Navigating the holidays when you’re going through a divorce – or have recently gone through a divorce – can really suck. Money will likely be tighter, you may not see your kids as much, and the holiday traditions you once cherished are likely to be gone forever.

But just because your holidays will be undeniably different, that doesn’t mean they have to be miserable.

In this podcast episode, divorce expert Jackie Pilossoph—creator of Divorced Girl Smiling—shares deeply relatable stories and actionable tips for surviving the holidays, even if you’re feeling sad, alone, or overwhelmed. Jackie opens up about her own experience of spending her first Christmas without her kids, offering insights on how to honor your emotions while finding ways to reclaim joy during these tough times.

If you’re alone today – or on any major holiday – Jackie’s creative and practical ideas can help you feel better right now, even if you didn’t plan ahead. You’ll discover how taking even small steps can shift your mindset and improve your mood, even when you think that’s impossible.

Don’t struggle through the holiday season! Take a break. Listen to this episode. You’ll feel better.

[SPOILER ALERT: This episode just might make you feel SO good that you even forget how miserable you just were!]

About Jackie
Jackie Pilossoph is the creator and Editor-in-chief of Divorced Girl Smiling, a media company comprised of a website, podcast, mobile app, and professional resources. Jackie holds a Masters degree in Broadcast Journalism and is a former television news reporter and features reporter and writer for the Chicago Tribune.

Where to Connect with Jackie
You can connect with Jackie on Facebook at Divorced Girl Smiling or in her Facebook Group, The Divorced Girl Smiling Group. She is on LinkedIn as Divorced Girl Smiling. You can also find her on her website at DivorcedGirlSmiling.com.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

Ever wonder why you and your spouse seem to have the same fight over and over again? Or why the way your spouse treats you reminds you of how your mother/father/brother/sister treated you? Or why – if you’re already divorced and are dating again – you seem to pick the same kind of romantic partner over … and over … and over again?

The answer to these questions and more often lies buried deeply in your past.

In this week’s podcast episode, Tammy Cox, a transformational coach, reveals how even seemingly minor emotional experiences can create deep-seated beliefs that unconsciously drive our adult behaviors and relationship patterns.

Those internalized beliefs – beliefs such as feeling unlovable or unimportant - create invisible emotional blueprints that repeat throughout our lives, influencing everything from our self-perception to our closest relationships.

Thankfully, by learning to recognize our emotional triggers and exploring their origins, we can uncover and neutralize our childhood wounds and create more fulfilling adult relationships.

If you’ve ever suffered from self-doubt or feelings of unworthiness, this podcast episode will show you how to shift your belief system and start choosing beliefs that empower you. In that way you can start to break dysfunctional relationship patterns and step into true emotional freedom.

About Tammy
Tammy Cox is a dedicated Transformational Coach with a passion for helping women transform their lives and relationships. With a unique focus on inner child healing, Tammy uncovers the root causes of relationship breakdowns, guiding her clients on a deeply transformative journey toward rekindling emotional connection and love. Tammy's personal life journey was marked by significant childhood wounds, bringing her to a crossroads where she faced two choices: surrender to despair or embark on a path of healing. She chose the latter, committing to an inspiring voyage of self-discovery and personal growth, which shaped her into the transformational coach she is today.

Connect with Tammy
You can connect with Tammy on LinkedIn at Tammy Cox and on Facebook at Tammy Cox. You can follow Tammy on Instagram at Tammy Cox and X on Tamncox. To find out all about Tammy visit her Linktr at Tammy Cox.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

Has your marriage become dull and boring? What if you could rekindle the passion you used to have for your spouse while simultaneously deepening your emotional connection and revving up your sex life?

Sound too good to be true?

According to health and sex researcher Matt Cook, all of that (and more!) is possible.

In this podcast episode Matt shares the groundbreaking concepts he discovered that transformed his own 25-year marriage from boring to booming. He reveals secrets about the "oxytocin track," the “Coolidge effect,” and the often-overlooked orgasm cycle. Matt also shares how simple changes in intimacy habits can reignite passion and strengthen bonds in long-term relationships.

Matt doesn’t shy away from discussing taboo sexual topics in a quest to help couples transform their relationships, rediscover their passion, and build greater intimacy, regardless of their current struggles or physical constraints.

If you’re looking for holistic approaches to sexual health, and solutions to challenges like low libido, erectile dysfunction, and hormone imbalances, this a must-listen-to podcast episode. It just might revolutionize the way you think about love and connection regardless of your age.

About Matt
Matt Cook has coached over 80,000 men and runs the largest on-line university for alternative health and sex for men, GetMemberAccess.com. He helps men have the relationship and healthy life of their dreams using alternative methods and I have no doubt you’ll find this very eye opening and quite opposite of what every other so-called expert is saying.

