Podcast
Intelligent Intoxication
Hosted by Terri Bradway · EN
Get ready to craft a top shelf life with new episodes every Wednesday. Join your host, Terri Bradway, for season two of the Intelligent Intoxication podcast.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Your Adult Children Are Not Your Emotional Charging Station
4d ago00:11:48Tap to summarizeWhen our children were growing up, we were meant to be their emotional charging station. They came to us for: comfort reassurance grounding perspective emotional safety That was healthy. That was parenting. But in the empty nest season, many parents unconsciously reverse that relationship and begin expecting their adult children to emotionally sustain them. Our adult children are not meant to carry our emotional well-being: 1. Children are supposed to draw from us—not sustain us When kids are young, dependency is normal. But adulthood changes the assignment. Adult children are supposed to separate, build lives, and become independent. If we need them to emotionally stabilize us, we place a burden on them they were never meant to carry. Adult children should not be responsible for your peace This often sounds like: Why don’t they call more? I just want them to need me I feel hurt when they make decisions without me Underneath is often: “I need you to help me feel secure.” That creates guilt instead of closeness and obligation instead of intimacy. Worry can disguise emotional dependency Sometimes what we call concern is actually emotional dependence. Ask yourself: Does their happiness determine mine? Do their struggles destabilize my peace? Does their approval fuel my emotional stability? If so, we may be emotionally plugging into them instead of standing on our own emotional ground. A happy parent is a gift Gretchen Rubin shared this idea: “What if our adult children are only as happy as their least happy parent?” Your peace gives them permission to live. Your groundedness frees them from managing you emotionally. A fulfilled parent says: “You are free to build your life. I am fully living mine.” Support them—don’t lean on them for identity This doesn’t mean becoming distant. It means healthy emotional responsibility. “I will always support you, but I will not make you responsible for my emotional well-being.” That is mature love. Reflection Questions Have I made one of my children responsible for my peace? Am I looking to them for identity or validation? Where do I need to create my own emotional stability? What would it look like to become a deeply grounded parent? One of the greatest gifts we can give our adult children is a parent who knows how to stay fully charged on her own. If you’re the midlife mom of adult children who wants to learn how to recharge your own emotional battery, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →What I Learned About Midlife Women—and Myself—From My First Class
2w ago00:18:00Tap to summarizeWhat I Thought Women Needed A clear, written plan for their next chapter Step-by-step direction Tangible outcomes they could take with them What I Discovered They Actually Needed Clarity about where they are right now Language for what no longer fits Permission to want something different Connection to their values A sense of the identity they are growing into Support in aligning habits and routines with that identity Tools to navigate relationships without self-sacrifice Key Insight: Women don’t struggle because they can’t make a plan. They struggle when they don’t yet have clarity or permission. What I Observed in the Room Strong connection and camaraderie Meaningful self-awareness emerging Some hesitation around sharing (safety matters) What I Learned About Myself I am strongest in live teaching and real-time coaching My work is rooted in self-awareness, identity, and behavior—not just planning I help women align how they live with what they value I guide women in managing relationships in a healthy, non-self-sacrificing way Reframe: I’m not just helping women create plans— I’m helping them redesign how they live and relate. What I’ll Change Next Time Make the class longer to allow for deeper integration Clarify the promise so it matches the true transformation Ensure participants leave with something written and tangible Final Takeaway The first round wasn’t about perfection—it was about clarity. It revealed: What women truly need in this season And the work I’m actually here to do Question for Listeners Are you trying to create a plan for your next chapter… when what you really need first is clarity about who you’re becoming? If you’re the midlife mom of adult children who needs clarity in regard to your next chapter, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →Your Adult Children Need You To Be Happy
3w ago00:16:26Tap to summarizeThere’s a quote many mothers have heard: “You’re only as happy as your least happy child.” And if we’re honest, many of us have lived like that’s true. If one child is struggling—emotionally, relationally, financially, spiritually, or professionally—we feel it deeply. Especially in the empty nest season, it can feel like our emotional well-being is still tied to our children’s lives. But what if there’s another way to look at it? Gretchen Rubin shared this thought: What if our adult children are only as happy as their least happy parent? That shifts everything. Maybe our role now is not to keep managing their happiness. Maybe our work is to become the kind of parent whose peace gives them permission to live. Your happiness is not selfis - it’s leadership. A peaceful, grounded, emotionally healthy parent creates freedom for adult children. Adult children need parents who trust, believe, and model emotional adulthood - they do not need a parent who is constantly worried, hovering, or emotionally dependent. Reflection Questions Am I emotionally outsourcing my peace to one of my children? Do my children feel responsible for my happiness? What would it look like to become a deeply peaceful parent? What kind of freedom would that create for everyone? Maybe the goal of motherhood in this season is to become the kind of parent whose life says: “You are free to go build yours. And I am fully living mine.” Because perhaps our children are only as happy as their least happy parent. And maybe the work now… is learning how to become a happy one. If you’re the midlife mom of adult children who needs some support to create happiness in your next chapter, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →What You Need As A Midlife Mom
