In midlife and the empty nest era, friendships can look different — and honestly, that can be a good thing. In this episode of dismissed. Jeni and Amy talk about how friendships in adulthood, midlife, and after the busy mom-life years can become calmer, more honest, and a lot less dramatic.

As we get older, many of us stop chasing friendships that feel exhausting or one-sided. Instead, we start valuing friends who add peace, humor, support, and honesty to our lives. Jeni and Amy discuss the shift from intense, constant friendships in younger years to more relaxed adult relationships where there’s no pressure, no guilt, and no drama.

They also talk about letting go of the “go-to mom” role — the person who is always expected to organize, coordinate, drive, plan, host, and keep everything together.  Sometimes that means smaller group texts, casual neighborhood connections, a no-pressure mahjong group, and the freedom to say no to plans without overexplaining.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt drained by friendship drama, overwhelmed by social obligations, or ready to protect their peace and choose friendships that actually feel good.

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Reality TV hits different in your 50s.  It is not just entertainment - it’s escape, connection and the chaos was choose.

Today on dismissed. The Empty Nest Era. podcast, Jeni and Amy are breaking down why midlife women are obsessed with reality TV - and why we should not feel guilty about it.

Jeni breaks down her love of competition shows like The Traitors, Big Brother, American Idol, and watching Love Island with her daughter. 

Amy also shares how rewatching Vanderpump Rules became a comforting escape while adjusting to her daughter leaving for college, and the two talk about why getting invested in cast members, spinoffs, reunions, and crossover reality-TV universes feels so satisfying at this stage of life.

They close this week’s episode with a very relatable PMO: tissues (aka a tish) left in pockets that mess up the laundry.

What reality TV do YOU watch? Jeni and Amy want to hear from you.

Subscribe to the dismissed. The Empty Nest Era. podcast for real conversations about friendship, motherhood, midlife, menopause, parenting transitions, empty nesting, and figuring out who you are after the kids don’t need you quite as much.

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Jeni and Amy talk about how food, cooking, and household routines change once the kids left home—especially during perimenopause and menopause. Jeni shares how she moved from constant meals, snacks, and family food planning to a simpler two-meals-a-day routine, with an early, larger “dinner” that helps her reflux and sleep. Her husband now heats up food when he wants, and sometimes defaults to peanut butter, bread, and Fluff.

Amy, who openly admits she hates cooking, explains her new empty-nest rhythm: a breakfast bar, a supplement-heavy smoothie lunch with collagen and creatine, and then whatever she wants for dinner. Her household has become very GYO- “get your own,” especially when it comes to her husband’s meals.

They also discuss the mental load of meal planning, the reality of having an empty fridge when the kids come home to visit, and Jeni and her husband’s weekly tradition of going out for an early Saturday dinner (ahem, at 3:30pm). Then Jeni brings her PMO “piss me off” about how miserable flying has become, something to which we can all relate.

Subscribe to the dismissed. podcast for real conversations about friendship, motherhood, midlife, marriage, parenting transitions, empty nesting, and figuring out who you are after the kids don’t need you quite as much.

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@thedismissedpodcast on all the socials.

Friendship in your 40s, 50s, and 60s hits different — especially after years of school events, dance competitions, sports schedules, parent groups, and the chaos of trying to fit in with other moms.

In this episode of dismissed. former stay-at-home moms Jeni and Amy talk about navigating adult friendships after being “dismissed” from active parenting duties. They get into their favorite friendship rule: stay away from cray.

From intense mom circles and competitive parent dynamics to jealousy, gossip, one-sided friendships, and those early red flags we all wish we noticed sooner, Jeni and Amy share what they’ve learned about choosing peace over drama.

They also talk about the myth of having a huge group of “besties” and why most people are actually happier with a smaller, more meaningful circle of friends. Because let’s be honest — by this stage of life, nobody has time to work overtime for friendships that feel stressful, competitive, or one-sided.

And in Amy’s PMO segment, she calls out one of the most annoying adult behaviors: whispering to someone in a group setting. Is it rude? Immature? Unnecessary? Jeni and Amy have thoughts.

If you’ve ever dealt with mom-friend drama, competitive parenting circles, gossip, friendship red flags, or simply learning how to protect your peace as an adult, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to dismissed. for real conversations about friendship, motherhood, midlife, marriage, parenting transitions, empty nesting, and figuring out who you are after the kids don’t need you quite as much.

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Jeni and Amy are keeping it real this week.

This episode of dismissed. The Empty Nest. podcast dives right into what women usually whisper about: plastic surgery, Botox, lasers, and all the procedures they are doing to look and feel younger.

Jeni shares her plastic surgeon told her she came in “too late” and that many women in their 40s are now have “micro-procedures” to possibly avoid a major facelift in their 50s.

They talk openly about why so many women feel pressure to hide cosmetic work, Amy’s real-life skin care procedure (dermaplaning, Scarlet microneedling, IPL for pigmentation — yes, even on her legs), and Jeni’s decision to get a lower facelift . Jeni also says “Eh” to CO2 laser treatment so many women swear by.