Connect with Matt
You can learn more about Matt’s work and gain access to his experiments, courses, transformation classes, newsletters and more on his website getmemberaccess.com. And view his YouTube Channel at @RealMattCook.

Free Offer
To get Matt’s latest book, Partners for Life, opt in to receive his newsletter at DailyMedicalDiscoveries.com.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

Unresolved emotions and insecure attachment styles can silently shape our relationships and lives—but what if you could break free? In this second part of a two part series, Bev Mitelman, a certified attachment practitioner and founder of Securely Loved, explains how deeply rooted attachment patterns influence everything from emotional regulation to the way we connect with others.

The conversation goes beyond just theory, though. Using practical examples, Bev highlights how attachment styles govern the way we interact with our partner especially the cycle of approach-avoid that often traps couples in an endless cycle of “I want you/I need space.”

Using cutting-edge techniques to reprogram the subconscious mind, Bev demonstrates how clients can heal core wounds, build emotional resilience, and foster secure attachment with those they love.

Whether you’re struggling in your marriage or seeking to deepen your other relationships, this conversation reminds us that true transformation is possible.

About Bev
Prior to becoming a Certified Attachment Practitioner and founding Securely Loved, Bev was an Executive Leader, University Lecturer and published author, having obtained her Masters' Degree in 2006. She has dedicated her entire career (25+ years) working with adults in the realm of personal growth and professional development.

Bev specializes in attachment theory, as it relates to dating and relationships, LGBT+ communities, sexuality, childhood trauma, complex family dynamics, narcissistic abuse, and respectful parenting. She believes that radical honesty is the way to authentically connect with people, in a world where more and more of us are feeling isolated and disconnected.

Connect with Bev
You can connect with Bev on LinkedIn at Securely Loved and on Facebook at Securely Loved. You can follow Bev on Instagram at Securely_loved and on YouTube @SecurelyLoved. To find out more about Bev’s work visit her website at Securely Loved and book a 20 minute consult here.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

Ever wonder why you chose the spouse that you did? Or why you and your spouse seem to be locked in the same dance – pushing each other’s buttons and arguing over the same things you’ve argued about 1000 times before?

In this podcast episode, Bev Mitelman, a certified attachment practitioner and founder of Securely Loved, discusses the profound impact our attachment style has on all of our future relationships.

Bev explains how our early relationships with our primary caregivers create lifelong patterns for how we give and receive love—and why understanding these patterns is key to building better connections. Relying on the work of Dr. Gabor Maté, Bev explores and explains our attachment styles, core wounds, and the pivotal choice each of us makes between maintaining an insecure attachment style that we may have picked up during our childhood and consciously growing into a secure attachment style that will help us create the healthy relationships we crave.

If you feel like it’s “Groundhog Day” in your intimate relationships, and you long to create a more secure and well-balanced bond, this podcast episode is for you.

About Bev
Prior to becoming a Certified Attachment Practitioner and founding Securely Loved, Bev was an Executive Leader, University Lecturer and published author, having obtained her Masters' Degree in 2006. She has dedicated her entire career (25+ years) working with adults in the realm of personal growth and professional development.

Bev specializes in attachment theory, as it relates to dating and relationships, LGBT+ communities, sexuality, childhood trauma, complex family dynamics, narcissistic abuse, and respectful parenting. She believes that radical honesty is the way to authentically connect with people, in a world where more and more of us are feeling isolated and disconnected.

Connect with Bev
You can connect with Bev on LinkedIn at Securely Loved and on Facebook at Securely Loved. You can follow Bev on Instagram at Securely_loved and on YouTube @SecurelyLoved. To find out more about Bev’s work visit her website at Securely Loved and book a 20 minute consult here.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

What drives someone to redefine their life after decades of marriage? How can you live through some of life’s biggest challenges – like the loss of a child, the loss of a job and the loss of a marriage, and not only survive but thrive afterwards?

In this podcast episode Dana Cox shares her transformative journey of personal growth and resilience after deciding to end her 33-year marriage. She openly shares how she strategically navigated the divorce process, not just to protect herself financially but also to preserve an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, which was crucial for their six children and three grandchildren.

With candid honesty, Dana recounts the physical, emotional, and mental transformation that followed her decision to prioritize her well-being, peace of mind, and happiness. Her transformation was founded in a powerful mindset shift that caused her to take full responsibility for her part in the ending of her marriage, and to focus on becoming the person she needed to be to create the life she wanted.

Shortly after her divorce, Dana lost her corporate job. But instead of letting that loss bring her down, she simply pivoted and created her own coaching business. Now she empowers other women to prioritize their personal values and follow their hearts too.

If you need an uplifting story of growth, resilience and hope in the face of adversity, this week’s podcast episode is for you.

