Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast
Karen McMahon
The Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast is your trusted companion through every stage of divorce—emotional, legal, financial, and parental. With over nine years of impactful episodes, this top-ranked podcast supports men and women navigating the challenges of divorce, especially those facing high-conflict dynamics, co-parenting struggles, emotional overwhelm, or legal uncertainty.
Hosted by Karen McMahon, Certified Divorce Coach® and founder of Journey Beyond Divorce, the show offers strategic guidance, expert interviews, and real-life stories designed to help listeners move from confusion and chaos to clarity and confidence. Each episode is packed with insight and inspiration to help you make informed decisions, protect your children, safeguard your finances, and heal emotionally—so you can create a life you truly love post-divorce.
If you're on the fence about whether to stay or go, have just been told your marriage is ending, or are actively working through the messy middle of litigation, negotiation, or co-parenting, this podcast meets you where you are. You'll learn how to emotionally regulate through triggers, explore your divorce process options (mediation, collaboration, litigation, arbitration), and prepare to work effectively with legal and financial professionals. Topics include how to gather your financials, navigate custody issues, and negotiate complex decisions around property, retirement assets, and business valuations.
For those already in the process, episodes offer real-time guidance on how to cope with personality disorders in your co-parent, how to protect your children from toxic dynamics, and how to negotiate settlements strategically. You'll hear from certified divorce financial analysts, attorneys, parenting coordinators, therapists, and coaches who share proven tools and tips. Professionals in the divorce field—including family law attorneys, therapists, and financial experts—also listen in to better support their clients and stay up-to-date on best practices.
And when the divorce is final? The podcast continues to serve as a roadmap for building your next chapter. Learn how to close out the financial and legal loose ends—such as QDROs, life insurance, beneficiary changes, and estate updates—while beginning to design a life aligned with your values, goals, and inner peace. Episodes cover healing from betrayal trauma, understanding your emotional patterns, rediscovering your identity, and navigating the complexities of post-divorce dating and parenting.
This podcast also answers the most searched divorce-related questions, including:
How do I co-parent with a narcissist?
What are the steps in the divorce process?
Should I litigate or mediate?
What is a QDRO and do I need one?
How do I protect my kids emotionally?
What is the role of a certified divorce financial analyst?
How do I move on after infidelity or betrayal?
Listeners benefit from expert-vetted strategies, free resources, and supportive insights grounded in both experience and compassion. The Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast is more than just content—it's a lifeline. Whether you're seeking calm in the storm, tools to advocate for yourself, or support rebuilding your life, each episode helps you grow stronger, wiser, and more empowered.
Subscribe today and begin your journey beyond divorce with guidance you can trust.
www.jbddivorcesupport.com/podcast
Hosted by Karen McMahon, Certified Divorce Coach® and founder of Journey Beyond Divorce, the show offers strategic guidance, expert interviews, and real-life stories designed to help listeners move from confusion and chaos to clarity and confidence. Each episode is packed with insight and inspiration to help you make informed decisions, protect your children, safeguard your finances, and heal emotionally—so you can create a life you truly love post-divorce.
If you're on the fence about whether to stay or go, have just been told your marriage is ending, or are actively working through the messy middle of litigation, negotiation, or co-parenting, this podcast meets you where you are. You'll learn how to emotionally regulate through triggers, explore your divorce process options (mediation, collaboration, litigation, arbitration), and prepare to work effectively with legal and financial professionals. Topics include how to gather your financials, navigate custody issues, and negotiate complex decisions around property, retirement assets, and business valuations.
For those already in the process, episodes offer real-time guidance on how to cope with personality disorders in your co-parent, how to protect your children from toxic dynamics, and how to negotiate settlements strategically. You'll hear from certified divorce financial analysts, attorneys, parenting coordinators, therapists, and coaches who share proven tools and tips. Professionals in the divorce field—including family law attorneys, therapists, and financial experts—also listen in to better support their clients and stay up-to-date on best practices.
