What happens when love turns into control—and how do you find your way out?

This week, Michele links up with Lindsay, the bold voice behind “Bitch is a Bad Word,” for a conversation that’s as unfiltered as it is unforgettable. It’s raw, it’s real—and yes, they’re also casually taking applications for a Mommy Makeover, so if you’ve been thinking about a glow-up… consider this your sign. Somewhere between truth bombs and laughter, Lindsay even tries to recruit Michele into the “MILF Mafia”—because healing and hotness aren’t mutually exclusive. Lindsay opens up about her early days in entertainment (hello, The Walking Dead) and how a whirlwind romance quickly spiraled into something far darker. What starts as intensity becomes control—then isolation, financial restriction, and emotional manipulation. She breaks down how abusers weaponize your vulnerabilities, sharing one chilling message from her partner: “if you were ugly, you’d be dead.” From fear to freedom, Lindsay reveals the moment everything finally clicked—and what it really takes to leave when your life feels tangled in someone else’s grip. Michele and Lindsay unpack the red flags we rationalize, the damage words can do, and the hard truth: you can’t love someone into becoming better.
Now, Lindsay is reclaiming her story and turning pain into purpose. Through her signature “edutainment” style, she’s helping others spot the signs and speak out—featuring survivor stories, listener submissions, and her fan-favorite series, “texties from the exties.”

**DISCLAIMER** The information shared in this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. 

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Want to reach out to me? You can email me at [email protected]. Just remember Michele is spelled with one L and you can thank my mother Margo for that :)

Want to find out what I'm up to? Follow me on socials (linked below). 

Links
Michele Locke

• www.instagram.com/jaked3000

Family court can feel like chaos when emotions run high and truth gets lost in the noise. But what if the real advantage isn’t arguing harder… it’s collecting evidence smarter?

In this episode of lovelustlaw, Michele Locke sits down with Courtney Gilmartin, founder of Monarch Consulting Group and creator of the Monarch Method, a powerful system born from her own experience navigating high-conflict litigation and post-separation abuse. When the system failed to see what was happening, Courtney stopped reacting, and started building her case like a business. Using timelines, spreadsheets, and linked evidence, she created a clear, structured narrative that exposed patterns and cut through “he said/she said” conflict. Together, Michele and Courtney unpack what really happens after separation; how control tactics escalate, why communication becomes a weapon, and how children and finances are often used as leverage. They share practical strategies most people never hear: preparing before filing, consulting multiple attorneys, keeping communication in one channel, and mastering the “detach and document” approach. They also break down parenting coordinators, tools like OurFamilyWizard, and why reactive messages can quietly damage your credibility in court. At its core, this episode is about shifting from emotional survival to strategic control, and knowing when protecting your peace matters more than prolonging the fight.

**DISCLAIMER** The information shared in this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. 

Subscribe Here:

Want to reach out to me? You can email me at [email protected]. Just remember Michele is spelled with one L and you can thank my mother Margo for that :)

Want to find out what I'm up to? Follow me on socials (linked below). 

Links
Michele Locke

• www.instagram.com/jaked3000

National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7/365)
Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788 
https://www.thehotline.org/
https://www.facebook.com/NationalDomesticViolenceHotline
https://www.instagram.com/NDVHofficial/

topics | #divorce #divorcesupport #divorced #divorceprocess #divorcelawyers #divorcelawyer #divorceattorney #divorceproblemsolution #divorcefinancialplanning #divorceplanning #divorcedparents #divorcepodcast #lawpodcast #texasattorney #texaslawyer #texaslawyers #coercivecontrol #coparent #coparentingtips #coparentingadvice #coparentingchallenges #coparentingstruggles #coparenting #divorceconsult 

What really leads someone to cheat, and can a relationship ever fully recover?
Michele sits down with psychotherapist Lauren LaRusso, an expert in infidelity who brings both clinical insight and deeply personal experience to the conversation. After discovering her own husband’s affair and navigating divorce, Lauren now helps others make sense of betrayal, healing, and hard decisions. Together, they unpack the emotional and psychological layers of cheating: why it happens, what warning signs often get missed, and what it actually takes to rebuild trust (if that’s even the right path forward).

**DISCLAIMER** The information shared in this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. 

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lovelustlaw - Spotify Podcasts
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lovelustlaw - YouTube

Want to reach out to me? You can email me at [email protected]. Want to find out what I'm up to? Follow me on socials (linked below). 

