Divorce Mediation, Virtual Breakups & Real Boundaries — with Joe Dillon

On this episode of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt sit down with Joe Dillon, co-founder of Equitable Mediation Services, to dive deep into the world of divorce mediation, emotional intelligence, and how money and emotion often collide during the end of a marriage.

Joe combines his MBA in Finance with extensive training from Harvard, MIT, and Northwestern, and has been a virtual mediation pioneer since 2011—long before it became the norm. But what really stands out is Joe’s personal story as a child of a highly litigated divorce, which fuels his compassionate, process-driven approach to helping couples separate without destroying their families.

🎙 What’s Inside:

💼 Why most divorce mediators are lawyers—and why Joe isn’t

🔍 How deceit, ego, and entitlement derail divorce

🧠 Using coaching and emotional preparation to mediate better

⚖️ What Joe learned from growing up in a courtroom (literally)

👥 How he and his wife, Cheryl, balance working together and staying connected

📍 Which states are actually mediation-friendly—and why that matters

This episode is full of real-life insight, warmth, and practical advice for couples thinking about divorce, in the middle of it, or supporting others through it.

🖥️ Learn more about Joe's work:

🌐 https://www.equitablemediation.com

🔗 Free resources, videos, blog posts, and eBooks available

📞 Free intro calls available directly on the site

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💬 Connect with Julie & David Bulitt:

🌐 Website: https://www.thebulitts.com

📸 Instagram: @thebulitts

📘 Facebook: The Bulitts

📺 YouTube: @TheBulitts

In this milestone episode, Julie and David Bullitt reflect on their journey through 50 episodes of Conversations for Couples. From matchmakers to marriage therapists, Golden Bachelor celebrities to international couples, they’ve welcomed 41 guests from around the world to share insights on love, sex, grief, parenting, etiquette, fashion, and everything in between.

You’ll hear them revisit some of the most memorable moments—from arranged marriages and Appalachian Trail love stories to etiquette lessons and yoni massages. They also highlight guests like Joan Vassos, Sydnée Sadick, Andrea McGinty, and Susan Bratton, and share what they’ve learned from each.

Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the show, this episode offers a heartfelt recap, meaningful takeaways, and a few laughs (and barks from Archie the dog) along the way.

👇 Watch, listen, follow, and share. Help us get to episode 100!

🎧 Featured Guests Mentioned

🔹 Andrea McGinty (Founder, It's Just Lunch)

https://www.33000dates.com/

📧 [email protected]

📢 PR: Kat at [email protected]

🔹 Alison M. Cheperdak (Founder, Elevate Etiquette, LLC)

🌐 https://elevateetiquette.com/

📧 [email protected]

📱 c. 774.278.0649

🔹 Sydney Sadick (Fashion & Lifestyle Expert)

📺 sydneysadick.com

🔹 Susan Bratton (Sex & Intimacy Expert)

🌐 https://susanbratton.com

📲 Follow the Bullitts

🔗 Instagram

🔗 YouTube

In this special episode of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt sit down with real-life adventurers Annie Kane and Jake Lebert—a couple who met while hiking the Appalachian Trail solo... and ended up hiking all 2,200 miles together.

💍 They now live in Virginia, are planning a wedding at the exact spot where they met (Fontana Dam), and have an incredible love story built around mud, sweat, blisters, and heart.

🎙 Inside this episode:

 🥾 What it’s like to hike for 6 months straight with someone you just met

 💬 How deep conversations (and zero distractions) built their relationship

 ⚠️ Falling, rattlesnakes, weather—and how they supported each other through it

 🚐 Living together in a converted school bus post-trail

 🐾 Life now with two dachshunds, a pottery class, and a new puppy

 ❤️ Lessons about love, patience, independence, and adventure

If you’ve ever dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail, or wondered how connection can grow in the most unexpected places—this episode will inspire you.

📍Their advice? Go for it. And never quit on a bad day.

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🌐 Website: https://www.thebulitts.com

📸 Instagram: @thebulitts

📘 Facebook: The Bulitts

📺 YouTube: @TheBulitts

On this episode of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt return from their summer hiatus with an inspiring, stylish, and high-energy guest—Sydney Sadick, national fashion/media commentator, editor, and founder of Spotlight Magazine.

You’ve seen her on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Access Hollywood, and Fox 5 DC—and today, she sits down with the Bulitts to talk about how fashion can impact confidence, relationships, and identity, as well as the behind-the-scenes world of entrepreneurship and publishing.

🎙 What’s inside:

 👠 How clothing choices influence self-esteem and connection

 🧥 Why couples should still dress up for each other (yes, even after 10+ years!)

👜 Starting a luxury magazine from scratch—Spotlight’s rise in NYC, the Hamptons, Palm Beach & Miami

💬 What makes a strong personal brand—and how to stay authentic

💼 How she navigates marriage, business, beauty, and ambition (with support from her husband and mom!)

Sydney also shares stories about shopping smart, reusing pieces, trusting your team, and that hilarious moment when her husband raised an eyebrow at a very glamorous photo shoot.

📘 Check out her book: Aim High: How to Style Your Life and Achieve Your Goals

📰 Follow her magazine: Spotlight Magazine

📲 Follow Sydney on Instagram: @sydneysadick

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🌐 Website: https://www.thebulitts.com

📸 Instagram: @thebulitts

📘 Facebook: The Bulitts

📺 YouTube: @TheBulitts

On this date-night edition of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt grab a cocktail and dive into a conversation that started on their recent Fox 5 “Lion Lunch” appearance—celebrity marriages and whether public relationships can actually survive.

From Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement to Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley’s struggles, the Bulitts explore what makes high-profile relationships so difficult—and what lessons we all can take from them. With honesty, humor, and a few personal stories (including a proposal with a hotdog 🐶💍), they break down:

💔 Why 80% of celebrity marriages end in divorce

 🔐 The power of privacy and boundaries in a relationship

 🧠 Ego, attention, and the human brain’s need for more

 📱 How social media has changed every relationship—celebrity or not

 💬 The importance of curiosity, mutual respect, and open communication

 🥂 And of course… what Travis and Taylor can do to beat the odds

This is an honest, fun, and insightful episode you won’t want to miss—especially if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to balance love and limelight.

🎧 Subscribe to Conversations for Couples for real talk about love, marriage, conflict, dating, and everything in between.

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🌐 Website: https://www.thebulitts.com

📸 Instagram: @thebulitts

📘 Facebook: The Bulitts

📺 YouTube: @TheBulitts

This week on Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt are joined by Andrea McGinty, a leading national dating expert and founder of both It’s Just Lunch and 33,000 Dates. With decades of experience helping people navigate the often confusing (and sometimes comical) world of modern dating, Andrea offers a fresh and empowering take on finding love—especially over 40, 50, or beyond.

In this candid and energetic conversation, Andrea breaks down:

 💬 How dating apps have changed everything (for better or worse)

 📸 Why your photos matter—and what not to do

💔 Rejection and confidence: How to bounce back

💡 What makes a great first date

🧠 How to emotionally prepare for dating again

🔥 Yes, they talk about sex, too.

Whether you’re single, divorced, widowed, or just curious about the state of dating today, this episode offers real insight, expert advice, and a little tough love.

📘 Andrea’s Book: Second Acts: Winning Strategies for Dating Over 50

🌐 Website: https://www.33000dates.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📣 PR Contact: Kat – [email protected]

🎧 Subscribe to Conversations for Couples for honest talk about love, marriage, connection—and finding it again.

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🌐 Website: https://www.thebulitts.com

📸 Instagram: @thebulitts

📘 Facebook: The Bulitts

📺 YouTube: @TheBulitts

In this powerful episode of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt are joined by artist, author, and mental health advocate Tracy Yoka Kos, whose memoir Bloodlines: A Memoir of Harm and Healing explores her family’s painful but inspiring journey through mental illness, eating disorders, and the complicated healing process that followed.

Tracy shares the story of her daughter’s sudden descent into severe anorexia, depression, and anxiety following the unexpected death of Tracy’s mother—and how it impacted not only their daughter’s life, but their marriage and personal histories. Tracy opens up about her own background with trauma, her late diagnosis of chronic PTSD, and the emotional hurdles she and her husband faced in learning to support their daughter and themselves.

The conversation dives deep into parenting under pressure, the dynamics between partners during a crisis, the generational impact of trauma, and the role of creativity in healing. Tracy also discusses how mixed media art became a tool for emotional regulation and self-care—and how she now helps others reconnect with themselves through creative practices.

📖 Learn more about Tracy & her book:

🌐 https://www.tracyyokacreates.com

📘 Bloodlines: A Memoir of Harm and Healing — Available wherever books are sold

🎧 Subscribe for more honest conversations about love, parenting, and the complexities of real relationships.

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Connect with Julie & David Bulitt

🌐 Website: https://www.thebulitts.com

📸 Instagram: @thebulitts

📺 YouTube: @TheBulitts

In this episode of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt return to their roots with a guest-free conversation about emotional regulation, communication, and how to respond instead of react in your relationship. Inspired by a clip they came across on social media, the Bulitts unpack the powerful concept of being a thermostat—someone who sets the emotional tone—instead of a thermometer that merely reflects the mood of others or the environment.

Through real-life examples (like spilled water on a laptop and the chaos of moving into a new house), they share how they’ve each succeeded and struggled with staying grounded during life’s curveballs. They also dive into how this concept plays out between partners and explore the role of clarity, co-regulation, respect, and gratitude in building a stable, healthy connection.

Whether you're in a new relationship or married for decades, this episode offers relatable stories and practical advice for being more intentional in your day-to-day life and relationship dynamics.

🎧 Subscribe for more honest conversations about love, marriage, and everything in between.

Follow the Bulitts:

 📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Pinterest | YouTube

 🌐 https://www.thebulitts.com

In this episode of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt sit down with Alison M. Cheperdak, J.D., Founder of Elevate Etiquette, to explore the role of etiquette in modern relationships.

From wedding invitations to everyday communication with your partner, Alison shares how etiquette isn’t just about which fork to use—it’s about kindness, respect, and emotional intelligence. They discuss the importance of dressing with intention, praising in public, communicating clearly, and handling conflict thoughtfully. Whether you're newly dating or decades into a marriage, this episode offers insightful, practical tips for navigating relationships with grace.

🔗 Learn more about Alison and Elevate Etiquette:

 🌐 elevateetiquette.com

 📧 [email protected]

 📱 774-278-0649

 💬 Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads → @elevateetiquette

🎧 Subscribe for more real conversations about love, marriage, and everything in between.

In this emotional and powerful episode of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt sit down with author, speaker, and advocate Jessica Fein to talk about love, loss, and resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges. Jessica opens up about her marriage, infertility journey, the international adoption of her three children, and the heartbreaking experience of losing her daughter Dahlia to a rare mitochondrial disease.

Together, they explore the strength of partnership through adversity, how grief reshapes relationships, and what it means to truly “lean in” as a couple. Jessica also shares how she honors Dahlia’s memory and continues to advocate for families navigating rare diseases and grief.

📖 Learn more about Jessica’s book Breathtaking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes

🌐 Visit Jessica at https://jessicafeinstories.com

📧 Subscribe to her Substack: Fine By Me

🐾 Plus, the heartwarming story of Dahlia’s dog, Blacko 🐶

🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real conversations about love, marriage, and everything in between.