The Happily Never After

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault, non-consensual intimate image sharing, and self-harm. Please check the show synopsis before continuing.

A note before we get into the episode: Maddie's story stems from very recent events with potential legal ramifications. While we set context, there are certain subjects we set aside or refer to only on a surface level so as not to interfere with those proceedings.

Maddie Kowalski was 19 years old and a sophomore at the University of Florida when her life changed overnight. Intimate videos of her were taken without her full knowledge, shared across fraternities, posted to X and other platforms with her full name attached, then went on to trend nationally.

Over five million people saw her name tied to content she never consented to, alongside false rumors and harassment that followed her across every platform. What came next was its own kind of ending. Lost friendships, harassment on campus, and the particular cruelty of watching yourself become a meme while the people responsible go largely unpunished.

In this conversation, Maddie talks about the impact of going viral without consent, the pile-on mentality that took hold online, the silence from people who knew what happened and said nothing, and what it actually looks like to try to heal from something that never fully disappears from the internet.

She also talks about consent, specifically what it means when someone is not in a position to give it, and why so few people involved thought to ask the question at all.

This is the Season 3 finale of The Happily Never After. We will see you in spring 2027 for Season 4.

ABOUT MADDIE KOWALSKI
Maddie is a 19-year old student that just finished her sophomore year at the University of Florida, in Gainesville. She is studying Media Production, Management, and Technology, and is working towards a career in social media management. Outside of school she enjoys traveling, hanging out with her dog, and downtime with a tight group of friends and family.  

• Follow Maddie on Instagram at @madskowalski
• Follow Maddie on TikTok at @madskowalski

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com

Sarah Hilmer is a mother of three, a social advocate, a trail runner, and someone who has spent the last four years learning how to live a life that looks much different than the one she planned.

In 2021, Sarah's daughter Juju was born healthy by every visible measure. But in the months that followed, signs of a feeding problem led to a hospitalization, then an X-ray that showed something unexpected, then a surgical call that changed everything. Juju had a Type 3 laryngeal cleft, a rare abnormality where the back wall of her airway had never fully formed. Every time she swallowed, she was slowly aspirating into her lungs. 

What followed was surgery using rib cartilage to reconstruct her airway, a tracheostomy, and over 15 surgeries and extensive hospitalization. 

Now, as a thriving five-year-old, Juju still breathes through the trach today. In this conversation, Sarah talks about what 2022 actually looked like for her family, managing without home health care support, finding ways to create fun family memories, then slowly shifting the goal from getting the trach out to helping Juju live her life as a fun-loving kid with a big personality.

She also talks about what the medical system gets wrong when it uses the word "fix," working with Juju's specific needs, how her marriage held under the sustained pressure, and what it meant to prepare herself emotionally to bring her third child, into the same room where one of Juju's most serious emergencies occured. 

ABOUT SARAH HILMER
Sarah is a mom of thre who lives, works, and adventures all around the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a social advocate, community builder, and trail runner. She is most happy when she's in the forest or at the ocean with her kids.

• Follow Sarah on Instagram at @sarahhilmer

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com

You don't need new relationship energy to have the best sex of your life. You need a recipe.

Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons is an award-winning psychologist, Emory University professor, and author of Good Sex: Stories, Science, and Strategies for Sexual Liberation. She's visiting The Happily Never After to dismantle basically everything we were taught about sex growing up.

We cover a lot of ground in this one.

• What sex positivity actually means (hint: it's not what you think).
• Why emotional safety is harder to build than technique and why that matters more.
• How a near-fatal ectopic pregnancy knocked Dr. Candice completely off her own sexual footing, even as a researcher who studies this for a living.
• And why the pressure women put on themselves to perform for a partner while completely disappearing from the experience is something we seriously need to talk about.

Dr. Candice breaks down her "good sex recipe" framework, and she makes the case that what you want in your forties shouldn't look like what you wanted in your twenties, and that's not a problem. It's the whole point.

