Dishing on Divorce Podcast

dishingondivorce
  • 5.0 (23)
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Dishing on Divorce: Sharing Stories and Empowering Lives is a podcast by Deanna Coyle and Mandy Pullen Barr, two best friends and single mothers who have experienced divorce. In this series, they share the ups and downs of rebuilding their lives, offering a mix of personal insights and expert advice. Each episode features a guest who educates listeners on relevant topics or inspires them with powerful personal stories. This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone seeking guidance, inspiration, and a sense of community as they embark on the transformative journey of divorce.

  1. 3d ago

    Creating a Home After Divorce: Selling, Starting Over & Building What Comes Next with Greg Banks

    Divorce can change your address, your routines, your finances, and even what "home" means. In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna sit down with Greg Banks, owner and operator of Set the Stage Boston Metro North, for a conversation about the home from both sides of divorce: preparing the marital home for sale and creating a new space that feels safe, comfortable, and truly yours. Greg brings a perspective that is both professional and deeply personal. After going through his own divorce when his children were young, he discovered how much creating a new home helped him begin imagining the life that could come next. Together, they explore the emotional attachment we have to our homes and belongings, why leaving the marital home can feel like a genuine loss, and how your physical environment can support healing during a major life transition. Greg also shares practical guidance for homeowners preparing to sell, including why decluttering and depersonalizing matter, where improvements like paint and lighting may make a difference, and how staging can help buyers envision themselves living in a space. And for those beginning again in a new home, the conversation turns to decision fatigue, where to spend versus save, creating meaningful routines with your children, and why you do not need to create your "forever home" all at once. This episode reminds you that starting over doesn't mean having everything figured out. Sometimes it starts with creating a space that cares for you while you decide what comes next. Connect with Greg: https://bmn.wesetthestage.com/ Email Greg: greg.banks@wesetthestage.com

  2. Aug 31

    Divorcing a Narcissist: Coercive Control, Gaslighting & How to Protect Yourself with Kimberly Solo

    What happens when the abuse in a relationship isn’t obvious to everyone else? In this powerful episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy Barr sits down with Kimberly Solo, LICSW, PMH-C, a licensed therapist and Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician who has spent more than 20 years supporting women through trauma, relationship challenges, high-conflict divorce, emotional abuse, and coercive control. Kimberly helps us understand what narcissistic and controlling relationship dynamics can actually look like in everyday life, including the subtle behaviors that can leave someone questioning their own reality. We talk about: • Gaslighting and why confusion can become a tool for control • The subtle signs of coercive control and emotional abuse • Love bombing, jealousy, isolation, and financial control • Sexual coercion within relationships • How technology and social media can be used to monitor or intimidate a partner • Why abuse may escalate during separation and after divorce • The importance of preparing before leaving a high-conflict relationship • Protecting financial information, communications, and important documents • Why documenting specific behaviors can be so important • How children can become caught in high-conflict dynamics • Finding attorneys and professionals who understand these complex cases • Why connection and community can help break the isolation Kimberly also shares the inspiration behind She Breaks Free, her peer-support program connecting women who are separating from or divorcing emotionally abusive or narcissistic partners. One of the most important messages from this conversation: you do not have to convince everyone around you that your experience is real. Pay attention to the behaviors, trust what you are experiencing, gather support, and create a thoughtful plan for your next steps. Wherever you are in your divorce journey, you do not have to navigate it alone. Connect with Kimberly: https://www.kimberlysolo.com/ Email Kimberly: kimberly.solo.licsw@gmail.com

  3. Aug 24

    Who Am I After Divorce? Rebuilding Identity, Self-Trust & Your Life with Hope Firsel

