The Samantha Baines Show

"I came home and there was a ripped up photo of us and his ring next to my sink"- Nikki DeBartolo In a Divorce Social first, we have a divorced couple on the show together! Nikki DeBartolo and Ben Heldfond both join Samantha to talk about their divorce from one another and their book all about it. Now the best of friends, they talk to Samantha about their journey whilst bringing up their son....

"The break up that triggered all that was when I got dumped by email"- Rosie Wilby Comedian and Author of The Breakup Monologues, Rosie Wilby joins Samantha Baines to talk about the major breakdown of her relationship. Rosie talks about the impact her break up had on her pet cat and how she felt being in a relationship with someone not openly gay. The two discuss the lack of women who like women,...

"I don't think I could have stopped what happened anyway..." -Gilly Da Silva Gilly Da Silva joins Samantha Baines to talk about being gaslighted and why she set up Mending Hearts Retreat: a unique experience for individuals experiencing the hurt and pain of a relationship breakdown or loss of a deceased loved one. The two chat revamping themselves from the outside in after divorce and the freedom...

"What was challenging for me was separating the different threads of grief..."- Steven Petrow Author and Columnist at The Washington Post, Steven Petrow joins Samantha Baines to discuss dealing with losing his parents while splitting from his ex husband. The two open up about dealing with emotions when your ex moves on first, how they manage their anxiety and the true meaning of the phrase 'genero...

"It was the most horrific experience, I think of my life..."- Sue Atkins Parenting Consultant, author and Broadcaster Sue Atkins joins Samantha Baines to discuss her coping strategies to life's biggest changes, her "F*** you ring" and advises on what to do when breaking the news of divorce to children. Sue discusses what not to do when having to go places where your ex is going to be and the two d...

"I went out and had tons of sex. I had so much sex with so many different kinds of people..."- Laura Friedman Williams Author of Available and self declared PTA mum, Laura Friedman Williams joins Samantha Baines to discuss details of her divorce skate party, asking men lots of questions and talking all things hair (and not the stuff on our heads)! Laura discusses the sordid details of her book, th...

"It wasn't so much for me the act of cheating on me, it was how he had treated me in that time frame"- Micaela Sharp Star of Interior Design Masters and upholsterer, Micaela Sharp joins Samantha Baines to discuss leaving her home of 6 years and reclaiming her space. Micaela talks about dealing with anger, placating her dog and having another woman fill her in on the details of her exes infidelity....

Host Samantha Baines rounds up the series with her favourite bits of each episode, her love for cooling sheets and shares some of your wonderful messages. Samantha also gives a sneak peek into what series 6 has in store- exciting! To support Samantha and join The Divorce Social community: www.patreon.com/samanthabaines Twitter and Instagram: @divorcepod & @samanthabaines For features and spons...

"it had to happen because otherwise I was going to lose my mind" - Jessica Fostekew Comedian Jessica Fostekew joins Samantha Baines to talk breaking up with her child's father and her queerness. Jess talks about leaving someone well, being firm that it's the end and accidentally falling in love. The two share their queerness journeys and Sam talks bisexuality and thinking about her marriage ending...

"if doing all of that is the price I had to pay to be a Dad, I'd do it all again" - Dom Newton Presenter Dom Newton joins Samantha Baines to chat divorce and fatherhood. The two chat changing surnames for the family and Dom talks getting married at twenty two to a woman eight years older than him. Comparing himself to Milhouse's dad from The Simpsons and the effect that media references have on us...

"I said to my Mum so many times as a kid, just leave him" - Sam Bailey X-factor 2013 winner singer Sam Bailey joins Samantha Baines to talk divorce. Don't worry she's still happily married right now but Sam opens up about her broken engagement aged 17 and her parents divorce. The two discuss losing family members after a break up and how that can affect children. Sam Bailey talks about how hard lo...

"I started exploring my own fear of being alone" - Francesca Specter Author and podcaster Francesca Specter joins Samantha Baines to talk how her break up led to an exploration of being alone. The two talk staying in things too long, spending time apart in a relationship and learning to enjoy time by yourself. Francesca talks living alone for the first time in her life, going on awful dates to avo...

