The Divorce Survival Guide Podcast

Rebecca Zung returns to the show to share her expertise on narcissism and negotiation. Rebecca is a Narcissism Negotiation Expert, founder of the SLAY negotiation method, popular YouTuber, and one of the Top 1% of attorneys in the nation. In this episode, Rebecca sheds light on what it's like to have a partner who is a narcissist and what happens when you want to get out of the relationship. She a...

Is it sex addiction, or is he just a cheater? Does the distinction even matter? That is just one of the topics I discuss in this episode with my guest, Robert Weiss, Ph. D., LCSW (Dr. Rob). Dr. Rob is the Chief Clinical Officer of Seeking Integrity LLC, which provides online education and residential treatment for sex, porn, and substance/sex-addicted men and their families. During our conversatio...

65-75% of women say they would get divorced if they could, but the fear of post-separation abuse and the court system often prevent them from leaving unequal relationships. And quite frankly, women are fed up, and we have every right to be. Zawn Villines, a feminist activist and writer, joins me for a conversation about misogyny in motherhood and marriage; and how to start advocating for yourself...

Attorney, CDFA, and author Patrick Kilbane joins me to discuss what you need to consider when selecting a divorce attorney. In this episode, we cover some criteria for choosing an attorney, questions to ask during your initial consultation, and what you need to know about your money as you move through divorce. Patrick is Partner, the General Counsel, and a Wealth Advisor for Ullmann Wealth Partne...

This week, special needs consultant, advisor, and mediator Josh Kershenbaum, Esq., joins me to discuss navigating divorce when you have children with special needs. We touch on the challenges divorcing parents of children with disabilities face, the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and how to best advocate for your child now and in the future. Josh Kershenbaum, Esq., is a dedicated Peac...

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Year for 2022 was Gaslighting . Last year, the word experienced a 1,740% increase in lookups, yet there is still much to learn—and many myths to bust.  In this episode, fan-favorite Dr. Amelia Kelley returns to discuss healing from gaslighting. Together we shed light on the insidious nature of gaslighting and the importance of healing and self-care. Dr. Kelley is a...

Thinking about keeping the house in your divorce? This week, Tami Wollensak joins me to talk about the things you need to consider when deciding whether or not you should keep your marital home. We explore the importance of understanding your finances and what to keep (and manage) the home. We also discuss some of the hidden costs associated with keeping the home such as homeowners insurance, gett...

Today I welcome back Dr. Christine Cocchiola to discuss the importance of talking and educating about coercive control, domestic violence, and other abuses (legal, financial, and so on) to better understand, identify, and ultimately advocate for yourself, your children, or loved ones in family court.  Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola, DSW, LCSW is a Coercive Control Advocate, Educator, Researcher & S...

This episode is going to change your life. Chris Rackliffe joins me for a profound conversation about anxious attachment and the three components of healing. We also discuss shame, the fear of abandonment, and how to break the cycle of attachment. It's truly an inspiring conversation. Chris Rackliffe is a personal development writer and anxious attachment style coach, whose ability to paint with w...

Lora Cheadle has overcome the devastation of betrayal after learning about her husband's fifteen-year-long infidelity. In this episode, she joins me to share her story including how she helps women reclaim their identity, self-worth, agency, and enthusiasm for life after betrayal.  Lora is a former attorney, podcast host, TEDx speaker, and award-winning author of FLAUNT! Drop Your Cover and Reveal...

Today, we're going to be talking about something called Mental Emotional Release (MER) with guest Rich Heller. The MER technique helps to release triggers or emotional patterns, thereby leading us on a path toward healing. Divorce is an emotionally charged time, so I thought this might be an interesting topic to share with listeners.   Rich is a Relationship Fitness Coach and mediator. He helps pa...

This week I welcome Dr. Tom Murray for a conversation about the difference between discernment counseling and couples therapy. Dr. Tom is an author, international trainer, educator, and couples and sex-therapist supervisor. He is also a sought-after expert in sexuality and intimate relationships. In this episode, we get to the root of why couples therapy does not work in the traditional sense, and...