About Dana
Dana L. Cox is an international speaker, author, and the powerhouse behind FIX Coaching & Consulting. With over two decades of leadership experience, she empowers ambitious women to achieve extraordinary success without sacrificing their personal lives. Her approach integrates career goals with life aspirations, creating harmony and resilience for her clients. Dana’s work also drives organizations to streamline operations and foster bold, transformative leadership.

Connect with Dana
You can connect with Dana on LinkedIn at Dana L Cox. To find out more about Dana and the services she offers visit her website at www.danalcox.com.

Coming Soon

• 2-day Deep Dive Intensive "Success Unchained: Ditch Burnout & Mom Guilt"
• Online course; Book: The F.I.X. - Focused & Intentional eXecution: 7 Steps for Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Neglecting Your Health or Sacrificing Your Family and new online course launch.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

How amazing would your marriage, your family, and your community be if you had the tools to transform conflict into connection?

In this podcast episode, psychotherapist and author Phyllis Leavitt dives deeply into the complex topic of conflict resolution and decision-making within personal relationships, families, and communities. She breaks down the dynamics of both healthy and unhealthy family relationships and talks about strategies you can use to improve your own ability to resolve conflicts in a healthier way.

Beyond healing our individual relationships, Phyllis also reflects on America’s current cultural divide, noting the way we take responsibility and resolve conflicts in our personal relationships can influence society as a whole.

Phyllis shares valuable insights from her book "America in Therapy," and urges listeners to approach conflict on all levels with empathy and a willingness to listen and understand which will both promote peace and foster healthier relationships.

In an era of escalating social division and family conflict, Phyllis emphasizes how the skills we use to heal our closest relationships can transform our larger societal wounds.

About Phyllis
Phyllis has been a psychotherapist for 34 years and is the author of three books-- A Light in the Darkness, Into the Fire, and America in Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis. Her focus is on healing our families on all levels-- family of origin all the way to the macrocosm of the Family of America, for the sake of bringing us back into healthy cooperation and connection and mitigating the forces of escalating divisiveness and violence so many are suffering from today.

Connect with Phyllis
You can connect with Phyllis on LinkedIn at Phyllis Leavitt, on Facebook at Phyllis Leavitt. You can follow her on Instagram at phyllis_e_leavitt, on X at @PhyllisLeavitt2 and on YouTube at Phyllis Leavitt Podcasts. To find out more about how to work with Phyllis visit her website at Phyllis Leavitt and email Phyllis at phyllis@phyllislevitt.com.

Newly released book: America In Therapy

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

When divorce attorney and bestselling author Raiford Palmer sits down for a conversation, he doesn’t hold back.

In this candid and thought-provoking episode, Raif draws from nearly three decades of legal experience to share not only his legal insights in divorce, but also his own journey through divorce. That journey reshaped his legal practice, helping him empathize with clients on a deeper level.

Throughout this conversation, Raif stresses the critical role knowledge and understanding the emotional and financial rollercoaster of divorce plays in navigating divorce effectively. He also shares insider insights on the way divorce really works and the tremendous benefits of alternative dispute resolution.

Raif discusses how to apply a cost-benefit analysis that will keep you from making some of the biggest divorce mistakes that so many people unwittingly make. He also scrutinizes the misconceptions surrounding legal processes, the potential risks versus rewards of trials, and the strategic approaches to avoiding court battles.

If you’re thinking about or facing divorce, this episode is a treasure-trove of practical wisdom that will guide you through your divorce with more control and less conflict and expense.

About Raiford
Raiford Dalton Palmer is an experienced Illinois divorce attorney and the bestselling author of "I Just Want This Done: How Smart, Successful People Get Divorced Without Losing Their Kids, Money, and Minds," named the Best Family Law Book of All Time by BookAuthority. Raiford has been featured in prominent media outlets including The Associated Press, The Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Newsweek, US News, the New York Post, SiriusXM Radio, and WGN Radio AM 720.

With nearly 30 years of experience as a lawyer and mediator, Raiford is the CEO of STG Divorce Law, P.C., a law firm focusing solely on matrimonial law in the Chicago area. He is a Fellow in the Illinois Chapter of The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).

Raif is married to his law partner and AAML Fellow Juli Gumina, and they have a blended family of two sons and two daughters.

Connect with Raiford
You can connect with Raiford on LinkedIn at Raiford Palmer, on Facebook at Raiford Palmer and on Instagram and X @Raiford Palmer. To learn more about Raif’s work visit his website at STG Law Firm and visit his YouTube channel at STG Divorce Law and listen to his podcast at I Just Want This Done Podcast. To easily get the best selling book "I Just Want This Done: How Smart, Successful People Get Divorced Without Losing Their Kids, Money, and Minds" visit I just Want This Done.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.