Gen X Juggler Podcast

This week on the Gen X Juggler podcast, Deb welcomes Rick and Clancy Denton, empty nesters who host The Loud Quiet podcast and wrote a book of the same name about life after kids leave home. They explain that the podcast began after Clancy worried about what their marriage would be like without “kid glue,” becoming a weekly intentional connection point. The conversation covers how empty nesting changes roles and routines, the need for intentionality to avoid drifting apart, and balancing independence with couple connection amid the risk of “gray divorce.” They discuss shifting from parent-in-charge to coach/mentor with adult kids, offering advice mainly when asked, and letting kids make non-catastrophic mistakes while staying supportive. They share rediscovering friendships and fun, and describe their book—organized by the first year’s seasons—capturing highs and lows, with their kids writing the foreword, and they direct listeners to theloudquiet.com, a Facebook community, and Amazon. 00:00 Empty Nest Reality Check 00:52 Meet Rick and Clancy 01:42 How the Podcast Began 04:45 Preparing for the Shift 06:45 Intentionality Beats Inertia 08:23 When Adult Kids Come Home 10:01 Parenting as Coach Mentor 13:06 Letting Them Fail Safely 17:08 Rethinking the College Path 20:06 New Roles and New Rhythms 21:07 Independence and Friendships 23:56 Saying Yes Staying Connected 26:00 Reconnecting With Friends 26:36 Rediscovering Dallas Nights 28:28 Gen X Freedom Returns 29:39 Feral But Responsible 30:16 Writing Their Book 32:19 Proud To Be Authors 33:37 Kids Read It Too 35:11 Graduation Gift Idea 35:58 Empty Nest Daily Changes 38:37 Embracing The Fifties 39:49 Small Newness Matters 41:16 Sadness And Tough Love 42:48 Moving Forward Together 44:27 Where To Find Them Links to Rick & Clancy Denton: https://theloudquiet.com https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18aPc3YHmT/?mibextid=wwXIfr Purchase their book at: https://a.co/d/0byi2IQE **For speaking and event enquiries, please contact Deb at: [email protected]   **Want to be a guest on Gen X Juggler Podcast? Send Deb Foster a message      on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/genxjuggler   Links to Gen X Juggler: https://youtube.com/@genxjuggler?si=GdErb9FBtfInJMTC https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gen-x-juggler-podcast/id1792338965 https://www.facebook.com/share/1CLEHVGu9H/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.instagram.com/gen_x_juggler?igsh=MXRvb3hyZDA4b3MzMQ== https://www.tiktok.com/@debfoster88?_t=ZP-8yp0VGqHois&_r=1 **THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONAL ADVICE IN ANY FIELD INCLUDING LEGAL, MEDICAL, FINANCIAL OR MENTAL HEALTH. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY GUESTS ON THIS PODCAST ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE HOST AND/OR PRODUCERS.**  

