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

The kids are grown, the calendar’s a little more open, and suddenly the mirror feels like it’s asking bigger questions. Stepping into midlife can bring unexpected reflections on who you are beyond parenting, or who you thought you were supposed to be.

In this episode, we’re joined by our guest, Cecilia (aka Silver Sister), a midlife creator whose viral TikToks about embracing her gray hair and growing into her truth have sparked powerful conversations about self-image, self-worth, and what it really means to age on your own terms.

We explore how letting go can look like choosing not to color your hair, releasing the need for validation, and challenging the idea that aging makes you irrelevant. Cecilia opens up about her journey from hiding to authentic living, and how the process of choosing herself has been both a personal challenge and a form of emotional healing.

We also get into:

• What the empty nest season can reveal about long-ignored parts of yourself
• How beauty standards shape the way women over 50 see themselves
• What it’s like to silence the inner critic and practice radical self-love
• Why personal growth sometimes starts with something as simple as going for a walk
• How shifting your mindset around natural aging can unlock a different kind of freedom

If you're navigating change, craving clarity, or simply tired of feeling like you have to apologize for growing older, this episode is a gentle nudge toward a richer, freer version of 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

You raised them, loved them, gave them your whole self… and now the routines have changed. The house is quiet, but your mind isn’t. If stepping into the empty nest season has you feeling lost or struggling with your emotional health, this conversation speaks to the quiet, complicated parts of that transition.

Today I’m joined by Elissa Varadi, a Houston-based therapist with 38 years of experience supporting parents through major life transitions. Together, we talk through the emotional landscape of this season, how the transition from parenting teens to parenting from a distance can stir up everything from self-identity questions to unexpected waves of grief.

We explore how life transitions like this one can impact emotional intimacy, spark friendship changes, and even bring up topics like gray divorce or parent guilt. Elissa shares thoughtful insights on how to begin tending to your mental wellness again, where to look for real emotional support, and how to connect with support groups or even consider therapy for parents in a way that feels approachable.

We also talk about:

• How to tell the difference between grief vs. depression
• The role of self-care for moms and why it’s often overlooked
• What real personal growth looks like during seasons of uncertainty
• Why support groups for empty nesters can be a lifeline, not a last resort

If this season feels quieter or heavier than you imagined, this conversation offers real guidance, comfort, and a reminder that new beginnings are still ahead.

Here’s to making space for yourself,

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

You thought the quiet would bring peace. Instead, it brought questions. What do I do now? Who am I without them here? And how do I make this next chapter mine? If the transition into the empty nest has left you feeling unsteady, you’re not the only one and there’s a path forward.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Jay Ramsden, an empty nest coach, and he unpacks what really happens when the kids move out and you’re left to navigate the emotional and logistical shifts. From the identity crisis no one warned you about to the deafening quiet that creeps in, we explore how this life transition can shake your sense of purpose and how to rebuild it with intention.

We walk through the three emotional phases: grief, relief, and joy, and why they rarely show up in order. Jay shares how to prepare your mindset before the kids leave, how to nurture your marriage through the shift, and what it means to create new routines that center your own well-being while also learning how to cope with empty nests.

Here’s what we unpacked:

• The emotional layers of empty nest syndrome, grief, and why shame often tags along
• How to approach self-care for moms and navigate the silence with confidence
• What self-discovery, personal growth, and finding a passion can look like in this new season
• The power of navigating changes in your marriage and reconnecting in a new rhythm
• Practical ways to start finding yourself again and embracing a true mental reset

If you're trying to make sense of the quiet, questioning who you are now, or just need a little emotional support, this episode is here to help you breathe, reflect, and begin again.

Here’s to rediscovering who you are,

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

Was there a moment when you walked past your child’s empty room and it hit harder than you expected? You might find yourself debating whether to reach out or hold back, unsure of what this new dynamic should look like. If your child’s start of college has you feeling a little off balance or unsure how to handle all the changes, you’re definitely not the only one.

