Empty Nest Happy Hour

This week, we’re spilling all the details on our Paris trip—late-night champagne with the Eiffel Tower, dodging rain at Christmas markets, and living our best off-season traveler lives. Then, we dive into the good, the bad, and the hilariously weird of Christmas movies. From White Christmas and The Holiday to questionable choices like Merry Gentlemen (Chad Michael Murray’s hair deserves its own credit), we’ve got thoughts.Cocktail of the Week: Christmas Old Fashioned – bourbon, cranberry juice, and just enough bitters to match our holiday moods.Christmas Movie Favorites: What’s your ride-or-die Christmas movie? We share our favorites and discuss some of the newly released movies this season. Christmas Traditions: For the love of eggnog, are we actually moving an Elf on the Shelf every night? Cheers to Paris lights, Christmas, and binge-watching holiday favorites. 🥂

In this episode of the Empty Nest Happy Hour, Amy and Danielle dive into the bizarre Netflix Hot Frosty movie, breaking down its attempt at a “sexy” Christmas movie—complete with an anatomically incorrect snowman and awkward jail scenes. The conversation turns golden as the hosts debate which Golden Girl they most resemble, inspired by a viral reel imagining a modern reboot with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jennifer Coolidge. Wrapping up with a discussion on Wicked’s marketing budget, middle school holiday concerts, and the annual Whammageddon challenge, this episode is packed with humor, nostalgia, and holiday cheer. Highlights include: Golden Girls Reboot: The hosts hilariously debate their Golden Girl identities and imagine a reboot starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jennifer Coolidge.Hot Frosty Breakdown: Netflix’s odd attempt at a sexy Christmas movie gets roasted for its anatomically questionable snowman and cheesy clichés.Pop Culture Buzz: From Wicked’s massive marketing campaign to the funny Glicked pairing with Gladiator, the hosts dive into holiday movie fun.

In this special Thanksgiving episode, the kids take over Empty Nest Happy Hour! Amy and Danielle are joined by their oldest children, Emma and Ricky, for a hilarious and heartwarming conversation about growing up, college life, and the joys (and pains) of being independent. From Emma’s love of city living to Ricky’s cleanroom adventures, they reflect on lessons learned, Thanksgiving traditions, and the quirks of their Gen X moms. Highlights from the episode include: Thanksgiving Traditions: From competitive card games to Midwestern jello molds, family quirks are on full display.Parenting Wins: The kids reveal the life lessons (and chores) they’re actually grateful for.Gen Z vs. Gen X: A candid and funny comparison of how two generations approach life, family, and fall holidays.Caramel Apple Sangria: A three-ingredient crowd-pleaser perfect for your holiday table (recipe included!)We love hearing from you! Share your cocktail ideas, empty-nest stories, or topic suggestions at info@emptynesthappyhour.com or on social:Instagram, Facebook, Threads: @EmptyNestHappyHourRate, review, and share the podcast to help other midlife women find us. Cheers to that! 🥂

Happy 21st episode to us! We're officially legal, and we're celebrating with an Amaretto Stone Sour - we totally get why we stopped drinking this drink when we finally turned 21 in real life. This week, we dive into:Pickleball Life Lessons: Why loosening your grip and relaxing your shoulders works on and off the court.Perimenopause Unfiltered: Hot flashes, brain fog, and why Gen X is breaking the silence on menopause.Baby Name Nostalgia: A snarky look at the most popular 70s names and today’s trendiest monikers.Holiday Survival Tips: How to prep for college kids coming home (hint: let them sleep and stock the fridge).Undergarment Glow-Up: When did our underwear get so boring, and how do we fix it?We love hearing from you! Share your cocktail ideas, empty-nest stories, or topic suggestions at info@emptynesthappyhour.com or on social:Instagram, Facebook, Threads: @EmptyNestHappyHourRate, review, and share the podcast to help other midlife women find us. Cheers to that! 🥂

In this episode of Empty Nest Happy Hour, the hosts discuss when to move after the kids leave, offering practical tips on downsizing and decluttering your space. They also share top TV picks, including the Martha Stewart documentary, Rivals, and Younger, perfect for winter binge-watching. Plus, they give a shout-out to new listeners from Janesville, Wisconsin, and toast to OPI’s iconic nail polish shade, Lincoln Park After Dark.

Producer Aunt Lizzy is back from Australia, and joins us to share a bit about her adventures and her work that takes her around the globe. We chat Halloween cocktails, the history of makeup, and why Amy must drive everywhere. Plus, we debate favorite fall movies and get a bit passionate about voting.

This week, the Empty Nest Happy Hour welcomes Suzy Mighell, founder of the blog Empty Nest Blessed. Suzy shares her journey through empty nesting, offering tips on embracing the freedom and joy of this phase, along with practical advice on parenting adult children. The conversation covers the emotional ups and downs of the transition, surprising perks like self-care, and how Suzy found her purpose in helping others through her platform.Segments:Tip of the Week: Erin recommends the Pamela Anderson documentary on Netflix, Amy highlights Will and Harper, and Danielle’s hilarious bra-strap moment takes center stage.Cheers to That: Amy celebrates finding her lost iPad, Danielle toasts to fall foliage, and Erin finally meets the mysterious “Garage Smoker.”Last Call: Erin rants about gender reveal parties, and Amy critiques the rise of “boo baskets” for Halloween.Don't miss Suzy’s inspiring insights, practical tips, and laugh-out-loud moments in this episode! Subscribe and leave a review to support the show. AND...It's the final week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month - don't forget to get your mammograms! Cheers!

