You’re smart. You’re self-aware. You’ve done the work. So why does dating after divorce still feel so hard?

In this episode, we unpack the top 5 reasons smart, emotionally aware women still settle in dating after divorce — even when they know better.

This isn’t about low standards or bad choices. It’s about subconscious patterns, nervous system wiring, and the quiet ways fear and self-protection influence who we choose.

We explore:

• Why loneliness gets mistaken for compatibility

• How trauma bonds masquerade as chemistry

• The fear of starting over again — and how it drives compromise

• Over-intellectualizing emotions instead of trusting intuition

• Why lowering standards often comes from fear, not lack of self-worth

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve done the work… so why does this keep happening?” — this conversation will feel deeply validating.

To go deeper, we’re hosting a powerful workshop inside The Next Chapter with relationship coach and certified hypnotherapist Mina Yang: High Standards, Soft Heart: The New Rules for Empowered Dating.

This workshop isn’t about dating tactics. It’s about healing the subconscious patterns that drive attraction and attachment — so you can stay open to love without shrinking, settling, or losing yourself.

👉 Join The Next Chapter to access the workshop and ongoing support: https://www.samandleah.com/services

#DatingAfterDivorce #DivorceRecovery #EmpoweredDating #HighStandardsSoftHeart #HealingAfterDivorce #WomenHealing #SelfWorth #DivorcedWomen #TheNextChapter #DivorcePodcast #EmotionalHealing

High-conflict co-parenting has a way of slowly draining your power—especially when you don’t yet have the tools, boundaries, or support.

In this episode, Sam opens up about her personal story and shares the top 5 ways she unknowingly gave her power away while co-parenting with a high-conflict ex. These are the patterns so many moms fall into when they’re just trying to keep the peace, protect their kids, and survive the chaos.

If you’re exhausted, second-guessing yourself, or feeling like co-parenting is running your life, this episode will help you feel seen—and show you what’s possible on the other side of survival mode.

💙 Ready to stop giving your power away? Join The Next Chapter, our monthly membership for divorced moms navigating high-conflict co-parenting. Inside, you’ll get practical tools, weekly support, expert guidance, and a community that truly understands what you’re dealing with—so you can respond with confidence instead of reacting from fear.

👉 Join here: https://www.samandleah.com/services

#HighConflictCoparenting #DivorceSupport #CoparentingWithANarcissist #DivorcedMoms #DivorceRecovery #SingleMomSupport #BoundariesAfterDivorce #HealingAfterDivorce

Divorce is hard, and parenting through it while you’re still healing can feel overwhelming, especially in high-conflict or narcissistic co-parenting situations.

In this episode, we talk about what actually helps kids thrive after divorce — without asking moms to suppress their emotions, fake happiness, or be “perfect” for everyone else’s comfort.

You’ll learn:

• Why emotional honesty matters more than pretending everything is fine

• How to support your kids while you’re still processing your own grief and anger

• What builds true emotional resilience in children — especially during high-conflict divorce

• How to model healthy coping skills without oversharing or emotional dumping

• Why supporting yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do for your kids

If you’re navigating divorce or co-parenting with a narcissist and feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells, this episode will help you shift from survival mode into grounded, confident parenting — for both you and your kids.

💙 Ready for real support? Inside The Next Chapter, you’ll find tools, coaching, and a community of moms who understand high-conflict divorce and narcissistic co-parenting — and who are committed to healing, setting boundaries, and moving forward with confidence.

👉 Join The Next Chapter: https://www.samandleah.com/services

No one prepares you for what the first year after divorce really feels like.

The paperwork might be done, but the emotional aftermath is just beginning — the grief that comes in waves, the unexpected loneliness, the identity loss, the guilt that follows relief, and the quiet moments where you wonder if what you’re feeling is normal.

In this episode, we’re talking about the 10 things no one warns you about in the first year after divorce — and why struggling during this time doesn’t mean you’re failing… it means you’re healing.

We cover:

• Why grief can hit even when the divorce was your choice

• The identity shift that leaves many women feeling lost

• The loneliness that surprises even strong, independent moms

• Why relief can come with guilt — and how to release it

• How your nervous system stays in survival mode long after the divorce is final

• What real healing actually looks like (and why it’s quieter than you expect)

If you’re in year one and wondering “Why is this still so hard?” — this episode will help you feel seen, validated, and less alone.

✨ Ready for more support? If you’re navigating divorce, healing after a high-conflict relationship, or trying to rebuild your confidence as a mom, The Next Chapter was created for you.

Inside the membership, you’ll find:

• Weekly live workshops and coaching

• A private, supportive community of divorced moms

• Practical tools for emotional regulation, boundaries, and co-parenting

• Replays you can access anytime — even on the hard days

👉 Click the link below to join The Next Chapter and get the support you don’t have to carry alone: https://www.samandleah.com/services

If you’re facing a high-conflict divorce or co-parenting situation and wondering how to do things smarter, not harder, this episode is for you.

In this powerful conversation, Sam breaks down the top 5 things she would do differently if she were divorcing a high-conflict person in 2026—with today’s realities in mind: narcissistic behavior, manipulation, custody conflict, legal overwhelm, emotional burnout, and the long game of protecting your peace and your kids.

This isn’t theory. These are real-world, hard-earned strategies for women divorcing a high-conflict or narcissistic ex who want to stop reacting, start planning, and avoid the most common (and costly) mistakes.

