Vince Chan

Hi, everyone. Welcome to our show, Chief Change Officer. I'm Vince Chen, your ambitious human host. Our show is a modernist humility for change progressives in organizational and human transformation from around the world. Today's guest is Jodi Silverman, founder of the Moms Who Dare community and someone who knows what it's like to face a totally quiet house and wonder what comes next.

Hi, everyone. Welcome to our show, Chief Change Officer. I'm Vince Chen, your ambitious human host. Our show is a modernist humility for change progressives in organizational and human transformation from around the world. Today's guest is Jodi Silverman, founder of the Moms Who Dare community and someone who knows what it's like to face a totally quiet house and wonder what comes next.

She built a print business, raised a family, and then realized it was time to find something that lit her up again. In this two-part series, we talk about letting go of old roles, parenting when you are no longer the fixer, and why your next chapter doesn't have to look like your last one. Jodi's story is honest, warm, and refreshingly real. Let's get into it.

She built a print business, raised a family, and then realized it was time to find something that lit her up again. In this two-part series, we talk about letting go of old roles, parenting when you are no longer the fixer, and why your next chapter doesn't have to look like your last one. Jodi's story is honest, warm, and refreshingly real. Let's get into it.

So far, among the women you've connected with, what are some of the common challenges they face? And with those challenges in mind, what kinds of solutions have you seen, either from the group or ones you've helped them discover?

So far, among the women you've connected with, what are some of the common challenges they face? And with those challenges in mind, what kinds of solutions have you seen, either from the group or ones you've helped them discover?

This process isn't easy. Like you said, it's not like flipping a switch. It's more like turning a dimmer. The change happens gradually, so it helps to prepare for it step by step, stage by stage. Maybe that means adjusting small habits every day or every month. That way, when the day actually comes, when they really leave for college or move out. You are more ready for it.

This process isn't easy. Like you said, it's not like flipping a switch. It's more like turning a dimmer. The change happens gradually, so it helps to prepare for it step by step, stage by stage. Maybe that means adjusting small habits every day or every month. That way, when the day actually comes, when they really leave for college or move out. You are more ready for it.

The empty nest experience isn't just something moms go through, dads feel it too. So I'm curious, how did your husband handle it? What was his reaction like? How did he respond to the shift at home?

The empty nest experience isn't just something moms go through, dads feel it too. So I'm curious, how did your husband handle it? What was his reaction like? How did he respond to the shift at home?

I think in general, just speaking broadly, men tend to be less, outwardly, sentimental. Part of that comes from how society has shaped us Across cultures, men are expected to be the strong ones, the calm ones. I still remember being told as a kid, boys shouldn't cry. Well, it was okay for girls, which doesn't make any sense. We're all human. We have sentiments. We have feelings.

I think in general, just speaking broadly, men tend to be less, outwardly, sentimental. Part of that comes from how society has shaped us Across cultures, men are expected to be the strong ones, the calm ones. I still remember being told as a kid, boys shouldn't cry. Well, it was okay for girls, which doesn't make any sense. We're all human. We have sentiments. We have feelings.

So I think for many fathers, even if they feel the sadness intrinsically, deeply, they may not show it. Maybe they shed tears in private, but that conditioning runs deep and it definitely shapes how they process things like the empty nest stage.

So I think for many fathers, even if they feel the sadness intrinsically, deeply, they may not show it. Maybe they shed tears in private, but that conditioning runs deep and it definitely shapes how they process things like the empty nest stage.

So quick side story. I was chatting with another guest recently. His father and both his kids had left home. We were not even talking about family at first, more about leadership and career stuff, but somehow this topic came up. And what he shared was interesting.

So quick side story. I was chatting with another guest recently. His father and both his kids had left home. We were not even talking about family at first, more about leadership and career stuff, but somehow this topic came up. And what he shared was interesting.

He said after the kids left, he and his wife decided not to just go back to us as a couple, but instead they each returned to their individual selves. They gave each other space, meaning living under the same roof, but doing the things they loved independently. He said over the past 20 something years, a lot of that got put aside for parenting. Now they are picking it back up again.

He said after the kids left, he and his wife decided not to just go back to us as a couple, but instead they each returned to their individual selves. They gave each other space, meaning living under the same roof, but doing the things they loved independently. He said over the past 20 something years, a lot of that got put aside for parenting. Now they are picking it back up again.

And for them, it works. Have you seen that happen in your own experience? either in your family or with others in your community? And would you say that's a good thing?

And for them, it works. Have you seen that happen in your own experience? either in your family or with others in your community? And would you say that's a good thing?