Divorce can manifest in countless ways—ranging from the peaceful mutual decision to part ways to the hostile, never-ending battle full of legal maneuvers and court drama.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lawrence H. Bloom, Esq., an old colleague and the man who invited me onto my very first podcast. Larry is now joining me with his new book, Blame Bloom: Diary of a Divorce Lawyer, a candid and insightful look at his 40 years of navigating the intricate world of New York Family Law. 

From the days when couples had to prove cause for divorce to the modern challenges of courtroom theatrics, Larry’s book dives deep into the inner workings of Family Law judges, legal battles, and the often-overlooked emotional complexities of divorcing couples.

Beyond his professional expertise, Larry also reflects on how his personal divorce gave him newfound empathy and insight, enabling him to guide his clients toward better outcomes. Now retired, this book is Larry’s parting gift to the divorce world, offering a behind-the-scenes look at both the legal system and the human heart.

Connect with Larry:

• Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Blame-Bloom-Diary-Divorce-Lawyer/dp/B0D9YDWMHF

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

When navigating the complexities of divorce, it’s easy to feel trapped in indecision, but often that indecision is rooted in fear. In this episode, Karen McMahon explores how fear-based decisions can feel safe in the moment but lead to complications down the road.

We'll discuss the concept of the “safety bubble,” a powerful method that temporarily removes fear, allowing you to gain clarity and make decisions based on desire instead of fear.

Decisions like whether to end or mend your marriage, how to handle telling your children, or whether to sell the marital home often come with fear-based thinking that keeps us stuck.

Desire-based decisions, though initially scary and requiring a leap of faith, almost always lead to more positive outcomes.

Together, we'll uncover how creating that safety bubble can help you move past fear and into choices that are aligned with your true desires, leading to greater confidence and better results in your divorce journey.

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

Today we delve into the transformative power of mindfulness when navigating the tumultuous journey of divorce. When hopes and dreams seem to crumble under the weight of reality, it can feel chaotic and overwhelming. This discussion focuses on how mindfulness helps you stay grounded in the midst of this turbulence, calming the mind and connecting with what truly matters. The episode provides tools for engaging with your emotions in a way that acknowledges them without allowing them to control you, enabling clearer thinking and more intentional choices, even during high-stress conflicts.

Life's challenges, especially high-conflict divorce, aren't just obstacles to get past—they're opportunities for growth and transformation. By shifting from reactive patterns to mindful responses, you can use difficult situations as a pathway to resilience. Whether you're struggling with legal disputes, custody arrangements, or emotional turmoil, this episode offers guidance on finding the flow within life's messiness and transforming chaos into a journey toward healing and personal strength.

David Frank Gomes, a mindfulness coach and life strategist, brings decades of expertise to the conversation. His approach blends ancient mindfulness practices with practical coaching techniques, supporting clients through major life transitions. With over 15 years of experience, David helps individuals in high-conflict situations find clarity, purpose, and inner peace by integrating spiritual wisdom and actionable strategies. His work has empowered many to embrace meaningful growth and resilience through adversity.

Connect with David:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfgcoaching
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidfrankgomes/
• Website: https://www.davidfrankgomes.com
• Book Your Complimentary Discovery Session: https://www.davidfrankgomes.com/try-coaching-free

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

Cara felt like a diminished version of herself as she came to the painful conclusion that she had to leave her 24 year marriage. She had been listening to the JBD podcast and knew she needed support to get stronger, find her voice and prepare herself prior to beginning her divorce journey.

She signed up for the free coaching call and immediately enlisted a JBD coach. During the 18 months that followed, she began to realize the dysfunction she was living in and the debilitating impact it was having on your self confidence and esteem. She began the long road of recovery, which included compassion for the pain and confusion she had been living in.

Today, Cara is just beginning the legal process. She is living on her own and has reconnected with the people and activities that were important to her prior to getting lost in her marriage. She knows there is a long road ahead, and feels strong and prepared to navigate it.

The support and guidance of Journey Beyond Divorce and her coach were a life saver and beacon during one of the darkest times of her life. Tune in to hear more of her tory and her gems of guidance and advice.

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

Parental alienation is one of the most heartbreaking and complex challenges parents can face during and after divorce. It leaves families fractured and kids caught in the middle, often feeling torn between two parents. In this episode, I dive deep into the court system's current approach to parental alienation and why it so often fails to protect children. If you’ve been alienated from your child or fear it may happen, this conversation is essential for understanding what’s at stake and how you can fight back.