And because it wouldn’t be dismissed. without a little Jeni and Amy honesty, they wrap with their biggest PMOs: TV shows that were canceled without proper endings or suddenly changed casts (we’re looking at you, Hulu’s Paradise and The Lying Game).

If you’ve ever wondered what women really do — and why no one talks about it — this episode is for you.

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College preparation isn’t just for the kids — parents need prep too. 

In this episode Jeni and Amy get real about surviving college applications, managing the stress of waiting for decisions, and not tying your identity to where your child gets into college. They talk only‑child emotions, the empty nest transition, and why building your own next chapter — therapy, new routines, Mahjong, pickleball, better friendships — matters just as much as dorm packing lists. 

And of course, they end with a fiery PMO: perimenopause road rage. 

If you’re parenting teens, staring down senior year, or navigating perimenopause in your 40s and 50s, this episode will make you feel seen. Follow, comment, and send it to your favorite midlife mom friend.

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@thedismissedpodcast on all the socials.

If you are looking to optimize your health as a perimenopausal/menopausal woman, THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU.

Jeni and Amy sit down with Dr. Monica Medrano of Innovative Vitality in Chicago who is answering the top listener questions about GLP-1s, supplements and what are the top three things women in their 40s/50s/60s should be doing to optimize their health. 

Monica Medrano, M.D. breaks it all down for us:

• Do you need a GLP-1?
  • Who qualifies (BMI 30+, or 27+ with conditions)
  • Side effects & myths
  • Metformin vs GLP‑1s
• Are supplements really necessary or helpful (yes, if you follow Dr. Medrano’s strategy.)

And Dr. Medrano shares her top 3 priorities for women in their 50s:
 1️⃣ Lift heavy things
 2️⃣ Optimize nutrition
 3️⃣ Lower stress & protect your energy

And as always… we’re figuring it out together. This is for education only — always talk to your provider to get the full run down on what is right for you

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To reach out to Dr. Monica Medrano, click this link:

https://www.innovative-vitality.com/

Bonus Episode! Monica Medrano, MD responds to our nighttime routines episode and offers her TWO, only two, non-negotiables for her nightly skin regimen.

Dr. Medrano proves that it doesn’t have to be complicated.  Just look at her. 

She told us to start with the basics and then build based on your skin goals. Not what’s trending. Not what your friend is using. 

She recently simplified her own routine. She went from using six different products down to just two main ingredients: retinyl and hyaluronic acid — plus a good cleanser and a mild toner. That’s it. We found that so refreshing because we’re constantly being told we need more.

Big takeaway – Be consistent.

And as always, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out on social, send us an email, tell us what you’re using and what questions you want Dr. Medrano to answer next. 💬✨

Can’t wait for you to hear the full episode with Dr. Medrano next week.  She is answering the top three questions listeners have had.

Subscribe and follow and contact us with your thoughts.

Write to us at: [email protected]    

To reach out to Dr. Monica Medrano, click this link:

https://www.innovative-vitality.com/

This week on dismissed, Jeni and Amy are talking about their nighttime skincare routines.

As two former stay‑at‑home moms navigating this weird and wonderful empty‑nest phase, they’ve realized that their evenings look very different — and so do their faces.

Jeni is an early‑to‑bed person. Like… aggressively early. Jeni’s routine, pretty simple. She doesn’t even really wash her face. (Don’t yell at her.)

Amy, on the other hand, is a night owl and a layering queen. She’s washing with Proactiv, applying a restorative skin complex, rolling frankincense and castor oil under her eyes, slathering on Medicube collagen jelly cream, and finishing with a red light mask for 10 minutes every single night. Now that’s commitment. And it works because Amy’s skin is gorg.

We also talk about what actually works when it comes to anti‑aging skincare, whether products beat procedures, and why we probably need to bring a dermatologist on to settle this debate once and for all.

Jeni and Amy are telling listeners (and showing for those podcast video viewers) all of the products they use (No Paid Placements - We Wish!).  If you’re into realistic midlife skincare, honest beauty routines, red light therapy, retinol confessions, and a little empty‑nest humor — this one’s for you. And tell us: are you Jeni (simple skincare) or Amy (layering queen)?

Let’s talk about it or visit us on socials.

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Is it just us… or is making new friends in your 40s, 50s, and 60s hard?

In this episode of dismissed., we’re talking about something no one really prepares you for: how to build community in midlife — especially when the built‑in structures (school, kids’ activities, carpools) start to fall away.

But first? We address the real crisis:

Perimenopause and menopause sweating.
Sweating Sisters unite!

From workout classes to “leaky club” napkin situations, we kick things off with some very honest midlife humor — because you have to laugh. 

Then we dig into the deeper question:

Why does building community get harder as we get older?

When kids leave for college, when routines shift, when long-time friend groups change — it can leave a real social hole.  If you’re navigating friendship after 40, feeling lonely in midlife, or wondering how to make new friends as an adult — this conversation is for you.

And we want to hear from you.

How are you building community in this season of life?

Let’s talk about it or visit us on socials.

Write to us at: [email protected]