This episode is part of The Anatomy of Divorce segment, where we explore the emotional, physical and psychological layers of separation through the whole person body, mind and heart.

Today, we move into The Heart the space where pain lives first.

If you're in that place where everything feels raw, where your chest feels tight and your thoughts loop endlessly, this one's for you. In this episode, I'm speaking directly to that tender part of you that's trying to make sense of the ending the part that wants to heal but still feels stuck in the ache.

I share my own experience of heartbreak when my marriage ended and I couldn't see beyond the grief and how I began to shift from surviving to slowly rebuilding.

We'll talk about:

• Why emotional pain narrows your world and how to gently widen your view again;

• How the brain protects us in the middle of heartbreak (and when it's time to move from protection to possibility);

• The moment I realised my pain had changed shape from breaking to becoming;

• What it means to truly "let go" without losing yourself;

• How to use gentle curiosity and journaling to reconnect with your heart and your future.

This isn't about pushing past the pain it's about understanding it, honouring it, and learning what it's trying to show you.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

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Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

This episode is produced by Dan King of Dan King Productions. This episode is sposnored by Simple Separation, the smarter way to separate. Simple Separation is an online, fixed-fee service designed to help Australian couples finalise their divorce and separation respectfully, collaboratively, and without the stress of going to court. From property settlements and parenting plans to child support and divorce applications, everything you need is under one roof, saving you time, money, and unnecessary conflict.

Book your free consultation today to find out if Simple Separation is right for your situation at simple-separation.com.au.

Parenting after separation doesn't come with a manual but it does come with options.

In this episode, I sit down with Eliza O'Sullivan, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner at Simple Separation, to unpack one of the most confusing and emotional parts of separation: how to make parenting work when the relationship ends.

Eliza brings calm, clarity, and deep understanding to a topic that so often overwhelms parents. We explore what a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) actually does, when to use mediation, and how to create a child-focused parenting plan that protects your kids and supports both parents.

Together we discuss:

• The real difference between a Parenting Plan and a Parenting Order

• Why the best time to create a plan is before you think you need it

• The must-have clauses every parenting plan should include

• How to keep communication child-focused when emotions run high

• What a child's voice really means (and how to be their advocate, not their messenger)

• When to formalise your arrangements through the court system and when not to

This episode is your practical guide to making co-parenting simpler, calmer, and truly centred on your child's needs.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

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Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Guest: Eliza O'Sullivan, FDRP, Simple Separation

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

This podcast's audio production crafted by Dan at dankingproductions.com.au.

This episode is sponsored by Simple Separation, the smarter way to separate. Simple Separation is an online, fixed-fee service designed to help Australian couples finalise their divorce and separation respectfully, collaboratively, and without the stress of going to court. From property settlements and parenting plans to child support and divorce applications, everything you need is under one roof, saving you time, money, and unnecessary conflict.

Book your free consultation today to find out if Simple Separation is right for your situation at simple-separation.com.au.

Disclaimer

I hope you enjoyed the podcast today. The information we discussed today was just that information only. It is not specific advice. If you take action following something you heard today, it is important to make sure you get professional advice about your unique situation before you proceed, whether that advice be legal, financial, accounting, medical or other advice. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or if there's another topic you'd like explored.

Have you ever felt your gut warning you about someone but your head talked you out of listening?

In this episode I sit down with clinical psychologist and author Phoebe Rogers to explore the psychology of safe love and why rebuilding self-trust after separation starts in your body, not your brain.

We dive deep into what happens when you begin healing after separation, why so many of us keep attracting emotionally unavailable partners, and how schema therapy can help you break free from the old relationship patterns that hold you back.

Together, we unpack:

• The link between your nervous system and emotional safety in relationships;
• Why learning to trust yourself again after divorce is the foundation for love after divorce;
• What to look for when you're dating after divorce and how to know when you're ready;
• How your body often senses red flags before your mind catches up;
• Why healthy, safe love begins with reconnecting to yourself

Because true healing after divorce doesn't make you harder to love it makes you better at it.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

The Divorce and Separation Hub Website

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Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Guest: Phoebe Rogers, Clinical Psychologist and Author of When Will It Happen For Me?

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

This podcast's audio production crafted by Dan at dankingproductions.com.au.

