Uncoupled & Unfiltered

In this episode of Uncoupled and Unfiltered, host Ksenia Muench speaks with Courtney Harkness, a Certified Divorce Coach with an MBA and over 25 years of corporate leadership and business ownership experience. Courtney helps high-achieving women navigate high-conflict divorce with strategy, clarity, and confidence.

Together, they discuss why successful professionals can still make costly mistakes during divorce, how emotional triggers can affect decision-making, and why shifting from survival mode to strategic negotiation can change the outcome.

For anyone facing separation or divorce, this episode offers practical insights on staying grounded, making smarter choices, and protecting your future.

Key Topics Covered:

• Treating Divorce Like a Business Deal

- Why approaching divorce as a strategic negotiation—rather than an emotional battle—can lead to better outcomes.

• Why High-Achieving Women Struggle in High-Conflict Divorces

- The hidden psychological and strategic traps successful professionals often fall into.

• Divorcing a Narcissist or High-Conflict Personality

- Practical ways to protect your peace, boundaries, and financial future when dealing with difficult partners.

• Managing Emotions Without Losing Strategy

- How to prevent anger, fear, or guilt from undermining smart decision-making during divorce.

• Building Your Divorce Strategy Team

- The key professionals you need on your side—and how each plays a role in protecting your interests. The importance of working with somebody who has gone through that experience to avoid unnecessary expenses, erroneous advice, and have proper strategic planning to finalize the divorce and things to consider after it.

• The Power of Clarity, Planning, and Boundaries

- How intentional preparation can change both the trajectory of your divorce and your life afterward.

“If you can get emotionally regulated first and have that level of detachment, you are dangerous to them now.” - Courtney Harkness

About Our Guest: Courtney Harkness

Courtney Harkness is a Certified Divorce Coach with an MBA and over 25 years of experience as a corporate executive and business owner. After a successful career in leadership and strategy, she now helps high-achieving women navigate high-conflict divorce with clarity, confidence, and a strategic mindset. She specializes in working with clients facing difficult or narcissistic partners, guiding them to treat divorce less like an emotional battle and more like a business negotiation—so they can protect their peace, assets, and future while making empowered decisions at every stage.

Who This Episode Is For:

• High-achieving women navigating divorce who want to be strategic, not emotional.
• Professionals dealing with a high-conflict or narcissistic spouse while protecting their peace, boundaries, and assets.
• Anyone in early separation or divorce who wants to avoid costly legal, financial, and emotional mistakes.
• Listeners who want to treat divorce like a negotiation and make empowered decisions.
• People building a strong divorce support system and strategy team.

Connect with Courtney Harkness:

Website:  www.divorcestrategy.com 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/divorce.strategy 

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/

The house. It's not just an asset — it's the battlefield most women aren't prepared for when divorce hits. In this episode of Uncoupled and Unfiltered, I sit down with Bridget Potterton, a 22-year real estate veteran and Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert based in San Diego, to pull back the curtain on one of the most financially consequential decisions you'll make during your split. From what a CDRE actually does (and why your regular agent isn't enough), to what happens when your spouse refuses to sell, to whether your high-conflict situation can be weaponized against you at the negotiating table — Bridget brings the unfiltered truth most women don't hear until it's too late. This episode is your heads-up before you sign anything you can't undo.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why a traditional real estate agent — no matter how good — isn't equipped to handle the legal, emotional, and logistical complexity of a divorce transaction
• What a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert actually does differently, and why neutrality matters more than you think when both spouses want opposite things
• The truth about older agents and why experience alone doesn't mean divorce expertise
• What your options really look like: keep it, sell it, or buy your spouse out — and the financial reality behind each choice
• What happens when one spouse digs their heels in and refuses to sell, and how that gets navigated
• Whether buyers can use your high-conflict divorce as leverage to low-ball you — and what you can do about it
• The one thing Bridget wishes every woman knew before she put pen to paper

“You ultimately have to decide, ‘is this going to work long term for my family?’ Because if you change your mind and you decide after a few years that you have to sell the home, all of the costs associated with selling the home is now on you; they're not split anymore.” - Bridget Potterton 

Bridget Potterton is a San Diego-based real estate professional with over 22 years in the industry and a track record as a consistent top producer. She holds a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE) designation — a specialized credential that positions her as a neutral third party in the real estate transactions that arise from divorce proceedings. Bridget works alongside attorneys, mediators, and financial advisors to help both parties navigate what is often the largest and most emotionally loaded asset in the marriage. She's seen every scenario, every mistake, and every moment someone wished they'd gotten better advice sooner.

