What if the end of your marriage isn’t the end of you – but the beginning of the version you haven’t met yet?

In this Stories From the Other Side episode, Erica sits down with Justin Milrad – certified divorce coach, author, and financial planner – who rebuilt his entire life after a three-year, seven-figure divorce war and an eight-day jury trial that shattered his identity and forced him to reinvent from the ground up.

Justin shares the raw truth of divorce from a male perspective: how a once-amicable split exploded, what men are really feeling (but rarely say out loud), and how he eventually created a peaceful co-parenting relationship with his ex. Together, they unpack the emotional blind spots men face, the pressure to “hold it together,” the trauma we don’t recognize until everything breaks, and why so many people stay stuck for years after divorce.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

🔑 Why even “amicable” divorces can quietly build toward explosion

🔑 How stress, burnout, and unhealed trauma erode a marriage long before anyone files

🔑 What men actually experience emotionally during divorce (and why they often can’t name it)

🔑 How choosing the wrong lawyer can inflame conflict – and how to choose more wisely

🔑 The shift from “we” to “me” without guilt – and what it means to architect You 2.0

🔑 The difference between net worth and self-worth after divorce

🔑 How to move from chaos into peaceful co-parenting and healthier future relationships

🔑 Why forgiveness has nothing to do with an apology – and everything to do with your healing

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

⏱️ 00:00 – Intro & why this conversation matters for life after divorce

⏱️ 01:44 – Justin’s story: marriage, career, and the slow unraveling

⏱️ 05:49 – When “amicable” falls apart: the turning point and legal battles

⏱️ 07:22 – Surviving a three-year, seven-figure divorce war and eight-day jury trial

⏱️ 08:22 – Finding support: how divorce coaching changes the process

⏱️ 11:46 – Rebuilding from rock bottom and redefining identity

⏱️ 14:36 – The Emotional Ladder: naming what you feel so you can actually heal

⏱️ 20:22 – The Gap and the Gain: shifting from what you lost to what you’re building

⏱️ 22:55 – Hard conversations: how to communicate with your ex without blowing things up

⏱️ 23:28 – Men vs. women: emotional blind spots and why we miss each other

⏱️ 24:23 – Co-parenting strategies that keep kids out of the middle

⏱️ 26:54 – Radical self-reflection and owning your part in the story

⏱️ 28:54 – Dating again: navigating new relationships after divorce

⏱️ 31:11 – Maintaining a positive co-parenting relationship over time

⏱️ 32:43 – Why joy and play are non-negotiable in your next chapter

⏱️ 40:48 – Final thoughts, resources, and what You 2.0 really looks like

🌟 Resources & Links🌟

Holiday Heart-to-Heart (Private Podcast)
Holidays after divorce can feel like a whirlwind of emotions — memories, old traditions, and new realities all colliding. Holiday Heart-to-Heart helps you reclaim your identity and rise into the version of you who honors her heart, protects her peace, and stays connected to who she’s becoming, no matter what the season stirs up.
👉 https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/holiday

The Club – Your Post-Divorce Community

Looking to claim your post-divorce badass? Put yourself in the room with other women redefining what it means to be a divorcée.

👉  https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/theclub

🌟 Connect with Justin Milrad

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimandreboot.me/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReclaimAndReboot

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReclaimAndReboot

Website: https://www.reclaimandreboot.me

Justin’s Book:

You 2.0: Divorce a Better Way Forward
👉 https://www.amazon.com/You-2-0-Divorce-Better-Forward/dp/B0FBH9RWZN

🌟 Connect with Erica & The Crazy Ex-Wives Club

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecrazyexwivesclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecrazyexwivesclub

Website: https://thecrazyexwivesclub.com