Episodes

Infidelity, and the Empty Nest with Gordon & Jenn (Season 4 | Episode 154) [Tessa] In this episode of The Open Nesters Podcast, we hear from Jenn and Gordon as they share their journey from swinging lifestyles to polyamory. They discuss the importance of communication, honesty, and setting boundaries as they navigate blended families and transition into an open relationship. Jenn and Gordon highlight the growth in their relationship, self-discovery, and the support of a community. Hosts Amir ...

Why Slowing Down Builds Intimacy with Dr. Karen Berry (Season 4 | Episode 153) [Tessa] Welcome to The Open Nesters Podcast! In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Karen Berry, an experienced marriage and sex therapist with a soulful, spiritual approach that resonates with us as Open Nesters. We kick off our Love, Sex, and Intimacy series for February by diving into the importance of intimacy and how it can be expanded in partnerships. Dr. Berry highlights the complexity and acquired taste of ...

Spiritual Cross Training with Benjamin Shalva (Season 4 | Episode 152) [Tessa] I have known of Rabbi Benjamin Shalva for over a decade. I can think back to when my kids were all at home and even then his words connected with me. I read his book, Spiritual Cross Training: Searching Through Silence, Stretch, and Song, and was greatly inspired. Equally wonderful is his book, Ambition Addiction: How to Go Slow, Give Thanks, and Discover Joy Within. About Rabbi Shalva Benjamin Shalva’s poetry a...

Sobriety and the Empty Nest A Panel Discussion (Season 4 | Episode 151) [Tessa] Something particularly special for you… and SO early in the year! Kelvin, Andrea, and Dede have a lot to say about their own very touching stories. They are ‘open books’ about their alcoholic and addicted pasts, and we can learn quite a bit from their lives. The Open Nesters Podcast presents a panel discussion on sobriety (drugs and alcohol). Our panelists are intimately informed on this topic. On the panel we ha...

Season IV | The Open Nesters Podcast AND… WE LAUNCH! (Season 4 | Episode 150) [Tessa] Amir and I discuss the many themes we have covered across our first three seasons. What we like. Candid conversations. How discussions about grief can be invigorating. How these 75 hours of programming have affected our relationship. And we announce that we are going to a bi-monthly broadcast schedule. We’re so glad you are along for the ride. It’s season IV and we are thrilled to be with you again for anot...

Dry January in the Empty Nest A Panel Discussion (Season 3 | Episode 149) [Tessa] Do you observe a dry January? Do you need (!) a dry January? The Open Nesters Podcast presents a panel discussion on sobriety (drugs and alcohol). And the panelists are intimately informed on this topic. On the panel we have: KELVIN YOUNG Kelvin Young is an award-winning sound healer and co-founder of Soul Care Love, LLC. He has been sober from alcohol and other drugs since March, 6th 2009. Kelvin received hi...

Trust and the Empty Nest (Part 2) with Tessa and Amir (Season 3 | Episode 148) [Tessa] Empty The gift of space. Room to grow. Room to play. We talk about giving each other space in this short episode. Part 2 of our intimate episode about trust and generosity. And in reviewing our conversation I can see that we interpret the word generosity in a novel way. The generosity of time and space. Giving your partner the freedom to explore what excites them. Not getting in the way. Encouraging life e...

Trust and the Empty Nest with Tessa and Amir (Season 3 | Episode 147) [Tessa] Empty Nest Generosity. Trust. Responsibilities. Big Words… and lots for Amir and me to discuss this week. We refer a lot to what we learned in Season 3 | Episode 108 with Jessica Fern. H E A R T Jessica Fern is a polyamorous psychotherapist. Her ground-breaking new book, Polysecure, looks at how attachment theory shapes and plays out in non-monogamous relationships. REFERENCED (for polysecure and simply the trus...

Empty Nest Love (in the Love Lab) with Sue Jaye and Joe (Season 3 | Episode 146) [Tessa] You know that sense of wonder you have when you read an exhaustive and brilliant piece in The New Yorker? Or maybe when the New York Times just delivers something eye-popping on The Daily Podcast or in the Sunday Edition of the paper? Or how impressed you are sometimes when you hear Anna Sale or Ira Glass or the Radiolab guys blow your mind? Well – get ready. You’re going to feel that when you listen to ...

The Radio Vagabond Still on the Road with Palle Bo (S3 | E145) [Tessa] WE LOVE PALLE BO! Again and Again… and Again! Today we break a record. Palle Bo is the first three-time guest on our show. Well deserved! Yes – our staff listens to Palle’s world-class podcast, The Radio Vagabond, each week. Amir and I love to travel and, even when we are state-side, we can travel along with Palle through his podcast. I guess we’re a bunch of vagabonds at The Open Nesters Podcast. The Radio Vagabond Be...

KINK & POLY Reflections by Amir (Season 3 | Episode 142) [AMIR] Reflections on a past episode. A highly stimulating, kinky and sexy episode from Season 2 (Buckle and Strap On). In some ways I hope you missed this one and that we can reflect on it here. Then you can go back and listen to the whole thing… afterward. I excerpt my favorite points in my first solo episode in our three seasons of The Open Nesters. And I have to say it is really a pleasure to muse on.. kinky pleasure and pursuits. ...

Deciding Without Fear with Paul and Peg (Season 3 | Episode 141) [TESSA] We have Peg and Paul this week on The Open Nesters Podcast. As I listened to our work after doing the interview it was like eavesdropping on one of a million conversations that 60-something’s are having all over the world. I think the value here is to hear how others make their decisions and hedge, and bob and weave… and – basically… live. To continue the conversation jump on our private Facebook group or send me a note...