And when the divorce is final? The podcast continues to serve as a roadmap for building your next chapter. Learn how to close out the financial and legal loose ends—such as QDROs, life insurance, beneficiary changes, and estate updates—while beginning to design a life aligned with your values, goals, and inner peace. Episodes cover healing from betrayal trauma, understanding your emotional patterns, rediscovering your identity, and navigating the complexities of post-divorce dating and parenting.
This podcast also answers the most searched divorce-related questions, including:
How do I co-parent with a narcissist?
What are the steps in the divorce process?
Should I litigate or mediate?
What is a QDRO and do I need one?
How do I protect my kids emotionally?
What is the role of a certified divorce financial analyst?
How do I move on after infidelity or betrayal?
Listeners benefit from expert-vetted strategies, free resources, and supportive insights grounded in both experience and compassion. The Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast is more than just content—it's a lifeline. Whether you're seeking calm in the storm, tools to advocate for yourself, or support rebuilding your life, each episode helps you grow stronger, wiser, and more empowered.
Subscribe today and begin your journey beyond divorce with guidance you can trust.
www.jbddivorcesupport.com/podcast
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 11, 2024 • 44min
Special Guest: Untying the Knot After 50: The Complex Landscape of Grey Divorce with Karen Covy
Married couples over 50 are the fastest growing segment of the population divorcing. There are numerous unique challenges with Grey Divorce. Your children are older, which means you may need boundaries around their opinions and your desire to lean on them emotionally or financially. You most likely have more life behind you than you have ahead of you. This limits your ability to recoup funds lost in the divorce. It may impact spousal support if the monied spouse is close to retirement age. You also may have more assets to split up. You may have to go back to work after decades of being a stay at home parent. Tune in as our expert shares the challenges and solutions to navigating divorce in later years. Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach, Life Strategist, Lawyer, Mediator, Speaker and Author. She coaches busy professionals and business owners who want to make clear, confident decisions during highly-charged emotional situations. Karen also helps her clients become the CEOs of their own divorce, so they can navigate through their divorce with less conflict, less expense, and less damage to themselves and their children. Karen is the author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally; the creator of The Divorce Road Map 2.0, an online program, and host of the podcast, Off the Fence. More ways to connect with Karen: Website Podcast Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Take the "Relationship Health Quiz" Quiz: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/relationshiphealthquiz Podcast Episode: High Conflict Divorce: The Plight of Adult Children Podcast Series: Voices of Celebration
Dec 15, 2023 • 32min
Special Guest: How to Recognize and Exit an Oppressive Marriage and Thrive Post Divorce with Kate Walker
Most men and women who live in dysfunctional marriages are challenged to find the strength and courage to leave, navigate what may very well be a high conflict divorce and figure out how to reinvent themselves post divorce. Today's guest walks us through her journey of using the pain of childhood challenges and an oppressive marriage to fuel personal growth and a better next chapter. Kate was a monied spouse who also took on the lion's share of raising the family and household tasks. Overwhelmed and exhausted with two little children, and a corporate job, Kate had to create an exit plan to leave her marriage and reinvent her life. Kate Walker is an Author, Executive Leadership Coach who served as Human Resources Director at global companies in marketing, gaming and sports before taking the leap into entrepreneurship as a single mom of two sons. With no more corporate salary and two sons to support, Kate used her business experience and mindset principles to turn her new consulting company into a success. A true self-made woman and the long term financial provider for her family, Kate is sharing her journey in her upcoming book, A Candid Conversation: Lessons in Life, Love, and Leadership [out NOW]. Both a memoir and a guide to leadership and empowerment, Kate shares the advice and tools she wishes she'd had while navigating a corporate exit, single parenthood, and entrepreneurship with two sons at home. More ways to connect with Kate: Website: https://www.katewalker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekatewalker/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katewalkercoaching Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-walker-sphr Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Take the "Relationship Health Quiz" Quiz: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/relationshiphealthquiz
