Moms Moving On: Navigating Divorce, Single Motherhood & Co-Parenting.

Co-parenting a child with special needs take a little extra care and attention, and so does making sure your divorce papers and parenting plan reflect that.

In this episode of Moms Moving On, Rebecca Amster-Cantor, a therapist, attorney, and the GO-TO for all things divorce and family related here in Miami, helps break down how to handle divorce and co-parenting when you have a child with special needs. We spoke about a wide range of topics including:

- How to ensure both parents follow the IEP

- How to ensure the child's needs are met in both homes

- What to do if they're not met, and so much more.

Always interested in children’s issues, Rebecca opened her own law practice in 2003, concentrating on the needs of children in Family Court.  She rapidly began building her caseload and her reputation as a strong voice for children as a Guardian ad litem in Dissolution cases.

Rebecca returned to school and received her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University.  Ever the academic achiever, Rebecca was the first student in Nova’s MFT program to receive a 100% on the Comprehensive exam.

Rebecca’s practice, as always, remains very focused on meeting the psychological and emotional needs of children, and of families in Family Court.  Rebecca finds great joy and personal satisfaction in helping families seek new function and practical solutions so that parents can move on from the fatigue of litigation and move forward to enjoying their children every day.

Getting divorced is hard, no doubt, but no ever tells you about how it might feel when you or your ex spouse introduce your children to a new romantic partner. There are questions, lots of them, and you'll want to know just how to answer those - especially if things don't go as planned.

That's why I brought Evelyn Mendal, early childhood expert, back to the podcast - no one answers these tough questions quite like her. And in the process, she'll make you feel better, too.

If you've suffered a strained relationship with your father in your childhood, it's only natural that you may have some issues with your personal relationships in adulthood. Commonly known as 'Daddy Issues,' a term often thrown around for laughs, anyone who has said issues know that they are no laughing matter as they can be deeply painful and leave lasting wounds.

Breaking the toxic relationship cycle after divorce is critical to moving on in an empowered, productive way but can also be one of the most difficult things to do, especially if you've been in the toxic relationship cycle for years.

On this episode of Moms Moving On, I sat down with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, psychologist and couples therapist to examine why we fall victim to unhealthy relationship patterns, and more importantly, how to break the cycle. 

Because you deserve a happy, healthy, and fulfilling relationship after divorce!

If there's one thing us mamas strive to be after divorce, it's the very best co-parents we can be, despite the often challenging and rocky road of co-parenting. I invited Certified Life Coach Mikki Gardner to help us debunk some co-parenting myths and explain the power of conscious co-parenting, and incredible strategy designed to protect both you and your children throughout the divorce and co-parenting process.

At the end of the day, we can only give what we have, as Mikki shares, and our children deserve for us to do the inner work it takes to get us to a healed, more conscious place.

Mikki Gardner is a certified Life Coach and Conscious Parenting Coach.  She is a mom to 3 boys (her son and 2 bonus sons) and 2 dogs. She co-parents with her partner, her ex husband and his wife.

Mikki has a private one-on-one coaching practice where she helps single moms become strong, loving, effective co-parents and build resilient, joy-filled lives after divorce; without feeling isolated and alone.

Andrea Javor is a magic maker - she's not just coaching women through their divorces, she's helping women find their "happily better after" when it comes to their careers after divorce as well. In short, she's the full package. 

In this episode, we dug deep into the questions every woman must ask herself when faced with starting life over after divorce, and touched on the secrets to what it takes to get back to your happiest self, personally and professionally - and it all starts with breaking free from the constructs of what you're familiar with.

"There is no freedom greater than a woman who is finally going to honor her authentic self," Dr. Shefali shares on this episode of Moms Moving On, and we couldn't agree more.

Imagine not knowing who you truly are or feeling like you're living life for everyone BUT yourself - that's exactly how Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of Melissa & Doug toys, felt for almost half of her life. In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, we had an in-depth conversation about her struggles with her own mental health, not being able to feel a sense of purpose or happiness, and what led her to writing her first book, LifeLines.

Since taking a journey inward, Melissa has not only been able to heal from her existential depression, she's built an entire community devoted to helping others heal as well. With her book, LifeLines, you'll be taken on a visual journey through a symphony of prose, poetry and photography.

This episode really dives deep into how we change as women, over time, once discovering who we really are, and Melissa's candid honesty is as refreshing as it is impactful.

No matter how much you might want a divorce, no one wants an all-out, knock-down, drag-out fight in the courtroom. That's where Erin Levine comes in, the queen of helping couples get divorced peacefully, with some really solid advice and insight that will challenge all of your misconceptions about what divorce might look like for you.

