Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast

Karen McMahon
  • 4.9 (131)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast is your trusted companion through every stage of divorce—emotional, legal, financial, and parental. With over nine years of impactful episodes, this top-ranked podcast supports men and women navigating the challenges of divorce, especially those facing high-conflict dynamics, co-parenting struggles, emotional overwhelm, or legal uncertainty. Hosted by Karen McMahon, Certified Divorce Coach® and founder of Journey Beyond Divorce, the show offers strategic guidance, expert interviews, and real-life stories designed to help listeners move from confusion and chaos to clarity and confidence. Each episode is packed with insight and inspiration to help you make informed decisions, protect your children, safeguard your finances, and heal emotionally—so you can create a life you truly love post-divorce. If you're on the fence about whether to stay or go, have just been told your marriage is ending, or are actively working through the messy middle of litigation, negotiation, or co-parenting, this podcast meets you where you are. You'll learn how to emotionally regulate through triggers, explore your divorce process options (mediation, collaboration, litigation, arbitration), and prepare to work effectively with legal and financial professionals. Topics include how to gather your financials, navigate custody issues, and negotiate complex decisions around property, retirement assets, and business valuations. For those already in the process, episodes offer real-time guidance on how to cope with personality disorders in your co-parent, how to protect your children from toxic dynamics, and how to negotiate settlements strategically. You'll hear from certified divorce financial analysts, attorneys, parenting coordinators, therapists, and coaches who share proven tools and tips. Professionals in the divorce field—including family law attorneys, therapists, and financial experts—also listen in to better support their clients and stay up-to-date on best practices. And when the divorce is final? The podcast continues to serve as a roadmap for building your next chapter. Learn how to close out the financial and legal loose ends—such as QDROs, life insurance, beneficiary changes, and estate updates—while beginning to design a life aligned with your values, goals, and inner peace. Episodes cover healing from betrayal trauma, understanding your emotional patterns, rediscovering your identity, and navigating the complexities of post-divorce dating and parenting. This podcast also answers the most searched divorce-related questions, including: How do I co-parent with a narcissist? What are the steps in the divorce process? Should I litigate or mediate? What is a QDRO and do I need one? How do I protect my kids emotionally? What is the role of a certified divorce financial analyst? How do I move on after infidelity or betrayal? Listeners benefit from expert-vetted strategies, free resources, and supportive insights grounded in both experience and compassion. The Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast is more than just content—it's a lifeline. Whether you're seeking calm in the storm, tools to advocate for yourself, or support rebuilding your life, each episode helps you grow stronger, wiser, and more empowered. Subscribe today and begin your journey beyond divorce with guidance you can trust. www.jbddivorcesupport.com/podcast

  1. From First Filing to Financial Freedom: The Divorce Financial Team & Playbook with Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan

    5d ago

    From First Filing to Financial Freedom: The Divorce Financial Team & Playbook with Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan

    Every major life transition comes with a roadmap. Parenting. Career changes. Retirement. But when divorce begins, most people are suddenly making complex financial decisions alone — without a coordinated team, without a clear plan, and without any idea how those decisions will quietly shape their lives for decades to come. That ends today. Karen McMahon sits down with Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan, co-founders of My Divorce Solution, to walk you through what they call the Divorce Financial Playbook — and it is exactly what most people wish they'd had from day one. As divorced parents themselves, they built the company they wish had existed, because no one should have to navigate divorce finances in the dark. In this conversation, they cover the full financial arc of divorce — from initiation through discovery, negotiation, settlement, and into post-divorce stability. Karen and Catherine break down why your financial team needs to be in place at the start of your divorce, not after you've already settled. They walk through how to accurately document income and expenses the way courts actually interpret them, how to verify assets and debts with statements rather than spreadsheets, and what most people miss when it comes to liens, collateral, and tax implications. They also explore how preparing early doesn't just protect your financial future — it reduces fear, makes your attorney more effective, and positions you to negotiate from a place of clarity rather than chaos. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the financial side of divorce, this episode is your playbook. Connect with Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan: Free Offer: https://mydivorcesolution.com/divorce-financial-preparation-checklist/ Website: https://mydivorcesolution.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-divorce-solution Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mydivorcesolution/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wechatdivorcepodcast/videos Podcast: https://mydivorcesolution.com/we-chat-divorce-podcast/ Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Free Divorce Support Network Gift: https://divorcesupportnetwork.com/jbdpod Curated Podcast Playlists: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/

