Divorced People Season 2, Episode 1: Jen Berlingo and her Magical, Queer, Midlife Emergence
50 snips
Jan 19, 2025 Jen Berlingo, a coach, writer, and former therapist, shares her beautiful journey of coming out as queer in midlife after a marriage that no longer felt right. She explores the challenges of navigating identity in a conservative world, revealing the intricacies of her self-discovery. Jen reflects on love's unexpected twists, the realities of parenting a non-binary child, and the emotional complexities of relationships during the pandemic. Her insights on grief, authenticity, and personal growth provide a powerful perspective on love and life transitions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood and Parental Divorce
- Jen Berlingo grew up in a conservative, patriarchal environment with traditional gender roles.
- Her parents' divorce, due to her father's infidelity, impacted her view of marriage and instilled a fear of abandonment.
Early Queer Experiences
- Jen Berlingo recognized her attraction to girls early, playing with Barbies as couples and having crushes on female TV characters.
- Despite this, she primarily dated men due to societal heteronormativity and lack of queer representation.
Meeting and Marrying Her Husband
- Jen met her future husband as a coworker after moving to NYC, initially intending to date women.
- Despite expressing her intention to date women, they developed a friendship and eventually began dating.