We also get into what to do when sex goes sideways in a long-term relationship, how your friend group is low-key one of your most important sexual wellness resources, and the one question you should be asking before you write someone off as a bad partner in bed.

Dr. Candice's take on faking it, the orgasm gap, and the "I'm great at sex" guy will have you in your feelings in the best way.

In this episode: What sex positivity actually means, the coital imperative and expanding your definition of sex, why technique can be learned faster than trust, the good sex recipe framework, navigating desire changes in long-term relationships, sexual liberation post-divorce, and how to tell if a partner is worth the work.

ABOUT DR. CANDICE NICOLE HARGONS
Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons is an award-winning psychologist and associate professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, where she studies sexual wellness and liberation. With over 90 published articles, Dr. Hargons has made substantial contributions to the field, positioning herself as one of the leading experts in her discipline. Her innovative work has been widely recognized and featured in major podcasts and publications such as the Huffington Post, Essence, Ebony, Wall Street Journal, Women's Health, Blavity, Cosmopolitan, and the New York Times. As a thought leader, Dr. Hargons continues to shape the conversation around sexual and mental health, advocating for liberation and wellness within marginalized communities.

• Follow Dr. Hargons on Instagram at @drcandicenicole
• Visit her website at drcandicenicole.com
• Watch her TEDx talk "4 Ways to Season Your Sex Life"

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com
  

In this episode, author Rebecca Minor, talks about how supportive parenting can transform your child's well-being.

Rebecca shares her messaging framework developed over a decade of working with queer and trans youth. Discover how gender works beyond binary myths and why understanding distinctions between gender identity, biological sex, and cultural expectations is crucial. Explore practical steps for parents, from creating openness to understanding gender affirming care. Learn how societal beliefs influence fears and misconceptions about medical interventions.

Rebecca also covers insights on navigating sports, school policies, and societal bias. This episode is perfect for parents, educators, and allies committed to supporting gender-diverse youth with confidence and compassion.

ABOUT REBECCA MINOR
Rebecca, LICSW, is a queer clinician, educator, and gender specialist who works with trans and gender-expansive youth and their families. She is the founder of Prism Therapy Collective and the author of Raising Trans Kids: What To Expect When You Weren’t Expecting This. 

• Learn more about Rebecca's work at genderspecialist.com
• Follow Rebecca on Instagram @gender.specialist
• Evolving glossary of terms
• My kid just came out, now what?!

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com

Most people don’t realize how much emotional and practical support you need when going through a divorce, until they're in the thick of it.

Olivia Howell, a pioneering founder of the first-ever divorce support ecosystem, reveals how her personal journey through divorce inspired the groundbreaking Fresh Starts Registry, founded by Olivia and her sister Genevieve "Jenny" Dreizen. This first of its kind platform offers free resources, expert advice, and a community for people navigating life’s most difficult transitions, demonstrating that healing, hope, and fresh starts are possible no matter how overwhelming the stakes.

In this episode, listeners will discover how Olivia’s own childhood experience with divorce fueled her understanding of what people really need to break free from emotional abuse, financial hardship, and social isolation. You’ll learn about the unspoken emotional challenges people face when divorcing from abusive relationships, and how societal conditioning keeps many stuck in silence and shame.

Olivia emphasizes the importance of healing in community, and how social media, support groups, and expert networks can radically change the narrative around divorce, turning it from failure into a transformative beginning. You’ll get her candid advice on when to consider dating again, the importance of taking your time to heal, and that how divorce can also be a doorway to authenticity, strength, and freedom. 

Divorce can take people through one of life's deepest trenches, but Olivia is dedicated to helping people make it through to the other side with peace, clarity, and sanity.

ABOUT OLIVIA HOWELL
Olivia is a nationally recognized divorce educator, visionary founder, clinical hypnotherapist, and the CEO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, the premier expert-led divorce support network. 

