The D. Tales with Allison Kahler

Allison Kahler

The D. Tales with Allison Kahler blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight—helping you find clarity, feel connected, and courageously move forward on your own terms. For many people, divorce doesn’t start—or end—with a single decision. It unfolds through questions, doubts, and moments of reckoning: Should I stay or leave? Am I doing this “right”? What’s normal? What if I regret this? Whether you’re quietly wondering, deep in the thick of it, or trying to make sense of what just happened, The D. Tales creates space for the questions most people carry alone. Each episode features candid, deeply human stories from people who have faced these same decisions, alongside thoughtful conversations with experts who understand the emotional, legal, and financial realities of divorce. You won’t hear a single “right” answer here. Instead, you’ll hear diverse perspectives—so you can better understand your own. Divorce touches more than 40% of marriages, yet so many people experience it in silence, carrying unnecessary shame and isolation. The D. Tales brings these conversations out of the shadows—normalizing the uncertainty, the back-and-forth, the fear of getting it wrong, and the quiet hope that something better might be possible. Hosted by Allison Kahler—who once stood in that uncertain space herself and created the resource she wished existed—this podcast offers credible insight and real human connection. Not to rush you into a choice, and not to keep you stuck—but to help you make the right decisions for your marriage, navigate what comes next with clarity, and step into a future that may look very different than you imagined—and better than you thought possible. The D. Tales with Allison Kahler is produced by AK Venture Studio LLC.

  1. 10h ago

    Ep. 20: My Adventures in Dating After Divorce — So Far (Solo)

    In this solo episode, I'm spilling the tea on my own adventures in dating after divorce — approximately 27 first dates, 3 pseudo-relationships, 1 situationship, and the 5 lessons it's taught me so far. In this episode: Why this episode felt scarier to record than my divorce stories — recording from the "messy middle" while I'm still living itThe early days: electric first kisses, my 3-date curse, getting stood up, and the questions no one prepares you for after divorceFrom dating "vanilla" in Chicago to taste-testing my way though 31 flavors in LA — the actor, the vegan paleontologist, the crypto finance bro, and moreWhy knowing what you want in a relationship isn’t just a checklist (I’m looking for a man in finance, trust fund, 6’5”, blue eyes) — but also how it makes you feelMy honest take on the dating apps — and the 3 reasons I'm stepping away, maybe for goodWhere my dating life stands today — and what I'm really looking for in an aligned partner and relationship Episode-Specific Notes: Email allison@thedtalespodcast.com to share your post-divorce dating stories — stay tuned for a potential compilation episode of others’ adventures in dating! About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

    32 min
  2. Jun 9

    Ep. 19: "My Body Woke Up" — Coming Out and Coming Home to Myself

    After 25 years of marriage, Lisa Madsen's body "woke up" — and everything she thought she knew about love, marriage, and who she was came up for question. This is a story about coming out later in life, choosing to stay married while building a life with someone new, and discovering that when it comes to marriage, divorce, and family, there are no rules — you get to make them up. In this episode: The phone call from her college girlfriend that made her body "wake up" — and the question she couldn't stop asking: "What does this even mean?"Coming out in her twenties, "un-coming out" when she fell in love with her husband, and coming out again later in life — and what it meant to finally come home to herselfHow Lisa told her husband the truth — and the response that surprised everyone"Husband not husband": why she and her husband never divorced — and stayed close enough to share regular Wednesday dinnersBuilding a blended family across two states — and why she decided there are no rules except the ones you make About Lisa Madsen: Lisa is a certified life coach and licensed clinical social worker who works with people navigating big relationship transitions — including women coming out later in life — and helps them move forward with clarity and self-trust. After 25 years of marriage, her own life became one of the most unconventional, and loving, answers to the question of what "family" can look like. Learn more at www.lisamadsencoaching.com Follow Lisa on Instagram: @lifecoachforcaregivers Find Lisa on Psychology Today: Lisa Madsen, LCSW About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

