Life’s a Blog: Rebuilding After Betrayal

Trina Stewart
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  • Mental Health

Life doesn’t fall apart at 50. It gets real. After a 24-year marriage ended in betrayal, I found myself starting over in a way I never expected. This podcast is where I talk about that. The truth of it. The grief, the anger, the healing, and everything that comes with rebuilding a life when the one you knew is gone. I talk about relationships that look solid but aren’t. The disappointment when people don’t show up the way they said they would. The work it takes to stop chasing, set boundaries, and finally choose yourself. There’s a lot out there about dating, confidence, and “moving on.” This isn’t that. This is about doing the real work so you don’t repeat the same patterns. If you’re over 40, over 50, divorced, starting again, or just tired of pretending you’re fine, you’ll get it. We’ll get into:  betrayal and what it actually does to you  healing without shortcuts  dating later in life  learning to be on your own without feeling alone  recognizing red flags and trusting yourself again  building a life that finally feels like yours  Most episodes are just me. Some include conversations. All of it is honest. Because starting over isn’t the end of your story. It’s where you finally start living it. New episodes weekly.

  1. 21h ago

    From Survival Mode To Perspective With The Body Keeps The Score

    Send us Fan Mail Trauma doesn’t just sit in the past like a story you can close. It lives in the body, in the nervous system, and in the reflexes that fire before you can think. We’re talking about what The Body Keeps the Score helped me see this week while I watched someone I care about hit a breaking point, and why that kind of moment is heartbreaking not because someone is “weak,” but because it reveals how much they’ve been carrying in silence.  I wrestle with the uncomfortable middle ground between accountability and understanding. I can name betrayal, lies, and harm without pretending it didn’t matter, while also asking a deeper question that changes everything: what happened to them that created this pattern? That one shift doesn’t excuse behavior, but it does create perspective, and perspective often heals more than anger ever does. We also talk about the “debts” the body collects: chronic stress, resentment, guilt, unresolved trauma, and the way survival mode can turn normal life into constant threat detection.  Then I turn it back on myself: how many of my limits are real, and how many are just stories I repeat when I’m tired, stiff, and doubting? I share what actually helps me move from self-sabotage to self-trust, including small wins, speaking to myself with compassion, and getting real professional support. The song pick, “Save Me” by Jelly Roll, becomes a mirror for that feeling of being trapped by your own beliefs, and a reminder that healing isn’t rescue, it’s participation.  If any part of this hits close to home, listen through and then share it with someone who needs a softer, truer perspective today. Subscribe, send this to a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show, then message me with one win from your week. Support the show Just a quick note! I’m not a therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional. I’m simply sharing my personal experiences, reflections, and the things I’ve learned while navigating my own healing journey. Everything discussed on this podcast comes from my perspective and is meant for conversation and storytelling purposes. It should not be taken as professional advice. If you’re struggling or working through something difficult, I always encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional. This podcast is intended for entertainment, reflection, and shared human experience.

    30 min

  2. 6d ago

    Trauma Bonds, Toxic Love & Learning To Be Alone

    Send us Fan Mail This week, I share one of the most emotionally eye-opening weekends I’ve had in years. What started as a simple weekend at the trailer with an old friend helping rebuild my deck turned into deep conversations about love, trauma bonds, emotional betrayal, autism, attachment, and why so many of us return to relationships that slowly destroy our peace. We talk honestly about divorce, reconciliation cycles, therapy, drinking to numb pain, emotional safety, and the terrifying process of learning how to sit alone with yourself after heartbreak instead of desperately searching for the next emotional escape. I open up about the painful realization that sometimes betrayal isn’t cheating at all — sometimes it’s discovering the person beside you allowed others to ridicule you, disrespect you, and laugh at your pain behind your back. I also reflect on why so many people rush into new relationships after heartbreak, how trauma bonds can feel like passion, and why healing often begins the moment you stop romanticizing the reconnect. Most importantly, this episode is about learning the difference between attention and safety, and why protecting your peace eventually becomes more important than chasing love that comes with chaos. Song of the Week: “I Got Better” by Morgan Wallen — a reflective country song that perfectly captures what healing after toxic love really sounds like. Not revenge. Not bitterness. Just relief. Quietly realizing that after all the heartbreak, obsession, emotional swings, and sleepless nights… you actually got better. Support the show Just a quick note! I’m not a therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional. I’m simply sharing my personal experiences, reflections, and the things I’ve learned while navigating my own healing journey. Everything discussed on this podcast comes from my perspective and is meant for conversation and storytelling purposes. It should not be taken as professional advice. If you’re struggling or working through something difficult, I always encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional. This podcast is intended for entertainment, reflection, and shared human experience.

