How Not To Suck At Divorce

Morgan Stogsdill and Andrea Rappaport
  • 4.7 (292)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

How Not to Suck at Divorce Action Steps That Save You Money. Humor That Saves Your Sanity. Honesty That Helps You Heal. Most people make expensive divorce mistakes before they even understand the process. Before you spend thousands learning those lessons the hard way, check out our Divorce Crash Course—a $150 program available for just $50. It walks you through exactly what to do before, during, and after divorce so you can protect your finances, avoid costly mistakes, and make smarter decisions from day one. 🎓 Learn more: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/divorce-crash-course Divorce is one of the hardest things you'll ever go through—but getting through it doesn't have to cost you your financial future, your peace of mind, or your sense of humor. Hosted by comedian-turned-marketing expert Andrea Rappaport and powerhouse family law attorney Morgan L. Stogsdill, How Not to Suck at Divorce helps you navigate life before, during, and after divorce with relatable conversations, practical legal insights, and honest discussions about the emotional side of starting over. Every episode is designed to help you avoid expensive mistakes, better understand the legal process, communicate more effectively, and make decisions you'll still feel good about years from now. Whether you're wondering if divorce is the right decision, in the middle of litigation, struggling with co-parenting, or rebuilding your life afterward, we're here to help you feel less alone—and a whole lot more prepared. Because divorce isn't just a legal process. It's an emotional one. And sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh, take one small step forward, and remember that you don't have to figure it all out by yourself. BEFORE DIVORCE Thinking about divorce? We'll help you prepare before you make one of the biggest decisions of your life. Learn how to protect yourself financially, emotionally, and legally before you ever file. DURING DIVORCE From custody and parenting plans to communication, negotiation, finances, and high-conflict personalities, we'll help you make smarter decisions while avoiding the mistakes that cost people the most. AFTER DIVORCE Because divorce isn't the end of your story. We'll help you rebuild your confidence, your finances, your relationships, and your life. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How to avoid costly divorce mistakes How to reduce unnecessary legal fees Divorce preparation before hiring an attorney Custody and parenting plan strategies Co-parenting and parallel parenting Communication techniques that protect your case Financial planning during divorce Property division and asset protection Negotiation strategies Emotional healing after divorce Recovering from high-conflict relationships Rebuilding your life after divorce You'll also hear conversations with leading experts in family law, psychology, finance, digital safety, parenting, and trauma recovery, alongside honest discussions about what divorce actually feels like—and how to get through it without losing yourself in the process. At its core, How Not to Suck at Divorce is about helping you make better decisions during one of the biggest transitions of your life. Not by overwhelming you. Not by talking over your head. But by giving you action steps that save you money, humor that saves your sanity, and honesty that helps you heal. You've got this. And we've got you.

  1. 3d ago

    Divorce: The Petty Fights That Cost You Thousands. What Top Attorneys Want You to Know...