Together with Michele Locke, Esq., we explore the limitations of the legal system and why parental alienation cases are so hard to navigate, particularly when it comes to jury trials. Michele shares her personal and professional experiences, from her time on the bench handling over 5,000 family law cases to her private practice dealing with the most extreme custody battles. Her unique perspective, having been on both sides of the courtroom and living through divorce herself, sheds light on the deep-rooted issues that plague the system.

Michele is a former Associate Family Court Judge with over two decades of experience as an attorney, judge, and advocate. She’s fought in the trenches, witnessing firsthand how parental alienation plays out in real life. As a lawyer in Texas, the only state that still allows jury trials in custody cases, Michele brings us behind the scenes with stories from her career, offering valuable insights on how to approach these cases and protect your rights as a parent. Whether you’re currently in the middle of a divorce or simply want to prepare yourself, you’ll walk away with actionable steps and a better understanding of how to navigate this difficult terrain.

Connect with Michele:

• Website: https://www.michelelocke.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-locke/
• Free Guidance on: "What Would Michele Do". While not legal advice, is similar to Dear Abby providing well thought out advice

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

We’re tackling what it’s like to experience a breakup or divorce in your 20s and 30s. Whether you’re a Millennial or part of Gen Z, breaking up in this phase of life brings unique challenges. From feeling the weight of being alone while your friends are still in relationships, to grieving the future you thought you’d have, it can feel overwhelming. In this episode we dive into the emotional rollercoaster of losing not just a partner, but also the vision of your future life together.

We also talk about the practical side of young divorces—everything from managing financial stress to figuring out how to rebuild your support system. If you’ve ever feared you’d never find love again or worried about the stigma of divorce at a young age, you’re not alone. We cover all of these challenges and more.

On this episode we are joined by Lucy Price, a Breakup and Relationship Coach who specializes in helping people heal from heartbreak and move on to a life they love. She uses evidence-based techniques to help her clients get over their exes in just three months, build self-love, and cultivate healthy, fulfilling relationships. Lucy’s here to share her wisdom on how to navigate this tough season with grace and confidence.

Connect with Lucy:

• Your Free Gift: https://www.shiftyourstory.net/freebie
• IG: @lucy.m.price
• TikTok: @lucy.m.price
• Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakups-and-breakthroughs/id1673828451

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

Part 3 of our series focuses on how to appreciate and benefit from the different voices in your head and their unique perspectives by using “The Brain Huddle”, a practice author Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD refers to as a “Power Tool for Peace”. The four voices or characters generated by four different types of neural tissue in our brains are somewhat stereotypical in their behavioral patterns which means that the more that you are willing to observe their responses/reactions to circumstances the more freedom you (and they) will have to work together to support you in a “whole brain life”

Listen to Lisa and Karen review our four characters and introduce you to the five steps of the “The Brain Huddle”, a practice that starts with using your breath to calm the stress center of your brain. Once you’ve passed the 90 seconds it takes to step back and out of the stress response you’ll be able to hear and access the unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives of the other parts of your brain that are equally you.

Lisa and Karen share real life examples of using the Brain Huddle to navigate challenging situations that arise during divorce and in life in general. If you want to move beyond the experience of fear, isolation, and despair that arises during divorce and be more effective and happier in your life, this show is for you.

Listen to Part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-not-crazy-part-i-exploring-the-voices-in-your-head/id1261400624?i=1000671723091

Listen to Part 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-not-crazy-part-ii-exploring-the-voices-in-your-head/id1261400624?i=1000672385298

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

The neurons in our brains are not all alike. Our brains think and feel in four different ways, every one of us. We may be more aware of certain ways than others, and define ourselves by the ways of thinking that are habitual...which does not always serve us well, especially when navigating divorce and post divorce life.

In today’s show, Part 2 of You’re Not Crazy: Exploring the Voices in Your Head, Lisa and Karen familiarize you with the four distinct thinking and feeling modes in your brain introduced in Part 1. With this knowledge you can begin to understand how you can expand your responses to the many challenging situations that arise during the divorce journey as well as life in general. Imagine, you have undiscovered resources within yourself that can help you to be more resourceful and your life easier to navigate!