4w ago00:20:09Tap to summarizeDo you ever wonder WHY you do what you do? So much of our behavior is driven by the need to have an emotional need met. According to author and speaker, Tony Robbins, there are six human needs that drive all of us — and understanding them can bring so much clarity and self-awareness. On today’s episode I’ll apply my understanding of Robbins’ 6 needs to the empty nest stage of life during which midlife women are reimagining “what’s next” while mothering adult children. The Six Needs Certainty The need for safety, stability, comfort, and predictability. Where in life do I need to feel secure? Variety The need for change, spontaneity, challenge, and excitement. Where do I feel bored or restless? Significance The need to feel important, valued, and seen. Where do I seek validation or a sense of mattering? Love & Connection The need for belonging, closeness, and meaningful relationships. Where do I feel connected — or disconnected? Growth The need to learn, evolve, and become more of who I am. How am I stretching in this season? Contribution The need to give, serve, and make a difference. How am I offering my gifts to something bigger than myself? Key Point The first four needs help us feel emotionally safe. The last two create deeper fulfillment. Sometimes what feels like dissatisfaction is simply an unmet need. Reflection Questions for Listeners Which need feels strongest for me right now? Which one feels missing? How am I currently trying to meet it? Is there a healthier way to meet that need? Closing Understanding your needs helps you move from self-judgment to self-awareness. Sometimes the discomfort you feel is simply information. It may be showing you what your life is asking for next. Here’s the link to Robbins’ article: Tony Robbins: 6 Human Needs If you’re the midlife mom of adult children who needs some support as you craft a next chapter that addresses your 6 needs, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →The Happiness Formula For Your Next Chapter
Apr 1500:17:07Tap to summarizeArthur Brooks, author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose In An Age of Emptiness, is a Harvard professor and social scientist who studies happiness and meaning. Brooks simplifies happiness into three core ingredients: enjoyment satisfaction meaning His formula is: Happiness = Enjoyment + Satisfaction + Meaning This gives us a practical framework to ask: What am I truly enjoying? Where am I experiencing progress and satisfaction? What gives this season of life meaning? Especially in the empty nest season, this can become a beautiful guide for rediscovering identity and purpose. If you’re the midlife mom of adult children who needs some support as you craft a next chapter filled with happiness, satisfaction, enjoyment, and meaning, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →Second Season vs. Next Season: Releasing the Pressure to Get It Right
Apr 800:12:51Tap to summarizeSecond Season vs. Next Season: Releasing the Pressure to Get It Right In today’s episode, we’re exploring the subtle difference between calling this chapter your “second season” versus your “next season.” At first glance, second season can sound intentional and beautiful — but it can also carry an unspoken pressure: This is it. This one needs to be right. For many midlife women, especially moms navigating the empty nest and redefining identity, that language can feel heavy. On the other hand, next season feels more spacious. It reminds us that life unfolds in many seasons, not just two. There is room to evolve, experiment, and change your mind. This episode explores: Why the phrase second season can feel high-pressure How next season creates more emotional spaciousness The freedom of knowing this chapter does not have to be final Giving yourself permission to grow through many seasons of life The heart of this conversation: You do not need to get the rest of your life right. You only need to choose your next season with intention. Key Reflection Question What would I choose for this next season if I knew I could evolve again? If you’re the midlife mom of adult children who needs some support as you intentionally plan your next chapter, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →The Changes You Choose vs. The Ones You Don’t
Apr 100:14:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we’re exploring the difference between the life changes we choose as midlife women and the ones that seem to happen to us. Some changes arrive because we intentionally decide something needs to shift — our routines, our relationships, our homes, our health, or the way we want to live this next season. Other changes come without invitation: children leaving home, changing family dynamics, body changes, loss, or unexpected transitions that can leave us feeling untethered. The truth is, midlife often asks us to navigate both. We may not always choose what happens, but we do get to choose how we respond, what meaning we make of it, and who we become through it. This episode is an invitation to notice where life is changing around you, where you are being called to choose, and how to move through this season with more intention and self-trust. If you’re the midlife mom of adult children who needs some support as you navigate the life changes you can both control and not control, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →Stop Trying To Find Your Purpose
Mar 2500:08:17Tap to summarizeSo many women feel the weight of the question: “What is my purpose?” It can feel big, vague, and quietly intimidating—like there’s a “right” answer you’re supposed to figure out. But what if the question itself is the problem? This episode offers a gentler, more grounded approach. Key Shift Instead of asking: “What is my purpose?” Try asking: What lets me feel a little more alive? When do I notice feeling most like me? Does this energize me - or does it drain or deplete me? When do I notice feeling purposeful? Why “Finding Your Purpose” Feels Heavy It implies a single, fixed answer It creates pressure to get it right It keeps you in your head, searching and overthinking It can make you feel behind or like you’re missing something What It Means to Feel Purposeful Feeling purposeful isn’t something you find once— it’s something you experience in moments. It often shows up when you are: Engaged Energized (not depleted) Curious or interested Connected to yourself or others Doing something that feels meaningful, even in a small way Better Questions to Ask Yourself What made me feel energized this week? When did I lose track of time? What felt simple, natural, or like “me”? What am I drawn to lately? Does this energize me or deplete me? The Truth About Purpose Purpose isn’t something you chase— it’s something you generate through how you live. Small moments of aliveness create a life that feels meaningful. Try This Instead of waiting for clarity about your purpose: Follow what feels engaging Pay attention to your energy Let curiosity lead before certainty Closing Thought You don’t need to figure out your entire purpose to create a life that feels deeply meaningful. Start with what brings you to life— and let that be enough to guide your next step. If you’re the midlife mom of adult children who needs some support as you fill your life with meaning and aliveness, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →What Emotions To Expect After Your Kids Leave