Dec 12, 2023 • 1h 1min
Special Guests: Shielding Kids from the Traumatic Impact of High-Conflict Divorce: Point C with Lawrence & Joni Jones
Custody battles are typical in high conflict divorce. The problem is the fight is often between two disregulated parents who love their kids but put them in the middle, causing unnecessary pain and suffering. Today's episode is meant to spotlight the confusion, suffering and trauma your children experience in the process of you fighting for what is 'best for your kids'. There is a better way, one that requires parents to pause and regulate yourselves so you can truly act in your children's best interest rather than from your own pain and triggered reactions. With me today are Lawrence and Joni Jones, the creators of a 5 minute video that powerfully illustrates how conflicts between divorcing parents can unintentionally cause emotional harm to their children. Point C is a modern day powerful 'fable' designed to help divorcing parents to recognize and support their children's mental health needs during and post divorce. Larry and Joni Jones are a caring and dynamic couple who have dedicated their lives and professional outreach to helping families navigate the oft-times difficult journey through mental health issues, special needs, and family law. After serving on the Superior Court bench in New Jersey, Larry retired from public service, began teaching at two Universities, and became significantly involved in mediation and alternative dispute resolution. Joni is board certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing, and is a certified anger management specialist. More ways to connect with Larry and Joni: FREE VIDEO - MUST SEE!: https://www.youtube.com/@pointcdivorce FIND LARRY AND JONI HERE: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pointcdivorce Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointcdivorce Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/point-c-divorce/ Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Take the "Relationship Health Quiz" Quiz: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/relationshiphealthquiz
Dec 8, 2023 • 58min
Special Guest: Should You Stay or Go: How to make the most difficult decision of your life with Kate Anthony
I have a very special guest today. She is a deeply respected colleague of mine, a fervent advocate for women and has dedicated her life to helping them get clear on who they are, what they want and if their marriage is enhancing or diminishing them and the life they desire. Should I mend or should I end is one of the most excruciating decision to make. Living in a high conflict marriage means you are attempting to make this decision after years or decades of being abandoned, diminished, belittled and abused. Fear and uncertainty can cloud your judgement and decision making abilities. This is Kate's zone of genius!! For over a decade she has been guiding women through the tender exploration of what has occurred in their marriage, what they desire and how to untangle thoughts, feelings and behaviors that have left them stuck and discouraged. I am so excited to speak to her today and share her new book, hot off the presses!! Kate Anthony is the author of The D Word: Making the Ultimate Decision About Your Marriage, host of the critically acclaimed and New York Times recommended podcast The Divorce Survival Guide Podcast and the creator of the groundbreaking online coaching program, Should I Stay or Should I Go? which helps women make the most difficult decision of their lives using coaching tools, relationship education, geeky neuroscience, community support, and deep self-work. Kate is certified as a Domestic Violence Advocate, a Co-Parenting Specialist, and a High Conflict Divorce Coach. More ways to connect with Kate: Buy Kate's book: https://www.amazon.com/Word-Making-Ultimate-Decision-Marriage-ebook/dp/B0C15TVKFR Listen to Kate's Podcast: https://kateanthony.com/podcast/ Follow Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedivorcesurvivalguide/ Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Take the "Relationship Health Quiz" Quiz: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/relationshiphealthquiz
Nov 7, 2023 • 1h
High Conflict Divorce: What to know about Parent Coordinators