After 15 years advising clients, litigating, negotiating and mediating contested and cooperative divorces, and running a respected boutique family law firm in the Bay Area, Erin became a bit disenchanted with the family law process and how it it would pit spouses against one another. Not being one to shy away from a challenge and being comfortable as the “underdog,” she set out to create an online, ethically compliant, divorce process for uncontested divorces - Hello Divorce.

Feel your righteous anger, own it, and learn how to deal with it so that you can move on from your divorce in a healthy, emotionally evolved way with none other than 'The Divorce Doctor' herself, clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Cohen.

Dr. Cohen received her PhD in clinical psychology from Boston University. As part of her graduate training, she treated clients at the world-renowned Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in Boston, MA.

Dr. Cohen was the recipient of the prestigious American Psychological Foundation Research Award for her doctoral research. Following her time at BU, Dr. Cohen completed her pre-doctoral internship at Bellevue Hospital Center and the New York University Child Study Center.  After completing her training, she was asked to become the Director of the CBT program at Bellevue’s Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic.

Dr. Cohen has been featured in the Wall Street Journal,  NBC News, Women’s Health, Huff Post, Thrive Global and, Good Housekeeping.

We spend a lot of time worrying about how we'll cope with divorce and co-parenting, but, wait, how are we helping our kids cope with divorce an co-parenting?

The notion that kids are resilient and adaptable is great and all, but we have to give them the tools to be able to find their resiliency and adaptability, especially through divorce and co-parenting. We have to help them take the fear out of life's scary moments.

For four years now, author and co-parenting mom Katie Bingham-Smith has written for a multitude of motherhood publications on the struggles of divorce and what it's like to co-parent two tweens and a teen.

And now, she's sharing her whole experience with us on the podcast.

From how to have the difficult divorce conversation with your tweens and teens to making co-parenting work with new relationships in the mix, Katie talks open and honestly about her entire divorce experience.

Katie Bingham-Smith Is a single mom to three teenagers and freelance writer. You can see her work on Scary Mommy, Grown & Flown, Momdotcom, The Girlfriend, Momtastic, as week as many Maine magazines.

How to Shelter Your Kids From the Effects of Divorce? "You have to vow to take the high road," Dr. Larry Waldman shares, and most importantly, "you must love your child more than you hate your ex.

In this episode of Moms Moving On, we talk about the importance of keeping the divorce drama between the adults only, and protecting our children at any cost - regardless of how high tempers are flaring or how bruised an ego may be.

If you want your children to survive divorce without long lasting trauma, it's the only way.

Dr. Larry Waldman is a top Phoenix-area psychologist and a 7x author. He conducted a highly successful private practice of 45 years working with children, teens, parents, couples, and adults in a solution-focused manner.  He also consulted with family, personal injury, immigration and estate planning attorneys.  His BS in Education/Psychology was from the University of Wisconsin; his MS in School Psychology was from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; his Ph.D. in Educational/School Psychology was earned at Arizona State University; and his Diplomate (ABPP) was received in 2003.

Your most requested podcast guest EVER - Former Real Housewife of OC's Meghan King - joins us on the podcast to talk life after divorce, learning to trust after infidelity, and co-parenting three children with ex Jim Edmonds.

Divorce after earth-shattering infidelity is hard, but living it publicly? That seems downright impossible - yet our podcast guest has handled her transition into single motherhood after a painful divorce with nothing but class, grace, and realness - and we love her for it. Meghan King, formerly of the RHOC, lived a very painful and very public divorce from ex Jim Edmonds who she now co-parents three young children with - one having recently been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. She's inspiring, hopeful, honest, and all of the things you love her for - and she bared it all for us while on vacation by herself in the jungles of Mexico in between diving, hiking, and even a visit from a raccoon in the forest.

Understanding your triggers can mean the difference between a peaceful life well-lived and living in a constant state of anger and resentment. Does your ex seem to trigger you in all the worst ways, all of the time? Same, or at least this used to be the case, before I really did the work to honor my traumas and truly understand what had the power to trigger me. Like with anything else, when it comes to understanding your triggers, knowledge really is power.

That's why I had Marriage and Family Therapist Dr. Ilene Cohen - 3x award-winning author, and mom - join us to talk about all things related to feeling triggered, how to stop feeling so triggered, and how to make sure your triggers don't ruin your post-divorce and co-parenting life. Trust me, this is good stuff.

Dr. Ilene S. Cohen, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, and mother of two animated young girls. She is one of the most respected voices in the psychology of people-pleasing and navigating the difficulty of living an intentional life while trying to maintain fulfilling relationships. She is the author of 5 books, all of which have received awards and 5-star ratings from her readers. These include her most famous book, When It’s Never About You, and her new book, Anxious for Answers. She’s a regular contributor to Psychology Today, with dedicated readers numbering in the millions. Her books and therapy practice are fueled by a passion for helping people achieve their goals, build a strong sense of self, and lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. As president of her family’s foundation, Dr. Ilene oversees various initiatives geared toward creating better opportunities for those in need.