    Guided Divorce MeditationsIf you’re stuck in a divorce fight that is making you anxious, angry, or completely unable to think clearly, start here. Our Guided Divorce Meditations are designed for the moments when you need to regulate your nervous system before you respond, negotiate, argue, or make another expensive decision. Divorce Crash CourseGoing through divorce and wondering what you should fight for, what you should let go, and how to avoid making expensive mistakes? Our Divorce Crash Course is a private podcast and guidebook designed to help you understand the divorce process, make smarter decisions, and avoid costly emotional mistakes. Typically priced at $150, it’s available now for $50, thanks to our angel underwriters OurFamilyWizard and Soberlink. Episode Show NotesPeople spend thousands of dollars fighting over some truly ridiculous things in divorce. A wooden spoon. A blender. A sixth-grade yearbook. Beanie Babies. Airline miles. Even a tanning bed. And as funny as those stories sound, there is a very real reason they matter. Because most of the time, the thing you are fighting over is not actually the thing you are fighting over. In this episode of How Not to Suck at Divorce, Andrea Rappaport and family law attorney Morgan Stogsdill are joined by attorneys Sarah Jacobs and Jamie Berger of Jacobs Berger for a conversation about the emotional and financial cost of digging in during divorce. One client spent hours in court fighting over a wooden spoon named Willy Woo. Another divorce came down to a battle over a blender. And one case required attorneys to spend days sorting through tubs of Beanie Babies because neither side could let them go. The stories are absurd. The behavior behind them is not. Divorce Can Turn Small Things Into Expensive BattlesWhen you are going through divorce, emotion can completely distort value. An object may be worth $100, but suddenly it represents your marriage, your history, your independence, your power, or your need to finally “win.” That is where people start spending far more in attorney fees than the thing they are fighting over is actually worth. In the episode, Andrea points out that the fight over one wooden spoon likely cost thousands of dollars in legal fees alone. And that is exactly why divorce strategy matters. Before you dig in, you have to ask yourself: What is this actually worth? Not emotionally. Financially. The Real Problem May Be ControlSometimes the fight is not about property at all. Morgan explains that many of these so-called “squirrel issues” ultimately come down to control. When someone feels like they have lost control of their life, their finances, their family, or the divorce process itself, they may try to regain that feeling of control by pushing the other person’s buttons. Sarah adds that fear can drive the same behavior: fear of change, fear of being alone, fear of losing the life you knew, and fear of what comes next. That means the blender may not be about the blender. The yearbook may not be about the yearbook. And the airline miles may not be about the airline miles. Sometimes the fight itself has become a way to stay connected to the relationship, hold onto control, or avoid confronting the much bigger reality that the marriage is ending. Principle Has a Price TagOne of the strongest lines in this episode comes from Jamie: Principle has a price tag. If you are fighting over something purely because you believe you are right, you need to understand what that principle is going to cost you. That cost may be financial. It may also be emotional. You can absolutely decide that something matters enough to fight for. But that decision should be intentional—not reactive. Jamie recommends being honest with yourself and with your attorney about what truly matters to you and why. Treat Divorce Like a Business TransactionMorgan’s advice is simple: do the math. Take the emotion out of the issue for a moment and write down the actual numbers. What is the item worth? What would it cost to replace? How many hours will your attorney spend fighting over it? How much will those hours cost? What are you potentially giving up in order to get it? Sometimes seeing those numbers on paper is enough to change your perspective. That does not mean divorce is emotionless. It means your decisions should not be controlled by those emotions. Give Your Attorney the “Shark Tank” PitchSarah offers another test: If you are determined to fight for something, explain why it matters in a way that would actually sound reasonable to a judge. Sell the argument. Explain the value. Explain what you are willing to give up in exchange. If you cannot make the case convincingly to your own attorney, you may want to reconsider whether this is really the hill you want to die on. And that matters beyond the object itself. Being unreasonable about a relatively small issue can affect how your position is perceived when the court is dealing with things that matter much more—support, custody, property division, or settlement. Ask Yourself What This Will Matter Five Years From NowThis may be the most useful perspective shift in the entire episode. Five years from now, are you going to care who got the blender? Are you really going to remember the airline miles? Will winning the fight over a piece of furniture have made your post-divorce life meaningfully better? Probably not. Andrea shares her own experience of losing a baby blanket she had slept with since birth—something she once believed she could never live without. A decade later, she is still standing. That is not to minimize the emotional meaning of possessions. It is to remind you that you are capable of letting go. Three Questions to Ask Before You FightBefore you spend another dollar arguing over something in your divorce, do three things. First, ask yourself why this matters so much. Second, do the math and compare the value of the item to the cost of fighting for it. Third, if you still want it, make the case. Explain why it matters, what it is worth, and what you are willing to give up to get it. If you cannot answer those questions clearly, it may not be worth the fight. Because getting divorced is already expensive enough. You do not need to make it more expensive just to prove a point. In This EpisodeAndrea, Morgan, Sarah, and Jamie discuss ridiculous divorce fights, how emotional attachment can drive up legal fees, why control and fear fuel unnecessary conflict, when possessions really are worth negotiating over, how mediation can help rein in a case, and how to make smarter financial decisions during divorce. They also tackle one critical question: Is this thing actually valuable—or are you just trying to win? SEO Keywordsdivorce mistakes, expensive divorce mistakes, what to fight for in divorce, divorce legal fees, divorce strategy, fighting over assets in divorce, divorce property division, emotional divorce decisions, high conflict divorce, divorce settlement strategy, divorce mediation, divorce attorney fees, divorce negotiation tips, divorce financial mistakes, dividing property in divorce

  2. 5d ago

    Divorce & Narcissistic Manipulation: How to Stop Taking the Bait

    Need Help Calming Your Nervous System?Try our Guided Divorce Meditations, created specifically for the moments when divorce anxiety, anger and overwhelm are taking over. Use them before responding to a triggering text, before a difficult conversation, before court, before mediation—or anytime you need help getting out of your head and back into control. Divorce Crash CourseGoing through divorce and have no idea what you’re supposed to be doing next? Start with our Divorce Crash Course—a private podcast and guidebook designed to help you understand the divorce process, avoid expensive mistakes, and feel a whole lot less lost. Typically priced at $150, it’s available now for just $50, thanks to our angel underwriters OurFamilyWizard and Soberlink. High-conflict people—and especially manipulative, narcissistic exes—can have an incredible ability to get inside your head. One text, one email, one strange interaction at school pickup can completely derail your nervous system if you let it. And during divorce, that matters. Because when you are already emotionally exhausted, stressed, angry and running on fumes, that is exactly when you are most likely to make a bad decision. You fire off the text. You respond to the email. You call your attorney while completely dysregulated. You snap at your kids. You take the bait. In this mini episode, Andrea talks about what happens when a high-conflict ex triggers you and why your first job is not to win, explain, defend or react. Your first job is to recognize that you are triggered and give yourself a grown-up timeout. And that is where STFU comes in. No, not that STFU. This one stands for: S — Stop Recognize what is happening before you react. T — Take Space Get out of the immediate situation long enough to regulate yourself. F — Find Your Goal Ask yourself what you actually want to accomplish in that moment. U — Utilize a Resource Call a friend. Talk to your therapist. Go for a walk. Fold laundry. Clean the kitchen. Listen to music. Or use one of our Guided Divorce Meditations to help calm your nervous system and move through the anxiety, anger and overwhelm before you do something you regret. Andrea also talks about splitting, a manipulation tactic often seen in high-conflict dynamics. Splitting can push you away from the very people who are trying to support you—your friends, family, therapist, attorney or partner. And when you are already worn down by divorce, it becomes even easier to start taking your stress out on those people. That is exactly why emotional regulation matters so much during a high-conflict divorce. The goal is not to never get triggered. You will. The goal is to catch yourself before that trigger starts making decisions for you. And if you are in one of those moments where your brain is spinning, your heart is racing and you feel like you are about to absolutely lose it, this is also exactly what our Guided Divorce Meditations were created for. They are short, practical tools you can use when divorce anxiety, anger or panic is taking over and you need help getting yourself back to baseline. Because sometimes the best thing you can do for your case, your kids and your own sanity is simple: Stop. Take space. Find your goal. Utilize a resource. Divorce is a marathon. Protect your energy. Protect your judgment. Protect the relationships that matter to you. And when a high-conflict ex tries to pull you into the chaos? Do not take the bait. In This EpisodeAndrea talks about dealing with a high-conflict or narcissistic ex, recognizing emotional manipulation during divorce, avoiding reactive communication, managing divorce triggers, understanding splitting, using the STFU method to regulate yourself, and knowing when to step away before making a costly mistake. Need Help Calming Your Nervous System?Try our Guided Divorce Meditations, created specifically for the moments when divorce anxiety, anger and overwhelm are taking over. Use them before responding to a triggering text, before a difficult conversation, before court, before mediation—or anytime you need help getting out of your head and back into control. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode, and leave us a review if the show is helping you. www.ratethispodcast.com/notsuck You can do this. You are doing this. And you are going to get through your divorce. high conflict divorce, narcissistic divorce, divorcing a narcissist, narcissistic manipulation in divorce, high conflict ex, divorce triggers, emotional manipulation, toxic ex spouse, divorce anxiety, emotional regulation during divorce, co parenting with a narcissist, how to respond to a narcissist, divorce meditation, guided divorce meditation, divorce stress, divorce podcast

