PLATE & PONDER: Empty-Nesting with Jen & Chris Fenton

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Phil and Katie Brodkin (w/ a cameo by Jenna Brodkin) join us again as we breakdown this past year and our excitement for the upcoming one! It's hard to believe, but yes, it's almost 2026!

Serious subjects include:

1 - What we are thankful for.

2 - Habits we want to continue and build further upon.

&

3 - The importance of both resilience and reflecting on accomplishments.

And we add some fun shout-outs and epic banter in this episode too...

Please download, follow, enjoy, and review... Happy Holidays!

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Well... the day started very early... 3am to be precise... thanks to a leak in our bedroom that decided to drop H2O on Jen's beauty sleep! (Don't worry. Our home-from-college-kids slept til noon!)

Ah yes, the wonders of atmospheric rivers in Southern California... They just don't make roofs like they used to!

But other than that, Christmas Eve is moving nicely towards a fun evening with Santa, his reindeer, and gifts under the tree on Christmas day! 

Our serious topics include:

1 - The latest "Avatar" Movie (and a side-note on running-times).

2 - Chris Nolan's upcoming "The Odyssey" adaptation.

And

3 - A follow-up on the Brown University tragedy and the always unfolding Adventures-in-the-Epstein-Files saga.

Please sit around the fire, grab a glass of eggnog, and enjoy the latest episode of PLATE & PONDER: Empty-Nesting with Jen & Chris Fenton!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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And, oh yeah, we cover Venezuela too!

After a brilliant Sunday morning surf session with family and friends, we cover some serious topics that will continue to be discussed throughout the holidays:

1  The Epstein Files

2  Brown University Incompetency (and the tragedy we must not forget that happened there)

3  And where did all this Venezuela stuff come from? 

Bottom-line, we Plate & Ponder, EMPTY-NESTING-STYLE!

Please follow, download, review, and enjoy! 

Happy Holidays!

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Ok, don't fault us, but we did go down the rabbit-hole of what happened at both Brown University and MIT this past week. The tragedy affecting so many generated a nation-wide passion to find the person responsible. BUT, in the process, we also witnessed some bizarre behavior, events, and narrative that created powerful fodder for conspiracy discussions... We tackle that, and even admit our own personal flaws of falling into that said conspiracy trap... or, are we justified for doing that? What will history tell those looking back on this tragic past week?....

Let's all hope that the deceased suspect is, in fact, the evil one responsible. 

We then segue into the question, "Are driverless cars safer than cars with a human driver?" 

I say "yes". Jen says "no". Time will tell.......

And, oh yeah, we are now in 25 Countries around the world! SO THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Please follow, download, listen, and review! We are, PLATE & PONDER: Empty-Nesting w/ Jen & Chris Fenton

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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(Photo: "Stand By Me") - The late (and great) Rob Reiner was prescient. Maybe we can't handle the truth... Or perhaps many in leadership want to make sure we never come to know it. Whether red or blue or green or purple, it simply doesn't matter. This past weekend was tragic, and a symptom of much of what isn't working within our system... the system of humanity.

Yes, this show is about escapism and bantering about interesting subjects that fascinate us all on a daily basis.

It's also about the trials and tribulations of empty nesting... Something that's brand new for many of us...

But it also has to address serious topics with a deep respect. So yeah, we talk about our dislike of Los Angeles Airport during the holidays (and most every other time). And our love of having the kids home for the holidays too. And the holiday fireworks and the fun celebrations this time of year.

But we also had to address this weekend. From the tragedy on Australia's Bondi Beach, to the horrors at Brown University, and, of course, to the brutal ending of the talented Rob Reiner's illustrious life. Our hearts are broken.

It's Plate & Ponder: Empty Nesting with Jen & Chris Fenton...

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Yeah, we were an empty house for only a beat... That Thanksgiving to Christmas return to school barely lasted more than a blink of an eye, and now the kids are back! 

Game on! 

First one back to the South Bay is the VIP of VIP's, Lauren Crotty. Part of the family of South Bay Royals known as The Crottys!!!

She's a Georgia Bulldog, and once we get thru the catching-up chit-chat, we go straight to what it is to be a true DAWG!

Lauren walks us thru SEC Football, Greek Life, Chicken and Waffles, the hot spots in Athens, the latest Athens Music Scene, and, of course, where she LOVES to study!

It's all here in one single episode! THIS IS LAUREN CROTTY, THE SEC EDITION!

Welcome to PLATE AND PONDER: EMPTY NESTING WITH JEN & CHRIS FENTON.

Please follow, download, review, and, most importantly, enjoy!

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A final Sunday evening before we go FULL-HOUSE for the next month with the kids home for the holidays... That means one last leisurely dinner with our friends Katie & Phil Brodkin (and our epic dogs). Then the chaos of college kids will sweep thru our little beach town!

Most importantly on this episode, we celebrate the TENTH BIRTHDAY of our favorite furry friend, FLYNN!

Then we discuss the importance of pets to the well-being of their owners. You want to live longer and healthier? Get a dog (or any other pet for that matter)!

We move on to the "COVID Induced Reluctance to Leave the Couch" that happened to all of us (and remains), and why, you MUST break thru it. 100% of the time, you'll be happier that you got out and socialized with friends, rather than binge watched the latest whatever on Netflix......

And finally, a quiz is taken by Chris to see just how well she knows and understands (and listens to), Jen! And guess what? He passes with flying colors!

Please follow, download, review, and enjoy! We'll be launching new episodes regularly throughout December, so get ready for MASSIVE FUN and ENGAGING CONVERSATION as we continue to PLATE & PONDER!

 PS. GO TULANE AND GO MIAMI! College Football Playoff bracket has been announced! Let's GO!

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Yes, Los Angeles has tunnels, and we've used them! Want to know where they are? We tell you!

And what happened to the old Water Cooler? You know, the one that we all gathered around and conversed about who-knows-what -- regardless of political affiliations, religious beliefs, or what-have-ya...

And what about the television shows we discussed around those said-coolers?

And, oh yeah, a near miss with Jury Duty this week...

And finally, what's the deal with Potluck dinners and gatherings? Is that old-fashioned and COVID infested? Or are they coming back??

We cover it all on this episode! Please follow, download, review, and enjoy!!!!!!!!

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For all of us newbie empty-nesters, our small town felt completely overrun by college kids returning home to get some free meals, have mom do their laundry, catch-up with old friends at their former stomping grounds, and, eventually, leave a little bit of havoc in their wake... And it all repeats again in a few weeks after Finals!

So yes, we discuss that a bit... But we also hit some serious topics too:

1 - Coaching loyalties, both in high school sports and college.

2 - USC Trojan achievements (Don't worry Bruin fans. We do it quickly!).

&

3 - The Challenge Beijing poses on Hollywood and the world thru mandated narratives. ("Zootopia 2" has re-wakened The Dragon!).

Jen and Chris are back as a solo duet, and we are loving it......  Hopefully you do too! 

Please follow, download, review, and enjoy!!!!!!!

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EMPTY NEST = FULL NEST = OUR TOWN IS PACKED WITH KIDS HOME FROM COLLEGE!

AND WE LOVE IT!!!!

We have Eric & Jenna Brodkin, Dash Seiffer, and Kaylie & Dylan Fenton as our VIP GUESTS on this amazing episode.

It's a short one, because they all have things to do (PG-13 Kind of Stuff), but we do cover:

Some Glazing...

Puppies...

Thanksgiving Favorites...

COVID Connections...

And a lakeside story for the ages...

Please follow, download, review, and ENJOY..............