This Episode Is For You If:

• You're in the middle of a divorce, and the house is still unresolved — and every conversation about it turns into a fight
• You've been told to "just keep the house," but nobody's actually walked you through what that costs you long-term
• Your spouse is stalling, refusing to cooperate, or playing games with the property, and you don't know what leverage you have
• You're about to sign a settlement agreement and the real estate piece feels murky, rushed, or one-sided
• You want to make a smart financial decision — not an emotional one — and you need someone in your corner who's seen it all

Connect with Bridget Potterton:

Website: https://bridgecoast.kw.com/ 

Phone: (858) 257-1555

Email: [email protected] 

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/

On this episode of Uncoupled and Unfiltered, we sit down with Junie Moon—a global love mentor, bestselling author, and creator of Midlife Love Out Loud—to talk about breaking free from self-sabotage, releasing shame, and opening up to what she calls “Next Level Love.”

Together, we explore love, romance, readiness for the right partner, and the shadow work needed to uncover hidden patterns so you can finally recognize and receive the soulmate you’ve been searching for. 

Key Topics Covered:

• Your Love Avatar: What it reveals about your readiness for love and the blind spots holding you back.
• Dating Superpowers: Your unique dating strengths and how to use them with intention.
• What Shadow Work Really Is: Clearing misconceptions and understanding the emotional work behind lasting change.
• When Shadow Work Is Integrated: How embodied healing aligns you with your truest self.
• Next Level Love: What Junie Moon means by it and how it differs from ordinary relationships.
• Self-Sabotage in Dating: The subtle ways women block love, even when they feel ready.
• Dating vs. Relationship: Why dating is exploration, when to stay open, and when to reassess.
• What Loving Yourself Actually Looks Like: The real signs of self-love and how they shape the love you attract.

“If we don't really understand and shift what's going on in the unconscious mind, we are not being our greatest selves.” - Junie Moon

About Our Guest: Junie Moon

Junie Moon is a global love mentor, women’s empowerment leader, and certified Shadow Work® coach who helps women break unhealthy relationship patterns and create fulfilling partnerships. As the founder of Midlife Love Out Loud, she has spent over 30 years helping women release shame, reclaim self-worth, and open themselves to “Next Level Love.” She is also an international bestselling author, podcast host, and award-winning speaker.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Women who feel like they keep dating the same type of partner in different bodies
• Anyone wondering if they’re truly ready for the relationship they say they want
• Women navigating dating in midlife and looking for a deeper, more aligned connection
• Those curious about shadow work and how it impacts love and relationships
• Anyone who wants to understand their dating patterns and hidden blind spots
• Women who want to stop self-sabotaging and start attracting healthier relationships
• Anyone working on self-love and personal growth as the foundation for a great relationship

Take the Discover Your Love Avatar So You Can Have Extraordinary Love in Your Second Half of Life! https://midlifeloveoutloud.com/quiz/ 

❤️ Find out your level of relationship readiness

❤️ Discover your Love Avatar (Empress, Goddess, or Queen)

❤️ Learn how to attract deep, healthy love in this next chapter

Connect with Junie Moon:

Website:  https://midlifeloveoutloud.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/junie-moon-995262a/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifeloveoutloud 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/juniemoon21/videos 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachjuniemoon 

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

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/

On this episode of Uncoupled and Unfiltered, I sit down with Johanna Lynn, founder of The Family Imprint Institute and a pioneer in uncovering the hidden emotional patterns that shape our relationships.

We explore relationship dynamics, genetic imprints, and the unconscious beliefs that influence who we choose and why. The good news? You don’t have to stay stuck in these patterns.

The real question is: Are you ready to take a deep dive, uncover what feels familiar, and create meaningful change? If so, this episode is for you.

Key Topics Covered:

• What a genetic imprint is and how it shapes our relationships.
• How family influences extend across three generations and affect our choices.
• Why leaving a relationship can make someone a generational pattern breaker—and why that can feel so heavy.
• Making the decision to stay or go: three essential considerations that bring clarity.
• Busting the myth of “staying for the kids”—why staying is ultimately about staying for yourself.
• How personal growth after major life transitions can reveal uncomfortable truths, sometimes leading to family estrangement.
• Healing your heart after divorce and overcoming the fear of choosing wrong again.
• Key steps to avoid repeating old relational patterns.
• The possibility of a happy, fulfilling relationship after divorce—and what it truly looks like.

