Dishing on Divorce Podcast

The Sunny Side of Divorce: Rebuilding Your Finances and Confidence

In this episode, we welcome Myrna Laine-Hyppolite, CFO, wealth strategist, speaker, and founder of Empower Financial Wellness. Myrna’s journey into financial empowerment began with her mother’s divorce, which left her without a financial safety net. Watching her mother and other women struggle inspired Myrna to dedicate her career to helping women build confidence, financial literacy, and long-term wealth.
Armed with an Ivy League education (Dartmouth undergrad and MBA from Tuck) and decades of experience in finance, private equity, and corporate leadership, Myrna now focuses on breaking down money management into plain, accessible language. She believes financial wellness is one of the most overlooked forms of self-care and is passionate about bridging the wealth gap for women.
Myrna reminds us that money touches every part of our lives, and caring for our financial wellness is a profound act of self-care. Her practical wisdom and empowering approach make the overwhelming feel achievable.
Join her for a Free Masterclass — Aug 26, 7:00 PM ET: Reclaim Your Confidence, Reinvent Your Wealth & Rise After Divorce with Myrna Laine-Hyppolite & Lea Gerlock. Use this link to register: https://bit.ly/MasterClassAug26. 
Connect with Myrna: https://empowerfinancialwellness.com/

To Keep or Sell Your Home: 4 Essential Tips to Help You Decide

In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, host Mandy Barr chats with Jennifer Chaney, a Real Estate Agent, investor, and strategist, about navigating one of the most emotional decisions in divorce: what to do with the marital home. Drawing from her personal experience, Jennifer shares invaluable insights, including four key tips for deciding whether to keep or sell your home.
Jennifer emphasizes the importance of understanding your future goals, knowing your financial numbers, and evaluating your options carefully. She also highlights the importance of seeking professional guidance, noting the value of having a knowledgeable "divorce dream team" to help you through the process.
Tune in to learn how to make a more informed and balanced decision about your home, and get the tools you need to navigate this complex aspect of divorce with confidence.
Contact Jennifer
Email: jennifer@jenniferchaneyhomes.com
Website: https://www.jenniferchaneyhomes.com/

What Keeps You Up At Night? Real Talk About Fear and Divorce

Fear of the unknown can feel overwhelming, especially during divorce. In this raw and honest episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna explore the most common fears people face: financial insecurity, parenting worries, identity loss, and the big question… “Will I be okay?”
They share their own stories, break down the mindset traps that keep people stuck, and offer tangible ways to move forward. From understanding your rights and protecting your finances to finding the right words for your kids, this episode is full of wisdom, compassion, and practical advice.
Whether you're at the beginning of your divorce or on the road to rebuilding, you're not alone. And as Mandy reminds us, fear is often just False Evidence Appearing Real.
Contact Us- concierge@vestadivorce.com
Check out our book, Heal to Lead: https://bit.ly/Heal-To-Lead

Leave Strong: Laura McGee on Redefining Divorce

In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, host Mandy Pullen Barr welcomes Laura McGee, J.D., founder of Leave Strong Divorce Services and a trusted Vesta professional. With a law degree from the University of British Columbia and over four decades of experience, Laura brings a unique blend of legal expertise, mediation skills, and compassionate coaching to her clients in California and beyond.
Laura works with people in one of two ways:
As a neutral mediator for couples, she helps both parties reach peaceful resolutions through a flat-fee, client-centered approach.
As an individual divorce coach, she guides clients through the emotional and strategic aspects of divorce.
Together, Mandy and Laura explore:
The difference between working with Laura as a coach vs. a mediator—and why you can’t be both.
How Laura’s Canadian legal background informs her U.S. mediation and coaching practice.
The benefits of flat-fee mediation, flexible scheduling, and transparency in process and cost.
Laura’s expertise is in co-parenting plans and support for reorganized families.
Key questions to ask when interviewing divorce professionals to ensure the right fit.
Whether you're contemplating divorce or already deep in the process, Laura’s grounded, strategic approach helps clients move forward with clarity and confidence.
Learn more at Leave Strong Divorce Services: www.leavestrong.com
Do you have a question or would you like to connect? Email us at concierge@vestadivorce.com.

Blame, Shame and Divorce: Dismantling the Stigma

In this heartfelt episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy and Deanna get real about one of the most personal and challenging parts of divorce: the emotional weight of shame and blame. From neighborhood parties that feel like the walk of shame to well-meaning comments that linger for years, they unpack the hidden narratives we tell ourselves—and how to rewrite them.
They share personal stories, including mom guilt, generational wounds, and the journey to self-acceptance. You'll also hear about the healing tools that helped them shift from pain to power: mindfulness, journaling, reframing thoughts, and reconnecting with the present moment.
Plus, don't miss the announcement of their upcoming live event with Dr. Thomas Jordan in NYC—and why they believe divorce is not a failure, but a chance to begin again with clarity and courage.
Key Topics:
The “Scarlet Letter” of divorce
Rewriting your internal story
Mindfulness and emotional regulation
Letting go of guilt and self-blame
Self-love and starting over
Heal to Lead: Volume One – Featuring chapters by both Mandy and DeannaGrab your copy here: https://bit.ly/Heal-To-Lead
Questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you: concierge@vestadivorce.com 

Bridging the Emotional & Legal Divide with Divorce Coach Kristyna Hawkett

This week on Dishing on Divorce, we sit down with Kristyna Hawkett, founder of the UK-based Minus One Club and a certified Separation & Divorce Coach, who’s transforming how people experience divorce. With roots in both the Czech Republic and England, Kristyna brings a powerful blend of emotional insight and practical guidance to her work, helping clients navigate divorce with clarity and confidence.
After enduring her own two-year divorce and feeling lost in a maze of disconnected professionals, Kristyna created the Minus One Club to offer the cohesive, compassionate support she wished she had. She now helps clients understand the legal process, regulate their emotions, and build better communication with their legal teams.
In this episode, we dive into the disconnect between emotional needs and legal realities, the most common myths people believe about divorce, and how working with a divorce coach can reduce stress, save money, and set you up for a healthier next chapter.
If you're going through a divorce—or guiding someone who is—this episode is full of practical tools, hope, and heart.
 
