The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living

Rick and Clancy Denton | Empty Nester Life
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Empty nest thriving! Rick and Clancy have been enjoying life together since the 90s. Starting in Aug 2023, with two college-aged kiddos they entered Empty Nest Living. A quieter house than before...a loud quiet, indeed. Join them as they laugh and cry while trying to figure out how to live the empty nest. Tune in for relatable stories, navigating the ups and downs of empty nest life with humor about the empty nest journey. 📖 Our book is here! Get your copy of The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, here: https://amzn.to/4sC0EV7 © EX4CX LLC. All rights reserved.

  1. 6d ago

    My Empty Nest Shopping Spree Needs To End E161

    Impulse shopping has never been easier, and in the empty nest it can sneak up on you fast. In this true confessions episode, Clancy asks: am I addicted to shopping, or is it just a phase? A new season, a closet she's rebuilding from scratch, a TikTok feed full of cute finds, and one-tap Apple Pay all lined up to fill our porch with boxes. Nothing on its own was expensive. Together, it was a lot. Rick owns his part too. As the one who handles our finances, he saw the spike and went with passive aggressive comments about the packages instead of a real conversation, even 26 years into our marriage. We talk about why shopping addiction gets a wink and a smile when other habits don't, what happens when you try to scroll your way out of the algorithm, and the three things we’re trying now: friction, transparency, and balance. Dining and travel are on the table too. If your empty nest spending has quietly crept up, this one's for you. In this episode, you'll learn: -The impulse shopping triggers that stack up in the empty nest, like a new season, a changing wardrobe, and shopping with friends, and how fast they add up. -Why TikTok and one-tap Apple Pay make shopping almost frictionless, and how that missing pause turns "that's cute" into another box on the porch. -The early signs your shopping has gone past need, like buying a near duplicate of something you own or borrowing a shoe shelf from your kid's old room. -Why shopping addiction gets laughed off in a way other habits don't, and how the rush of a new outfit and a compliment keeps the cycle going. -How conflict avoidance shows up in marriage, even after 26 years, and why a snarky comment about packages is not the same as an honest money conversation. -Three ways to curb impulse shopping and empty nest spending: add friction, be transparent about where the money goes, and aim for balance instead of going ditch to ditch. Prior Episode mentioned: Empty Nesters Talk Medical Procedures...some necessary, some elective E145 https://youtu.be/W70db0uhd5k 📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest https://www.theloudquiet.com Has your empty nest spending crept up too? Tell us what's helping in the Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Am I addicted to shopping or is it a phase? 01:21 Fall clothes and starting a closet over 03:56 Shopping from the back seat on vacation 05:00 How TikTok fuels impulse shopping 07:19 Apple Pay and frictionless spending 08:16 A cucumber and a cardigan at Walmart 10:52 When did the shopping become too much? 14:08 Why shopping addiction gets a wink and a smile 17:30 Will the algorithm let you walk away? 20:06 Rick's passive aggressive package comments 25:26 Friction, transparency and balance 31:37 Our book as a holiday gift 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).  #EmptyNesters #EmptyNesting #EmptyNest #ImpulseShopping #ShoppingAddiction #EmotionalSpending #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt #MoneyAndMarriage #Marriage #Relationships #Lifeafterkidsleave #Newchapterinlife #Reconnectingasacouple #Relationshipafterkids #HolidayGiftIdeas #Podcast #TheLoudQuiet

