Send us a text

College costs continue to rise, and for families dealing with divorce, remarriage, or complex finances, planning can feel overwhelming. In this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, Billie Tarascio sits down with a college funding expert to break down how financial aid really works and what parents need to understand before costly mistakes are made.

Brad Baldridge is a College Funding Specialist and the founder of Taming the High Cost of College. With nearly 20 years of experience, Brad has helped thousands of families plan and pay for college without derailing their finances or retirement. As a financial expert, consultant, and podcast host, he teaches parents how to choose the right school, maximize financial aid and scholarships, and reduce reliance on student loans through smart, proven strategies.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

✔️ How divorce affects FAFSA and college financial aid eligibility

✔️ The difference between FAFSA and the CSS Profile

✔️ How income, assets, and remarriage impact aid calculations

✔️ When families qualify for need-based aid and Pell Grants

✔️ College planning strategies for divorced and blended families

✔️ Why early planning matters more than most parents realize

Learn more and connect with Brad Baldridge:

Website: https://www.tamingthehighcostofcollege.com

If you found this episode helpful, like, subscribe, and share it with someone planning for college.

Send us a text

In this Modern Arizona Podcast episode, attorney Billie Tarascio sits down with Melissa Leon to unpack the rising safety concerns surrounding e-bikes, scooters, and youth street behavior in master-planned Arizona communities. They explore why accidents are increasing, how misinformation fuels risky habits, and what families, drivers, and neighborhoods can realistically do to protect kids while still giving them freedom and independence.

Melissa Leon is a small business CFO, the owner of Two Sense Consulting, a published author of Efficiency Bitch, an Arizona native, a mother of three, and the founder of Eastmark Safe Streets, a fast-growing community initiative focused on youth street safety. She brings firsthand experience, real data, and practical insight from working with Mesa law enforcement, transportation boards, and thousands of local residents.

Key topics covered in this episode:

✔ E-bike safety laws in Arizona and what parents must know
✔ The rise of teen “ride-outs” and social-media-driven bike groups
✔ Why Mesa is seeing a spike in e-bike and pedestrian accidents
✔ How Eastmark Safe Streets was built and why community groups matter
✔ Legal consequences for parents when minors ride e-bikes illegally
✔ The role of city infrastructure, enforcement, and community behavior
✔ Retailer responsibility and gaps in e-bike education
✔ How to prepare kids for emergencies, collisions, and high-risk situations
✔ How parents can balance independence, safety, and real-world learning
✔ Practical steps to start safety conversations in your own neighborhood

To learn more about Melissa, connect with her work, or reach out directly
Visit: https://twosenseconsulting.com

Send us a text

In this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, attorney Billie Tarascio sits down with Legal Paraprofessional Sandy Bauer of Modern Law to explore her journey, her work, and the heart behind family law practice.

Sandy has spent more than 22 years in the legal field, including over a decade as a senior paralegal before earning her LP license in 2024. Today, she helps clients through divorces, parenting time issues, child support matters, and major family transitions with a calm, empathetic, and highly experienced approach. Outside of work, Sandy enjoys gardening, bird-watching, travel, audiobooks, and her family’s own book club.

Topics discussed in this episode include:
• Sandy’s transition from paralegal to licensed practitioner
• Why LPs are important for access to justice in Arizona
• Lessons learned from 20+ years of family law experience
• Navigating court, mediation, and modern family law changes
• Real-world cases involving parenting time, paternity, and complex family dynamics

Where to find Sandy:
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-bauer-/
Modern Law: https://mymodernlaw.com/our-team/sandra-l-bauer/

Send us a text

Selling the family home during divorce is one of the hardest decisions you will ever make. In this episode, attorney Billie Tarascio sits down with Jill Sawick-Healy, a community-focused real estate agent with Realty One Group who has been serving Arizona families since 2007. Jill has guided hundreds of clients through upsizing, downsizing, and big life transitions like divorce, always with the goal of making each move informed, steady, and as low-stress as possible.

