Divorce often uncovers hidden money patterns that impact both your relationship and divorce negotiations. In this episode, we explore how your money personality—whether you're a spender or a saver—shapes your marriage and divorce. We dive into the deeper financial motivations that may be influencing your decisions and offer strategies to break free from limiting beliefs around money.

Divorce isn’t just an ending; it’s an opportunity to reshape your financial future. Learn how to use this time of transition to create clarity, confidence, and joy in your financial choices. You can emerge from divorce with a healthier relationship to money.

Join financial therapist, money coach, and author Mikelann Valterra, with over 25 years of experience, as she shares insights from her book Rise Above the Money Fog. Mikelann offers grounded and compassionate wisdom to help you navigate financial anxiety, whether you’re in a high-conflict divorce or rebuilding after separation.

Connect with Mikelann:

• Take the Money Fog Quiz: https://seattle-money-coach.mykajabi.com/money-fog-quiz-ebook
• Website: https://www.seattlemoneycoach.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelannvalterra/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikelannSeattleMoneyCoach
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelannv/

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• Join the FREE April 16th Workshop: Overcoming Divorce Fear and Paralysis - https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/overcoming-divorce-fear
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsor:

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

In this episode, expert coach Dawn Smith joins Karen McMahon to dive into marital conflict and how to navigate relationship challenges. With over a decade of experience understanding how men and women process emotions and make decisions differently, Dawn provides strategies for couples facing marriage issues.

Dawn combines couples counseling with practical coaching to help partners break free from disconnection patterns, fostering deeper communication and understanding. Her actionable tools are especially helpful for couples at a crossroads or struggling with communication and conflict.

Throughout the conversation, Dawn also explores how neurodivergent conditions, like narcissism and ADHD, can impact relationships and whether these issues are fixable or foundational. Her insights help couples determine whether the challenges they're facing can be worked through or if deeper, systemic issues exist.

Dawn Smith, founder of Whole Life Solutions, has guided over 1,000 couples through complex transitions. With expertise in mental health, neuroscience, and relationship coaching, she empowers individuals and couples to find clarity and connection. Her work has been featured at TEDx and leading conferences.

Connect with Dawn:

• $50 off an initial session - Mention JBD on initial consultation: https://wholerelationshipcoaching.hbportal.co/schedule/6749db6a41bd770019f400c1
• Website: https://www.relationshipcoachdawn.com/
• Whole Life Solutions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholelifesolutionscoaching/
• Dawn Smith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relationshipcoachdawn/

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• Join the FREE April 16th Workshop: Overcoming Divorce Fear and Paralysis - https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/overcoming-divorce-fear
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsor:

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

Divorce can disrupt every aspect of your life—your home, finances, and family dynamic. Clarity is key to navigating this challenge successfully.

In this episode, I sit down with Andrea Vacca, a leading New York divorce attorney and expert in collaborative divorce, to explore essential steps for a smoother process. We discuss understanding your legal rights, organizing financials, initiating the conversation with your spouse, and co-parenting, especially while living under the same roof. It's about starting strong, staying child-focused, and minimizing conflict.

Andrea also shares strategies for setting boundaries, improving communication, and avoiding court through a collaborative divorce approach. If you're feeling overwhelmed, know that with the right mindset, you can navigate this transition with confidence and dignity.

Andrea Vacca is the founder of Vacca Law and Mediation, specializing in non-adversarial divorce and family law. A certified mediator and collaborative divorce attorney, she’s committed to helping clients achieve peaceful resolutions, protect their families, and move forward without unnecessary conflict.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• FREE Pre-Divorce Checklist - https://www.vaccalaw.com/pre-divorce-checklist/
• Join the FREE April 16th Workshop: Overcoming Divorce Fear and Paralysis - https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/overcoming-divorce-fear
• Learn more about Pre-Divorce Guidance: https://www.vaccalaw.com/pre-divorce-guidance/

A word from our sponsor:

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

In this episode, Lundy Bancroft, a renowned expert on narcissism, abusive relationships, and the family court system, reveals how abusive men manipulate both their partners and the legal system to maintain control. With over 30 years of experience working with abusers and training professionals, Lundy exposes the subtle and overt tactics used by high-conflict individuals to gain power in custody disputes and other legal battles. He shares eye-opening insights from his books, Why Does He Do That? and The Batterer as Parent, highlighting the systemic failures in family courts that often work in favor of abusers, despite clear evidence of harm. Lundy explains why survivors of abuse find themselves in difficult, uphill battles when trying to protect their children and the emotional toll this takes.