  2. Oct 22

    Where Has All The Kindness Gone? Can Empty Nesters Bring It Back? E160

    Acts of kindness are the small, observant choices that take about 30 seconds and can turn someone's day around. So why do they feel so rare right now? On Clancy's morning walks, only about 60 percent of people wave or say hello back. Commutes turn into races, a friendly note on a windshield feels like a scam, and the algorithm keeps feeding us the worst of each other. If you've been wondering where all the kindness went, especially in this empty nest season, you're not imagining it. We're Clancy and Rick Denton, empty nesters and co-authors of The Loud Quiet: Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, and in this episode we trade the stories that restored a little of our faith in people. A stranger who waved Clancy ahead in the checkout line. A fulfillment center worker who mailed back the truck keys Rick accidentally returned. A quick DM reply from a podcast host that ended with a compliment. We also get honest about how hard it is to be kind to the person you live with, especially during a sick week, and why scheduling kindness works better than waiting to feel it. Clancy reads a passage from Theo of Golden by Allen Levi, and we leave you with a real question: with World Kindness Day coming up on November 13, what could empty nesters do together to bring kindness back? In this episode, you'll learn: Why acts of kindness feel so rare right now, starting with Clancy's morning walk count, where only about 60 percent of people wave or say hello backHow the commute became the place many of us fall short on kindness, and why turning the other cheek on the road could stop most road rage momentsWhy it can be hardest to be kind to the person you live with, and what a sick week and a 5:40 a.m. alarm taught usHow small acts of kindness start with being observant, from a stranger offering her spot in line to a warehouse worker mailing back lost truck keysWhether social media and the algorithm push us toward negativity, and how a 30 second DM reply proved kindness online still existsWhy scheduling kindness works, from a family day of kindness to serving with your life group, plus the easiest daily habit: thanking your serverWhat Theo of Golden by Allen Levi shows about quiet kindness, and our question for you about what empty nesters could do together Mentioned in this episode: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi https://link.amazon/B08aGbrkl (affiliate link) 📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest https://www.theloudquiet.com Got an idea for an act of kindness empty nesters could do together? Tell us in the Facebook group or leave us a voicemail on our website. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here:  https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Where has all the kindness gone 00:46 Why only 60 percent of people wave back 02:14 Commute kindness and turning the other cheek 06:54 Being kind to the person you live with 10:28 Small acts of kindness in the checkout line 11:29 A company mails back lost truck keys 14:59 Social media, the algorithm and negativity 17:58 A DM reply that made Clancy's day 21:04 Should you schedule kindness 22:02 Why you should always thank your server 27:18 Theo of Golden by Allen Levi 29:30 What can empty nesters do together 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).

  3. Oct 15

    Why University Family Engagement Offices Are Vital With Annamarie Tellez E159

    Mid-semester is when a lot of families start asking these questions. What can a parent do after three weeks of silence? Why do so many students start struggling right around week six? And how do you support your student without stepping back into the driver’s seat? Annamarie Tellez is the director for parent and family programs at the University of Arizona, where our daughter is a senior. Annamarie is also the parent of three Wildcats. Her office is where families go when they don’t know who to call, and she sees the same worries come up with every new class. This is our second conversation with a university family engagement leader. What’s in this episode: What to do when you haven’t heard from your studentWho to contact on campus when something feels offWhy homesickness tends to show up around the six-week markWhat helps a student find their people on a big campusHow to support your student without taking overWhy your second kid’s college experience may look nothing like the firstHow often families can expect to hear from the university University of Arizona Parent & Family Programs https://uafamily.arizona.edu 📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest https://www.theloudquiet.com If your student has called home sounding a little different this semester, tell us how you handled it in the Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome and our University of Arizona connection 1:16 Adjusting when the school updates stop 4:25 Where families turn for campus resources 6:39 Learning to step aside as a parent 9:20 Easing anxiety after you leave campus 11:53 When you haven’t heard from your student 14:40 Supporting your student without taking over 16:36 Why each kid’s college experience differs 19:17 Homesickness and finding a place on campus 22:58 How a club fair helped our daughter 25:17 How often families hear from the university 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).

  4. Oct 8

    Wide Open Spaces Greatest Hits E158

    We just got back from Arizona. Another parents' weekend, another hike into the Grand Canyon. That trip sent us straight back to Episode 9, so we're bringing it back as a Greatest Hits episode. We recorded it in our first few months as empty nesters, a mile and a half down the trail, not even sure the mics were on. If you can, turn on the video. It was Tanner's last parents' weekend at ASU, and we said yes to everything he wanted to do. Then on to Tucson and Teagan, six weeks into college. This time she had every answer and led us all over campus. What's in this episode: Empty trails on a Monday in SeptemberTanner's final parents' weekend, and thirty-two-ounce buckets at CasaA Sunday with no flight to catchSaguaro National Park outside TucsonTeagan back at the restaurant from drop-off, talking nonstopAll four of us at dinner together, in Arizona 📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest https://www.theloudquiet.com If your kid has started giving you the campus tour instead of the other way around, come tell us about it in the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 0:00 Back from Arizona, back to this one 1:02 A mile and a half down the Grand Canyon trail 3:21 Tanner's last parents' weekend at ASU 5:25 Thirty-two-ounce buckets at Casa 8:09 A Sunday with no flight home 11:48 Saguaro National Park outside Tucson 13:40 Working East Coast hours from Scottsdale 19:01 Back to the restaurant from drop-off 20:43 Teagan leads the campus tour 22:40 The last child and what's next 26:22 All four of us at dinner 29:03 Parents' weekend on the U of Arizona quad 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).

