Encore Living
You raised your kids. They’re launching their next chapter… but what about yours?
Welcome to Encore Living, the show for empty nesters and midlife moms who suddenly have more time—and are ready to fill it with purpose, passion, and possibility.
If you’re asking yourself, “What now?” or “Who am I without the role of full-time parent?”—you’re in the right place.
Each week, Thor Challgren (TEDx speaker, author, and New Thought minister) shares heartfelt reflections, spiritual insight, and practical tools to help you reconnect with who you are and reimagine what’s next.
This is your season of reinvention—your second act, your encore. No more waiting. No more wondering. Let’s create a life you’re excited to wake up to. Subscribe now and start your next chapter with confidence.
Episodes
162 episodes
What Do You Want Now? | EP 161
What do you want now?It sounds like a simple question. But after years of organizing your life around your kids, your spouse, your parents, your work, and everyone else’s schedules, it can be surprisingly difficult to answer.In th...
The Empty Nest Rules You Didn’t Know You Had | EP160
For years, your life has been organized around your kids: the school calendar, activities, family schedules, even when you take vacations.But now your kid is away at college. The circumstances have changed.So why are you still fol...
The Empty Nest Milestone Nobody Celebrates | EP159
We celebrate our kids when they graduate, get into college, and head off into the world. But there’s another milestone that deserves some recognition too: you just finished raising an actual human being.In this episode, I’m talkin...
It Gets Better | EP 158
How long does it take to feel okay after your kid leaves for college?I wish I could tell you it's a few weeks. Or even a few months. For me, it took longer than that.In this episode, I share the unusual way I measured my own progr...
The Empty Nest Comparison Trap | EP157
Some college parents are reportedly spending thousands of dollars hiring professional designers to decorate their kids’ dorm rooms.Um… okay.But this episode isn’t really about dorm rooms.It’s about what happens when you see...
The Empty Nest Fog: What to Do When You Can’t See What’s Next | EP156
Your child has left for college. The calendar that once organized your life suddenly has wide-open spaces. And everyone seems to want to know the same thing:So… what are you going to do now?But what if you genuinely don't k...
Starting Again With Time To Spare | EP155
Sometimes, starting again doesn’t begin with a plan, it begins with time.In this episode, I share the story behind something I did last year that surprised me: I wrote a novel in 30 days. And what writing that book taught me ...
What Luke Skywalker’s "Day Off" Says About Midlife | EP154
After a big chapter ends, the hardest part isn’t knowing what’s next. It’s giving yourself permission to pause.###If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.Tha...
Empty Nester Parents: What If YOU Went Back to College? | EP153
If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.That’s where I share reflections like this, along with what I’m working on next — small ideas, gentle reframes, and prompts to help...
Before You Set Goals, Celebrate What You Lived Through | EP152
If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.That’s where I share reflections like this, along with what I’m working on next — including...
Packing Away Decorations, Unpacking Who You Are Now | EP151
If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.That’s where I share reflections like this, along with what I’m working on next — includin...
College Decision Month—But What About Your Midlife Plan? | EP150
It’s April—aka College Decision Month. Your teen is making a huge life decision. But have you stopped to consider your own?Subscribe to Dr. Thor’s FREE Encore Living Insider newsletter here > Encor...
Empty Nest Life: Why You Feel Lost (And Why That’s Totally Normal) | EP149
Feel lost after the kids leave? You're not alone. Today I share one shift that can change your empty nest experience.Subscribe to Dr. Thor’s FREE Encore Living Insider newsletter here > Encore Livin...
Transforming Your Life: The Journey from Complaints to Power PT2 #148
Ever found yourself caught in the traffic, complaining about how it's ruining your day? What if I told you that you can transform your life by simply changing the way you react to such situations? In this episode, I continue to bre...
Breaking Down the Habit of Complaints - PT1 #147
Ready to break free from the endless loop of complaints? Join me in this first episode of a four part-series on complaining.In this episode, I explore why complaining rarely solves problems. The key takeaway: redirecting your energy towa...
T.G.I.TED - Anne Lamott and A Bird by Bird Approach to Life's Challenges #146
In this episode, I share my perspective on a TED talk given by author Anne Lamott. Her talk is called, "12 Truths I Learned From Life and Writing." You can find her talk
Unpacking The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles - Chapter 14 - #145
Can you truly attract abundance into your life by conveying the impression of increase to others? In this episode, I explore into Chapter 14 of Wallace D. Wattles' classic work, "The Science of Getting Rich," written back in 1910. <...
Unpacking The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles - Chapter 11 - #144
Can mere thoughts alone bring riches, or is action an essential ingredient for success? In this episode, I explore Chapter 11 of Wallace D. Wattles' timeless book, "The Science of Getting Rich," written over a century ago. I...
Unpacking The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles - Chapter 7 - #143
Immerse yourself in a transformative journey as we crack open the wisdom of Wallace Waddles' 1910 classic, the Science of Getting Rich, and uncover the profound power of gratitude. Not just in saying thank you, but as a pivotal mental adjustmen...
Unpacking The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles - Chapter 4 - #142
Are your thoughts shaping your destiny, or are you simply going through the motions of life?In this episode, I dive into the mind-expanding pages of Wallace D. Wattles' 1910 classic, "The Science of Getting Rich." Have you ...
T.G.I.TED - Programming Your Mind for Success with Carrie Green #141
Have you ever felt that nagging self-doubt creep in just as you're about to pursue your dreams? That moment when you ask yourself, "Who am I to do this?" In this episode, I dive into the remarkable TEDx talk, "Programming your Mind ...
#140: Navigating the Long Haul: Strategies for Endurance
Are you staring down a seemingly endless stretch of time or a monumental task that feels insurmountable? How do you maintain your focus and keep your spirits up when the road ahead seems never-ending?In this episode, I delve into the ar...
#139: Navigating Purpose: How Visualization Maps the Way to Achievement
Have you ever found yourself stuck in the middle of a seemingly endless traffic jam, unsure when it will finally clear up? It's a universal frustration we've all experienced. Of course most of us can check the map on our phones and...
#138: Changing the Case: UPPERCASE Thinking for Life's Lowercase Challenges
We all face challenges in life, but what if we could change the way we think about them? Instead of dwelling on the lowercase hurdles, why not focus on the UPPERCASE blessings that often go unnoticed?In today's episode, I sh...
#137: When The Circumstances Don't Show Up in the Vacation Photo
In today's episode, I pose a question: when you look at a picture, do you see the circumstances behind the photo? And do they matter?I recently returned from an Alaskan cruise, and had an amazing time seeing the sights. On one morning, ...