The Divorce Planner

One of the most painful and confusing things that can happen after divorce is a child suddenly refusing to see one of their parents. It leaves the rejected parent feeling powerless and heartbroken, and it leaves the other parent unsure whether they're protecting their child or somehow making things worse.
In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Amy Armstrong, conflict resolution expert and founder of the Center for Family Resolution, for an honest conversation about what's really going on when a child resists or refuses contact—and what parents on both sides can actually do about it.Amy works at the intersection of coaching, psychology, and the family court system, and she trains judges on what's known as "resist-refuse dynamics." We talk about why kids refuse contact, what parental alienation actually looks like, the mistakes that make the situation worse, and what a rejected parent can do to protect the relationship without escalating the conflict.
Whether you're the parent being refused or the parent navigating your child's resistance, this conversation will help you understand what's happening beneath the surface — and how to respond in a way that protects your child and your relationship with them.
Resources Mentioned:
podcast.thecenterforfamilyresolution.com/planner
Want more resources? Check out my blog, grab my free "24 Questions to Ask A Divorce Attorney" guide, or sign up for my free 4-Email Divorce Prep Series for a step-by-step roadmap before you meet with an attorney. 
Need personalized help? Book a free 15-minute call or subscribe to my newsletter for weekly tips.
The Divorce Planner podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals about your situation.
Podcast Original Music, Editing, and Mixing by: Benjamin Robinson

If your spouse owns a business, or holds complex assets like stock options, how to value and divide these assets is one of the most important and most challenging parts of divorce. Figuring out what those assets are actually worth can be tricky, and getting it wrong can cost you significantly.
In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Matt Springer, a business valuation expert with nearly two decades of experience in valuation and litigation support, to break down what really happens when a business or complex asset gets valued in a divorce—and what you need to understand to protect yourself.
What we cover:
What actually happens when you're dividing assets and a spouse owns a business, professional practice, or other illiquid asset
How compensation arrangements, equity awards, stock options, notes, and pensions get evaluated
What to look for, and what to question, when you're handed a valuation report
The red flags that mean you may need a second opinion
When valuation numbers get challenged, and what that means for you
If you're staring down a divorce with a business owner, or are a business owner new to this process, this conversation will help you understand what you're dealing with so you can ask the right questions and advocate for yourself.
Want more resources? Check out my blog, grab my free "24 Questions to Ask A Divorce Attorney" guide, or sign up for my free 4-Email Divorce Prep Series for a step-by-step roadmap before you meet with an attorney. 
Need personalized help? Book a free 15-minute call or subscribe to my newsletter for weekly tips.
The Divorce Planner podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals about your situation.
Podcast Original Music, Editing, and Mixing by: Benjamin Robinson

Financial abuse is more common than you think. Red flags can show up in how you're frozen out from account access, having to ask for spending money on basics like groceries and gas, and being told "you don't have to worry about that" when you ask any financial questions. These are all signs of a financial power imbalance, and they lead to major issues during divorce. 
In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Jackie Combs, a California family law attorney, advocate for women's financial empowerment, and founder of Love Richer, for a conversation about the toxic money patterns that show up in dating and marriage, and why they almost always resurface as landmines during divorce.
What we cover:
How women unknowingly surrender financial autonomy, and what that looks like years later in a settlement
Financial infidelity: hidden accounts, undisclosed debt, concealed income, and how it surfaces in discovery
What women misunderstand about what they're actually entitled to during divorce
The first three things to do if you're recognizing financial red flags right now, before you make any move
What Jackie wants every financially controlled woman to know before she walks into a consultation with an attorney
The conversation about money and power in relationships that most people are still too afraid to have
If you're in a relationship where you feel financially shut out, or you're beginning to consider divorce and worried about what you don't know, this episode will give you clarity, language, and a plan.
Want more resources? Check out my blog, grab my free "24 Questions to Ask A Divorce Attorney" guide, or sign up for my free 4-Email Divorce Prep Series for a step-by-step roadmap before you meet with an attorney. 
Need personalized help? Book a free 15-minute call or subscribe to my newsletter for weekly tips.
The Divorce Planner podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals about your situation.
Podcast Original Music, Editing, and Mixing by: Benjamin Robinson

The most damaging mistake I see people make during divorce isn't a legal or financial one. It's expecting their spouse to suddenly behave differently than they always have. And every time they don't, the shock and fury pulls you back into the same loop — one that can outlast your marriage by decades if you don't address it now.
In this episode I'm sharing the concept of radical acceptance, specifically what it actually is, what it isn't, and why it's the only thing that genuinely gets you out of the pattern. We talk about the neuroscience of why these loops feel impossible to break, the riptide analogy that reframes everything, and a specific tool that works better than any filtered, measured response ever will.
This isn't about being the bigger person. It's about stopping the drain on your own energy, clarity, and future.
If you're exhausted from trying to get your spouse to communicate differently, take accountability, or simply show up the way you need them to,  this episode is for you.
Want more resources? Check out my blog, grab my free "24 Questions to Ask A Divorce Attorney" guide, or sign up for my free 4-Email Divorce Prep Series for a step-by-step roadmap before you meet with an attorney. 
Need personalized help? Book a free 15-minute call or subscribe to my newsletter for weekly tips.
The Divorce Planner podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals about your situation.
Podcast Original Music, Editing, and Mixing by: Benjamin Robinson

Divorce brings up two of the hardest emotions to talk about: grief and shame. Grief for the life you thought you'd have, the future you planned together, and the identity you're losing. And shame because even though divorce is common, there's still a stigma attached to it that can make you feel like you've failed.
In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Kim Polinder, associate therapist and author of Why We Fight (HarperOne), for an honest conversation about how to actually process these difficult emotions instead of rushing past them or burying them in a new relationship.
What we cover:
Why grief is normal even in amicable divorces and how it can surface unexpectedly
The shame that surrounds divorce and how to recognize patterns that have played out in other areas of your life
How to process grief with supportive people rather than in isolation
Creating rituals for closure including writing letters or revisiting meaningful places
Why rushing into new relationships without grieving leads to repeating patterns
Understanding your deepest triggers and what you're seeking from relationships
The importance of introspection before entering your next relationship
How to prevent second divorces by breaking cycles and clarifying your values
Moving through pain with self-compassion instead of judgment
Whether you're in the middle of divorce, recently separated, or healing on the other side, this conversation offers compassionate guidance to help you process grief and shame so you can move forward with greater self-awareness and emotional health.
Want more resources? Check out my blog, grab my free "24 Questions to Ask A Divorce Attorney" guide, or sign up for my free 4-Email Divorce Prep Series for a step-by-step roadmap before you meet with an attorney. 
Need personalized help? Book a free 15-minute call or subscribe to my newsletter for weekly tips.
The Divorce Planner podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals about your situation.
Podcast Original Music, Editing, and Mixing by: Benjamin Robinson