Divorce and Separation

What happens when leaving feels impossible but staying is costing you your health? In this honest conversation, Lindy Klim shares her deeply personal journey through divorce, rebuilding her life, and raising four children while starting over from scratch. She opens up about recognizing the physical signs of stress, asking for help, leaving everything behind, and creating a peaceful life for hersel...

This is Episode 2 of The Legal Side of Separation with family lawyer Dani Zetzer from Respect Legal. In this episode I am talking to Dani about separation, parenting arrangements and neurodivergent children and why the usual conversations about "fairness", equal time and 50/50 care often do not meet the needs of children who need more structure, regulation and support. Dani brings both her legal e...

When you separate, there are some practical things that feel urgent - parenting arrangements, property settlement, bank accounts, where everyone is going to live. But there is another part of separation that many people overlook. Your estate planning. I'm joined by Mike Poynter, Principal Lawyer at MCP Legal, a partner firm of Simple Separation , to talk about the four key documents you need to re...

In the early days of separation, it can feel like your whole life has changed faster than your mind and body can process. You might still be functioning on the outside working, parenting, replying to messages, paying bills — but inside, you feel like you are falling apart. In this solo episode I talk about what I call separation shock : the emotional, practical and mental overwhelm that can happen...

Today's Divorce Story is with Pete Murphy or Murf, as he's known to his friends. Murf's story is incredibly powerful. It is a story about losing so much of what once felt certain: his family life, his identity, his sense of stability, and at times, his hope. But it is also a story about what can happen when people show up, when support is offered in a way that can actually be received, and when a...

One of the hardest questions you'll ever ask yourself isn't about property settlement, parenting arrangements or court. It's much earlier than that.  Should I stay or should I go? In this first episode of our brand new series, The Legal Side of Separation , I'm joined by family lawyer Dani Zetzer from Respect Legal to explore the stage of separation that often gets overlooked the period where you'...

In this episode, I talk about mediation (family dispute resolution) and why it isn't automatically the right first step for every couple. I'm joined by Christina Salvo, CEO and founder of Simple Separation, who explains mediation as a voluntary, structured process led by an impartial mediator to help separating couples reach agreements about parenting and property and, where possible, avoid the st...

What happens when your relationship has ended, but neither of you can move out? This is something I am seeing more and more across Australia. Separation no longer always looks like one person packing a bag and moving into a new home. With the cost of living, rental shortages, mortgage pressure, children, leases, school zones and financial stress, many people are finding themselves separated but st...

I am welcoming back Psychologist Ben Schiller to answer listener questions about mental health during and after divorce or separation. We discuss how to choose the right therapist, recognise when therapy is needed, and manage the emotional roller coaster that often accompanies a breakup. Ben shares practical strategies for protecting mental health, the importance of social connections, and how to...

This episode delves into the concept of "living loss," a term encountered in Dr. Lucy Hone's book, How Will I Ever Get Through This . I share insights on how separation and divorce can feel like a profound loss, even when life continues around you. I discuss the emotional and practical challenges that arise during this difficult time, emphasising that the grief experienced is not just about the en...

I'm back with Gerard Rees from Simple Separation for part two of our conversation. In Episode 84, we spoke about superannuation what I sometimes call the  hidden asset . In this episode, we're talking about something I hear from clients all the time: "I just want to be heard." But what does that actually mean in mediation? And more importantly how do you make sure your voice is heard without the r...

This episode includes discussion around mental health, emotional distress, and suicide risk , particularly for men navigating separation and divorce. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you. If you need support, reach out to someone you trust or a qualified professional. In this episode I am joined by Dr Eran Magen, Yale Pyschologist and Founder DivorcingDads.org . In this episode, we talk...

I loved this episode. In this conversation, I'm joined by Samantha Thomas , founder of  MyndGym , to talk about mental fitness and why it matters so much during divorce and separation. When you're navigating a major life change, your nervous system narrows. Your window of tolerance shrinks. Everything feels heavier. More urgent. Harder than it "should". Sam explains the difference between mental h...

