Fresh Starts

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Channel • 4 Shows

How To

How To

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How To

How To

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Personal Journals

Personal Journals

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Self-Improvement

Self-Improvement

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30 MAR

Divorce 101: A to Z - Letter S

In this Divorce 101 A to Z episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell breaks down what a divorce settlement is and why it is the foundation of every finalized divorce. Brought to you by the letter S and the number 4, this episode walks listeners through the four key components of a settlement: parenting arrangements, support obligations, asset division, and debt division. Listeners learn how settlements are created, why most divorces end in settlement rather than trial, and how settlement acts as both a legal roadmap and an emotional milestone. Olivia also discusses the emotional experience of reaching settlement and offers a grounding action step to help listeners identify their core priorities. This episode is ideal for anyone negotiating their divorce, preparing for mediation, or trying to understand what a settlement actually includes. 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/ 📬 Magazine: https://divorceguidemagazine.com/

30 Mar

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5 min
26/01/2025

Cooperative Co-Parenting: Raising Secure Kids Post-Divorce with Aurisha Smolarski

In this episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia sits down with therapist, co-parenting coach, and mediator Aurisha Smolarski to discuss navigating co-parenting relationships and creating a secure environment for children post-divorce. Aurisha shares insights from her book, Cooperative Co-Parenting for Secure Kids, which offers practical tools grounded in attachment theory to help co-parents focus on what matters most: their children’s well-being. She emphasizes the importance of shifting from a romantic relationship mindset to a collaborative parenting partnership, placing the child at the center of the co-parenting dynamic. Listeners will learn actionable tips for fostering clarity, consistency, and connection in their co-parenting journey. Aurisha highlights that successful co-parenting is possible through mindset shifts, effective communication, and prioritizing the child’s needs. With thoughtful advice and strategies from her book, Aurisha reminds us that healing and growth are possible, even in the midst of life’s challenges. Learn more about Aurisha: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/resourceguide/aurisha-smolarskilmft

26/01/2025

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16 min
25/02/2025

Stuck on Small Talk in South Carolina: how do you move from small talk to deeper conversation?

This week on Jenny Says So, Jenny tackles a question from a listener, Stuck on Small Talk in South Carolina, who wants to move beyond surface-level conversations but isn’t sure how. They find themselves lost when sports and weather come up, wondering how to transition to more meaningful discussions. Hi Jenny, I often find myself stuck during small talk because I don’t know much about sports and talking about the weather feels so repetitive. What are some good conversation starters that can lead to more meaningful discussions, and how can I smoothly transition from small talk to real talk when there’s time to connect on a deeper level? Thank you for the help! Love the show. Signed, Stuck on Small Talk in South CarolinaJenny breaks down the art of small talk, explaining that no conversation is truly small when approached with curiosity, openness, and intention. She offers practical tips for engaging in deeper conversations, including asking thoughtful questions, sharing personal stories, and embracing moments of vulnerability. Jenny emphasizes that every interaction is an opportunity to build connection and that light conversations can often lead to heartfelt moments if we’re willing to step outside our comfort zones. She shares strategies for making conversations more engaging, fostering authenticity, and creating space for deeper dialogue. Whether you're looking to improve social skills, build stronger relationships, or simply feel more confident in everyday interactions, this episode will give you the tools to transform small talk into something truly meaningful. Learn more about Jenny Says So Podcast: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/jenny-says-so-podcast

25/02/2025

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7 min
26/12/2024

Don’t want to feel weird in Wyoming: how to handle greeting people in professional settings

In this episode of Jenny Says So, modern-day etiquette expert Jenny tackles a relatable question from "Don't Want to Feel Weird in Wyoming" about navigating greetings and introductions in mixed social and professional settings. Should you go for a handshake, a hug, or something else entirely? Jenny breaks down how to read the room, establish comfort for everyone, and avoid awkward moments with a thoughtful approach to personal boundaries and cultural norms. We'd love to know what you think about this episode! Have a question for Jenny? Head to the link and let us know. All questions are totally anonymous. https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/jenny-says-so-podcast Thank you to Aunt Jane for providing the voice over work, and the theme song is provided by simonarmitage, Pond5.