“None of us get to be the way we are by accident, so we are very much attracted to the familiar.” - Johanna Lynn

About Our Guest: Johanna Lynn

Johanna Lynn is the founder of The Family Imprint Institute and a relationship expert with over two decades of international practice helping people uncover and resolve the hidden emotional patterns that shape their lives and relationships. Drawing on systemic therapy, family constellations, integrative body psychotherapy, and epigenetics, she guides individuals to understand the deep influences of their family history, break generational patterns, and create healthier, more conscious connections. Johanna Lynn’s work goes beyond traditional talk therapy to help listeners gain clarity, heal from past wounds, and build fulfilling relationships grounded in awareness and resilience. 

Who This Episode Is For:

• Anyone who feels stuck in repeating relationship patterns.
• People are curious about how family history and unconscious beliefs shape their choices.
• Those contemplating whether to stay or leave a relationship and seeking clarity.
• Individuals navigating life after divorce or a major relationship transition.
• Listeners are ready to break generational patterns and create healthier connections.
• Anyone interested in personal growth, healing, and building fulfilling relationships.

Connect with Johanna Lynn

Website:  https://www.johannalynn.ca/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannalynn/ 

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/

What if the biggest problem in your relationship isn't your partner, it's that nobody ever taught you how to be in one?

In this episode of Uncoupled and Unfiltered, host Ksenia Muench sits down with Coco Kowal, licensed counselor, relationship educator, and faculty member at the Imago International Training Institute. With over 40 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families, Coco brings rare depth and wisdom to the patterns that quietly shape and sometimes sabotage our closest relationships.

They get into what Imago therapy actually is (and why it's different from traditional couples therapy), why the honeymoon stage ends and what to do about it, and the relationship competencies most people never learn. They also go there on the hard stuff: affairs, divorce, high-conflict personalities, and whether love, once broken, can actually be rebuilt.

Whether you're single, coupled, or somewhere in between, this conversation will change how you see yourself in relationships.

Key Topics Covered:

• What Imago therapy is and how it works
• Why most relationships fail — and why it's not your fault
• The relationship skills no one teaches you
• How to stay curious about your partner long after the honeymoon ends
• Adultery: why it happens and whether a relationship can recover
• The mirroring technique for de-escalating conflict with a high-conflict partner
• Can Imago therapy change the outcome of a divorce?

“Within the power struggle is just the growth within us trying to happen, and if we don't learn the tools, people get tired of trying. They get worn out.” - Coco Kowal

About Our Guest: Coco Kowal

Colleen "Coco" Kowal, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina and holds a Master of Counseling from the University of South Carolina. With over 40 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families, Coco is a Certified Advanced Clinician in Imago Relationship Therapy and a Certified Getting the Love You Want Couples Workshop Presenter. 

Her passion for this work began with her own personal transformation through Imago therapy, and she has since become a faculty member of the Imago International Training Institute, where she trains other professionals to become Certified Imago Therapists. She brings both the clinical expertise and the lived experience that make her one of the most trusted voices in the Imago community.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Couples feeling disconnected or stuck in the same arguments
• Anyone who has experienced or is recovering from infidelity
• People considering divorce who want to explore every option first
• Singles who want to understand their relationship patterns before their next relationship
• Anyone curious about therapy but unsure where to start

Connect with Coco Kowal:

Website:  https://www.hiltonheadislandcounseling.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiltonheadislandcounseling/ 

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

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/

Infidelity, addiction, and abuse don't automatically have to mean the immediate end of a relationship, but building a new version from the wreckage takes immense work. In this episode, a seasoned couples therapist breaks down what really happens behind closed doors, how to spot dangerous patterns, and when it’s worth fighting for your marriage versus walking away.

In this raw and revealing episode of Uncoupled & Unfiltered, we sit down with Marina Edelman — Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience — to tackle the relationship topics most people are too afraid to say out loud: infidelity, addiction, and abuse.

Can a relationship survive cheating? Is "once a cheater, always a cheater" actually true? Who is most prone to an addictive personality — and how does that destroy a marriage? What does abuse really look like before it escalates? And the hardest question of all: should you stay, leave, or separate?

