How Not To Suck At Divorce

The only divorce podcast that's one part family law attorney and one part recovering comedian. We are dedicated to bringing you action steps, empathy, and a healthy side of snark. Morgan Stogsdill and Andrea Rappaport bring you divorce content that's resourceful, entertaining, packed with ACTION STEPS from EXPERTS, and most importantly, help listeners feel less alone. You'll get through this. We promise. You've got this..and we've got you. **Do not listen to this show if you don't have a sense of humor.

120. How a Bad Marriage Can Affect Your Physical Health and a Divorce Could Actually Make You Healthier! 08/11/2024

119. What Most Divorce Attorneys Won't Tell You 07/26/2024

118. Is Your Marriage Worth Saving or Should You Get a Divorce? 07/15/2024

118. Is Your Marriage Worth Saving or Should You Get a Divorce? How do you know if it's time to leave your marriage?? Is your marraige worth saving?? How the hell do you do that and who the hell is going to help you figure that out??? Ever wondered if you would benefit from Discernment Counseling? The founder of discernment counseling, Dr. Bill Doherty, joins us on the podcast to find out . Not only did Dr. Doherty develop a specific type of counseling for couples where one is considering divorce, he's also been on Oprah not just once, but twice! From Harpo to How Not To Suck At Divorce, Dr. Doherty is moving up in the world, that's for sure. (hahahhaa) Discernment counseling is when one person is leaning OUT of the relationship and considering divorce and the other person is leaning IN and wants to try to make things work. This type of counseling gives people clarity and confidence based on a deeper understanding of what has happened in the marriage. Dr. Doherty answers the questions: 1 What is discernment counseling? 2 Does discernment counseling solve problems in the marriage? 3 What are the differences between couples therapy and discernment counseling? 4 How long is discernment counseling? 5 What are the three paths of discernment counseling? 6 How do I know if we should try couples therapy or discernment counseling? Stay until the end because Dr. Doherty blows the lid off traditional therapy and tells us he favorite type of wine (you won't believe his answer). You can find Dr. Bill Doherty and search for a local discernment counselor at *Do you have our DCC?? If you're considering divorce, you should!! And don't forget about Our Family Wizard. It's our #1 app for coparents who are looking to not suck at this process! Check them out here: Please hit the 5 stars in your podcast app, we need the external validation, but more importantly, it helps our podcast show up in searches so we can help those who are struggling through the divorce process. Remember, you got this and we got you. Slide into our dms, we love hearing from you! @theandrearappaport @divorceattorneychicago @hownottosuckatdivorce /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/32145232

117. How Do You Know When Your Marriage is Over? (special re air) 07/05/2024

116. Escaping an Abusive Narcissist Marriage (Her Story Was Turned into a Movie You Probably Saw) 06/29/2024

116. Escaping an Abusive Narcissist Marriage (Her Story Was Turned into a Movie You Probably Saw) If you haven't been living under a rock, you saw the movie: The Wolf of Wall Street. Now you're going to hear about the real life experience of being married to infamous character in which the movie was written about. So what was it like being married to the Wolf of Wall Street?? Wel, their eight-year marriage began as a fairytale, filled with romantic dinners, expensive gifts, and lavish parties. But once they were bonded, Jordan’s ‘mask’ began to slip and acts of infidelity, narcissistic abuse, insatiable greed, and uncontrollable drug addiction became Nadine’s living nightmare. Nadine naively believed that their connection was real, and that her love could save him, so she remained trauma-bonded until the pain of their relationship became too much to bear. It would be decades before she realized her story resembled thousands of other women’s relational experiences. At the age of 30, Dr Nadine, or Dr Nae as she's often referred, packed up her curtains and kids and relocated to Los Angeles. She began a transformative process of intensive therapy and deep self-reflection, which required facing her pain, admitting, and owning her mistakes, and reconnecting with the authentic self she’d lost due to Jordan’s abuse. Through her own healing, a passion for helping others was born. She returned to school at 39 to become a psychotherapist, and ten years later, graduated with a PhD in Counseling and Somatic Psychology. You’re also going to hear find out the hell can you do so that you're not carrying around this weight and this storm cloud for the rest of your life. To learn more about how YOU can work directly with Dr Nae (and we know you want to), check her out here: AND, grab her book, Run Like Hell here: So tune in as we chat with Dr. Nadine Macaluso, a clinical expert and ex-wife of the real-life Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort. If you're in need of coparenting support- look no further than Our Family Wizard. We LOVE them. Head here for more information: And finally, if Dr Nae's story sound at all like yours...you NEED the Divorce Crash Course, get it here: /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/31934072

