Back To The Nest

Leah Kern

Back To The Nest is a monthly podcast where Leah Kern sits down with a loved one to swap “acorns”—little tips and insights we’re currently leaning into. Acorns can be trivial things, like a fun new way to store earrings or a brand of clear lip gloss that tastes like vanilla and isn’t too sticky. But they can also be deeper nuggets of wisdom—lessons from therapy, profound lyrics, or a tip to calm existential anxiety. Acorns are the things we gather along the way, and Back To The Nest is the place we share them with you.

Episodes

  1. [Thoughtful Conversations]  From Hedge Funds to Higher Questions with Bruce Gimpel

    May 27

    [Thoughtful Conversations] From Hedge Funds to Higher Questions with Bruce Gimpel

    In this episode, Douglas sits down with Bruce Gimpel for a thoughtful conversation about ambition, reinvention, spirituality, and the search for meaning beyond professional success. Bruce spent decades in the demanding world of hedge funds and high finance, where performance, pressure, and achievement shaped daily life. But alongside his professional career, he was also pursuing something less visible — a lifelong search for deeper understanding and fulfillment. After stepping away from finance, Bruce redirected his energy toward volunteering, nonprofit work, and personal growth. His journey eventually led him to complete five separate 10-day silent meditation retreats — experiences that challenged him to slow down, sit in stillness, and examine life from a completely different perspective. Together, Douglas and Bruce explore what happens when high achievement no longer feels like the full answer, and why so many successful people eventually begin asking deeper questions about purpose, identity, and inner peace. In this episode: What life inside the hedge fund world was really likeThe emotional cost of constant performance and achievementWhy success alone often fails to create fulfillmentBruce’s transition into volunteering and nonprofit workLessons learned from five 10-day silent meditation retreatsThe power — and discomfort — of silence and stillnessIdentity shifts during retirement and reinventionMoving from external validation to internal reflectionWhy lifelong curiosity matters more than having answersWhat it means to become a “seeker” later in lifeThis episode is an honest exploration of the second half of life — not as a winding down, but as an opportunity to grow in entirely new directions. If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s more to life than accomplishment, this conversation will resonate deeply.

    34 min
  2. [Thoughtful Conversations] When Identity Change with Brent Bowden

    Mar 5

    [Thoughtful Conversations] When Identity Change with Brent Bowden

    What happens when the thing that once defined you… no longer does? In this episode, Brent shares his journey from being an NFL punter to building a life in the corporate world—and the identity reckoning that came with that transition. Together, we explore how meaning is built outside of work, why tying your entire identity to one role can be so fragile, and what it really takes to live a purposeful, grounded life after a major career shift. Brent opens up about why he no longer leads with his NFL career when meeting new people, what athletes mean when they say “an athlete dies twice,” and how the character traits developed through elite sports can be translated into a meaningful life beyond the field. Whether you’re a former athlete, someone navigating a career transition,​ retirement,  or simply questioning how much of your identity is wrapped up in your job—this conversation offers perspective, honesty, and a powerful reminder that meaning is something you build, not something you earn through titles. In This Episode, We Cover: How to make meaning outside of workBrent’s journey from the NFL to the corporate worldWhy Brent chose not to lead with his former NFL career when meeting new peopleThe importance of diversifying your identityWhat it means when people say “an athlete dies twice”The emotional and psychological transition from professional sports to life after footballHow Brent translated the character traits developed in football into his post-NFL lifeThe connection between meaning, purpose, and responsibility

    36 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Back To The Nest is a monthly podcast where Leah Kern sits down with a loved one to swap “acorns”—little tips and insights we’re currently leaning into. Acorns can be trivial things, like a fun new way to store earrings or a brand of clear lip gloss that tastes like vanilla and isn’t too sticky. But they can also be deeper nuggets of wisdom—lessons from therapy, profound lyrics, or a tip to calm existential anxiety. Acorns are the things we gather along the way, and Back To The Nest is the place we share them with you.