  3. Sep 4

    Divorce and Emotional Endurance: 3 Special Tips to Survive a High-Conflict Divorce

    Divorce and Emotional Endurance: 3 Ways to Survive a High-Conflict Divorce Guided Divorce Meditations for When You’re About to Lose Your Sh$t For the moments when you can’t sleep, when you miss your kids, when you’re worried about money, or just need to get through the next ten minutes. 👉 GET THE GUIDED DIVORCE MEDITATIONS HERE Going through a divorce? Start with the Divorce Crash Course. We created the Divorce Crash Course to help you understand the divorce process, communicate smarter with your attorney, avoid expensive mistakes, and make better decisions when your brain is completely overwhelmed. Typically priced at $150, available now for $50, thanks to our angel underwriters, Our Family Wizard and Soberlink. 👉 GET THE DIVORCE CRASH COURSE HERE If you're going through a high-conflict divorce, you already know that the exhaustion isn't just coming from court dates and legal bills. It's the texts. The emails. The accusations. The schedule changes. The constant wondering what your ex is going to do next. And eventually, your nervous system starts living like there's an emergency around every corner. In this episode of How Not to Suck at Divorce, Andrea Rappaport and family law attorney Morgan Stogsdill talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough attention during divorce: emotional endurance. Because when you're dealing with a difficult, unpredictable, or high-conflict spouse, you cannot control everything they throw at you. But you can get better at protecting your energy, responding strategically, and recovering when something knocks you sideways. We're breaking down three practical ways to emotionally survive a high-conflict divorce without letting it take over your entire life. 1. Build a Tiny Divorce Decision-Making TeamOne of the biggest mistakes people make during divorce? Making everybody in their life part of their divorce. Your friends. Your sister. Your neighbor. The moms at school. The guy at the dry cleaner. When you're scared and overwhelmed, it is completely natural to want to tell everyone what is happening. You're looking for reassurance, advice, validation—or sometimes you just need the insanity to come out of your mouth. But every new person you involve comes with another opinion. And more opinions can mean more anxiety, more confusion, and more second-guessing. Instead, build a very small divorce team. That might include: Your divorce attorney for legal strategyA therapist for emotional processingOne trusted friend who can listen when you need to lose your mind for five minutesOther professionals your attorney recommends based on your case Everybody else? They can still be part of your life. They just don't need to be part of your divorce strategy. And sometimes the healthiest thing you can say when a friend asks about your divorce is: "It's a complete shit show. Anyway, where did you get that purse?" Your brain desperately needs conversations that have absolutely nothing to do with divorce. 2. Stop Expecting Fairness From a High-Conflict ExThis one is HARD. When somebody behaves irrationally, unfairly, or cruelly during divorce, your brain keeps waiting for the moment when they finally become reasonable. You think: Surely they'll realize this is hurting the kids. Surely they'll see how ridiculous this is. Surely we can agree on this one thing. Maybe. But if you're divorcing a genuinely high-conflict person, waiting for fairness can drain every ounce of emotional endurance you have. As Morgan explains in this episode, "fair" is not necessarily the legal standard—and your definition of fair probably isn't your spouse's definition of fair anyway. So stop making fairness the goal. Instead, focus on: Strategy. What does your attorney recommend? Enforceability. Can the agreement actually be enforced? Closure. What gets this divorce finished so you can move forward with your life? You may also experience something incredibly confusing with a high-conflict spouse: the roller coaster. One day they're reasonable. You think: Holy shit. Maybe we're finally turning a corner. And 24 hours later? They're completely off the rails again. That doesn't mean you did something wrong. It means you need to stop using their behavior as the barometer for whether your divorce is going well. Take the reasonable moments when they come. Use them strategically. But don't build your emotional stability around whether your ex is having a good day. Co-Parenting With a High-Conflict Ex? Use the Right ToolsIf you are co-parenting through even a moderately high-conflict divorce, organization and documentation matter. That's why we repeatedly recommend Our Family Wizard. A co-parenting app can help move communication out of chaotic text threads, keep calendars and expenses organized, and create a clearer record of communication. And listeners of How Not to Suck at Divorce can receive a significant discount on the first year of the Essentials package. 👉 LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR FAMILY WIZARD Ask your divorce attorney whether using a co-parenting app proactively makes sense in your case. 3. Create a 20-Minute Recovery WindowSomething awful happens during your divorce. You receive an email from your attorney. Your ex sends a text. A financial issue appears. A parenting dispute erupts. Your heart starts racing. You're furious. You're scared. And then you do what most of us do: You immediately go back to your life. You jump onto a work call. You pick up the kids. You respond to another email. You start making dinner. But emotionally, you're still standing inside the explosion that just happened. That's why we want you to create what we call a recovery window. Give yourself approximately 20 minutes before responding or making another important decision. During those 20 minutes: Take a walk. Sit somewhere quiet. Go sit in your car. Cry. Take a shower. Listen to music. Drink cold water. Try a grounding exercise. Listen to one of our guided divorce meditations. But here's the most important part: Do not respond yet. Don't email your attorney. Don't text your spouse. Don't fire off a message because you're furious. Don't start reading five more divorce emails while you're already activated. Recover first. Then decide what actually deserves a response. Emotional Endurance Does NOT Mean Becoming NumbWe are not telling you to stop feeling. You are going to get triggered during divorce. You are going to have terrible days. You are going to receive messages that make your stomach drop. And you may occasionally want to throw your phone directly into Lake Michigan. You're human. Emotional endurance means becoming more intentional about: Who gets your energy. What expectations you let go of. How quickly you react. How you recover after something rattles you. The goal isn't to become immune to your divorce. The goal is to stop allowing one awful text at 9:07 a.m. to hijack the next twelve hours of your life. Remember: Divorce Is a MarathonWe say this constantly because you need to hear it constantly: Divorce is a marathon. It is not a sprint. Some days you'll manage it day by day. Other days? Hour by hour. That's okay. You don't get a ribbon for getting divorced faster. There is no trophy waiting at the courthouse for the person who endured the most abuse without taking a break. Pace yourself. Protect your energy. Use the right people. Use the right tools. Stop waiting for an unreasonable person to suddenly become reasonable. And when something knocks you down, give your brain time to recover before deciding what happens next. You may feel like you're going to battle this person forever. You won't. The other side may feel impossible to see right now, but it is there. And on the days when you think: I cannot do this. Remember: You already are. You've got this, my friends. And we've got you. More Divorce...