115. How to Get the Right Divorce Support 06/21/2024

114. What You Must Do Before You Leave Your Abusive Marriage... 06/14/2024

113. High Conflict Divorce Survival Guide 06/07/2024

112. Divorce Mediation Prep That Will be Crucial to Your Case 05/24/2024

112. Divorce Mediation Prep That Will be Crucial to Your Case Listen to this episode BEFORE you go into mediation. It IS possible to have a positive outcome from mediation, even if you feel like your soon to be ex spouse agree on NOTHING. And before we get into the nitty gritty: Do you have our Divorce Crash Course? It literally holds your hand through ALL major divorce decisions! Get it here: Here are 3 EXPERT tips, (from a mediator herself- Joy Rosenthal-), to help you reframe your mind before entering mediation: 1) You don't have to RESPECT your soon to be ex, but you still need to have some DIGNITY for them. In other words, treat them like a human who also has wants and needs (even if their wants and needs are questionable and they're acting like a total tool) 2)Start to think of the problem as something that's outside of you and your soon to be ex. Meaning, the issue is "who gets the kids this Christmas?" or "who gets the lake house?" or "who's going to get the collection of ketchup bottles?" (yes, that was an actual issue for one of Morgan's cases). The issue is not about YOU, and it's not about you soon to be ex, it's simply a "problem" that needs to be "solved". 3)Think about why you want what you say you want. This one is kinda about checking ego, and also just gaining some perspective on the situation. It's important to keep in mind that everyone loses something in a divorce. You're not gonna come of this thing with EVERYTHING you want, it just doesn't work like that. In fact, the old divorce joke goes, "if both parties are unhappy and feel they got cheated, then the attorneys did their job" I (Andrea) HATE that joke and it makes me want to scream, but that's the way it goes! And remember, mediation, divorce- all of this mess-is just going to be ONE event that happened in your life. It's not your life, you have a lot more life to live when this is all behind you. Our Family Wizard is here to help you though your coparenting journey. Learn more about them here: /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/31456582

111. What to Consider About the Summer (Divorce Tips!) 05/18/2024

110: The Parenting Agreement (Biggest Divorce Mistakes) With Dr Malissa Tigges - special re air 05/13/2024

110: The Parenting Agreement (Biggest Divorce Mistakes) With Dr Malissa Tigges - special re air Alright, here's one of Andrea's least favorite topics...but probably the most important: the parenting agreement. Below are the show notes for a special re air episode, all about the parenitng agreement. Remember, our Divorce Crash Course holds your hand through ALL of the important decisions you make during your divorce process. Grab you DCC, right here: for only $97, you can save up to THOUSANDS and avoid making MAJOR mistakes. The cost of our crash course includes 5 short videos, which are wildly informative and entertaining (if we do say so ourselves) AND includes a printable guidebook, that has mental health break exercises built in! *********** We're getting into some real, REAL stuff in this episode. This is one of the biggest concerns our listeners have so we wanted to dedicate an entire episode to how to put your kids first in your parenting agreement. Today, we have therapist Dr. Malissa Tigges with us to talk about how to create a parenting agreement that prioritizes the welfare of your kids. Dr. Tigges is a licensed clinical and forensics psychologist with over 10 years of experience working as a psychotherapist and an evaluator. She helps people make the best decisions possible when developing their parenting agreements. Dr. Tigges, Morgan and Andrea answer: What do divorcing couples need to understand when putting together their parenting agreement? How to design the parenting agreement so it's appropriate at each age of the children. The biggest mistake divorcing couples make when creating their parenting agreement. What is the main difference of a parenting plan that involves a younger child vs. a teenager? Can you modify a parenting agreement? Who should you consult with to ensure your parenting agreement is the best for your child? Should you open the parenting agreement email after having a few drinks? What is co-parenting therapy and is it necessary? What do you do when your rights are being violated during the divorce process when you're drafting the parenting agreement? What's the best schedule for co-parenting? 50/50? Week on, week off? Every other weekend? The answer may upset you, but it's important to understand. Is there wiggle room in a parenting agreement if there's a special trip or long weekend planned? Dr. Tigges also shares her absolute "must-dos". Here is where you can connect with Dr. Tigges: @drmalissatigges on instagram, tiktok and facebook Dr. Tigges is licensed in Florida but if you're not in Florida, your state may allow you to do telehealth with Dr. Tigges so if you need guidance, reach out! Also- Our Family Wizard is here to help make your coparenting journey a whole lot easier. To learn more about them and to get access to an article that we cowrote, visit them at: /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/31278987