  5. Oct 1

    Exploring Los Angeles With The Empty Nesters E157

    Rick gave Clancy a trip to Los Angeles for Christmas, and we finally took it in September. This is our first trip as just the two of us since Mexico last year. The whole thing was built around one concert. The biggest highlight came from a tour Clancy found the Tuesday before we left, after our original plan fell through. That tour got us into hidden places on the Sunset Strip and the stories behind them, the kind you'd walk right past on your own. We also get into where we stayed, where we ate, and where to sit (and not sit) at the Hollywood Palladium. If you're thinking about a trip for two, especially one that doesn't have to wait for a school break, this is our list. What's in this episode: Our first book club, and the discussion guide we built for book clubsWhy our gifts have shifted toward experiencesThe Sunset Strip rock and roll tour that became the highlight of the tripA rare book store with a signed Jaws screenplayLA's mocktail menus and a cocktail inspired by Dean MartinGriffith Park, the Hollywood sign, and a wander up Rodeo DriveDinner six tables deep in a chef's own kitchenSanta Monica to Venice on foot, and brunchPeter Hook at the Hollywood PalladiumSkip the rental car and fly out of Burbank Places and experiences mentioned in the episode: Rock and Walk Tours https://rocknwalktours.com/ Jeff Lewis Live show https://www.siriusxm.com/channels/the-jeff-lewis-channel BookSoup https://booksoup.com/ Rare book store https://www.mysterypierbooks.com/ Montrose at Beverly Hills https://www.montrosewesthollywood.com/ WeHo Bistro https://www.wehobistro.com/ Bar Next Door https://www.barnextdoor.com/ Da Barbara https://barbarapollastrini.com/ Met Her At A Bar https://www.metheratabar.com/ Katana LA https://www.katanarobata.com/ Book Club Guide (in FAQs) https://theloudquiet.com/book/ 📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest https://www.theloudquiet.com Got your own LA favorites, or questions about ours? Share them with us in the Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Thank you to our first book club 01:30 A Christmas gift and couples trip 04:15 The Sunset Strip rock and roll tour 10:48 Rare books and a signed Jaws screenplay 14:56 LA's mocktail menus and Bar Next Door 17:21 Griffith Park hike and Beverly Hills 20:56 Dinner in Da Barbara's home kitchen 25:03 Santa Monica, Venice and brunch 27:39 Peter Hook at the Hollywood Palladium 32:37 Uber, Burbank and traveling in September 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).

  6. Sep 24

    An Empty Nest Chat With Fellow Author John Infortunio E156

    John Infortunio writes about his father's Alzheimer's, and he chose fiction over memoir to do it. On this episode, he tells us why a character can hold what a memoir can't. John is a lifelong educator, a native Brooklynite, and the author of two novels drawn from his own life. We get into how he balances that authenticity with fiction, what actually happens in his editing process, and how growing up in a tight-knit Brooklyn neighborhood shaped the way he writes. He also talks about caretaking for his aging parents while raising his son, and what it took to stop comparing his son's twenties to his own. What's in this episode: Why John chose fiction over memoir for his father's Alzheimer'sHow he balances personal authenticity with writing fictionHis editing process, what gets cut and what gets built upGrowing up in a community-rich Brooklyn neighborhoodCaretaking for his parents while raising his son and building a careerLetting go of comparing his son's twenties to his ownWatching his son grow into his own political and social views You can find John's books, Destroyed by the Events of the Day and Today Was Tomorrow, on Amazon https://link.amazon/B0dthUWCe (Amazon affiliate link), barnesandnoble.com, and Walmart.com. Follow him on Instagram @johninfortunio. 📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest https://www.theloudquiet.com Distance, protection, and letting go show up in different ways in this one. Join the conversation in our Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Why fiction, not memoir, for his father's Alzheimer's 02:58 Hiding behind characters for emotional protection 04:02 Balancing authenticity while still writing fiction 04:21 Editing as the real filter for truth 06:12 Trusting instinct instead of staying guarded 08:23 How teaching shaped his approach to writing 10:44 Growing up in a tight-knit Brooklyn community 14:57 Caretaking for aging parents while raising his son 22:06 Letting go of comparing his son's twenties to his own 25:19 Watching his son grow into social and political awareness 28:22 Healthy disagreement and pushback with grown kids 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)

