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Most relationships don’t end in one dramatic explosion; they slowly erode in all the tiny moments we stay quiet. In this episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia sits down with author, psychotherapist, and relationship expert Colette Jane Fehr to talk about the real cost of silence in marriage, divorce, and dating after divorce. Drawing from her new book, The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations That Create Secure, Lasting Love, Colette shares how her own divorce pushed her back to graduate school and into couples therapy work, where she’s spent years watching how communication, emotional intelligence, and self-advocacy can either nurture connection or quietly destroy it. Together, Olivia and Colette unpack why avoiding hard conversations is the number one relationship killer, and how emotional disconnection—not just big fights—often leads to divorce. Colette breaks down her “bad communication report card” (distancing, defensiveness, dismissiveness, and fixing), explains why so many emotionally intelligent women stop speaking up when their partner reacts poorly, and offers a powerful reframe: your responsibility is to use your voice, no matter how someone responds. They also explore dating after divorce, the green flag of emotional responsiveness, and how learning to name your emotional needs and ask for reassurance can transform relationships of all kinds. This conversation is both tender and deeply practical. Colette reminds listeners that divorce can be a profound season of personal growth, especially for women taught to stay small and selfless. She shares how to practice self-advocacy in tiny, doable steps, what to look for in a responsive partner, and why the most important relationship you’ll ever have is the one with yourself. If you’re navigating divorce, rethinking your relationships, or learning to self-nurture after years of self-silencing, this episode will give you hope, language, and a roadmap to create the emotionally connected love you actually deserve. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

Divorce can make even the most capable, high-achieving woman feel like she’s suddenly failing at the one thing she was supposed to get “right.” In this episode of Divorce Happens, host Olivia Howell sits down with certified divorce coach Kristina St. Cyr to talk honestly about divorce grief, isolation, and what it really takes to build a support system when your life is coming apart. Together, they unpack why divorce feels so lonely, how shame keeps so many people quiet, and why creating a divorce “village” can change everything for your divorce recovery journey. Kristina works virtually with professional women who are juggling demanding careers, parenting, and the emotional toll of separation and divorce. She explains what a divorce coach actually does and how she supports clients through the “business side of divorce” and the emotional storm at the same time. From organizing financial paperwork and preparing for meetings with your lawyer, to co-parenting communication tips and planning for your post-divorce future, Kristina shares the four pillars of her work: getting organized, managing emotions, communicating effectively, and focusing on the life you’re building after divorce. She also talks about her new women’s divorce support group, designed to be a village where you don’t have to explain yourself—you can just show up and be understood. Throughout the conversation, Kristina returns to one mantra: progress over perfection. Listeners will hear practical mindset shifts for navigating divorce—like giving yourself credit for tiny steps, understanding that you can repair and course-correct, and remembering that divorce is just one (huge) chapter in a much bigger life. If you’re craving community, curious about whether working with a divorce coach could help you, or simply desperate to feel less alone in this process, this episode offers both clarity and hope, with tangible takeaways you can use right away as you start over after divorce. Learn more about Kristina on Fresh Starts: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/resourceguide/kristina-st-cyr-coaching Check out Your Divorce Village: https://www.kristinastcyrcoaching.com/your-divorce-village 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