    26 min

  3. May 15

    Healing Means Refusing To Let The Past Define You

    Send us Fan Mail May 14th used to feel cursed for me. It is the date that marks what would have been my 32nd wedding anniversary, the betrayal that ended that “forever,” and the strange reality that my ex later died on the same day, at the same time as our first dance. From a trailer, with my life rebuilt piece by piece, I tell the story of what that kind of loss does to your memory, your body, and your sense of self.  We get specific about betrayal trauma: how addiction and lies can rewire your nervous system, keep you stuck in fight or flight, and leave you carrying PTSD long after the relationship ends. I talk about the uncomfortable middle, where you can love your children beyond words and still say, clearly, that you would never choose that life again. Healing is not pretty quotes or pretending you are fine. It is rebuilding identity, learning you deserve calm, and refusing to confuse chaos with passion.  We also talk about parenting with integrity after divorce and death, including why children deserve the freedom to love both parents without guilt or manipulation. Then the tone shifts to what healing can look like day to day: boundaries that feel final, community that shows up quietly, and the surprising peace of being single. The song “My Church” becomes a mirror for relief, music as honesty, and the moment your nervous system finally goes quiet.  If you are trying to recover from infidelity, emotional abuse, addiction in the family, grief, or the long tail of trauma, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, leave a review, and tell me: what does peace look like in your life right now? Support the show Just a quick note! I’m not a therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional. I’m simply sharing my personal experiences, reflections, and the things I’ve learned while navigating my own healing journey. Everything discussed on this podcast comes from my perspective and is meant for conversation and storytelling purposes. It should not be taken as professional advice. If you’re struggling or working through something difficult, I always encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional. This podcast is intended for entertainment, reflection, and shared human experience.

    21 min

  4. Apr 30

    No Caller ID: The Moment You Realize They Never Chose You

    Send us Fan Mail I had a late-night realization that surprised me: I was trying to force myself to be unhappy, even though I could feel real happiness and gratitude underneath the chaos. That moment opened a bigger door, what happens when we finally sit still long enough to name the hurt, stop performing strength, and let solitude do its quiet work. I talk through the messy middle of healing after breakup pain, people-pleasing, and years of accepting dynamics that didn’t fully meet me. We get into the “quiet grief” that shows up later, when distance brings clarity and you realise you stayed longer than you should have, not because you didn’t know better, but because you hoped it would become more. We unpack boundaries, red flags, standards, and the heavy truth of forcing connection when effort isn’t matched. The goal isn’t bitterness. The goal is self-trust, the kind that lets you close the door on the past before you open a new one. Then I use Megan Moroney's “No Caller ID” as a sharp metaphor for modern relationships: access without intention, presence without accountability, and those late-night check-ins that keep the door cracked. The growth isn’t dramatic, it’s calm. It’s not romanticizing the bare minimum, not assigning meaning where there isn’t any, and finally choosing peace over confusion. It's my last episode at my self journey hideaway of peace and solitude.  Off to the trailer to experience my newly healed side. It's all part of my greater plan in life. Peace and to love me unconditionally.   Take the trip, be alone, and learn about you. It's your time! If this lands with you, subscribe for more honest conversations about healing, boundaries, self-love, and rebuilding your life after hard seasons, and please share this with someone who needs the reminder to choose themselves. Support the show Just a quick note! I’m not a therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional. I’m simply sharing my personal experiences, reflections, and the things I’ve learned while navigating my own healing journey. Everything discussed on this podcast comes from my perspective and is meant for conversation and storytelling purposes. It should not be taken as professional advice. If you’re struggling or working through something difficult, I always encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional. This podcast is intended for entertainment, reflection, and shared human experience.

