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Part two of our conversation with family law mediator and mediation prep coach Corey Woods, breaking down myths 6 through 10 about family court. We get into whether mediation is actually useless in high-conflict cases, what a "successful" mediation really looks like (hint: it's not always an agreement), why abuse doesn't stop when the relationship ends, how to know when mediation has stopped being productive, and what winning actually means when you're co-parenting with someone who wants war.If you haven't watched part one yet, go back and start there. We covered why family court isn't always where you get justice, why telling the judge your whole story can backfire, and why being the better parent doesn't matter the way you think it does. This is not legal advice or a substitute for professional support from someone who knows the facts of your case. Remember, we are all in this together. Connect with Corrie Woods on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @corriewoods. She offers affordable 30-minute mediation prep coaching calls to help you walk into mediation prepared and informed, you can find her booking link in her bio. If this gave you some clarity, hit subscribe and share it with someone navigating high-conflict co-parenting right now. And if you're ready to talk through your own situation, you can book an intro call with me at unfuckyourcoparenting.com/book to see if coaching is right for you. Find Corey at corriewoods on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Remember, we are all in this together.

Family court is not where you go to get justice, and the sooner you accept that, the better you can actually play the game. This week on U****k Your Co-parenting, I sit down with Corrie Woods, a family law mediator, mediation prep coach, and someone who survived her own divorce and years of post-separation litigation abuse while raising five kids. She brings a perspective most people never get: what mediators actually see from both sides of the table. In part one of this two-part conversation, we bust the first five myths that keep people stuck: 1. Family court exists to deliver justice and fairness. 2. Once a judge or mediator hears your story, they'll see you're right. 3. Being the better or default parent means you'll get more parenting time. 4. If you just stay reasonable, the system will reward you for it. 5. Your attorney is always right and always has your back. Corrie breaks down why defending yourself in court can backfire, why resentment over unequal parenting labor has nothing to do with you, and the story of an attorney who talked his client out of a perfectly good agreement just to keep billing hours. Come back next week for part two, where we get into mediation, post-separation abuse, and what winning in family court actually looks like. This is not legal advice or a substitute for professional support from someone who knows the facts of your case. Remember, we are all in this together. Connect with Corrie Woods on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @corriewoods. She offers affordable 30-minute mediation prep coaching calls to help you walk into mediation prepared and informed, you can find her booking link in her bio. If this gave you some clarity, hit subscribe and share it with someone navigating high-conflict co-parenting right now. And if you're ready to talk through your own situation, you can book an intro call with me at unfuckyourcoparenting.com/book to see if coaching is right for you.

Cameron Normand built ⁠Stepfamily Solutions⁠⁠ after becoming a stepmom of four in a high-conflict situation with zero blueprint to follow. She left a 23-year career in law and politics to fix that gap, and now she's one of the few voices in this space who gets that stepfamily fallout isn't just "blended family awkwardness."In this episode, we flip the conversation from the one we just had on her show. Instead of talking about how high-conflict coparenting hits the couple relationship, we go deeper into the partner who has no legal standing, no decision-making power, and still absorbs all the emotional weight of somebody else's war.We get into why she chose coaching over practicing law, how the BIFF method changes when the person using it has zero legal leverage, and when someone actually needs a stepmom coach versus someone in the thick of active legal conflict.Cameron is also running the Stepmom Summit this year, "Out Loud," September 14-18, completely free and virtual with over 30 stepfamily experts. If you've been quietly white-knuckling your way through blended family life, that's your sign to grab a free ticket. Register now for ⁠⁠The Stepmom Summit: Out Loud⁠⁠, happening live and virtually September 14th through 18th

