Divorce Happens

Welcome to Divorce Happens, the podcast where we inspire, educate, and support you through divorce and beyond so that you can start fresh on the next phase of your journey. Produced by Fresh Starts Registry, the only divorce registry platform for everything you need to begin again, including home items, hype team, and everything in between. Remember, divorce happens...and then, we start fresh. We're here to support you before, during, and after divorce. Hosted by Olivia Dreizen Howell, the co-founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry.

  1. Afraid you’ll get “taken advantage of” in mediation? Family law expert Allison McFadden explains!

    21H AGO

    Afraid you’ll get “taken advantage of” in mediation? Family law expert Allison McFadden explains!

    Most people imagine divorce like a courtroom drama: two lawyers, a judge, and a battle that leaves everyone bruised. But in this episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia Howell pulls back the curtain on what actually happens in the vast majority of divorces—and why a calmer, smarter path is often hiding in plain sight. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the divorce process, afraid of the costs, or desperate to protect your future co-parenting relationship, this conversation offers a deep exhale and a clear next step. Olivia is joined by Fresh Starts expert Allison McFadden, a family law attorney turned mediator who left traditional legal practice specifically to help people reach agreements outside of court—before things hit that “impossible phase.” Allison breaks down divorce mediation in plain language: a structured, guided process led by a neutral third party who keeps the conversation on track, focuses on the decisions the court needs, and helps couples avoid rehashing old arguments. She also tackles the most common fear head-on—“What if I get taken advantage of?”—explaining how knowledge, preparation, and support from the right professionals (including attorneys and financial planning experts) can help you negotiate from a place of clarity instead of panic. What makes this episode land is the emotional truth underneath the legal logistics: divorce is overwhelming for almost everyone, and feeling confused doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re human. Allison shares the mindset shift that changes everything: zoom out, hold your end goal, and give yourself grace as you move through conflict resolution one decision at a time. Listeners will walk away with practical co-parenting-aware guidance (including how to handle a skeptical spouse), plus an empowering takeaway: you can choose neutral ground, preserve resources, and design a more livable outcome—because divorce happens, and then you start fresh. 🔗 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/

    20 min
  2. Divorce 101: A to Z - Divorce 101

    TRAILER

    Divorce 101: A to Z - Divorce 101

    Divorce 101: A to Z is a 26-episode educational mini-series from the Divorce Happens podcast, created to make divorce easier to understand, less overwhelming, and far more human. Hosted by Olivia Howell—founder of Fresh Starts Registry and a leading voice in modern divorce education—the series breaks down divorce terms, concepts, and processes one letter at a time, from A to Z. Each episode is short and approachable, designed to explain one divorce-related topic in clear, plain language. There is no legal jargon, no fear-based messaging, and no assumption that listeners already know how divorce works. Instead, Divorce 101 offers straightforward explanations meant for real people who are navigating divorce for the first time—or supporting someone who is. Whether you are considering divorce, in the middle of the process, adjusting to life after divorce, or simply trying to understand what a loved one is going through, Divorce 101 provides clarity, context, and reassurance. The goal of the series is not to turn listeners into legal experts, but to help them feel informed enough to ask better questions, make more confident decisions, and feel less alone in a process most people are never taught how to navigate. Divorce 101 is part of the broader Divorce Happens mission to support people before, during, and after divorce with education, inspiration, and a little bit of laughter. Because divorce happens—and then, you start fresh. One letter at a time. 🔗 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/

    1 min
  3. Your Holiday Divorce Survival Guide with Divorce Coach Lisa Lisser

    2D AGO

    Your Holiday Divorce Survival Guide with Divorce Coach Lisa Lisser

    The holidays have a way of revealing the cracks and the tenderness inside us, especially when divorce is part of our lives. In this episode of Divorce Happens, Olivia sits down with divorce coach and co-parenting expert Lisa Lisser, who brings more than a decade of lived experience, legal training, and specialized coaching insight into what it really takes to survive the holiday season during or after divorce. From her own story of unexpected separation to the countless clients she now supports, Lisa reminds us that holiday grief, holiday overwhelm, and holiday loneliness after divorce are deeply human — and deeply normal. As a certified divorce coach who helps women regain clarity, emotional steadiness, and confidence through divorce, Lisa shares her Holiday Survival Checklist, a framework that blends emotional resilience with practical co-parenting strategies. She walks listeners through the power of choosing core values as emotional armor, why new rituals can anchor families navigating divorce, and how to set boundaries — including what you will not do this year. She offers compassionate stories about clients who struggled through their first Christmas morning without their children and others who learned to rebuild joy in small, meaningful ways. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes reducing pressure, releasing perfectionism, and understanding that co-parenting dynamics during the holidays rarely transform overnight. By the end of the episode, listeners are left with two grounded takeaways: you deserve grace, and your holidays do not have to look like the past to be meaningful. Whether you’re in the early stages of divorce, a decade post-separation, or navigating the holidays as an adult child of divorce, this episode offers tools, validation, and mindset shifts that make the season feel more survivable — and maybe, eventually, more peaceful. This is a must-listen for anyone searching Google for divorce holiday tips, co-parenting during the holidays, surviving Christmas after divorce, or simply how to start over with intention. 🔗 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/

    11 min

Trailers

5
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

Welcome to Divorce Happens, the podcast where we inspire, educate, and support you through divorce and beyond so that you can start fresh on the next phase of your journey. Produced by Fresh Starts Registry, the only divorce registry platform for everything you need to begin again, including home items, hype team, and everything in between. Remember, divorce happens...and then, we start fresh. We're here to support you before, during, and after divorce. Hosted by Olivia Dreizen Howell, the co-founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry.

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