Sincerely, Divorced

This week, Bethany and Hillary welcome Laura, an aerospace engineer, mom of two boys, and one of the original members of the Sincerely, Divorced community, joining from Fort Worth, Texas.

After 17 years together, Laura shares the moment her story took a turn nobody saw coming: the woman her ex-husband was seeing became her best friend. Together, the two compared notes, recognized the patterns, and chose themselves. Laura talks honestly about red flags, perfectionism, the pull of “potential,” and the fear of starting over.

She also shares how therapy rebuilt her self-worth, how an unexpected friendship led her to faith, and why telling her story is how she lets go of shame. This conversation is full of laughter, real talk, and the kind of clarity only an aerospace engineer can deliver. In this episode:

Quote of the episode: “If it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a no.” – Laura

Resources mentioned: ∙ Five Areas of Healing by Dr. Zeb (mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial), available on his website.

This episode is sponsored by Ken Venick of Apex Home Loans

Divorce brings big decisions about home: keeping the house, buying out a spouse, refinancing into your own name, or buying a place that’s fully yours. Ken Venick, Senior Mortgage Banker with Apex Home Loans, helps clients through every step with clear guidance and real care. Ken offers purchase loans, refinancing, renovation loans, reverse mortgages, and conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and jumbo loan options, and he has closed over $1.5 billion in loans over his career.

📞 410-598-9410 | ✉️ [email protected]| 🌐 apexhomeloans.com | NMLS #138175 | Apex Home Loans, Inc. | Equal Housing Lender

Produced by: Tony Kelly, Baltimore Podcast Studio

Connect with Sincerely, Divorced: 🌐 sincerelydivorced.com 📸 Instagram: @sincerelydivorced 👍 Facebook | ▶️ YouTube  💛 Join Hello New Life, our membership community: hellonewlife.com 📅 Find an event or meetup near you 

Love the show? Follow, rate, and review Sincerely, Divorced on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and send this episode to a friend who needs to hear Laura’s story today. Sincerely, Divorced is for educational and entertainment purposes and offers general information only.

For legal, financial, or mental health guidance, please consult a licensed professional. 

This Hope Chat is with our dear friend Terrance, a Cleveland-area dad of three. In our chat, Terrance shares how he silently carried the weight of his divorce, took on the role of the "villain" to protect his kids from learning of his ex’s betrayal, and how the truth eventually had to be told.

From navigating co-parenting with an absentee parent which led to discovering he's an enabler, dating, and starting a new hobby, Terrance’s message is “don't hide your truth because speaking it is what sets you free.”

Share your story

If you have a story you'd like to share, we would love to hear from you. Leave a voice message or share a video through Instagram.

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About us

We are talking hope, divorce, and building community—one breakdown and glow up at at time.

Wherever you are in the world and on your journey of relationship loss and rebuilding after it, we are so glad you're here. We hope this is a place where you feel seen and connected through the conversations we have around relationship loss.

We want to give you the same gift we gave to each other during our divorces: a space for grief, reframing, and embracing the bold idea that your happiest days are ahead. More than anything, we want you to know that you are never alone.

Conversations that change the narrative and experience of divorce. are why we exist—to make sure you are seen for the badass you are and that others have real examples that they can keep going too. Please like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to know they're not alone!

xx, Hillary & Bethany

This week's Live replay: what hope means after relationship loss and as we rebuild. Bethany and community members talk about ways to find hope and the many ways it's possible to find it.

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Bethany and Hillary go live on Instagram each week (usually) for a community conversation to talk about our challenges, wins, deep thoughts, and the "wait, is this normal?" moments. Pull up a seat and catch what you missed — or revisit the parts you want to hear again.

In this Hope Chat episode, we chat with Sharon, a long time Sincerely, Divorced friend and one of our featured storytellers in The Show About Divorce in Atlanta recently. Sharon shares her journey of leaving an emotionally-abusive Southern Baptist marriage and reclaiming her independence using humor and community to show that a new life begins after divorce.

Share your story

If you have a story you'd like to share, we would love to hear from you. Leave a voice message or share a video through Instagram.

 ________________________________

About us

We are talking divorce and building community—one breakdown and glow up at at time.

Wherever you are in the world and on your journey of relationship loss and rebuilding after it, we are so glad you're here. We hope this is a place where you feel seen and connected through the conversations we have around relationship loss. We want to give you the same gift we gave to each other during our divorces: a space for grief, reframing, and embracing the bold idea that your happiest days are ahead. More than anything, we want you to know that you are never alone.

Conversations that change the narrative and experience of divorce. are why we exist—to make sure you are seen for the badass you are and that others have real examples that they can keep going too. Please like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to know they're not alone!

xx, Hillary & Bethany

Transcript