  4. Sep 2

    Divorce Stories That Will Make You Feel Better About Your Own Divorce

    🧘 DIVORCE MEDITATIONS Divorce can make your nervous system feel like it’s running a marathon with no finish line. Our Divorce Meditations are here when you need to calm your brain, stop the spiral, and give yourself a few minutes to breathe. 👉 Listen to the Divorce Meditations here: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/guides/p/divorce-guided-meditations 💥 THE DIVORCE CRASH COURSE If you’re going through divorce and terrified of making an expensive mistake, start here. The Divorce Crash Course gives you the information we wish every person had before making major decisions in divorce — including how to save money on attorneys, understand your finances, navigate custody and parenting agreements, and avoid mistakes that can cost you thousands. Typically priced at 150, available now for $50, thanks to our angel underwriters, Our Family Wizard and Soberlink. 👉 Get the Divorce Crash Course here: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/divorce-crash-course Think you’re sucking at divorce? Good news: there are people who have sucked at it significantly harder. In this mini episode of How Not to Suck at Divorce, Andrea brings you some of the strangest, funniest and most unbelievable divorce stories we’ve ever heard — involving a donated kidney, ex-in-laws buried in a backyard, a six-pound catfish named Pinky, and one extremely smart ex-wife who made sure a future Nobel Prize was covered in her divorce settlement. Yes. All of that happens in one episode. But underneath the ridiculous divorce stories is something we actually want you to remember: Divorce is a marathon, not a sprint. You cannot spend every hour of every day thinking about your divorce, answering emails, talking to your attorney, worrying about your kids, analyzing your ex, making decisions and trying to predict what happens next. Your brain needs a break. Sometimes that means taking a walk. Sometimes it means binge-watching something completely stupid. And sometimes it means listening to stories about someone arguing over a giant catfish during their divorce so you can remember that maybe — just maybe — you're doing better than you think. In this episode: One man who reportedly wanted compensation for a kidney he donated to his wifeThe divorce dispute involving urns and headstones in the backyardThe tragic tale of Pinky, the six-pound divorce catfishThe incredibly savvy divorce settlement that gave an ex-wife half of a future Nobel PrizeWhy you don't have to make every divorce decision immediatelyWhy taking mental breaks during divorce is not selfishHow to pace yourself during a long or high-conflict divorceWhy laughter can actually be part of getting through thisAnd why your goal isn't to get through divorce the fastest — it's to get through it as healthy and whole as possible YOUR REMINDER TODAY:You are allowed to take a day off from divorce. You are allowed to laugh. You are allowed to watch garbage television. You are allowed to stop thinking about your ex for five freaking minutes. And you do not need to win an award for being the fastest person ever to get divorced. When you think you cannot do this, remember: You already are doing it. Your win is getting to the other side — and giving yourself the opportunity to build the healthiest, happiest next chapter of your life. We are so freaking proud of you. You've got this. And we've got you. ⭐ FOLLOW HOW NOT TO SUCK AT DIVORCE If this episode gave you a laugh when you desperately needed one, please follow the show and leave us a rating and review! www.ratethispodcast.com/notsuck And go back through the How Not to Suck at Divorce library — we have episodes covering divorce finances, custody, co-parenting, attorneys, mediation, high-conflict divorce, emotional recovery and pretty much every WTF moment that can happen along the way. SEO KEYWORDSdivorce stories, funny divorce stories, divorce humor, getting through divorce, divorce emotional support, divorce burnout, surviving divorce, high conflict divorce, divorce stress, divorce self care, weird divorce cases, crazy divorce stories, divorce settlement, divorce finances, divorce advice for women, divorce advice, coping with divorce, life after divorce, divorce podcast, How Not to Suck at Divorce

  5. Aug 28

    Divorce and Hidden Money: What to do if You Suspect Hidden Crypto?