Lundy also provides practical advice for mothers navigating high-conflict divorces and custody disputes, outlining critical steps to level the playing field and protect children from further harm. He dives deep into the biases within the legal process that enable dangerous individuals to gain access to their children, even when their behavior is abusive.

Through this conversation, Lundy offers a powerful look into how the family court system operates, how survivors can reclaim their power, and the ways in which we can push back against a broken system. This episode is an essential listen for anyone dealing with narcissism, abuse, and the complexities of high-conflict divorce and custody battles.

Connect with Lundy:

• Book - Not To People Like Us: https://www.amazon.com/People-Hidden-Abuse-Upscale-Marriages/dp/B0009K75UO
• Book - When Dad Hurts Mom: https://www.amazon.com/When-Dad-Hurts-Mom-Witnessing/dp/0425200310
• Book - The Batterer as Parent: https://www.amazon.com/Batterer-Parent-Addressing-Domestic-Violence/dp/1412972051
• Book - Should I Stay or Should I Go?: https://www.amazon.com/Should-Stay-Relationship-Can-Should-be/dp/042523889X
• Book - Daily Wisdom: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Wisdom-Does-That-Encouragement/dp/0425265102#:~:text=Book%20details&text=Lundy%20Bancroft%20expands%20on%20his,what%20is%20happening%20to%20you.
• Book - The Joyous Recovery: https://www.amazon.com/Joyous-Recovery-Approach-Emotional-Wellness/dp/0578464691
• Book - In Custody: https://www.amazon.com/Custody-Carrie-Green-Novel/dp/B09BGLY3P8
• Website: https://lundybancroft.com/
• Listen to Lundy's BorderlinerNotes YT episode: https://youtu.be/ywsTdzkiPF0?si=TUOmWrBy1pH8u7n1

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Join the High Conflict Divorce Support Group: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/hcdsg

A word from our sponsor:

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

Divorce, especially in high-conflict situations, can feel like an endless emotional tug-of-war. In this solo episode, Karen dives into the struggles of trying to control a soon-to-be ex during divorce proceedings, whether it's about co-parenting, finances, or decision-making. Engaging in these battles only fuels the high-conflict personality and keeps you stuck in stress and frustration.

Karen explains why divorce conflict intensifies when you “hold the rope” and offers a powerful framework for knowing when to fight and when to let go. Sometimes, the best move in high-conflict divorce is to disengage. By dropping the rope, you can regain your peace and energy, and focus on building a healthy future post-divorce.

If you're ready to stop the emotional tug-of-war and take back control of your life, tune in to discover the power of letting go. This episode offers the tools to break free from unnecessary conflict and start creating a peaceful future after divorce.

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Check out the JBD website: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Join the High Conflict Divorce Support Group: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/hcdsg
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

One of the most emotional and financially complex decisions in divorce is what to do with the marital home. This property often represents security, stability, and normalcy—especially with children involved. However, the decision to keep or sell the marital home comes with significant financial and legal implications that many people, and even attorneys, may overlook.

In this episode, we’ll explore the pros and cons of keeping the marital home, the risks of co-owning after divorce, and the challenges of selling or buying out a spouse’s share. We'll also discuss what the monied spouse should consider in a buyout, financial hurdles for the lesser-monied spouse, and key mortgage considerations. Plus, we'll touch on the role of alimony, child support, and how high interest rates impact real estate decisions in divorce.

Join Jeff Landers, a divorce real estate expert with 40 years of experience, as he shares valuable insights to help you navigate the complexities of the marital home during divorce—ensuring you make the best decision for your financial future.

Connect with Jeff:

• How To Keep Your Martial Home So You Can Move On, Not Out®: https://divorcehousesense.com/ - Enter JBD at checkout for your $2 OFF coupon 
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefflanders/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorceHouseSense/

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Join the High Conflict Divorce Support Group: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/hcdsg

A word from our sponsor:

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

Divorce can be terrifying, especially when you're the lesser-monied spouse facing financial uncertainty. If you’re worried about how you’ll support yourself or fear making the wrong financial decisions, you’re not alone. The anxiety of losing your lifestyle or not knowing where to begin is real. Financial security may feel like an uphill battle, but understanding where you stand today is the first step toward a future where you feel safe and in control.

Join Karen McMahon, co-founder of Journey Beyond Divorce and host of this podcast, as she discusses how to gather critical financial information—even when it feels impossible. We’ll talk about surrounding yourself with the right experts and recognizing who truly has your best interests at heart. Karen will share insights on what realistic financial independence post-divorce looks like and how small, everyday cash leaks can quietly undermine your stability.