    31 min
  3. Jun 2

    Ep. 18: Overcoming Financial Anxiety in Divorce with the 6 Pillars of Intentional Money

    Today's conversation with financial advisor and CDFA® Leah Hadley explores what it looks like to rebuild a relationship with money that supports the life you actually want — especially during divorce, when financial anxiety and avoidance can take over. In this episode: Why divorce creates a real cash-flow shock at every income level — the same income suddenly has to support two householdsThe 6 pillars of the Intentional Money Method™ — clarity, values, mindset, strategy, action, and support — and how they work togetherWhat “clarity” actually looks like in practice — getting honest about what’s coming in, what’s going out, what you own, and what you oweWhy mindset is often the biggest blocker — the limiting beliefs and old stories running in the background that can shape how we negotiate, earn, save, and spend our moneyWhy we often have to take action before we feel ready — and how small, intentional steps build confidence over timePro tip: How to check your state’s unclaimed property database — and potentially reclaim hundreds or even thousands of dollars! About Leah Hadley: Leah Hadley, AFC®, CDFA®, MAFF®, is the Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor of Intentional Wealth Partners and Intentional Divorce Solutions. With nearly two decades of experience in financial services and her own lived experience of divorce, she specializes in helping women navigate divorce and major life transitions with clarity and confidence. Her new book, Intentional Money, is a practical guide designed to help women take control of their finances and build lasting independence. She is also the author of When It's Just Not Working: A Practical Divorce Guide for Stay-At-Home Moms. Learn more about Intentional Divorce Solutions: https://www.greatlakesdfs.com/ Follow Leah on Instagram: @watchherthrive Connect with Leah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahahadley/ Get Leah’s book Intentional Money: https://a.co/d/0ftSboBC Episode-Specific Notes: This conversation offers general perspective on divorce-related financial planning and is not personalized financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation. About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

    36 min
  4. May 26

    Ep. 17: Loneliness Isn’t Being Alone — It’s Being Disconnected From Yourself

    Today’s conversation with holistic performance coach Dr. Brian Paris explores why loneliness isn’t the same thing as being alone — and how coming back to yourself changes everything about how you move through divorce, co-parenting, and love. In this episode: How Brian’s post-divorce loneliness revealed a deeper fear — “will I be alone forever?” — and what it showed him about self-connection“I mastered the science of achievement, but I really dropped on the art of fulfillment” — and what it looks like to rebuild from the inside outBrian’s four-part “human operating system” for coming home to yourself: awareness, embodiment, connection, and flowWhat a 10-day silent meditation retreat taught Brian about identity, presence, and creating space between your thoughts and your reactionsA practical reframe for co-parenting and post-divorce communication: empathy, “graceful expression,” and not handing someone a brick when they’re drowning About Dr. Brian Paris: Dr. Brian Paris is a holistic performance coach, speaker, and former chiropractor who helps high-achieving people navigate challenging transitions, including divorce, identity loss, and starting over. After building and leading a successful multidisciplinary healthcare practice for over two decades, Brian’s own experience of burnout, disconnection, and divorce became the catalyst for his deepest work — helping others rebuild from the inside out through neuroscience, somatic awareness, and ancient healing traditions. Learn more at www.drbrianparis.com Follow Brian on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @drbrianparis Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbrianparis/ About ManRebuild: ManRebuild is Brian’s program designed to help men rebuild from the inside out during and after divorce — grounding in awareness, embodiment, connection, and purpose. Learn more about ManRebuild: https://drbrianparis.com/manrebuild/ About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

