Divorce and Separation

Buying out an ex from the family home after separation can feel overwhelming — financially, legally, and emotionally. In this episode, I'm joined by Christina Salvo, CEO and Founder of Simple Separation, to break down how the process actually works and what needs to happen first.

We talk through the real sequence involved in buying out an ex — starting with negotiation and mediation, moving into formal agreements, and then looking at finance and title transfer. Christina explains why affordability and borrowing capacity need to be assessed early, what lenders look at when a joint mortgage becomes a sole loan, and why refinancing after separation is often misunderstood.

We also cover what happens when both people want to keep the family home, how mediation helps reality-test options, and when court becomes the only remaining pathway. Christina clarifies common misconceptions around stamp duty and spousal transfers, including when exemptions apply for married and de facto couples.

Finally, we talk about why every property settlement should include fallback provisions if finance approval falls through, and how having a safety net in place can protect both parties and reduce unnecessary stress.

This episode is for anyone navigating separation, negotiating a property settlement, or trying to work out whether keeping the family home is financially viable.

In this episode, we cover:

• Buying out an ex after separation

• Property settlements and formal agreements

• Refinancing vs new loans after separation

• Borrowing capacity and affordability

• Mediation and negotiation pathways

• Stamp duty exemptions and spousal transfers

• What happens if finance isn't approved

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: Christina Salvo, CEO, 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.

Dr Gina Cleo joins me for a powerful conversation about the tiny habits that help you steady yourself after separation especially when identity, routine and confidence feel completely shaken.

Gina shares openly about her three divorces and the very human process of rebuilding from the inside out. We explore how separation disrupts the "micro-moments" of your day, why habits shape identity, and the difference between having a habit problem versus simply having no capacity left.

We also talk about:

• Small actions that rebuild confidence and clarity

• Breaking patterns like people-pleasing and overexplaining

• Co-parenting systems that create emotional safety

• Why motivation can't be relied on during grief or overwhelm

• The one habit she recommends for anyone drowning in stress

This episode is gentle, practical and full of hope. If you're trying to find your feet again, start here — with habits that heal.

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 Facebook

The Divorce and Separation Hub Linkedin

Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.

Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.

Guest: Dr Gina Cleo, PhD . Habit Researcher . Speaker . Author . Dietitian

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.

Children feel the impact of separation long before they can explain it and many carry those early wounds into adulthood.

In this episode, I'm joined by Tommy Herschell, founder of Find Ya Feet, to explore what can happen for kids during a family breakdown and how those early experiences can shape boys and men for decades.

Tommy shares his own story, his parents' separation when he was 10 years old, the years of self-blame, and the emotional crash in his mid-30s that forced him to face what he'd been carrying. We talk about how unspoken pain shows up in kids' behaviour, why emotional safety matters, and the patterns that often follow boys into adulthood.

We also touch on what parents can do differently during separation, including: – communicating without overwhelming – staying respectful about the other parent – modelling emotional regulation – protecting kids from adult burdens

This conversation is raw, grounded, and full of insight about what children feel but rarely say and what it takes to help them find their feet 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.

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.

Guest: Tommy Herschel Founder of Find Ya Feet

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.

If your mind feels loud but your heart has gone quiet, this episode is for you. If you're navigating divorce or separation and feel overwhelmed by everyone's opinions, this episode will help you tune back into your voice.

In this instalment of The Anatomy of Divorce, I explore The Ears — the part of the process where discernment, boundaries, and self-trust matter most. During separation, it can feel like you're drowning in advice from friends, family, lawyers, social media, and your own inner critic. But not every voice deserves airtime.

I share how this played out during my own divorce and how to recognise the difference between helpful guidance and harmful noise. You'll learn how to filter opinions, balance emotion with strategy, and rebuild trust in your own internal compass.

This episode is for anyone struggling with decision-making, second-guessing themselves, or feeling confused by the competing voices around them.

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.

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.

This episode is part of The Anatomy of Divorce segment, I unpack one of the most overlooked skills in separation - perspective.

When life turns upside down after divorce, your brain goes into survival mode. You loop old arguments, replay stories, and grip tightly to being understood. But sometimes the shift you need most isn't fixing them - it's seeing them differently.

I share how understanding your biology, practising perspective-taking, and embracing Mel Robbins' Let Them Theory can help you calm your nervous system, make clearer decisions, and protect your peace.

You'll also learn my six-step Perspective Check, a simple, science-backed tool to help you step out of reactivity and back into clarity.

This is an episode for anyone who's ready to stop explaining, start exhaling, and find real freedom after divorce.

• Why your brain goes into survival mode after separation;

• How looping thoughts keep you trapped in pain;

• The psychology of perspective taking and how it helps regulate emotions;

• A six-step framework to widen your lens without losing your boundaries;

• The 90-second de-flare technique for calmer communication;

• What the Let Them Theory can teach us about emotional release and self-preservation;

• The difference between letting go and giving up;

• Why peace comes from perception, not permission.

Resources:

Mel Robbins

1800 RESPECT

Beyond Blue

Blue Knot Foundation

Lifeline

Headspace

Friendline

Relationships Australia

Kids Helpline

Mens Line Australia

Lysn

Mindspot

QLife

Panda

Sane

Suicide Call Back Service

Open Arms

White Ribbon Australia

Amica

Reach Out

Gidget Foundation

Black Dog Institute

Link 2 Home Homelessness

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.

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.

Separation and divorce cost the Australian economy $101 billion every year but behind that figure are real people quietly trying to hold their lives, families, and jobs together.

In this episode, I'm joined by Andrew Tomich, Director at A&Co Recruitment Partners, to explore how divorce impacts the workplace from leadership and productivity to culture and wellbeing.

Andrew shares what happened when a senior colleague went through a complex separation and how empathy, flexibility, and communication became the foundation for getting through it together. We talk about the ripple effect personal crises have inside organisations, why traditional leave policies fall short, and how initiatives like "Life Leave" are changing the way businesses support their teams.

It's a conversation about leadership that sees the person behind the role and why humanising the workplace isn't just good for people, it's good for business.

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.

Guest: Andrew Tomich, Founder & Director A&Co Recruuitment Partners

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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

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: 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.