Girl, Wake Up!

Divorce doesn't have to mean an expensive, emotionally draining courtroom battle. But is there really a better way?

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy Polacko talks with family attorney Rosemarie Ferrante about collaborative divorce, an alternative to traditional litigation that aims to reduce conflict, protect families and help couples move forward.

With 30 years of experience, Rosemarie is the founder of The Divorce Mediation Center of Fairfield County and President of the Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce. She explains how collaborative divorce differs from mediation, whether it's growing in popularity, what it costs and who might benefit most.

But is collaborative divorce right for everyone? Amy and Rosemarie also tackle the tough questions about difficult spouses, power imbalances and situations where collaboration may not be the safest or smartest choice.

If you're contemplating divorce or already navigating the process, this episode could open your eyes to options you didn't know existed.

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

Here’s how to learn more about Rosemarie Ferrante and her work:

https://www.divorcemediationct.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemarieferrantedivorceprofessional

https://www.facebook.com/divorcemediationct/

https://www.instagram.com/divorcemediationct

Divorce can be empowering, liberating and life-changing. But what happens when freedom comes with a financial price tag women never anticipated?

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy Polacko sits down with award-winning journalist and author Melinda Wenner Moyer to discuss her provocative article for The Cut, “The Strong, Empowered, Secretly Broke Divorcée.”

Together, they explore the hidden financial realities of divorce, why even women who appear to be thriving may be struggling behind the scenes, and how the celebrated “divorce glow-up” can mask serious financial challenges.

Melinda, a contributing editor at Scientific American and regular contributor to The New York Times, is also the author of How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes and Hello Cruel World!

If you're contemplating divorce, navigating one or rebuilding afterward, this is a wake-up call you don't want to miss. Because reclaiming your power also means protecting your financial future.

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

Here’s how to learn more about Melinda’s work:

melindawennermoyer.com

Instagram: @melindawmoyer

Substack: melindawmoyer.substack.com

Timestamps:

0:45 - The Hidden Financial Cost of Women's Divorce

1:10 - Introducing Author & Journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer

2:33 - "The Strong, Empowered, Secretly Broke Divorce"

4:01 - Why Most Women Are Unprepared for Financial Devastation

5:09 - How Recent Alimony & Child Support Reforms Harm Women

6:17 - The Myth of "Going Back to Work" in Your 50s

7:20 - Surprising Bias: Why Female Judges Often Award Less

8:08 - The Invisible Workload: Why Post-Divorce Costs Surge for Moms

9:28 - Is "Divorce Empowerment" Sweeping Financial Reality Under the Rug?

11:34 - What Social Media Divorce Influencers Don't Tell You

13:00 - Financial Blindspots: Why Smart Women Lose Control of Money

14:35 - Prenups, Postnups, and the Danger of Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

16:22 - Splitting One Household Into Two: The Harsh Math

17:53 - The Hidden Legal Fee Trap: Why Women Pay More in Court

19:14 - Choice: Going Without Health Insurance to Stay in a School District

20:44 - Why Family Law Attorneys Admit the System punishes Women

21:43 - The Abuser’s Playbook: Wearing Women Down to Settle for Less

23:14 - Mistakes Made in Mediation: What Melinda Wishes She Knew

24:00 - Using Child Custody as Financial Leverage & Ransom

24:49 - Protecting Yourself: Lump Sums vs. Unreliable Monthly Payments

25:56 - The Silence Around Financial Struggles After Divorce

27:10 - Truth or Trap: Is the "Divorce Glow Up" a Myth?

28:18 - The Hard Truth: When Staying in a Marriage Costs Too Much

28:47 - The "Mama Bear" Switch: When Kids Become the Tipping Point

29:24 - Listener Question: "Can You Be Empowered When You're Financially Struggling?"

31:13 - Playing the Long Game: How Single Moms Rebuild Wealth Over Time

32:19 - False Accusations & Framing: How Exes Demonize Mothers in Court

33:08 - Breaking the Taboo: Ending the Shame and Silence Around Money

34:39 - The Inflation Reality: Why Being Single in Today's Economy Is Tough

35:06 - Where to Find Melinda Wenner Moyer & Her Substack

35:38 - Amy’s Final Word: Why Women Have to Save Themselves

What if divorce didn’t have to be something you simply survive?

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with family law attorney, holistic divorce expert, mediator, and Reiki Master Sharon Oberst DeFala to talk about a radically different way of approaching the end of a marriage.

Sharon, author of Love Your Divorce: Your Guide to a Holistic Happier Ever After, believes divorce can be more than an ending. It can be a powerful turning point–one that creates space for greater clarity, peace, growth and possibility.

Together, Amy and Sharon explore what “holistic divorce” really means, why divorce does not have to become a war, how mediation can work even with difficult personalities, and why supporting the whole person–motionally, financially, legally and even spiritually–can lead to healthier outcomes. They also talk about Sharon’s unique perspective as both a longtime family law attorney and Reiki Master, the rise of gray divorce, and why so many people are beginning to rethink what happiness and fulfillment can look like in the second half of life.

Love Your Divorce: Your Guide to a Holistic Happier Ever After is available on October 13, 2026. 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 Sharon DeFala here: https://www.oberstlaw.com/

📌 CHAPTERS:

00:00 - "How to Love Your Divorce" | Intro with Sharon Oberst Defala

01:03 - The Real Reason Divorce Exists (It’s Supposed to Improve Your Life)

02:08 - Debunking Divorce Horror Stories: Why No One Regrets Leaving

03:22 - What is a Holistic Divorce? (Looking Beyond Money & Legal Battles)

05:01 - Litigation vs. Mediation: Why "The Fight is the Gift"

06:05 - The Biggest Emotional & Communication Mistakes to Avoid

08:14 - How to Use Reiki & Mindfulness to Lower Conflict in Divorce

09:50 - Visualization & Radical Self-Care Before Court or Depositions

11:21 - Secret Strategies for Handling High-Conflict & Narcissistic Exes

13:20 - "Staying for the Kids?" The Truth About Waiting to Divorce

15:00 - Truth or Trap: Should You Wait Until the Divorce is Final to Heal?

16:11 - Overcoming Guilt When Your Marriage "Isn't Bad Enough" to Leave

17:42 - The Future of Divorce: Non-Adversarial & Collaborative Laws

18:49 - Where to Find How to Love Your Divorce & Final Thoughts

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Sharon's Blog & Book: https://love-your-divorce.com

• Sharon's Law Practice: https://oberstlaw.com

• Connect with Amy Polacko: https://www.freedomwarrior.info/coaching-services

#DivorceSupport #DivorceForWomen #HolisticDivorce #SeparationAdvice #GirlWakeUp #WomenInTransition #DivorceCoach #FamilyLaw

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/