We’re taking a short break this week because, well, our trusty producer, Aunt Lizzy, is off traveling for work in Australia, and let’s just say, we haven’t quite mastered the tech side of things on our own. We will be back next week with a great episode. In the meantime, sign up for our newsletter at www.emptynesthappyhour.com.

In this episode of Empty Nest Happy Hour, the ladies dive into a hilarious and heartfelt chat about life as empty nesters, from unexpected "rage issues" to listener stories. Danielle shares her recent battles with menopausal rage, including a dramatic (and hilarious) incident where she shattered her Apple Watch, while Erin brings some laughter with her "chlamydia" gardening mix-up story. They also discuss a heartwarming email from a listener in England, who sent in a pros and cons list about empty nesting—revealing that peace and quiet can sometimes be a double-edged sword.The hosts share their own experiences of having too much alone time, the challenges of cooking for one, and the unexpected responsibilities that come with having the kids out of the house (like changing lightbulbs and being solely responsible for the dog). They highlight the joys of more "me time," a tidier home, and the satisfaction of raising independent children. As always, the conversation is full of humor, relatable anecdotes, and genuine moments of connection.

In this lively and heartfelt episode, Amy and Danielle are joined by special guest, Sue Grey. The three dive deep into different stages of empty nesting, from learning how to "right-size" their lives (not downsize!), to figuring out what to do with all the new found freedom, the trio discusses the emotional and logistical transitions that come with this life change. Sue shares her personal journey, offering wisdom from her 11+ years as an empty nester. The hosts and Sue also talk about the challenge of cooking for two, the importance of deep friendships, and how to fill up the “empty” that comes with an empty nest. The conversation is full of relatable stories, including parenting college students, maintaining marriages, and making space for self-care. Plus, there’s a fun drink recipe—The Spaghett!

In this episode, the Empty Nest Happy Hour crew celebrates a major milestone: over 2,000 Facebook followers since their mid-July launch. Stephanie Faraci joins Amy and Danielle as a special guest, bringing a unique perspective as a mom of an only child who recently left for college. Stephanie shares the emotional ups and downs of navigating empty nesting with an only. The hosts discuss everything from nostalgic stories about babysitters to the bittersweet moments of dropping kids off at college, all while sipping on a seasonal caramel apple mimosa. There’s plenty of humor, heart, and honesty as they reflect on their evolving roles, the challenges of parenting from a distance, and learning to let go. Along the way, they also dive into fun topics like the complexities of strict religious upbringings, the perks of seasonal cocktails, and even a bit of celebrity gossip. Drink of the week: Caramel Apple Mimosa.

Special guest Rick, spouse to Danielle, shares the Dad perspective to empty nesting and the lack of resources for males when it comes to kids leaving the nest. Erin, Danielle, and Rick also go all in on the hottest show on television - The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Come for the outlook on dad's and empty nesting, stay for a realistic look at Danielle and Rick behind the scenes. Drink of the week: Blueberry Mojito.

This week Amy, Erin, and Danielle discuss how they are suddenly talking to themselves, the need for women to size down, adult Halloween party ideas, homecoming past and present, and a passionate take on music icon Dave Grohl. Drink of the week: Honey Deuce.

In this week's episode, Erin provides a full recap of her daughter's dorm drop-off, and all three celebrate being official empty nesters together! Amy, Erin, and Danielle also have a full book discussion on Kristin Hannah's "The Women" (don't worry - we'll warn you of spoilers prior to any big reveals). Finally, we wrap-up with a summer focused Cheers to That. Is it really the end of summer?

In this episode of Empty Nest Happy Hour, Amy and Danielle dive into the origins of the podcast, sharing how the iconic Kathy and Judy show from WGN inspired them to bring their own humorous take on empty nest life to the airwaves. They also chat about a fascinating new study revealing bursts of aging at 44 and 60, and offer some advice on what not to do while your kids are away at college. Plus, there's a quick and fun follow-up on Bennifer 2.0—because who doesn't love a little celebrity gossip?

This week Amy, Erin, and Danielle talk about sleeping in dorm rooms during college drop off, and the Bennifer 2.0 divorce filing which Amy learns about during the recording. Amy and Danielle also share their drop off stories and celebrate that they are now actually empty-nesters.

Amy, Erin and Danielle discuss what the kids will miss when they move out of the house, the National Women's Monument Foundation, Vince Vaughn's interview with the NYT's featured on The Daily, and (of course) their love of dogs.

Amy, Erin, and Danielle share their favorite songs of the summer, discuss the identity shifts of an empty nest, and what their goals (or not goals) of the week.

This week Amy, Erin, and Danielle talk about what they'd medal in during the Paris olympics, how to stay grounded during transitional times their lives, and run-ins with Bravolebrities.

Join Amy, Erin, and Danielle as they talk about attending a Renaissance Faire, book recommendations, run-ins with the friendly garage smoker, and what we won't miss when the kids are actually out of the nest.