You got out. You left the relationship, you survived the divorce, you're doing the work. So why does something still feel off?You still check in with everyone else before you check in with yourself. You feel guilty when you set a boundary. You spiral when an email comes in from your ex -- even when you know exactly what they're doing.That's not a co-parenting problem. That's an identity problem. And it started way before your ex.Today I'm sitting down with Audra Phelps -- certified neuroscience-based coach, hypnotherapist, and creator of the Reclaimed program. She spent 35 years inside the Mormon Church and has spent the years since figuring out not just how to leave, but how to build what comes next.In this episode we get into:Why high-demand religion and high-conflict relationships run the same control playbook (the BITE model maps almost perfectly)What it actually looks like when your identity was built by a system instead of by youHow to identify the beliefs that are still running your behavior even after you've leftWhat it means to move through anger without skipping steps -- and why toxic positivity isn't the answerHow to start trusting yourself as a parent when you were taught not to trust yourself at allIf you've ever gotten out of a toxic situation and still felt like something was wrong with you -- like you're still reacting, still shrinking, still not sure what you actually want -- this one is for you.Find Audra at mamaaudra.com, including her free masterclass: The Five Shifts That Every Former Mormon Mom Needs to Make, and her eight-week Reclaimed program.Audra is also offering podcast listeners 50% off their first individual coaching session. Learn about one-on-one coaching at https://mamaaudra.com/oneonone and book a free consult to see if it's a fit (mention PODCAST on the call for the discount). This is open to any woman navigating a faith transition after leaving a high control organization, not just Mormons.---Ready to stop reacting and start responding strategically? Book an intro call to see if coaching is right for you: https://unfuckyourcoparenting.com/bookHave a question you want answered on air? Head to unfuckyourcoparenting.com and click Join the Conversation.Find me everywhere: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and the podcast at U****k Your Co-Parenting.As always -- we are all in this together.

Everyone tells you to document everything. But nobody tells you what to do when you've got 600 screenshots, 42 emails, and a notes app folder called "court stuff" that's slowly driving you insane. That's what today's episode is actually about. Amy, founder of Out of the Ashes Caseworks, built a custody documentation platform out of her own experience in family court and helping her now-husband dig out from years of disorganized documentation. She learned the hard way what happens when you don't have a record, and then she built something the rest of us can use. In this episode, we cover: - Why a Google Drive full of screenshots isn't documentation, it's a pile - How to document silently without handing your ex ammunition - Why your good parenting moments need to be on the record too - What it's actually like to sit in a courtroom while lies are being told about you - How to identify patterns instead of drowning in individual incidents - Where AI fits into documentation (and where it absolutely does not) - Why your attorney is only as good as what you give them This is not legal advice. Amy is not your lawyer, and neither am I. Family court is state-specific, fact-specific, and annoyingly specific. Talk to an attorney in your area. But if you're stuck in the loop of screenshotting, panicking, and responding to everything, this one's for you. Find Amy and Out of the Ashes Caseworks: Website: www.custodycaseworks.com Facebook: Out of the Ashes Caseworks TikTok: @custodycaseworks Email: [email protected] Book a call to see if coaching is right for you: https://unfuckyourcoparenting.com/book Find me on all the socials: @unfuckyourcoparenting Submit your questions for our Coaching Couch episode: unfuckyourcoparenting.com (click Join the Conversation) If this hit home, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share. That's how we get this information to the people who need it most. remember, we are all in this together. #highconflictcoparenting #custodydocumentation #coparenting #toxicex #familycourt #custodybattle #coparentinghelp #narcissisticex #documenteverything #divorcewithkids #unfuckyourcoparenting #outoftheashes #custodycaseworks #coparentingadvice #singleparent

Blended families aren't sold to us as reality — they're sold as a highlight reel: everyone gets along, the kids adjust overnight, and the stepparent just fits. That's not how it actually works, so I sat down with someone who's lived the real version. This week I'm talking with Ashley Noelle, founder of Blended Bond and a stepmom, co-parent, single mom, and lifelong member of a blended family herself. We get into what actually builds connection in a blended family — not forced harmony, but repeated moments of safety, honesty, and consistency. We cover the family-meeting question that changed Ashley's household overnight, how to handle rejection from a stepchild without taking it personally, navigating loyalty binds and high-conflict co-parents while blending a new family, keeping chores and rules fair across bio kids and stepkids, and what it actually sounds like to use the Blended Bond conversation cards — Ashley and I pull real questions and answer them live on air. If you're a stepparent, bonus parent, co-parent, or navigating a high-conflict or narcissistic ex while trying to build a new family, this episode is for you. Blended Bond: blendedbond.com — use code LIVINORTH for 10% off. Follow Blended Bond on Instagram @theblendedbond. and TikTok @playblendedbond Book a strategy session with me at unfuckyourcoparenting.com, and follow me @unfuckyourcoparenting on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. This show is educational and experiential, not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for legal decisions.

