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In this week’s conversation, Dr. Nicole sits down with Dr. Melba Mota, educator, author, and founder of Called and Kept Collective LLC, to talk about the cost of staying silent and the journey back to your voice. Dr. Melba shares how being silenced from a young age shaped her life, and how years of doing everything for everyone else left her tired, empty, and unseen.

Song of the week: The Voice Within by Christina Aguilera

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:01:17 – Episode Sponsor: Your Next Chapter LLC

00:02:55 –  Introducing our guest, Dr. Melba Mota

 00:05:06 – How women lose their voice

00:07:36 – Teaching children to use their voice

00:10:24 – Silence trains acceptance of the unhealthy

00:12:22 – Self-silencing in relationships

00:19:08 – Silence, Survival, Stewardship

00:28:05 – Not losing yourself in the name of faith

 00:38:05 – Book: Silence and Survival

 00:40:41 – “My divorce is not final”

 00:44:06 – Faith

 00:44:57 – Connect with Dr. Melba

Book Giveaway 🎉- The first 2 individuals to DM Dr. Nicole “born and still here”on Facebook or Instagram will receive a FREE copy of Dr. Melba’s book, Silence & Survival

Key Takeaways:

“God gives you so many warnings before destruction.”

*Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors re-open.  bit.ly/yncapply

Episode Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Your Next Chapter LLC. Book Dr. Nicole, TEDx and keynote speaker, to speak on life transitions, healing, and growth. Email [email protected] with “Speaker Request” to get started.

About Our Guest

Dr. Melba Mota is the founder of Called & Kept Collective, LLC, where she blends education, writing, and faith-based formation. With over 17 years in education and a doctorate in education, she brings a grounded, real-world approach to healing and personal growth. Her work helps people move from silence and survival into stability and stewardship, learning boundaries, identity, and self-worth in life transitions.

Connect with Dr. Melba Mota:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/silencesurvivalstewardship 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Silence-Survival-Dr-Melba-Mota/dp/B0GRTRCKPN?ref_=ast_author_mpb

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community

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In this week’s conversation, Dr. Nicole sits down with Kim Costa, award-winning realtor, speaker, and CEO of Lifestyle Foundations, to talk about alignment, authenticity, and the powerful connection between your inner life and your physical space. Kim shares her personal journey through misalignment in her career, relationships, and environment and how a series of wake-up calls led her to rebuild her life around what truly fits who she is becoming.

They explore how your home reflects your identity, healing, and next chapter. Kim shares her “stay, go, or renovate” approach and Wheel of Life framework to help assess what’s working and what needs to change across key areas of life.

If life looks fine on the outside but feels misaligned within, this episode invites you to pause, reconnect, and realign your life and space.

Song of the week: Home by Stephanie Mills

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:02:32 –  Introducing our guest, Kim Costa

00:06:21 – Living outside your true identity

00:16:11 – Your home reflects who you are becoming

00:21:50 – The 8 areas of life (Wheel of Life)

00:26:24 – Spiritual alignment shapes the home you need

00:28:40 – Why you shouldn’t rush major decisions

00:37:49 – Connection: Who you allow into your space matters

00:39:39 – Connect with Kim Costa

Key Takeaways:

“Alignment is recognising how you were made, your personality, your values, and what you want to do in your next phase of life.”

*Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors re-open.  bit.ly/yncapply

About Our Guest
Kim Costa is a Top 5% Realtor® in Atlanta and creator of The Wheel House Method, helping high-achieving women align their homes with their next chapter. She supports women through transitions such as divorce, career changes, and midlife shifts with intentional, values-based decisions. Kim is the author of Live in Your Wheel House (March 2026) and host of the Live in Your Wheel House podcast.

Connect with Kim Costa:
Web: https://lifestylefoundations.com/lp-supp/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kim.e.costa/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/kimecostarealtor/

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

Book (Pre-Order): https://lifestylefoundations.com/lp-supp/#order-book

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community

Support the show

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Constantly putting others first can look like love, but over time, it can cost you your well-being.

In this week’s conversation, Dr. Nicole sits down with Dr. Jattu Senesie to talk about pathological altruism and how the habit of always saying yes can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and self-abandonment. They unpack how high-achieving women are often conditioned to prioritize everyone else, how this behavior is rewarded, and why it becomes so difficult to choose yourself without guilt.

