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The Open Nesters

The Open Nesters

By: The Open Nesters
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Re-Imagining the Empty NestThe Open Nesters 2021 Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Lessons in Trust and Connection (Season 6 | Episode 244)

    Lessons in Trust and Connection (Season 6 | Episode 244)
    Jun 25 2026
    Lessons in Trust and Connection (Season 6 | Episode 244) with Adam and Isaac Paulman [TESSA] Welcome back, Open Nesters! Amir and I are so excited to dive into a truly special conversation today. In this episode, we sit down with a remarkable father-son duo, Adam and Isaac Paulman. Together, we explore the delicate art of modern masculinity, conscious parenting, and the lifelong journey of knowing when to hold on and when to completely surrender. Trading the empty nest for an open one means opening our doors to new adventures and redefining our relationships, and this multi-generational chat perfectly embodies that spirit. Redefining Family Dynamics Our conversation naturally gravitated toward the evolving dynamics of parenthood as our children grow up. Adam bravely opened an honest window into what it means to redefine family dynamics when your child becomes an adult. He admitted that very little of his life was intentional until recent years, describing himself as the sum total of his “yeses” and “noes” along the way. Hearing him articulate the bizarre and beautiful transition of looking at his child and realizing he is now a fully capable young man was a profound moment for both Amir and me. This transition is perfectly illustrated by 18-year-old Isaac’s current adventure. Right now, Isaac is traveling independently in Turkey with his cousins. Adam candidly shared his paternal instincts to protect his son, wrestling with the anxiety of Isaac being so far away. Yet, Adam has consciously chosen to step back from the role of a rescuer, recognizing Isaac as a fully functioning adult who is supported by his own skills and family. It’s a powerful lesson in surrender, reminding us that we don’t have to fix everything; sometimes, having faith in our children is the ultimate act of care. The Power of Consent and Cuddle Parties Beyond parenting, we explored Adam’s fascinating work as a facilitator for Cuddle Parties—a concept that might sound intimidating to some, but is deeply rooted in establishing boundaries and consent. Adam explained that a core foundation of a Cuddle Party is teaching people how to navigate their desires and clearly say “no” to things they don’t want to do. Here are a few key takeaways from his facilitation work: Practicing Boundaries: Participants must practice saying “no” and are encouraged to change their minds.Unlearning Programming: The structured environment allows adults to unlearn the programming that tells us we must always accommodate others.Safe Vulnerability: It provides a space to communicate authentically and ask for nurturing touch. We loved how Adam framed these gatherings not just as places for physical touch, but as advanced communication workshops disguised as social events. We discussed how this is especially vital for men, who often carry immense societal pressure and find it challenging to express vulnerability or ask for the nurturing touch they actually desire. Amir pointed out how hard it is for generations of men to embrace these feminine concepts of belonging and connection. Adam’s work provides a safe, guided space to flex these muscles, proving that learning to voice your boundaries is a lifelong practice. Forest Bathing: Nature as a Lover In a beautiful parallel to his consent work, Adam also leads experiences in Forest Bathing, an eco-therapy practice brought over from Japan. Instead of the traditional “leave no trace” hiking mentality, Adam encourages a reciprocal relationship with the natural world. He guides people to interact with nature as a lover—receiving the scent of a flower or the taste of a berry, and allowing those natural gifts to nurture the soul. This practice fosters a deep sense of belonging to the planet, showing us that our interactions with the forest can create paths for healing and connection. The Open Nester Takeaway As Amir and I reflect on this episode, we are left with a renewed appreciation for the ongoing work of adulting and open nesting. Whether it is giving our grown children the space to travel the world, learning to set boundaries at a Cuddle Party, or finding belonging in the woods, the Pullmans remind us that growth never stops. We don’t have to rescue each other from the journey; we just have to support each other as we walk our own paths. We hope you tune into the full episode to absorb Adam and Isaac’s wisdom, and perhaps find the courage to practice your own authentic “yes” and “no” today. About Tessa Tessa Krone is the engine behind and the face of The Open Nesters. Tessa holds an MA in Consciousness Studies and is a speaker, coach, program, and journey facilitator & leader, author, and, of course, Podcaster. Her offerings are based on her mission to help people open to their most self-expressed, loving selves. Tessa’s specialties include embodiment from all the senses and elements of our inner ...
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    53 mins
  • Pleasure Doesn’t Care About Wrinkles (Season 6 | Episode 243)

    Pleasure Doesn’t Care About Wrinkles (Season 6 | Episode 243)
    Jun 18 2026
    Pleasure Doesn’t Care About Wrinkles (Season 6 | Episode 243) with Joan Price Welcome to another episode of the Open Nesters podcast, where Amir and I trade our empty nest for an open one filled with vibrant health, relationships, and endless possibilities. This week, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Joan Price, an 82-year-old senior sex expert and an incredible advocate for aging and sexuality. Joan brings such a refreshing, realistic, and wildly open perspective to what she calls “Act Three”—the stage of life where we are getting older but are absolutely still entitled to rich, fulfilling intimacy. Pleasure Doesn’t Care About Wrinkles with Joan Price In my fifties, I still felt incredibly sensual and sexual, but as I entered my sixties, I started experiencing unexpected setbacks, including breaking my neck in a car crash. Joan completely validated these physical realities, reminding us that as we age, our bodies simply change. From the aches and joint pains that make certain physical positions impossible, to the very real physiological shifts that cause arousal to take longer and lubrication to decrease, these hurdles are completely normal. 3:01 Bodies Change, Desire Adapts 6:12 Injury, Healing, and Intimacy 10:00 Embracing New Pleasure 15:44 Rethinking Orgasm 18:11 Ageless Erotica Unveiled 22:16 Body Image and Worth 27:48 Sex After Grief 32:54 Courage with Age But normal doesn’t mean the end of pleasure; it just requires a profound shift in our attitude and expectations. Joan emphasizes that we must let go of the judgment, the blaming, and the unrealistic goal of trying to recreate the exact kind of sex we had in our twenties. Instead, this chapter of life is about opening our minds to a completely new, expansive world of receiving and experiencing pleasure. A major part of this new chapter involves communication, which can be daunting if you’ve never had to explicitly ask for what you need before. Joan pointed out that if intercourse is no longer pleasurable or even possible, we must be brave enough to tell our partners exactly what our aging bodies require now. Our brains need to consciously connect with our bodies, asking them to show us what they need, and then we must boldly share those discoveries with our lovers. One of the most liberating ways to explore these changing needs is through solo sex. Joan is a massive proponent of self-pleasure, explaining that taking the time to explore your own body alone allows you to intimately understand how your arousal patterns have shifted over the years. Giving yourself permission to experiment with solo touch is not only perfectly healthy, but it’s often the foundational step to communicating your evolving desires to a partner. When it comes to discovering new sensations, Joan is also a vocal advocate for integrating high-quality sex toys into your routine. She advised us to ditch the old, poorly made novelties of the past and invest in well-designed, body-safe toys, like a specifically chosen vibrator. Whether used alone or with a partner, these tools can quite literally be the difference between having an orgasm and not having one. Speaking with Joan was a profound reminder that pleasure truly does not have an expiration date. I highly encourage all of our listeners, whether you are single or partnered, to check out her website and dive into her groundbreaking books, including the wonderful anthology Ageless Erotica. We don’t have to quietly close the door on our sexuality as we age; instead, we can step boldly into this new act, open our minds, and write an entirely new, beautiful chapter of intimacy. Ultimately, we need to completely redefine what a successful sexual encounter looks like. Joan challenges the deeply ingrained societal idea that sex must always lead to intercourse or a specific, standardized type of climax. Instead, we should embrace exploring arousal slowly, enjoying lower-pressure intimacy, and relishing the long, sensual buildup without demanding a specific finish line. About Tessa Tessa Krone is the engine behind and the face of The Open Nesters. Tessa holds an MA in Consciousness Studies and is a speaker, coach, program, and journey facilitator & leader, author, and, of course, Podcaster. Her offerings are based on her mission to help people open to their most self-expressed, loving selves. Tessa’s specialties include embodiment from all the senses and elements of our inner and outer lives, ranging from mindfulness, dance, play, and sensory exploration in nature. If she had one superpower, it would be to help people, especially as they age, to live more open-hearted lives. Please email Tessa to make a connection. And visit her page here on the Open Nesters Website. If you like, please answer the question: What do you need to OPEN your NEST? In your LIFE. In your BODY. In your SPIRIT. Do you need MORE… Adventure ...
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    Less than 1 minute
  • The Slow Movement with Carl Honore

    The Slow Movement with Carl Honore
    Jun 11 2026
    The Slow Movement (Season 6 | Episode 242) with Carl Honore We speak with Carl Honoré about life in the open nesting stage and how family relationships change as children become adults. He describes living in London with his wife and their two children, and says that his relationship with them now feels more equal, with more room for debate and different points of view. The Slow Movement We also talk about how open nesting has affected time with his wife. He says they now travel together more often, something that was difficult during the years of child-rearing and during the pandemic. He describes this as a return to a part of their relationship that was important when they were younger. 1:37 Adult Kids, New Equality 4:08 Traveling Together Again 6:59 Dinner Table Politics 12:06 Legacy And Aging Work 20:00 Reverse Mentorship Works 27:51 How To Slow Down 35:38 Finding Your Slow Ritual A major topic is aging and the slow movement. We discuss Carl’s view that aging should not be seen as a loss of possibility, but as a stage that can open new doors. He says the post-pandemic world may be changing its view of older people, including the place of older workers. Carl explains the work he is doing now, including resources and possible retreats for people at a middle-life moment. He says he wants to help people ask better questions about their next chapter, rather than look for fixed answers. We also discuss intergenerational connection. Carl says people should widen their social net and spend time with people of different ages, because this helps challenge stereotypes. He gives examples of reverse mentorship in a company and describes his daughter taking part in a university project that connects students with older people. He closes by describing his children’s influence on him and by sharing recent projects, including a children’s book about slow travel and an upcoming TED course on slowing down. He also says cooking and time in nature are two of the main ways he slows down in daily life. About Tessa Tessa Krone is the engine behind and the face of The Open Nesters. Tessa holds an MA in Consciousness Studies and is a speaker, coach, program, and journey facilitator & leader, author, and, of course, Podcaster. Her offerings are based on her mission to help people open to their most self-expressed, loving selves. Tessa’s specialties include embodiment from all the senses and elements of our inner and outer lives, ranging from mindfulness, dance, play, and sensory exploration in nature. If she had one superpower, it would be to help people, especially as they age, to live more open-hearted lives. Please email Tessa to make a connection. And visit her page here on the Open Nesters Website. If you like, please answer the question: What do you need to OPEN your NEST? In your LIFE. In your BODY. In your SPIRIT. Do you need MORE… Adventure Freedom of Expression Exploration and Fun Body Movement New circles of friends Deep love relationships
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    42 mins
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