    Divorce and Hidden Cryptocurrency: How to Find Crypto Your Spouse May Be Hiding 🧘 DIVORCE MEDITATIONS Divorce can make your brain feel like it’s running 24/7. Our Divorce Meditations were created to help calm your nervous system, quiet the spiral, and get you through the moments when everything feels like too much. Listen to the Divorce Meditations here: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/guides/p/divorce-guided-meditations 💥 THE DIVORCE CRASH COURSE If you’re overwhelmed by divorce and terrified of making an expensive mistake, start here. The Divorce Crash Course gives you the information we wish every person had BEFORE making major decisions in divorce — including how to save money on attorneys, understand your finances, navigate custody and parenting agreements, and avoid the mistakes that can cost you thousands. Typically priced at $150, available now for $50, thanks to our angel underwriters, Our Family Wizard and Soberlink. 👉 Get the Divorce Crash Course here: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/divorce-crash-course What happens if you think your spouse is hiding money in cryptocurrency during your divorce? First: don’t panic. And definitely don’t assume crypto is impossible to find. In this episode of How Not to Suck at Divorce, Andrea Rappaport and family law attorney Morgan Stogsdill are joined by Jason Wright, Managing Director in the Disputes, Compliance & Investigations group at Stout, to break cryptocurrency down for the rest of us — and explain exactly what can happen when crypto becomes part of a divorce. We’re starting with the basics: What the hell is cryptocurrency? What’s a crypto wallet? What’s a private key or seed phrase? What are Coinbase, Kraken and other crypto exchanges actually doing? Then we get into the question that matters during divorce: Can your spouse actually hide marital money in crypto — and can you find it? Jason explains why cryptocurrency isn’t necessarily as anonymous or untraceable as people think, how forensic experts can follow transactions on the blockchain, and what financial clues might indicate that money has been moved into cryptocurrency. We discuss: • How cryptocurrency differs from traditional bank and investment accounts • Crypto exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken and Gemini • The difference between custodial and non-custodial crypto wallets • What private keys and seed phrases actually mean • Crypto ATMs — yes, apparently those exist • Transfers and cash withdrawals that could signal cryptocurrency activity • How forensic experts trace crypto transactions • Why the blockchain can actually help investigators follow money • When your divorce attorney may need to subpoena an exchange • How to decide whether pursuing suspected crypto is financially worth it • Cryptocurrency and dissipation of marital assets • What happens when someone loses the password to a crypto wallet • Why hidden crypto may still be discoverable after divorce • Why you should NOT confront your spouse if you suspect they’re hiding cryptocurrency One of the biggest takeaways from this episode? You do not need to become a cryptocurrency expert. If something doesn’t look right, gather the financial information you have lawful access to, document what you’re seeing, and bring it to your divorce attorney. Let your attorney decide whether additional investigation, subpoenas or a forensic expert are necessary. And if your lawyer doesn’t have much experience dealing with cryptocurrency in divorce? Ask them. You have every right to know whether the team handling your divorce understands the assets that may be involved. Because going on an unnecessary financial “truffle hunt” can cost you money — but walking away from tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars that should have been part of your marital estate can cost you a whole lot more. ABOUT OUR GUESTJason Wright is a Managing Director in the Disputes, Compliance & Investigations group at Stout. He works with attorneys and clients on complex financial investigations, including tracing cryptocurrency and digital assets. We’ll link Jason’s information below so you and/or your attorney can contact him if his expertise is needed. Jason Wright / Stout: https://www.stout.com/en/professionals/jason-wright ⭐ LOVE HOW NOT TO SUCK AT DIVORCE? Please take a minute to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Reviews help more people going through divorce find the show when they need it most. www.ratethispodcast.com/notsuck And make sure you’re following How Not to Suck at Divorce so you never miss an episode. We’re here twice a week with full episodes, mini episodes, legal education, emotional support and the information you need to get through divorce without losing your mind — or your money. You’ve got this. And we’ve got you. SEO KEYWORDScryptocurrency divorce, crypto divorce, hidden assets in divorce, hiding money during divorce, hidden cryptocurrency divorce, Bitcoin divorce, crypto assets divorce, finding hidden money in divorce, financial discovery divorce, forensic accountant divorce, cryptocurrency marital assets, tracing crypto assets, hidden marital assets, divorce financial investigation, spouse hiding money, divorce attorney cryptocurrency, blockchain divorce, crypto wallet divorce, dissipation of marital assets, divorce finances Mentioned in this episode: Need Extra Cash? Why not see how much Worthy can get you for your ring? It's a risk free process- and Worthy works with you to get the best price possible. Get an extra $100 if your ring sells for more than $1500. https://vip.worthy.com/divorcepod/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=how_not_to_suck_at_divorce Our Family Wizard How Not to Suck at Divorce is proud to be the only podcast that can offer you 20% off your first year of the essentials package. Visit Our Family Wizard to ask your attorney is OFW is right for your family. Our Family Wizard

