Girl, Wake Up!

Amy Polacko
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Mental Health

Girl, Wake Up! is the no-nonsense divorce and life coaching podcast for women who are ready to stop surviving and start strategizing. Hosted by Amy Polacko — Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS), award-winning television journalist, founder of Freedom Warrior Coaching, speaker, and single mom — this show was built on one defining belief: the women who come through divorce with their finances intact, their children protected, and their sense of self stronger than before didn't get lucky. They got strategic. Amy knows this firsthand. She navigated divorce not once but twice, overcame narcissistic abuse, rebuilt her career and finances from scratch as a single working mom, and spent 12 years coaching hundreds of women through every stage of the process — before filing, through family court, and into the next chapter. A Columbia Journalism School graduate who began her career on a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting team, Amy brings the same investigative precision to divorce strategy that she brought to breaking news: facts over fear, preparation over panic, and clarity over chaos. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the realities of family court, divorce law, financial independence, high-conflict and narcissistic relationships, custody strategy, and the emotional and logistical work of rebuilding your life — with candor, expertise, and the kind of warmth that only comes from someone who has been exactly where you are. Subscribe, share with a woman who needs it, and visit freedomwarrior.info to work with Amy directly.

  1. Jul 14

    Winning After Toxic Love: Rewiring Your Brain & Reclaiming Your Life (w/ Jackie Miller)

    Leaving a toxic relationship does not always bring the freedom you expect. Even after it ends, your brain and nervous system may still be stuck in survival mode-replaying the conflict, bracing for the next attack and struggling to trust yourself again. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Jackie Miller, author of Winning: Rewiring Your Brain and Reclaiming Your Life After Toxic Love. Jackie explains what emotional control and psychological abuse can do to the brain and body, why healing often takes longer than outsiders understand and how survivors can begin moving from chaos toward calm. In this episode: Why leaving does not automatically make you feel freeHow toxic relationships affect the brain and nervous systemWhy survivors may miss someone they do not want backHow manipulation erodes confidence and self-trustWhat it means to make calm your new normalPractical ways to disengage from toxic dynamics If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info Learn more about Jackie Miller and her book, Winning: Rewiring Your Brain and Reclaiming Your Life After Toxic Love, at www.jackie-miller.com/book

    Winning After Toxic Love: Rewiring Your Brain & Reclaiming Your Life (w/ Jackie Miller)

  2. Jun 30

    Who Pays for College After Divorce? (w/ author of 'College Planning for Divorced & Widowed Parents' Vicki Vollweiler)

    College planning is stressful for any family–but when parents are divorced, separated, remarried, widowed or parenting on their own, the process can get even more complicated. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Vicki Vollweiler, founder of College Financial Prep and author of College Planning for Divorced & Widowed Parents, about what families need to know before the tuition bills arrive. Amy shares how her own divorce decrees left out important details about college, and why parents need to think ahead before FAFSA forms, college visits, deadlines, deposits and disagreements begin. Vicki explains the biggest mistakes divorced parents make, why vague language like “we’ll split college costs” can create problems, and how families can reduce stress with better planning, clearer communication, and a realistic strategy. In this episode, we discuss: Why college planning is different after divorceWhat parents should address before senior yearHow FAFSA and financial aid can become more complicatedWhy court may not be a quick fix if one parent refuses to payHow to protect your child from being caught in the middle If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info Learn more about Vicki’s work: Website: https://www.CollegeFinancialPrep.com Email: Vicki@CollegeFinancialPrep.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/CollegeFinancialPrep Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/CollegeFinancialPrep YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@collegefinancialprep LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-vollweiler/

    Who Pays for College After Divorce? (w/ author of 'College Planning for Divorced & Widowed Parents' Vicki Vollweiler)

  3. Jun 16

    Divorce Success Story: The Art of Reinvention

    What happens when a woman takes the blank canvas of life after divorce and starts creating something entirely new? In this Divorce Success Story episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with Dee Dee Colabella, a Ridgefield, Connecticut entrepreneur, art gallery owner and owner of 068 Magazine, whose life after divorce became a story of creativity, courage and reinvention. Dee Dee has built a vibrant world around art, beauty, storytelling and community. Through her gallery and magazine, she does more than showcase artists and local voices — she creates spaces where people feel seen, connected and inspired. Her story is a reminder that divorce may close one chapter, but it can also open the door to a life that is more colorful, expressive and aligned with who you were always meant to become. In this episode, Amy and Dee Dee talk about the courage it takes to begin again, the power of creativity after divorce, how women can rediscover themselves outside of marriage and motherhood, and why reinvention often starts with one brave step — not a perfect plan. If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info Learn more about Dee Dee’s work here: https://dcolabellafineart.com Follow her on Instagram: @colabellamedia Her RPAC Gallery: @rpacgallery Her RPAC Art Center and Academy: @rpacartcenterandacademy