Together, Billie and Jill walk through what divorcing couples need to know about the current Maricopa County housing market, joint ownership after divorce, and how to protect both your equity and your future. You will hear practical guidance you can use right away, including:

- When it makes sense to sell the house now versus stay for a period of time
- Pros and cons of joint ownership after divorce and what to put in writing
- How today’s interest rates and market trends in Maricopa County affect your options
- Ways to protect your credit, equity, and long term buying power
- Clauses to discuss with your lawyer and realtor for missed payments and future sale
- How community involvement can support emotional recovery after divorce
- Why your personal goals matter more than market headlines when buying or selling

Where to find Jill Sawick-Healy:
Website: www.jillsawick.myrealtyonegroup.com
Call/Text: 480-570-7173
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jill.sawick/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-sawick-healy-1a2a0030/

Send us a text

Whitney Harvey is a former litigator, workplace wellness consultant, and founder of The Self Coached Lawyer. She joins Billie to talk about burnout, resilience, emotional regulation, and how lawyers and clients can rebuild themselves during high-stress seasons. Whitney shares how her early experiences with adversity, plus years in insurance defense and plaintiff litigation, shaped her mission to blend law, well-being, and science-backed healing tools. Her work today focuses on giving people simple, practical methods to manage stress, reframe their stories, and rebuild confidence during major transitions like divorce.

In this conversation, Whitney breaks down the real challenges facing modern legal professionals: remote work fatigue, isolation, burnout, loss of identity, and the emotional weight of client trauma. She explains why resilience is a skill, not a personality trait, and how tools like HypnoBreathwork® help people retrain long-held patterns in the subconscious mind. Whether you're a lawyer, a parent going through divorce, or someone feeling stuck, Whitney offers a grounded understanding of healing, purpose, and intentional recovery.

Topics Discussed
- The emotional toll of litigation and why traditional legal training overlooks it
- Burnout signs lawyers and divorcing clients should never ignore
- How to rebuild identity after major life transitions
- HypnoBreathwork® and why it accelerates healing compared to talk therapy
- Why remote work helps flexibility but harms engagement
- Emotional boundaries and the psychology of conflict
- Building resilience through narrative reframing and somatic tools
- How energy, environment, and relationships shape well-being

Where to Find Whitney Harvey
Website: https://theselfcoachedlawyer.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @theselfcoachedlawyer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyharvey

Send us a text

In this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, attorney and advocate Lori Basinger joins host Billie Tarascio to discuss coercive control, abusive litigation, and how new laws are redefining justice for survivors of domestic abuse. Lori shares her personal journey from regulatory law to family law advocacy and offers insights into how survivors can reclaim power both in and beyond the courtroom.

Valuable topics discussed:
- What coercive control means under Massachusetts law
- How abusers misuse the legal system to maintain control
- Strategies for survivors facing prolonged family court battles
- Legislative efforts to stop abusive litigation
- Finding healing and autonomy beyond the courtroom

Connect with Lori Basinger:
Website: loribassinger.com
Instagram: @MovedToRise
Facebook: @MovedToRise

Send us a text

In this episode, Billie sits down with Lindsey Jackson, Modern Law's new estate planning practice group leader, to demystify estate planning for today's families. With over 16 years of experience in trust and estate administration, Lindsey brings a unique perspective from both the drafting and administration sides of estate planning. She shares practical insights about when estate planning becomes essential, how to protect family wealth across generations, and the real consequences of not having proper legal documents in place.

This conversation covers everything from basic power of attorney needs for young adults to sophisticated trust structures for high-net-worth families. Lindsey explains how estate planning intersects with family law, particularly in blended family situations, and addresses common misconceptions about probate in Arizona. The discussion provides actionable guidance for attorneys and families navigating the complex decisions around wealth transfer, creditor protection, and planning for incapacity.

What You'll Learn
✔ The critical importance of power of attorney documents starting at age 18, and the serious consequences of acting without proper legal authorization when helping incapacitated family members
✔ How discretionary trusts can protect beneficiaries from their own financial mistakes while still providing necessary support for housing, education, and living expenses
✔ The key thresholds that determine when you need basic estate planning documents versus more sophisticated trust structures, including Arizona's updated probate limits
✔ Why testamentary capacity has a lower standard than contractual capacity, allowing people with diminished abilities to still create valid estate plans with proper guidance
✔ How blended families face unique estate planning challenges that make professional guidance non-negotiable, particularly regarding asset distribution and guardian designation

Ready to take that next step? 

Connect with Lindsey Jackson at Modern Law for comprehensive estate planning services throughout Arizona: https://mymodernlaw.com/practice-areas/estate-planning-probate-in-arizona/

Send us a text

In this episode, Billie speaks with Susan Magestro, a criminologist, interventionist, and expert witness who specializes in one of the most challenging and underreported issues facing families today: domestic violence perpetrated by children against their parents. Susan brings decades of experience working with families where parents live in fear of their own children, along with her expertise in crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies.