  6. Aug 14

    Divorce Anxiety: How to Stop Treating Everything Like an Emergency...at 2am

    Divorce Keeping You Up at Night? How to Stop the 2 A.M. Spiral DIVORCE CRASH COURSE: Divorce is expensive. Making avoidable mistakes makes it even more expensive. Our Divorce Crash Course gives you the information we wish every person had before and during divorce—from choosing an attorney and understanding your finances to custody, parenting agreements and the mistakes that can cost you thousands. Typically priced at $150, available now for $50, thanks to our angel underwriters, OurFamilyWizard and Soberlink. [GET THE DIVORCE CRASH COURSE HERE] NEW: GUIDED DIVORCE MEDITATIONS: When your brain won't shut up about your divorce, we made something specifically for that. Our Guided Divorce Meditations are short, on-demand meditations for the moments divorce hits hardest—including when you can't sleep, you're worried about money or your kids, you're spiraling about your marriage, or you're struggling with a custody transition. [GET THE GUIDED DIVORCE MEDITATIONS HERE] If divorce is keeping you awake at night, you're definitely not alone. You go to bed exhausted, but the second everything gets quiet, your brain decides it's time to solve your entire divorce. What if my ex is hiding money? What if something happens with the kids? What does that email from my attorney mean? What if this goes to trial? Did I remember to send that document? Should I respond to that text? What if I can't afford this? Suddenly it's 2:34 a.m., you're wide awake, and you're trying to solve problems that probably cannot be solved from your bed. In this episode of How Not to Suck at Divorce, Andrea Rappaport and family law attorney Morgan Stogsdill are talking about divorce anxiety, insomnia and what to do when you can't stop thinking about your divorce at night. And we're giving you an actual strategy. Morgan explains how to separate the things that genuinely require action from the things that feel urgent because your anxious brain is filling in the blanks. Andrea shares why losing sleep during divorce can make an already difficult situation worse—and potentially affect the decisions you're making the next day. The goal isn't to pretend everything is fine. It's learning to recognize what needs your action—and what needs your inaction. In This Episode You'll LearnWhy divorce anxiety can feel so much worse at nightWhat to do when you wake up worrying about your divorceThe pen-and-paper strategy Morgan recommends for getting worries out of your headHow to determine whether something actually requires actionWhy you should think twice before emailing your divorce attorney late at nightHow to create a running list of questions for your attorneyWhy you should draft—but NOT send—emotional late-night emailsHow late-night texts and emails from your ex can destroy your sleepWhy setting communication boundaries with your co-parent mattersHow to use OurFamilyWizard notification settings more strategicallyWhy sometimes doing absolutely nothing is the smartest action you can takeWhat to tell yourself when your brain refuses to shut downWhy resting can be enough when you can't force yourself to fall asleepHow changing your environment may help break the cycle when you're lying awake spiraling The 2 A.M. Divorce Brain DumpIf you wake up in the middle of the night and your brain is racing, Morgan recommends keeping a pen and paper next to your bed. Write down everything that's occupying your brain—not just the divorce stuff. Then go through the list and ask yourself: Can I actually take action on this tonight? Or: Do I have any control over the outcome of this tonight? If the answer is no, cross it out for tonight. If the answer is yes, decide whether it truly requires action immediately or whether you can make a plan to handle it tomorrow. Most things can wait until morning. And if it's something you want to discuss with your divorce attorney, write it down or put the email in your drafts. Do not hit send at 2 a.m. Your rested morning brain may have a very different—and considerably shorter—email to send. Stop Letting Your Ex Into Your BedroomNot literally. We have an entirely different podcast episode for that problem. We're talking about your phone. If your ex tends to send inflammatory texts, emails or co-parenting messages late at night, you do not have to allow those notifications to dictate when your nervous system goes into overdrive. Morgan recommends setting boundaries around when you receive and read messages. Andrea also points out that if you're using OurFamilyWizard, you can choose when you receive your daily notifications. Your ex's 10:30 p.m. message does not automatically become your 10:31 p.m. emergency. And it goes both ways. Don't send your ex angry late-night messages either. Aside from destroying everyone's sleep, creating a documented pattern of bad communication is probably not something you want your attorneys—or potentially a judge—reading later. What Needs Action—and What Needs Inaction?We often divide our problems into two categories: Things I can control. Things I can't control. Andrea offers a different way to think about it during divorce: What needs my action? And: What needs my inaction? Sometimes inaction is an active decision. You can recognize that something is scary, painful or uncertain without trying to solve it tonight. You aren't pretending the problem doesn't exist. You're deciding: Not now. Tomorrow, you can reopen the box. Tonight, your job is to rest. When Your Brain Still Won't Shut UpSometimes you've written everything down. You've made tomorrow's list. You've silenced your notifications. You've decided what can wait. And your brain is still going. That's exactly why we created our Guided Divorce Meditations. Earlier this week, we released one of the meditations completely free on the podcast: For When You Can't Sleep. It's about 10 minutes long, and Andrea walks you through putting those thoughts and fears somewhere safe for the night—not throwing them away, not pretending they don't matter, but giving yourself permission to stop carrying them until morning. The complete Guided Divorce Meditation library is $20 and includes meditations created specifically for different moments of divorce when you need help quieting the noise. [GET THE GUIDED DIVORCE MEDITATIONS HERE] Resources MentionedDivorce Crash Course Guided Divorce Meditations OurFamilyWizard Soberlink Subscribe, Rate & ReviewIf How Not to Suck at Divorce is helping you get through your divorce a little smarter, calmer and more prepared, please subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people find the show and allows us to keep creating resources that actually help you through this process. Rate the podcast: www.ratethispodcast.com/notsuck And remember: you are going to get through this. One step at a time. One day at a time. And sometimes, one hour at a time. You've got this. And we've got you. SEO Keywordsdivorce anxiety, can't sleep during divorce, divorce insomnia, divorce keeping me awake, how to sleep during divorce, anxiety during divorce, divorce stress, divorce anxiety at night, divorce meditation, guided divorce meditation, meditation for divorce anxiety, divorce sleep meditation, how to stop thinking about divorce, divorce overthinking, divorce attorney advice, communicating with ex during divorce, co-parenting communication, divorce lawyer communication, high conflict divorce, divorce mental health, coping with divorce, divorce podcast, How Not to Suck at Divorce