Flirting with Mortality Your Legacy with Kit Pappenheimer (Season 3 | Episode 140) [TESSA] This is an emotional episode. With the crisis in Israel and the passing of my father a few months ago, I really needed to speak with Kit Pappenheimer. You may remember, from season two, our conversation with Kit and her husband, Jeff: Love in the Third Third of Act III. If not you might revisit that one. We had a wide-ranging conversation about their past lives and their current relationship. We discuss...

Don’t Let Age Get in the Way with Ashton Applewhite and Kyrie Carpenter (Season 3 | Episode 139) [TESSA] This episode is all about NOT trying to stay young. Because, if you think about it… none of us are going to stay young. Rather this episode is about all that goes with aging. In fact, we spend a considerable amount of time talking about ageism. We take a hard look at the names we ascribe to ourselves and to others as we grow older. What about that comment we hear and may even use “You loo...

A Male Tradition of Mentorship and Wisdom with Adam and Isaac Paulman (Season 3 | Episode 138) [TESSA] We have an interesting experiential journey across a 50-minute interview with father and son, Adam and Isaac. Adam (the father) explains Cuddle Party and the importance of human touch. Isaac (the son) teaches us about nature through his adoption of the Japanese practice known as Forest Bathing. BEING RELEASED: Isaac had so much to say about himself being “released” by his father to go out a...

Late Bloomer’s Success with Tessa & Amir (Season 3 | Episode 137) [TESSA] It is Q&A Time with Amir. We’re going to cover a lot of ground in about 25 minutes so buckle your seatbelts. I want to call this one “no holds barred” questioning. This is in some ways my chance to do an on-air Q&A with Amir… to tap into his thinking on ACT III of life. The topic is Late Bloomer’s Success. It turns out Amir is indeed a late bloomer. From kissing, to sex to marriage to having children. Even business bu...

Choices That Matter with Kim DeYoung (Season 3 | Episode 136) [TESSA] Our guest this week, Kim DeYoung, is the Choice coach, author of The Book of Choice and host of The Voice of Choice. Kim’s particular kind of genius is helping thoughtful people make intentional choices that allow them to live more examined lives. By making conscious choices, they become who they want to be. Kim shares a number of stories about her children. I loved her interaction with her 24-year-old son (and his college...

Creative Passions in Act III Tessa and PJ Chat it Out (Season 3 | Episode 135) [TESSA] It’s like bringing the band together – in this case for the first time on the air. Tessa, Amir… and Mr. PJ. PJ Ewing has been a part of our podcast troop since the beginning. We have learned so much about how to build our show to the success that it is together. We feed off one another. The concept that captures what we do is “cross-pollination.” I have a theme idea, Amir validates and expands on it, PJ vis...

Dream Big, Live Courageously! with Marni and Jeremy (Season 3 | Episode 134) [TESSA] Courage… friend of the podcast… courage!!! These two, Jeremy Crane and Marni Batista, are just like you. They want a lot out of life. They know that there are risks to making big decisions. They are not “made of money.” What defines them is that they have this little thing called courage. Plus they are not afraid to dream big. But what does that mean in real life? For Marni and Jeremy, it meant divorce. Da...

Living from the Wisdom of Silence with Edi Pasalis (Season 3 | Episode 133) [TESSA] The wisdom of silence. It brings so much to mind. When you consider that word what do you think about? Yoga? A pause in your day? A morning ritual? The times in between? Contemplation. As it turns out silence is a thing you can practice. It can help you become more familiar with your own self. A means of feeling your body and looking at your mind. Just the act of inhaling and exhaling has a space in between… ...

Failure is Our Friend with Terry Clarke Murphy (Season 3 | Episode 132) [TESSA] A dear friend as a guest means a meaningful episode. Terry Clarke Murphy. I know this lady so well. From the time that our children were running around the backyard naked and we were breastfeeding on the back porch to recent days following her passion and practice of helping people. Soulful Sidney Explores Diversity, the book, comes to mind. SOULFUL SIDNEY EXPLORES DIVERSITY Terry is a prolific writer and is on...

Act III: Dream Big, Dream Small with Tessa and Amir (Season 3 | Episode 131) [TESSA] Gloves off! Amir and I go at it (in the most loving way possible) about the nature of dreams. Big and small. Dreams of life’s Act III. We have very different approaches to many things, including this idea of a dream. While we have a robust conversation about the topic, maybe it is helpful to see what the word means in its many contexts. Britannica Dictionary definition of DREAM 1 [count] : a series of thou...

Evolutionary Family, Partnership & Vision for Earth with Alia & Hayden (Season 3 | Episode 130) [TESSA] This is our second entry into our new Voices of Millennials and Gen Z series. Hayden and Alia visit us from two very different places for this interview. Hayden in Durango, Colorado. Alia in Latk Atitlan, Guatemala. The word that comes to mind from our conversation with these two highly innovative people is “cultivate.” Hayden and Alia have cultivated so many aspects of the world around t...

Women & Community with Lillian Taylor (Season 3 | Episode 129) [TESSA] Women live longer. Just a fact of life. That means that there are a lot more women than men living deeper into ACT III of life. And that can lead to loneliness. Enter Lillian Taylor and community building among women. Lillian takes us through how her interest in an online life many years ago has translated into new meaningful relationships “in real life” or what we’ll call offline. One example of a female community that h...