Marriage at a Crossroads... Is It Fixable or Foundational Issues? with Relationship Coach, Dawn Smith
Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast
Release Date: 04/01/2025
Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast
Ready to regain your confidence and clarity during divorce? Join Karen McMahon’s —a 6-session group coaching program designed to help you manage triggers, set boundaries, and take back control. -- 2024 cracked me open. It was one of the hardest years I’ve lived through—personally and professionally. I felt misaligned with my values, burned out in my work, and disconnected from the joy and freedom I preach to others. But in the summer, I read The Big Leap, and something shifted. I started a year-long commitment to stepping into my Zone of Genius, facing my Upper Limit...
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Ready to regain your confidence and clarity during divorce? Join Karen McMahon’s —a 6-session group coaching program designed to help you manage triggers, set boundaries, and take back control. -- In this empowering episode of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast, Karen McMahon sits down with Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Jacki Roessler to explore what really happens with your money after the ink dries on your divorce agreement. If you're wondering what financial steps to take after divorce, this conversation is your roadmap. Jacki walks you through a strategic...
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When you’re going through divorce, the emotional toll is heavy. And yet you’re expected to make huge financial decisions that will impact your future. In this episode, I sit down with Laura Combs, CFP®, a nationally recognized financial advisor, to talk about how to stay smart and strategic when your world feels like it’s unraveling. Laura and I explore the most common financial mistakes people make during divorce—not because they don’t know better, but because they’re overwhelmed, fearful, or desperate to just be done. We talk about how to build a strong support team, create a...
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If your ex seems committed to making your life difficult, manipulating your kids, pushing your buttons, or weaponizing the past, this episode of Journey Beyond Divorce is a must-listen. Host Karen McMahon sits down with therapist, divorce coach, and co-parenting expert Jill Kaufman for a raw and compassionate conversation about navigating high-conflict co-parenting. With hard-earned wisdom and actionable strategies, Jill shares how to set boundaries that stick, manage emotional triggers, and protect your children from the chaos. Whether you're in the thick of it or working to heal, this...
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Coercive control doesn’t end with separation—and when children are involved, the stakes are even higher. In this compelling episode of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast, host Karen McMahon sits down with Dr. Christine Cocchiola, a leading expert and passionate advocate in the field of coercive control, to explore how this invisible form of abuse continues to impact families long after the relationship ends. Together, they unpack how emotional abuse often flies under the radar, the lasting harm it causes to both parents and children, and how protective parents can navigate the ongoing...
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In this episode, I sit down with midlife transformation coach Debra Donenfeld of Photosynthesis Coaching, who brings 14 years of coaching experience and a deeply soulful yet no-nonsense approach to helping people thrive through major life transitions. Together, we explore how to communicate effectively during high conflict divorce, even when emotions are running high and your ex seems to know exactly how to push your buttons. If every text, email, or conversation feels like walking through a minefield, this episode is for you. You’ll learn the real reason to keep your cool—not to...
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On this episode of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast, host Karen McMahon welcomes retired Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mohr for a powerful conversation about the long-term impact of divorce on children. Drawing from his personal experience growing up with two very different dads—his successful, conservative stepfather and his charismatic, unpredictable Hollywood actor father—Anthony offers a unique perspective on what it’s like for kids to live in two homes after divorce. Now an author of the memoir Every Other Weekend, Anthony shares how his childhood shaped his identity and...
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What if you could navigate your divorce with calm, clarity, and even collaboration, no matter how high the conflict? In this powerful episode of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast, host Karen McMahon sits down with internationally renowned mediator and author of Keeping the Calm, Hesha Abrams, to explore how to stay grounded, communicate effectively, and maintain your personal power during a high-conflict divorce. Together, they dive into the emotional and practical challenges of divorce, including handling custody battles, negotiating financial settlements, and co-parenting with a difficult...
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In this powerful episode of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast, Karen McMahon is joined by master life coach and relationship expert Sharon Pope to explore one of the most difficult questions in a marriage: Should I stay or should I get a divorce? Sharon shares her proven decision-making framework designed to help women gain clarity and confidence when facing the possibility of divorce. Together, they discuss the emotional weight of deciding to leave a marriage, how to navigate the fear of divorce, and why self-awareness is essential in making the right choice for your future. Whether you're...
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Divorce negotiations can feel like a battlefield—two people locked in conflict, each fighting to protect what matters most. But what if you stopped viewing your ex as the enemy and started seeing the process as a strategic game—one where understanding, clarity, and emotional regulation could actually help you get better results? In this episode of the Journey Beyond Divorce podcast, I’m joined by Brenda Bridges—Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Divorce Coach, and Mediator. Brenda has not only helped countless clients navigate the financial and emotional complexities of...
info_outlineIn this episode, expert coach Dawn Smith joins Karen McMahon to dive into marital conflict and how to navigate relationship challenges. With over a decade of experience understanding how men and women process emotions and make decisions differently, Dawn provides strategies for couples facing marriage issues.
Dawn combines couples counseling with practical coaching to help partners break free from disconnection patterns, fostering deeper communication and understanding. Her actionable tools are especially helpful for couples at a crossroads or struggling with communication and conflict.
Throughout the conversation, Dawn also explores how neurodivergent conditions, like narcissism and ADHD, can impact relationships and whether these issues are fixable or foundational. Her insights help couples determine whether the challenges they're facing can be worked through or if deeper, systemic issues exist.
Dawn Smith, founder of Whole Life Solutions, has guided over 1,000 couples through complex transitions. With expertise in mental health, neuroscience, and relationship coaching, she empowers individuals and couples to find clarity and connection. Her work has been featured at TEDx and leading conferences.
Connect with Dawn:
- $50 off an initial session - Mention JBD on initial consultation: https://
wholerelationshipcoaching. hbportal.co/schedule/ 6749db6a41bd770019f400c1 - Website: https://www.relationshipcoachdawn.com/
- Whole Life Solutions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholelifesolutionscoaching/
- Dawn Smith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relationshipcoachdawn/
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
- Join the FREE April 16th Workshop: Overcoming Divorce Fear and Paralysis - https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/overcoming-divorce-fear
- Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
A word from our sponsor:
TalkingParents provides a comprehensive platform designed to simplify co-parenting and enhance communication between parents. With secure messaging, a shared calendar, and features for tracking parenting time, TalkingParents ensures that all important details and agreements are documented and accessible.
We’re grateful for TalkingParents' support in simplifying co-parenting and enhancing communication for our listeners. Discover how TalkingParents can bring clarity and organization to your co-parenting journey at www.talkingparents.com/jbd