Running Ahrens
One Couple. Two People. Four Kids. And decades of figuring it out—together.
Running Ahrens is a podcast about the long game of marriage, parenting, business, and personal growth. Hosted by Justin and Sarah Ahrens—a couple married for over 30 years with four kids and decades of entrepreneurial experience—this show is about the lessons learned through successes, failures, and everything in between.
With a focus on mindset, honesty, accountability, and kindness, Justin and Sarah dive into real conversations about building a family, running businesses, navigating faith, friendships, and growing through the hard stuff. Still learning, still laughing, still running together—they share what they’ve figured out (and what they haven’t) with humor, humility, and heart.
Along the way, they’re joined by friends, guests, and even their kids for open, often funny, and always heartfelt conversations about what really matters: relationships, resilience, and the lessons that come with time. You’ll also hear about the books, tools, and resources that have helped them along the way—so you can take what resonates and apply it to your own life.
If you’re looking for honest stories, practical wisdom, and a reminder that no one’s running this race perfectly, you’re in the right place.
Running Ahrens
Parenting in the Launch Years
Parenting doesn’t end—it transforms.
Most parenting advice ends at high school graduation, but the launch years? That’s when the real shift begins. In this heartfelt episode, Justin and Sarah Ahrens reflect on celebrating their son’s college graduation and dive into the complex, often unspoken world of parenting adult children.
From learning to mentor instead of manage, to navigating the return of grown kids to the family home, they share honest stories about what it means to let go without losing connection. They explore how their business and leadership experiences have shaped their parenting, what they've had to unlearn, and how they're still evolving alongside their four kids.
Whether you’re in the thick of transition, bracing for an empty nest, or figuring out how to stay close without crowding your kids, this episode offers practical insights, real laughter, and a reminder that it’s okay not to have it all figured out.
Takeaways:
+ How to parent adult kids with presence, not pressure
+ When to step back—and when to lovingly step in
+ Why leadership traits like adaptability and vulnerability matter in parenting
+ What legacy really means when your kids are grown
+ The joy (and chaos) of welcoming adult children back home
Things We’re Learning (and Unlearning):
+ 74% of adult children want emotional support, not advice.
+ Respecting autonomy builds stronger long-term relationships.
+ The brain doesn’t fully develop until around 25 — so yes, that explains a lot. 😉
👉 Here’s a great article on brain development if you're curious.
