Parenting | Are Your Kids Walking on Eggshells? Co-Parenting Without Emotional Damage
Divorce and Separation
When parents separate, the focus is often on logistics parenting schedules, property settlements, court orders. But underneath all of that is something quieter. The emotional world of our children. In this episode, I sit down with psychologist Jamie Maserow, author of The Therapist in Therapy, to explore the silent emotional work children often carry during divorce and separation. We discuss how children can slip into people-pleasing patterns, walking on eggshells to avoid upsetting Mum or Dad. We unpack jealousy — whether it’s a child feeling replaced by a new partner, or a parent...
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Self Care & Support | Self-Gaslighting After Separation: When You Stop Trusting Your Own Reality
Divorce and Separation
If you’re separated (or separating) and you keep replaying the past, rewriting conversations, and wondering “Maybe I’m the one who’s wrong…” this episode is for you. One of the most common (and most unsettling) things I see after a breakup isn’t confusion about money, logistics, or parenting schedules. It’s people quietly doubting their own reality. There’s a name for it: self-gaslighting and it can keep you stuck long after the relationship ends. In this short solo episode, I explain what self-gaslighting is, why separation turns up the volume, and how to rebuild trust in...
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Parenting | Social Media After Separation: When Milestones Hurt Because the Story Isn’t Yours
Divorce and Separation
Some of the hardest days after separation aren’t the days where everything falls apart. They’re the days that look “fine” on paper — birthdays, Christmas morning, school milestones, first days back — and yet I still feel that sting afterwards. In this episode, I’m talking about why milestone days can hurt more than you expect, especially when social media tells the story first. Not because a photo is “wrong”… but because the timing, the caption, and the implied narrative can leave you feeling edited out of your child’s life. This isn’t petty. It’s grief meeting...
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Finance | Buying Out your Ex After Separation: The Finance Reality
Divorce and Separation
Jonathan Kline-Spink, Director at Market Street Finance, unpacks what banks are really looking at when someone is separating and hoping to keep the family home. We talk about the difference between borrowing capacity and affordability, why keeping the family home after separation is often more complex than people expect, and how lenders reassess risk when a joint mortgage becomes a single loan. Jonathan explains how banks consider income, expenses, child support, and property values; why finance approvals fall through, and the importance of having honest, early conversations before...
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Legal | Who Keeps the House After Separation?
Divorce and Separation
Buying out an ex from the family home after separation can feel overwhelming — financially, legally, and emotionally. In this episode, I’m joined by Christina Salvo, CEO and Founder of Simple Separation, to break down how the process actually works and what needs to happen first. We talk through the real sequence involved in buying out an ex — starting with negotiation and mediation, moving into formal agreements, and then looking at finance and title transfer. Christina explains why affordability and borrowing capacity need to be assessed early, what lenders look at when a joint...
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Self Care & Support | The Habits That Heal: Dr Gina Cleo on Identity, Separation and Starting Again
Divorce and Separation
Dr Gina Cleo joins me for a powerful conversation about the tiny habits that help you steady yourself after separation especially when identity, routine and confidence feel completely shaken. Gina shares openly about her three divorces and the very human process of rebuilding from the inside out. We explore how separation disrupts the “micro-moments” of your day, why habits shape identity, and the difference between having a habit problem versus simply having no capacity left. We also talk about: Small actions that rebuild confidence and clarity Breaking patterns like people-pleasing...
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Spotlight | When Kids Carry Adult Pain: A Conversation with Tommy Herschell
Divorce and Separation
Children feel the impact of separation long before they can explain it and many carry those early wounds into adulthood. In this episode, I’m joined by Tommy Herschell, founder of Find Ya Feet, to explore what can happen for kids during a family breakdown and how those early experiences can shape boys and men for decades. Tommy shares his own story, his parents’ separation when he was 10 years old, the years of self-blame, and the emotional crash in his mid-30s that forced him to face what he’d been carrying. We talk about how unspoken pain shows up in kids’ behaviour, why emotional...
