The Good Divorce: End Your Marriage Without Ending Your Family with Karen McKenny

“Divorce isn’t a weapon; it’s a tool of transformation."

In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, Deanna Coyle, Co-Founder of Vesta: A New Vision for Divorce and Concierge Director, sits down with Karen McNenny—mediator, divorce coach, therapist, TEDx speaker, and host of The Good Divorce Show—to reframe divorce as a tool for transformation, not a weapon. Drawing on 25+ years in human behavior and her own peaceful co-parenting journey, Karen shares practical ways to “divorce by design”: compost old hurts into growth, keep kids out of the middle, and replace ego battles with the mantra, “You can be right or you can make it right.”

Together, they explore how to end your marriage without ending your family, turning what can feel like a painful ending into a healthy new beginning. Karen also discusses post-divorce dating (hello, “D-Orgasmic Era”), the case for workplace support during divorce, and simple habits—like shared family threads—that stitch two homes into one family story.

As part of Vesta’s mission to educate and empower, Deanna highlights how working with a Divorce Concierge can help you find the right legal, financial, and emotional experts to guide your journey. Whether you’re seeking divorce support, mediation, or coaching near you, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and hope for what’s next. Plus, don’t miss the sneak peek of Karen’s upcoming Wiley book, The Good Divorce: How to End Your Marriage Without Ending Your Family (coming May 2026).

• 00:00 Welcome & why “good divorce” is possible

• 04:00 Pantry → compost: a new grief framework

• 10:30 Divorce by design vs. default (and lawyers’ incentives)

• 18:45 Co-parenting ground rules: kids as the true client

• 28:00 Dating & the “D-orgasmic era” (boundaries + timelines)

• 36:30 Work, FMLA, and supporting employees in divorce

• 44:00 Scripts: “Be right vs. make it right”

• 50:00 Practical tools: family text threads, shared celebrations

• 56:00 Karen’s Wiley book + where to find her

• 59:00 Closing mantra: “If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

Connect with Karen

• Connect with Karen McNenny: https://www.karenmcnenny.com/

• Listen to the Good Divorce Podcast: https://www.karenmcnenny.com/good-divorce-show/

Connect with Vesta:

Email concierge: concierge@vestadivorce.com 

Past episodes mentioned:

• Shame & Divorce: https://bit.ly/Apple-Blame-and-Shame
• Re-Entering the Workforce: https://bit.ly/Apple-Career-Options