A Parent Coordinator (PC) helps mediate and resolve disputes between parents in high conflict divorces. A PC is often a vital support both during and post divorce. If you find it impossible to make joint decisions with your STBX and virtually every interaction turns into a struggle or a power play, this podcast is for you!! Parent Coordinators can be mental health experts, attorneys or mediators. What they all have in common is their training as a parent coordinator with the ability to help parents stay child centers and learn how to collaborate. When that isn't possible, the PC can be the tie-breaker. The challenges you are facing with your co-parent will inform what PC expert would be best for your situation and how detailed your settlement agreement should be regarding the PC's involvement and authority. Dr. Lauren Behrman shares a wealth of information on what a parent coordinator is and is not, the value of involving them in the process during the divorce, the questions you want to ask in order to choose the right PC, and so much more! Dr. Behrman has her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and has been in private practice since 1985 and has considerable professional experience in treating children and families of divorce. Lauren is trained in High-Conflict Co-parent Counseling, Parent Coordination, Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce Practice and Mediation. Dr. Behrman co-authored "Loving Your Children More Than You Hate Each Other", a book for high conflict divorcing parents which was published in 2018. More ways to connect with Dr. Behrman: Website: https://www.behrmanpsychologicalandfamilymediationservices.com/ Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Join the Ultimate High Conflict Divorce Summit: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/summit2023 Win Without Law School: https://www.winwithoutlawschool.com/ Co-Parenting Masterclass: https://www.lesakoski.com/co-parenting-masterclass
Nov 2, 2023 • 59min
High Conflict Divorce: How to Remain Peaceful, Productive and Professional
Today's powerful episode gives you the strategies and tools needed to communicate more effectively with your spouse's high conflict personality. You have been struggling with criticism, deflection, blaming and black and white thinking. You have doubted your own version of reality, lost your self esteem and tried time and again to reason with your spouse to no end. What you didn't know was that communicating with a HCP requires a very different approach. HCPs do not respond to logic. Their brains are wired differently which is why your reasoning was fuel to the fire of conflict you were trying to put out. You continually get hooked into his/her reality, react is frustration or discouragement with nothing changing Today's guests, Megan Hunter and Andrea LaRochelle are experts in high conflict disputes and explain why your reasoning approach has not worked and what you need to do to communicate more effectively with the HCP in your life. Learn about the EAR and BIFF approaches that will forever change the way you interact and coparent with your HCP. More ways to connect with Megan and Andrea: Co-Parenting Without Court Parent/Child Classes: https://www.conflictplaybook.com/offers/SJ8XumLo/checkout High Conflict Family Law Consultation Group: https://www.highconflictinstitute.com/bookstores/consultation-group The High-Conflict Co-Parenting Survival Guide: Reclaim Your Life One Week At A Time book: https://www.amazon.com/Coparenting-Wellness-Planner-High-Conflict-Cases/dp/1936268302 Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Join the Ultimate High Conflict Divorce Summit: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/summit2023 Win Without Law School: https://www.winwithoutlawschool.com/ Co-Parenting Masterclass: https://www.lesakoski.com/co-parenting-masterclass
Oct 28, 2023 • 37min
High Conflict Divorce: How I Reclaimed My Sanity, Self Esteem and My Life!
While navigating divorce, fear of the unknown often drives us to replace our uncertainty with a catastrophic worst case scenario about our future. However, our greatest fears rarely come true. Today's session is designed to provide you with hope and encouragement as you hear one woman's journey from fear and overwhelm to a post divorce life that is very different from what she feared. Tune in as she shares the struggles she faced with her narcissistic ex, and how while he never changed, she changed so much that she rarely feels anxiety around interactions with him. Elle shares how she is living a peaceful and joyful life in spite of the fact that she has been divorced for 8 years, co-parenting / parallel parenting her school age child with his dad (and has many years left to go before her child is emancipated). Elle shares specific tools and strategies she received from coaching that you too can use to minimize the stress and tension in your situation. Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Join the Ultimate High Conflict Divorce Summit: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/summit2023 Win Without Law School: https://www.winwithoutlawschool.com/ Co-Parenting Masterclass: https://www.lesakoski.com/co-parenting-masterclass
Oct 27, 2023 • 1h 10min
Divorce Trauma Recovery: Reboot Your Mind and Heal Your Heart with Dr. Jon Connelly
