In this episode of Successful Student Transitions: A Time to Thrive, host Elizabeth Gillies talks with Professor Denise Turner — social work professor, psychotherapist, and researcher about what happens to parents when their children leave home.

Despite affecting millions of families, the empty nest experience is surprisingly under-researched in the UK. Professor Turner shares findings from her pioneering study, revealing that while some parents embrace this stage as a time of reinvention, others face profound loss and challenge.

We explore:

• Why we struggle to talk about the empty nest
• Language, labels, independence and interdependence
• How financial privilege, prior losses, and single parenthood shape the experience
• Policy implications to support this life stage
• What's next — Professor Turner's plans for a major three-year research study

A thoughtful, human conversation about a midlife transition that deserves far more attention.

If you enjoyed this interview you will also enjoy: Empty Nest Reflections: Fresh Perspectives with Professor Paul Grantham HERE

Go to HERE to learn more about how we support parents through this university transition to an empty or emptier nest.

In this episode of Successful Student Transitions: A Time to Thrive, we're joined by Lisa Liang an intercultural storytelling expert, speaker, actor, and TCK advocate for a deeply moving conversation about change, identity, and belonging.

Lisa grew up across Central America, North Africa, the Middle East, and the United States as a multiracial dual citizen, navigating constant movement from an early age. She shares how those early experiences of waking up in unfamiliar places, making friends in new classrooms, and shoving down the losses shaped her understanding of transition.

We explore:

• Why storytelling is the most powerful tool for navigating change and how expressing your experience creatively can transform pain into connection
• The difference between surviving and thriving through transition, and why your feelings, all of them are 100% valid
• Three practical go-to strategies for students facing new environments: giving your experience a "space and a place," grounding yourself through embodied breathing, and never dismissing what you feel
• Why the so-called "best years of your life" can feel like anything but and what to do when they don't

Whether you're a young person stepping into a new world, a parent watching from the sidelines, or anyone who's ever felt like the odd one out, this episode is a reminder that the mess and the magic of change are inseparable and that your story, however hard, is gold.

Find Lisa's work at interculturalstorytelling.com and her solo show Alien Citizen at aliencitizensoloshow.com

Welcome to the final instalment of "Lean into Student Life Series for students adjusting to the first term at university

It’s December and we’re guessing that as you head into the final weeks of your first term some of the academic realities are beginning to set in.

You may have faced some academic highs and lows, maybe found yourself procrastinating when things have become a little challenging, and found yourself trying to work out how to adjust to this new learning environment. And if this is the case for you, then know you are not alone. The transition to university life and all that it entails includes academic adjustment as well.

In this episode, we share five practical tips to help you navigate academic challenges, develop a positive approach to learning, and lay the foundations for long-term success.

Whether you're struggling with perfectionism, finding it hard to ask for help, or simply trying to establish good study routines, this episode offers evidence-based strategies and compassionate guidance to support you through this transitional period.

If you want to go deeper, we’ve created a special online space where you can go and review the content of this episode using the show notes which are packed with reflection questions and additional resources designed to support you on your university journey.

Gain access for free now by going to HERE

www.Successfulstudenttransitions.com/lean-in