Okay, So Here’s The Deal

Have you ever discovered that people were talking about you, taking sides, or believing a version of your story that you never got the chance to tell? If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “How did I suddenly become the bad guy?”—this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal is for you. Welcome to Narcissism 101: Lesson 7, where Marilee Grace breaks down two powerful manipulation tactics: triangulat...

Have you ever had a conversation that started with one simple question… and somehow ended with you defending yourself for things you didn't even know you were accused of? Or maybe they stopped talking to you completely, leaving you wondering what you did wrong. And just when you finally started pulling yourself back together… suddenly they're back. An apology. A gift. A declaration of love. A made...

When you've spent weeks, months, or years being told that your feelings are wrong, your reactions are the problem, or someone else's behavior is somehow your fault, trusting yourself again can feel very strange. Start small. Notice the pattern. Notice how you feel. Trust your gut. Set the boundary. And don't take the bait. Remember our Narcissism 101 mantra: We don't diagnose. We educate ourselves...

Gaslighting? Breadcrumbing? In a high-conflict relationship, breadcrumbs aren't something you crunch on your chicken strips—and gaslights aren't an old-fashioned way to light a room! So what are they? Welcome back to Narcissism 101, Lesson 4 of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, where Marilee Grace breaks down two terms you may have heard all over social media but may not fully understand: gaslighting and...

The person you fell in love with may have shown you exactly what you wanted to see. The intensity felt like connection. The attention felt like love. The future planning felt like security. And then things changed. Understanding the pattern isn't about blaming yourself. It’s about educating yourself so you can recognize the pattern if it ever appears again. Remember our Narcissism 101 mantra: We d...

What if you truly believed you would never feel joy again? In this deeply personal episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares the moment she told her own mother that joy was no longer possible in her life—and the powerful journey of what it actually took to rediscover it after divorce. Because here’s the truth: Joy doesn’t just magically return. It has to be rebuilt—intentionally, g...

Have you ever downloaded a dating app… and immediately felt buyer’s remorse? 😅 In this episode of Here’s the Deal, I’m sharing the very real, very awkward, sometimes hilarious truth about dating after divorce — from my first terrifying experience on the apps to the lessons I learned after interacting with over 200 men online. This episode is honest, funny, uncomfortable at times, and deeply eye-o...

Are you really ready to date after divorce… or are you trying to heal a wound someone else created? In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace gets brutally honest about dating after a high-conflict divorce, the temptation of dating apps, and why healing has to happen before you start looking for love again. Because here’s the truth nobody wants to hear: Wanting someone to finally...

In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace explores the powerful connection between trauma and high-conflict relationships—and why healing isn’t just emotional… it’s physical, too. Using a vivid tornado analogy, Marilee breaks down what it feels like to live in constant chaos, unpredictability, and emotional storms—and why your body may still be reacting long after the relationship...

Have you ever felt like your body is constantly on edge—even when everything around you is “fine”? In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace breaks down what’s really happening inside your body when you’re stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn—and why it’s so common after a high-conflict or toxic relationship. Because here’s the truth: Leaving the relationship doesn’t mean your...

Check out the wonder woman technique here You’re doing the work. You’re building your peace. But what happens when something—or someone—tests it? In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares simple, effective grounding techniques you can use in real-time when anxiety, stress, or high-conflict situations threaten your sense of calm. Because let’s be honest—you can’t always avoi...

What if you truly believed you would never feel joy again? In this deeply personal episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares the moment she told her own mother that joy was no longer possible in her life—and the powerful journey of what it actually took to rediscover it after divorce. Because here’s the truth: Joy doesn’t just magically return. It has to be rebuilt—intentionally, g...

What day is it really? Sure, it’s Friday the 13th—but in February, that means Galentine’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating female friendships and the women who walk beside us through every season of life. In today’s episode, Marilee Grace dives into the origin of Galentine’s Day (yes, it started on Parks and Recreation thanks to Amy Poehler), and why celebrating our gal pals matters more than e...

Have you ever felt physically uncomfortable just thinking about being assertive? If you’re a people pleaser, a peacekeeper, or someone whose boundaries have always been… flexible… this episode is for you. In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, we’re talking about boundaries—what they actually are, why so many women struggle to hold them, and how learning to protect yourself is an essential p...

Did anyone ever say this to you after your divorce? “You’re going to be lonely.” “Do you really want to be alone for the rest of your life?” “The grass isn’t always greener.” “What if you don’t find someone else?” In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, we’re unpacking one of the most misunderstood—and weaponized—ideas women face after divorce: being alone vs. being lonely. Alone is a physica...

 In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, we’re talking about Trigger Days those holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, or special events that bring up unexpected emotions after leaving a high-conflict marriage. Many women find that joyful occasions feel tainted because of past trauma. Even when the marriage or relationship is over, memories and triggers can sneak up sometimes when you least expe...

Even after leaving a high-conflict or narcissistic relationship, many women continue to operate in survival mode, reacting to situations as if everyone is out to manipulate them. In this episode, I unpack why reactivity and hyper-sensitivity linger after divorce and share strategies to shift from automatic responses to intentional, peaceful reactions. I also show how to use the 7-step goal-setting...

Okay, So Here’s the Deal - Quitter’s Day and Self Trust: Stop Setting Yourself Up to Fail In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, we’re talking about Quitter’s Day—the second Friday in January, when nearly a quarter of all New Year’s resolutions are abandoned. If you’ve ever set a resolution with the best intentions only to feel defeated weeks later, this episode is for you. We unpack why res...

You’re not broken. You’re becoming. Welcome to Here’s the Deal — a podcast for women navigating divorce, heartbreak, toxic relationships, motherhood, and the messy, beautiful process of coming back to themselves. I’m Marilee Grace. I’ve lived the breakdown. I’ve loved a narcissist. I’ve lost myself. And I’ve learned — slowly and imperfectly — how to heal. This podcast isn’t about having it all fig...