Pat and Iris crack open a Spindrift and sit down with special guest Robyn Yerian, a former corporate powerhouse turned creator of The Bird’s Nest—a tiny home community designed by and for women navigating retirement on their own terms.

Guest Intro – [00:01:52]

• Robyn shares how her high-stress corporate background and years as a single mom laid the groundwork for something bigger

• She opens up about burnout, rediscovery, and the first glimmers of inspiration for The Bird’s Nest

Main Topic – [00:11:14]
🏠 Redesigning Retirement: Community, Affordability, and Purpose

• Robyn explains what led her to create a housing solution that balances independence and shared support

• They unpack the financial challenges many women face in retirement—and how creative solutions like hers can shift the narrative

• Plus, a look at how The Bird’s Nest went viral and what the response has been like

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Article on Robyn:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/briefing/one-way-to-retire-with-friends.html

0:00 – Banter & Willie Nelson Confusion
1:43 – Welcome to Open House
3:17 – Margie’s Podcast Review
5:05 – SpinDrift Love
6:33 – The Real Estate SVU Bit
7:43 – Realtor Age Stats
11:59 – Meet Robyn Yerian
14:10 – The Bird’s Nest
15:24 – Robyn’s Background
19:29 – Discovering Tiny Homes
22:22 – Downsizing Challenges
27:25 – Tiny Lots on the Prairie
29:52 – Building The Bird’s Nest
32:14 – Why Tiny Homes, Not Trailers?
34:19 – All-Women Community
38:21 – Lessons in Building Community
44:37 – The Business Model
46:45 – Daily Life at The Bird’s Nest
52:57 – Aging in Place
55:47 – Age Range of Residents
57:26 – Community & Belonging
1:03:16 – Rethinking Retirement
1:06:04 – First Podcast, Many to Come
1:07:12 – Closing Thoughts