What does it actually mean when someone says, "I just want to be heard" and why does it matter so much in mediation? In this episode, I'm joined by  Gerard Rees , Senior Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner at Simple Separation , to unpack what mediators listen for, how power imbalances show up, and why superannuation is often the most underestimated asset in family property settlements. We talk...

When parents separate, the focus is often on logistics parenting schedules, property settlements, court orders. But underneath all of that is something quieter. The emotional world of our children. In this episode, I sit down with psychologist Jamie Maserow , author of The Therapist in Therapy , to explore the silent emotional work children often carry during divorce and separation. We discuss how...

If you're separated (or separating) and you keep replaying the past, rewriting conversations, and wondering "Maybe I'm the one who's wrong…" this episode is for you. One of the most common (and most unsettling) things I see after a breakup isn't confusion about money, logistics, or parenting schedules. It's people quietly doubting their own reality. There's a name for it: self-gaslighting and it c...

Some of the hardest days after separation aren't the days where everything falls apart. They're the days that look "fine" on paper — birthdays, Christmas morning, school milestones, first days back — and yet I still feel that sting afterwards. In this episode, I'm talking about why milestone days can hurt more than you expect, especially when social media tells the story first. Not because a photo...

Jonathan Kline-Spink , Director at Market Street Finance , unpacks what banks are really looking at when someone is separating and hoping to keep the family home. We talk about the difference between borrowing capacity and affordability , why keeping the family home after separation is often more complex than people expect, and how lenders reassess risk when a joint mortgage becomes a single loan....

Buying out an ex from the family home after separation can feel overwhelming — financially, legally, and emotionally. In this episode, I'm joined by Christina Salvo, CEO and Founder of Simple Separation , to break down how the process actually works and what needs to happen first. We talk through the real sequence involved in buying out an ex — starting with negotiation and mediation, moving into...

Dr Gina Cleo joins me for a powerful conversation about the tiny habits that help you steady yourself after separation especially when identity, routine and confidence feel completely shaken. Gina shares openly about her three divorces and the very human process of rebuilding from the inside out. We explore how separation disrupts the "micro-moments" of your day, why habits shape identity, and the...

Children feel the impact of separation long before they can explain it and many carry those early wounds into adulthood. In this episode, I'm joined by Tommy Herschell , founder of Find Ya Feet , to explore what can happen for kids during a family breakdown and how those early experiences can shape boys and men for decades. Tommy shares his own story, his parents' separation when he was 10 years o...

If your mind feels loud but your heart has gone quiet, this episode is for you. If you're navigating divorce or separation and feel overwhelmed by everyone's opinions, this episode will help you tune back into your voice. In this instalment of The Anatomy of Divorce , I explore The Ears — the part of the process where discernment, boundaries, and self-trust matter most. During separation, it can f...

This episode is part of The Anatomy of Divorce segment, I unpack one of the most overlooked skills in separation - perspective. When life turns upside down after divorce, your brain goes into survival mode. You loop old arguments, replay stories, and grip tightly to being understood. But sometimes the shift you need most isn't fixing them - it's  seeing them differently. I share how understanding...

Separation and divorce cost the Australian economy $101 billion every year but behind that figure are real people quietly trying to hold their lives, families, and jobs together. In this episode, I'm joined by Andrew Tomich , Director at A&Co Recruitment Partners , to explore how divorce impacts the workplace from leadership and productivity to culture and wellbeing. Andrew shares what happened wh...

This episode is part of The Anatomy of Divorce segment, where we explore the emotional, physical and psychological layers of separation through the whole person body, mind and heart. Today, we move into The Heart the space where pain lives first. If you're in that place where everything feels raw, where your chest feels tight and your thoughts loop endlessly, this one's for you. In this episode, I...