109. Can You Record Your Ex?? (Divorce Questions) 05/03/2024

108. If You're Suffocating in Your Marriage and Think You Want a Divorce 04/26/2024

107. What the Best Divorce Attorneys Want you to Know 04/19/2024

106. Top Divorce Questions 04/12/2024

106. Top Divorce Questions In today’s episode, boooooy did we shed some light on the top asked questions when navigating a divorce. From the quirky laws about eavesdropping, (did you know in Illinois recording someone on the phone without consent is a no-go but in public, it’s fair game?), to seeking multiple opinions like you would for a tricky medical condition – this episode has it all. And here's your place to grab access to the DCC: The Divorce Crash Course, yes, you need this! : And hey, for those wondering about GALs and child representatives in custody battles, we've got the lowdown right here. In this episode we answer: HOW to tell your spouse you want a divorce (and the big reason why we suggest NOT doing it on a weekend) What to do when you feel like your spouse has been hiding finances and is it worth it to continue digging? Trial separations before filing! Doing the right thing or putting off the inevitable? GAL - what it is and the role that it serves How do you know if a GAL is going to help or hurt your case? When do you advocate that you want one? Do you say “I want one”, or is it something that you wait for a judge to slap on to your case? Difference between GAL child rep - How would you know when you need one and not the other? Who does a GAL speak to and who does a GAL not speak to? And is a GAL the same thing as a custody evaluator? Are they going to come into my home and see what my home looks like? What does parental alienation actually mean? What happens if your ex records your conversations? Are they allowed to do this? How late is too late is too switch attorneys? Experience requesting an order from the judge I promise we’re in your corner and here for you and remember, you’ve got this and we’ve got you! **And remember, if alcohol use is a concern with safe parenting time, then Soberlink is a tool you need in your toolbox. Learn more and save $50 off your device here: *** To join our private community, head here: /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/30796483

105. The Biggest Divorce Mistakes (that we'll help you AVOID) 04/05/2024

104. How to Get Your Divorce Judge ➡️ "On Your Side" ⬅️ With Retired Los Angeles Judge, Dianna Gould-Saltman 03/29/2024

104. How to Get Your Divorce Judge ➡️ "On Your Side" ⬅️ With Retired Los Angeles Judge, Dianna Gould-Saltman In today’s episode, we have a very first for this podcast & an incredibly special guest - Retired Los Angeles Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman. That’s right - a VERY recently retired divorce judge! (who BTW, has divorced several celebrity couples) Let's face it- nobody wants to go to court. It’s just not a fun experience. If you're navigating the divorce process, going before the judge is likely a step that you are trying to avoid for several reasons. But for one reason or another, it happens for a lot of divorcing couples. So, what do you do you to get the judge "on your side"??? In this episode you’ll learn: * An easy thing you can do to help yourself get in the right headspace for court * What do to and not to do when you’re actually in front of the judge in court * Does it matter if the judge *knows* the attorney who’s representing you or your spouse * What are some mistakes that Judge Dianna saw in her courtroom over and over *What's a "private divorce"?? If you’re going through this nasty thing called divorce and ready to learn how to prepare for court in the eyes of a retired divorce judge…this epiosode is for YOU. AND! If you're wanting to hire Judge Dianna Gould- Saltman as your mediator or your private judge...guess what? You can do that! Find her here: And friends, if your case is going into court then you likely need some more emotional support. Look no futher than our private community. You can find it right here: ********** Do you know about Our Family Wizard?? Because if not, you really need to go sign up for their newsletter. Our Family Wizard makes coparenting A LOT easier by helping you organize your calenders, expenses, AND monitor communications : and best part, it's looked upon HIGHLY in the courts as a way to help families do divorce better. To learn more, go to: /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/30594518

103. When the Abuse Gets Worse During the Divorce 03/22/2024

102. Listen to This Episode BEFORE You Hire a Divorce Attorney! with Sarah Jacobs and Jamie Berger 03/15/2024

102. Listen to This Episode BEFORE You Hire a Divorce Attorney! with Sarah Jacobs and Jamie Berger Friends. Listen up. You need to make sure that your divorce attorney is going to GUIDE you through the long, winding road that is divorce. Take a listen to the dynamic duo, Sarah Jacobs and Jamie Berger, family law attorneys and owners of , located in Morristown, New Jersey. Their mission is making the divorce process less nerve-wracking by focusing on the human side, rather than getting caught up in legal battles. Isn’t that what we all want?! (Yes, it is..) Sarah and Jamie express why it's so importatnt to find a relatable attorney who communicates well, knows your goals, and speaks your language. Episode highlights: *Jacobs and Bergers’ approach to making divorce less stressful *The concept of redefining the family through non-aggressive strategies *The importance of a divorce attorney understanding and addressing your needs and goals *The necessity for attorneys to be relatable and communicative *Positive outlook on divorce as a new beginning *Being a divorce "tour guide" *A Real Housewives of New Jersey divorce story....(this sh$t is GOOD) If you are in the NJ area and looking for representation- reach out to Sarah & Jamie. Here's the site again : Aaaaaannnndddd, ya'll - you KNOW you want some glowing skin, who doesn't?? Andrea and Morgan are LOVING their results from Dermamade, and we know that you will, too. This skincare line is so effective and not super $$$. For a limited time, you can save 50% off (which is INSANE) with code AMY50. Head to And don't forget: Our Family Wizard is here to help make coparenting easier. And if you want some tips on how to communicate in a more effective way that won't make you want to pull out your hair extentions...go to - pop in your email address and you'll get an article from US that maps out a plan for you! Join our private community: We love you, we're here for you, you can do this. Go get yourself a good attorney. /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/30383328

