Midlife can bring huge shifts–divorce, gray divorce, empty nesting, menopause and the loss of roles that once defined you.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Dr. Ellen Albertson, known as The Midlife Whisperer, about why so many women feel lost during this stage of life–and how midlife can become an opportunity to reinvent yourself rather than fear what’s changing.

They talk about divorce, gray divorce, empty nesting, menopause, people-pleasing, dating, self-compassion and what happens when women finally stop living for everyone else and start asking what they want for themselves.

Dr. Ellen is a psychologist, registered dietitian nutritionist, board-certified health and wellness coach, self-compassion teacher and bestselling author of Rock Your Midlife.

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Dr. Ellen Albertson:

https://themidlifewhisperer.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_midlife_whisperer/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themidlifewhisperer

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DrEllenAlbertson

X: https://x.com/RockYourMidlife

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drellenalbertson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themidlifewhisperer

Divorce can change your financial life overnight-and the decisions you make during it can affect you for years to come.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Randi Engelbrecht, Wealth Manager and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) at Radiance Private Wealth, about what women need to know to protect themselves financially before, during and after divorce.

They discuss why every woman should understand her household finances, common money mistakes in divorce, how to think strategically about assets like the family home and why a settlement is only the beginning of building your financial future.

Most importantly, Randi explains how women can move from feeling overwhelmed by money to making informed decisions with greater confidence and clarity.

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Randi and Radiance Private Wealth here: https://radianceprivatewealth.com/

Follow Radiance on Instagram @radianceprivatewealth

Want free tips from a divorce attorney who spent nearly 40 years inside the family court system?

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with former family law attorney Ronald J. Bavero, Esq. about what people need to know before and during divorce. Ron shares the mistakes he saw clients make again and again, what’s really worth fighting over, how cases spiral out of control and what a seasoned attorney wishes more people understood before walking into a courtroom.

Ron is also the author of An Elephant Doesn’t Marry a Giraffe: Everything I Learned as a Divorce Attorney, based on decades of experience handling divorce cases in New York.

Think of this episode as a free consultation–with the kind of perspective that usually comes after years in family court.

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Ron Bavero and his book: https://www.divorcedeverafter.com/

What happens when the relationship ends, but the control does not?

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Jaime Zuckerman to talk about the exhausting reality of co-parenting after narcissistic abuse. Divorce may end the relationship, but when children are involved, the manipulation, blame, chaos and control can continue through schedules, communication, school decisions, parenting apps and everyday logistics.

Dr. Zuckerman explains why traditional co-parenting advice often fails with a narcissistic or high-conflict ex, how women can stop reacting to bait and blame and why protecting your peace requires strategy-not endless flexibility.

This conversation is for any woman who has been told to “just co-parent” with someone who refuses to cooperate. You are not crazy. You may simply be trying to use healthy relationship tools with someone who never intended to play fair.

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Dr. Jaime Zuckerman:

Her book Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaiming Your Power, will be released in September 2026 and is currently available for preorder on Amazon here.

www.drjaimezuckerman.com

www.zgrouptherapy.com

IG: @dr.z_psychologist

YT: Dr Jaime Zuckerman

FB: Dr Jaime Zuckerman

TT: @dr.z_psychologist

Gray divorce is having a moment–but for many women, it is more than a headline. It is the moment they finally admit they are done shrinking, settling or carrying the emotional weight of a marriage that no longer works.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Susan Guthrie, nationally recognized family law attorney, mediator and host of Divorce & Beyond. Susan recently joined Oprah for a conversation about gray divorce and the fallout when long marriages end.

Together, Amy and Susan dig into why divorce after 50 can feel so heightened: there is less time to recover financially, less runway to rebuild and often decades of identity, family expectations, invisible labor and grief wrapped into the decision.

They also talk about why so many women are waking up later in life and asking: What do I want the rest of my life to look like?

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Susan Guthrie and her Divorce & Beyond podcast here:

https://divorceandbeyondpod.com

IG: @divorceandbeyondpod

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie

Leaving a toxic relationship does not always bring the freedom you expect.

Even after it ends, your brain and nervous system may still be stuck in survival mode-replaying the conflict, bracing for the next attack and struggling to trust yourself again.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Jackie Miller, author of Winning: Rewiring Your Brain and Reclaiming Your Life After Toxic Love. Jackie explains what emotional control and psychological abuse can do to the brain and body, why healing often takes longer than outsiders understand and how survivors can begin moving from chaos toward calm.

In this episode:

• Why leaving does not automatically make you feel free
• How toxic relationships affect the brain and nervous system
• Why survivors may miss someone they do not want back
• How manipulation erodes confidence and self-trust
• What it means to make calm your new normal
• Practical ways to disengage from toxic dynamics

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Jackie Miller and her book, Winning: Rewiring Your Brain and Reclaiming Your Life After Toxic Love, at www.jackie-miller.com/book

College planning is stressful for any family–but when parents are divorced, separated, remarried, widowed or parenting on their own, the process can get even more complicated.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Vicki Vollweiler, founder of College Financial Prep and author of College Planning for Divorced & Widowed Parents, about what families need to know before the tuition bills arrive. Amy shares how her own divorce decrees left out important details about college, and why parents need to think ahead before FAFSA forms, college visits, deadlines, deposits and disagreements begin.

Vicki explains the biggest mistakes divorced parents make, why vague language like “we’ll split college costs” can create problems, and how families can reduce stress with better planning, clearer communication, and a realistic strategy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why college planning is different after divorce
• What parents should address before senior year
• How FAFSA and financial aid can become more complicated
• Why court may not be a quick fix if one parent refuses to pay
• How to protect your child from being caught in the middle

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Vicki’s work:

Website: https://www.CollegeFinancialPrep.com

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/CollegeFinancialPrep

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/CollegeFinancialPrep

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@collegefinancialprep

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-vollweiler/

What happens when a woman takes the blank canvas of life after divorce and starts creating something entirely new?

In this Divorce Success Story episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with Dee Dee Colabella, a Ridgefield, Connecticut entrepreneur, art gallery owner and owner of 068 Magazine, whose life after divorce became a story of creativity, courage and reinvention.

Dee Dee has built a vibrant world around art, beauty, storytelling and community. Through her gallery and magazine, she does more than showcase artists and local voices — she creates spaces where people feel seen, connected and inspired. Her story is a reminder that divorce may close one chapter, but it can also open the door to a life that is more colorful, expressive and aligned with who you were always meant to become.

In this episode, Amy and Dee Dee talk about the courage it takes to begin again, the power of creativity after divorce, how women can rediscover themselves outside of marriage and motherhood, and why reinvention often starts with one brave step — not a perfect plan.

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Dee Dee’s work here: https://dcolabellafineart.com

Follow her on Instagram: @colabellamedia

Her RPAC Gallery: @rpacgallery

Her RPAC Art Center and Academy: @rpacartcenterandacademy

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with author Meg Groff for a raw and eye-opening conversation about the realities of family court. Meg’s book pulls back the curtain on a system many women enter believing truth, evidence, and good parenting will be enough — only to discover that family court can become its own crisis.

Together, Amy and Meg talk about what happens when the legal process becomes emotionally, financially, and psychologically exhausting, especially for protective mothers and survivors of abuse. They explore the power dynamics at play, the myths women are told about court, and why “the best interests of the child” can look very different in theory than it does in practice.

We discuss:

• The biggest myths about family court

• Why evidence alone may not be enough

• How money and power can shape custody battles

• Why protective mothers are often labeled “difficult” or “emotional”

• The emotional toll of prolonged litigation

• How the system can fail to recognize coercive control and abuse

• What women need to understand before walking into court

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Meg’s work: www.meggroff.com | Instagram: @meggrofffamilylaw | Facebook: Not If I Can Help It | LinkedIn: Meg Groff

Digital abuse is not just “online drama.” It can be a form of control, intimidation, blackmail and domestic abuse.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with attorney Lindsay Lieberman, who represents survivors of sexual misconduct, cyber-sex crimes, harassment, sextortion, image-based sexual abuse, blackmail and Title IX violations.

Lindsay explains how cyber-abuse often shows up inside relationships and divorce: threats to release private images, stalking through technology, harassment by text or email, fake accounts, intimidation, and attempts to shame or silence survivors. She also breaks down the red flags women should watch for, what rights survivors may have, and why sending a private photo to someone does not mean giving up control over where it ends up.

Amy and Lindsay also discuss what high-profile cases like Epstein reveal about power, fear, silence and why survivors often hesitate to come forward.

This conversation is about privacy, protection, consent and power — and what women need to know when abuse follows them into their phones, inboxes, workplaces, schools and courtrooms.

If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

Learn more about Lindsay’s work: www.lindsaylieberman.com

https://www.instagram.com/lindsayliebermanesq/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-lieberman-cyber-abuse-victims-attorney/