If you have ever found yourself overextended, constantly available, or wondering why you feel drained while  doing “good” for others, this episode is a reminder that caring for yourself is not selfish. As you reconnect with your humanity, you create space to live, serve, and show up from a place that is whole.

Song of the week: Cranes in the Sky by Solange

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:01:30 – Introducing our guest, Dr. Jattu Senesie

00:03:53 – What is pathological altruism?

00:15:49 – Signs you may be a pathological altruist

00:17:27 – “How can I inconvenience myself?” mindset

00:26:55 – Clarity comes after rest

00:29:20 – You cannot pour from an empty tank

00:32:33 – Intentional well-being: The “7 joy activities” practice

00:38:55 – Gaining energy, creativity, and clarity

00:40:11 – Learning to do less

00:42:54 – Humanity

00:45:16 – Connect with Dr. Jattu

Key Takeaways:

“If you're saying yes to them, you very well are saying no to something for yourself.”

*Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors re-open.  bit.ly/yncapply

About Our Guest
Dr. Jattu Senesie is a Board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist turned transformational success coach and self-proclaimed recovering pathological altruist. She helps mission-driven professionals create intentional, sustainable lives by aligning high achievement with personal well-being. After retiring from clinical medicine at 35, she now supports early-career professionals, especially those in service-oriented fields, who feel overwhelmed or on the brink of burnout. Through coaching, workshops, and speaking, she equips her clients with the tools to care for themselves as deeply as they care for others.

Connect with Dr. Jattu:

Website: essenceofstrength.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dressenceofstrength

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

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community

Support the show

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*Disclaimer: The opinions shared in this episode are rooted in lived experience and are not intended to diagnose any individuals mentioned or not mentioned.

Trying to make sense of a relationship that feels confusing, draining, and inconsistent can leave you questioning everything, including yourself. And if you’re honest, you may have called it love when it was really survival.

In this bonus “reflections” episode, I’m sharing thoughts that came from sitting with my own story a little longer. After my conversation with Katherine Miura on narcissistic and emotional abuse, there were things I couldn’t leave unsaid. 

I talk about what it looks like when trust is slowly built just to be used against you, how love bombing can feel like a dream but is really the beginning of a nightmare, and why the cycle of hope and disappointment can keep you holding on far longer than you ever planned.

I also get real about patterns like future faking, emotional withdrawal, and the quiet, subtle ways emotional abuse shows up. No yelling. No obvious chaos. Just confusion, self-doubt, and a slow shrinking of who you used to be. If you’ve ever found yourself doing the most to fix something that was never yours to fix, this episode will meet you right there and gently point you back to yourself.

Topics Covered:

 00:00:00 – Episode Snippet

 00:03:18 – Reflecting on Episode 62: Narcissistic abuse

 00:04:44 – Not recognizing abuse in real time

 00:06:27 – Trust built to be used against you

 00:10:03 – Playing the victim to gain sympathy

 00:11:43 – When “love” is really manipulation in disguise

00:15:19 – “Generosity” that’s actually a calculated setup

 00:20:33 – Public generosity vs private neglect

 00:23:23 – Why  don’t you just leave?

 00:29:39 – Future faking as a control tactic

 00:33:31 – Accountability reveals the truth

 00:34:48 – The need to be the center of attention

 00:37:39 – Your birthday becomes their victim story

 00:39:59 – Abuse by deception defined

 00:43:11 – A help to recognize the signs

Key Takeaways:

“You don't freaking know what you're going through until you're on the other side of it.”

Episode Mentioned: 

Recognizing and Surviving Narcissistic Abuse (w/ Katherine Miura) 

*Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors re-open.  bit.ly/yncapply

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Being stuck between staying and leaving can feel like living in constant tension within yourself.

In this week’s conversation, Dr. Nicole sits down with Betsy Pake, certified master coach and host of The Art of Living Big podcast, to talk about the clarity needed to make life-changing decisions in relationships. They unpack why high-achieving women can lead powerfully in their careers yet feel stuck in their personal lives, the internal conflict behind indecision, and how beliefs, patterns, and past experiences shape the choices we struggle to make.

If you have ever felt paralyzed trying to figure out the “right” decision, this episode is a reminder that clarity doesn’t come from overthinking, but from reconnecting with who you truly are.

Song of the week: Hard Place by H.E.R.