Divorce can feel like standing in the middle of a house you used to know—same walls, different air—while your brain tries to do math it never studied for: custody, money, paperwork, grief, sleep. In this episode of Divorce Happens, we ask: How do I navigate the divorce process without getting swallowed by it? Enter Shari Joseph and Tamara Frankfort Odinec, co-founders of My Next Chapter, a divorce support platform built for people who want clarity before things implode. Together, they bring both lived experience and a practical, organized approach to divorce education—offering proprietary resources that cover the legal aspects of divorce, the financial realities of divorce, and the emotional recovery after divorce, all in one place. They talk about what changes when you stop treating divorce like a private shame-spiral and start treating it like a transition you deserve support through—especially when you’re trying to make decisions while dysregulated, exhausted, and still parenting. What lingers after this conversation is the relief of a new frame: you don’t need to “figure out your whole life,” you just need your next right step—and a community that helps you take it. Shari and Tamara share why divorce community support is not a luxury, but a stabilizer, and how proactive guidance can reduce overwhelm and prevent avoidable mistakes. Expect a mindset shift (divorce is a chapter, not a verdict) and actionable takeaways like: choose one category—legal, financial, or emotional—and get one clear answer this week; build your “divorce support team” early; and let structure hold you when your feelings can’t. If you’re starting over after divorce, this episode offers hope with handles. What is My Next Chapter?My Next Chapter is an expert-led, confidential content + community platform designed to support people through every stage of divorce—whether you’re divorce-curious, actively in the process, newly divorced, or years out and still navigating co-parenting, finances, or rebuilding. The platform is structured to help members feel informed, make confident choices, and take the next right step—without having to search the internet at 2 a.m. or piece together advice from a dozen places. What topics does it cover?My Next Chapter supports divorce recovery in a genuinely 360 way, with guidance across: Legal (understanding rights, legal jargon, custody dynamics)Finance (budgeting, assets, rebuilding independence)Family + Co-parenting (kids’ wellbeing, boundaries, high-conflict tools)Mindfulness + Wellness (regulation, balance, strength)Dating + Relationships (when/if to date, confidence, online dating support)Lifestyle + Life after divorce (redefining who you are and what’s next) The site also frames support by stage: Get Informed & Ready (for the divorce-curious / quietly preparing)li...

In today’s Divorce 101 A to Z episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell explains what a parenting plan is and why it is one of the most important documents in any divorce involving children. Brought to you by the letter P and the number 2, this episode highlights the two essential components of every parenting plan: parenting time (when the child is with each parent) and parental responsibility (how decisions are made). Listeners learn the purpose of parenting plans, the different types of schedules families may choose, and how a thoughtfully structured plan helps children feel secure, grounded, and loved across two homes. Olivia also explores the emotional challenges of creating a parenting plan and offers a grounding action step to help parents begin with clarity and compassion. This episode is ideal for divorcing parents, mediators, therapists, and anyone supporting children through family transitions. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

There’s a particular loneliness that comes with realizing you may have to explain a divorce to your children on your own. In this episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell sits down with therapist and divorce expert Oona Metz to talk about one of the most emotionally charged moments in the divorce process: helping kids understand what’s happening when one parent refuses, avoids, or can’t show up for the conversation. It’s an episode for the parent lying awake at night, rehearsing sentences and worrying about getting it “wrong.” Oona brings nearly 30 years of clinical experience and more than 15 years leading women through divorce support groups into this conversation, offering both professional insight and deep compassion. She shares what children actually need during divorce—not perfect language, not mutual parental agreement, but honesty, emotional steadiness, and reassurance. Through client stories and real-world examples, Oona explains how kids process divorce differently at different ages, why one regulated parent can provide enormous emotional safety, and how to answer hard questions without oversharing, blaming, or asking children to carry adult emotions. Throughout the episode, Olivia and Oona emphasize a powerful mindset shift: you don’t need your ex’s cooperation to protect your children’s emotional wellbeing. Listeners will come away with actionable co-parenting tips, guidance on setting boundaries around what’s shared, and reassurance that doing this imperfectly is still doing it lovingly. The conversation also draws from Oona’s book, Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women, which centers the emotional realities of divorce rather than the legal ones. If you’re navigating divorce recovery, single mom life, or co-parenting without collaboration, this episode offers clarity, validation, and hope: your presence matters more than perfection. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

A broken heart doesn’t just ache—it disorients. It changes how you sleep, how you think, how you trust yourself, and how you imagine the future. In this episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell sits down with therapist and divorce recovery expert Oona Metz to talk about what heartbreak really looks like during and after divorce—and how healing actually happens. With nearly 30 years as a licensed therapist and more than 15 years leading women through divorce support groups, Oona brings rare clarity to an experience many people feel but struggle to name. Oona explains why heartbreak after divorce isn’t just emotional pain—it’s a full nervous system response shaped by loss, identity disruption, and often emotional neglect or emotional abuse. Drawing from her clinical work and client stories, she describes how grief and relief can coexist, why healing rarely moves in a straight line, and why so many people feel “stuck” long after the paperwork is done. Together, Olivia and Oona unpack the hidden layers of divorce recovery: the quiet shame, the fear of trusting again, and the moment when people realize they’re not broken—they’re grieving a life they thought they’d have. This episode offers both comfort and direction. Listeners will walk away with mindset shifts—like understanding that healing a broken heart doesn’t require closure from an ex—and practical takeaways, including why community support matters, how boundaries protect emotional healing (especially when co-parenting), and what actually helps rebuild emotional resilience. Oona also shares how these insights shaped her forthcoming book, Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women, which centers the emotional journey of divorce from heartbreak to renewal. If you’re navigating divorce recovery, single mom life, or starting over after a painful ending, this conversation is a reminder: heartbreak is survivable—and healing is possible. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