26/12/2024

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6 min
20/12/2024

No Longer a Hugger in New York: how to navigate shifting personal boundaries

In this episode of Jenny Says So, modern-day etiquette expert Jenny tackles a heartfelt question from "No Longer a Hugger in New York." Jenny explores how to navigate shifting personal boundaries, particularly when it comes to physical greetings like hugs. She shares practical advice on communicating changes with warmth and honesty, while also addressing the reactions of friends who might struggle to adapt. With empathy and curiosity, Jenny guides listeners on how to maintain meaningful relationships while honoring their own comfort and autonomy. We'd love to know what you think about this episode! Have a question for Jenny? Head to the link and let us know. All questions are totally anonymous. https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/jenny-says-so-podcast Thank you to Taylor for providing the voice over work, and the theme song is provided by simonarmitage, Pond5.

20/12/2024

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7 min
18/02/2025

Guilt About Gifts in Georgia: do you always need to bring a hostess gift?

This week on Jenny Says So, Jenny tackles a question from a listener, Guilt About Gifts in Georgia, who’s unsure about the etiquette of bringing gifts when visiting someone’s home. From housewarming parties to casual get-togethers, they wonder when a gift is expected—or if it’s even necessary. Hi Jenny! I have a question about gifts for you. What’s your take on bringing “gifts” to someone’s house when you go over? Housewarming, hanging out, coming to visit, parties, etc. Do you bring a gift? If so, what do you bring? How do you determine when it’s appropriate or not? Is it different based on who it is? For example, Friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances, strangers? I didn’t grow up in a house with much gift giving, so I always felt like I never learned the “rules” around that stuff. Any help would be appreciated! Signed, Guilt About Gifts in GeorgiaJenny breaks down the nuances of guest gifts, reassuring listeners that while a small token of appreciation is always thoughtful, showing up empty-handed is perfectly fine, especially if the host insists. The key is understanding context, relationships, and cultural expectations rather than following rigid rules. Jenny shares practical insights on navigating gift-giving with confidence, emphasizing that a simple gesture—like bringing dessert, a bottle of wine, or even just asking if the host needs anything—can go a long way. She also explores how different cultures view guest gifts, the role of re-gifting, and why assuming the best intentions in social interactions helps create a more welcoming environment. If you’ve ever stressed about whether to bring a gift, this episode will help you approach it with ease and authenticity. Learn more about Jenny Says So: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/jenny-says-so-podcast

18/02/2025

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12 min
29/01/2025

Using the Enneagram to Start Fresh Post-Divorce with Enneagram-Informed Therapist Christina Granahan

In this episode of Divorce Happens, host Olivia Howell sits down with Christina Granahan, an Enneagram coach and Fresh Starts expert, to explore how the Enneagram can help individuals rediscover their true selves during and after divorce. Christina breaks down the basics of the Enneagram, explaining how it serves as a "cheat code" to understanding your core essence. Together, they discuss how this powerful tool can guide individuals in rebuilding their lives, finding joy, and navigating the emotional upheaval of divorce. Christina shares insights on using the Enneagram to reconnect with what truly brings happiness and purpose, providing a fresh perspective on starting over. The conversation also highlights Christina's unique coaching approach, which helps clients uncover their inherent strengths and use them as a foundation for growth. Whether it's figuring out how to cope with life transitions or learning to embrace your authentic self, Christina's advice is both practical and inspiring. Tune in to hear her tips on rebuilding confidence, creating meaningful routines, and finding clarity as you move forward. Learn more about Christina: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/resourceguide/granahan-coaching-consulting-llc

29/01/2025

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11 min
30/09/2025

5 Quick Tips to Help You Reclaim Your Voice After Divorce with Writer Dara Resnik

Losing your voice in marriage—whether through years of conflict, emotional neglect, or simply the slow erosion of self—can feel like one of the deepest wounds of divorce. It’s not just about starting over with a new home or co-parenting schedule. It’s about remembering who you are, and daring to put words around that identity again. In this episode of Divorce Happens, we explore what it really means to reclaim your voice after divorce, and why it matters for your healing. Our guest, Dara Resnik, is a writer and director whose work in film and television is rooted in storytelling, character, and truth. As a Fresh Starts Expert, she brings not only professional expertise but also personal lived experience of divorce. Dara knows what it feels like to come out of a relationship turned upside down, and she offers five fresh, practical tips for finding your voice again—ranging from journaling practices to creative exploration, community support, and the courage to share your story. Throughout the conversation, Dara reminds us that voice is more than words—it’s about identity, safety, and power. Whether you’re navigating silence after emotional abuse, or simply unsure of who you are outside your marriage, Dara’s insights offer both clarity and comfort. By the end of the episode, you’ll leave with not just tools, but also a reminder: divorce may have rewritten your story, but you still hold the pen. Learn more about Dara Resnik: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/resourceguide/little-bear-ink 🔗 Check out Fresh Starts Registry: The first & only divorce registry + support platform ➡ https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshstartsregistry/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartsRegistry 🎙 Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehappenspod/