    33 min
  5. May 19

    Ep. 16: The Stories We Hide Behind — and the Ones That Set Us Free

    This is a story about… stories. The stories we hide behind. The stories we get stuck in. The stories we tell to justify the other stories. And the honest ones that set us free — the kind that allow us to feel seen, connect with others, and unlock true intimacy. In this episode: Why the "resilience" Renee built at 6 was actually a shield — and how it shaped a marriage where neither she nor her then-husband could be truly seenThe post-divorce dating reckoning — including catching a boyfriend who had lied about everything — that forced her to stop blaming and start questioning "why is my picker so broken?""Into-me-you-see" — why the intimacy Renee had been hiding from her whole life was the thing she'd been searching forWhat happens when a brand storyteller turns her craft on her own life — and why more honest stories became the throughline of everything that came nextHow radical honesty with strangers — Uber drivers, gardeners, first dates — became the unlikely training ground for real intimacyWhy divorce doesn't have to be a tragedy — and the reframe Renee offers anyone going through it: "I'm so sorry and congratulations." About Renee Lynn Frojo: Renee Frojo is a former journalist turned brand storytelling and content strategist who helps founders and solo business owners build brands people actually trust, believe in, and buy from. She works with founders, consultants, and creative entrepreneurs to clarify their message, develop compelling narratives, and turn their ideas into content that attracts the right opportunities. Her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and human connection — helping people not just get seen, but truly understood. Website: reneelynnfrojo.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/renee-lynn-frojoThe LinkedIn post that inspired this episode: Read on LinkedIn About A Good Reputation: A Good Reputation is Renee's platform dedicated to teaching how stories shape trust, visibility, and ultimately who gets chosen. Website: agoodreputation.onlineNewsletter: Subscribe to A Good Reputation About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

    39 min
  6. May 12

    Ep. 15: Dear Diary — The Day I Became Allison Kahler Again

    D-Day — your divorce day — can be years in the making and over in minutes. In this second "Dear Diary" solo episode, I revisit my own D-Day through the journal entries I wrote in the days before, during, and after — one of the most life-changing, yet surprisingly anticlimactic, moments of my life. In this episode: The quote I journaled on my 33rd birthday — 2 days before my divorce was finalized — that still holds 8 years later: "You can miss something and not want it back"What D-Day actually looked like — a 6am spin class, almost getting stood up by my own lawyer, and the tears that flowed once the judge made it finalThe 10 minutes in a courtroom that reduced years of emotional turmoil to a string of yes-or-no questions — and the surprising simplicity of the moment that changes everythingHow an unplanned trip to the Art Institute after leaving the courthouse helped me reconnect with my authentic self and the woman I was becomingThe last page of my journal — and the future I dared to imagine through Mary Oliver's words: "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"Three things I'd tell anyone preparing for their own D-Day — expect nothing and everything, build yourself a plan, and allow yourself to dream what might be possible on the other side About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

    25 min
  7. May 5

    Ep. 14: Dismantling the Life You Built to Find the One That Fits

    This is the story of a woman who spent years shrinking into boxes that weren't built for her — and turned the ending of nearly everything into the beginning of a life that's finally hers. In this episode: The unbelievable synchronicity of endings — finalizing her divorce, selling her business, and parting with her longtime nanny all in a single day — and the beautiful new beginning it opened up on the other sideThe "Jumanji drum" that kept getting louder inside her — and the reckoning it forced with how disconnected she'd become from her own body and inner knowingAshley's devastating miscarriage — and why the strongest people are often the ones who most need someone to grab them by the shoulders and say "bitch, you ain't okay right now"How a 4-day retreat in Tulum — breathwork, gateless writing, sound healing — cracked her open and became the blueprint for the work she now does with her coaching clientsWhy she got sober 6 months before saying the word "divorce" out loud — and what staying fully awake through the hardest conversations of her life made possibleThe North Star that steadied every hard decision: family stays family — rewriting the template of her own parents' divorce for her kids About Ashley Logan: Ashley Logan is a transformational coach and somatic guide based in Chicago. She works with women through coaching, retreats, and workshops to move beyond burnout and live with more authenticity, purpose, and joy — blending practical tools with a grounded, bottom-up approach that helps clients reconnect with the most aligned versions of themselves. A self-described "people-pleaser and entrepreneur in recovery," Ashley is committed to making the world a little more loving for everyone. She's also a loving mother of three. Learn more: ashleydlogan.com Follow Ashley on Instagram: @ashleydlogan Subscribe to Ashley's Substack: https://ashleydlogan.substack.com/ About “Inner Alchemy with Ashley Logan”: Ashley is also the host of Inner Alchemy with Ashley Logan, a podcast for the dreamers, doers, and changemakers navigating burnout, big questions, and the pull to come back to what truly matters. Inner Alchemy covers everything from nervous system regulation and somatic healing, to practical, embodied tools that help women reconnect with their bodies, intuition and sense of worth. Listen to Inner Alchemy with Ashley Logan wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen to Allison's guest episode on Inner Alchemy on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Episode-Specific Notes: Content note: This episode includes discussion of pregnancy loss and miscarriage. Please take care while listening. About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

