Divorced Christian Woman

What if your deepest shame wasn’t actually yours to carry?If you’ve ever felt the cold shoulder from your Christian family after your divorce, or you’re still untangling the sticky spiderwebs of shame and silence from your upbringing, pull up a chair. This episode is for you.I sat down with friend and fellow coach, Diana Swillinger, and together we unpacked how family of origin dynamics continue to haunt, shape, and sometimes straight-up sabotage your healing after divorce.Here’s what we discuss:What if the heavy load you’ve been dragging around was never yours to begin with?Could their cutting looks and guilt-trips actually say more about them than about you?What if boundaries weren’t about controlling others at all but something far more personal?At what point do parents stop calling the spiritual shots in your life?Is it possible that saying “no more contact” could actually be a sacred act?Why does the loss of “what should’ve been” sting almost more than the loss itself?Can forgiveness bring peace without flinging the door wide open again?Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is a life-changing mentorship program for divorced Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.Dive into the books recommended in today’s episode, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief and Forgiveness After Trauma. You can also listen to the interview I did with the author of Forgiveness After Trauma on the Flying Free Podcast, Episode 281. 

What if everything you believed about God was actually holding you hostage?In this episode, I sat down with my friends and fellow coaches Diana Swillinger, Stacey Wynn, and Marie Griffith to get real about what it looks like to rebuild your relationship with God after the spiritual ground beneath your feet crumbles.We’re talking about spiritual deconstruction, not as a slippery slope into heresy ( it’s actually a slip ‘n slide into FREEDOM), but as a necessary and sacred process of untangling truth from toxic theology. We share our personal stories of excommunication, church hurt, faith unraveling, and finding Jesus outside the four walls of evangelical dogma.If you’ve ever felt like you’re "getting it wrong" with God or wondered if there’s still a place for you in the Kingdom after divorce, doubt, and deconstruction, this episode is your permission slip to breathe.Key Takeaways:Deconstruction ≠ Losing Faith. It’s not rebellion, it’s reconstruction. It’s spiritual adulthood. It’s what happens when you stop obeying blindly and start seeking bravely.Jesus Is Still Here. Even when your theology implodes and your church unfriends you. Especially then.Faith Isn’t Fragile. If asking honest questions makes your faith crumble, maybe it was more fear than faith to begin with.Slippery Slopes Are FUN. Turns out that “slippery slope” we were warned about? It leads to love, liberation, and disco dance parties with the Holy Spirit.Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Connect with Marie on her blog, Live Like it Matters, and website, Spiritual Direction with Marie. Connect with Stacey and find all her resources on her Linktree. Check out Diana’s podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast.

Is being "nice" to your ex keeping you stuck in his orbit? In this episode, my friend and fellow coach Diana Swillinger and I peel back the layers on everything related to your ex.We tackle the sticky, icky, post-divorce drama: how to set boundaries, why you don't owe him or his people anything, and how to stay in your lane.If you've ever wondered:Am I being mean for not giving a crap about his new wife?Is it bad to limit contact with his family?Should I let my kids like the girlfriend? (Um. You can’t stop them. Sorry.)Am I a monster for offering him the fine china after he got legally dubbed an abuser?...then welcome. Pull up a chair. Laundry List of Scenarios We Cover: When your ex still wants to be your BFF When his mom keeps bringing up the marriage When his new girlfriend is too nice and your kids love her When his lawyer won’t quit When triangulation sucks you in, and you need to say, “I’m out”Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

Let’s be honest. If you've escaped from a destructive marriage, the idea of dating again might feel less like butterflies and more like plunging into shark-infested waters wearing a meat dress. But what if dating didn’t have to feel like impending doom? What if you could approach it with courage, confidence, and an actual strategy?In this episode, I invited three of my friends and fellow coaches, Stacey Wynn, Diana Swillinger, and Marie Griffith to join me for a frank discussion about dating after divorce as a Christian woman.Some Key Takeaways:Dating again? Terrifying. And also, you can do it!High standards are IT. You’re not picky. You’re just done with nonsense.Burn the haystack. Swipe left like it’s your sacred duty (thank you, Jennie Young).Polite is not required. Block. Burn. Bounce. Bless and release.Your gut is smarter than your mom, pastor, and therapist combined. Trust it.Emotions are dashboard lights, not detours. Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Connect with Marie on her blog, Live Like it Matters, and website, Spiritual Direction with Marie. Connect with Stacey and find all her resources on her Linktree. Check out Diana’s podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast.And here are some resources we mentioned within the episode: the Burned Haystack Method by Jennie Young, the Dare to Lead List of Values from Brené Brown, the Personal Values Test, and the Personal Values Card Sort by Dr. Jennie Shields.