Through Fresh Starts, she provides access to vetted experts, divorce registries, educational resources, and a robust media ecosystem designed to guide people through the emotional, financial, and logistical realities of starting over — all with trauma-informed care at the center.

She is the author of the Fresh Starts Divorce Guide book series — including What to Consider When You’re Considering Divorce, Divorce Dictionary, and How to Get Divorced as a Stay-At-Home Parent — and serves as host and producer of several acclaimed podcasts. With an extensive background in marketing, PR, and content creation, Olivia also supports professionals in expanding their influence through podcasting and connection-based publicity.

Her writing has appeared in New York Magazine, Newsweek, and Business Insider, and she is frequently quoted in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and Scary Mommy, among others. A solo mom of two tween boys, Olivia brings warmth, clarity, and lived experience to every conversation — and when she’s not advocating for people rebuilding their lives, you can find her crafting or listening to her favorite 90s music.

Find Olivia on Instagram or Threads using @oliviahowell
Find Fresh Starts Registry on Instagram or Threads using@freshstartsregistry
Learn more about Fresh Starts Registry at freshstartsregistry.com

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com

Society embraces the narrative that adoption is simple, but the truth is much more complex. By centering adoptee voices, we can speak more truthfully about the adoption experience.

Anna Bryant’s journey into her Black identity, her reunion with family of orgin, and her search for belonging reveal the fuller side of adoption. 

In this episode, you’ll discover how societal narratives around adoption erase the true depth of adoptees’ experiences, and the importance of embracing both love and loss in the process of healing. Anna shares the emotional rollercoaster of reconnecting with her family of orgin as an adult, revealing how those reunions—sometimes overwhelming, sometimes healing—add new layers to her story. Anna breaks down the impact of cultural disconnection and how the adoptee community offers vital support for navigating those complex feelings.

You’ll learn about the significance of Atlanta as a cultural mecca, how social media is transforming the conversation around adoption, and why hearing adoptee stories is crucial for both prospective parents and adoptees. Anna emphasizes the importance of acknowledging trauma, honoring heritage, and building relationships that honor a child's full identity.

This episode is perfect for adoptees searching for their roots, parents considering transracial adoption, or anyone interested in the reality behind one of society’s narratives. 

ABOUT ANNA BRYANT
Anna Bryant is a transracial adoptee from Iowa. She grew up in a multiracial household with White parents and international adoptee sisters from South Korea. She has been in reunion with her family of origin for 8 years which has brought both joys and heartbreaks. She is currently working on her memoir Cultural Fraud which explores her reunion journey and her search for Black identity. She currently resides in the Black Mecca of Atlanta with her husband and loves to travel, spend time with friends, and occasionally review new snacks.

• Follow Anna on Instagram: @annab_living

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com

In this episode of The Happily Never After, host Heather McG is talking with Phillip Klapperich, a writer and friend who was diagnosed with ALS about a year ago. Phillip shares how his diagnosis has connected the dots of his life, leading to epiphanies of presence, love, gratitude, and ultimately, grace. This is a compelling conversation with deeply meaningful takeaways for any listener.

ABOUT PHILLIP KLAPPERICH
Phillip Klapperich has worn many hats throughout his life. He is a playwright, who has in contrast also acted as a tour guide and HVAC controls administrator. He's gotten very drunk with a Russian air force colonel, been dressed down by Sheryl Crow in a lilith fair press conference, and gotten cursed in a market in Cairo. Phillip has never been one to pass up an adventure.

• Learn and read more from Phillip at www.rocketcorps.com

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com

Tia Levings is talking to The Happily Never After about her escape from Christian fundamentalism, domestic abuse, and her journey to healing. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Well-Trained Wife. Her new book I Belong to Me offers a first-hand account of overcoming deep indoctrination, psychological abuse, and building a new, authentic life.

