Some endings don’t come with explanations. We open up about the ache of unfinished goodbyes, the magnetic pull of “one last talk,” and the quiet tyranny of waiting for answers that never arrive. One of us shares the raw details of a called‑off wedding and the silence that followed; the other names the deeper hunger for validation and control that so many of us feel after heartbreak. Together, we challenge the tidy myth of closure and point to a harder, kinder truth: peace is something we create, not something we’re handed.

Across this conversation, we unpack why chasing closure often stalls recovery, how loneliness can evolve into nourishing solitude, and why a final conversation rarely fixes a broken heart. We trade rom‑com fantasies for real tools: journaling that untangles loops, meditation that steadies breath, sweat that clears the mind, and therapy that gives language to pain. We talk boundaries that end the back‑and‑forth, the courage to stop bargaining with “what ifs,” and the moment you realize your worth is not up for debate. There’s laughter, a few pop‑culture nods, and a reminder that acceptance isn’t agreement—it’s the ground where life starts again.

You’ll hear how resilience is built in the gray areas, how control returns in small daily acts, and how choosing new chapters—from career moves to a long‑dreamed relocation—comes from readiness, not reaction. If you’re stuck waiting on an apology, an explanation, or closure that won’t come, this episode offers a path back to yourself. Listen, share with someone who needs it, and if it helps, leave a review, follow the show, and join us on Instagram. Your support helps this community grow—and your story isn’t over; you’re the one holding the pen.

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The journey from heartbreak to healing isn't linear, but it's a path many of us walk at some point in our lives. As sisters who've both experienced profound loss—from broken engagements and divorce to the passing of loved ones—we've discovered that understanding the difference between loneliness and solitude is crucial to recovery.

Loneliness is an involuntary state, characterized by pain and disconnection. It's that aching void when someone who was woven into your daily routines suddenly vanishes. The morning conversations, weekend plans, and shared dreams—all gone. This involuntary emptiness feels suffocating, especially when it's thrust upon you without warning. For Maressa, whose engagement ended after nearly eight years together, this loneliness was particularly acute. For Natalie, whose separation happened while raising young children, the loneliness was complicated by the constant state of fight-or-flight that kept her functioning for her kids.

But there's a profound transformation that happens when you learn to shift from loneliness to solitude. Unlike loneliness, solitude is voluntary—it's making peace with your own company and finding strength in independence. We share how "hot girl walks," reading, running, and therapy became lifelines during this transition. The difference is striking: loneliness drains while solitude nourishes.

What we've learned through our parallel journeys is that emotions fluctuate—you might feel strong one day and triggered the next. Years later, finding old engagement cards or save-the-dates can still bring waves of feeling. That's normal and part of the process. The healing isn't about avoiding these emotions but learning to sit with them, acknowledge them, and continue moving forward.

Remember: learning to be at peace with being alone is the first step to never feeling truly lonely again. If you're navigating heartbreak right now, know that while the path isn't easy, the strength you'll discover within yourself will be worth every difficult step

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The shattered pieces of our hearts often hide something unexpected – the foundation for rebuilding ourselves stronger than before. In this raw, vulnerable conversation, sisters Natalie and Maressa unpack the challenging journey of reclaiming identity after significant heartbreak.

Having weathered a divorce and a broken engagement that came just four months before the wedding day, the sisters share how these relationships consumed nearly half their lives. They explore the stark differences in their healing processes – Natalie retreating into survival mode as a newly single parent, while Maressa filled her calendar with travel, friends, and running to rebuild her sense of self.

"When you lose a relationship, you're not just grieving the person," Marissa reflects. "You're grieving the version of who you were in that relationship." This powerful insight frames their discussion about finding new hobbies, navigating mutual friendships, and the delicate process of rebuilding confidence when your self-worth feels bruised beyond repair.

The conversation takes an intriguing turn when they discuss red flags in potential partners and friends – particularly those who don't maintain meaningful relationships with others. Their honest examination of these warning signs stems from hard-earned wisdom that they're now courageous enough to share.

This episode offers a compassionate roadmap for anyone trying to find themselves after heartbreak. As Maressa beautifully concludes, "You are not hard to love. You are just loving someone who wasn't meant to stay." Join us for this healing conversation, and remember – your journey to rebuilding starts with a single, brave step toward rediscovering yourself.

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We're back behind the mics and ready to dive into Season 2 after our extended summer break! This return episode catches you up on everything that's happened since we left you hanging (sorry about that season finale delay—life with kids and graduations got hectic).

The heart of this episode centers around our meaningful summer in Spain, where we gathered as a family to honor our father's memory during San Fermin, the festival he lived and breathed for. Between navigating Spanish roundabouts in what I nicknamed my "Bad Bunny van" and exploring La Rioja wine country, our European adventures provided both healing and hilarity.

