May 7, 2026

Foster Care, A Full Life and an Empty Nest Second Chance at Love with Lisa Guzman E136

Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconYouTube podcast player icon
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconYouTube podcast player icon

Lisa Guzman didn't come to the empty nest the usual way. She came through foster care, homelessness at 17, building a life from scratch, 25 years as a wife and mother, and then losing her husband and her last kid leaving home within a year of each other.

When the roles are gone, who are you? Lisa had to find out. This is that conversation.

Rick and Clancy talk with Lisa about what it actually feels like to redefine yourself after decades of being everyone else's. They get into trust, dating in your 50s, reconnecting with a first love after 37 years, and how approaching a relationship like a business isn't unromantic... it's just smart.

Lisa came up with nothing and built something real. The empty nest, for her, isn't a loss. It's the first time she gets to be herself.

Lisa is a champion of The Place, a Colorado organization providing shelter and transitional support for young people aging out of the foster care system: https://theplacecos.org/

📖 Pick up our book, The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, now available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rpo7rA (Amazon affiliate link)

Also mentioned in this episode: Dr. Robin Buckley on running your relationship like a business: https://www.theloudquiet.com/relationship-insights-boardroom-concepts-for-the-empty-nest-with-dr-robin-buckley-e112/

If you're navigating the empty nest and want to be part of the conversation, this is where that happens: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet

🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com

CHAPTERS

0:00 Foster care, a full life, and a second chance at love

2:07 Growing up in foster care and aging out at 17

4:42 When the roles of wife and mother disappear at once

8:33 Deciding never to date again... then 1987 called

15:15 What dating in your 50s actually looks like

18:49 Age is a state of mind

21:47 Approaching a new relationship like a business

29:37 Supporting young people aging out of foster care

Want to be a guest on The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living? Send Rick and Clancy Denton a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theloudquiethost

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and should not be taken as legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding your specific situation. The opinions expressed by guests are solely theirs and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of the host(s).