    28 min

  5. Apr 22

    How Comfort Keeps You Stuck In The Wrong Relationship

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Life A Blog, Trina asks a question that doesn’t come with an easy answer: are you comfortable… or are you actually happy? What looks stable on the outside can feel empty on the inside, and sometimes we stay far longer than we should—not because we’re fulfilled, but because it’s familiar. Through raw reflection, past blog entries, and deeply personal experiences with love, betrayal, and self-discovery, Trina unpacks the difference between surviving something and truly living it. This episode dives into the quiet truths we ignore, the moments we knew but stayed anyway, and the painful process of rebuilding self-trust after giving your best to someone who couldn’t receive it. It explores why comfort can keep us stuck, why letting go feels like loss, and why healing—real healing—requires us to sit in discomfort instead of running back to what we know. Featuring the song Starting Over by Chris Stapleton, this episode leans into the idea that sometimes staying the same feels heavier than beginning again. That starting over isn’t about having a perfect plan—it’s about making the decision not to stay somewhere that costs you who you are. The theme is simple, but not easy: choosing happiness over comfort, even when it asks everything of you. If you’ve ever questioned your instincts, stayed too long, or found yourself standing at the edge of a new beginning… this episode is for you. Remember, every song has a story and every story has a song. Join us next week! Support the show Just a quick note! I’m not a therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional. I’m simply sharing my personal experiences, reflections, and the things I’ve learned while navigating my own healing journey. Everything discussed on this podcast comes from my perspective and is meant for conversation and storytelling purposes. It should not be taken as professional advice. If you’re struggling or working through something difficult, I always encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional. This podcast is intended for entertainment, reflection, and shared human experience.

    19 min

  6. Apr 18

    I Turned On Temptation Island For A Nap And Got A Life Lesson

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Life A Blog, Trina reflects on a week that left her physically exhausted and emotionally open—and how an unexpected moment on a reality show sparked a much deeper realization: the bare maximum is the bare minimum. What starts as background noise turns into something more. A mirror. A reminder of what it actually feels like when people show up with intention versus when they simply exist in your life. Through personal stories, past relationships, and honest self-reflection, Trina unpacks what it means to be chosen—and why being chosen alone is no longer enough. This episode explores the slow ways we lose ourselves in relationships, the normalization of surface-level effort, and the difference between attachment and true connection. It dives into emotional safety, self-worth, and the clarity that comes when you finally stop accepting what doesn’t feel right. Referencing her own journey through betrayal, healing, and learning to sit with herself, Trina challenges the idea that love should feel confusing or inconsistent. Instead, she reframes it: love should feel steady, safe, and aligned. Featuring the song Lose You to Love Me by Selena Gomez, this episode centres on the idea that sometimes losing a relationship is the very thing that brings you back to yourself. That clarity doesn’t come from holding on—it comes from letting go and choosing yourself differently moving forward. The theme is clear: stop accepting the bare minimum, and start choosing a life—and love—that truly meets you. If you’ve ever questioned your worth, stayed when something didn’t feel right, or are learning what you actually deserve… this episode is for you.  Always remember with everything you're going through, every song has a story and every story has a song. Support the show Just a quick note! I’m not a therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional. I’m simply sharing my personal experiences, reflections, and the things I’ve learned while navigating my own healing journey. Everything discussed on this podcast comes from my perspective and is meant for conversation and storytelling purposes. It should not be taken as professional advice. If you’re struggling or working through something difficult, I always encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional. This podcast is intended for entertainment, reflection, and shared human experience.