If you’re divorcing, recently divorced, or stuck co-parenting with a high-conflict ex, this episode will help you feel more grounded, empowered, and clear on your next steps.

✨ Want ongoing support, tools, and real guidance from women who get it? Check out The Next Chapter membership—a private community for divorced moms navigating high-conflict divorce and co-parenting. Inside, you’ll find weekly workshops, expert guidance, live support, and practical tools to help you heal, rebuild confidence, and move forward without losing yourself.

👉 Learn more and join us inside The Next Chapter https://www.samandleah.com/services

#HighConflictDivorce #NarcissisticEx #DivorcePodcast #DivorceSupport #CoParentingWithANarcissist #DivorcedMoms #DivorceRecovery #CustodyBattle #DivorceAdviceForWomen #HealingAfterDivorce #TheNextChapter 

Going through a high-conflict divorce and watching the legal fees pile up can feel terrifying — especially when you’re also trying to protect your kids, your sanity, and your future. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the top five proven ways to cut costs during a high-conflict divorce without sacrificing your boundaries, your rights, or your peace.

You’ll learn how to communicate in a way that reduces attorney involvement, how to stay organized so you’re not billed for unnecessary back-and-forth, which battles are worth fighting, and how to leverage support systems that are far more cost-effective than relying on your lawyer for everything. These strategies are practical, mom-friendly, and designed to help you stay grounded in one of the most overwhelming chapters of your life.

If you’re ready for more support, tools, community, and coaching to help you navigate divorce and high-conflict co-parenting with confidence, click the link below to join The Next Chapter. You don’t have to do this alone: https://www.samandleah.com/services

If you’ve been struggling with the guilt of wanting a divorce — especially from someone who isn’t abusive, toxic, or “the bad guy” — this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air.

Today, we’re talking about the truth so many women are afraid to say out loud: It’s okay to get divorced even when no one did anything “terrible.” You don’t need a villain. You don’t need a dramatic storyline. You don’t need to justify your unhappiness.

In this episode, we break down 10 completely valid reasons marriages end — emotional disconnect, growing apart, feeling lonely inside the relationship, lack of intimacy, misaligned values, and more. These are the quiet, honest, deeply human reasons women leave… and they deserve to be acknowledged without shame.

If you’ve been questioning your marriage, doubting yourself, or feeling guilty for wanting more, this conversation will validate you, ground you, and remind you that your truth matters. You’re allowed to choose yourself. You’re allowed to want joy, connection, peace, and fulfillment.

And you’re not alone on this journey.

✨ Click the link below to join The Next Chapter, our support community for divorced and divorcing moms who want healing, confidence, and clarity in their next season: https://www.samandleah.com/services

If you’re ready to walk into the new year feeling grounded, nourished, and inspired, this episode is the cozy little reset your heart needs. We’re sharing our favorite self-care products, wellness rituals, mindset shifts, and simple everyday habits that are helping us prepare for a stronger, softer, more intentional year ahead.

From the things that make life easier… to the things that make you feel good again… to the practices that help you show up as the woman you’re becoming— we’re talking about all of it.

Whether you’re rebuilding after divorce, navigating co-parenting, or simply trying to take better care of yourself, you’ll walk away with practical ideas you can start using today to feel more supported, more energized, and more like you again.

✨ If you’re craving deeper healing, confidence, and community, join us inside The Next Chapter — our monthly membership for divorced moms who want real tools, real support, and a fresh start. Join here: https://www.samandleah.com/services

Custody exchanges can bring out every trigger in your body—tight chest, racing thoughts, shaky hands, and that familiar “walking on eggshells” feeling. In this episode, Sam and Leah break down the top 5 ways to regulate your nervous system before and during custody exchanges, so you can stay grounded, calm, and in control even when your high-conflict ex is doing the most.

You’ll learn simple, science-backed tools you can use in the car, during the drop-off, and right after the exchange… without needing a therapist, a full meditation session, or perfect circumstances. These are the strategies that help you protect your peace, parent with confidence, and stop letting your ex hijack your emotions.

If you’re co-parenting with someone who drains you, triggers you, or constantly tries to create chaos—you’re going to feel so seen in this episode.

✨ Ready for deeper support, weekly coaching, and tools that actually work? Join The Next Chapter, my membership for divorced moms navigating high-conflict co-parenting. Get instant access to workshops, replays, community support, and a toolkit that makes this whole journey lighter. ➡️ Click the link to join: https://www.samandleah.com/services

If you’re co-parenting with a high-conflict ex, you already know…the holidays aren’t always “the most wonderful time of the year.” Winter break, Christmas, and New Year’s can turn into a battlefield of last-minute schedule changes, guilt trips, manipulation, and chaos your kids don’t deserve.

In this episode, Leah and Sam break down the 10 most common ways a high-conflict ex will sabotage winter break, why they do it, and—most importantly—how to protect your peace and keep the holidays joyful for your kids.

We’re talking: • holiday manipulation • schedule sabotage • emotional guilt-tripping • control games • boundary violations • co-parenting drama • and how to stay grounded when he’s determined to create chaos

You’ll walk away with practical strategies and clear reminders so you can stop reacting to his behavior and start leading your family with confidence, stability, and calm.

✨ Ready for real support? Join The Next Chapter Membership—your go-to space for healing after divorce, rebuilding your confidence, and learning how to co-parent with a high-conflict ex without losing yourself. 👉 Click the link to join: https://www.samandleah.com/services