This conversation addresses the uncomfortable reality that many parents face but rarely discuss—when their child becomes violent, threatening, or abusive within the home. Susan explains the difference between explosive and implosive rage, shares red flags that parents should recognize, and discusses her innovative tools like the "anger wheel" for de-escalating volatile situations. The discussion also covers how divorce and family trauma can manifest in children's behavior, when reunification therapy is appropriate, and practical strategies for families caught in these devastating cycles.

What You'll Learn
✔ How to recognize the difference between explosive and implosive rage in children, and why many parents miss the warning signs of escalating dangerous behavior
✔ The "anger wheel" technique and other de-escalation strategies that help identify root causes of children's violent behavior and create pathways for healing
✔ Why parents often hide their fear of their own children due to professional concerns, community judgment, and family dynamics, preventing them from seeking help
✔ How divorce trauma and poor co-parenting communication can fuel children's anger and violent behavior, and the importance of "good divorce" practices
✔ When to pursue reunification therapy versus other interventions, and how to determine the best custody arrangements when children are struggling with anger and violence

Where to Find Susan Magestro
Learn more about Susan's work and access her resources, including her book "Raging From Within" and upcoming YouTube tutorials on the anger wheel technique. Susan provides expert witness services and crisis intervention throughout the United States.
www.susanmagestro.com

#DomesticViolenceAwareness #BreakTheSilence #EndTheCycle #FamilyViolence #StopTheViolence #AbuseAwareness #HealingJourney #SilentStruggle #YouAreNotAlone  #love #family #life #kids #motherhood
#babies #mother #mentalhealth #positivity #motivation

Send us a text

In this episode, Billie sits down with Nathan Williams, a professional counselor at Arizona Counseling Collective who specializes in forensically informed therapy and high-conflict co-parenting situations. Nathan brings years of experience working with families navigating the complex intersection of therapy and family court, including therapeutic intervention (TI) appointments, court testimony, and helping parents transition from dysfunctional spousal dynamics to effective co-parenting relationships.

This conversation tackles the challenging questions that attorneys and their clients face daily: When should therapists maintain confidentiality versus reporting to parents? How can parents move from adversarial dynamics to neutral co-parenting? What's the real success rate of therapeutic intervention, and why do so many therapists avoid this work entirely? Nathan provides practical insights on everything from parental alienation concerns to the reality of 50-50 custody arrangements, offering both legal professionals and parents a clearer understanding of how mental health intervention actually works in family court cases.

What You'll Learn
✔ The key differences between court-appointed therapeutic intervention and private therapy, including confidentiality boundaries and reporting requirements
✔ Why the "neutral co-parent" approach is essential for moving beyond dysfunctional spousal dynamics into effective business-like co-parenting relationships
✔ How to properly communicate with your co-parent about children's concerns using the BIFF method (Brief, Informative, Friendly, Firm) without creating additional conflict
✔ The realistic success rates of therapeutic intervention (approximately 50%) and what factors determine whether families will benefit from court-ordered counseling
✔ Practical strategies for helping children maintain relationships with both parents while teaching them healthy conflict resolution skills rather than withdrawal patterns

Where to Find Nathan Williams
williams-coach.com

Send us a text

-----
In this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, host Billie Tarascio sits down with Ruby Becker, Family Law and Juvenile Law attorney at Modern Law, to pull back the curtain on Arizona’s juvenile court system. Ruby shares her firsthand experience representing both parents and children in dependency, guardianship, and termination cases, and exposes the critical differences between family court and juvenile court.

From the power of DCS to the constitutional rights of parents, to the heartbreaking realities of foster care, Ruby provides an unfiltered look at what really happens when the state steps in. If you’re an attorney, paralegal, or anyone working in child welfare, this episode offers must-know insights into protecting families and upholding rights inside the courtroom.

Here’s What You’ll Learn from Ruby:
✔ Why children in juvenile court have stronger legal voices than in family court
✔ How to challenge DCS placement decisions and push for family custody
✔ The difference between temporary and permanent guardianships, and when each applies
✔ The hidden dangers of foster care and why private dependency may be a safer option
✔ Practical steps parents should take when DCS shows up at their door

Where to Find Ruby Becker
mymodernlaw.com/out-team/ruby-becker