Contact Kristyna Hawkett
Website: https://www.minusone.club/about-us
Email: kristyna@minusone.club

Divorce Mistakes We’ve Made (So You Don’t Have To)

In this powerful episode, Deanna Coyle and Mandy Pullen Barr open up about the most common—and costly—divorce mistakes they’ve made personally and seen repeatedly in their work with Vesta. From letting emotions drive decisions to misusing professionals and overlooking post-divorce financial realities, they share candid lessons and practical strategies to help you avoid unnecessary heartache and expense.
They also emphasize the importance of assembling the right support team, including divorce coaches, financial experts, and consulting attorneys, and guiding co-parenting with intention and grace.
Whether you’re contemplating divorce or already deep in the process, this episode is packed with insights that can save you time, money, and stress.
Takeaways include:
How to avoid emotionally driven decisions
The true cost of “going it alone”
Financial traps that can derail your future
Why using the right expert at the right time matters
Real talk about parenting through divorce
Resources Mentioned:
Top Ten Divorce Mistakes and How to Avoid Them: https://vod.vestadivorce.com/
Vesta's Interview Guide: https://bit.ly/DivorceInterviewGuide
Connect Deanna and Mandy: concierge@vestadivorce.com 
Subscribe, share, and remember: You are not alone. You got this.

When Divorce Involves a Business: What You Need to Know with Amanda Singer, Esq., MDR, CDFA®

What happens when divorce and business ownership collide? In this episode, attorney, mediator, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Amanda Singer joins us to unpack the financial and legal complexities that come with divorcing as a business owner or being married to one.
With over a decade of experience guiding couples through peaceful, strategic resolution, Amanda shares her top insights on:
How a business is treated as both an asset and a source of income
The risks of relying solely on tax returns to determine financial reality
When to bring in a business valuation — and what it can protect you from
Smart, creative options for buyouts, co-ownership, and structured settlements
The unique power of mediation in complex financial divorces
Whether you’re running the business, supporting it, or trying to figure out what’s fair, this episode is packed with practical guidance and eye-opening truths that can save you time, money, and stress.
Contact Amanda Singer, Esq., MDR, CDFA®
Website: http://westcoastfamilymediation.com/amanda-d-singer/

Balancing the Table: How Co-Mediation Changes the Divorce Conversation

In this powerful episode of Dishing on Divorce, Mandy Pullen Barr welcomes co-mediators Carolyn Laredo and Jim Bell to explore the transformative impact of co-mediation in divorce. With over 40 years of combined experience, this dynamic duo combines backgrounds in law, psychology, sociology, and education to help couples resolve conflicts, communicate more effectively, and reach durable, respectful agreements.
Carolyn and Jim discuss how having two professionals of different genders and skillsets in the room reduces bias, improves communication, and empowers clients to move from “we” to “I” to identify and voice their personal needs. They share their use of transformative mediation techniques, insights from court-referred and high-conflict cases, and the value of debriefing after sessions to refine their approach continually.
They also highlight:
The use of caucusing for safety or emotional productivity
How mediation supports long-term co-parenting and minimizes future legal battles
Real-life examples of clients transforming their communication and mindset during the process
How their work is fueled by their personal experiences with divorce and single parenthood
The episode highlights how co-mediation promotes empowerment, self-awareness, and lasting resolutions, all while enabling clients to develop the skills necessary to navigate life after divorce, not just the legal separation itself.
Contact Carolyn Laredo, Esq.
Email: Laredo@carolynlaredo.comWebsite: www.lawmediationny.com

From Bulldog to Bridge Builder: Kary Watson’s Journey to Transform Divorce

In this episode of Dishing on Divorce, host Mandy Pullen Barr welcomes special guest Kary Watson, a seasoned family law attorney and founder of Together You Part, a groundbreaking online mediation practice based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over 20 years of experience, Kary shares her powerful journey from a high-conflict, aggressive divorce litigator—known as the “bulldog”—to a compassionate mediator dedicated to transforming the divorce process into a collaborative, cost-effective, and respectful experience.
Kary opens up about the personal toll her early litigation career took on her and her family. These wake-up moments inspired her to seek a better way, and she eventually launched Together You Part to offer divorcing couples an innovative alternative grounded in emotional intelligence and transformative mediation.
The episode delves into Kary’s unique five-step virtual mediation process, which centers on each individual’s “why,” fosters safe one-on-one conversations with mediators, promotes realistic timelines and flat fees, and culminates in a heartfelt closing ceremony, offering clients closure, clarity, and intention as they transition into their new lives.
Mandy and Kary also discuss the evolving landscape of family law, generational shifts in attorney burnout, the importance of holistic support, including coaches and financial analysts, and how to navigate complex cases involving high conflict or power imbalances.
Listeners will gain insight into how divorce can be handled with dignity rather than destruction, empowering them to be educated consumers and advocates for themselves throughout the process.
Tune in for this inspiring conversation full of wisdom, heart, and hope that challenges the traditional divorce narrative and highlights a better way forward.
Contact Kary
Email: kary@togetheryoupart.com