But the real bombshell comes when Maressa shares her life-changing decision to move to Madrid in early 2026. This isn't just a casual relocation—it's the culmination of a dream long deferred, now finally taking shape after years of putting other priorities first. As she candidly explains, "Had I not gone through my heartbreak, I might never have been able to say I moved to Spain." We'll be documenting every step of this international journey, from the practical challenges (how exactly does one transport a 50-pound dog across the Atlantic?) to the emotional transitions.

Meanwhile, I've fully embraced what I'm calling my "sports mom era," complete with car meals, chaotic practice schedules, and my newest adventure: coaching soccer despite knowing practically nothing about it. The universal reaction of laughter from everyone I've told (including having to ask what "pennies" are in soccer terms) promises some entertaining stories ahead.

Season 2 marks a shift in our approach—while we'll continue sharing our authentic experiences, we're focusing more on intentional topics that resonate with our community. Because ultimately, that's what Dumped and Divorced is about: finding your way forward after heartbreak and discovering that sometimes, life's biggest disappointments create pathways to unexpected new beginnings.

Have topics you'd like us to explore? Send us a message—we'd love to hear from you!

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The journey from heartbreak to healing rarely follows a straight line. In our Season One finale, we celebrate crossing the finish line of our first 15 episodes with surprising revelations about the global impact of our sisterly conversations.

What started as casual banter between two sisters sharing their post-breakup experiences has connected with listeners across 23 countries and 270 cities. We're genuinely touched that our vulnerability has resonated with so many of you, creating a community where heartbreak feels less isolating.

Looking back at our favorite episodes—from canceling weddings to co-parenting challenges, from our brother Chad's male perspective to our deeply personal letters to ourselves—we reflect on what these conversations have taught us. Maressa shares her perspective on truly forgiving her ex-fiancé while acknowledging she'll never forget the pain, while Natalie explores the unique challenge of maintaining boundaries when complete separation isn't possible.

The podcast journey has given us unexpected lessons in patience, vulnerability, and trusting our intuition. As Natalie wisely puts it, "We're sharing our raw stories to give other people the ability to be vulnerable for themselves." It's this exchange—our vulnerability for your healing—that makes the sometimes exhausting work of producing a podcast worthwhile.

As we take a summer break before launching Season Two, we leave you with these truths to hold close: give yourself grace during difficult times, trust that triggers will pass, remember you are enough exactly as you are, and know that you are worthy of future love. Your past doesn't define you, and even on the darkest days, there is sunshine waiting after the rain.

Thank you for being part of our healing journey. We can't wait to reconnect with you this fall with fresh perspectives, new guests, and more authentic conversations about life after heartbreak. Subscribe now so you don't miss our return!

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The healing power of sisterhood shines brightly in this emotional episode as Natalie and Marissa read aloud the letters they've written to each other about navigating heartbreak. Their words capture not just the pain they witnessed each other endure, but the extraordinary strength and transformation that followed.

"You didn't just survive that heartbreak, you transformed through it," Natalie writes to her sister, acknowledging how Marissa rebuilt her life "piece by piece" after her dreams were shattered. Meanwhile, Marissa celebrates Natalie becoming "unbreakable" through her divorce journey, protecting her children while rediscovering her own voice and setting powerful boundaries.

What makes these letters particularly moving is the sisters' ability to recognize growth that might be invisible to the person experiencing it. They discuss the difference between merely surviving trauma versus truly thriving afterward – from Natalie's year of reading nearly 100 books as an escape mechanism to Marissa's journey from numbness to renewed joy in travel and experiences. 

The conversation evolves into a thoughtful exploration of healing timelines, with both sisters emphasizing that recovery isn't linear or immediate. "Give yourself grace," they advise listeners in similar situations, noting their own growth took years of intentional work. As they prepare to wrap up Season One with just two more episodes, this letter-writing exercise stands as perhaps their most vulnerable and therapeutic sharing yet.

Looking for a powerful healing practice? Consider writing a letter to yourself or someone who's witnessed your journey – you might be surprised at just how much weight it lifts from your shoulders.

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Two sisters unveil their hearts through letters written to their past selves in this emotionally raw episode that captures the essence of healing after heartbreak. Natalie and Maressa's vulnerability reaches new heights as they share deeply personal reflections that brought them both to tears during recording.

Natalie's letter speaks to rising from the ashes like a Phoenix, acknowledging that sometimes things fall apart so better things can come together. Her powerful reminder that "you are enough right now, as you are, always" resonates as universal wisdom for anyone navigating life's unexpected turns. Meanwhile, Maressa confronts her broken engagement head-on, tracing her journey from sitting in shattered dreams to becoming the happiest version of herself three years later.

The sisters dive into how different their healing journeys have been—Maressa's clean break with no contact versus Natalie's ongoing connection through co-parenting—while emphasizing the importance of protecting your peace through whatever method works for you. Their candid discussion about mental health practices provides practical insights for listeners seeking their own healing paths.