101. Getting Your Head in the Right Place for Divorce with Dr Ashley Southard 03/08/2024

100. What to do BEFORE You File for Divorce!! 02/29/2024

99. Will the Kids be Okay? 02/23/2024

98. Sending Your Ex to Jail (Contempt of Court)- With Divorce Attorney, James Quigley 02/16/2024

98. Sending Your Ex to Jail (Contempt of Court)- With Divorce Attorney, James Quigley In this episode: Andrea, Morgan, and James Quigley dive into the world of divorce and family law, AND contempt of court. Listen to get some strategies for dealing with violations of court orders, and the emotional toll of navigating divorce. * Examples of non-willful violations of court orders and the importance of making reasonable efforts to comply * Situations where pursuing contempt charges for financial issues in divorce cases may be warranted, and the process of filing a petition for the court to consider contempt charges * Assessing the teamwork of law firms, understanding lawyer agreements, and maintaining credibility with the court * Communication strategies with challenging co-parents, using co-parenting apps, and documenting interactions. * Acknowledgment of the emotional toll of divorce, abuse, and gaslighting, and the recommendation to seek mental health support. * Stressing the importance of addressing emotional issues with support, as lawyers are not therapists. This conversation is filled with real-life anecdotes, practical advice, and a touch of humor, all aimed at providing support and guidance for those going through a divorce. Join us as we tackle these complex issues and share resources, all while navigating the intricacies of divorce with honesty and levity. To find James Quigley online, head to: and follow the guy on IG, it'll make his day. And remember: If you're concerned about your children's safety during your co parent's parenting time becuase of alcohol, Soberlink is here to help. To learn more visit: and get $50 off your device. Our Family Wizard is here to my coparenting EASIER, how awesome is that??!! To get FREE access to an article that we co wrote with the Our Family Wizard team that gives action steps on how you can better communicate with you ex, go to: We have private communities, don't forget!! Join us. We're helpful and, like, way fun: /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/29979963

97. What You Need to Know about Custody Arrangements (Expert Divorce Tips!) 02/09/2024

96. You've Been Served with Divorce. Now What??? (The First Steps) 02/02/2024

95. Choosing to Heal from Your Divorce (Real Life Divorce Story). With Monica Leigh 01/26/2024

94. A Different Way to Heal from Trauma. With Dr Melissa Kalt 01/19/2024

93. When You're Stuck Living with Your Ex 01/12/2024

92. How to Survive the Holidays When You're Miserable (6 Pro Tips from your Divorce Besties) 12/15/2023

92. How to Survive the Holidays When You're Miserable (6 Pro Tips from your Divorce Besties) This episode of How Not to Suck at Divorce is sponspored by Better Help. Give online therapy a try at and get on your way to being your best self. We want to help you survive the next few weeks. The holiday season is a stressful time, in the BEST of situations. But if you're also navigating a divorce or considering divorce, then you're managing and extra set of stress and unhappiness that's likely making the next few weeks a really tough time. Here's how we can help. Here are 6 pro tips from Morgan and Andrea. You ready for them? Let's go! Set some realistic expectations. Surprises make for more unhappiness. Keep busy. Prep your family on how to handle themselves around you (tell Aunt Beatrice to not ask you questions) and possibly your ex. Watch the cheesy holiday movies, we're talking the REALLY cheesy ones, Hallmark channel style. Nothing bad happens in these movies and it makes for great background noise Just say no to parties you don't want to attend. Nobody really cares. Move your body. It's so damn important. If it's really cold where you live, walk around the mall, or even around a Target. And please, join our private communites for extra support! Here are the links: And if you need to listen to our episodes discreetly (for those of you who aren't ready to file for divorce and don't want this show popping up on your subscription list) FYI: it’s a private community that does have a small fee. $4.99 a month to get all of the episodes discreetly. Ideal for if you don’t want your spouse seeing that you’re listening to the show. We’re adding to this channel everyday- so soon there will videos there too. The charge shows up as “Patreon” which is just a platform for additional podcasts. Also! Our Family Wizard is here to make coparenting EASIER. AND, you can get free information on coparenting and handling sticky situations! Head here: /episode/index/show/hownottosuckatdivorce/id/29098268

91. Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Decision to Divorce. With Kate Anthony. 12/08/2023

How Not To Suck At Divorce

TOPICS