Dishing on Divorce Podcast

Divorce Over 40: Rebuilding Confidence, Identity & Dating Again | Heather Theisen-Gandara

What happens when divorce arrives just as your children leave home and everything you thought your future would look like suddenly changes?
In this heartfelt and empowering episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna sit down with Heather Theisen-Gandara, founder of Reignite Collective, certified divorce coach, and author of The Ultimate Glow Up Guide for Women Over 40.
Heather shares her deeply personal story of navigating divorce after 24 years of marriage, rebuilding her confidence, rediscovering her identity, and creating a life filled with purpose, wellness, and self-trust.
Together, they explore:• Rebuilding your identity after divorce• Why many women lose themselves in motherhood and marriage• Dating after divorce and recognizing unhealthy patterns• The difference between loneliness and readiness• Boundaries, self-respect, and trusting yourself again• Empty nesting and rediscovering purpose• Style, wellness, and the emotional side of a “glow up”• The importance of therapy, coaching, and support during transition
This conversation is honest, vulnerable, inspiring, and full of wisdom for anyone navigating life after divorce or major personal transformation.
Connect with Heather: https://www.reignitecollective.com/ 
Sign up for her masterclass: https://www.reignitecollective.com/returntoselfmasterclass
Connect with Mandy and Deanna: concierge@vestadivorce.com

Narcissistic Abuse, Divorce & Healing: Rya Hazelwood on Relentless Optimism

What happens when the life you fought so hard to build falls apart?
In this deeply powerful episode of Dishing on Divorce, author and speaker Rya Hazelwood shares her journey through narcissistic abuse, divorce, emotional manipulation, grief, heartbreak, and ultimately healing. Through the pain of betrayal and rebuilding her life as a single mother, Rya discovered what she calls “relentless optimism” — the choice to keep believing in hope, even when life feels impossible.
From love bombing and gaslighting to parenting through heartbreak and learning to trust herself again, this conversation is filled with raw honesty, wisdom, healing, laughter, and practical tools for anyone navigating life after loss.
Topics include:• Narcissistic abuse and emotional manipulation• Love bombing and gaslighting• Divorce recovery and rebuilding after heartbreak• Parenting while healing• The difference between optimism and magical thinking• Anxiety vs intuition• Learning to trust yourself again• Healing through vulnerability and community
Rya Hazelwood is the author of Relentless Optimism and Other Life Goals, a moving blend of memoir, mindset, and hope that reminds readers they are not alone and that healing is possible, even after life’s hardest chapters.
Connect with Rya - https://www.ryahazelwood.com/
Connect with Deanna and Mandy- concierge@vestadivorce.com 

Breaking the Silence: Reclaiming Your Voice After Abuse and Divorce with Angeline Constantinou

For years, she walked on eggshells, silenced her voice, and questioned her worth.
Then one day, she chose herself.
In this powerful episode, Angeline Constantinou shares her courageous journey through domestic abuse, divorce, healing, and personal transformation. From fear and financial hardship to empowerment and purpose, her story is a testament to the strength women carry, even in their darkest moments.
Angeline opens up about the moment she reached her breaking point, the strategic safety plan that helped her leave, and the emotional and financial realities of rebuilding her life after divorce. She shares how mentorship, faith, gratitude, journaling, meditation, and mindset work helped her rediscover her confidence and reclaim her voice.
Today, Angeline is a women’s empowerment coach, speaker, podcast host, and survivor advocate dedicated to helping women heal from abuse, uncover limiting beliefs, and step into lives rooted in freedom, confidence, and self-worth.
This conversation is honest, emotional, inspiring, and filled with hope for anyone navigating divorce, healing from trauma, or learning to believe in themselves again.
Topics Include:• Domestic violence and coercive control• Creating a safety and exit plan• Financial abuse and rebuilding independence• Healing after divorce• Reclaiming your voice and identity• Mindset, gratitude, and self-worth• Transforming pain into purpose• The importance of support and community
Connect with Angeline: https://letsbreakthesilence.com/index
Connect with Deanna and Mandy: concierge@vestadivorce.com

Sacred Reckoning with Adrienne Beloin: Healing, Relationships, and Finding Yourself After Divorce