Ready to meet yourself in a new way?  Listen to Part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-not-crazy-part-i-exploring-the-voices-in-your-head/id1261400624?i=1000671723091

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

=======

TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

It is an all too human tendency to react to stressful situations in counterproductive ways, to attack out of intense emotion without a clear purpose, to accommodate long after it's healthy to do so, or to avoid addressing situations that are destructive. While these are rarely wise strategies, they are disastrous strategies prior to, in the midst of, and post divorce.

During this episode and the following two Team Talks, Karen McMahon and Lisa Brick discuss an alternative approach to attacking, accommodating, and avoiding, help you to understand what part of your brain gets hijacked when you do, and how to be proactive, forward looking, and purposeful. When you use all of your brain, not just the hijacked parts, to handle the challenges that arise around divorce you begin to master your situation.

These three Team Talks are based on the research and findings of neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor in her 2021 book, Whole Brain Living: the Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Lives.

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

In this uplifting episode, we dive into the exciting opportunity of visualizing and designing your new post-divorce life. I know how overwhelming it can be to think about the future when you're going through a major life transition, but today we’re flipping that script. We'll explore what it means to design a life you love—one that feels authentic, joyful, and full of possibilities. Whether you're unsure of where to start or feel like you're already on the path, this conversation will inspire you to dream bigger and take the next steps to create the life you truly desire.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Embrace the Future: Shift your mindset from overwhelm to envisioning a joyful life after divorce.
• Identify Your Desires: Learn techniques to clarify what you truly want in love, career, and personal growth.
• Overcome Barriers: Discover strategies to push through obstacles that might be holding you back.
• Take Action: Leave with practical, high-leverage steps you can implement immediately to start designing your new life.

Laurie Gerber is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to life coaching. With over 18 years of experience, she’s helped individuals, couples, and groups design and live a life they love. Laurie is the founder of Laurie Gerber Coaching, Inc., and has appeared on countless stages, from TedX to major platforms like Match and General Assembly. She specializes in LOVE coaching, and her dynamic approach to transforming lives makes her one of the most engaging coaches in the country. You don’t want to miss her wisdom and actionable strategies!

Connect with Laurie:

• Grab Laurie's Free Gift: 3 Secrets to Finding and Maintaining Healthy Love: https://webinarkit.com/webinar/registration/66ba63166d1dd13140d3af07
• Take Laurie's Relationship Quiz: https://lauriegerber.com/quiz
• Master The Art of Love Course: https://lauriegerber.com/maol

• FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/loveasaverb

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lauriegerber_coach

• Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@lauriegerbercoach

• Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriegerber

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd

In this episode, we explore the often-overwhelming financial aspects of divorce, a crucial topic for anyone navigating this life transition. Understanding your finances can lead to a fair and sustainable outcome, helping you take control even when emotions are running high.

• The Importance of Financial Analysis: How assessing your financial situation can guide decision-making during divorce.
• Budgeting Strategies: Practical tips for creating a budget to avoid costly mistakes.
• Navigating Emotions: Techniques for managing emotions while focusing on financial clarity.
• Financial Tools: Insights on utilizing financial tools to empower your journey.

Our guest, Victoria Kirilloff, is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and the founder of Divorce Analytics. Drawing from her personal experience escaping an abusive relationship, Victoria created the Divorce Impact Analysis report to help others achieve financial clarity during divorce. She aims to transform the divorce process from destructive to productive, empowering individuals to make informed financial decisions.

Connect with Victoria:

• Website: https://www.divorceanalytics.com/about-us
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divorceanalytics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoria.kirilloff
• Book a Consultation: https://divorceanalytics.cliogrow.com/book/00436c67f13921769d5506a437d898fd
• Grab the The Budget Blueprint - FREE to JBD Listeners: https://divorce-analytics.ck.page/products/budget-blueprint?promo=BBFREE

Journey Beyond Divorce Resources:

• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com 
• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce

A word from our sponsors:

Soberlink is a revolutionary tool designed to support individuals in their journey to sobriety. As a leading provider of remote alcohol monitoring, Soberlink offers a secure and reliable solution that helps people stay accountable and transparent in their recovery process.

We’re grateful for Soberlink’s commitment to enhancing the recovery process and providing valuable resources to our listeners. Learn more about how Soberlink can make a difference in your journey at www.soberlink.com/jbd

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TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible. 

We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd