We slow down to notice how seasonal change lands in the body and mind, then use breath, posture, and simple journal prompts to turn fall from a stressor into a source of intention. A short, guided practice helps you ground, listen, and choose how you want autumn to feel.

• normalising sensitivity to seasonal changes
• posture setup for grounding and stability
• rib-directed breathing and heart awareness
• free-writing on what fall brings up
• envisioning an ideal fall day and feelings
• present-moment body and mood check
• closing with self-kindness and gratitude

"Let this simmer in your journal or in the notes section of your phone, and we'll be back for part two very soon"

We want to hear from you! Reach out to us on socials or at emptynestquestpod@gmail.com to share how our conversations are landing with you! xo-Melynda and Jennifer

We talk with our dear friend Gladys Autry about using books and audiobooks to bring warmth, connection, and joy back into a quieter home. We share narrator tips, light starter picks, and how fiction can make this stage of life feel less lonely while giving you energy to pursue what’s next.

• why audiobooks can soften an empty house and build a reading habit
• narrator and multi-cast tips, with Julia Whelan as a go‑to
• the value of fiction for empathy, imagination and rest
• light, engaging recommendations to restart reading
• time‑split stories and sense of place as “literary travel”
• women authors who write women well versus heavier historical reads
• setting boundaries with thrillers and sleep
• memoirs like Ina Garten’s as models for brave pivots
• parenting adult kids with support instead of control
• practical ways to choose better books and track your reading

You can find Gladys at gladys.autry on Instagram and on The StoryGraph as “glads.” Follow her there to see her top picks! She would love to know what you’re reading!

We want to hear from you! Reach out to us on socials or at emptynestquestpod@gmail.com to share how our conversations are landing with you! xo-Melynda and Jennifer

Ever caught yourself frantically trying to teach your teen everything before they leave home? That panic isn't helping either of you.

Healing specialist Liz McNulty joins Melynda for an illuminating conversation about the subtle ways our fears manifest in parenting—and how to shift toward something more powerful. Through personal stories and professional insights, they explore the paradox at the heart of effective parenting: when we focus on our own alignment rather than controlling our children's experiences, everyone benefits.

"When I was being the fixer," Liz explains, "it's because ego-wise I wanted to be seen as someone who helped. That has a shelf life. It burns me out and doesn't create lasting change for the client or the child." This wisdom applies equally to parenting and healing work. The alternative? Radiating our authentic presence and trusting others' capacity to grow.

The conversation weaves through powerful examples—like when Melynda let her young daughter witness her setting a boundary with an angry client, providing a model of self-respect that lectures never could. Or the moment Liz caught herself mid-argument with her teenage daughter, recognizing she was projecting her own fears rather than respecting her daughter's wisdom about what she needed.

Their insights offer liberation for parents approaching the empty nest phase. Rather than obsessing over what you haven't taught your almost-adult children, consider what they're learning from how you embody self-trust, boundary-setting, and authentic living. Your example speaks volumes more than your instructions ever could.

Ready to shift from fear-based parenting to something more powerful? Listen now, and discover why your radiance might be the greatest gift you can offer your children as they prepare to leave home.

We want to hear from you! Reach out to us on socials or at emptynestquestpod@gmail.com to share how our conversations are landing with you! xo-Melynda and Jennifer