  7. Aug 12

    Divorce Anxiety Keeping You Awake? A Guided Meditation for Sleep

    Divorce Anxiety Keeping You Awake? A Guided Meditation for Sleep Get the complete Guided Divorce Meditation collection here. Can't sleep because of your divorce? This episode is for you. When you're going through a divorce, nighttime can be brutal. The house gets quiet, the distractions stop, and suddenly your brain decides it's the perfect time to think about everything. Money. Your kids. Your ex. That text you received earlier. What your attorney said. What you wish you'd said. What happens next. What went wrong in your marriage. What your life is going to look like six months from now. And somehow you're supposed to sleep. In this special mini episode of How Not to Suck at Divorce, Andrea is sharing one of our brand-new Guided Divorce Meditations completely free. This meditation was created specifically for the nights when divorce anxiety won't let you sleep. Put in your earbuds, get comfortable, and press play. You don't need to figure out your entire divorce tonight. You don't need to solve tomorrow's problems from your bed. Right now, you just need to get through this moment and give your brain and body a chance to rest. Get the Complete Guided Divorce Meditation CollectionIf this meditation helps, we've created an entire library of Guided Divorce Meditations for the specific moments during divorce that can feel completely overwhelming. These aren't generic meditations. They're designed for the actual thoughts, fears and situations that come with divorce—worrying about money, worrying about your children, replaying your marriage, dealing with the emotions around custody transitions, and the moments when your mind simply will not stop spiraling. We created these for you because sometimes you don't need another piece of divorce advice. Sometimes you just need someone to help you get through the next ten minutes. And if there's a part of divorce you're struggling with that we haven't created something for yet, tell us. Reach out and let us know what you need. Everything we create at How Not to Suck at Divorce is designed to make this process a little less overwhelming. You can do this. You're already doing it. One step at a time. One day at a time. You've got this...and we've got you. And if you need more support with action steps, our Divorce Crash Course is available for you right here.