    Sometimes the hardest part of divorce isn’t losing the marriage—it’s losing the version of yourself you thought you would always be. In this deeply personal and uplifting episode of Dishing on Divorce, we sit down with certified life coach, certified divorce specialist, and IFS-trained coach Hope Firsel to talk about the hidden grief that can come with divorce and what it really takes to rediscover yourself afterward. Hope’s perspective was shaped not only by the end of her 18-year marriage, but by years of life-changing experiences including infertility, five failed rounds of IVF, stage three colon cancer, multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and, more recently, the loss of her father. Through those experiences, Hope learned powerful lessons about surrender, gratitude, grief, resilience, and trusting yourself when life no longer looks like the plan you once imagined. Together, we explore: Why divorce involves grieving more than the relationship itself The loss of identity, family structure, traditions, friendships, and the future you expected Why you can want a divorce and still experience profound grief The danger of “toxic positivity” and trying to rush through painful emotions How fear, shame, resentment, and old beliefs can influence the way we navigate divorce How Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help us understand the different “parts” of ourselves Rebuilding self-trust and reconnecting with your own inner authority Discovering what you actually enjoy after years of making decisions through the lens of marriage and family Why a new relationship should add to your life rather than become the source of your happiness How gratitude can coexist with incredibly difficult seasons of life Hope reminds us that difficult experiences are chapters—not our entire story—and that rebuilding can become an opportunity to decide who we want to be moving forward. As Hope beautifully puts it, “On the other side of fear is freedom.” Learn more about Hope and her coaching at hopefirsel.com. Hope has also generously offered Dishing on Divorce listeners a complimentary consultation. Text Hope directly at 773-848-9349 and mention “Dishing on Divorce” to connect with her. Sometimes beginning again requires a plan…and a little Hope.

  4. Aug 17

    Life After Divorce: Rediscovering Yourself, Your Body and Your Pleasure with Bri Clay

    When a 25-year marriage ends, the question isn’t only “What happens next?” Sometimes it’s “Who am I now?” In this candid, funny, and empowering conversation, Bri Clay joins Dishing on Divorce to talk about what it really takes to rediscover yourself after divorce—from rebuilding independence and challenging old beliefs to reconnecting with your body, your confidence, and your capacity for pleasure. As the founder of Life After Divorce, a certified life coach, American Board Certified Sexologist, and certified Sensual Shadow Work Practitioner, Bri helps women examine the guilt, shame, body-image struggles, and deeply ingrained “scripts” that can follow us into our relationships and our lives. They talk about learning what you actually like after years of putting everyone else first; why Bri believes you should “date yourself” before jumping back into dating; body mapping and mirror work; navigating intimacy and menopause; communicating your desires; setting boundaries; and understanding when coaching and therapy can work together. Bri also shares the powerful mindset shift that helped change her own journey: seeing divorce not as a death, but as a rebirth. Whether you’re newly separated, rebuilding after a long-term marriage, or simply trying to reconnect with yourself, this episode is an invitation to give yourself grace, get curious about who you are now, and create a next chapter that feels authentically yours. Connect with Bri: https://yourlifeafterdivorce.com/ Connect with Deanna and Mandy: concierge@vestadivorce.com

  5. Aug 10

    Reverse Mortgages, Divorce & the Power of Home Equity with Laura Phillips

    What if the equity in your home could give you more options during divorce and retirement than you realized? In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna sit down with Laura Phillips, a licensed Reverse Mortgage Specialist in Colorado with more than 25 years of experience in real estate lending, to demystify reverse mortgages and explore how they can be used as part of a broader financial strategy. Reverse mortgages have changed significantly over the years, yet many of the old misconceptions remain. Laura explains how today’s reverse mortgages work, who may qualify, the protections now built into the process, and why she views home equity as a financial tool that deserves a place in retirement planning conversations. The conversation gets especially interesting when it comes to divorce later in life. Laura shares how a reverse mortgage may help someone 62 or older: • Access equity to buy out a spouse and remain in the marital home • Purchase a new home after divorce without using their entire nest egg • Create a line of credit for future retirement expenses • Improve cash flow without a required monthly mortgage payment • Fund home modifications or in-home care to support aging in place • Preserve other retirement assets for future needs Laura also explains negative amortization, non-recourse protection, FHA mortgage insurance, reverse mortgages for purchase, what happens when the homeowner eventually sells or passes away, and situations where a reverse mortgage may not make financial sense. Most importantly, this episode is about asking a bigger question: What can your home do for you? Whether you are navigating a gray divorce, planning for retirement, considering whether to keep your home, or simply curious about how home equity fits into your financial future, this conversation may introduce options you did not know existed. Connect with Laura: https://lauraphillips.com/ Connect with Mandy and Deanna: concierge@vestadivorce.com