What if divorce, conflict, and emotional pain were not just endings, but invitations to something deeper? In this powerful episode of Dishing on Divorce, Deanna Coyle and Mandy Pullen Barr sit down with psychotherapist, behavioral health consultant, and transformation coach Adrienne Beloin for an honest conversation about healing, identity, relationships, and the inner work that often follows divorce.
Adrienne shares her deeply personal divorce story, the physical and emotional toll of living disconnected from herself, and how her journey inspired her groundbreaking framework called Sacred Reckoning. Together, they explore emotional safety, attachment wounds, co-parenting, self-abandonment, relational intelligence, and the courage it takes to truly know yourself.
This episode is filled with powerful insights for anyone navigating divorce, burnout, relationship struggles, or major life transitions. It is a conversation about moving beyond survival mode and learning how to become whole within yourself so you can build healthier, more authentic relationships moving forward.
Topics include:• Emotional and psychological safety in relationships• Divorce as a catalyst for transformation• The connection between emotional stress and physical health• Co-parenting and healing after divorce• Attachment wounds and relational patterns• Sacred Reckoning and self-discovery• Why “fight with me like you love me” changes everything
If you have ever wondered who you are outside of your roles, relationships, or responsibilities, this episode will resonate deeply.
Connect with Adrienne: https://www.betterhalf.solutions/
Connect with Mandy and Deanna: concierge@vestadivorce.com

How Divorce Impacts Children (And Why How You Handle It Matters) | Dr. Kathy Memel

What if the patterns showing up in your divorce didn’t start with you?
In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna sit down with Dr. Kathy Memel, a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 40 years of experience, to discuss why the court is often not the best place to begin the divorce process and what families can do instead.
Dr. Memel shares how looking at your family tree can uncover generational patterns that influence how you communicate, handle conflict, and make decisions in relationships. With that awareness, it becomes possible to move through divorce in a more intentional and child-centered way.
This conversation goes beyond the legal process. It is about understanding behavior, reducing conflict, and creating a path forward that supports both you and your children.
In this episode, we cover:• Why the court system can feel overwhelming and disempowering• When court is necessary, including situations involving safety concerns• How staying out of court can support better outcomes for families• What makes a strong and detailed parenting plan• Why details matter more than most people expect• The impact of conflict on children’s emotional development• How generational patterns shape relationships and divorce• Why does how you speak about the other parent matter• What it takes to build a healthy co-parenting relationship over time
Dr. Memel also shares a powerful reminder that change is possible. It may feel slow, uncomfortable, and unfamiliar, and it can lead to a completely different future for your family.
If you are early in the process, feeling overwhelmed, or wondering how to do this more healthily, this episode offers clarity, perspective, and hope.
Connect with Kathy: https://drkathymemel.com/
Connect with Deanna and Mandy: concierge@vestadivorce.com
 

Navigating Friendship During Divorce and Life’s Hard Seasons

Friendship is one of the most powerful and often overlooked support systems during divorce and life transitions. In this honest and deeply personal episode, Mandy Pullen Barr and Deanna Coyle open up about a recent strain in their own friendship and what it taught them about communication, space, and healing.
They share how grief, health challenges, financial stress, and emotional overwhelm began to impact their connection, and how a moment of misalignment created distance, silence, and misunderstanding.
Through their story, they explore how even the strongest relationships can be tested and how working through those moments can actually deepen connection and trust.
This episode is a reminder that friendships require care, just like any relationship. Mandy and Deanna also reflect on how these dynamics mirror what many experience in divorce, including loss of trust, fear of rejection, and the importance of having the right support system. They discuss when to lean on friends, when to seek professional guidance, and how to navigate hard conversations with honesty and compassion.
If you have ever felt disconnected from someone you love or struggled to show up as your best self during a challenging time, this conversation will resonate deeply.
Connect with Mandy and Deanna: concierge@vestadivorce.com

Starting Over After Divorce: A Conversation with Amanda Da Silva

What happens when the life you carefully planned falls apart and you’re left asking, “What now?” This episode is a powerful reminder that even in the midst of chaos, you can rebuild something stronger, clearer, and more aligned than ever before.
Today, we are joined by Amanda Da Silva, founder of Right Step Solutions, a transition-focused coach who helps individuals navigate life’s most pivotal moments with clarity and confidence. After experiencing her own deeply challenging divorce, Amanda shares what it truly looks like to rebuild when your identity, career, and sense of stability have been shaken.
This conversation goes far beyond career coaching. Amanda opens up about losing her confidence, her income, and even her ability to function as she once could, and how she slowly found her way back. Through her work, she now helps others do the same, blending practical strategy with emotional support in a way that meets people exactly where they are.
In this episode, we explore:• What divorce can do to your confidence, identity, and ability to move forward• Why clarity is the first step when everything feels uncertain• The connection between mindset and real-world decisions, like job searching• How to rebuild financially and professionally after stepping away from work• Why taking a step back can sometimes be the most powerful move forward
Amanda’s story is honest, raw, and deeply inspiring. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out; you need the right support and the willingness to take the next step.
Connect with Amanda: amanda@rightstepsolutions.co
Connect with Deanna and Mandy: concierge@vestadivorce.com