    44 min

  2. 5d ago ·  Bonus

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  3. When Divorce Tests Your Faith: Protecting Kids & Staying Strong with Top Divorce Lawyer, Bree Sullivan-Howell, JD

    May 20

    When Divorce Tests Your Faith: Protecting Kids & Staying Strong with Top Divorce Lawyer, Bree Sullivan-Howell, JD

    Divorce can rattle everything you believe in. Your sense of family, your identity, and even your understanding of God's plan for your life... And for many Christians, the place that should offer the most comfort, the church, can sometimes feel like the last place they're able to be honest about what they're going through. In this episode, Karen sits down with Bree Sullivan-Howell, divorce attorney, passionate children's advocate, and award-winning Christian author of Crush Your Divorce & Keep Your Faith and Crush Your Comeback, for a conversation that brings together sharp legal wisdom and deep spiritual grounding in a way that is rarely offered to people navigating divorce. With more than 20 years of experience in high-stakes custody litigation and family law, Bree has sat with men and women at some of the most painful and disorienting moments of their lives. What she brings to this conversation is both practical and profound, an understanding of how faith doesn't disappear in the middle of relational chaos, but can actually deepen through it. Karen and Bree explore how traditional church messaging can unintentionally shame Christian women going through divorce, how misunderstood scripture can leave people feeling pressured to stay in unhealthy or even abusive marriages, and how an eternal perspective, rooted in prayer and truth, can replace fear with clarity. Bree shares how she weaves scriptural wisdom directly into her legal strategy, encouraging clients toward dignified conduct, truthful evidence, and emotional steadiness even when everything around them feels unstable. They also speak candidly about fathers navigating custody, a dimension of divorce that often goes underserved. Bree addresses the reality that many loving, involved dads face an uphill battle to stay connected to their children, often needing to "double prove" their parenting, resist adopting a negative narrative pushed by an ex, and communicate with intention using tools like BIFF, all while continuing to simply show up for their kids, consistently and without fail. Whether you are at the beginning of this process, in the thick of it, or trying to find solid ground on the other side, this episode offers both the legal clarity and the spiritual encouragement to take your next step with confidence. God's purpose doesn't end when the marriage does, and this conversation is a powerful reminder of that. Connect with Bree:   Free Gift: Devotional for the Divorcing - www.crushyourdivorce.com www.sullivan-firm.com Book: https://a.co/d/0v4Iqql Instagram: @lawyerbree | @crushyourdivorce TikTok - @lawyerbree

    42 min
  4. Divorce Without the Armor: The Power of Brotherhood with Todd Adams, Certified Coach through Conscious Leadership Group, Tony Robbins Core 100, and the HeartMath Institute

    May 12

    Divorce Without the Armor: The Power of Brotherhood with Todd Adams, Certified Coach through Conscious Leadership Group, Tony Robbins Core 100, and the HeartMath Institute

    Most men are never taught how to fall apart. They're taught how to push through, provide, and stay in control, but not how to process loss, ask for help, or stay emotionally present when their world is coming undone. When a marriage ends, those unspoken rules about what it means to be a man don't disappear, they just get louder. And for so many men navigating divorce, the result is isolation, overwhelm, and a kind of silent struggling that nobody talks about and nobody sees. In this episode, Karen McMahon sits down with Todd Adams, men's work leader, conscious leadership facilitator, and founder of MenLiving, for a conversation about what it actually takes for men to heal. Todd has spent years helping men step out of what he calls the Man Box: the outdated version of masculinity that rewards toughness and punishes vulnerability. And what he's found, again and again, is that the thing most men are avoiding, real connection, emotional honesty, brotherhood, is the very thing that sets them free. Together, Karen and Todd unpack why going it alone doesn't work, how community accelerates healing in ways that individual effort simply can't, and what it looks like for men to rebuild, not just their lives after divorce, but their relationships with themselves, their children, and the people they love... from the inside out. Connect with Todd: Website: menliving.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menlivingnfp/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MenLiving.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Free Divorce Support Network Gift: https://divorcesupportnetwork.com/jbdpod

    40 min
  5. You're Allowed to Be Angry: How to Navigate Divorce Without Shutting Down or Exploding with Michelle Farris, LMFT

    Apr 29

    You're Allowed to Be Angry: How to Navigate Divorce Without Shutting Down or Exploding with Michelle Farris, LMFT