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Anatomy of Divorce | How to Filter the Noise During Divorce
Divorce and Separation
If your mind feels loud but your heart has gone quiet, this episode is for you. If you’re navigating divorce or separation and feel overwhelmed by everyone’s opinions, this episode will help you tune back into your voice. In this instalment of The Anatomy of Divorce, I explore The Ears — the part of the process where discernment, boundaries, and self-trust matter most. During separation, it can feel like you’re drowning in advice from friends, family, lawyers, social media, and your own inner critic. But not every voice deserves airtime. I share how this played out during my own...
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Anatomy of Divorce | Let Go, Let Them, and Find Real Peace After Separation
Divorce and Separation
This episode is part of The Anatomy of Divorce segment, I unpack one of the most overlooked skills in separation - perspective. When life turns upside down after divorce, your brain goes into survival mode. You loop old arguments, replay stories, and grip tightly to being understood. But sometimes the shift you need most isn’t fixing them - it’s seeing them differently. I share how understanding your biology, practising perspective-taking, and embracing Let Them Theory can help you calm your nervous system, make clearer decisions, and protect your peace. You’ll also learn my...
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Finances | Divorce in the Workplace: The $101 Billion Blind Spot with Andrew Tomich
Divorce and Separation
Separation and divorce cost the Australian economy $101 billion every year but behind that figure are real people quietly trying to hold their lives, families, and jobs together. In this episode, I’m joined by Andrew Tomich, Director at , to explore how divorce impacts the workplace from leadership and productivity to culture and wellbeing. Andrew shares what happened when a senior colleague went through a complex separation and how empathy, flexibility, and communication became the foundation for getting through it together. We talk about the ripple effect personal crises have inside...
info_outlineI am welcoming back Melissa Browne onto the podcast to help you "Declutter Your Finances". We are sharing with you how to unravel the mystery of financial clutter and offer practical strategies to simplify, prioritise, and take control of your finances — no spreadsheets required. Whether you're adjusting to a new financial reality or just looking to feel more in charge, this episode is packed with actionable advice.
What You’ll Learn:
Face the Numbers, Face the Truth: Understand why knowing exactly what you earn, owe, and spend is the foundation of financial freedom—and why most people avoid it.
Declutter in Bite-Sized Chunks: From food budgets to electricity bills, Melissa’s methodical approach helps you tackle financial clutter one step at a time.
Break Free from Bad Habits: Discover how small unconscious actions, like using credit cards or buy-now-pay-later services, could be silently sabotaging your goals.
The 30-Day Detox for Your Wallet: A game-changing exercise that resets your relationship with money and empowers you to spend with intention.
Dealing with Debt, Made Simple: Melissa demystifies the four types of debt, how to handle each, and why not all debt is created equal.
Forget Budgets — Build a Plan That Works: Learn how to create a lifestyle-first approach to managing money that feels achievable and sustainable.
Shifting Mindsets Around Money: Strategies to reduce financial anxiety, build resilience, and create a financial future that aligns with your values.
Inspiring Insights:
- Why financial modeling for your kids isn’t just important — it’s a legacy.
- How acting “counter-culturally” can free you from the relentless pressure of consumerism.
- The truth about financial resilience: It’s not about having it all; it’s about living a life aligned with your core values.
Free Resources from Melissa:
50+ Ways to Find $10K in 12 Months: Creative ideas to generate extra income, from pet sitting to strategic savings — no second job required. CLICK HERE.
Melissa’s Financial Courses: Gain clarity and confidence with Melissa’s practical, approachable programs designed for real life. CLICK HERE TO JOIN.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:
Visit Divorce and Separation Hub to explore expert resources, courses, and programs tailored to your needs. Share your questions or comments — you’re not alone in this.
How to Tell Your Kids You Are Separating Buy Here.
This episode is brought to you by Simple Separation. For a stress-free, transparent approach to navigating separation, book a free consultation with their team today.
Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.
Host: Nikki Parkinson
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Guest: Melissa Browne
Melissa Browne, is an ex-accountant, ex-financial advisor & ex-working till she drops.
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Executive Producer and Editor: Tiffany Richmond. You can contact Tiffany via her website and on Instagram @tiff__richmond.