Marina brings compassionate, no-nonsense clinical wisdom to every answer. Whether you're in crisis, healing from betrayal, or simply trying to build something healthier, this episode will change the way you see your relationship — and yourself.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why infidelity happens — and the warning signs you're likely missing
• Is "once a cheater, always a cheater" actually true?
• How to know if your relationship can recover from betrayal
• Who is most prone to an addictive personality in a partnership
• Practical ways to navigate addiction together — or apart
• Recognizing the signs of abuse (emotional, physical & beyond)
• Stay, leave, or separate? A therapist's honest framework
• How to enter a relationship with your eyes wide open

“To rebuild trust, it requires full raw transparency” - Marina Edelman

Marina Edelman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over two decades of experience guiding individuals, couples, and families through life's most complex emotional terrain — from communication breakdowns and infidelity to addiction, abuse, and the difficult question of when to stay or walk away.

Known for her candid, compassionate approach, Marina creates a space where the uncomfortable truths about relationships can finally be spoken out loud. Her clinical depth and no-nonsense wisdom have made her a trusted voice for those navigating love, loss, and everything in between.

• You've suspected infidelity but keep second-guessing — and need clarity on what the real warning signs look like
• You're wondering whether your relationship can be saved after a betrayal, or if it's time to let go
• You or your partner are struggling with addictive behavior and you don't know whether to fight for the relationship or protect yourself
• Something in your relationship feels off but you can't name it — and you want to understand the signs of emotional or physical abuse before it goes further
• You're single, dating, or starting over and want to enter your next relationship with your eyes wide open — and never repeat the same patterns again.

Connect with Marina Edelman:

Website:  https://marinaedelman.com/ 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marina.on.marriage/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinaedelman 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/edelmancounseling/ 

Phone: 818-851-1293 

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/

Divorce can feel like a battlefield, but mediation can help turn conflict into a constructive path forward. In this episode, hear a mediator who experienced divorce firsthand explain how to create a sustainable, trust-based co-parenting plan.

Episode Summary 

On this episode of Uncoupled and Unfiltered, I sit down with David Fein, Certified Divorce and Family Law Mediator, founder of Fein Legal Solutions, and father of three. With training from Northwestern University and a law degree from DePaul University College of Law, David helps couples navigate divorce while reducing the financial and emotional strain of the process.

We’re taking another deep dive into mediation, but this conversation is different. David’s approach focuses on relationship-building, trust, and creating a future-focused path for families—not just resolving the matter at hand.

Tune in to learn how mediation works, why it isn’t limited by state lines, and how David’s approach can help families move through divorce with greater clarity, dignity, and control.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why relationship-building and trust are key to successful mediation
• Taking a future-focused approach when negotiating agreements
• How early trust in mediation can shape the entire outcome
• Staying neutral when emotions run high, especially with children involved
• How parenthood may influence a mediator and maintain professional objectivity
• Managing power imbalances, including dominating or bullying behavior
• Mediation considerations when abuse allegations are present
• Addressing situations where a proposed settlement may be unfair or impractical
• Ethical challenges of balancing neutrality with concern for the parties
• What sets Fein Legal Solutions apart, and how David’s approach differs from traditional mediation

"I believe my clients leave my mediation session with a clear understanding of what we talked about, a clear feeling that they were heard, and a clear picture on what the next steps are...” - David Fein

David Fein is a Certified Divorce and Family Law Mediator who guides spouses and families through divorce with a collaborative, respectful approach. As founder of Fein Legal Solutions, LLC, he uses an empathetic and holistic framework to foster constructive dialogue and mutual understanding. Focused on minimizing emotional and financial costs, David serves as a neutral third party, helping individuals reach sustainable agreements that prioritize the family’s well-being.

• You’re considering divorce and exploring mediation as a healthier alternative to litigation
• You’re looking to reduce conflict and protect your family’s future when children are involved
• You’re concerned about handling a controlling, intimidating, or high-conflict spouse
• You want to understand how trust, communication, and relationships affect divorce outcomes
• You’re seeking a process that prioritizes practical solutions, emotional well-being, and long-term stability over simply winning

Connect with David Fein:

Website:  www.feinlegalsolutions.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fein-legal-solutions-llc-dba-the-law-office-of-david-fein/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585389850358 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feindavid312/ 

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

In this episode, you’ll learn what complex shame really is, how it fuels codependent and toxic relationships, and what it actually takes to heal it so you can build healthier love and a stronger relationship with yourself.