She founded the wildly popular Boss Mom community. Her business continues to thrive and grow and affect the lives of thousands of women. Somewhere in there, she got divorced - but that didn't throw her off course - it simply changed her and fueled her fire even more.

Dana Malstaff is a boss in every sense of the word, and in this episode, she's sharing with us how she has handled her recent divorce and continued on thriving, despite the transition into a whole new life with two children in tow. 

Talking to our kids about divorce is important - but also, slightly confusing and overwhelming, if we're being honest. That's why we're chatting with Chicago-based Family Law Attorney Eva Matela Kogut of Kogut & Wilson.

In this episode of Moms Moving On, we're talking about: 

- How to broach these important conversations with our kids

- How to get on the same page with your ex when it comes to the kids

- What to say to your family

AND MORE!

The dating app profile picture - how much is too much? The dating app profile bio - less is more or tell all? How do I get past the fear of putting myself back out there again? In this episode of Moms Moving On, psychotherapist-turned-dating coach Melanie Hersch helps answer all of those online dating questions that so many divorced mamas and more.

Melanie Hersch is a psychotherapist turned dating coach who teaches singles how to rewire the unconscious patterns that have been preventing them from having the love they want.

Melanie believes that dating and relationships are some of the most powerful catalysts for personal growth. Her approach isn't focused on how to 'get' the person you want... but on how to become the person who easily attracts love in. Her unique approach blends psychology, spirituality, and energetics to help her clients increase their self esteem, know their worth, and easily attract healthy love into their lives!

Her work has been featured in Oprah's O Magazine.

New motherhood can be a scary world for some - even scarier if you're also facing divorce at the same time. Jen Schwartz, the postpartum depression warrior behind Motherhood Understood, joins us to chat about dealing with some pretty heavy emotions many women face as they ease into motherhood and divorce at the same time.

Jen Schwartz, also known as “the medicated mommy,” is the founder and CEO of Motherhood Understood, a platform, community, and story-sharing hub for women affected by pregnancy and postpartum mental health issues that she created after surviving postpartum depression and anxiety with the birth of her son, and realizing just how many mothers suffer in silence like she did. She built Motherhood Understood to provide women and their families with education, resources, connection, and support so that no mother has to experience a mental health illness in isolation and all mothers get the help they need to feel well and thrive in motherhood. Jen is a professional speaker, writer, moderator, consultant, spokesperson, and thought-leader committed to shining the light on the darkest of places, where maternal mental health taboos have been hiding out, trying to make mothers believe they are not enough and all alone. In addition to running Motherhood Understood, a highly-engaged community of over 93,000 women, Jen recently launched Maternal Mental Health in Minutes, an educational video library breaking down pregnancy and postpartum mental health illnesses and their treatments. Her work and expert commentary can be found all over the mommy blogosphere and on popular websites such as Forbes, Healthline, The Mighty, Romper, Motherly, The Bump, Happiest Baby, and more.

For years, Dr. Jenn Mann, author, psychotherapist, and host of Vh1's Couples Therapy, has helped couples figure out how to heal, how to move on, or how to heal AND move on.

In this episode, she's sharing tips on when to salvage the relationship, when to let it go, and how to communicate through it all - even as co-parents. You'll love her honest advice - especially about how to drag a man to the couples counselor's couch!

In the media recently, we've seen endless news updates about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's impending divorce, due largely in part to his struggles with Bipolar Disorder. Making the decision to divorce is difficult enough, but what happens when you are considering leaving a marriage where there are mental health issues present? That certainly adds a whole other level of difficulty and stress to the decision.

That's why I invited on my friend and top Florida family law attorney Lauren Grondski of the Law Offices of Lauren Grondski for an in-depth chat on how to get divorced when a spouse has mental health issues. We covered best practices, how to handle co-parenting, and which resources to consider when going through the divorce process with a spouse who has mental illness.

Lauren Grondski is the owner and founder of Law Offices of Lauren Grondski, P.A. She is a Family Law Attorney and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator. In addition, Lauren dedicates herself as a Guardian Ad Litem, advocating for children in the legal system.

It's not hard to view your divorce as the "worst thing in the world," especially when everyone around us tends to treat divorce like an ugly, horrible life change. This is where our podcast guest. Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, thrives most - in helping women find the light on the other side of divorce.

Learn, heal, grow is her mantra and we're getting a healthy mix of all three in this episode of Moms Moving On.

Dr. Cohen received her PhD in clinical psychology from Boston University. As part of her graduate training, she treated clients at the world-renowned Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in Boston, MA.

Dr. Cohen was the recipient of the prestigious American Psychological Foundation Research Award for her doctoral research. Following her time at BU, Dr. Cohen completed her pre-doctoral internship at Bellevue Hospital Center and the New York University Child Study Center.  After completing her training, she was asked to become the Director of the CBT program at Bellevue’s Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic.

