Episodes

What happens when you visit your kids in their own space? We share the funny, surprising, and eye-opening moments of stepping into their world while on the road between Phoenix and Tucson. Visiting your kids on their turf bri...

Some signs of fall are comforting. Some are kind of annoying. And some, like the flashing yellow school zone lights, just make you groan. In this episode, Rick and Clancy share the little markers that tell them fall has arriv...

Retirement isn’t just about 401(k)s and Social Security. It’s also about your identity, your routines, your relationship, and that strange feeling of waking up with nowhere to be. In this episode, Rick and Clancy sit down wit...

The house is quiet again... and we’re back in the studio. The return of the empty nest, even for the 3rd time, stirs up a wide range of feelings. In this milestone 100th episode, we reflect on how much has changed... since st...

You’re a couple again... but it doesn’t feel quite the same. This Greatest Hits episode takes us back to the early weeks of our empty nest life. The routines technically returned... but everything about them felt different. F...

Some parenting lessons don’t hit until you’re in a parking lot, crying with your kid, trying to help them through something you can’t fix. This Greatest Hits episode from our first season walks through a tough moment with our...

The IKEA bags. The ramen in the pantry. The horse figurine in the car. This is the episode we recorded just days after becoming official empty nesters... and let’s just say, the tears were flowing. Originally aired as Episode...

Whether it’s your first college drop-off or your last, move-in season is a major milestone in empty nest life... and it comes with a LOT of moving parts. In this episode, we walk through our favorite practical and emotional t...

You’re never too old... or too deep into the empty nest... to go back to school. In this episode of The Loud Quiet , we’re joined by our friends Scott and Eileen Nichols, fellow empty nesters, public school educators, and pro...

This week’s episode is a bit of a wild card... and we kind of love it that way. We kick things off with three trivia questions from a recent night out…answers revealed at the end…before diving into a week that reminded us how...

Summer used to be packed with popsicles, pool days, and time together. But now... with one child living away and the other working long hours, it just feels different.In this episode of The Loud Quiet, we open up about what i...

Fireworks. Flags. Parades. The Fourth of July used to mean something very specific when the kids were young. But now... in the empty nest... the holiday looks a little different.In this episode of The Loud Quiet, we talk abou...

Judgment. Comparison. That side-eye when you mention you're still financially helping your adult kids. If you're an empty nester, chances are you’ve either given that look... or gotten it. In this episode of The Loud Quiet, w...

Time to lighten it up. After a couple of deeper episodes, we’re kicking back with some TV talk. Summer used to be rerun season, but now there’s new content dropping all year long. So what’s keeping us company on the couch lat...

Empty nesters, rejoice... and brace yourselves. The kids are coming home for summer break, and the vibe in your once-quiet house is about to shift.Clancy and Rick share 10 real-world tips to help you handle the return of your...

What happens when your carefully planned life suddenly goes off script? In this deeply personal episode, Clancy and Rick open up about the past few weeks—full of unexpected loss, chaotic schedules, and the quiet disconnection...

Rick and Clancy returned from Germany and have 10 travel points to share. From pre planning to what to do when you arrive-they have put these points into practice many times. Listen before you plan your next trip. Get your fr...

We thought we knew what to expect from our trip to Germany. We didn’t. In the best way. In this episode of The Loud Quiet, we share the surprises that made our empty nest adventure unforgettable…from unexpected experiences to...

Today, we're bringing back one of our favorite conversations in this Greatest Hits replay of The Loud Quiet. (Originally E23 January 2024) In this episode, we go through five thoughtful questions aimed at empty nesters — a ch...

Today’s episode is a little different here on The Loud Quiet. Instead of hosting, we’re guests! We joined Lynn Smargis on her podcast Caring for Your Aging Parents to share our family’s journey through Alzheimer's and caregiv...

We are back from our Mission Trip. Rick and Clancy talk about what their expectations were and what they took away from their experiences. Listen to what surprised us and how we plan on implementing some of the things we lear...