When Bradi lost her 19-year-old son Jack to a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl, her world shattered.

In this deeply moving conversation, she opens up about Jack’s vibrant spirit, his struggles with anxiety, and how he turned his pain into purpose through his mental health brand, Happy Jack.

Bradi shares the raw truth about grief, the silent dangers facing young people, and the power of speaking out—so that no other parent has to endure the same heartbreak. This is a story of love, loss, and finding meaning in the unimaginable.

Key Topics Covered:- Jack’s Mental Health Struggles- The Tragic Impact of a Fentanyl-Laced Pill- A Mother’s Journey Through Grief and Advocacy- The Power of Transparency in Mental Health- Finding Strength Through Community and Support

Want to be a guest on the show? Share your story: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFEZYWxRFcUAM19Pe5G5uSK8TjtzoVoK9mrrMWkvam5Tt6IQ/viewform?usp=pp_url

Contact:Website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.comEmail: navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

This week, I’m sitting down with Annie, a courageous single mom who’s navigating life as a divorced empty nester.

We’re talking about what it really feels like to lose your familiar identity and rediscover yourself on the other side. From building new friendships in unexpected places to letting go of the fear of starting over, this is an open-hearted conversation for anyone facing big life changes.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming, this is your invitation to join us for a candid, uplifting, and sometimes hilarious conversation about life’s "third act”.

Key Topics Covered:

• Reinventing life after divorce – How Annie is navigating the emotional shift from married life to being a single empty nester
• Finding friendships in unexpected places – The surprising ways fitness and yoga helped her build a new, supportive community
• Embracing the third act with courage – Why midlife can be the perfect time to rediscover yourself and prioritize what you truly want
• Dating or not dating? – Annie’s honest take on dating in your 50s and why choosing contentment can be just as fulfilling.
• Letting go to move forward – How facing fear, regret, and uncertainty is the first step to creating a purposeful next chapter.

Want to be a guest on the show? Share your story: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFEZYWxRFcUAM19Pe5G5uSK8TjtzoVoK9mrrMWkvam5Tt6IQ/viewform?usp=pp_url

Contact:

Website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com

Email: navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:30 Annie & Her Family Dynamics

02:30 The Challenge of Single Empty Nesting

04:08 Building New Friendships Through Fitness

06:56 Finding Courage and Authentic Friendships

09:31 Dating & Authentic Connections in Midlife

12:36 The Fear and Identity Crisis Before Empty Nesting

15:29 Reinvention & Self-Discovery After Empty Nesting

21:32 Embracing contentment and independence over dating

22:00 How to Overcome Fear and Take Action

24:26 Tips for Creating Your Purpose in Midlife

29:20 Powerful Story of a Dad Rediscovering His Purpose

Balancing elderly parents' needs while adjusting to an empty nest can feel overwhelming—but you're not alone. In this episode, I chat with Brian from Manchester Care Homes about the realities of the sandwich generation and how to navigate this challenging stage of life.

We discuss long COVID’s impact on cognitive decline, how to communicate with aging parents, manage family conflicts, and plan ahead to avoid crisis mode.

If you're caring for aging parents or preparing for the future, this episode is full of practical advice, expert insights, and reassurance to help you handle it with confidence.

Key Topics Covered:

• Balancing Empty Nesting & Elder Care
• Communicating with Aging Parents
• Family Conflicts in Caregiving
• Planning Ahead for Elder Care
• Emotional Challenges & Self-Care

Want to be a guest on the show? Share your story: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFEZYWxRFcUAM19Pe5G5uSK8TjtzoVoK9mrrMWkvam5Tt6IQ/viewform?usp=pp_url

Contact:

Website: https://www.lifecoachallisongoldberg.com

Email: navigatingthelaunch@gmail.com

Timestamps:

00:01 Intro & guest introduction

00:55 Brian’s background

02:02 Experience with aging parents & long COVID

03:05 Balancing empty nesting & caregiving

03:41 What is the sandwich generation

04:25 Emotional challenges & shifting family roles

05:54 Communicating with aging parents07:18 Impact on marriage, kids & family

08:39 Redefining parent-child relationships

10:43 Importance of grandparent-grandchild bonds

12:42 Elder care challenges & family conflicts

12:06 Conflicts between adults and aging parents

14:33 Brian’s journey into elder care

18:01 Planning ahead to avoid crisis mode

19:50 Who should make caregiving decisions?

21:50 Handling resistance from aging parents

22:46 Helping kids connect with grandparents

26:36 Why people avoid hard conversations

28:06 Elder care options for limited budgets

29:51 Finding Brian & elder care services in Texas