Dr. Cohen has been featured in the Wall Street Journal,  NBC News, Women’s Health, Huff Post, Thrive Global and, Good Housekeeping.

What often keeps a woman stuck in an unhappy marriage? Money - the fear of not having enough, the fear of not being able to live independently, and the fear that her ex will "take everything."

Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan are doing some very important (and impressive) work in the divorce space - they're helping women answer these questions and understand their finances and create a clear plan of action for being able to take that next step into their independence. I learned SO much from chatting with them and I know you will, too.

After finding herself wearing some serious stepmama shoes just a few years back, Jamie Scrimgeour, a former Child Protection Worker, realized very quickly that there just wasn't enough resources for women who needed help learning how to do the stepmom thing. Fast forward a few years, three stepkids, and one biological child later, and Jamie is working with women all over the world to help them stepparent with ease and confidence.

In this episode we talk about:

How to overcome some of the more common challenges of stepparenting

How to not take the little things personally

Understanding your role in the mix of ex wives and their children

Advice for enjoying it all

Jamie is a proud wife, mother and stepmom who has always been passionate about supporting others in living the best life possible. With a BA (Hons) in Psychology and a diploma in Social Services, prior to taking time off to welcome her daughter into the world, Jamie enjoyed her career in Child Protection. 

Upon becoming a stepmom, she was disappointed at the lack of positive, solution-focused support for stepmoms. This motivated Jamie to start her own method of supporting stepmoms. In her blog, podcast and videos Jamie talks candidly about all things motherhood, step-motherhood, entrepreneurship and living a KICK-ASS Life. 

Jamie is on a mission to inspire women to thrive amongst the tough stuff in life - whatever that may be. 

Jamie’s content has reached stepmoms internationally and has been featured on popular blogging websites including The Huffington Post Divorce, About.com, Mum.info and the Motherish.

For the last 2020 episode of Moms Moving On, I wanted to go out with a truly inspiring bang, which is why I invited this amazing single mom of 3 on for a chat. Sheva Ganz not only left her marriage, she left an entire country and religion behind in pursuit of finding her own values and true moral compass.

She is now a single mom coach, therapist, and reparenting coach, and I am so excited for you to hear her story!

Sheva believes in every individual's innate capacity to heal, and seek a path towards discovery and transformation, lined with dignity, respect, trust, creativity and open-minded exploration. She specializes in the following areas:

- Divorce Issues

- Parenting

- Coping Skills

- Trauma Resolution, and more!

"I don't think I'm going to be able to handle this," most women tell me at the start of their divorce process. And I can totally sympathize. Dealing with anxiety during your divorce process takes special attention, care, and strategy, and our guest on this episode helps with all three.

Day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment - that's how Dr. Erika Velez guides her clients when it comes to handling their anxiety and fear related to the divorce process. Dr. Erika has joined us for a second time to help listeners unpack all that is worrying them about the divorce process after what has been a truly challenging year.

Dr. Erika Velez has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Child Psychology. Her passion lies in helping people understand themselves and take control of their lives, teaching (and learning), and has enjoyed working as an adjunct professor at Barry University and Albizu University in Miami, FL.

The divorce process can be a lengthy one, so what does that mean for the children in the meantime. Who will they be with? When? WHERE?!

This is where temporary parenting plans become a game changer. A temporary parenting plan or custody agreement contains information about where your child will live and how you and the other parent will care for your child during the divorce proceedings. A temporary plan lasts until the divorce is finalized and the permanent parenting plan is in place. But wait, there's more, and this is why I invited family law attorney Lauren Hunt on the podcast to share her knowledge on the benefits of a temporary parenting plan.

Lauren is an Attorney / Mediator in New York State and has practiced exclusively in the field of Family / Matrimonial Law for over a decade. She understands that family problems must be resolved quickly, cost-effectively, and in a way that addresses the client’s short- and long-term needs. Lauren works to craft individualized solutions that are practical, realistic, and account for each client’s unique facts.

Her practice includes direct representation in a wide variety of family law matters and she also maintains a state-wide mediation practice. Whether the matter is resolved in court or at the mediation table, Lauren works with her clients to ensure that their voices are heard and values understood. She truly enjoys the work she does and the clients that she has had the privilege to represent.

Lauren was named to the Super Lawyers list in the area of Family Law from 2014-2020 and has received several other awards in recognition of her professionalism and advocacy in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law.

Lauren's other involvements in the legal and non-legal community include: serving on several committees for the New York State Bar Association, sitting on the Board of the Shaker Heritage Society, and volunteering her time as both a foster parent and pro bono legal counsel for a local dog rescue.