    In this episode, Karen explores a powerful and often misunderstood emotion: anger—and how to navigate it during divorce without shutting down or exploding. Anger is a natural and expected part of divorce, yet many people were never taught how to work with it in a healthy way. Instead, they may react impulsively, suppress their feelings to avoid conflict, or carry lingering resentment long after the divorce is final. Karen is joined by Michelle Farris, a psychotherapist, codependency expert, and anger management specialist, for a grounded and insightful conversation about the role anger plays during divorce. Together, they unpack why so many people feel ashamed of their anger, how people-pleasing and codependency complicate emotional expression, and the critical difference between feeling anger and acting from it. This episode reframes anger not as something to fear or avoid, but as a valuable source of information—one that, when understood and processed effectively, can lead to greater clarity, stronger boundaries, and meaningful healing. Listeners will gain practical tools to help process anger without escalating conflict, honor their emotions without losing themselves, and shift from reactive patterns into more intentional responses. Connect with Michelle Farris: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleFarrismft      Instagram: https://instagram.com/counseling_recovery/ Website: www.counselingrecovery.com Free Gift: Blueprint for Taming Relationship Triggers - https://counselingrecovery.lpages.co/relationship-triggers-guide Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Free Hot Seat Coaching - May 11th @1pm EST: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/free-live-divorce-coaching Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Free Divorce Support Network Gift: https://divorcesupportnetwork.com/jbdpod Boundary Bootcamp: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/boundarybootcamp

    35 min
  6. How to Stop Divorce Overwhelm and Think Clearly Again

    Apr 27

    How to Stop Divorce Overwhelm and Think Clearly Again

    If your mind won't stop spinning during divorce... replaying conversations, jumping from fear to fear, or waking up at 3AM with urgency... you're not alone. And more importantly… you're not thinking clearly. In this episode, Karen McMahon breaks down what's really happening when you spiral during divorce, and why it can lead to the very decisions you'll later regret. When your nervous system is overwhelmed, your brain shifts into survival mode, making it nearly impossible to respond calmly, communicate effectively, or make grounded choices. You'll learn how to interrupt the spiral in real time, regulate your nervous system, and return to a place of clarity, confidence, and self-trust. This isn't about stopping your thoughts, it's about stopping the spiral from leading. Follow the show, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find calm and clarity during divorce. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Free Divorce Support Network Gift: https://divorcesupportnetwork.com/jbdpod

    11 min
  7. How to Know If It's Time to Divorce (Clear Signs You Can Trust)

    Apr 20

    How to Know If It's Time to Divorce (Clear Signs You Can Trust)

    If you've been going back and forth on the "should I stay or should I go" question, you already know how exhausting it is. You try to think your way to an answer. You second-guess yourself. And still — you feel stuck. In this episode, Karen McMahon is going to help you begin to find real clarity — not just talk you through the feelings, but give you a different way of looking at what's actually happening in your marriage and inside yourself. Because spinning in your head isn't working. And you're tired. After years of guiding men and women through this exact place, Karen has seen what keeps people stuck — and what finally helps them move forward with confidence. She walks you through why patterns over time, not isolated moments, are what tell the real story of your relationship, and the signals worth paying attention to: the exhaustion, the emotional depletion, the feeling of being unseen or unheard, of living in survival mode rather than real partnership. Karen also challenges something that might be hard to hear — that what feels like confusion is often fear in disguise. Fear about finances, your kids, being alone, or living with regret someday. She'll help you name those fears, look at the patterns honestly, and start weighing actions against promises rather than hopes against history. This episode includes some powerful reflective questions too — including what your children are really learning from watching your relationship, and how love has actually felt over the last two years. And if you're waiting to feel completely certain before you take a step forward, Karen offers you this: certainty may never come, but your next right step absolutely can. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Free Mend or End Curated Podcast Playlist: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/mend-or-end-your-divorce-free-gift Free Just Started Curated Podcast Playlist: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/juststartedfreegift

    12 min
  8. Divorce & Executive Compensation: The Assets Most People Miss with Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA®, CES™

    Apr 11

    Divorce & Executive Compensation: The Assets Most People Miss with Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA®, CES™