30/09/2025

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4 min
8 MAR

Fresh Reads: The Perils of Girlhood: A Memoir in Essays by Melissa Fraterrigo

There is a specific kind of ache that comes from looking at your daughter and seeing yourself — not the version of yourself you've carefully curated, but the girl you tried to leave behind. That's where Melissa Fraterrigo's memoir begins: standing in a doorway, watching her twin daughters navigate the turbulent terrain of adolescence, and recognizing in their self-doubt, their body shame, their quiet suffering, the exact contours of her own girlhood in the 80s and 90s. The recognition didn't just move her. It sent her back — back through memory, back through culture, back through every lesson she'd absorbed and every wound she'd never quite named — to write The Perils of Girlhood, a memoir in essays that is at once an excavation of the past and a love letter to the next generation. What makes this book extraordinary is how deliberately Melissa chose the essay form — not to present a tidy narrative arc, but to honor the messy, nonlinear way that girlhood actually lives inside us. She wrote it the way memory works: pulled toward heat, toward the unresolved, toward the scenes that still ask something of us. She started in the middle — an essay about her father's temper and the people-pleasing survival strategy it produced — and spent five years finding where all the pieces truly belonged. Along the way, she wove in pop culture touchstones from Judy Blume to 80s sitcom dads, not as nostalgia but as evidence: this is what the air was made of back then, and we breathed it in, and here is what it cost us. She wrote herself into forgiveness — for her younger self, for the people who didn't always get it right — and found that the longer she sat with each chapter, the softer and more spacious her understanding became. In this warm, wide-ranging conversation with Olivia, Melissa reflects on what it means to trade the safety of fiction for the vulnerability of memoir, why this book belongs to readers of every gender and generation, and why one of her twin daughters has already read it — while the other has politely declined, which Melissa accepts with the grace of a woman who has learned that healing doesn't happen on a schedule. The Perils of Girlhood is ultimately a book about the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, how those stories get written for us long before we're old enough to hold the pen, and what becomes possible when we finally decide to rewrite them. If you're in any season of self-examination — a parent trying to break a cycle, a daughter still untangling her past, or simply a person curious enough to ask how you became who you are — this book is waiting for you.

8 Mar

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11 min
05/03/2025

Guilt-Stricken Wedding Guest in Wisconsin: do you REALLY have to give a wedding gift?

In this episode of Jenny Says So, Jenny tackles the tricky topic of wedding gift expectations and whether guests should feel obligated to give one—especially when attending a wedding already comes with significant costs. Responding to a heartfelt listener question from Guilt-Stricken Wedding Guest in Wisconsin, Jenny breaks down the financial realities of being a wedding guest, the social pressures around gift-giving, and why celebrating love shouldn’t come with a price tag. She challenges the idea of quid pro quo in weddings, emphasizing that gifts should come from a place of joy, not obligation. Hello Jenny, As a wedding guest, what should you be expected to pay the couple as a gift? I am in a very tight place financially, so the past few weddings that I have attended that have required travel, hotels, new outfits, etc., I haven’t given any sort of gifts. Is that awful? I feel bad. What are my options if I can’t gift the couple what they deserve? Help! Thank you.From navigating tight budgets to finding thoughtful, affordable ways to show your support, Jenny shares practical advice for guests who may feel guilty about not giving a traditional gift. She also highlights the importance of self-care, setting financial boundaries, and shifting the focus back to what truly matters—celebrating the couple’s love. Whether you’re planning a wedding, attending one soon, or simply rethinking the way we approach gifting, this episode offers a refreshing, judgment-free take on modern wedding etiquette. Learn more about Jenny Says So Podcast: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/jenny-says-so-podcast

05/03/2025

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11 min

A Fresh Start begins with brave decisions, bold moves, and brand new linens. We believe in celebrating Fresh Starts, new beginnings, and brave choices. It’s time to re-think the registry for when you really need it most.

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