Her greatest treasure in life, though, is her family. In her downtime, she can be found exploring a new hiking trail with her husband and son, cooking up big Sunday breakfasts, and dancing to “Baby Shark” for the millionth time with her son – Jack. 

The divorce process does not have to be an ugly one, even when it involves parentage and financial decisions. That's where today's guest, divorce attorney and family Mediator Alison Spirito, comes in. 

As a divorce attorney, Alison realized very quickly the benefit of ditching the divorce battle and focusing on coming to an agreement designed completely by the couple looking to uncouple. It's called mediation, and it's far less scary than it sounds. 

Worried that you can't make it to the mediation table because of covid? Have no fear - online mediation is a common speciality for Alison, providing a comfort and convenience for the couples she works with.

Alison Spirito is a divorce & family mediator and attorney in Los Angeles, California. She helps families stay out of court and create sustainable settlement agreements that actually work for them. She enjoys working with parents, learning about their children and financial goals, and educating them on their options so they can make informed decisions that are right for them and for their families.

Alison is an executive committee member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Barristers/Young Attorneys Section, where serves as a liaison to the Family Law Section.  Alison is also co-chair of the South Bay Bar Association’s Family Law Section.

Divorce can be a tricky process, of course, but what happens if your spouse has substance abuse issues or is battling mental health struggles and you fear leaving them because you don't want them to have time alone with the kids? That's where Rebecca Amster Cantor, Esq. MS comes in.

What sets Rebecca apart when dealing with this topic is that fact she is both a family lawyer and a marriage and family therapist. Her wisdom, strategy, and compassion for the children and families involved in the divorce process put her at the top of her game. What's more, her attitude towards divorce is extremely refreshing.

Rebecca was raised in Philadelphia, PA, where she learned to love cheesesteaks and Italian water ice.  Always a high academic achiever, Rebecca attended Cornell University, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Studies.  Trading snowstorms for tropical breezes, Rebecca moved to Miami to attend the University of Miami School of Law, graduating a proud member of the Cane family in 2000.

Always interested in children’s issues, Rebecca opened her own law practice in 2003, concentrating on the needs of children in Family Court.  She rapidly began building her caseload and her reputation as a strong voice for children as a Guardian ad litem in Dissolution cases.

Rebecca returned to school and received her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University.  Ever the academic achiever, Rebecca was the first student in Nova’s MFT program to receive a 100% on the Comprehensive exam.

Rebecca’s practice, as always, remains very focused on meeting the psychological and emotional needs of children, and of families in Family Court.  Rebecca finds great joy and personal satisfaction in helping families seek new function and practical solutions so that parents can move on from the fatigue of litigation and move forward to enjoying their children every day.

Healing after divorce is not a linear process. Healing after divorce can sometimes feel impossible.  That's why I interviewed Author and podcast host Karen Millon  to talk about what true healing after a divorce looks like, and the secret to her own amazing divorce - even after leaving her marriage of 17 years for another man.

Dana Michelle and her positive attitude about divorce, co-parenting, and life in general brings a breath of fresh air to this episode of Moms Moving On, and there's no way you can avoid feeling inspired by her!

About Dana Michelle Davenport, Esq.: Dana Michelle is the host of radio and television talk shows Dana Being Dana, new television show Finding Common Ground and Co-founder and Director of The Homecoming Challenge, a non-profit alumni giving campaign. A full-time practicing attorney and mother of two, Dana Michelle divorced in 2015 and unleashed a new lease on life.

You know you have to leave your marriage, or maybe you've already left - but you're still riddled with fear and not sure what to do to quiet those fears. That's where Breakup/Divorce Coach Matina Singh comes in.

Matina was 35 years old, with three young children, who were counting on her for stability, when she was in one of the most unstable moments of her  life. For the first time ever, her life was hers and she didn’t know how to deal with it. One day at a time, she started defining herself, her values, and what was a “MUST” for her and her children’s lives. 

Today, coming out on the other side of that roller coaster ride, she stand strong knowing that she has REFLECTED, RESET and RECLAIMED her life and wants to help other women going through similar situations, do the same.

Laura Wasser has represented celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Jimmy Iovine, Maria Shriver, and Stevie Wonder, but she maintains that divorce is the great equalizer — it terrifies everyone.

Yes, you can co-parent with a pathogenic parent (a narcissist, borderline personality, or other difficult personality disorder), and you can even find harmony and peace for the kids if you do it right. 

How? 

Dorcy Pruter, shows us how to shift the entire co-parenting relationship and create better, healthier outcomes for the new post-separation family structure. Dorcy is the Founder and CEO of Conscious Co-Parenting Institute, a Dorcy Inc. Company. Through reunification coaching and co-parenting education, Dorcy provides strategies and solutions for parents and children to reconnect, or stay connected, during and after a high-conflict divorce.