"what I'm talking about is ending up in a sexless marriage" - Irene Fehr Sex and intimacy coach Irene Fehr joins Samantha Baines to talk about her divorce and sexless marriage. Irene talks about her initial belief that she was asexual, taking on the responsibility and shame of the lack of sex in a relationship. Irene discusses painful sex due to loss of lubrication and her sexual journey. The two...

"I felt that if I couldn't get it out emotionally it would affect me physically" - Denise Cullington Psychoanalyst and writer Denise Cullington joins Samantha Baines to discuss her divorce over twenty years ago. Denise talks about dealing with emotions as a trained psychoanalyst, why it's important to have good men in your life and how divorce caused her to swap painting for Psychotherapy. Sam fin...

"run as fast as you can to the middle of nowhere" - Jen McGuire (and Pink) Writer Jen McGuire joins Samantha Baines to discuss how the artist Pink encouraged her to leave her husband as well as her movie moment at an actual crossroads. Having your first child at 21, divorced at 30 and dealing with your kids leaving the nest all feature. The two discuss break up anthems, the importance of asking fo...

"I hired a divorce assistant" - Diane Sitcom writer Diane Burroughs joins Samantha Baines to talk divorce after twenty four years of marriage. Working with your ex, finding your ex an apartment and sticking post it notes on your furniture all feature. Diane introduces Sam to the 'look back' and why it's so important to let go of it and how flash mobs changed her life! Sam is very excited by the id...

"I feel like I've been three different people" - Liz Actor Liz Hume-Dawson joins Samantha Baines to talk divorce that feels like a lifetime ago. The two discuss friends/relatives telling them they can drop out of the wedding and Liz knowing things aren't working five years before the separation. Liz discusses the way we keep things to ourselves, dealing with the in-laws, the way things build up an...

"I was basically taking a lethal dose of alcohol and drugs to get to sleep" - Laura Cathcart-Robbins Laura Cathcart-Robbins joins Samantha Baines to talk divorce and addiction. Laura openly talks about "improvising her education", entering into her marriage lying and using alcohol and drugs to 'cope'. The two discuss the five stages of grief, the importance of asking for help and Laura lets us kno...

Host Samantha Baines rounds up the series with some puppy news, some of your messages and a recap of each episode. The puppy introduces herself and Samantha talks about her new divorce chat room and venting sessions! Mentioned in this episode: Intro

"it was a bonfire of the whole of my life" - Jennifer Crichton Journalist and Founder of The Flock Jennifer Crichton joins Samantha Baines to talk divorce. Jennifer talks tough emotional trauma and the experience she had with her new-born son's illness in intensive care for the first few months of his life. Living in a foreign country, illness and then losing all your possessions before you even g...

"I started to go blind" - Poppy Delbridge Tapping teacher Poppy Delbridge joins Samantha Baines to talk getting married at 18, divorce, being a single Mum and starting to go blind. The two talk about catalysts, grief and have a great chat about seeing a different penis for the first time. Samantha shares her crying during sex fears, setting up that first time post break up and the two discuss clot...

"I viewed my divorce like a project" - Fidel Beauhill The Modern Man Fidel Beauhill joins Sam to discuss his divorce and coaching other men. Fidel talks about 'obsess appointments', jealousy and testosterone. Sam challenges Fidel on the subject of consent and the two have a great discussion about sex and men's views around consent. Fidel discusses self-sabotage and the trend with men of jumping st...

"Your divorce is not about your ex, it's about you" - Tosh Brittan The Divorce Goddess Tosh Brittan joins Samantha Baines to chat divorce, her daughter trying on her wedding dress, the 'family ring' and the importance of not throwing everything away. Tosh talks separating at the beginning of a month long road trip, going bankrupt, going through the attic memories and using your divorce as a kindne...

"I left my husband when I was three months pregnant" - Sajeela Kershi Comedian Sajeela Kershi joins Samantha Baines and the two bond over lots of parallels in their lives, from comedy to dead dads and even hearing loss. Sajeela discusses being held at gunpoint whilst pregnant and negotiating toilet breaks with terrorists, the need for a marriage handbook and having an arranged marriage. Sajeela ex...

"We call them the crying months" - Jo Middleton Jo Middleton joins Samantha Baines to talk about her painful relationship history. A single mother of two, Jo discusses motherhood and dating, living in her Mum's dressing room and why you should always find an American if you are having a panic attack. The two bond over anxiety, share their relationship catalysts and Jo opens up about "the crying mo...