What if the person you're turning to for healing is actually keeping you stuck? (Cue dramatic music and flashbacks to church lady "counseling" that made you question your entire existence.)Welcome to Season 2 of the Divorced Christian Woman Podcast! I’m kicking things off with my friend and fellow coach, Diana Swillinger. We’re diving headfirst into the sometimes-healing, sometimes-horrifying world of mentors, coaches, and therapists.Not all helpers are created equal, my friend. And no, your cousin’s youth group leader who “feels called” to counsel probably isn’t qualified to help you unravel years of spiritual abuse.This episode is your guide to sorting through the noise, finding the right kind of help for the season you're in, and learning how to trust your own gut again, especially after years of being told it was “deceitfully wicked.” (eye-roll)What We Covered: Mentors, coaches, therapists, and how to know the differenceRed flags in helping relationshipsGreen flags in helping relationshipsWhat to do if you believe you are “too broken” or “not broken enough”The process of healingHow community plays a role in our healingRead the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

Welcome to Season Two of the Christian Divorced Woman Podcast! This season, we'll be focusing on RELATIONSHIPS. Relationships with your kids, your ex, your friends, your family of origin, your colleagues, God, and even yourself. Join us as we dive deep into something that has a profound impact on our entire lives. Season two starts October 3, 2025. Subscribe to get notified when each new episode drops. 

Welcome to the final episode of Season One of The Divorced Christian Woman Podcast! If you’ve made it through the first 365 days post-divorce without stabbing anyone (including yourself), congratulations. You’re our people. In our finale I gather a roundtable of warrior women (Diana, Loretta, Lisa, and Marie) to talk about what comes after the ashes. (And it's NOT all sobbing into Häagen-Dazs while reading Leviticus. Haha)What we talk about: Finding yourself again (and realizing she’s kind of amazing)The joy of owning a dog (and a massage chair)Discovering that you’re capable of fixing doors, traveling alone, and hanging out with bears (on purpose)Reclaiming your space without needing anyone’s approvalForming deep, soul-filling friendships that you didn’t know were missingLetting go of the fear-based god to embrace the real one who’s been there all alongCreating peaceful parenting vibes after the chaos of controlAnd by the way, wondering what’s coming in Season 2? We’re diving into relationships: with yourself, your kids (even the adult ones), your ex, your God, your church, and maybe that suspiciously hot barista who always remembers your name. Starts October 4, so mark your calendars.Read the full show notes, get the journal questions, and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my personal mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development. Want to work with me? This is how!Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Connect with Marie on her blog, Live Like it Matters, and website, Spiritual Direction with Marie.Listen to Diana’s podcast, the Renew Your Mind Podcast. Connect with Lisa at her Linktree.Contact Loretta at Info@mycoachloretta.com Check out a Flying Free Podcast episode, “How Christian Women Resist Oppression in Their Marriages.”

What if the emotions you're trying to keep at arm’s length (like grief and rage) are actually the very things that will set you free?In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and fellow coach, Diana Swillinger. Today we’re talking about the emotional whirlwind that follows a divorce, especially for Christian women who were taught to be nice, stay quiet, and for the love of God, never get angry.Well. We got angry. (And we’re still alive!)If you’ve ever wondered:“Am I losing it, or is this rage normal?”“Why am I grieving when I wanted this divorce?”“Do I actually miss him...what the hell is wrong with me?”“What does forgiveness really mean if reconciliation isn’t safe?”… then this episode is for you, my buffalo-hearted sister. (Yes, we talk about buffalo. And you’re gonna want one as your life mascot by the end.)Read the full show notes, get the journal questions, and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my personal mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development. Want to work with me? This is how!Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Check out Diana’s podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast.Recommended books: Altogether You by Jenna Remiersma, No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz, Forgiveness After Trauma by Susannah Griffith, Finding Meaning: the Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler, The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner, and All the Scary Little Gods by yours truly. 