Co-parenting with a high-conflict, narcissistic, or toxic ex doesn't just make you worry about your kids — it can quietly turn normal parental concern into a full-blown anxiety spiral. In this episode of The Breakdown, Livi North breaks down the top 10 signs you're in a "good parent anxiety spiral" — and why almost all of them trace back to just three things: anxiety, guilt, and self-doubt. You'll learn: — Why "being responsible" can secretly be anxiety in disguise — How to tell strategic documentation from compulsive rumination — Why constant availability isn't the same as being a stable parent — What each emotional driver actually needs (not more monitoring — steadiness) The goal isn't to be a perfect parent. It's to stop spiraling and start parenting from steadiness. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Every state, agreement, and situation is different — talk to a licensed attorney about your specific case. 🔗 Book a strategy session with me: unfuckyourcoparenting.com📱 Follow me: Instagram:   / unfuckyourcoparenting   TikTok:   / unfuckyourcoparenting   YouTube:    / @unfuckyourcoparenting   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...This show is educational and experiential, not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for legal decisions.

Five minutes late to an exchange should not ruin your whole week, but with a high-conflict co-parent it somehow does. In this episode I walk you through 12 things that are genuinely not worth your energy, why some of them are actually bait designed to drain you, and how I tell the difference between annoying and actually serious. I'll give you a simple filter, Safety, Schedule, School, Sanity, that you can run any situation through in seconds, plus the exact scripts I give my own clients for what to say in the moment. If you're dealing with a high-conflict ex, a narcissistic co-parent, or just trying to protect your peace through custody chaos, this one is for you.  🔗 Book a strategy session with me: unfuckyourcoparenting.com 📱 Follow me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfuckyourcoparenting TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unfuckyourcoparenting YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UNFUCKYourCoparenting Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585974789212 This show is educational and experiential, not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for legal decisions.

In this episode of The Coaching Couch, Livi North talks with Corey, a father who survived a four-year custody battle after his daughter was taken out of state and he went 280 days without seeing her. Corey shares what happened when his co-parent relocated with their daughter, why he first hired an attorney, how he later represented himself for much of the case, and what it took to prepare for mediation, GAL involvement, trial, false allegations, and ongoing high-conflict co-parenting. This conversation is not about pretending family court is fair or easy. It is about what happens when a parent stops reacting, starts documenting, learns the system, and stays focused on the child instead of the chaos. We talk about emotional control, narcissistic traits, pro se custody strategy, the importance of evidence, supporting a child’s relationship with both parents, and why Corey says the experience forced him to find “superpowers” he did not know he had. If you are facing a high-conflict custody battle, representing yourself, or trying to stay grounded while fighting for your child, Corey’s story is one you need to hear. Book a Strategy Call or submit a question for The Coaching Couch: unfuckyourcoparenting.com DM and Follow for more @unfuckyourcoparenting on Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts

In Part 2 of this Coaching Couch interview, Livi North continues her conversation with Ali and Stephanie Schmall, the producer and director behind I Love You, My Narcissist. This episode goes deeper into the emotional reality of making a film about narcissistic abuse, the survivor stories that shaped the project, and why reactive abuse is so often misunderstood. Ali and Stephanie discuss the personal impact of creating the film, the scenes that were hardest to make, and why psychological abuse can make victims look like the problem — especially in court, family conflict, and public settings. We also talk about why charming abusers are so difficult for outsiders to recognize, how survivors are often dismissed when they try to explain what happened, and why films like I Love You, My Narcissist matter so much. If you have ever wished people could see the pattern instead of judging one reaction, this conversation is for you. Watch I Love You, My Narcissist and use code LIVI1 for 15% off. https://stream.alefcinestream.com/checkout/i-love-you-my-narcissist/purchase?code=livi1 Book a Strategy Call:unfuckyourcoparenting.com

Parenting plans are supposed to create structure, predictability, and peace. But when you are dealing with a high-conflict, narcissistic, or toxic co-parent, vague parenting plan language can become the exact thing that keeps you stuck in constant conflict. In this episode of U****k Your Co-Parenting, Livi North breaks down 10 common parenting plan clauses that sound reasonable in theory but often become chaos in real life. We’re talking about phrases like “parents will cooperate,” “reasonable notice,” “mutual agreement,” unlimited phone access, right of first refusal, morality clauses, ambiguous makeup time, and other language that can be twisted, weaponized, or used to keep you defending yourself. This episode is especially for parents who are negotiating a custody agreement, preparing for mediation, modifying a parenting plan, or realizing that their current agreement leaves way too much room for interpretation. The goal is not to write the prettiest parenting plan. The goal is to write one that actually works with the co-parent you have — not the fantasy version everyone wishes they would become. This episode is not legal advice. Always consult an attorney about your specific agreement and jurisdiction. Book a strategy call:https://unfuckyourcoparenting.com/book-your-call high-conflict co-parenting, narcissistic co-parenting, parenting plan, custody agreement, parallel parenting, toxic ex, divorce support, custody tips, co-parenting with a narcissist, parenting plan mistakes, family court, mediation, custody modification, divorce strategy