We are looking at how to Reboot Your Mind and Heal Your Heart with a uniquely painless and rapid trauma recovery modality called Rapid Resolution Therapy (RTT). In this modality, the mind is cleared of negative beliefs, reorganized to see new possibilities, and stops regretting the past and dreading the future. Negative habits and painful emotions are replaced by positive feelings and actions. Freed from the grip of past events, blocked energy is released so that physical and emotional healing can take place. Once the conflicts in the unconscious mind have been pinpointed and cleared, the desired change is automatic and lasting. Let me introduce today's guest… Dr. Connelly founded Rapid Resolution Therapy® that utilizes innovative concepts, multi-level communication and specialized tools to resolve emotional disturbance and maladaptive behavior by changing how the unconscious mind processes information so that improvements are natural, automatic and lasting. RRT is fast, painless, complete and uses strategic processes to resolve troubling thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and relieves suffering. Jon's early career experiences as a child protective service worker and clinical supervisor in a program for traumatized teens helped shape the creation of Rapid Resolution Therapy®. RRT offers innovative training programs designed for people looking to relieve suffering. Jon is the author of Life Changing Conversations with Rapid Resolution Therapy which demonstrates the power of a single session to resolve ongoing trauma and turmoil and dramatically improve well-being. His next book, Grief is Not Sacred, has just been released and is available through Amazon. More ways to connect with Dr. Connelly: Website: Rapid Resolution Therapy® Contact Information: (800) 587-2623 / info@rapidresolutiontherapy.com Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Join the Ultimate High Conflict Divorce Summit: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/summit2023 Win Without Law School: https://www.winwithoutlawschool.com/ Co-Parenting Masterclass: https://www.lesakoski.com/co-parenting-masterclass
Oct 25, 2023 • 41min
JBD Team Talks: The Intersection of Love and Divorce: An Exploration with Lisa Brick
Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails. Love and divorce, what's the connection? I love you. I am leaving. I don't love you. I am leaving. The question was asked by Tina Turner in her hit song in 1984,"What's love got to do with it?" Karen and Lisa are looking at the same question in this show. What is "love"? How many kinds of love are there? What's behind the individual who deeply loves and leaves or the one for which love's long faded and peacefully stays? When is staying for "love" a life sentence for pain and misery? What does leaving for love look like? If love isn't what the painful choice to leave or be left is based on, what is? Karen and Lisa share stories from their combined decades of coaching, highlighting the many different motivations behind leaving, with love oddly being the least of it. Journey Beyond Divorce resources mentioned in this podcast: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Join the Ultimate High Conflict Divorce Summit: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/summit2023 Win Without Law School: https://www.winwithoutlawschool.com/ Co-Parenting Masterclass: https://www.lesakoski.com/co-parenting-masterclass
Oct 21, 2023 • 54min
High Conflict Divorce: The Vital Role of Forgiveness in YOUR Healing with Dr. Gayle Reed
While forgiveness seems to be for the HCP, it is actually for you, the spouse. Forgiveness is not condoning, accepting, excusing or denying the abuse. Our guest takes us through a 4 phase process that helps you to uncover the impact of unforgiveness, examine the benefits of choosing forgiveness, begin the journey to forgive and the healing that journey invites and ultimately, how forgiveness, healing and growth is the cornerstone for finding meaning in the struggle with the HCP. The psychological impact of living with a HCP crushes your self esteem often leaving you, the spouse insecure, reactive and bitter. Our guest, Dr. Gayle Reed, shares how forgiveness is a healing balm for the spouse of the HCP. She explains the traumatic impact of verbal and emotional abuse and the psychological defenses you use to manage the resulting anger, pain and confusion. Gayle Reed, a former psychiatric nurse, received a PhD from the University of Wisconsin--Madison under graduate advisor Dr. Robert Enright, internationally known leader in research on forgiveness and co-founder of the International Forgiveness Institute. Dr. Reed's own research on forgiveness has demonstrated that a forgiveness recovery program resulted in psychological benefits for women with a history of spousal psychological abuse and childhood sexual abuse. This research has been featured in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and on the Jane Pauley show (NBC). Journey Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode: Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com Win Without Law School: https://www.winwithoutlawschool.com/ Join the Ultimate High Conflict Divorce Summit: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/summit2023