The primary focus of Dorcy’s work at the Conscious Co-Parenting Institute is high-conflict custody disputes involving “Parental Alienation.” Her goal is to help establish custody plans and co-parenting roles that encourage positive relationships between children and BOTH parents.

Divorce is up 34% during the Coronavirus pandemic which has made for a very delayed divorce process for some people. Julie Burton, writer and all around hilarious mama, was not one of these people, as she recently finalized her divorce - from home - hence why she was without pants.

Listen to how the divorce process worked for Julie during the pandemic, and what co-parenting her two daughters looked like during this time.

She’s one of the funniest moms in Kansas City. The surprisingly quiet and introverted mom of two puts an end to the “perfect” highlight reel of parenting we all see on social media. Julie tells us how it really is raising two daughters as a single, divorced mom in Overland Park, Kansas. She gives comic relief to moms, wives, and women around the world with her blunt and often embarrassing real-life stories.

Julie is a contributing author to the NYT Best-Selling anthology humor series, “But Did You Die? Setting the Parenting Bar Low,” by A Bunch of Know-It-Alls and “Will Work for Apples,” by the Teacher’s Pets.

Julie is named one of the funniest parents by NBC’s Today Show, Scary Mommy, Huffington Post Parents, Good Morning America and Buzzfeed. She is a regular contributing writer all around the Internet.

You can find her at:

What if I told you the divorce process didn't have to be ugly? That it wouldn't have to involve a long, drawn-out court battle full of contention and toxicity? That's the beauty of collaborative law, and why I interviewed Greenville, North Carolina's FIRST practicing collaborative law attorney, Ashley-Nicole Russell, P.A..

Did I mention that she is only 34 and was already named one of the 10 best female attorneys in client satisfaction by The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys? Yea, she's something special and I am so excited for you to learn from her.

Ashley-Nicole is dedicated to understanding her client’s needs and protecting their interests. As a child of divorce, she knows first hand the hardship and long-term effects of the traditional litigation model. She is committed to the Collaborative Divorce process outlined in the North Carolina General Statutes as a healthier alternative to litigation. Ashley-Nicole used the Collaborative Process in her own divorce, and she knows the success of the process first hand to preserve relationships and set the tone for a life of peace after divorce. She opened The Law Offices of Ashley-Nicole Russell, P.A. to help families navigate the emotional and legal aspects of separation and divorce in the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina.

Ashley-Nicole Russell is the first practicing Collaborative Attorney in Greenville, NC. She graduated from Appalachian State University, Magna Cum Laude, with a BS in Political Science and a BSCJ in Criminal Justice. She went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law. There she obtained her Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Dispute Resolution Institute. Ashley-Nicole received training in Wilmington, NC with the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and is now a member of IACP.

Feeling stuck in your marriage due to personal beliefs? Letting your co-dependency get the best of you? Full of shame for having left your marriage? 

Author and Therapist Edit Alaverdyan breaks it all down for us in this wildly empowering episode, and reminds us that doing the hard work on ourselves is always worth it.

Edit Alaverdyan born and raised in Hrazdan Armenia came to the US at age 9, from then on, she had a passion for humanitarianism and Psychology. Edit graduated from the University of Phoenix, Arizona, earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Child Therapy. Edit conducted two years of her training at BHC Alhambra Hospital working with Acute patients in mental health distress followed by extensive experience with Eating Disorder patients. While working at Reasons Eating Disorder Recovery Center, she gained extensive experience conducting various groups and Psychotherapy approaches. Edit has been invited to several schools such as Cal State University Northridge and University of Phoenix specifically for her Psycho-educational courses and Panel speeches on individuals struggling with Grief and Loss as well as Depression. Edit has been known for her psycho-educational courses on various research-based practices. Edit is continuing her education with a Doctorate in Health Administration. She has been helping various mental health organizations consulting and implementing various programs by adding the approach to advanced study and research in the applied science and practice of professional management.

Edit Alaverdyan’s goal is to create a safe environment, instill confidence and provide emotional support to anyone that is struggling with mental health dilemmas. Therapy can certainly help manage your emotional stressor (e.g., traumatic experiences). Her Psychotherapy approach is well known for its gentle and empathetic approach to solving problems and creating tools for the clients that want to overcome anxiety, depression, lack of self-compassion, confidence difficulties, and several other crises.

Dating is scary enough as it is - throw in a divorce and a few kid to the mix and you're all like "how the hell do I do this?!" 

That's where Lauren Peacock comes in, Author of the bestselling book "Female. Likes Cheese. Comes with Dog."  