If you’ve ever avoided budgeting, felt uncertain about investments, or wondered how your income will support your new life, this conversation is for you. Building your financial safety net isn’t just about numbers; it’s about reclaiming your confidence.

Let’s take this journey together—one step, one decision, and one plan at a time.

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Check out the JBD website: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Join the High Conflict Divorce Support Group: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/hcdsg
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

In this emotional episode of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast, host Karen McMahon dives deep into the complex emotions of divorce grief with expert guest Shelby Forsythia, a grief coach, author, and founder of Life After Loss Academy. Together, they explore the often-overlooked and multi-layered grief that accompanies the end of a marriage and how it impacts individuals during and after divorce.

Shelby shares her personal journey through grief, starting with the loss of her mother in 2013, and how this transformed her approach to loss and healing. She reveals how unresolved grief from past losses, such as the death of a loved one or the dissolution of a marriage, can resurface during difficult transitions, like divorce. In this episode, Shelby offers practical strategies for divorce recovery, including mindfulness tools, personal stories, and the importance of setting emotional boundaries with unsupportive loved ones.

The discussion also covers how societal perceptions often ignore the grief that comes with divorce and why it’s essential to acknowledge and process these emotions to move forward. Shelby provides actionable steps to help those grieving during divorce find peace, build resilience, and rebuild a fulfilling life.

Shelby Forsythia (she/her) is a compassionate grief coach and the creator of Life After Loss Academy, a powerful online course and community that supports individuals through life transitions such as divorce, death, and diagnoses. Featured in Huffington Post, Bustle, and The Oprah Magazine, Shelby has made it her life’s work to help others embrace grief as a teacher and create meaningful lives after major loss.

Connect with Shelby:

• Free Workshop: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/free-workshop
• Life After Loss Academy: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/life-after-loss-academy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelbyforsythia
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyforsythia
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbyforsyth
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo34-FLEEdl7JSdzGisfr3w

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 

A word from our sponsor:

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

In this episode, we dive into the transformative journey of navigating divorce with emotional resilience. We explore how societal expectations and limiting beliefs often shape our approach to divorce and healing. With practical strategies for building emotional strength, self-compassion, and empowerment, listeners will learn how to break free from outdated conditioning and embrace a future of personal growth. Whether you're at the beginning of your divorce journey or thriving post-divorce, this episode provides tools to move forward with confidence.

Guest Megan Dalla-Camina, a globally recognized leader in women’s empowerment, shares insights from her work with over 10,000 women and her book Women Rising. Discover how to reclaim your power and rise above challenges to create a fulfilling life post-divorce.

Connect with Megan:

• Contact: https://megandallacamina.com/
• Take the Inner Critic Quiz: https://megandallacamina.com/innercriticquiz/
• Women Rising Program: https://womenrisingco.com/program/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megandallacamina/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megandallacamina/

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Reclaim Your Mind Program: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/reclaimyourmind

A word from our sponsor:

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

For those of us with furry friends, our pets ARE members of the family and when there is a breakup, how to handle them is complex and filled with an array of emotions. 

Today we’re tackling the issue of pet custody during a breakup or divorce. I speak with Karis Nafte, a certified dog behavior consultant and accredited family mediator, who provides expert guidance on how to navigate this emotional process. We discuss the importance of putting your dog's needs first, common pitfalls to avoid, and the various options available to separating couples, including shared custody arrangements and visitation schedules. Karis also offers practical advice on how to reduce stress for your canine companion during this challenging time.

We explore the common misconceptions surrounding pet custody, discuss how to make informed decisions that prioritize your dog's well-being, and delve into the pros and cons of shared custody arrangements. Karis also provides valuable insights into recognizing signs of stress in your dog and offers practical tips on how to support them through the transition. Whether you're considering divorce, in the midst of separation, or simply curious about pet custody issues, this episode offers essential information and expert advice.

Karis Nafte is the founder and owner of Who Keeps the Dog, Pet Custody Mediation. With 25 years of experience as a dog behavior expert, she's a leading voice in the field of pet custody. Karis is the author of "Who Keeps the Dog: Navigating Pet Custody During Divorce" and has developed the first accredited pet guardianship education course for divorce professionals. Her work has been featured in major media outlets like The Washington Post, The New York Post, and ABC News. 

Connect with Karis:

• Website: www.whokeepsthedog.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karis-nafte-cdbc-b4b9b81a6/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whokeepsthedog/
• Buy The Book: https://www.amazon.com/Who-Keeps-Dog-Navigating-Custody/dp/1617812927 (The first 3 listeners to reach out to [email protected] will be gifted a FREE copy.)

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 

A word from our sponsor:

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd