In Between Them

In this episode, Devin reflects on life after his parents’ divorce when he was just five or six years old, growing up alongside his younger brother. He shares what it was like navigating childhood primarily with his dad, especially during a period when his mom disappeared and later resurfaced, facing time in jail.

Devin opens up about the early years of moving back and forth between parents, and how a series of major life events eventually led him to live full-time with his dad. He speaks candidly about seeing his mom intermittently, and how her later relationship with his stepfather brought additional challenges and emotional strain.

With striking self-awareness, Devin connects his childhood experiences to the person he is today. Now a teacher, he explains how those formative years allow him to connect with students on a deeper level—offering empathy, presence, and understanding that might not have been possible otherwise.

Throughout the conversation, Devin highlights the growth, accountability, and perspective he’s gained from navigating difficult circumstances. His story is a powerful reflection on resilience, self-discovery, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences.

Takeaways

• Impact of Divorce on Children
• Coping Mechanisms for Children of Divorce Resilience
• Parental Impact

Chapters

• 00:00 Parental Response and Coping Mechanisms
• 31:35 Early Family Dynamics and Stepfather Influence
• 38:01 Relationship with Parents as an Adult
• 43:37 Navigating Adulthood and Coping Mechanisms
• 58:48 Book Recommendations and Personal Interests

Tyson shares how her parents’ divorce in eighth grade felt surprisingly normal. With several relatives already divorced and family friends going through the same thing at the time, the transition into a new family dynamic felt easier and smoother than it might have otherwise.

She reflects on how her parents’ ability to remain cordial with one another played a major role in keeping life peaceful and stable. While there was never a clear explanation for the divorce—only speculation about a possible affair—her parents continued to maintain a respectful relationship that carried into her adulthood. Their cooperation helped make important milestones like college and marriage feel supported and manageable.

Looking back, Tyson acknowledges that some of her parents’ choices may have had more complicated effects on her sibling than on her. Still, her story highlights how parents who keep their adult conflicts separate from their parenting can create a sense of stability for their children, even during major family changes.

Takeaways

• Supportive friendships
• Cordial co-parenting

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 07:02 Tandem Divorcing
• 22:56 Impact on Children

Nicole shares the story of how her parents’ divorce came as a complete shock. Neither she nor her older siblings saw it coming, and the news left her feeling devastated and confused. In the immediate aftermath, Nicole struggled with feelings of embarrassment, as though the divorce reflected something about her or her family.

During that difficult time, she found comfort in the support of friends. Fortunately, her parents made a conscious choice that would shape her experience in a powerful way—they remained respectful and friendly with each other. Despite their separation, they showed remarkable grace and commitment to co-parenting, setting aside their own emotions to preserve a sense of family for the sake of their children.

Nicole reflects deeply on how the divorce affected her, especially as it coincided with other losses during her teenage years. As she grew older, she began to see her parents not just as parents, but as people. Learning more about their experiences and circumstances as a young adult shifted her perspective and allowed her to view the divorce through a more compassionate lens.

Now in her second marriage, Nicole shares how those early experiences have followed her into adulthood and shaped the way she views relationships today. Looking back, she feels incredibly fortunate that her parents chose decency, respect, and peace in the years that followed—sparring her and her siblings from deeper, lasting conflict and showing her that even in separation, family can still be held together with care and grace.

Takeaways

• Impact of Divorce on Children
• Parental Relationships
• Emotional Impact of Family Dynamics
• Parental Communication

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 08:21 Adolescent Years and Emotional Struggles
• 20:19 Understanding the Impact as an Adult
• 25:46 Revelation and Reflection
• 31:50 Family Reactions and Relationships
• 37:48 Parental Responsibility and Impact
• 48:24 Hope and Resilience

In this episode, Doug shares the story of his childhood shaped by divorce, remarriage, and divorce again. He reflects on how he and his brothers each processed their parents’ separation differently, and what it was like to welcome loving step-parents into their lives—only to lose them to more divorce. Doug opens up about the quiet grief of losing great step-parents, how he fought to stay connected, and how living between two vastly different financial households shaped his mindset around money and security.

Through the twists, instability, and deeply scarring moments of his first 18 years, Doug reveals how repeated loss leaves lasting fragments that carry into adulthood. He speaks candidly about what his relationships look like today—with his parents, brothers, and step-siblings—and why unrecognized childhood impacts don’t simply fade with time. His story is a powerful reminder that working to understand your past is the key to building a healthier, more intentional future.

Chapters

• 00:00 Early Life and Parental Divorce
• 05:55 Parental Relationships and Their Effect on Siblings
• 27:16 Parental Issues and their Impacts on Children
• 39:47 The Role of Step-Parents
• 50:40 Navigating Relationships Without a Template
• 56:08 Impact on Self-Worth and Relationships
• 01:09:02 Reconnecting with Father and Conflict Resolution

Angie opens up about how her parents’ divorce shaped her childhood—and how those early experiences echoed into her adult relationships with both of her parents. She reflects on the pain, resilience, and unexpected gifts that came from growing up between two very different households, including the powerful role of step-parents, the impact of parental communication (or lack thereof), and how outside influences can deeply affect a child’s sense of stability.

While she would never minimize some of the hardships and turmoil, Angie shares why she wouldn’t trade the lessons it taught her, how it forged her resilience, and how peace in one home versus turmoil in another guided her life decisions at 18 and beyond. This episode shines a compassionate light on the lasting effects of divorce on children—and Angie’s hope that parents truly understand the weight of their choices.