    42 min
  8. Apr 28

    Ep. 13: Healing Isn't Feeling Better — It's Feeling Everything

    This is a story about a self-described "recovering nice guy" who spent decades outsourcing his self-worth — and how he learned that healing isn't feeling better, it's feeling everything. In this episode: How the sensitive kid underneath armored up behind toxic masculinity — and why that armor "doesn't discriminate" between what it keeps out and what it keeps inHow a first separation, a cancer diagnosis, and a decade of "should I stay or should I go?" surfaced a quieter, harder question — "maybe I’m the problem?"How a transformative experience at The Hoffman Process taught Billy that "forgiveness is giving up all hope for a better past"How Jack Kornfield's challenge to "die of boredom on the meditation mat" taught Billy he could sit with anxiety — and survive itWhat months on the living room floor processing delayed grief taught Billy about inviting grief to "come have a seat" instead of running from itWhy healing isn't about feeling better — it's about feeling everything, and why finally trusting "I can handle it" changed everything About Billy Kaitz: Billy is a recovering perfectionist and lifelong overthinker who spent years trying to be everything for everyone — while quietly leaving himself out of the equation. He built the life he thought would finally make him feel whole, only to discover that nothing was missing except his connection to himself. What followed was a messy, humbling journey through loss, therapy, and real human connection — learning that the most meaningful parts of life often sit behind the doors we spend years avoiding. Today, Billy is still doing that work in real time, choosing honesty over performance, and showing up as a devoted girl dad grounded in something far more real than perfection. Follow Billy on Instagram: @billkaitz Connect with Billy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/billkaitz Find Billy on Facebook: facebook.com/bill.kaitz Resources mentioned: The Hoffman ProcessKristin Neff's Self-CompassionAEDP Therapy (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

    36 min
5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The D. Tales with Allison Kahler blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight—helping you find clarity, feel connected, and courageously move forward on your own terms. For many people, divorce doesn’t start—or end—with a single decision. It unfolds through questions, doubts, and moments of reckoning: Should I stay or leave? Am I doing this “right”? What’s normal? What if I regret this? Whether you’re quietly wondering, deep in the thick of it, or trying to make sense of what just happened, The D. Tales creates space for the questions most people carry alone. Each episode features candid, deeply human stories from people who have faced these same decisions, alongside thoughtful conversations with experts who understand the emotional, legal, and financial realities of divorce. You won’t hear a single “right” answer here. Instead, you’ll hear diverse perspectives—so you can better understand your own. Divorce touches more than 40% of marriages, yet so many people experience it in silence, carrying unnecessary shame and isolation. The D. Tales brings these conversations out of the shadows—normalizing the uncertainty, the back-and-forth, the fear of getting it wrong, and the quiet hope that something better might be possible. Hosted by Allison Kahler—who once stood in that uncertain space herself and created the resource she wished existed—this podcast offers credible insight and real human connection. Not to rush you into a choice, and not to keep you stuck—but to help you make the right decisions for your marriage, navigate what comes next with clarity, and step into a future that may look very different than you imagined—and better than you thought possible. The D. Tales with Allison Kahler is produced by AK Venture Studio LLC.

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