In the aftermath of infidelity, accountability is often the missing piece. Too often, the betrayed partner is left carrying the heavy work of healing while the unfaithful partner minimises, avoids, or even gets a free pass from professionals who should know better. But without accountability, there can be no real repair.

In this episode, Luke explores what accountability actually looks like, why it’s so often resisted, and why shame, vulnerability, and societal conditioning make it so difficult. He also unpacks how accountability links to breaking painful intergenerational cycles, and why the betrayed partner’s need for balance must be taken seriously.

Key Takeaways

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

When infidelity isn’t a one-off, but a repeated pattern, the pain cuts deeper. Serial cheating raises questions not just about what happened, but about who your partner really is, and whether change is even possible.

In this episode, Luke explores the often misunderstood world of serial cheaters. What defines them? What signs should you look out for? How should you respond if you discover multiple betrayals? And what message is there for those who find themselves stuck in a cycle of repeated cheating?

Whether you’re the betrayed partner trying to make sense of the devastation, or someone recognising these patterns in yourself, this episode brings nuance, clarity, and compassion, without the simplistic labels or societal clichés.

Key Takeaways

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

What if the questions that keep looping in your mind, the ones you’re too ashamed or exhausted to voice, aren’t just valid, but shared by thousands of others going through betrayal?

In this second part of our Q&A series (Listen to episode 146 for the first part), I answer the raw, unfiltered questions that most people keep buried:

Whether you’re early in your healing or quietly carrying it years later, this episode offers grounded insight and compassionate reminders:

You’re not broken.

You’re not alone.

And you don’t have to heal perfectly to heal powerfully.

Key Takeaways:

Shame after betrayal often lands on the wrong person … you.

Social spaces can feel like minefields, but you are allowed to take up space, even in your pain.

Forgiveness is not about erasing your experience.

It’s not a betrayal of self; it’s a release of emotional tension, done on your timeline.

Your children don’t need perfection; they need presence.

Emotional honesty and repair do more than false composure ever could.

You’re not becoming a worse version of yourself.

You’re adapting. And healing means reconnecting with the person you’re becoming, not rushing to return to who you were.

Unspoken arguments linger for a reason.

The unsaid words still matter, even if you only say them to yourself.

Letting go of the old life is not failure.

It’s a sacred grief, and a quiet invitation into something new.

What question have you been carrying silently through your healing journey?

Come share it (or just listen in) over in the Facebook group:

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

Triggers after betrayal can feel sudden, overwhelming, and impossible to control. But what if they’re not signs that you’re broken, but signals from your nervous system that you still need safety, care, and attention? In this episode, we break down what a trigger actually is (spoiler: it’s not drama), how it works, and why you don’t need to be trigger-free to be healing. Whether you're rebuilding with your partner or learning to trust yourself again, this episode offers compassion, clarity, and practical steps for staying grounded, even when your body’s screaming otherwise.

Key Points / Takeaways:

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

When a woman cheats, the cultural narrative often skips over the man left behind. The one quietly carrying the weight. The one told to “move on,” “man up,” or “take it on the chin.”

This episode is for him.

If you’ve been betrayed by the woman you trusted, if you’re left wrestling with confusion, anger, self-doubt, or shame, this episode gives you language, perspective, and grounding.

Join me Luke Shillings, as together I'll guide you to learn:

Let this be the reminder:

You’re not weak for feeling.

You’re not broken for hurting.

And you’re not alone in this.

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

When a man in a committed relationship starts giving you attention, it can feel like lightning in a bottle, powerful, validating, intoxicating. But what if that spark isn’t about love, but escape?

In this episode, Luke Shillings speaks directly to the women caught in the shadow of secrecy and fantasy bonds, and to the men who pursue them.

Is it real love, or emotional outsourcing? Together, we unpack the truth behind the pursuit, the pain of being the “exception,” and the cost of ignoring your gut. If you’ve ever found yourself waiting in the wings for someone who says they’ll choose you “someday,” this is your invitation to pause, reflect, and reclaim your worth.

Have you ever felt emotionally consumed by someone who wasn’t fully available? What was your breaking point, or are you still holding on to hope? Come share your story or reflections with us on Instagram @mylifecoachluke or join the conversation in the After the Affair Facebook community.

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

You’ve rebuilt. Or maybe you’ve started again. On the surface, things seem okay, your partner’s doing the work, or your new relationship looks healthy. And yet… something still feels off. Not wrong exactly, just off.

In this episode, we explore that subtle unease that often lingers after betrayal, the one that can leave you second-guessing your instincts, your partner, and even yourself. You’ll learn why your body might be picking up on cues your brain hasn’t named yet, and how to tell the difference between fear-based reactions and genuine gut wisdom.

Have you ever felt something was off, even when everything looked okay? Tune in and learn how to explore that feeling without spiraling into fear. 🎧

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

When you’re in the thick of healing after betrayal, it’s not just the pain that drains you. it’s the unanswered questions that loop endlessly in your mind.

In this Q&A episode, I respond to four of the most emotionally exhausting questions I hear in my coaching work and online communities. These aren’t the questions people ask once, they’re the ones they ask over and over, quietly, in their own head.

We’re covering:

If you’ve been silently carrying these questions… this episode is for you.

What question has been looping in your mind during recovery? Send me a message or email and let me know. And if this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need to hear it too.

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

You’re texting first. Waiting for replies. Making excuses. Holding on, hoping they’ll come around. But deep down, something feels off. This isn’t just patience… it’s one-sided love.

In this episode, we unpack the emotional and psychological toll of loving someone who doesn’t meet you halfway. From fantasy bonds and false hope to reclaiming your power and choosing yourself again, this is your compassionate wake-up call, and your invitation to let go with grace.

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a one-sided love story?

What helped you let go, or what’s holding you back? Come share your story with us on Instagram @mylifecoachluke or in the Facebook group.

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

After betrayal, it’s easy to feel like you’re stuck reacting, trying to manage your partner’s behaviour, walking on eggshells, or questioning your own emotional limits.

But here’s the truth:

You don’t need their permission to protect your peace.

In this episode, we unpack what real boundaries look like in the aftermath of infidelity, not as walls or punishments, but as powerful acts of self-respect. You’ll learn:

Whether you’re in the thick of rebuilding or figuring out what you want next, this episode is your reminder that your healing is not negotiable.

If you’re ready to start setting boundaries but don’t know where to begin, I’ve created a free resource just for you.

It’s called the Boundaries Blueprint, and it includes 30+ examples of real-life boundaries tailored for the infidelity recovery journey, plus guidance to help you craft your own.

👉 Email [email protected] with the word boundary144 and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.

Connect with Luke:

Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity