Free Range Flock

June 3rd, 2023, we were sitting in a studio, downtown Greensboro, recording our first episodes of this podcast. We were a combination of excitement and nervousness unsure of where this journey would take us. 35 episodes later, it's time for us to be reflective and look back at this journey. We love creating this podcast. Our guests have taught us so much and shared messages that we needed to...

How are you doing? When someone asks you that question, what's the first thing you say? Fine, Ok. Work has been nuts lately. Does your answer focus immediately on your job or something else? How do you feel about that? During this episode, we talk with Katie Riddle about how our perspective changes about work as we get older. We are no longer like ourselves in our 20s and 30s trying to climb...

Hi there Free Ranger, how's it going? We are returning to a common topic on our podcast - how life changes during life's turning points. Many of us experience multiple turning points in our life including losing or changing jobs, marriage, divorce, becoming a parent, losing a loved one, or experiencing an illness. These turning points can rock you to your core and challenge you in new wa...

Hello there, Free Rangers? Are you friends with, co-workers with, or parents of members of anyone in Gen Z?  Gen Z consists of people born between the years of 1997 and 2012. Right now, they would be ages 11-26. If you don't encounter someone in Gen Z on a regular basis, we highly recommend it. This generation is questioning things like how to approach work-life balance and gender roles in in...

Hello Free Ranger. Welcome to another great day. Did you know that everyday is a gift? That's right. Even those crazy, bad days when everything is going wrong is a gift. Tomorrow is never promised.  For today's episode, we are talking with Don Owens who is a father, husband, mortgage professional, and fellow Free Ranger who is living his best life. As he states, he is the healthiest and...

Hello Free Ranger. Do you know how rich you are right now? You may not be swimming in dollars, but there are other ways to be rich - in health, in friendship, in love, etc. During this episode, we talk about the importance of the abundance mindset.  Thanks to social media, it's easy to get distracted and start believing that your life is lacking. Maybe you are feeling down because you can&apo...

Hello Dear Free Rangers. Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive or you need to ask someone for forgiveness? That someone can include yourself. If so, this episode is for you.  Remember when you were a kid on the playground and when you did something wrong, your parent or guardian made you ask for forgiveness immediately. This simple act is an important life lesson that we needed to...

Hello Free Rangers. Are you the type who works hard and plays hard? Are you the type that brings your ambition and determination 100% to work and play? When you are at work, you are always aiming to do your best pushing yourself to do a bit more. When you get home, play time is serious. It's never just laying around on the couch, it's filling your off-time with fun activities and travels...

Hello Free Rangers. We survived the longest, darkest month of all - January! This episode focuses on traditions. The Oxford Language Dictionary defines traditions as the transmission of customs and beliefs from one generation to the next. Your family and culture probably has specific expectations for you in regards to different celebrations and holidays throughout the year. Sometimes these traditi...

Hello Free Rangers. How are you sleeping nowadays? Getting older can be disruptive to our sleep patterns whether is falling or staying asleep. Some of us are finding that we need more sleep than we did in our 20s, 30s and 40s. If you are struggling with sleep, now is the time to address it by talking to your doctor and loved ones. Poor sleep is no laughing matter since it can impact our long-term...

Hello Free Rangers. How is adulthood going? Yeah, we know.  Adulting has become a common expression in the last decade that we use when we are behaving like a responsible adult. In a sentence, it might be - Look at me, I am paying my bills on time. So much adulting. During this episode of Free Range Flock, we address what adulting looks like as a Free Ranger. It's more than paying the bills a...

Hi Free Rangers, where are you finding your clothes nowadays? Are you finding it harder to find the right style and fit? Us too.  Struggling to find clothes in mid-life is a common experience that often stems from a combination of changing body dynamics and evolving personal style. As Free Rangers navigate through their forties, fifties, and sixties, their bodies may undergo shifts in shape and si...