In this Divorce 101 A to Z episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell explains one of the most essential parts of the divorce process: orders. Brought to you by the letter O and the number 4, this episode breaks down the four major types of orders — temporary orders, financial orders, custody and parenting time orders, and final orders — and explains how they guide, protect, and structure the entire divorce journey. Listeners learn why orders matter, what happens when someone violates an order, and how these instructions create predictability and safety during a highly emotional time. Olivia also offers a grounding action step to help listeners understand which orders already exist in their case or may be coming next. This episode is ideal for anyone newly navigating divorce, trying to understand court paperwork, or feeling overwhelmed by legal terminology. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

In this episode of Divorce Happens, host Olivia Howell speaks with therapist and divorce recovery expert Oona Metz about why healing after divorce happens faster—and feels less isolating—when it’s done in community. Drawing on nearly 30 years of clinical experience and 15+ years leading women’s divorce support groups, Oona breaks down what actually happens inside a therapist-led divorce support group, how confidentiality and emotional safety work, and why shared experience helps women rebuild self-trust, boundaries, and a sense of identity after divorce. Oona also shares the heart behind her book, Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women, which focuses on the emotional journey of divorce—including grief, relief, anger, fear, and the identity shift no one prepares you for. If you’re navigating divorce recovery, co-parenting stress, emotional abuse fallout, or starting over as a single mom, this episode offers validation, practical guidance, and a clear message of hope: divorce is hard, but healing is real—and it gets better on the other side. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

In this Divorce 101 A to Z episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell explains the importance of notice in the divorce process. Brought to you by the letter N and the number 30, the episode breaks down what notice is, why legally valid service is required, what methods are accepted in most states, and how notice ensures fairness, predictability, and due process in divorce proceedings. Listeners learn the emotional and logistical realities of giving and receiving notice, as well as the common “30-day rule” that governs many divorce deadlines and responses. Olivia also offers a grounding action step to help listeners organize their next 30 days of divorce-related tasks. This episode is ideal for anyone beginning the divorce process, preparing for service, or navigating upcoming court deadlines. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

When I went through my own divorce, I wasn’t looking for legal jargon or financial formulas—I was looking for someone who could sit with me in the emotional wreckage and say, You’re not broken. You’re becoming. In this solo episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell shares why Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women is the book she desperately needed during her own divorce—and why she believes every woman navigating this transition should have it within arm’s reach. Olivia walks listeners through what makes Unhitched different from every other divorce book on the shelf. Written by nationally recognized therapist Oona Metz, the book centers the emotional reality of divorce—grief, identity loss, relief, fear, boundaries, co-parenting, and rebuilding—rather than just the logistics. Drawing from decades of clinical experience, Oona offers psychological insight that feels human, compassionate, and deeply grounding. Olivia reflects on how the book mirrors what so many women experience but struggle to name, especially the quiet shame, the “both/and” emotions, and the sense that life has split into before and after. This episode is both a review and a call to action. Olivia explains why Unhitched isn’t about “bouncing back,” but about growing forward—meeting women exactly where they are, whether they’re still deciding to leave, navigating single mom life, or redefining themselves years after divorce. Listeners will walk away with a powerful mindset shift: divorce isn’t a personal failure—it’s a human transition that deserves real support. Olivia’s invitation is simple and heartfelt: preorder Unhitched for yourself, for a friend who’s quietly struggling, and for the future version of you who deserves to feel seen. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

