra "Stop Stopping," which has propelled me through every challenge, from starting a restaurant with no more than hosting experience to recuperating from …
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Galentine's Day and the Joyful Journey Ahead
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28:08This episode offers a playful yet poignant exploration of Valentine’s Day, filled with laughter and relatable stories about love in midlife. The hosts share personal anecdotes about past Valentine's experiences while discussing the broader theme of emotional wellness and positive thinking. • Reflecting on life’s current challenges and their impact …
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Open Heart Surgery at 39: Jennifer's Journey in Healing and the Power of New Beginnings
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34:16What if a seemingly routine check-up could change the course of your life? Join us on the Empty Nest Quest as we kick off Heart Month with a personal tale of unexpected heart health revelations. This episode is an invitation to explore the nuances of heart health for women, especially during menopause and perimenopause. I share my surprising journe…
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What if the state of a restaurant's bathroom really does mirror the kitchen's hygiene? Join us on the Empty Nest Quest as we kick off 2025 with some unexpected bathroom humor and pivot to the challenges life has thrown our way, reminding us to embrace grace and flexibility. As we set our intentions for the new year, we suggest aligning our monthly …
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Discovering Clarity in the Quiet Nest...Meditation with Melynda
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26:32As the holiday season approaches, it's a time for reflection and preparation, especially for those of us experiencing the empty nest phase. Have you ever noticed how time seems to bend and warp when you enter this stage of life? Join Meliyda, as she guides you through a soothing meditation and journaling exercise to help you reconnect with your inn…
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Redefining Holiday Expectations in Midlife
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26:51What if the holiday season could be your time to redefine midlife, free from the pressures of perfection and tradition? Join us as we share how we’re navigating these transformative years, starting with a heartwarming tale from Jennifer’s adventures in Oregon with Johnny, where the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest dispelled any preconceived not…
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Doing Life with Your Adult Children - Part 4 of 4 Family Holidays with Flexibility and Grace
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43:37Have you ever found yourself juggling multiple roles, only to discover a moment of peace in the chaos? That's exactly what happened when Melinda faced a health scare and I managed a busy life with five kids. Recording from separate locations for the first time, we talk about the flexibility this affords us amidst our packed schedules. Melinda offer…
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Parenting Your Adult Children, Part 3 of 4
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33:43What happens when the nest empties, and suddenly, it's just you and your thoughts in the quiet of midlife? Join us on the Empty Nest Quest as we unravel the complexities of this transformative phase in parenting. Discover how nurturing personal boundaries and self-care can enrich not only your life but also support your children's journey to indivi…
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Parenting Your Adult Children, Part 2 of 4
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43:31How do parents transition from being caretakers to companions as their children become adults? Join us as we unravel this intricate journey, where Jennifer kicks things off by sharing about her husband's wrist surgery and their serene weekend, and I recount the lively atmosphere of the Greenville Country Music Festival celebrating Sarah Kate's upco…
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Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Part 1 of 3 Keep your mouth shut & the welcome mat out!
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1:34:33Inspired by Jim Burns' insightful book "Doing Life with Your Adult Children," we embark on an exploration of the evolving dynamics of parenting adult children. Discover the importance of adapting roles, respecting autonomy, and fostering open communication, even amidst faith deconstruction or differing values. We reveal how grace and understanding …
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How do you find normalcy when life's storms, both literal and metaphorical, upend everything you know? We share our personal stories of resilience following a recent hurricane, exploring how community strength and cherished routines help us stay grounded. From the comforting chaos of a Georgia football game to the healing steps of the Spark in the …
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Jennifer and Melynda's Pet Peeves...the things that drive us bonkers!
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32:13Ever felt like the sound of someone chewing could drive you up the wall, or questioned the universal struggle with the toilet seat debate? Join us on a laughter-filled exploration of modern middle life in our episode "Empty Nest Quest." We open up about the quirks that have become our pet peeves over the years, especially as we navigate the stormy …
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Navigating Empty Nest Friendships and Connections
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34:50Ever wondered how traveling with your adult children can enhance your bond? Join us as Jennifer recounts her unforgettable trip to London with her daughter Stephanie, where they navigated the iconic city together, creating memories to cherish. Meanwhile, Melynda shares the thrills and spontaneous joy of her European adventure with her husband and t…
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Empty Nesting-Jennifer interviews Melynda!
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39:30What happens when a teacher decides to chase entrepreneurial dreams inspired by a legacy of self-starters? Melynda's journey from the classroom to becoming a yoga therapy entrepreneur, supported by her husband Johnny, is nothing short of inspiring. Their transition wasn't smooth—financial struggles, balancing grad school, teaching, and coaching mar…
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Finding Light in the Darkest Moments: Interview with Cathy Semeria and how she turned her pain into purpose after the loss of her beloved daughter, Tini.