    Divorce Success Story: The Art of Reinvention

  4. Jun 2

    When Family Court Becomes the Crisis (w/ Attorney & Author Meg Groff)

    In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with author Meg Groff for a raw and eye-opening conversation about the realities of family court. Meg’s book pulls back the curtain on a system many women enter believing truth, evidence, and good parenting will be enough — only to discover that family court can become its own crisis. Together, Amy and Meg talk about what happens when the legal process becomes emotionally, financially, and psychologically exhausting, especially for protective mothers and survivors of abuse. They explore the power dynamics at play, the myths women are told about court, and why “the best interests of the child” can look very different in theory than it does in practice. We discuss: • The biggest myths about family court • Why evidence alone may not be enough • How money and power can shape custody battles • Why protective mothers are often labeled “difficult” or “emotional” • The emotional toll of prolonged litigation • How the system can fail to recognize coercive control and abuse • What women need to understand before walking into court If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info Learn more about Meg’s work: www.meggroff.com | Instagram: @meggrofffamilylaw | Facebook: Not If I Can Help It | LinkedIn: Meg Groff

    When Family Court Becomes the Crisis (w/ Attorney & Author Meg Groff)

  5. May 19

    When Abuse Goes Digital (w/ Attorney Lindsay Lieberman)

    Digital abuse is not just “online drama.” It can be a form of control, intimidation, blackmail and domestic abuse. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with attorney Lindsay Lieberman, who represents survivors of sexual misconduct, cyber-sex crimes, harassment, sextortion, image-based sexual abuse, blackmail and Title IX violations. Lindsay explains how cyber-abuse often shows up inside relationships and divorce: threats to release private images, stalking through technology, harassment by text or email, fake accounts, intimidation, and attempts to shame or silence survivors. She also breaks down the red flags women should watch for, what rights survivors may have, and why sending a private photo to someone does not mean giving up control over where it ends up. Amy and Lindsay also discuss what high-profile cases like Epstein reveal about power, fear, silence and why survivors often hesitate to come forward. This conversation is about privacy, protection, consent and power — and what women need to know when abuse follows them into their phones, inboxes, workplaces, schools and courtrooms. If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info Learn more about Lindsay’s work: www.lindsaylieberman.com https://www.instagram.com/lindsayliebermanesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-lieberman-cyber-abuse-victims-attorney/

    When Abuse Goes Digital (w/ Attorney Lindsay Lieberman)

  6. May 5

    Don’t Fight Back? Rethinking Women’s Safety (w/ IMPACT Executive Director Meg Stone)

    Today’s episode of Girl, Wake Up! drops on publication day for Meg Stone’s new book, Don’t Fight Back: And 10 Other Myths About Crime, Personal Safety, and Gender-Based Violence. Meg, Executive Director of IMPACT Boston, joins Amy for an eye-opening conversation about the sexist safety myths women have been taught for generations–and what real empowerment actually looks like. We talk about fear, gender-based violence, and why the burden of prevention has been placed on women for far too long. In this episode, we cover: Why so much safety advice for women is rooted in fearThe myths society teaches about crime and personal safetyHow sexism shapes the way women are told to prevent violenceWhy the burden is so often placed on women instead of perpetratorsWhat real empowerment and prevention can actually look like ➡️ If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info ➡️ Learn more about empowerment and self-defence on Meg’s website: https://megstone.org/ ➡️ More about Impact Boston: https://impactboston.org/ ➡️Meg’s books: https://www.beacon.org/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=17937&Name=Meg+Stone Episode Timestamp: 00:01 – 00:045 Podcast Intro 00:46 – 02:12 Topic & About Meg Stone 2:13 — 6:44 The 'Don't Fight Back' Myth: Why Forceful Resistance Actually Works 9:23 — 13:12 Policing Women's Behavior vs. Addressing Male Responsibility 13:12 — 18:53 The Invisible Cost of Fear: How Women's Lives Are Restricted 22:06 — 30:11 What is Feminist Self-Defense? Empowerment Through Political Analysis 35:38 — 41:35 Truth or Trap: Is 'Trust Your Intuition' Actually Good Advice?