Just remember Michele is spelled with one L and you can thank my mother Margot for that :)

Links
Michele Locke

• www.instagram.com/jaked3000

#cheating #cheatingstory #mencheating #womencheating #cheatingmen #cheatingwomen #cheatingwifestories #cheatingstories #cheatingspouses #cheatingspouses #affairs #affair #infidelity #infidelityconsequences #infidelityinmarriage #infidelityexpert #texaslawyer #texaslaw #lawyer #austinattorney #familylaw #texasattorney #relationshippodcast #relationships #dating #marriage #divorce #lifeafterdivorce #relationshiptips #relationships101 #affairstory #affairhelp #affairexpert 

After years of handling divorce and infidelity cases, Michele opens up about how the job can leave even the sharpest minds a little jaded—and hyper-aware of red flags. But beneath her tough exterior, she still believes in love, even if “your person” might evolve over time. The twist? She admits she often misses when someone is flirting—unless they’re very direct. Inspired by insights from an upcoming lovelustlaw episode with affair coach Lauren LaRusso, Michele and Jake dive into the gray areas of modern relationships. They explore questions like what actually counts as cheating, where the line should be drawn between privacy and secrecy, and what it really means if you feel the urge to check your partner’s phone. Michele also pulls back the curtain on her personal transformation—from losing over 120 pounds to embracing a bold new look that boosted her confidence—and reflects on the traits that make great litigators: competitiveness, resilience, and a love for the spotlight, before recounting and sharing a clip of her live appearance on True Crime Tonight, where high-stakes moments ranged from a chilling domestic abuse call to major legal debates and a newborn CPS case where her warning may have changed a child’s fate forever.

**DISCLAIMER** The information shared in this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. 

Subscribe Here:
lovelustlaw - Apple Podcasts
lovelustlaw - Spotify Podcasts
lovelustlaw - Amazon Music

 Want to reach out to me? You can. You can email me at [email protected]. Want to find out what I'm up to?
Well you can on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/attorneymichelelocke/
Just remember Michele is spelled with one L and you can thank my mother Margot for that. :)

Links

Michele Locke
https://www.michelelocke.com/
https://www.instagram.com/attorneymichelelocke/
Jake Deptula
www.instagram.com/jaked3000
lovelustfear
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lovelustfear/id1735876283
https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3ndcf5u8lZ5lhN1lvWec
https://www.instagram.com/lovelustfearpod/

True Crime Tonight
https://truecrimetonight.iheart.com/

National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7/365)
Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788 
https://www.thehotline.org/
https://www.facebook.com/NationalDomesticViolenceHotline
https://www.instagram.com/NDVHofficial/

What does it really take to rebuild your life from nothing - emotionally, financially, spiritually? Michele sits down with Kat Zammuto of the hit podcast Kat on the Loose to unpack a story that will stop you in your tracks. After surviving a 15-year abusive marriage defined by control and loss, Kat made the impossible choice to walk away - even when it cost her everything.

They get brutally real about why women stay too long, the hidden patterns that linger after toxic relationships, and what reclaiming your power truly looks like. From the moment she knew she had to leave to the unexpected choice to return and care for her husband before his death, Kat’s journey is as complex as it is profoundly powerful.

Michele dives into the quirks of Texas men, while the hosts speak candidly about money, control, boundaries, and dating dynamics. And when a fellow podcaster drops a surprise question about Michele and Jake, the conversation ignites into a fiery, no-holds-barred exchange.

**DISCLAIMER** The information shared in this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. 

Subscribe Here:

Want to reach out to me? You can email me at [email protected]. Want to find out what I'm up to? Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/attorneymichelelocke/

Just remember Michele is spelled with one L and you can thank my mother Margot for that :)

Links
Michele Locke

• www.instagram.com/jaked3000

topics | #relationships #toxic #dating #divorce #domesticabuse #domesticabuseawareness #lawyer #attorney #truecrime #relationshipadvice #toxicrelationships #healing #support #selfcare #overcomingabuse #legalhelp #survivorstories #knowledgeispower #empowerment #womenempowerment #strongwomen #healingjourney

This episode of lovelusraw brings on the pain—Michele’s brutally honest, somehow still worth-it threading experience—and quickly opens up into a bigger conversation about beauty, self-worth, and the price we pay to feel confident. Michele, Jake, and Gabi break down the evolution of beauty standards, from ’80s diet culture and Dexatrim to Hydroxycut, GLP-1s, and today’s obsession with effortless perfection. The trio gets real about societal pressure, body image, and the ongoing work of owning who you are, sharing personal stories of insecurity, growth, and self-acceptance along the way. Then, just when you think it’s all about beauty, the episode takes a sharp turn with Hot Takes High Stakes. The trio dives into a jaw-dropping judicial scandal involving a judge accused of stalking, calling out power, accountability, and why status never excuses inappropriate behavior.