This episode is sponsored by Simple Separation, the smarter way to separate. Simple Separation is an online, fixed-fee service designed to help Australian couples finalise their divorce and separation respectfully, collaboratively, and without the stress of going to court. From property settlements and parenting plans to child support and divorce applications, everything you need is under one roof, saving you time, money, and unnecessary conflict.

Book your free consultation today to find out if Simple Separation is right for your situation at simple-separation.com.au.

Feeling stuck or second-guessing every decision during your divorce? You're not alone.

In the The Anatomy of Divorce segment of the podcast, I share the B.R.A.I.N.S method a calm, psychology backed decision making framework designed to help you find clarity when emotions run high.

You'll learn how to:

• Overcome divorce decision fatigue and emotional overwhelm.

• Shift out of survival mode and make grounded, values-based choices.

• Avoid the 3 biggest decision making mistakes people make during separation.

• Use the B.R.A.I.N.S method (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, Nothing, Support) to create calm and confidence through chaos.

Whether you're navigating separation, co-parenting, or your next chapter this episode will help you reclaim your clarity, confidence, and power.

Grab your free BRAINS printable and keep this tool close when you need it most. DOWNLOAD HERE.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

The Divorce and Separation Hub Website

The Divorce and Separation Hub Instagram

The Divorce and Separation Hub Facebook

The Divorce and Separation Hub Linkedin

Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

This episode is produced by Dan King of Dan King Productions. This episode is sposnored by Simple Separation, the smarter way to separate. Simple Separation is an online, fixed-fee service designed to help Australian couples finalise their divorce and separation respectfully, collaboratively, and without the stress of going to court. From property settlements and parenting plans to child support and divorce applications, everything you need is under one roof, saving you time, money, and unnecessary conflict.

Book your free consultation today to find out if Simple Separation is right for your situation at simple-separation.com.au.

Have you ever felt your brain working overtime desperately trying to project-manage every conversation, decision, and outcome of your divorce only to end up completely exhausted?

In this first episode of The Anatomy of Divorce, I break down why separation sends your mind into overdrive and how the fear of uncertainty can trick you into false control. I share why your brain spirals into anxiety loops during divorce, and how knowing this can help you reclaim your calm.

I'm introducing you to the Anchor-a-Day Method a simple but powerful practice to steady yourself when emotions run high. Think micro-moments of intention that bring you back to your body, your breath, and your sense of self.

Download my free Daily Anchor Plan and start creating your personal anchor today.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

The Divorce and Separation Hub Website

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The Divorce and Separation Hub Linkedin

Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

This episode is produced by Dan King.

Do you really need to get under someone to get over someone? It's a question that often comes up after separation or divorce, and in this episode, I talk with Clinical Psychology Registrar – Psychologist Ben Schiller to explore if there is any truth behind it.

We discuss the emotional pull of rebound sex and new relationships, why it's so tempting to dive straight into something (or someone) new, and whether that really helps ease the loneliness and grief that can follow a breakup. Is it a distraction or does it help you heal? And how understanding our own emotional patterns can make all the difference. It's a BIG conversation with great insights.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

Host: Nikki Parkinson

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Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Guest: Ben Schiller,

Connect with Ben Schiller HERE

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

Can happiness and divorce exist in the same sentence?

If you've ever felt like your life was supposed to follow a certain script, find the one, live happily ever after, then this episode is for you. But what happens when that story falls apart? Are we destined to be unhappy, or is there another way?

I'm joined by Stephanie Harrison, author of New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong. Stephanie offers a fresh perspective on happiness, breaking down the outdated myths we've been sold, what she calls Old Happy and showing us how to create a New Happy, even in the wake of divorce.

This episode will challenge the way you think about happiness, success, and starting over. If you're navigating the grief, guilt, or loneliness that often comes with separation, Stephanie's insights will help you reframe your experience and find hope in the possibility of a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

Host: Nikki Parkinson

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Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Guest: Stephanie Harrison, Expert in the science of happiness and the creator of the New Happy philosophy, Author

Connect with Stephanie Harrison INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE | PODCAST

Order the book - New Happy, Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

Divorce is one of the hardest things you'll ever go through. The loss, the uncertainty, the fear of what's next, it can feel overwhelming. But what if this was also an opportunity to rediscover yourself?