In this Divorce 101 A to Z episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell breaks down the meaning of mediation — one of the most common and collaborative ways to navigate divorce without litigation. Brought to you by the letter M and the number 3, the episode explains the three essential qualities that make mediation successful: openness, honesty, and willingness to find common ground. Listeners learn what mediation is, how it works, when it’s appropriate, and when it’s not. Olivia explains the mediator’s role, the emotional experience of sitting across from a spouse, and why mediation offers many families a more peaceful, cost-effective path forward. A grounding action step helps listeners identify their own intentions for the process. This episode is ideal for anyone considering mediation, entering mediation sessions, or weighing different divorce process options. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

Divorce doesn’t usually arrive all at once. It creeps in through sleepless nights, quiet dread, and the feeling that the life you’re living no longer fits the person you’ve become. In this episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell sits down with therapist and Fresh Starts Expert Oona Metz, whose decades of clinical experience—and lived experience—offer rare clarity in the fog of divorce. Oona is the author of Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women, a book written for women navigating the emotional, psychological, and identity-shifting realities of divorce, not just the logistics. Oona brings over 30 years as a therapist and more than 15 years running divorce support groups for women, alongside her own experience being divorced twice. In this conversation, she shares what she’s witnessed in hundreds of clients: the grief that mirrors death but isn’t acknowledged as such, the shame many women carry—especially those who “should have known better”—and the profound identity rupture that comes when marriage ends. Together, Olivia and Oona unpack why divorce recovery is not linear, why emotional validation matters as much as legal strategy, and how boundaries, self-trust, and support systems become survival tools during this transition. What makes this episode transformative is its permission-giving. Permission to gather information without making immediate decisions. Permission to grieve without explanation. Permission to start over without apologizing. Listeners will walk away with practical mindset shifts—like reframing divorce as a life transition rather than a failure—and actionable insights on assembling a support team, protecting emotional safety, and honoring the slow work of healing. This episode is a steady hand on your back for anyone navigating divorce recovery, emotional abuse fallout, co-parenting transitions, or single mom life—and a reminder that divorce happens, but so does healing. GRAB UNHITCHED HERE: https://amzn.to/4pBQvG9 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

In this Divorce 101 A to Z episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell explains what a legal separation is, how it works, and why some couples choose it instead of divorce. Brought to you by the letter L and the number 6, this episode outlines the six most common reasons couples choose legal separation — from health insurance considerations to religious beliefs to emotional readiness and financial protection. Listeners learn what legal separation does (and doesn’t) accomplish, how it compares to divorce, and why it is available only in certain states. Olivia also explores the emotional complexity of choosing separation and offers a grounding action step to help listeners assess whether this option might support their needs. This episode is perfect for anyone considering separation, evaluating divorce options, or needing clarity on legal choices during major life transitions. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

In today’s Divorce 101 A to Z episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell explains what a kitchen table agreement is and how couples can use this collaborative approach to outline the terms of their divorce without high conflict or litigation. Brought to you by the letter K and the number 2, this episode highlights why kitchen table agreements work best when two people can communicate respectfully and want to shape their own future rather than leave decisions to the courts. Listeners learn which topics are typically covered in a kitchen table agreement, why informal negotiations still need legal review, and when this approach is not appropriate — especially in situations involving abuse, imbalance of power, or limited financial transparency. Olivia also shares the emotional reality of sitting across the table from someone you’re separating from and offers a simple, grounding action step to support clarity and collaboration. This episode is ideal for couples pursuing mediation, amicable separation, or low-conflict divorce. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

In this Divorce 101 A to Z episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell explains the meaning of a divorce judgment — the final court order that legally ends a marriage. Brought to you by the letter J and the number 2, the episode breaks down the two major components of a judgment: the legal dissolution of the marriage, and the detailed terms outlining custody, support, property division, and more. Listeners learn the differences between a judgment, a decree, and a settlement agreement, and why the judgment becomes the foundational document for all future decisions, questions, or disputes. Olivia also addresses the emotional experience of receiving a final judgment and offers a simple action step to support clarity and empowerment. This episode is ideal for anyone in the final stages of divorce, reviewing paperwork, or preparing for settlement negotiations. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/