  6. Aug 3

    Can Child Support and Alimony Be Insured? | Ron Platt

    What happens when personal experience, family advocacy, and a decades-long idea come together to create something families truly need? In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna welcome Ron Platt, CEO and co-founder of the National Association for Single and Divorced Families, also known as NASDF. Ron shares the deeply personal experiences that inspired him to create an organization dedicated to supporting people navigating divorce and life in a single-family household. From his own long-term toxic relationship to his experience as a foster and adoptive parent, Ron saw firsthand how difficult it can be for families to find practical resources before reaching a crisis point. The conversation explores the wide range of NASDF membership benefits, including mental health support, career resources, real estate savings, family discounts, and access to a dedicated divorce concierge service. Ron also explains Support Insured, an innovative product designed to help protect court-ordered child support and alimony payments when the paying party dies, becomes disabled, experiences involuntary unemployment, or faces business bankruptcy. They also discuss healing after divorce, the importance of taking time before entering a new relationship, journaling, meditation, and learning to get comfortable being uncomfortable. This heartfelt and hopeful conversation is about much more than divorce. It is about creating stability, finding the right support, and empowering families to move forward with greater confidence. Learn more about NASDF: https://www.nasdf.org/ Learn more about Support Insured: https://www.nasdf.org/benefits/child-support-alimony-insurance

  7. Jul 20

    Gaslighting, Control, and High-Conflict Divorce with Eleanor Marks

    High-conflict divorce is not simply a difficult breakup. It can be a relentless battle marked by manipulation, gaslighting, financial control, smear campaigns, and the painful realization that the person you once trusted may be willing to use anything—including your children—to maintain power. In this powerful episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna sit down with Eleanor Marks, a certified high-conflict divorce coach who understands this experience both professionally and personally. Drawing from her own experience surviving a high-conflict divorce, Eleanor shares how gaslighting, financial manipulation, coercive control, smear campaigns, and post-separation abuse can leave people questioning their judgment and feeling completely alone. She explains how to recognize the patterns of a toxic relationship, communicate more strategically, protect your emotional well-being, and prepare for the realities of parallel parenting with someone who does not play fair. The conversation also explores the value of divorce coaching, choosing an attorney who truly understands high-conflict dynamics, reducing emotionally charged communication, and creating settlement strategies that may help limit future conflict. Eleanor’s message is one of strength and possibility: you cannot always change the other person, and you can learn how to protect your peace, regain your confidence, and build a calmer, freer life. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Connect with Eleanor: https://eleanormarks.net/ Connect with Deanna and Mandy: concierge@vestadivorce.com

  8. Jul 13

    Single Parenting After Divorce: The Chaos, the Guilt, and the Unexpected Gifts

    Single parenting after divorce can feel like carrying an endless mental checklist while trying to keep your children, your career, your home, and yourself from falling apart. In this candid and deeply personal episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy Barr and Deanna Coyle share the realities of parenting after separation—from exhausting commutes, financial stress, forgotten pickups, and complicated schedules to the heartbreak of missing milestones and no longer being with your children every day. Drawing from their own very different divorce and co-parenting experiences, Mandy and Deanna explore what it means to be the default parent, how parenting roles can shift after divorce, and why even cooperative co-parenting requires communication, flexibility, vulnerability, and tremendous effort. They also discuss repairing moments when stress comes out sideways, apologizing to your children, recognizing personal triggers, and letting go of the pressure to be the perfect parent. Along the way, they share practical strategies such as shared online calendars, visual schedules for younger children, maintaining meaningful traditions, attending school meetings together, and creating consistency between two homes. This honest conversation is a reminder that good parenting does not mean getting every moment right. It means being willing to reflect, communicate, repair, and keep showing up with love. Single parenting may be overwhelming, messy, and unpredictable—and it can also create deeper relationships, greater resilience, and a powerful appreciation for the time you share with your children. You are not failing. You are learning, adapting, and doing the best you can with what you know today. Connect with Mandy and Deanna: concierge@vestadivorce.com

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Dishing on Divorce: Sharing Stories and Empowering Lives is a podcast by Deanna Coyle and Mandy Pullen Barr, two best friends and single mothers who have experienced divorce. In this series, they share the ups and downs of rebuilding their lives, offering a mix of personal insights and expert advice. Each episode features a guest who educates listeners on relevant topics or inspires them with powerful personal stories. This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone seeking guidance, inspiration, and a sense of community as they embark on the transformative journey of divorce.

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  • Creator
    dishingondivorce
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Dishing on Divorce Podcast