Kids Crash Our Empty Nest. Chaos Results. Chris Goes SOLO & Drops Balls & Strikes on the US-China Summit!

Dog Farts, Flynn’s Near-Death Surgery, & Empty Nest Chaos: Jen & Chris Fenton Spill It All

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547890/fan_mail/new] Dog Farts, Flynn’s Near-Death Surgery & Empty Nest Chaos: Jen & Chris Fenton Spill It All | Plate & Ponder From hilarious and absolutely pungent - during episode - dog farts to heartbreaking emergency surgery, Jen and Chris Fenton get real about the beautiful mess of empty nesting. They open up about their beloved dog Flynn’s terrifying brush with death and the powerful moment the whole family came together during his life-saving surgery — especially how much Flynn means to Chris. Despite the “empty” house, they reveal why their nest still feels completely full… just with a different kind of chaos. Dylan’s travel nightmare from Philly to Idaho takes a wild turn with an overnight stay at SLC airport and an impromptu 2 a.m. 10K sprint through the terminals. Jen shares the exact moment she lost all interest in club soccer (spoiler: it involved a port-o-let in 110° desert heat) while still gushing about the magic of the World Cup. And through every laugh and every tear, they keep coming back to one truth: friends and family make all the difference. Raw, funny, emotional, and 100% relatable — this is empty nesting in real life.  #Relationships #Marriage #HavingKids #DogLovers #EmptyNesting #PlateAndPonder #DogLovers #FlynnTheDog #EmptyNestChaos #FamilyFirst #PetEmergency #TravelStories #WorldCup #Podcast

"I Turn My Underwear Inside Out" – Secrets on Decluttering, Lifelong Friendships & Finally Getting Organized

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547890/fan_mail/new] Empty Nesting Just Got Real: From Inside-Out Underwear Hacks to Life-Changing Decluttering, Deep Friendships & Raising Kids Who Actually Work Hard In this laugh-out-loud yet deeply insightful episode of Plate & Ponder: Empty-Nesting with Jen & Chris Fenton, the hosts sit down with power couple Geoff Suddleson (Uber Agent & Partner at United Talent Agency) and Amy Suddleson (Founder & CEO of The Nimble Nest), along with their incredible daughter Maddy (UCLA Theater & Film standout and Delta Gamma legend). From the raw, honest trials and tribulations of empty nesting to the surprisingly emotional relief of finally decluttering and letting go of excess “stuff,” this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and real talk. Amy reveals exactly how she turned Geoff’s travel chaos into streamlined, stress-free systems (yes, the legendary “turn your underwear inside out” trick finally gets retired).  The group dives into why longtime friendships and deep relationships are the real secret to human flourishing, how to teach your kids the value of hard work and money, and why getting organized isn’t just nice — it’s life-changing.  Plus, a hilarious special appearance by Kaylie Fenton, who casually admits she was sitting in the studio the entire episode… but definitely wasn’t paying attention.  Whether you’re in the thick of empty nesting, about to launch your last kid, or simply craving honest conversations about midlife, family, friendship, and finally getting your life (and suitcase) together — this episode will make you laugh, nod your head, and feel seen. Listen now if you want practical empty nesting tips, decluttering motivation, friendship wisdom, and parenting lessons that actually stick. #EmptyNesting #EmptyNest #EmptyNester #EmptyNestSyndrome #Decluttering #GetOrganized #DeclutterYourLife #FriendshipGoals #HumanFlourishing #ParentingAdultChildren #RaisingIndependentKids #TravelOrganization #MidlifeReset #Podcast #PlateAndPonder