  7. Sep 17

    Relationship Check In for Empty Nesters Part 2 E155

    This is the second half of their relationship check in, questions Rick and Clancy come back to when it's been too long since the last one. They continue with the 5 love languages conversation, their lowest-ranked ones this time, and move into bigger questions about what the next five to ten years look like. It's easy to assume things are fine because nothing's actively wrong. A check-in surfaces what's actually going on underneath that, the parts that don't come up on their own until someone asks directly. What's in this episode: The different types of physical touch, and why "bedroom touch" isn't the whole pictureRick's lowest love language, receiving gifts, and why he doesn't reach for it naturallyAn old flowers misunderstanding that lasted a lot longer than it should haveTravel, work, retirement, and where they might live nextA timing gap in a relocation decision that came up mid-conversation The check-in questions from this two-part series: 1. Are we still on the same page about how we want to spend our time, such as more togetherness or more independence? 2. What's one thing about our day to day life together that's working really well right now? And what's one thing that you would change? 3. Do we still talk about things other than logistics, the house, the finances, the kids? When is the last time that we've had a conversation that wasn't about a task? 4. What's one way you feel loved right now and one way you wish you felt more loved? 5. What does the next five to ten years look like for us? Travel, work, retirement, relocating. 6. What does staying connected to our now grown kids look like? And are we on the same page around boundaries and involvement? 📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest https://www.theloudquiet.com If this episode has you thinking about your own check-in questions, our Facebook group is a good place to talk through them with other empty nesters. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Five Love Languages Recap 03:30 Different Types of Touch Explained 06:00 Clancy's Highest: Comforting Touch 07:06 Rick's Lowest: Receiving Gifts 09:30 The Flowers Misunderstanding 13:30 Looking Toward The Next Decade 15:43 Relocating Versus Staying Near Kids 20:36 The Timing They Hadn't Discussed 21:41 Why The Check-In Matters 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).

  8. Sep 10

    Relationship Check In for Empty Nesters Part 1 E154

    What does a relationship check-in look like in the empty nest? This episode, Rick and Clancy go through their actual check-in questions. Unrehearsed. Real reactions. They cover togetherness versus independence, what's working day to day and what they'd change, and whether they still talk about anything besides logistics and the kids. Then they get into the five love languages, comparing results and where they overlap and where they don't. Part two picks up with their lowest-ranked love languages and what the next five to ten years might look like. Want to run these check-in questions with your own partner? Here they are: 1. Are we still on the same page about how we want to spend our time, such as more togetherness or more independence? 2. What's one thing about our day to day life together that's working really well right now? And what's one thing that you would change? 3. Do we still talk about things other than logistics, the house, the finances, the kids? When is the last time that we've had a conversation that wasn't about a task? 4. What's one way you feel loved right now and one way you wish you felt more loved? 5. What does the next five to ten years look like for us? Travel, work, retirement, relocating. 6. What does staying connected to our now grown kids look like? And are we on the same page around boundaries and involvement? Want to find your own love language? Take the quiz here: https://5lovelanguages.com/ Our book, The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, is available now. https://www.theloudquiet.com Join our Facebook group for empty nesters and tell us how your own check-in goes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet 🎧 Find all episodes, podcast apps, and YouTube links here: https://www.theloudquiet.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Why relationship check-ins fade over time 02:15 Pre-crisis intervention vs annual check-in 03:29 Question 1: togetherness or independence 10:19 Question 2: what's working, what they'd change 14:27 Question 3: conversations beyond logistics 19:37 Question 4: how they feel loved, beginning 5 love languages 20:56 Clancy's top love language: acts of service 24:08 Rick's top love language: words of affirmation 26:18 Quality time, dreaming, and shared goals 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).

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About

Empty nest thriving! Rick and Clancy have been enjoying life together since the 90s. Starting in Aug 2023, with two college-aged kiddos they entered Empty Nest Living. A quieter house than before...a loud quiet, indeed. Join them as they laugh and cry while trying to figure out how to live the empty nest. Tune in for relatable stories, navigating the ups and downs of empty nest life with humor about the empty nest journey. 📖 Our book is here! Get your copy of The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest, here: https://amzn.to/4sC0EV7 © EX4CX LLC. All rights reserved.

Information

  • Creator
    Rick and Clancy Denton | Empty Nester Life
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rick and Clancy Denton | Empty Nester Life
  • Show Website
    The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living

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