As they announce the approaching conclusion of Season 1, with summer break plans and the excitement of nearly reaching 2,500 downloads, the sisters reflect on what this podcast journey has meant to them. Their authentic discussion proves that revisiting past pain from a place of growth isn't about reopening wounds, but rather celebrating how far you've come.

Whether you're in the depths of heartbreak or years into your healing journey, this episode offers both comfort and inspiration. Listen now, and consider what you might write to your past self if given the chance to speak across time.

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Have you ever matched with someone on a dating app only to discover they're hiding a major secret? In this candid episode, Natalie shares her shocking experience with a firefighter who tried to plan dates around his wife's work schedule while pretending to be a single dad. Through some impressive detective work from friends, the sisters uncovered his double life – that he was married with kids and had just returned from Disney World with his family!
 
The conversation dives deep into the darker side of dating apps, where catfishing, married men, and disappointment often lurk behind carefully crafted profiles. Yet despite these pitfalls, the sisters acknowledge the success stories too, including friends who found lasting love online. It's this tension between hope and caution that many singles navigate in the digital dating landscape.

Beyond dating disasters, Marissa opens up about returning to therapy, highlighting that mental health work isn't something you simply "graduate" from after a crisis. "For me, therapy is ongoing," she explains, normalizing the idea that continuous personal growth requires consistent effort and sometimes professional guidance.

The episode takes a poignant turn as the sisters discuss their upcoming trip to Spain, where they plan to hold a memorial service for their late father. This journey will blend celebration with mourning, allowing their Spanish friends who are "basically family" to properly say goodbye to a man who spent much of his life abroad.

Whether you're swiping through dating apps, working on your mental health, or processing grief, this episode reminds us that healing isn't linear and that sometimes the best medicine is sharing stories with someone who truly understands. Join us next week when we'll be reading our letters to ourselves – a vulnerable glimpse into our personal journeys of growth and self-discovery.

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What happens when your dating app match turns out to be someone else's husband? This week, Natalie shares her jaw-dropping experience matching with a local firefighter who seemed great on paper—suggesting morning coffee dates and regular phone communication—until her friend's detective skills revealed he was married with kids and had just returned from Disney World with his family!

We dive into the dark underbelly of dating apps, where married men create elaborate personas as single dads to pursue affairs. The story sparks a deeper conversation about whether to tell someone their spouse is cheating, and why some partners stay despite betrayal. "Break that stigma," Marissa challenges. "Why doesn't she want to leave him? He's a pig!" 

Despite these horror stories, we acknowledge dating apps do work for many—including our friend Nichol who's getting married to someone she met online. The key is maintaining boundaries and trusting your instincts about red flags.

The conversation shifts to mental health as Maressa shares her decision to return to therapy, emphasizing that therapy isn't just for crisis moments but ongoing self-improvement. "For me, therapy is ongoing," she explains. "I've been working so hard on bettering myself." Natalie reflects on her three-year relationship with her therapist, discussing how the frequency of sessions has evolved over time.

As summer approaches, we're planning adventures including a return to Spain—not just for fun, but to hold a memorial for our father, allowing friends who were like family to properly mourn him. Join us next week for a special episode featuring letters we've written to ourselves and each other!

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Codependency sneaks up on you. One day you're falling in love, and before you know it, you've lost your sense of self, walking on eggshells and apologizing for things that aren't your fault.
 
 We've both been there. As sisters who've weathered different kinds of relationship heartbreak, we're pulling back the curtain on codependent relationships – what they look like, how they form, and most importantly, how to break free.
 
 Maressa opens up about her realization: "I lost who I was. I lost myself as an individual. I feel like I lost a spark in me, where I was just like a zombie going through the motions." Meanwhile, Natalie reflects on how her self-care vanished during her marriage: "Self-care is selfish – that just shows the toxicity, that lack of control."
 
 The warning signs are everywhere once you know what to look for. Enabling your partner's problematic behavior. Making excuses for them. Avoiding difficult conversations. Apologizing excessively. Losing your boundaries. Sound familiar?
 
 Breaking codependent patterns isn't easy, but it starts with rediscovering yourself. We share practical strategies that helped us: prioritizing self-care without guilt, learning to value yourself without seeking approval, practicing self-compassion, and developing a backbone instead of people-pleasing.
 
 Our paths out of codependency were different – Natalie chose to leave her relationship, while Maressa's ex called off their wedding. Yet both journeys led to the same destination: rediscovering ourselves and building healthier boundaries.
 
 Join us for this vulnerable conversation about healing, growth, and the journey back to yourself. Whether you're in a relationship that doesn't feel quite right or healing from one that's ended, this episode offers both validation and a roadmap forward.
 
 Have you experienced codependency? We'd love to hear your story. Reach out to us on Instagram or through our podcast links.

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