In this week’s conversation, Laura shares what it’s been like since her son moved out, even though he's still in the same city. We talk through the grief that catches you off guard, the boundary questions that feel impossible to get right, and the tension between stepping back and staying close.

We also explore what happens inside a family as roles start to shift. From the way your parent role evolves overnight to the new rhythm with the child who’s still at home, everything gets recalibrated. And if you’re married, that includes your relationship too. Laura reflects on how this life transition has sparked moments of reconnection and unexpected space to breathe.

Here’s what we unpacked:

• What grief can look like after college drop-off, even if they’re just across town
• How the mother son relationship shifts as teens seek independence
• The fine line between managing expectations and holding on too tight
• The impact of changing family dynamics can have on the child who stays home
• What it means to stay present while you're in the middle of your own self rediscovery
• How one conversation can change everything when it comes to reconnecting in marriage
• Why letting go is part of raising teens, even when it doesn’t feel natural

If you're adjusting to a quieter house, rethinking what parenting looks like, or just trying to navigate this new chapter, this episode is a gentle, honest companion for your journey.

Here’s to navigating the quiet moments with grace,

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

Is your teen in the middle of sorority rush or fraternity rush, and you're the one fielding the emotional fallout? Are you remembering your own bid day rejection, or silently hoping your child doesn’t feel the pain of rejection? If the rush week process feels like more than you signed up for as a parent, this episode is for you.

This isn’t just about Greek letters or group chats. It’s about what happens when your child is focused on finding belonging, and you’re trying to support them without steering the ship. In this episode, I share the real story of my own college rejection, what it stirred up when my daughters rushed decades later, and how I learned to step back, listen, and let them lead.

We talk about the complicated emotions that rush season brings, for them and for us, and why it's so tempting to overstep. I’ll walk you through what it looks like to offer steady emotional support without taking over, and how to help your child build emotional resilience when things don’t go as planned.

Here’s what we explored:

• Why bid day can trigger more than just disappointment, and how to support your teen through it
• What my own college rejection taught me about offering grounded parenting advice during rush week
• The difference between helping and hovering when parenting teens through high-stakes transitions
• How to recognize when your teen needs your input vs. when they just need your presence
• Why rejection might be the very thing that helps shape their college social life and clarify their college decisions
• What it looks like to raise self-trusting kids in high-pressure environments like greek life
• Tools to offer real emotional support while navigating your own college transition as a parent

If you’re holding your breath while your child waits for a bid, or trying to help them process not getting one, this conversation will help you stay grounded and connected.

Here’s to parenting through pressure with compassion,

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

College drop-off brought a wave of emotion you weren’t fully prepared for. Now the house is quiet, the routines are gone, and you're left sitting in a new kind of stillness. The silence isn’t just around you, it’s inside, too.

If you’re like many empty nest moms, you’re feeling the weight of a major shift. The old parenting roles you knew so well don’t seem to fit anymore, and the new ones? Still unclear. You were their manager, their problem-solver, their steady hand. Now you're learning how to show up differently in a parenting stage where love has to stretch, not lead.

In this conversation, I open up about the raw truth of empty nest syndrome, the loss no one prepares you for and how I fumbled through that grief despite decades as a life coach. From letting go of control to reshaping the parenting dynamics with my adult kids, I share what it looked like to be cracked open by transition and still find something sacred on the other side.

We talk about the invisible shift in parenting a young adult, the pain of distance, and the surprising relief that came with loosening my grip. I walk through four communication rules that helped me reconnect and the humbling lesson of learning to simply listen instead of fix.

Here’s what we explored:

• Why parenting roles and identity often feel fused and how to begin separating the two
• The emotional toll of empty nest syndrome, letting go of control, and honoring grief without rushing healing
• 4 communication rules that support connection without overstepping
• How trusting the process can lead to growth in your relationship with your young adult and help you rediscover yourself
• Why this new parenting stage might be the invitation you’ve been waiting for to find purpose again

If you're standing in the doorway of a dorm room, or just starting to ask “now what?”, this episode is for you.

Here’s to finding purpose, even in the quiet.

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