In this episode of The Coaching Couch, Livi North is joined by Ali and Stephanie Schmall, the producer and director behind I Love You, My Narcissist. This independent hybrid film blends scripted storytelling, survivor experiences, and expert commentary to show the slow, confusing, identity-eroding reality of narcissistic abuse — the part that is so hard to explain to friends, family, courts, and anyone who only sees the charming public version of the abuser. Ali and Stephanie share why they created the film, how survivor stories shaped the fictional storylines, why they chose a hybrid scripted/documentary format, and how the film helps people see the pattern of manipulation, gaslighting, isolation, and reactive abuse more clearly. If you have ever wished you could point to something and say, “This. This is what happened,” this conversation — and this film — is for you. Watch I Love You, My Narcissist and use code LIVI1 for 15% off. Book a Strategy Call:unfuckyourcoparenting.com/book-your-call

What happens when “healthy co-parenting” becomes a trap? In this episode, Livi North breaks down the difference between co-parenting and parallel parenting — and why so many people stay emotionally stuck trying to force cooperation with someone committed to conflict. We cover: what healthy co-parenting actually looks likesigns cooperation is no longer realisticwhy communication becomes weaponized in high-conflict dynamicsthe emotional burnout that pushes many parents toward parallel parentingreal-world examples of control, baiting, and endless conflict cycleswhy reducing engagement is often healthier for both you and your kidsIf you have ever thought: “Why does every conversation turn into a fight?”or “Am I giving up if I stop trying so hard?” …this episode is for you. Book a Strategy Call: unfuckyourcoparenting.com/book-your-call Follow the show and share this episode with someone stuck in the Good Co-Parent Trap. #coparenting #parallelparenting #highconflictcoparenting #narcissisticcoparent #divorcepodcast #custodybattle #familycourt #coparentinghelp

This is Part 2 of our series on how high-conflict co-parents weaponize custody agreements. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there—we break down The Gray Area Trap and why “reasonable” parenting plans don’t work with unreasonable people. In this episode, we apply those concepts to real-life situations, including: Being blocked from your child’s activitiesPhone calls being ignoredHolidays and schedule manipulationExtracurriculars scheduled during your timeTravel without noticeLast-minute changes used to control your lifeBecause the issue is not the individual problem. It’s the pattern. You’ll learn how to: Identify tactics like Boundary Creep and Schedule HijackingStop engaging in constant renegotiationProtect your time and your relationship with your kidsStay strategic—even when your ex is notIf you feel like you’re constantly reacting instead of actually co-parenting, this episode will help you shift that dynamic. 📩 Submit your questions:[email protected] 📌 Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Always consult an attorney for your specific situation. #coparenting#highconflictcoparenting#divorcepodcast#narcissisticex#custodybattle#familycourt#parallelparenting#toxicrelationships#divorcerecovery#parentingpodcast#part2

Why does it feel like your ex follows the custody agreement only when it benefits them? Because when a parenting plan is vague, high-conflict people turn every gray area into an opportunity for control. In this Coaching Couch episode, I break down the “Gray Area Trap” — what happens when your custody agreement uses vague language like “reasonable notice,” “reasonable phone contact,” “be flexible,” or “parents will cooperate.” Those phrases sound fine if you are dealing with a reasonable person. But if you are dealing with a high-conflict or narcissistic ex, they become loopholes. We cover: Why vague parenting plans create constant conflict“Death by logistics” and the small issues that become big control tacticsWhether your ex can control what you do during your parenting timeWhat to do when your ex’s new partner starts showing up to everythingYour rights around school events, doctor appointments, and parent-teacher conferencesRight of first refusal problemsWhen late bedtimes and bad parenting decisions are worth addressingHow to document patterns without looking “difficult” in courtIf you have ever found yourself wondering, “Am I overreacting?” this episode is for you. Follow U****k Your Co-Parenting wherever you listen to podcasts, and make sure to follow on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @unfuckyourcoparenting. Need help with your parenting plan or parallel parenting strategy? Visit unfuckyourcoparenting.com or email [email protected].