On this episode of Uncoupled and Unfiltered, I’m joined by Dr. Zoe Shaw—licensed psychotherapist, author, speaker, podcast host, relationship coach, and fitness enthusiast—for a powerful conversation about guilt and shame, how they impact our psyche, and the ways they shape our relationships.

We dive deep into what Complex Shame really is, the red flags to watch for, and practical ways to manage it while rebuilding yourself from the inside out.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this honest, eye-opening conversation.

Key Topics Covered:

• What Complex Shame is and the impact it has on relationships
• The difference between guilt and shame— which emotion motivates growth, and which makes us want to run and hide
• The origins of shame and how it shapes who we become
• How shame shows up in toxic and dysfunctional family dynamics and relationships
• A common misconception: staying too long in a toxic relationship doesn’t mean you’re weak—often, it means the opposite
• How Complex Shame and co-dependency can affect your dating life and influence partner selection
• Tools and insights for learning how to be vulnerable with yourself and with a trusted partner
• Tips for friends and family who want to support someone experiencing it

“If you are not able to verbalize what your part was and the ending of it and the dysfunction that existed, then you're not ready to start a new relationship.” - Dr. Zoe Shaw

About Our Guest: Dr. Zoe Shaw

Dr. Zoe Shaw is a licensed psychotherapist, author, speaker, podcast host, relationships coach, and fitness lover. She is passionate about helping women who struggle in difficult relationships, especially those with sometimes difficult relationships with themselves, overcome complex shame and co-dependency. 

Dr. Zoe is the author of the Ask Dr. Zoe Column in the Grit and Grace Project women’s magazine and the books, A Year Of Self Care and Stronger In The Difficult Places, released by Penguin Randomhouse Waterbrook. She has been featured in the OWN documentary series UNLOCKED,  and published in Oprahmag.com, Recovery Today magazine, Forbes, and Today.com. She writes about helping women overcome shame and co-dependency. You can find her in the media on Instagram: @Drzoeshaw and in most social places at the handle DrZoeShaw.

Who This Episode Is For:

• You’re ready to understand shame without letting it define you or your worth
• You recognize that staying in difficult relationships was a survival response—not a personal failure
• You want to break unhealthy relationship patterns with awareness, self-trust, and compassion
• You’re learning how to practice vulnerability in ways that feel safe, grounded, and empowering
• You’re committed to rebuilding self-connection and creating relationships that truly support who you are becoming

Connect with Dr. Zoe Shaw:

Website:  https://drzoeshaw.com/ 

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/

How do you trust again after betrayal, abuse, or feeling “not enough”? This episode explores rebuilding self-trust, breaking self-abandonment patterns, and opening your heart again.

On this episode of Uncoupled & Unfiltered, Dr. Tasha Seiter, PhD, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Heart of the Matter Therapy and Coaching, shares insights on navigating trust after divorce, breakups, and uncoupling, including rebuilding trust in ourselves and others, with a focus on the challenges faced by survivors of intimate partner abuse. Using evidence-based approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method, she explores why “beautiful women” often experience loneliness due to objectification, the impact on emotional intimacy, and how to prioritize authenticity over appearance. This honest and nuanced conversation offers guidance for anyone healing from heartbreak and seeking secure, emotionally connected relationships.

Key Topics Covered:

• How breakups and divorce trigger deep feelings of rejection — whether you were the one who left or the one left behind
• Why endings awaken core wounds around “not enough” and unworthiness — and how to begin healing them
• The complexity of rebuilding trust, especially after abusive or toxic relationships
• The link between abusive dynamics and self-abandonment — plus practical tools to stop abandoning yourself
• People-pleasing patterns in unhealthy relationships and how they quietly erode self-trust
• The “beautiful woman” syndrome: being perceived as intimidating, objectified, or used
• How to avoid the mental trap of seeing yourself as an object — and how to discern genuine interest from someone operating with their own agenda
• Practical ways to shift out of a mental funk, rebuild self-confidence, and become your own strongest advocate

“The more that you practice taking care of yourself, the more that your nervous system learns it's safe to take care of myself.” - Dr. Tasha Seiter

About Our Guest: Dr. Tasha Seiter

Dr. Tasha Seiter, PhD, LMFT, is a scientist-practitioner, researcher, therapist, and founder of Heart of the Matter Therapy and Coaching, dedicated to helping people build healthier relationships through evidence-based care. Her work spans research on relationships, mindfulness, and stress physiology, clinical mentorship, EFT community-building, and writing featured in outlets like Forbes, Bustle, Healthline, and Psychology Today.