Tia talks about the links between her experiences and Christian nationalism, political power, and the fight to strip away women’s rights, all rooted in a strategic effort to uphold particular visions of control and dominance.You'll hear key insights on:

• The spiritual practices and pressure tactics that keep women obedient and unheard
• The high-control religious practices that silence questions about health, safety, and bodily autonomy
• How the “Quiverfull” movement aims to swell the ranks of white Christian supremacy
• The not-so-subtle ways legal and societal restrictions are aligned with religious agendas, threatening women’s freedom
• The healing journey from religious trauma to sovereignty, empowering survivors to break free and rebuild their lives

Tia's work sheds light on the intersection of faith, trauma, and political power, sharing her journey in an effort to empower others. 

ABOUT TIA LEVINGS
Tia Levings is the New York Times Bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, her memoir of escape from Christian Patriarchy. She writes about the realities of religious trauma, evangelical patriarchy, and the trad wife life, decoding the fundamentalist influences in our news and culture. Her work and quotes have appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and The Huffington Post. She also appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, she is mom to four incredible adults and likes to travel, hike, paint, and daydream. Find her on social media @TiaLevingsWriter. Her second book, I Belong to Me, releases May 5, 2026.

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com

Laura Danger, a licensed educator and domestic equity advocate, shares her personal and professional insights into the hidden traps of the toxic American dream. Laura’s powerful book, No More Mediocre, unveils how societal norms keep us stuck and offers a radical re-imagining of relationships and personal fulfillment. She explores how stress, gendered expectations, and societal myths have created a cycle of burnout and resentment—especially for women locked into the “nag paradox” and the “sitcom syndrome.” Laura breaks down:

• The “nag paradox”: a cycle that erodes relationships through endless demands and emotional labor
• The trouble with the “sitcom stereotype”: how media narratives distort perceptions of gender roles and emotional labor
• Actionable steps to re-imagine partnership
• The expanding possibilities for love and connection outside traditional models, including co-parenting and chosen families

ABOUT LAURA DANGER
Laura Danger is a licensed educator, author, and domestic-equity advocate known on Instagram and TikTok as @thatdarnchat. Her book, No More Mediocre: A Call to Reimagine Our Relationships and Demand More, combines candid interviews, personal stories, and research to expose how unpaid domestic labor and dynamics like “weaponized incompetence” and “the nag paradox” shape inequity in relationships.

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com

Author, journalist, and small business owner L’Oreal Thompson-Payton visits The Happily Never After to talk about her experience with infertility. L'Oreal pulls back the curtain on excruciating fibroid battles, heartbreaking IVF disappointments, and her battle with post-partum depression. She talks about writing her upcoming memoir, Infertile Black Girl, to be released in 2027.

L'Oreal shares how systemic racism, health disparities, and cultural stigma compound the pain, leaving many feeling isolated and unseen. She also talks about the pressure on Black women and girls to be “twice as good,” and how embracing rest can change everything. 

ABOUT L'OREAL THOMPSON PAYTON
L’Oreal Thompson Payton is an award-winning journalist, author, speaker, and founder of Zora’s Place, a Black feminist bookstore and community hub in Evanston, Illinois. She is the author of Stop Waiting for Perfect, Amanda Gorman: Poet and Activist, Violet Goes Voting (September 2026) and the highly-anticipated memoir Infertile Black Girl (Spring 2027). Her byline has appeared in outlets such as Essence, Fortune, New York magazine and SELF. Her work centers Black women and girls, mental health, and the power of storytelling. She lives in Evanston with her husband and daughter. 

• Learn more at lorealthompsonpayton.com
• Follow L'Oreal at @ltinthecity on all social platforms

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

• New episodes every Tuesday.
• Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thatheathermcg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG for related content and discussion.
• Read The Happily Never After on Substack at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thehappilyneverafter.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn more about Heather McG at ⁠⁠⁠www.heathermcg.com