Michelle Jolene Bio
Hello!Today, the publication reaches women who believe life gets bigger after the kids leave, not smaller. Through story-driven travel, boutique hotels, unforgettable meals, wine, books, recipes, and honest conversations about reinvention, Michelle encourages readers to approach their second act with curiosity rather than fear.
Her work has evolved beyond traditional travel writing into a broader philosophy: travel is one of the greatest tools for personal transformation, but living fully is about much more than where we go. It's about what we notice, what we learn, who we meet, what we create, and who we become along the way.
Michelle is also the creator of Novel Wine Pairings, a signature editorial series that pairs literature with thoughtfully selected wines inspired by place, story, and mood, bringing together her lifelong love of books, travel, and food.
Whether she's interviewing a winemaker, exploring an independent bookstore, sharing a favorite recipe, reviewing a boutique hotel, or encouraging another woman to book the trip she's been putting off, Michelle's mission remains the same:
To help women collect stories—not just souvenirs—and discover that their most meaningful adventures may still be ahead.
She lives in Miami with her wife, Mercy, and their rescue dogs, and is happiest with a passport in hand, a good book in her suitcase, and dinner reservations somewhere she's never been before.
Michelle Jolene is the founder and editor of The Empty Nest Rebellion, a lifestyle media company dedicated to inspiring women to build richer, bolder, and more intentional second acts through travel, food, wine, stories, and meaningful experiences.
An MFA-trained writer, former college professor, travel writer, self-trained home cook, and on-camera creator, Michelle has spent her career helping people discover stories, whether on the page, around the table, or while exploring the world. Her editorial background, combined with a passion for thoughtful travel and lifelong learning, shapes the distinctive voice of The Empty Nest Rebellion.
Like many women, Michelle spent years focused on raising a family and supporting the people she loved. When her daughters became adults, she found herself facing a question familiar to countless empty nesters.
What's next?
Rather than seeing the empty nest as an ending, she chose to see it as an invitation.
She began saying yes—to writing books, culinary training, travel, commercial auditions, entrepreneurship, and experiences that challenged her comfort zone and expanded her understanding of what life after fifty could be.
That journey became The Empty Nest Rebellion.