Today, we address sleep struggles, especially for the sandwich generation, through a conversation with sleep medicine doctor and seminary student Dr. Benjamin Long, author of Sleep Habits Journal: Practices, Prayers and Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights.   Long explains integrating evidence-based insomnia care (including CBT-I and the SATED sleep health framework) with a Christian worldview, noting research linking religious service attendance to better sleep and religious doubt to worse sleep.   The discussion covers midlife factors such as perimenopause, hot flashes, hormone therapy options, and increasing sleep apnea risk with age, including underdiagnosis and subtler symptoms in women.   Long shares “sleepless night rules” (cease before bed, get out of bed if awake, connect with God, repeat, avoid sleeping in/naps), emphasizes prayer and the Daily Office, cautions against transactional “just trust more” thinking, and highlights biblical themes of sleep as gift, trust, and God’s presence in sleeplessness.   00:00 Midlife Sleep Struggles 01:16 Meet Dr. Long 02:05 Faith Meets Sleep Medicine 04:00 Science Based Sleep Tools 06:25 Research On Religion Sleep 10:25 Screens Stress And Sleep Stages 12:46 White Noise Myths 13:54 Midlife Changes And Menopause 16:41 Sleep Apnea In Midlife 19:46 Sleep In The Bible 21:24 Sleep as Blessing 22:45 Beloved Sleep Psalm 127 24:44 Trust That Lets You Rest 25:45 Trauma and Nonlinear Sleep 28:35 Sleepless Night Rules 30:01 Prayer and Daily Office 33:53 Insomnia as Spiritual Formation 36:21 Caregiving and Night Retreats 40:48 Jesus Shares Our Sleeplessness 42:05 Where to Find the Journal 43:41 Final Encouragement and Thanks   Links to Dr. Benjamin Long:   https://www.sleephabitsjournal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/thewholeheartedmd?igsh=MXB3cnI2b2hpNDlyYQ==   https://www.tiktok.com/@thewholeheartedmd?_r=1&_t=ZP-94Yav67g3pP   https://benjaminlongmd.substack.com/     **For speaking and event enquiries, please contact Deb at: [email protected]   **Want to be a guest on Gen X Juggler Podcast? Send Deb Foster a message      on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/genxjuggler   Links to Gen X Juggler: https://youtube.com/@genxjuggler?si=GdErb9FBtfInJMTC https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gen-x-juggler-podcast/id1792338965 https://www.facebook.com/share/1CLEHVGu9H/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.instagram.com/gen_x_juggler?igsh=MXRvb3hyZDA4b3MzMQ== https://www.tiktok.com/@debfoster88?_t=ZP-8yp0VGqHois&_r=1   **THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONAL ADVICE IN ANY FIELD INCLUDING LEGAL, MEDICAL, FINANCIAL OR MENTAL HEALTH. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY GUESTS ON THIS PODCAST ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE HOST AND/OR PRODUCERS.**  

Host Deb welcomes Jen Hardy, founder of the Pick Your Label movement and Power Up Society, about redefining midlife as an awakening rather than a crisis. Hardy shares her creator journey, including starting a blog and YouTube Channel while managing chronic illness and raising seven children, then shifting from discussing illness to being “fabulous over 50,” which rapidly grew her channel toward 200,000 subscribers.   They discuss choosing and changing personal labels, handling pushback from family and others, rejecting “anti-aging,” and giving women permission to prioritize themselves and make new choices. Hardy explains her “Power Up Generation” concept and her AI-assisted music creation, and both emphasize small 1% daily steps, mindset, connection, and ongoing growth; Hardy can be found at jenhardy.net.   00:00 Power Up Generation 00:54 Meet Jen Hardy 02:11 From Illness to Creator 05:12 Fabulous Over 50 07:24 Pick Your Label 09:26 Handling Pushback 12:00 Right Time No Regrets 17:13 Self Care and Fairness 19:04 Midlife Choices Not Crisis 21:01 Keep Growing Stay Engaged 21:34 Longevity and Fun 22:17 Teasing Jen’s Songs 22:39 Songwriting Roots 23:24 Creating Music With AI 24:16 Power Up Generation 25:20 Starting From Bed 26:05 Chronic Illness Journey 27:34 One Percent Better 29:50 Phoenix Story Mission 31:51 Unshakeable Midlife 33:46 Train Ride Friendships 38:34 AI Tools And Connection 41:48 Human Touch Matters 43:07 Where To Find Jen   Links to Jen Hardy:   www.jenhardy.net/links/   Links to Jen Hardy's Latest Music:   https://youtu.be/oULgNZO9e5k?si=UizihvlWGJwUuCGH **For speaking and event enquiries, please contact Deb at: [email protected]   **Want to be a guest on Gen X Juggler Podcast? Send Deb Foster a message      on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/genxjuggler  Be sure to join Deb for “Talk-O Bout it Tuesday,” a weekly live session on the Gen X Juggler Podcast Facebook page where we talk about this week's episode, connect, and have a fun conversation, Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Links to Gen X Juggler: https://youtube.com/@genxjuggler?si=GdErb9FBtfInJMTC https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gen-x-juggler-podcast/id1792338965 https://www.facebook.com/share/1CLEHVGu9H/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.instagram.com/gen_x_juggler?igsh=MXRvb3hyZDA4b3MzMQ== https://www.tiktok.com/@debfoster88?_t=ZP-8yp0VGqHois&_r=1   **THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONAL ADVICE IN ANY FIELD INCLUDING LEGAL, MEDICAL, FINANCIAL OR MENTAL HEALTH. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY GUESTS ON THIS PODCAST ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE HOST AND/OR PRODUCERS.**