    In this episode of Journey Beyond Divorce, Karen McMahon sits down with Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA®, CES™, President and CEO of Francis Financial, to unpack one of the most complex and often overlooked aspects of divorce: executive compensation. When income extends beyond a traditional paycheck to include RSUs, stock options, deferred bonuses, and long-term incentive plans, the financial landscape of divorce becomes significantly more complicated—and the stakes much higher. Together, Karen and Stacy explore how these "golden handcuffs" function and why they are so frequently misunderstood, undervalued, or even missed entirely during divorce proceedings. They dive into how executive compensation is structured, where disclosure gaps tend to occur, and how to identify these assets through key documents like offer letters, vesting schedules, and compensation statements. Stacy also explains how marital versus separate property is determined using time-based calculations tied to the date of divorce, and why timing, vesting schedules, and tax implications can dramatically impact the outcome of a settlement. This conversation brings clarity to critical decisions, including whether to divide future vesting shares or offset their value with other assets, and highlights a common and costly mistake around who is responsible for taxes on RSU income. Karen and Stacy also discuss real-world complications like job changes, buyouts of unvested compensation, and what happens to these assets in the event of death or disability. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of working with experienced legal and financial professionals who understand high-net-worth divorce and complex compensation structures. Whether you are an executive navigating divorce or a spouse trying to understand the full financial picture, this episode offers essential insights to help you avoid costly mistakes, ensure proper disclosure, and make informed decisions that protect your long-term financial future. Connect with Stacy: Website: https://francisfinancial.com/francis_team/stacy-francis/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancisFinancialInc/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francisfinancialinc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjYgEJi2EhaCd1pL58V78iA?view_as=subscriber Free Gift:  We have seen first-hand the impact that a detailed Legacy Plan has on our clients and their loved ones. This experience inspired us to create our Legacy Planning Checklist. To make it easier, we've created a three-part Webinar which will take you through the checklist step by step to make sure you finish with confidence. Each session is hosted by Certified Financial Planners™ Stacy Francis and Natalie Colley, who share practical guidance, real examples, and tools to help you build your personalized legacy plan with clarity and confidence. Gift Link: https://francisfinancial.com/because-i-love-you-a-legacy-planning-companion/   Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Free Divorce Support Network Gift: https://divorcesupportnetwork.com/jbdpod

    46 min
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4.9
out of 5
131 Ratings

About

The Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast is your trusted companion through every stage of divorce—emotional, legal, financial, and parental. With over nine years of impactful episodes, this top-ranked podcast supports men and women navigating the challenges of divorce, especially those facing high-conflict dynamics, co-parenting struggles, emotional overwhelm, or legal uncertainty. Hosted by Karen McMahon, Certified Divorce Coach® and founder of Journey Beyond Divorce, the show offers strategic guidance, expert interviews, and real-life stories designed to help listeners move from confusion and chaos to clarity and confidence. Each episode is packed with insight and inspiration to help you make informed decisions, protect your children, safeguard your finances, and heal emotionally—so you can create a life you truly love post-divorce. If you're on the fence about whether to stay or go, have just been told your marriage is ending, or are actively working through the messy middle of litigation, negotiation, or co-parenting, this podcast meets you where you are. You'll learn how to emotionally regulate through triggers, explore your divorce process options (mediation, collaboration, litigation, arbitration), and prepare to work effectively with legal and financial professionals. Topics include how to gather your financials, navigate custody issues, and negotiate complex decisions around property, retirement assets, and business valuations. For those already in the process, episodes offer real-time guidance on how to cope with personality disorders in your co-parent, how to protect your children from toxic dynamics, and how to negotiate settlements strategically. You'll hear from certified divorce financial analysts, attorneys, parenting coordinators, therapists, and coaches who share proven tools and tips. Professionals in the divorce field—including family law attorneys, therapists, and financial experts—also listen in to better support their clients and stay up-to-date on best practices. And when the divorce is final? The podcast continues to serve as a roadmap for building your next chapter. Learn how to close out the financial and legal loose ends—such as QDROs, life insurance, beneficiary changes, and estate updates—while beginning to design a life aligned with your values, goals, and inner peace. Episodes cover healing from betrayal trauma, understanding your emotional patterns, rediscovering your identity, and navigating the complexities of post-divorce dating and parenting. This podcast also answers the most searched divorce-related questions, including: How do I co-parent with a narcissist? What are the steps in the divorce process? Should I litigate or mediate? What is a QDRO and do I need one? How do I protect my kids emotionally? What is the role of a certified divorce financial analyst? How do I move on after infidelity or betrayal? Listeners benefit from expert-vetted strategies, free resources, and supportive insights grounded in both experience and compassion. The Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast is more than just content—it's a lifeline. Whether you're seeking calm in the storm, tools to advocate for yourself, or support rebuilding your life, each episode helps you grow stronger, wiser, and more empowered. Subscribe today and begin your journey beyond divorce with guidance you can trust. www.jbddivorcesupport.com/podcast

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