In this episode, I'm joined by Jillian Turecki, Certified Relationship Coach, Teacher, Author, and Host of the Podcast, Jillian On Love. We have a raw and honest conversation about what it really takes to heal after a breakup, why self-acceptance is more important than self-love, and how to rebuild trust, both in yourself and in future relationships.

Jillian also shares insights from her new book, It Begins With You: The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life, and we dive into the lessons we've learned from our own breakups, the moments that made us question everything, and the unexpected freedom that comes when you finally let go.

If you're struggling to make sense of your divorce or separation, feeling stuck in the heartbreak, or wondering how you'll ever move forward, this episode is for you.

• The first thing you need to do after a breakup;
• How to stop second-guessing yourself and start trusting your decisions;
• Why choosing yourself doesn't mean disregarding others;
• The truth about financial independence and why it matters in relationships;
• How to embrace freedom after divorce instead of fearing it;
• What a healthy relationship actually looks like;
• Why heartbreak makes us feel crazy and how to manage those emotions.

This is one of those conversations that will stay with you.

This episode is brought to you by Simple Separation. For a stress-free, transparent approach to navigating separation, book a free consultation with their team today.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

Host: Nikki Parkinson

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The Divorce and Separation Hub Facebook

The Divorce and Separation Hub Linkedin

Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Guest: Jillian Turecki, Certified Relationship Coach, Teacher, Author, and Host of the Podcast, Jillian On Love

Connect with JILLIAN TURECKI | INSTAGRAM (2.2M) | TIKTOK (176.7K ) | WEBSITE | PODCAST

Book order link: https://www.jillianturecki.com/book

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

Talking to your kids about divorce can feel overwhelming. It may be one of the hardest conversations that you will have. How do you deliver life-changing news without breaking their hearts? How do you reassure them that they are loved, secure, and not responsible for what's happening?

In this episode, I'm joined by Bella Duncan, founder of A Kid With Two Homes. Bella brings an incredibly important perspective, one that she's lived through with her her parents divorce. Together, we explore how to approach this delicate conversation with love, honesty, and compassion.

Bella shares not just the emotional side of this experience, but also practical tips for parents who may be struggling to find the right words or the right time. If you've ever worried about how to protect your children while navigating divorce, this episode is a must-listen.

What You'll Learn in This Episode: 1. Why the conversation matters so much.

2. Timing and age-appropriate communication.

3. Delivering the news as a team.

4. What kids really want to know.

5. Why you must say, "This is not your fault".

6. Ongoing conversations, this is not a not one-and-done conversation.

7. Breaking the stigma of "broken families.

8. Practical tips for helping kids adjust.

Resources & Next Steps: Bella and I have collaborated and created a program for you, How to Tell Your Kids You're Separating. You can join at the introductory price HERE.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments — you're not alone in this.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

Host: Nikki Parkinson

The Divorce and Separation Hub Website

The Divorce and Separation Hub Instagram

The Divorce and Separation Hub Facebook

The Divorce and Separation Hub Linkedin

Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Guest: Bella Duncan, A Kid With Two Homes

Connect with Bella here

Website

Instagram

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

Executive Producer and Editor: Tiffany Richmond. You can contact Tiffany via her website and on Instagram @tiff__richmond.

Loneliness after a divorce or separation can send you into a spiral of overwhelm.

In this episode, I explore what loneliness really means, why it feels so intense after a relationship ends, and most importantly, how to start reconnecting with the world around you and with yourself.

Whether you're feeling isolated or simply curious about how to move forward, this episode is packed with insights and practical tips to help you rebuild meaningful connections and rediscover fulfillment. Loneliness is a signal, not a sentence. It's a reminder of how much you value connection, and with small, meaningful steps, you can build a fulfilling, connected life again.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments — you're not alone in this.

How to Tell Your Kids You Are Separating Course Join Here.

This episode is brought to you by Simple Separation. For a stress-free, transparent approach to navigating separation, book a free consultation with their team today.

Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.

Host: Nikki Parkinson

The Divorce and Separation Hub Website

The Divorce and Separation Hub Instagram

The Divorce and Separation Hub Facebook

The Divorce and Separation Hub Linkedin

Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Loved This Episode? Support the podcast by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra support right now.

Executive Producer and Editor: Tiffany Richmond. You can contact Tiffany via her website and on Instagram @tiff__richmond.