    Don’t Fight Back? Rethinking Women’s Safety (w/ IMPACT Executive Director Meg Stone)

  7. Apr 28

    Fitness in your Fifties & Beyond: A Divorce Success Story (w/ Pro Athlete & Women's Health Expert Linda Stephens)

    Divorce can be the best thing that ever happened to you. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Linda Stephens, a clinical nutritionist, IFBB Pro athlete, and nationally recognized women’s health expert, about how her 2017 divorce became the beginning of a powerful reinvention. What started as a painful life transition became an opportunity to get honest about what she wanted, step into her next chapter and help other women do the same. Amy and Linda discuss what it means for women in midlife to stop accepting outdated messages about aging, hormones and menopause–and start advocating for themselves. This is a conversation about strength, clarity, health and why your 50s and beyond can be one of the most powerful seasons of your life. In this episode, we cover: Linda’s divorce story and how it became a turning pointReinventing yourself in midlifeHow she got into fitness, nutrition, and women’s healthWhy women need to self-advocate in today’s medical systemThe problem with outdated standards of care around menopauseHow to see menopause as an opportunity, not just a struggleWhat’s possible for women in their 50s and beyond If this episode speaks to you, share it with a woman who needs the reminder that it is not too late to become stronger, healthier, and more fully yourself. If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info Find out more about Linda Stephens Health & Wellness here: www.lindamstephens.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindastephensfit/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindamstephens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindastephensfit/

    Fitness in your Fifties & Beyond: A Divorce Success Story (w/ Pro Athlete & Women's Health Expert Linda Stephens)

  8. Apr 21

    Who Gets The House In Divorce? (w/ Mortgage Expert John Marroni)

    For many women, the family home feels like the heart of the family–the place tied to stability, memories and the future they imagined. But in divorce, decisions about the house can quickly become complicated, emotional, and financially risky. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Divorce Coach Amy Polacko is joined by mortgage advisor and Certified Divorce Lending Professional John Marroni to talk about what divorcing women need to know before deciding whether to keep the home, sell it, or start over somewhere new. Because what looks good in a divorce agreement still has to work in real life. This episode covers: • Why keeping the house is not always as simple as being awarded it in divorce • The difference between emotional attachment and financial reality • How buyouts work and what women need to understand before agreeing to one • Whether you can take over an existing mortgage• How HELOCs and other debts can complicate the picture • When selling the family home may actually be the smartest move • The importance of getting answers early, before a settlement is signed If you’re navigating divorce and trying to make smart, strategic decisions, connect with Amy for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info John's info: Website: https://www.divorcelendingassociation.com/offices/john-marroni.cfm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmarroni/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnmarronidkmc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marronijohn/ #girlwakeup #podcast #takeyourpowerback #divorcesupport #financialeducation

    Who Gets The House In Divorce? (w/ Mortgage Expert John Marroni)
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Trailer

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Girl, Wake Up! is the no-nonsense divorce and life coaching podcast for women who are ready to stop surviving and start strategizing. Hosted by Amy Polacko — Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS), award-winning television journalist, founder of Freedom Warrior Coaching, speaker, and single mom — this show was built on one defining belief: the women who come through divorce with their finances intact, their children protected, and their sense of self stronger than before didn't get lucky. They got strategic. Amy knows this firsthand. She navigated divorce not once but twice, overcame narcissistic abuse, rebuilt her career and finances from scratch as a single working mom, and spent 12 years coaching hundreds of women through every stage of the process — before filing, through family court, and into the next chapter. A Columbia Journalism School graduate who began her career on a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting team, Amy brings the same investigative precision to divorce strategy that she brought to breaking news: facts over fear, preparation over panic, and clarity over chaos. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the realities of family court, divorce law, financial independence, high-conflict and narcissistic relationships, custody strategy, and the emotional and logistical work of rebuilding your life — with candor, expertise, and the kind of warmth that only comes from someone who has been exactly where you are. Subscribe, share with a woman who needs it, and visit freedomwarrior.info to work with Amy directly.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Polacko
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Amy Polacko
  • Show Website
    Girl, Wake Up!

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