Mar 1800:19:46Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we talk about the three emotional stages many women move through when their children leave home: Grief, Relief, and Joy. These stages don’t always happen in a straight line. You may feel two of them at the same time, or circle back to one when holidays, visits, or life transitions happen. But recognizing where you are can bring a lot of clarity. 1. Grief: Letting Go of a Season The first stage many women experience is grief. This isn’t just missing your children—it’s the quiet realization that a whole era of your life has ended. You might notice: What you might be feeling A deep ache or heaviness in the house Sudden waves of sadness at unexpected times Emotional reactions to ordinary things (empty bedrooms, quiet mornings, fewer grocery bags) What you might be doing Looking through old photos Replaying memories of school years, holidays, and routines Talking about your kids a lot Wondering where your purpose fits now What you might not be doing Feeling motivated to start something new Making big life plans Feeling excited about the extra time yet This stage is about honoring what mattered. That chapter of life was real, meaningful, and beautiful. 2. Relief: Space Opens Up Relief is the stage that many women feel guilty admitting. But it’s incredibly common. After years of caregiving, logistics, and responsibility, there is suddenly… space. What you might be feeling Lighter More relaxed in your own home Curious about what you want again Occasionally guilty for enjoying the quiet What you might be doing Sleeping in or going to bed earlier Cooking simpler meals (or not cooking at all) Leaving the house without coordinating schedules Enjoying spontaneous plans What you might not be doing Constantly thinking about what everyone else needs Running a tightly structured household Managing everyone else’s emotions Relief isn’t selfish. It’s the nervous system finally exhaling after years of responsibility. 3. Joy: Rediscovering Yourself Joy comes when the empty nest starts to feel less like a loss and more like an opening. This is where women begin reconnecting with parts of themselves that were set aside for years. What you might be feeling A sense of possibility Excitement about creating something new Confidence in this stage of life Gratitude for both the past and the present What you might be doing Exploring hobbies or interests again Rearranging or reimagining your home Starting creative projects or new work Investing more deeply in friendships or community What you might not be doing Defining yourself only as a parent Waiting for your children’s lives to dictate your own Feeling like the best part of life is behind you Joy in the empty nest isn’t about replacing your children. It’s about reclaiming yourself. A Final Thought Most women move through all three stages at different times. You might feel grief when your child leaves after a visit. Relief on a quiet Sunday morning. Joy when you realize your life still holds so much possibility. None of these feelings are wrong. They’re simply part of the emotional landscape of the empty nest. If you’re the mother of adult children who needs some help navigating these emotional stages, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri I’m thrilled to announce my new in-person class: “Design Your Second Season – Your Kids Are Grown. Now it’s time to rediscover YOU.” Design Your Second Season is a 5-week small-group class where moms of adult children come together to reflect, reconnect with who they are now, and begin shaping a meaningful and fulfilling next chapter. In this class, you’ll gain: • Clarity about who you are now in this stage of life • A vision for what you want your next chapter to look like • Confidence in your gifts and talents • A weekly rhythm that supports what matters most to you The class is designed to be both thoughtful and practical—giving you space to reflect while also helping you take meaningful steps forward. Details: Wednesdays, March 25 – April 22 6:00–7:30 PM Kairos Learning Solutions 836 S. Main Street, Salinas Class size is limited to keep the experience personal and engaging.
Transcribe →Announcing An In-Person Class for Moms of Adult Children!
Mar 1100:10:51Tap to summarizeI’m thrilled to announce my new in-person class: “Design Your Second Season – Your Kids Are Grown. Now it’s time to rediscover YOU.” Design Your Second Season is a 5-week small-group class where moms of adult children come together to reflect, reconnect with who they are now, and begin shaping a meaningful and fulfilling next chapter. In this class, you’ll gain: • Clarity about who you are now in this stage of life • A vision for what you want your next chapter to look like • Confidence in your gifts and talents • A weekly rhythm that supports what matters most to you The class is designed to be both thoughtful and practical—giving you space to reflect while also helping you take meaningful steps forward. Details: Wednesdays, March 25 – April 22 6:00–7:30 PM Kairos Learning Solutions 836 S. Main Street, Salinas Class size is limited to keep the experience personal and engaging. If you’re the mother of adult children who can use some support as you design your second seasion, I can help. I invite you to schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Here’s the link: Coaching Call with Terri Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you. If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast. Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode. My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: terribradwaylifecoaching@coachbradway.com For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory
Transcribe →