Why You Feel Stuck After Divorce and How to Move Forward with Caryn Gottlieb

Divorce can break your identity or become the moment you rebuild it stronger than ever. Therapist and author Caryn Gottlieb shares how to heal, move forward, and truly thrive after divorce.
Summary:In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, we sit down with Caryn Gottlieb, licensed clinical therapist, life coach, and author of Beauty Within Divorce: A No BS Guide to Healing, Reinventing, and Loving Life Again.
Caryn shares her deeply personal journey through divorce and how it shaped the work she does today, helping women move from surviving to truly thriving. Drawing from both her clinical background and lived experience, she offers powerful insight into the emotional challenges of divorce, including loss of identity, navigating triggers, and breaking generational patterns.
We explore the difference between therapy, coaching, and counseling, and why having the right kind of support matters at different stages of the process. Caryn also introduces a refreshing perspective on divorce, one rooted in growth, resilience, and the opportunity to create something new.
This conversation is filled with practical tools, mindset shifts, and honest reflections for anyone navigating divorce or life after it.
Connect with Caryn: https://caryngottlieb.com/
Connect with Deanna and Mandy: concierge@vestadivorce.com

When Trust Is Gone: Navigating High Conflict Divorce and Hidden Money with Keri Gwynne and Ryan Finley

When trust is gone, how do you move forward and protect yourself financially? A raw look at high conflict divorce, hidden money, and finding clarity.
What happens when you can no longer trust the person you once built a life with, and the finances don’t seem to make sense?
In this powerful episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna sit down with a dynamic duo who bring both emotional grounding and financial clarity to even the most complex divorces.
Keri Gwynne, a high-conflict divorce coach and mediator, shares her deeply personal journey through abuse, trauma, and a high-stakes legal battle, and how it led her to help hundreds of families move from chaos to clarity.
Ryan Finley, CPA, CDFA, and forensic accountant, breaks down what really happens behind the financial scenes of divorce, including hidden money, dissipation of assets, and the subtle signs that something isn’t adding up.
Together, they explore:• How to navigate divorce when trust is completely broken• Why structure and boundaries matter more than emotion• What hidden money can look like and how it’s uncovered• When to bring in a forensic accountant• How to stay grounded when everything feels overwhelming
This conversation is honest, eye-opening, and deeply empowering for anyone navigating divorce, especially in high-conflict situations.
Because even in the most overwhelming moments, clarity is possible.
Connect with Keri: https://www.startingpointfreedom.com/
Connect with Ryan: https://www.freedomfsg.com/

Financial Abuse in Divorce: Signs of Coercive Financial Control with Janice Berner

Financial abuse in divorce is often invisible, but its impact is profound. This episode uncovers the signs of coercive financial control and how it can leave individuals feeling trapped, fearful, and financially powerless.
Janice breaks down how financial manipulation can quietly strip individuals of independence, leaving them feeling isolated and unable to move forward. She shares the most common red flags, from restricted access to money and accounts to hidden assets and financial intimidation, and explains why many people don’t recognize what’s happening until they’re already in crisis.
The conversation highlights how financial control can complicate the divorce process, creating confusion and paralysis at a time when clear decision-making is critical. Janice emphasizes the importance of building a strong support team, including legal, financial, and emotional professionals, to help individuals regain clarity and confidence.
Listeners will walk away with practical steps to protect themselves, insights into evolving legal recognition of financial abuse, and a powerful reminder that financial independence is possible, even after years of control.
This episode is both eye-opening and empowering, offering hope and guidance for anyone navigating divorce or supporting someone who is.
Connect with Janice: jberner@baystatefinancial.com
Janice Berner is a registered representative of and offers securities and investment advisory services through MML Investors Services LLC., Member SIPC. Supervisory office: One Marina Park Drive, Suite 1600 Boston MA 02210. 617-585-4500. The views and opinions expressed are those of the program participants and are not necessarily those of MML Investors Services LLC. Neither MML Investors Services, LLC nor any of its subsidiaries, employees or representatives are authorized to give legal or tax advice. The material is not intended as recommendations appropriate for you and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors on specific legal and tax matters.
Janice Berner is a Licensed CPA, but not practicing.