    26 min

  7. Apr 12

    Outdoor Guru Paul LaFrance Explains Why Great Design Starts With Your Story

    Send us Fan Mail Your home can be more than a place you sleep and store your stuff. It can be the place that helps you recover. We sit down with outdoor designer and TV personality Paul LaFrance to talk about the idea he keeps coming back to: “investing in rest” through thoughtful backyard design, outdoor living spaces, and rooms that make you exhale the second you step outside.  The conversation starts with the personal side. Paul shares how his ADHD brain pushes him toward meaningful work, real enthusiasm, and deep curiosity about people’s stories. That becomes the foundation of what he calls design psychology: learning how you actually live, where you naturally sit, what you avoid, what you crave, and what your space needs to protect. From tiny “postage stamp” decks to full backyard transformations, he argues that great design is never one-size-fits-all because people are never one-size-fits-all.  Then we get into the practical trend reshaping neighborhoods: accessory dwelling units (ADUs), garden suites, and backyard suites. Paul explains how homeowners can use an ADU to create rental income, support family, and build resilience during uncertain economic times. We also unpack fear disguised as practicality, why stress and burnout are now default settings for so many of us, and how nature-forward choices like lighting, fire, water, and privacy can turn a yard into a true outdoor oasis.  If you want smarter backyard ideas, clearer ADU thinking, and a more human approach to design, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a breather, and leave a review with the one outdoor feature you would actually use most. Support the show Just a quick note! I’m not a therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional. I’m simply sharing my personal experiences, reflections, and the things I’ve learned while navigating my own healing journey. Everything discussed on this podcast comes from my perspective and is meant for conversation and storytelling purposes. It should not be taken as professional advice. If you’re struggling or working through something difficult, I always encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional. This podcast is intended for entertainment, reflection, and shared human experience.

    54 min

  8. Apr 10

    Belle Burden's 'Strangers' And How It Explains Betrayal Trauma For What It is

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Life A Blog, Trina dives into the memoir Strangers by Belle Burden—and what begins as hesitation turns into something deeply personal and unexpectedly relatable. From the outside, the story may look different… wealth, status, a life built with privilege. But beneath that surface is something universal: betrayal, disorientation, and the quiet unraveling of a life you thought you knew. This episode isn’t about comparing lives—it’s about recognizing the feeling. The moment everything shifts. The questions that follow. The way betrayal doesn’t just break trust in someone else, but fractures your sense of reality and self. Through her own experiences, Trina connects the dots between what we see and what we feel, unpacking the judgment that often surrounds betrayal trauma and why it’s so easy for others to dismiss something they’ve never lived. She speaks to the confusion, the re-evaluation of memories, and the painful truth that sometimes you didn’t miss anything—you just trusted. This episode also explores the deeper layers: becoming strangers to someone you once shared everything with, the silence people expect you to keep “for the sake of others,” and the complexity of holding both love and loss at the same time. It’s about understanding that healing doesn’t come neatly, and not every story ends with closure. There’s no single song tied to this episode—because sometimes the story itself is the song. The theme here is truth: honouring your experience, even when others don’t understand it, and allowing yourself to process what you lived through without minimizing it. If you’ve ever looked back on your life and wondered how it became something you no longer recognize… if you’ve ever had to sit with unanswered questions… if you’ve ever had to make peace with not knowing… this episode is for you.  Always remember with everything you're going through, every song has a story and every story has a song. Support the show Just a quick note! I’m not a therapist, counsellor, or mental health professional. I’m simply sharing my personal experiences, reflections, and the things I’ve learned while navigating my own healing journey. Everything discussed on this podcast comes from my perspective and is meant for conversation and storytelling purposes. It should not be taken as professional advice. If you’re struggling or working through something difficult, I always encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional. This podcast is intended for entertainment, reflection, and shared human experience.

    24 min
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About

Life doesn’t fall apart at 50. It gets real. After a 24-year marriage ended in betrayal, I found myself starting over in a way I never expected. This podcast is where I talk about that. The truth of it. The grief, the anger, the healing, and everything that comes with rebuilding a life when the one you knew is gone. I talk about relationships that look solid but aren’t. The disappointment when people don’t show up the way they said they would. The work it takes to stop chasing, set boundaries, and finally choose yourself. There’s a lot out there about dating, confidence, and “moving on.” This isn’t that. This is about doing the real work so you don’t repeat the same patterns. If you’re over 40, over 50, divorced, starting again, or just tired of pretending you’re fine, you’ll get it. We’ll get into:  betrayal and what it actually does to you  healing without shortcuts  dating later in life  learning to be on your own without feeling alone  recognizing red flags and trusting yourself again  building a life that finally feels like yours  Most episodes are just me. Some include conversations. All of it is honest. Because starting over isn’t the end of your story. It’s where you finally start living it. New episodes weekly.

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