Lauren joined us to chat about her own dating life post divorce and some of the top tips she swears by when you're trying to get back out into the dating world after a divorce. She released her debut book titled, "Female. Likes Cheese. Comes with Dog.: Stories About Divorce, Dating, and Saying 'I Do’” on Valentine’s Day of 2020. When Lauren was 23 years old, she got her fairy-tale wedding, but she soon discovered that a dream wedding doesn’t guarantee a dream marriage and got divorced at 27. Having found her second (and current) husband on a British dating site, she is an expert at online dating, recovering from heartbreak, and going outside of your comfort zone and offers practical tips for socially distanced dating during the pandemic and has had lots of even younger fans in Gen-Z reaching out to her for dating advice.

You know you're unhappy. You also know leaving a marriage can be a lot of work. So what is a gal to do? That's where Kate Anthony comes in, and on this latest episode of Moms Moving On, she's holding nothing back when it comes to determining your next steps before divorce.

The best gift you can give yourself after a divorce or break-up, is the ability to set boundaries to protect your emotional well-being and avoid keeping you stuck. That's why I invited on the queen of boundary setting, Julia Kristina - a master in helping people move forward in life.

"We don't set boundaries because we don't want other people to feel bad." Julia says, "It's time to find yourself after this relationship."

And this episode helps us all learn the key ways to get back on track post-divorce.

It's no secret that getting divorced can get EXPENSIVE.  In fact, far too many people stay in unhappy marriages simply because they think they cannot afford to get divorced. Our podcast guest Nicole Noonan is debunking that myth. 

The scariest part of divorce is that fight to the finish - the one where you're hoping to get everything you want, but the thought of having to negotiate and argue your way through it sounds as daunting as can be.

Imagine living a few doors down from your happily married ex. Having Sunday dinners with them and their new blended family. Taking a 2-week trip to Africa together. Writing a whole divorce and co-parenting book together.

That's the magic of this co-parenting duo, Ben Heldfond & Nikki DeBartolo.  After a few years of post-divorce drama, they decided life would be much better for their child if they could only manage to get along. So that's exactly what they did.

Is divorce messing up my kids? Can the trauma of divorce on our children be avoided?

This may be the top question in all of our minds as we begin our divorce journeys. We want to shield them, protect them, and find a way to make it through so that they remain unscathed, and, if we're being honest with ourselves, that's the goal of all parents - divorced AND married.

What happens when a bad marriage is failing and holding you back from your hopes, dreams, and reaching your full potential? You start to drown. But drowning wasn't an option for Christine Michel Carter, who chose to swim - fast and hard.

Christine Michel Carter is the epitome of the single mom success story. With two young children in tow, Christine left an unhealthy marriage and stopped at nothing to be the strong, successful, working mom that her children deserved. She's now a 2x author, has been featured in just about every major publication on the internet, runs a successful consulting business - and so much more.

Hear how she did it - and her invaluable advice for single moms - in this episode of Moms Moving On with Michelle Dempsey-Multack.

After a heartbreak that shook him to his core, Keishorne Scott did what all of the most emotionally evolved people in this world do best - he turned his pain into purpose, becoming the "Heartbreak Coach," as he's known on social media. Keishorne coaches clients through some of the toughest times of their lives - emotionally traumatic break-ups - and helps them learn the power in healing, shedding, and moving on - for good. 

Keishorne got candid with us and gave us some serious insight into what it means to leave a bad relationship for good, and what's waiting for you on the other side when you do. My favorite piece of advice from the episode? It has a little something to do with crying - but I won't spoil the surprise.

Keishorn is also known for his amazingly powerful break-up quotes: 

“My heart breaks for anyone who lays in bed at night and wonders why they weren’t good enough for the one person they would give the world to. But here’s the truth, it’s better to break your own heart by walking away than sticking around where love doesn’t exist. Be strong!”

Keishorne Scott is a Brooklyn native; an award winning community activist, bestselling author, speaker, breakup & heartbreak coach, TV Personality, and founder of Your Love Experience Intl.

Mr. Scott has been seen on Forbes, Good Morning America, ABC News, ABC World News Now, MSN.com, Yahoo! tv, Newsday, News 12, Marriage.com, Canarsie Courier, Rolling Out Magazine, and many high profile media outlets.

Co-parenting and communicating? Even oil and water could mix better than that.

The truth is, it's hard to find your groove as co-parents, especially when finding your groove as married parents didn't really work out for you. After personal experience through his own divorce, Michael Daniels realized very quickly that there needed to be a way to improve communication strategies between him and his ex - and then he did the same for the rest of us! This was where the idea for the Fayr app was born, and lucky for the rest of us, it's become the talk of the co-parenting community, especially after Gwyneth Paltrow endorsed the app and became a head advisor for the company.

Fayr will help you communicate constructively, eliminate burdensome legal fees and documentation, and free up your time and resources for what matters most: your children.  And the best part? It's useful even if your ex doesn't agree to use it.