Who This Episode Is For:

• You’re navigating life after divorce, breakup, or uncoupling, and struggling with rejection or self-doubt
• You left the relationship, but still feel grief, guilt, or confusion
• You’re healing from an abusive or toxic relationship and rebuilding self-trust
• You notice patterns of self-abandonment or people-pleasing
• You question your worth despite success, attractiveness, or external validation
• You’ve felt objectified or valued more for appearance than authenticity
• You want to recognize genuine interest versus manipulation or hidden agendas
• You’re ready to stop overthinking and become your own strongest advocate
• You want psychology-backed tools for secure, emotionally healthy relationships

Connect with Dr. Tasha Seiter:

Website: https://marriage-counseling-fort-collins.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtashaseiter/ 

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/

Logic doesn’t stand a chance when love feels like a drug. In this episode, Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards shows how trauma, low self-worth, and intense chemistry can turn a relationship into a full-blown addiction and what it really takes to finally walk away.

Welcome back to Uncoupled and Unfiltered — where we talk about the things your therapist hints at and your best friend avoids saying out loud. I’m your host, Ksenia Muench, and today we’re diving into the messy line between love, obsession, and self-destruction with author and speaker Stephen Paul Edwards. Together, we unpack toxic attraction, attachment wounds, and why so many smart, self-aware people mistake intensity for intimacy and keep returning to relationships that hurt them. This episode is raw, provocative, and might completely change the way you see your past relationships.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why we're drawn to toxic and chaotic relationships — the psychological and neurological forces pulling us toward people who are bad for us
• Why leaving is so hard — what keeps smart, capable people stuck in relationships they know are destroying them
• How trauma and attachment styles shape who we choose — the childhood wounds quietly running your love life
• Can intense, passionate relationships become stable and healthy? — the honest answer
• Warning signs you're in a Venus Fly Trap relationship — and what it feels like when you're the fly
• What Stephen learned about love, boundaries, and self-awareness — the hard-won insights from living through it

“Trauma bonding is very powerful, that people are not even aware when it's happening.” - Stephen Paul Edwards

About Our Guest: Stephen Paul Edwards

Stephen Paul Edwards is the author of The Venus Fly Trap: Sex, Lies, and Repercussions, a memoir that dives into obsession, betrayal, and destructive passion with sharp honesty, dark humor, and emotional depth. Often described as part Fifty Shades, part Gone Girl, and part therapy session with the devil, the book explores the psychology of erotic obsession, toxic attraction, and the painful process of reclaiming yourself from a relationship built to consume you.

Who This Episode Is For You If:

• You’ve stayed in a relationship you knew was wrong, but couldn’t leave
• You’re repeatedly drawn to unavailable or chaotic partners
• You’ve mistaken intensity for love and suffered because of it
• You want to understand the psychology behind toxic attraction and trauma bonds
• You’re ready for an honest conversation about the darker side of love and desire

Connect with Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards:

Website: https://vft23.com/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vft23_official

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seemiracles/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575468609762 

X: https://x.com/vftofficial23?s=21 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephen_sapereaude/  

Free Resources From Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards: 

First three chapters of his book, The Venus Fly Trap: https://bit.ly/4bsLZ7J 

Exclusive coaching discount for listeners of the show: Coaching and Counseling https://vft23.com/coaching-and-counselling/?utm_source=Ksenia+Muench&utm_medium=Uncoupled+%26+Unfiltered&utm_campaign=Podcast+Interview+-++Ksenia+Muench

Discount Code: VFT23!

Connect with Ksenia Muench:

Website: https://www.thriveagaindivorcecoaching.com/ 

Website: https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveagaindivorcecoaching/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvmuench/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@thriveagaindc 

Email: [email protected] 

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share

Follow Uncoupled and Unfiltered on Spotify, Prime, and Apple Podcasts for weekly conversations about divorce, relationships, dating, and self-discovery. If this episode resonated, please rate, review, and share to help others find the show.

Want to hear more podcasts like this one? Check out Dear Divorce Diary with Dawn Wiggins- https://mycoachdawn.com/divorce-podcast/

Want to work with Ksenia? The next cohort is forming now- https://www.highconflictplaybook.com/