This isn’t your grandma’s church talk on “biblical womanhood.” In this episode, I sit down with four divorced Christian women—Diana, Loretta, Lisa, and Marie—to unpack the sticky, often squirmy conversation around sex, dating, purity culture, and what it all means now that we’ve ditched the toxic marriage and are figuring out what we actually want.Heads up: this is not a how-to guide for your post-divorce sex life. We’re not handing out purity rings or condoms. This is an open, judgment-free, thoughtful conversation about the messy intersection of desire, faith, and freedom.Key Takeaways:Sex as a “duty” is a massive church-induced scam. Most of us were taught to “submit” and serve our husbands—without any conversation about pleasure, consent, or autonomy. That’s not holy. That’s control.Purity culture wrecked us. Whether you read Passion and Purity with a highlighter or came in late via Focus on the Family propaganda, the fear-based messages about sex left many of us feeling ashamed, confused, or broken.Desire isn’t sinful. In fact, as Marie shares, our desires are often holy breadcrumbs leading us toward the life God actually wants for us: connection, safety, joy, embodiment.Safety is non-negotiable. If you’re not enthusiastically consenting, it’s a no. Period.Dating after divorce is a weird buffet. Think: civil engineers, gay best friends, and “I’d rather be watching Netflix alone” moments. Still, it’s helping us learn how to trust ourselves again.You’re not spiritually defective if you don’t want sex—or if you do. Normalize your own experience, whatever it is.You don’t need a man to be whole. Turns out you’re already a whole dang loaf of bread, not someone’s missing rib. Read the full show notes, get the journal questions, and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Listen to Diana’s podcast, the Renew Your Mind Podcast. Connect with Marie on her blog, Live Like it Matters, and website, Spiritual Direction with Marie.Read Sheila Wray Gregoire’s The Great Sex Rescue.Check out one of my Flying Free Podcast episodes, “What to Do if You’re Married to a Fool.”

Have you ever felt like your faith packed a suitcase, jumped off a cliff, and left you blinking in the rubble of what used to be your spiritual life? In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend and fellow coach Diana Swillinger to talk about what it’s like when everything you thought you believed about God, church, and even yourself suddenly stops making sense.We’re not sugarcoating it, friend. We're talking spiritual betrayal, religious trauma, excommunication (oh yes, I went there), and what happens when your church treats your divorce like an unpardonable sin. If you've ever doubted your beliefs, lost your community, or felt spiritually homeless, this episode can be a much needed dose of validation and sanity.And by the way, God’s still there. Even when you’re not sure who God even is anymore.Key Takeaways:Spiritual freefall is real – especially after religious betrayal, loss of community, or family rejection post-divorce.Doubt isn’t the enemy. It’s the beginning of real faith. (And no, you’re not going to hell for asking hard questions.)You can let go of the Jenga tower of theology you built—and still find Jesus standing there, patiently waiting.Creativity heals. Music, writing, quilting—whatever helps you access that divine spark inside you is sacred ground.You’re not alone, even if you feel like you’ve been spiritually ghosted by everyone you trusted.Religious certainty ≠ spiritual maturity. Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is say, “I don’t know.”Read the full show notes, get the journal questions, and/or ask Natalie a question hereRelated Resources:Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my group of badass divorced Christian women who are learning and growing along with me through classes, coaching, book studies, and Bible studies. Flying Free (https://joinflyingfree.com) is for Christian women in emotionally abusive marriages who are looking for support and healing. Apply to join today!Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a cool mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace. Check out Diana’s podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast.Books mentioned in this episode: The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse by David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen, Love Wins by Rob Bell, and Faith After Doubt by Brian McLaren.