Takeaways

• Impact of divorce on children
• Parental communication and unity - the need for kids to know something
• Influence of external parties - positive and negative
• Resilience and coping mechanisms - the impacts will create certain traits into adulthood
• Long-lasting effects of divorce

Chapters

• 00:00 Influence of Extended Family and Friends
• 36:14 Parental Unity and Communication
• 44:45 Individual Processing of Trauma

Stav reflects on the highs and lows of her childhood relationship with her father and the intentional choice to rebuild that relationship after college. She opens up about navigating two very different worlds—emotionally and financially—between her mother’s home and her father’s, and how those contrasts shaped who she is today. Through her story, Stav highlights the power of direct communication and persistence in sustaining parent-child relationships, especially after divorce. She also speaks to the stabilizing role of extended family and community in helping children feel supported, grounded, and less alone. Stav shares deep appreciation for her mother’s ability to remain neutral and supportive, creating space for her children to form their own relationships with their father without influence or resentment. She closes by reflecting on how her childhood continues to inform her identity as a wife and mother, and how many of the values she holds in her marriage are rooted in those early experiences.

Takeaways

• Childhood impact on adult relationships
• Parental divorce and its effects - Forgiveness and establishing relationships later on
• Impact of family culture and community on thriving

Chapters

• 00:00 Early Life and Upbringing
• 06:09 Adjusting to Change
• 12:04 Parental Relationships and Impact
• 18:14 Aspirations and Childhood Influences
• 23:55 Acknowledgment and Reconciliation
• 29:54 Persistence and Hope

In this conversation Brian delves into the impact of his parent's divorce on himself, his future relationships, and the intentional way he is now parenting his kids as a single dad. He explores the challenges and experiences of growing up in a divorced family where the acrimony between the parents was at an all time high. He shares how the drastic life change for his mother after divorce was incredibly apparent to him and how they struggled, but he also indicates how his two siblings experienced life very different. Brian highlights his journey of self-discovery and resilience in the face of significant adversity and very negative parenting and exemplifies the attempt to break the cycle.

Takeaways

• Impact of divorce on children
• Positive outcomes from challenging experiences

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Current Life
• 06:12 Moving Between Parents
• 12:04 Conversations with Parents
• 19:06 Impact on Relationships and Marriages
• 27:34 Co-Parenting and Parental Involvement
• 36:27 Therapy and Self-Reflection
• 41:32 Communication with Children
• 48:42 Professional Perspective and Gratitude

Two sisters, Angelina and Montana, detail how they navigated their parents divorce together and how having a sibling made it easier. They describe how their parent's slow separation into divorce actually made the overall adjustment easier and less abrupt. They talk about the realities of going back and forth as teenagers, how one parent made their new residence a happy place and how they feel now believing that their parents did things well, compared to others they know. They highlighted that at the time of divorce and thereafter, their lives were busy and routines were kept and because their lives felt less impacted by the divorce they felt more grounded and stabilized. The episode also explores the importance of open communication and a mother's brave ability to be real, but age appropriate, in talking to her daughters.

Takeaways

• Close sibling bond
• There are ways to create less negative impacts of divorce on children

Chapters

• 00:00 How it all Began
• 05:48 Parenting Schedule
• 11:38 Parental Conflict
• 16:41 Impact on Children
• 22:59 Impact on Adult Life
• 29:11 Community Support

Courtney brings to us the abrupt change of divorce without the memory of any real awareness of it coming. The conversation covers the drastic transition from California to Texas and the impact of her parents' divorce on her in 5th grade. She talks us through the challenges and emotional experiences associated with this specific significant life change and how at a young age she was vocal about what she wanted. The conversation delves into the impact of divorce on children, highlighting the themes of rebellion, independence, and the lasting effects of parental conflict. It emphasizes the importance of effective communication and conflict resolution in co-parenting, as well as the need for empathy and understanding in addressing the emotional needs of children during and after divorce. The conversation delves into the themes of empathy, emotional sensitivity, family dynamics and boundaries. It explores the complexities of parental relationships, wedding dynamics, and the shift in relationships over time.

Takeaways

• Transition from California to Arkansas
• The impact of divorce on children
• The importance of effective communication and conflict resolution in co-parenting
• Empathy and understanding in relationships
• Setting boundaries in relationships

Chapters

• 00:00 Relocating from California to Arkansas
• 05:19 Impact of Parents' Divorce
• 29:00 Rebellion and Custody
• 35:56 Realizing Independence
• 44:08 Impact of Divorce on Children
• 54:10 Parental Conflict and Children
• 01:00:12 Family Dynamics and Boundaries
• 01:06:01 Parental Relationships and Communication
• 01:13:05 Reconciliation and Empathy
• 01:19:02 Positive Impact of Family Dynamics

Autumn takes us through her parents divorce from a very young age. She describes how and when she actually becomes aware of her family dynamic. She delves into the emotional trauma, her coping mechanisms, and the shift in perspective as the speaker navigates through her experiences. It also explores the co-parenting responsibility, family dynamics, resentment, and the role reversal in parenting. The conversation delves into the impact of wanting to live with her father, not understanding the reality of that, having stability with her mother and step-father, but not seeing it clearly at that point in time, the guilt that she felt her father operated from, the reconciliation at some point into adulthood as a caregiver to her step-siblings and how that shaped her own parenting and relationships as an adult.

Takeaways

• Divorce Impact
• Parental Relationships Parenting Impact
• Navigating Transitions

Chapters

• 00:00 Early Childhood and Divorce
• 05:56 Emotional Trauma and Coping
• 11:54 Co-Parenting Responsibility
• 17:54 Living with Father and Siblings
• 29:48 Liver Transplant and Caregiving
• 44:28 Parenting Impact
• 50:44 Emotional Impact on Parenting
• 58:07 Greatest Positive Impact