Now a little bit about our amazing guest:

As a separated father of two young children, Michael found himself overwhelmed by the legal, financial and emotional costs of divorce on his family. After 20 years in the homebuilding industry, Michael hung up his hard hat to create a tool that would not just improve his family’s life, but would also help the other 55 million divorced co-parents in the US. Despite his success on the Apple tv show "Planet of the Apps" and partnering with Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael's guiding light remains the same: working everyday to be his best self for his kids.

How do you know when you're ready to move on from your relationship? What does that look like, feel like, sound like? Well, it may come at a different point for everyone, but one thing stands the same our guest Tanya Zuckerbrot shares; "When you know, you know."

In this episode of Moms Moving On, Tanya talks about having the courage to leave her marriage, how she did it, and all of the amazing things that have transpired since making that brave move.  "Work on your marriage first, before you leave. Give it everything," Tanya shares. "But if you've exhausted every option and it cannot be fixed, then that is a time to explore leaving."

There are so many stellar and thoughtful pieces of advice in this episode. You'll gain clarity, feel inspired, and your heart will have more hope than you ever realized possible.

Naturally, because we're humans and crave affection, we're going to wonder how and when we'll find love again after divorce. I wondered it, and I hear from women on a daily basis who are worried they won't be able to let go and find love again.

Regardless of whether you wanted the divorce or if it was sprung on you at the last minute, it's common to wake up in the aftermath of your broken marriage feeling, well, sh*tty. It's normal, but it doesn't have to last forever. 

You do NOT have to feel like a failure, you CAN lose the guilt, and you WILL move on happily and with love in your heart - it just takes a little work.

Here to help us with this work is Self Worth & Confidence Coach Danielle Stoltz. She is empowering, real, and gives GREAT advice when it comes to finding value in yourself after a divorce.

Pop Quiz: What's the fastest way to drive yourself insane as a co-parent? Yup, you guessed right - it's trying to control what you can't: Such as, all of the things your child does when they're not with you. Sure, it feels completely unnatural as a mom to have no say over what goes on with the child you grew in your body when they're not with you, but, hate to break it to you, that's co-parenting. As long as your kids are safe and out of harm's way, then you need to back off before you make yourself nuts.

Parenting in a 2-parent household is hard enough, but imagine you're doing it all on your own - while locked in your house with no more "village" to rely on. Yup, that's single parenting in quarantine - and it has been growing increasingly harder for parents all over the world as we continue spending an unusual amount of time in our homes. 

If you're worried you're messing up your kids, not giving them enough of your time, and using the iPad as your co-parent, not to worry. In this episode I interviewed Evelyn Mendal, LMHC - an early childhood expert with an impressive amount of experience. Evelyn's insight can make even the most stressed out parent take a step back and give themselves a little grace, because you deserve nothing more than a break. 

You've been with the same partner for years. Your fittest days peaked way before you birthed a few kids. Now you're breaking up, getting divorced, or adjusting to being single again with less than stellar confidence levels.  AND worse, you're faced with the gut-wrenching thought of having to be naked in front of someone new after ALL THIS TIME. Ugh!

I get it. For me, this podcast interview with Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Catie Lynch, is personal. Having struggled with my own body issues and eating disorder for years, nothing sparked these bad behaviors up again quite like getting divorced. I placed way too much emphasis on the physical parts of me, convincing myself that I had to be as skinny as possible again in order to find a new relationship. 

This was not smart, yet so many of us revert to this thought process in times of stress. The incredible Catie Lynch, who works with countless women on their struggles with body image and eating disorders, helps us all see past the physical, and focus on what really matters - the unique beauty of what makes you, you.

In this episode of Moms Moving On, we chatted with Rosalie, the brains and experience behind Instagram's @thecoparentingcollective. With 20 years of co-parenting experience under her belt, there was no better person to chat with when laying out the best ways to transition into a new co-parenting lifestyle for you, your children AND your ex.

How am I going to do this? What will single parenting be like? Will my child develop anxiety? What will people SAY?! 

Any way we slice it, the end of a marriage or relationship of any kind, is going to cause a healthy amount of anxiety. It's only natural. But when we don't manage these anxieties, moving on becomes an almost impossible task to complete. 

We hear from moms all the time about their perspective on co-parenting and divorce, but this time we're hearing it from Damon Darienzo, who has been a single father to a 9-year-old daughter for seven years now. 

She was divorced when her son was an infant. She lost an entire career that she devoted a decade to. Yet regardless of all that, she has always found a way to come out on top - every single time.

Heather Monahan is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and founder of Boss In Heels. Having successfully climbed the corporate ladder for nearly 20 years, Heather Monahan is one of the few women to break the glass ceiling and claim her spot in the C-suite. As a Chief Revenue Officer in Media, Heather Monahan is a Glass Ceiling Award winner, named one of the most Influential Women in Radio in 2017 and Thrive Global named her a Limit Breaking Female Founder in 2018.