In this powerful episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell sits down with Cindy DiTiberio—writer, ghostwriter, and author of the bestselling Substack The Mother Lode—to unpack the raw truths and hard-won wisdom that come with divorce. Cindy shares the three biggest lessons she learned through her own divorce, and nothing is off the table: finances, post-nups, boundaries, and reclaiming your power. Cindy opens up about the moment she realized just how capable she truly is—especially in taking back control of her financial life after years of handing it over in her marriage. From doing her own taxes to uncovering the invisible labor of money management, she shares how divorce forced her to research, advocate, and rise. We also dig into why postnuptial agreements should be non-negotiable, and how they can radically change the power dynamics in a marriage. Finally, Cindy shares the revolutionary impact of setting boundaries. Divorce, she says, taught her that she didn’t have to accept treatment that didn’t feel good—and that realization transformed all of her relationships. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever doubted their strength or felt stuck in outdated expectations. 🔗 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/ 📬 Newsletter: https://divorceguide.substack.com/ Divorce Happens – 3 things I learned from my divorce with writer Cindy DiTiberioOlivia Howell: Hello, hello, and welcome back to Divorce Happens—the podcast where we support you before, during, and after divorce with education, inspiration, and a little bit of laughter. Because as we know: divorce happens, and then you start fresh. Today, I’m joined by one of our friends here at Fresh Starts—Cindy! Cindy, can you tell us who you are and what you do? Cindy DiTiberio: Hi! I’m Cindy DiTiberio. I’m a writer and the creator of the bestselling Substack newsletter The Mother Load, where I unpack motherhood, marriage, and divorce. I’m currently working on my own book, and I also collaborate with others as a ghostwriter to help them tell their stories. I love what Fresh Starts is doing—Olivia has been key in my own journey, and I’ve used the experts in the network. I’m just so grateful for all the support. Olivia Howell: Thank you! We’re so happy to have you. One of my favorite segments on this show is talking to real people—real humans who’ve gone through divorce—about what they’ve learned. So, Cindy, what are three of the biggest lessons you learned from your divorce? Cindy DiTiberio: The first thing that came to mind is just how capable I am. As women, we’re often conditioned to give away our power, especially when it comes to money. During my marriage, I handed over all the financial responsibilities to my ex because he worked in finance—it just made sense at the time. But once we divorced, I was suddenly in charge of everything, and it was terrifying... but also incredibly empowering. I realized quickly: I can do this. I’m doing my own taxes, organizing my documents, thinking about deductions. I’m capable. I think one of the biggest mistakes I made in my marriage was not being a collaborative partner in understanding our financial picture—our taxes, mortgage, accounts. When I had to figure it all out myself, I discovered I was really good at research. I can find anything I need to know, and now I’ve taken that same energy into learning about my finances. We are
