Hi. I’m Lyss.

I became a mom at 20, and it’s always been just the two of us. We grew up together. For my entire adult life, my daughter has been my world. Every decision I made was filtered through “what’s best for her?” Every plan revolved around her schedule, her needs, her life. And then she left for college in fall 2024, and I didn’t know who I was anymore. I thought I was prepared for this transition. I wasn’t even close.

Everyone kept telling me that this would be freeing, that I should be celebrating. But I wasn’t celebrating. I was grieving. And I felt broken for struggling with something that was supposed to feel like an accomplishment.

That’s why this podcast exists. For the parents who are grieving. For anyone who feels guilty because their kid is thriving while they’re falling apart. For everyone who needs permission to say “this is really hard” without someone immediately trying to fix it or cheer them up. Because if you’re here, you’re probably trippin’ on empty too. And that’s okay.

What We Do Here

My hope is that this podcast feels like sitting down with someone who gets it. No judgment, no advice, no forced optimism.

I read real stories from the empty nesting community like Reddit posts, emails you send in, voice messages, and break them down. Some episodes are just me working through a story and sharing what it brings up. Other times, I bring on other parents to have real conversations about what they’re going through. I also bring in therapists who specialize in grief and loss to help us understand what’s happening to us.

And my daughter will join sometimes too. She’ll talk about what it was like from her side… leaving, worrying about me, figuring out how we stay connected when we’re in different states. Not everyone has that relationship with their kid, and that’s a whole other layer we’ll explore.

lyss orion trippin on empty photoshoot 1

This Isn’t About Fixing You

I’m not here to tell you how to feel or give you a roadmap to the other side. I’m still figuring this out myself. I’m here to sit with you in the mess and say “yeah, this is brutal, isn’t it?” Because sometimes that’s what we need most, just someone who actually understands. You don’t have to be okay yet. You don’t have to have it figured out. You’re allowed to be in transition. And you’re allowed to struggle with it.

Where I Am Now

I’m over a year in, and some days are good, some days are hard. My daughter and I stay close – we send each other Instagram reels daily, watch shows from different states, listen to the same podcasts. We even went to Europe together last summer, just the two of us.

She’s doing great. Thriving, actually. And I’m so proud of her. But I also miss her every day. Both things are true. I’m not healed. I’m not “over it.” But I’m here, building something new with this podcast, this community. And if my story helps even one person feel less alone, then it’s worth it.

Let’s Build This Together

This community only works if you’re part of it. I want to hear your story. I want to know what you’re struggling with, what’s getting you through, what nobody else seems to understand.

Send me your story. Let’s talk about it.

Email: trippinonempty@gmail.com
Instagram: @trippinonempty
Reddit: trippin_on_empty

You’re not alone in this. I promise you’re not alone.