**DISCLAIMER** The information shared in this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. 

Subscribe Here:
lovelustlaw - Apple Podcasts
lovelustlaw - Spotify Podcasts
lovelustlaw - Amazon Music

 Want to reach out to me? You can. You can email me at [email protected]. Want to find out what I'm up to?

Well you can on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/attorneymichelelocke/
Just remember Michele is spelled with one L and you can thank my mother Margot for that. :)

Links

Michele Locke
https://www.michelelocke.com/
https://www.instagram.com/attorneymichelelocke/
Jake Deptula
www.instagram.com/jaked3000
lovelustfear
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lovelustfear/id1735876283
https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3ndcf5u8lZ5lhN1lvWec
https://www.instagram.com/lovelustfearpod/

National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7/365)
Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788 
https://www.thehotline.org/
https://www.facebook.com/NationalDomesticViolenceHotline
https://www.instagram.com/NDVHofficial/

topics | #FamilyLaw #DivorceAttorney #MicheleLocke #CourtroomInsights #LegalAdvice #FamilyCourt #LegalPodcast #TrueCourtStories #BehindTheBench #LawUnfiltered #NoNonsenseLaw #RealTalkLaw #DivorceSupport #CustodyBattles #MessyDivorces #ChildCustody #DivorceDrama #FamilyLawMatters #DomesticViolenceAwareness #SurvivingFamilyCourt #EmotionalJustice #CourtroomRealities #FamilyLawTruth

In honor of National Stalking Awareness Month, this episode of lovelustraw focuses on the unsettling reality of stalking. Host Michele Locke and Jake Deptula, joined by Gabi Zielke, explore the tangled crossroads of obsession, mental health, stalking, and the law. Drawing from Michele’s real-world experience as a lawyer, they explore cases where fixation and legal gray areas collide—showing why victims are often left navigating a system that wasn’t designed to stop danger before it escalates.
The conversation challenges stereotypes about “stalkers,” unpacks accountability, and examines the emotional toll stalking takes on everyone involved. Michele also reflects on how her own divorce and personal experiences shaped her perspective on relationships, boundaries, and trust in a legal system that doesn’t always have the answers.

**DISCLAIMER** The information shared in this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional legal advice or a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. 

SPARC (Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC) of AEquitas)
https://www.stalkingawareness.org/stalking-awareness-month/
https://aequitasresource.org/

Subscribe Here:
lovelustlaw - Apple Podcasts
lovelustlaw - Spotify Podcasts
lovelustlaw - Amazon Music

 Want to reach out to me? You can. You can email me at [email protected]. Want to find out what I'm up to?
Well you can on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/attorneymichelelocke/
Just remember Michele is spelled with one L and you can thank my mother Margot for that. :)

Links

Michele Locke
https://www.michelelocke.com/
https://www.instagram.com/attorneymichelelocke/
Jake Deptula
www.instagram.com/jaked3000
lovelustfear
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lovelustfear/id1735876283
https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3ndcf5u8lZ5lhN1lvWec
https://www.instagram.com/lovelustfearpod/

National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7/365)
Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788 
https://www.thehotline.org/
https://www.facebook.com/NationalDomesticViolenceHotline
https://www.instagram.com/NDVHofficial/

topics | #FamilyLaw #DivorceAttorney #MicheleLocke #CourtroomInsights #LegalAdvice #FamilyCourt #LegalPodcast #TrueCourtStories #BehindTheBench #LawUnfiltered #NoNonsenseLaw #RealTalkLaw #DivorceSupport #CustodyBattles #MessyDivorces #ChildCustody #DivorceDrama #FamilyLawMatters #DomesticViolenceAwareness #SurvivingFamilyCourt #EmotionalJustice #CourtroomRealities #FamilyLawTruth