Happy New Year, Free Rangers! For many of us, 2023 was a challenging year full of expectations and anxiety. Let's go into the new year in a healthier way by setting our intentions. It's time to set realistic goals for yourself and learn how to be grateful for what we have. During this episode, Amy and Sara explore a topic near and dear to their hearts, being intentional. It does not have...

Ever reminisce about the 'good old days' as a latchkey kid? Join us as we dive headfirst into our journey from latchkey children to free rangers, navigating the choppy waters of social media and the relentless pursuit of genuine content. We share how we've tapped into the power of positivity, radicalism, and relatability to connect with our followers. In a world where commercial bra...

Hi Free Rangers. How's work going for you? We hope your job is fulfilling and meeting your needs. At this stage in life, many of us find comfort in our jobs. It can give you a sense of confidence being the person in the office that others turn to when they have a question. Maybe your job has a great retirement plan or you just got that big promotion. Job satisfaction is an important part of o...

Many Free Range Females are experiencing menopause. There are tons of resources available now to educate ourselves about what to expect and how to manage symptoms, but not enough talk about the great things of this milestone. It's a time of freedom, confidence and potential. During this episode, Amy and Sara discuss the upside of menopause. What to read more about the upside of menopause, exp...

Why we don't like the word "anti-aging" Hello Free Rangers. What comes to mind when you hear the words, anti-aging? Do you think of the product in your bathroom that you smear on your face to smooth your wrinkles? This expression of anti-aging has never sat well with us. Aging is a privilege many do not get to experience. It brings wisdom and confidence, but our society works so har...

I hope you have one or more people in your life that you can go to when you need to hear the truth. Everyone needs a person who can speak the truth with empathy and grace. I am lucky to have several people in my life who is honest with me. One of them is Jenn Barton. She's our guest for our Honesty Corner episode. As we get older, many of us find ourselves being more honest with others since...

How do you spend your free time? What activities do you love to do just for the joy of doing them? Hobbies can connect us to others and remind us of our humanity. They are important parts of our life but we must find ways to maintain balance with our hobbies with other aspects of our lives. In this episode, we discuss the important role that hobbies play in our lives. If you find yourself stressed...

How are you getting your news nowadays? It's an important question to ask since all forms of media has a bias of some sort. During this episode, we talk about how Free Rangers can keep themselves informed during a time of deep fakes, AI and biased media. When in doubt, look about. Here are some tips to consider to help you feel more confident about the information you are hearing: Sara shared...

Content Warning: During this episode, we discuss food and our relationship with food. We understand that food can be a trigger for some. If that is you, consider skipping this episode. As we grow older, we see how the outside of our bodies change - the wrinkles, the grey hair, the flap under our arms, but we can forget that the insides of our bodies are also changing. Our mouths produce less saliv...

Welcome Back, Free Ranger. We hope life is treating you sweetly. For our fifth episode, we want to explore change and how it affects us. Free Rangers have weathered many situations like changing jobs, losing loved ones, failing health and missed opportunities. Bad days can be rough, but we know that they will eventually turn around and the sun will break through the clouds.  What about those peopl...

Hey there Free Ranger. Our fourth episode discusses the importance of getting tested for ADHD as an adult. I know what you are thinking - ADHD is a childhood disease, adults don’t have it. Wrong. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 4.4% of U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 44 are diagnosed with ADHD. ( source ) ADHD is not a diagnosis for kids to help them sit in chairs for...

Hello Free Rangers. What are you doing nowadays that you enjoy for pleasure? During our third episode, we are talking about the importance of pleasure. Everyone seems to be busier than ever right now, but finding time for simple pleasures should still be a priority.  In today’s episode, we are talking to my dear friend, HP. She is always someone who prioritizes simple pleasures while having clear...

Welcome Free Rangers. Thank you for joining us for our first official podcast episode. We start the conversation about how Gen X is thriving in mid-life with our dear friend Addison Ore. When we were dreaming up our podcast, we thought about the people who we knew who were thriving with positivity, humor and grace. Who out there is flourishing and showing us how it’s done. One of the first names o...