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode Snippet

00:01:14 – Introducing our guest, Betsy Pake

00:04:11 – Betsy’s journey to her work

00:07:37 – Conflicting beliefs women carry

00:10:02 – Disorientation and lack of direction

00:11:43 – Ad: Join the R&R Collective™

00:13:05 – Clarity through letting go of inherited beliefs 

00:15:24 – Clarity starts with self-awareness

00:20:38 – No perfect decision

00:21:28 – Brain filters through focus and emotion

00:24:30 – Align beliefs with future vision

00:26:52 – All it takes is a mustard seed

00:29:41 – Indecision is internal conflict

00:30:38 – Heal to break cycles

00:34:30 – Own your part

00:36:37 – Your choices are shaping who you’re becoming

00:39:40 – Honor past versions of you

00:42:49 – Reclaim yourself

00:43:31 – Connect with Betsy

Key Takeaways:

“Whatever it is that you're doing today is creating a version of you.” 

“If you don’t like who you’re becoming, it’s your responsibility to do something about it.”

*Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? The doors have reopened and will close again on 4/1/26. Apply today! (The deadline to apply is 3/23.) bit.ly/yncapply

About Our Guest
Betsy Pake is a certified master coach, speaker, and writer with over 12 years of experience helping women expand their potential. Using trauma-informed care and neuroscience-based techniques, she supports women through midlife transitions, marital challenges, and major life decisions. She is the creator of The Navigate Method and host of the weekly podcast The Art of Living Big.

Connect with Betsy:
Website: https://betsypake.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsypake/

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our email community: 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

*Disclaimer: The opinions shared in this episode are rooted in lived experience and are not intended to diagnose any individuals mentioned or not mentioned.

Surviving narcissistic abuse can feel like losing yourself piece by piece.

In this week’s conversation, Dr. Nicole sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Katherine Miura to talk about narcissistic abuse, manipulation, and the patterns that keep people trapped in toxic relationships. They unpack love bombing, trauma bonds, and the emotional confusion that often leaves survivors questioning their own reality.

If you have ever felt drained, isolated, or unsure how a relationship became so painful, this episode is a reminder that awareness is the first step toward healing. As you reclaim your voice, you begin rebuilding the parts of yourself that were slowly worn down.

Song of the week: Smiling Faces Sometimes by The Undisputed Truth

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode Snippet

00:05:06 – Katherine’s journey and turning point

00:06:45 – Brainwashing behind narcissistic abuse

00:11:38 – Abuse by deception

00:16:53 – Predator-prey relationships  

00:19:01 – Uncovering the narcissist’s mask

00:23:31 – Why victims are often not believed

00:26:17 – What causes narcissism?

00:29:40 – How narcissists manipulate couples therapy

00:39:20 – Curb your empathy

00:46:13 – What love bombing looks like in relationships

00:48:13 – Setting boundaries and rebuilding yourself

00:49:35 – Stop becoming your own abuser 

00:51:01 – Healing the inner child

00:55:40 – Awareness

00:56:23 – Connect with Katherine

Key Takeaways:

“Narcissistic abuse destroys you piece by piece until you become dependent on the person hurting you.”

“Abuse by deception works because we trust like sheep without a brain.”

*Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? The doors have reopened and will close again on 4/1/26. Apply today! (The deadline to apply is 3/23.) bit.ly/yncapply

About Our Guest
Katherine Miura is a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and survivor of narcissistic abuse. Through her private practice and educational work, she helps survivors recognize manipulation, break trauma bonds, and rebuild healthy relationships grounded in self-awareness and healing.

Connect with Katherine:
Website: https://www.katherinemiura.com
Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Katherine-Miura-LMFT-Author

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Performing for love will keep you exhausted. Choosing yourself will set you free.

In this week’s conversation, I sat down with Siobhan Middleton to talk about breaking free from good girl conditioning and stepping into grown woman energy. We unpack people-pleasing, performance-based love, and the power of accountability in healing after divorce.

If you’ve been shrinking to be chosen or praised, this episode is your reminder-  you don’t need permission to choose yourself. As you release who you had to be, you begin gathering the life and love aligned with who you truly are.

Song of the week: Free by Jill Scott

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode Snippet

00:04:11 – From corporate layoff to calling

00:08:48 – Accountability is part of healing

00:12:40 – Abuse, awareness & owning your growth

00:16:33 – Therapy, Support & Real-Time Healing

00:20:28 – The roots of “Good Girl” conditioning

00:24:25 – Performance, praise, and conditional love

00:28:37 –  Defining Grown Woman Energy

00:31:57 – The cost of choosing yourself

00:35:16 – 3 truths every grown woman must know

00:36:14 – Releasing & Gathering 

00:39:43 – Freedom

00:40:32 – Connect with Siobhan 

Key Takeaways:

“All women deserve to be free. It is your birthright. Even if it has been stripped away, it’s up to you to reclaim it, and it is possible.”