  8. Aug 7

    Divorce Myths That Could Be Costing You Thousands

    🎧 Divorce Crash Course (DCC)Thinking about divorce or already in it? Before you make a decision that could cost you thousands, get the information you wish someone had given you from the very beginning. Get the Divorce Crash Course (DCC) today. Typically priced at $150, available now for just $50, thanks to our angel underwriters Our Family Wizard and Soberlink. Whether you're considering divorce, in the middle of one, or trying to rebuild afterward, this course can save you time, money, and unnecessary heartbreak. Episode DescriptionThere are a LOT of divorce myths out there. And believing the wrong one isn't just annoying—it can give you completely unrealistic expectations and potentially cost you a whole lot of money. In this episode of How Not to Suck at Divorce, Andrea and family law attorney Morgan Stogsdill are busting some of the biggest divorce myths they hear over and over again. Should you be concerned if your divorce attorney is friendly with your ex's attorney? (Spoiler: probably the opposite.) Are you actually going to end up in a dramatic divorce trial where a judge finally hears your story and tells you that you were right? Do you need a divorce coach because someone on Instagram told you that you do? And should your attorney be responding to every email immediately? Andrea and Morgan also tackle one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a divorce attorney: that a "simple divorce" means you don't need to think carefully about the level of attorney—and level of service—you hire. Morgan explains why having attorneys who can work well together can actually reduce posturing, speed up negotiations and potentially save clients money. She also shares that in her own practice, she estimates 5% or fewer of her cases actually reach a full trial—and why settlement is generally preferable when it's possible. This episode is about separating what divorce looks like on TV, Instagram and in your imagination from what actually happens—and helping you make smarter decisions with your time, money and legal strategy. Divorce Myths We're BustingMYTH #1: Your attorney shouldn't be friendly with opposing counsel. Actually, a good professional relationship between attorneys can make negotiations more efficient and reduce unnecessary fighting—and unnecessary legal fees. MYTH #2: Your divorce is probably going to trial. A hearing isn't the same thing as a full-blown trial. Morgan estimates that 5% or fewer of her own cases reach a full trial, in part because trial is expensive and ultimately puts major decisions about your life into the hands of a judge. MYTH #3: You need a divorce coach. Not necessarily. Morgan's advice is to involve your attorney before adding a coach to your divorce team and to make sure anyone you hire has appropriate credentials and a clearly defined role. Andrea and Morgan also distinguish this from a collaborative divorce where coaching may already be part of the process. MYTH #4: Your divorce attorney should always respond immediately. Your situation may feel like an emergency—and emotionally, it absolutely may be—but law firms have to triage truly urgent situations. Morgan explains what she considers reasonable communication expectations and why this is something you should ask about before hiring an attorney. MYTH #5: A "simple divorce" doesn't require a great attorney. Andrea and Morgan explain why you should hire based not only on the conflict in your case, but also on the level of communication and service you need. And that includes evaluating the entire firm—not just the attorney sitting across from you during the consultation. In This Episode You'll LearnWhy your attorney having lunch with opposing counsel can actually be a GOOD thingHow attorney relationships can affect your legal billWhy most divorces don't end in a full-blown trialWhy going before a judge probably won't give you the vindication you're imaginingWhen a divorce coach can help—and when another voice could complicate your legal strategyWhat you can reasonably expect when communicating with your divorce attorneyThe questions to ask about response times before hiring a law firmWhy the staff and client experience matter when choosing an attorneyWhy "simple divorce" doesn't necessarily mean you should choose the cheapest lawyer Key TakeawaysYour divorce attorney being friendly with opposing counsel does not mean they're "in cahoots." In many cases, trust and professional respect between attorneys can mean less posturing, faster negotiations and fewer billable hours. Don't build your entire emotional strategy around finally getting your day in court. As Morgan explains, even clients who technically "win" at trial can walk away feeling like they've lost after the financial and emotional cost of getting there. And when you're interviewing divorce attorneys, ask very specific questions about communication: What's your normal response time? Who will I hear from if you're unavailable? What should I expect from your staff? If an attorney can't clearly answer those questions during the consultation, Andrea says to pay attention—that may tell you something about what the client experience will look like later. Resources MentionedDivorce Crash CourseOurFamilyWizardSoberlinkHow Not to Suck at Divorce Private CommunityDivorce Guided Meditations — coming soon! Subscribe, Rate & ReviewIf How Not to Suck at Divorce is helping you get through your divorce a little smarter, calmer and more prepared, please subscribe and leave us a review. It helps more people find the show—and allows us to keep bringing you honest conversations about what divorce is actually like. www.ratethispodcast.com/notsuck And remember: divorce is a marathon, not a sprint. Some days you're taking it day by day. Other days it's hour by hour. But it will end. You've got this. And we've got you. SEO Keywordsdivorce myths, divorce attorney advice, divorce lawyer, divorce trial, divorce coach, choosing a divorce attorney, divorce lawyer communication, divorce settlement, divorce mediation, divorce legal fees, divorce mistakes, family law attorney, divorce advice, divorce podcast, how to choose a divorce lawyer, how much does divorce cost Mentioned in this episode: Our Family Wizard How Not to Suck at Divorce is proud to be the only podcast that can offer you 20% off your first year of the essentials package. Visit Our Family Wizard to ask your attorney is OFW is right for your family. Our Family Wizard

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How Not to Suck at Divorce Action Steps That Save You Money. Humor That Saves Your Sanity. Honesty That Helps You Heal. Most people make expensive divorce mistakes before they even understand the process. Before you spend thousands learning those lessons the hard way, check out our Divorce Crash Course—a $150 program available for just $50. It walks you through exactly what to do before, during, and after divorce so you can protect your finances, avoid costly mistakes, and make smarter decisions from day one. 🎓 Learn more: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/divorce-crash-course Divorce is one of the hardest things you'll ever go through—but getting through it doesn't have to cost you your financial future, your peace of mind, or your sense of humor. Hosted by comedian-turned-marketing expert Andrea Rappaport and powerhouse family law attorney Morgan L. Stogsdill, How Not to Suck at Divorce helps you navigate life before, during, and after divorce with relatable conversations, practical legal insights, and honest discussions about the emotional side of starting over. Every episode is designed to help you avoid expensive mistakes, better understand the legal process, communicate more effectively, and make decisions you'll still feel good about years from now. Whether you're wondering if divorce is the right decision, in the middle of litigation, struggling with co-parenting, or rebuilding your life afterward, we're here to help you feel less alone—and a whole lot more prepared. Because divorce isn't just a legal process. It's an emotional one. And sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh, take one small step forward, and remember that you don't have to figure it all out by yourself. BEFORE DIVORCE Thinking about divorce? We'll help you prepare before you make one of the biggest decisions of your life. Learn how to protect yourself financially, emotionally, and legally before you ever file. DURING DIVORCE From custody and parenting plans to communication, negotiation, finances, and high-conflict personalities, we'll help you make smarter decisions while avoiding the mistakes that cost people the most. AFTER DIVORCE Because divorce isn't the end of your story. We'll help you rebuild your confidence, your finances, your relationships, and your life. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How to avoid costly divorce mistakes How to reduce unnecessary legal fees Divorce preparation before hiring an attorney Custody and parenting plan strategies Co-parenting and parallel parenting Communication techniques that protect your case Financial planning during divorce Property division and asset protection Negotiation strategies Emotional healing after divorce Recovering from high-conflict relationships Rebuilding your life after divorce You'll also hear conversations with leading experts in family law, psychology, finance, digital safety, parenting, and trauma recovery, alongside honest discussions about what divorce actually feels like—and how to get through it without losing yourself in the process. At its core, How Not to Suck at Divorce is about helping you make better decisions during one of the biggest transitions of your life. Not by overwhelming you. Not by talking over your head. But by giving you action steps that save you money, humor that saves your sanity, and honesty that helps you heal. You've got this. And we've got you.

Information

  • Creator
    Morgan Stogsdill and Andrea Rappaport
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    244
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Morgan L. Stogsdill and Andrea Rappaport 2021-2026
  • Show Website
    How Not To Suck At Divorce

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