Dawn Dais, author of The Sh!t No One Tells You … series joins me on the podcast to talk about the things nobody tells you about divorce. Her most recent book The Shit No One Tells You About Divorce takes readers along on her bumpy, meandering, and often absurd journey through the destruction of life exploded by divorce as she tries to figure out what happened… and what happens next. In this episod...

I am back this week with another Q&A-style episode. Full disclosure, I didn't have a podcast episode prepared for this week because I'd been sick and had to keep canceling interviews, but I had an Ask Me Anything (AMA) scheduled for my Facebook group , so I thought it would be fun to share the recording of that on the podcast this week. In this episode, I answer questions related to co-parenting w...

I am back with a new episode this week and it is a listener Q&A! You've submitted your questions and stories on topics such as co-parenting, how to make hard decisions about divorce, and how to survive financially, especially if you can't afford to leave your marriage. Tune into this episode to hear my answers to these questions and more.   In this episode, I answer these listener questions: My pa...

This week I am re-sharing my episode featuring Michelle Dempsey-Multack which was all about how to survive the holidays pre- or post-divorce.  If this is your first Christmas alone or last holiday as a single-family unit, this episode will offer advice about how to create new holiday traditions, how to set boundaries, and how to take care of yourself during this highly emotional and uncertain time...

This week I welcome love coach Shaun Galanos to the show. Together we discuss communication tools for better relationships, modern dating, and love. Shaun is also the host of The Love Drive podcast and an online course creator.  If you are divorced and thinking about dating - this episode is an invitation to strive for more open communication in new relationships. Every conversation is an opportun...

Adam Dodge and Adriane Nada join me for a conversation about how to empower your children to make good decisions online. Kids today understand how to use technology, but that does not mean they know how to do it safely. The internet was not built for children, but that's where they are growing up. Adam and Adriane created The Tech-Savvy Parent online course to keep parents informed and their kids...

Dr. Christine Cocchiola returns to the show to talk about coercive control and its impact on children. Dr. Cocchiola's goal, and the goal of this episode, is to help you create a more secure environment for your child.  Divorcing an abuser is hard, but while you are going through this really tumultuous time, you can still show your children a path to freedom. Yes, it's hard work. Perhaps it's the...

Liz Bailey joins me this week to share her experience leaving an abusive marriage and how that drives her passion for helping women rise up, thrive, and take action steps to move forward before, during, or after divorce. For listeners who feel they are never going to be on the other side of their divorce, Liz's story is a testament that  there is  "the other side," and that you can get there too—w...

Tracy Coenen is a forensic accountant who has been investigating fraud for more than twenty-five years. This year she released the Divorce Money Guide to help people in the process of divorce take control of their finances.  In this episode, Tracy joins me for a conversation about becoming your own forensic accountant. Becoming your own forensic accountant helps you to gain agency, clarity, and un...

Mary Ann Hughes is the proud mother of two sons on opposite ends of the autism spectrum. Today she joins me for a conversation about going through a divorce when you have children with special needs. During her divorce, Mary Ann successfully advocated for her children's needs. As a result, she started Special Family Transitions to help families navigate the overwhelm and complexities of special ne...

October 1st marked the beginning of domestic violence awareness month. On September 30th, I learned that a member of my Facebook community was murdered by her boyfriend, who then turned the gun on himself. There are 11 murder-suicides rooted in domestic violence per week in the United States, so I decided to focus this week's episode on the epidemic of domestic violence and shed light on it with s...

Annette Oltmans returns to the show this week for an important conversation about going to couples therapy with an abuser. We discuss what therapy with an abuser can look like, when it works, when it doesn't work, and share strategies to protect yourself throughout.  Annette is one of the very few people whose abusive husband did change after going to therapy - separately and together. She also sh...

I'm often asked, "What does a healthy relationship even look like?" Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, author, holistic psychotherapist, and codependency expert, joins me for a conversation that addresses that question. Plus, we discuss her new book, which she co-authored with her partner, John Kim (AKA: The Angry Therapist), "It's Not Me, It's You: Break the Blame Cycle. Relationship Better."  The book cover...