We’re welcoming 10 new women to our membership community, the R&R Collective™ on 4/1/26. Apply today! (Deadline to apply is 3/23.) bit.ly/yncapply

About Our Guest

Siobhan J. Middleton is a life coach and founder of Freedom Is the Lifestyle. After transitioning from corporate America in 2013, she established a platform dedicated to helping women unlearn “good girl” conditioning and step into their full womanhood. Through coaching, retreats, and digital content, she equips women with the tools to set healthy boundaries, make empowered choices, and cultivate lives rooted in freedom and self-trust.

Connect with Siobhan:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/siobhanjmiddleton 

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

Free Resource:  https://l1nq.com/zsId6 

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community

Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating

Support the show

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Hey Loyal Listeners (and new listeners too)!

There are 2 ways you can help me reach more high-achieving women who are out here trying to navigate life transitions on their own:

1. Leave us a 5-star rating and review. If you’re listening to this in the Apple Podcasts app, click the 3 dots in the upper right corner, click “Go to Show”, scroll all the way down until you see “Ratings & Reviews” and click there. This will take you to the screen where you can both give the podcast a 5-star rating AND write a review. Please be sure to do both, as positive ratings and reviews help new listeners find the podcast.
2. Share the podcast with a friend. Word of mouth is good, but people will forget to take action. The best way to share the podcast is to share the direct link to the show. Put it in the group chat. Text it to your bestie or a coworker. From the Apple Podcasts app click the 3 dots in the upper right hand corner and click the share button. You can share the show or specific episodes. 

Remember-- this podcast is not just about divorce. It’s for high-achieving women navigating disruptive life transitions, which includes divorce but also caregiving, parenting, career transitions, midlife, health challenges and more!

I can't wait to see you on 3/9 for Season 4! 🎉

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It's not too late hang out with us TONIGHT (2/13/26) for our 2nd annual virtual Galentine's Day party! Join us on Zoom at 7:30 pm ET for music, laughter, bonding, sharing, journaling and good old fashioned girl time! No need for makeup, hair appointments or fancy clothes! Come in your favorite PJs or sweats. I'll see you soon! *Registration is required.

To register: bit.ly/YNCGAL26

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Laughter on the other side of betrayal is not delusion. It is evidence that healing took place where destruction tried to settle.

In this week’s season 3 finale, I am talking about infidelity with honesty, humor, and a healed heart, and showing what it looks like to be on the other side of betrayal without bitterness.

Together we walk through the shock, the spiral, the anger, the grief, and the clarity that follows, and we name the truth that healing does not erase the story, it just rewrites the ending.

If you are recovering from infidelity or still wrestling with decisions you never asked for, I hope this conversation reminds you that your worth is intact, your joy can return, and God knows how to rebuild what lies tried to destroy.

God writes new chapters after infidelity, and the healing speaks louder than the lies ever could.

Song of the week: Heard it All Before by Sunshine Anderson

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode Snippet

00:01:05 – What healing looks like

00:03:10 – Heard It All Before

00:06:51 – Infidelity is a common and painful reality

00:08:41 – Stage 1: The discovery phase

00:11:37 – Shock, disbelief, and connecting the puzzle pieces

00:15:44 – Stage 2: The spiral phase 

00:20:28 – Information overload and unwanted answers

00:21:25 – Stage 3: Anger at spouse, paramour, and self

00:29:18 – Stage 4: Grief, loss, and mourning the marriage

00:32:46 – Stage 5: Clarity and the fork in the road

00:33:50 – The power of making a decision

00:36:46 – Reclaiming worth and releasing responsibility

00:38:12 – Healing after infidelity is possible

Key Takeaways:

“Infidelity cuts deep, and in my opinion, it is the deepest betrayal.”

“Anger can turn you into someone you don’t recognize if you’re not careful.”

worthy, and there is deserving love ahead of you.”

Join us for our Galentine’s Day Event!! bit.ly/YNCGAL26

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community

The doors for our new membership community, the R&R Collective™ will reopen in 2026. Join the waitlist today! https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/u4ehbbody9

Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith.

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