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44:33Ever wondered how profound loss can be transformed into a mission of hope and community support? Join us as we welcome Cathy Semeria, who shares her remarkable journey of creating the Spark in the Dark Foundation. Cathy talks about her family, her role as a grandmother, and the deeply moving story of her youngest daughter, Christina, known lovingly…
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The Courage to Start Again-Melynda interviews Jennifer!
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40:28Starting new ventures can be messy, but that's half the fun! Join Jennifer and Melynda as they launch the Empty Nest Quest podcast, aiming to redefine midlife and flourish during the empty nest phase. Jennifer shares her unique perspective as an only child with a close-knit family, revealing how these relationships have shaped her gratitude and int…
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Can balancing the needs of aging parents, college-age children, and your own personal growth really be done? Join us, Jennifer Dolander and Melynda McCutcheon, as we share our deeply personal journeys through the highs and lows of midlife transitions on the Empty Nest Quest. From the relentless heat of Georgia summers to planning unforgettable fami…
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Redefining Midlife: Thriving in the Empty Nest
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19:25Ever wondered how to thrive during the midlife transition of an empty nest? You're not alone, and in this episode of the Empty Nest Quest, Jennifer Dollander and Melinda McCutcheon share their personal journeys to redefine midlife. From maintaining strong marriages to managing the whirlwind of menopause, we open up about the challenges and unexpect…
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My Daily Non-Negotiables: Spiritual, Mental and Physical
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29:45To order the scale mentioned in this episode click this link: https://amzn.to/3U9m5hK Embark on a transformative journey with me, Jennifer Dolander, as I share the three pillars that have become my anchor in the choppy waters of entrepreneurship and personal evolution. These aren't just habits; they are my lifelines—spirituality, health, and mental…
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Open Heart Surgery at 39: My Journey in Healing and the Power of New Beginnings
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32:40Heart Month holds a special place for me, Jennifer Dolander, as it marks the anniversary of a life-altering event that redefined my existence: my battle with a congenital heart defect and the subsequent open heart surgery that followed at the tender age of 39. In this heartfelt episode, I pull back the curtain on my journey, from the shock of diagn…
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Conquering Procrastination and Cultivating Community: Wisdom for Entrepreneurs
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22:03Unlock the antidote to the entrepreneur's common plague: procrastination. Join me, Jennifer Dolander, as I draw from my 25-year journey in entrepreneurship to guide you past the hesitation that halts progress. We tackle the fear, often a masquerade of 'false evidence appearing real', and equip you with actionable strategies to conquer it. Discover …
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Embracing the Liberating Power of Saying "No
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19:19Have you ever clutched a coffee mug and found unexpected wisdom in its simple message? "Just say no to the sign up sheet!" That's what happened to me, Jennifer Dollander, as I struggled with the endless demands of volunteer work, raising children, and a full-time teaching career. On today's episode of the Empty Nester Entrepreneur podcast, I'm lett…
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Embracing Imperfection: Transformation from Imposter to Empowered Entrepreneur
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22:02Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey often feels like an endless battle with self-doubt, and I'm no stranger to this war. Hi, I'm Jennifer Dollander, and I've grappled with the sneaky clutches of Imposter Syndrome, from my teaching days to the high stakes of running a restaurant and even while launching this podcast. In this heart-to-heart excha…
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Why Progress Beats Perfection in Building Your Dream Company
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20:14Ever felt handcuffed by the pursuit of perfection in your business? Join me, Jennifer Dollander, as I share the liberating secret of my success: it's all about progress, not perfection. With over twenty years of entrepreneurial savvy, this episode peels back the curtain on how this mantra can revolutionize your startup and growth strategies. From t…
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Mastering Your Morning: The Path to Productivity and Purpose
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28:58Embark on a transformative journey with me, Jennifer Dollander, as I guide you through the essentials of creating a morning that sets you up for a day teeming with productivity and fulfillment. In the hustle of life, it's easy to lose yourself to the chaos, but with my Daily Productivity Planner, you'll discover how to anchor your mornings in purpo…
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Blueprint for a Successful Business Venture from Ground Up
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23:53
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23:53Discover the secret sauce to transforming your passion into a thriving business as I unfold the roadmap to success! Right from the heart, I share the exhilaration of sculpting a hobby into a revenue stream, equipped with my 'Will my Idea Be a Success Checklist,' a treasure trove of validation tools. Dive into the essential first steps of market res…
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Facing Your Fear of Failure: The Empty Nester's Guide to Entrepreneurial Courage
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21:45As I navigated the quiet halls of my now child-free home, the echo of opportunity began to whisper, leading me to question: Could this be the perfect time to chase those entrepreneurial dreams? This episode is a heartfelt conversation about conquering the trepidation that grips so many of us, particularly Empty Nesters, when we stand on the precipi…
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Ever felt the thrill of transforming a simple hobby into a flourishing enterprise? That's precisely what I am thrilled to recount in the newest installment of the Empty Nester Entrepreneur podcast. My entrepreneurial odyssey began with a love for paper products, blossoming during the early days of motherhood. In our conversation, I'll reveal the sc…
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