The Loud Quiet - Empty Nest Living5 Maalis

Empty Nest Solo Travel Life Inspiration with Tracy Smith - E127

At 49, Tracy Smith booked a trip to Ireland with friends. Then she changed the flight. Then she changed it again. What began as a group vacation slowly turned into arriving in Iceland alone… with no clear plan home.

In this episode, Tracy talks about how travel became the vehicle for reclaiming parts of herself she had set aside during years of parenting and managing daily life. The shifts were not dramatic. They started small. Taking a new job. Going to dinner instead of cooking. Letting her son walk home from school. Saying yes to herself in ways she had not before.

She also reflects on something unexpected. At home, she often felt invisible in the routines of everyday life. Abroad, even as a stranger, she felt seen. That difference changed how she approached connection, belonging, and identity.

Her memoir, The Purpose of Getting Lost, explores that evolution. In this conversation, she shares how solo travel reshaped her confidence, her relationships with her kids, and her understanding of what it means to choose yourself in midlife.

Connect with Tracy:

Substack:
https://tracytravelseverywhere.substack.com/

Website:
https://tracysmithauthor.com/

Book – The Purpose of Getting Lost (Amazon affiliate link):
https://amzn.to/4shPDIe

CHATPERS

00:00 Rewriting Your Story
02:30 The Trip That Kept Changing
05:26 Realizing She Had Changed
08:11 The Pre–Empty Nest Shift
12:37 Fitting In vs Belonging
16:22 From Tour Guide to Wedding Guest
21:08 Building Connection After the Kids Leave
24:53 Learning to Say Yes to Yourself
26:45 What Her Kids Think
29:06 Where to Find Tracy

👋 If you’re figuring out who you are outside of the parenting role, this conversation continues inside the Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/theloudquiet

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

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).

Chapters

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(150)

Are Calendars Busy?...or Full?...in the Empty Nest E150

Busy, or full? Rick and Clancy started using that second word on purpose this episode, and it changes how the whole conversation flows.Rick names a trap he's been stuck in for years: believing that on...

13 Elo 28min

Moving Kids Into College? What These Empty Nesters Learned E149

Move-in day never quite goes the way you expect, even after doing it more than once.Rick and Clancy walk through what actually shifts each time, from how much to help unpacking a dorm room to when to ...

6 Elo 29min

Launching kids AND preparing empty nest parents the right way with Hanna Bankier E148

How is the nest empty if you're still living in it? That question from Hanna Bankier is why we brought her on this week. Hanna runs Birdie Launcher, helping parents navigate launching their kids, and ...

30 Heinä 33min

Empty nest marriage tune up and a bucket list band E147

We went into a marriage conference this weekend thinking we didn't really need it. Decades of marriage will do that to you. That assumption got proven wrong fast, especially in a breakout session on p...

23 Heinä 29min

Empty Nester summer isn't summering E146

We set an alarm for five forty this week. After a night out. Nobody made us do that.We keep saying we have more freedom than ever, so why does this summer feel busier than any before it.Turns out the ...

16 Heinä 18min

Empty Nesters Talk Medical Procedures...some necessary, some elective E145

Rick and Clancy are both mid-recovery and mid-appointment season, and this one gets into what that's actually like in our fifties.Between the two of them, this year alone brought a procedure Clancy ha...

9 Heinä 25min

Communicating better as empty nesters with Rebecca Mullen E144

Communication breaks down in the same few places for almost every couple. This episode is about finding those places before they turn into a fight.Rebecca Mullen joins Rick and Clancy to talk about th...

2 Heinä 37min

World Cup Mania With The Empty Nesters E143

The stadium they've seen a hundred times looks completely different through a stranger's eyes.Rick and Clancy talk World Cup fever in Dallas, from Rick's first match in 1994 to watching tourists fall ...

25 Kesä 28min