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This one’s powerful.

If you or someone you love has worn the uniform, you already know that the battles don’t always stop when deployment ends. And when veterans divorce, there’s usually a whole lot beneath the surface leading up to the split.

In this episode of The Splitting Smart Podcast, I’m sitting down with someone I deeply respect: Hon. Mark Johnson (Ret.), an Iraq War vet, Bronze Star recipient, and the judge on the Veterans Court in Riverside County. He’s seen it all—PTSD, moral injury, addiction—and he’s here to share what most people (even lawyers) miss when a veteran ends up in family court.

We talk about trauma, recovery, justice, and the marriages caught in between.

In this episode:

• Trauma and healing: what a decade of Veterans Court taught Judge Johnson
• The signs of combat-related PTSD—and how they impact marriage
• Why reintegration is harder than people realize
• When domestic violence can really be about untreated trauma (and what to do about it)
• What spouses and lawyers need to ask—but usually don’t
• Stories of recovery, redemption, and hope

About Mark Johnson:

Hon. Mark Johnson (Ret.) served as a Superior Court Judge and Colonel in the U.S. Army. He’s a decorated Iraq War veteran and longtime advocate for veterans who find themselves in the justice system, especially those struggling with PTSD and trauma. His novel, Scars and Strife, brings these stories to life through fiction rooted in truth.

Stay tuned for Part 2 (episode 62):

In the next episode, we dive deeper into veteran divorce, and what it takes to build real co-parenting agreements after military service and trauma.

HON. MARK JOHNSON (RET.)'S BOOK: Scars and Strife – https://a.co/d/38sod6z

MEDIATION STARTER GUIDE: https://mailchi.mp/2939c428981d/mediation-resources

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: The Splitting Smart Podcast

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/saperelawfirm

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/saperelawfirm

NEED QUALITY LEGAL HELP? Visit Sapere Law & Mediation

NEED SOME ENCOURAGMENT? Kelly wrote a book just for YOU: Victim Is Not Your Name: Remembering Your True Identity In the Midst of Life Challenges

Text us your feedback or questions - we'd love to hear from you.

They were supposed to be spending their golden years traveling, relaxing, and maybe spoiling any grandkids. Instead? They spent two years locked in a bitter divorce that racked up over $100K in legal fees—and that’s just one side.

In this episode, I’m walking you through the story of my client "Jeremy," a retired man who did everything right. He offered fair settlements. He tried to keep it calm. He just wanted to move on with his life. But his ex was stuck in anger—and her attorney wasn’t there to solve problems, only escalate them.

You’ll hear how a judge finally stepped in with a scolding from the bench, and why it still took two years, multiple court hearings, and over $100,000 (double that for both sides!) before a resolution.

But this isn’t just about one couple. It’s about what happens when you let anger run the show: the stress, the time lost, the way it impacts your health, your family, and your future.

Whether you’re the one feeling angry or you’re up against someone who is—this episode will help you understand what’s really at stake, and how to stop the madness.

We’re unpacking:

• How a “simple” divorce turned into a financial and emotional nightmare
• Why fear often hides behind deep-rooted anger
• The mental and physical toll of prolonged litigation (including health scares)
• Why grown kids start pulling away when things get messy
• How some attorneys thrive on conflict—and drag things out
• The moment a judge said, “This should’ve settled long ago”
• How divorce mediation could’ve changed everything

MEDIATION STARTER GUIDE: https://mailchi.mp/2939c428981d/mediation-resources

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: The Splitting Smart Podcast

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/saperelawfirm

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/saperelawfirm

NEED QUALITY LEGAL HELP? Visit Sapere Law & Mediation

NEED SOME ENCOURAGMENT? Kelly wrote a book just for YOU: Victim Is Not Your Name: Remembering Your True Identity In the Midst of Life Challenges

Text us your feedback or questions - we'd love to hear from you.

Feel like something’s “off?" It might not be you—it might be your hormones.

I’m back with Dr. Diana Hoppe—OB/GYN, hormone expert, and breast cancer survivor—to get into what most doctors still aren’t telling you about hormone therapy.

We’re talking about foggy thinking, the myths around hormone replacement theory, and what you can do to feel like yourself again.

If you’ve ever asked, “What’s happening to me?.... You’re going to want to listen to this episode.

Here’s what we get into:

• Why brain fog is not something you “just have to deal with”
• What really happened with that HRT study in the early 2000s
• Dr. Hoppe’s own breast cancer story
• What your OB/GYN might not be trained to look for
• How men can help their partners during perimenopause
• Natural ways to reset your system through supplements
• How to find the right doctor who actually listens

It's time to stop blaming yourself—and start getting answers that actually help.

About Dr. Diana:

Dr. Diana Hoppe is a board-certified OB/GYN, best-selling author, and total rockstar when it comes to helping women feel like themselves again. She is the founder of AmazingOver40.com, a telemedicine platform focused on hormone balance and women’s wellness.

RESOURCES:

• DR. DIANA'S WEBSITE: https://amazingover40.com
• DR. DIANA'S BOOK: Healthy Sex Drive, Healthy You: What Your Libido Reveals About Your Life
• DR. DIANA'S PROGRAM: Dr. Diana’s Transform Your Body, Mind, and Energy Detox program
• WATCH ON YOUTUBE: The Splitting Smart Podcast
• FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/saperelawfirm
• JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/saperelawfirm
• NEED QUALITY LEGAL HELP? Visit Sapere Law & Mediation
• NEED SOME ENCOURAGMENT? Kelly wrote a book just for YOU: Victim Is Not Your Name: Remembering Your True Identity In the Midst of Life Challenges