Butt Rockets, July 4 Chaos, Elon Musk’s 55th, USA’s 250th & the Art of Empty Nesting!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547890/fan_mail/new] Get ready for fireworks, belly laughs, and real talk in this unforgettable episode of Plate & Ponder: Empty Nesting w/ Jen and Chris Fenton!  Jen and Chris kick things off with the most ridiculous (and painful) 4th of July story you’ll hear all year — the legendary tale of getting a bottle rocket shot straight in the butt. Yes, it’s as wild as it sounds, and it sets the tone for a celebration of freedom, family, and fearless fun.  From there, the conversation takes a meaningful turn as they explore why the hospitality industry is one of the greatest forces for human flourishing — creating connection, joy, and community one plate at a time. They shine a spotlight on the incredible restaurants of culinary legend David Slay and share why great hospitality matters now more than ever.  They also give you the inside scoop on the nationwide screenings of Bad Counselors hitting theaters July 22, celebrate Elon Musk turning 55, and toast America’s monumental 250th birthday.  On the personal side, Jen and Chris open up about the sweet (and sometimes chaotic) joy of cooking with their daughter and offer honest, practical wisdom on balancing work, kids, life, and much-needed relaxation during the empty nesting chapter.  Whether you’re navigating empty nest syndrome, love a good patriotic party story, or simply want to live life with more intention and flavor, this episode delivers laughs, heart, and inspiration in equal measure.  Pour yourself a drink, fire up the grill, and join the conversation — because empty nesting isn’t the end… it’s the most delicious chapter yet. #PlateAndPonder #EmptyNesting #EmptyNestLife #4thOfJuly #BottleRocket #JackassVibes #ElonMusk #Elon55 #USA250 #America250 #HospitalityMatters #HumanFlourishing #DavidSlay #BadCounselors #FamilyCooking #WorkLifeBalance #EmptyNestWisdom #PatrioticPodcast #FoodAndLife

LA’s Burning Again, Toothpaste Won’t Roll & We Just Graded Our Marriage?!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547890/fan_mail/new] In this unfiltered episode of Plate & Ponder, Jen and Chris Fenton tackle the chaos that is Los Angeles right now — from the latest fire ripping through the city and the frustrating mistrial in the Palisades arson case to the ongoing crisis of homes still not being built.  On a much lighter (and funnier) note, they obsess over their favorite Below Deck star, Chef Ben, swap hilarious stories about awkwardly pretending to remember people who clearly recognize you, and go full rant mode about modern toothpaste tubes that refuse to be rolled all the way empty.  The couple also grades each other (on a scale of 1–10) across key marriage traits and shares some real talk about raising kids — specifically, the importance of remembering exactly who you were at that age.  It’s the perfect blend of serious LA issues and relatable empty-nester chaos. #PlateAndPonder #EmptyNesting #LAFires #PalisadesFire #BelowDeck #ChefBen #MarriageGoals #ToothpasteProblems #EmptyNestLife #ParentingRealTalk #JenAndChrisFenton

"Wow, Okay" – Jen Is Back! 65lbs of Bikinis, Kids Hate Taxes, & Spencer Pratt Recap - Balls and Strikes!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547890/fan_mail/new] Jen and Chris Fenton are back with another raw, hilarious, and surprisingly deep episode of Plate & Ponder.  They kick things off in classic empty-nest fashion — swapping stories about Dylan’s first full-time paycheck and his very Gen-Z request that Dad “figure out how to get the taxes back,” plus Kaylie’s legendary overpacking for Costa Rica (yes, we’re talking 65 pounds of bathing suits). From there, the conversation takes a sharp, entertaining turn into bigger cultural territory: the unexpected authenticity of Spencer Pratt, the brutalist architecture of the Obama Presidential Library, the many different (and loaded) ways to say “Wow, Okay,” and their growing frustration with gaslighting and the total disappearance of people willing to call balls and strikes in a tribal world.  They close with a fun East Coast vs. West Coast comparison of the Knicks parade in NYC versus how Los Angeles does victory.  It’s the perfect mix of parenting laughs and “we’re not crazy for noticing this, right?” cultural commentary. #WowOkay #EmptyNesting #EmptyNestLife #PlateAndPonder #CallingBallsAndStrikes #Gaslighting #Tribalism #SpencerPratt #ObamaLibrary #FamilyPodcast #ParentingAdultKids #RealTalk #Podcast #NewEpisode