In this deeply personal conversation about legacy, grief, and what it means to be remembered by the people closest to you, Tami and Lisa reflect on family loss, caregiving, dementia, and the strange mix of laughter and tears that comes with mourning through the memories.

Tami opens with the idea of “grieving myself” and connects it to legacy, asking what we want to leave behind and how we want to be remembered. She shares memories of her parents, who died within ten weeks of each other after 71 years of marriage, and reflects on the tenderness, anticipation, and emotional weight surrounding their final months.

The two friends explore the question of writing your own eulogy and how naming the qualities you want remembered can shape how you live now. The conversation turns to the difference between how casual acquaintances and loved ones remember us, with emphasis on the people who truly know our whole selves.

Lisa shares that she lost her husband Dan to dementia just over a month ago, after a six-year illness, and describes the long, ongoing grief that begins even before death. She and the Tami discuss “double mourning” with dementia, grieving both the person and the relationship as memory and personality change.

A story about crying at Target becomes a turning point in the discussion about emotional permission, especially for boys and children who are often taught to hide sadness. They compare grief to waves, unpredictable and cyclical, with small moments sometimes hitting harder than expected.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder that grief intensity often matches the depth of love, and that memories can eventually shift from painful to comforting. *Please follow and share this podcast with your friends. And leaving a review helps us get found by more listeners. Thanks so much! Tami & Lisa

Tami Romani and Lisa Michele unpack the fitness pillar of Empty Nest Empires, focusing on how movement changes with age and why the goal should be joy, not punishment. They share personal stories from their 20s through midlife, plus practical ways to build consistency without trying to recreate the workouts of decades past.In this episode, Tami and Lisa discuss how fitness needs shift over time, how injuries and health scares change priorities, and why small, sustainable movement habits matter more than extreme routines. They also talk through realistic options like walking, stretching, pickleball, simple weight work, and short daily movement sessions.

Tami Romani and Lisa Michele kick off the reboot of Empty Nest Empires with a conversation about one of the show’s six pillars: fun. They explore how creativity shows up across life stages, from handmade businesses and sewing to knitting, doodling, gardening, and grandparenting. The episode focuses on how to reconnect with creative joy, even when life gets busy or confidence has faded.