Thirteen years of marriage, seven years of sacrifice, nine months of hell – and now she faces the hardest choice of her life. Toki Simmons, a business leader who “has it all together,” shares the raw truth about how her marriage is in crisis behind the scenes,

After spending seven years of being caregivers for her husband's mother, Toki expected her husband to deeply grieve her death when she passed away in January. What she didn't anticipate was the rage, anger, and emotional breakdowns that would follow – behaviors she'd never witnessed in her husband before. Now she's wrestling between compassion for his loss while questioning how long she can sustain a marriage that's fundamentally changed.

Her breakthrough comes through learning a completely different approach to communication … one that comes from her heart instead of her head.

For anyone balancing professional success with private relationship struggles, this episode offers validation and practical guidance. It's a reminder that behind every strong woman is sometimes a marriage in crisis, and that acknowledging this truth isn't weakness – it's the first step toward either healing or making difficult choices with clarity and compassion.

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.

The hardest truth about addiction and mental health struggles is that families become casualties too. Yet no one talks about their recovery. Lisa Katona Smith, TEDx speaker and the author of Parallel Recovery, has pioneered a unique approach to healing that recognizes families as the forgotten participants in the recovery process.

What’s even more unique is that Lisa’s approach doesn't depend on whether the struggling person wants to change or not. Instead, Lisa advocates for what she calls "loving better"—a combination of sustainability and connection that allows families to maintain healthy boundaries while staying emotionally present for their struggling loved one.

Through structured reflection, strong communication tools, and addressing the underlying fears that drive reactive parenting, Lisa shows that families can learn to create an environment where healing becomes possible for everyone involved.

If you or anyone you know is a parent who’s trying to navigate the complex terrain of adolescent mental health challenges, this episode can change your world. It emphasizes the importance of curiosity over interrogation, validation over toxic positivity, and the recognition that sometimes the most loving thing parents can do is examine their own triggers and responses rather than focusing solely on changing their child's behavior.

About Lisa

Lisa Katona Smith, M.Ed., is a TEDx speaker, educator, and author of Parallel Recovery—a family-centered model that empowers loved ones to heal alongside someone facing mental health and substance use challenges. Known for her clarity, compassion, and systems-level insight, Lisa helps families and professionals build sustainable, connection-based recovery through consulting, training, and transformative conversations.

Connect with Lisa

You can connect with Lisa on LinkedIn at Lisa Katona Smith and on Instagram at Parallel Recovery. To find out how to work with Lisa visit her website at Lisa Katona Smith and catch her TEDx Talk The Power Of Parallel Recovery.

Just Released

Parallel Recovery - A Guide For Those Who Love Someone With Substance Use Disorder

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 Caitlin made the difficult decision to separate from her husband, she discovered that untangling their shared mortgage would be far more complicated than ending their marriage. Less than a year after purchasing their home together, both names remained on the loan with a crushing $5K mortgage payment each month. Meanwhile, the house has already lost value, leaving them underwater.

Working 60 hours a week between her full-time job and part-time work, plus receiving VA disability benefits, Caitlin technically earns enough to cover the mortgage—but barely, and with no safety net for emergencies or unexpected expenses.

Caitlin’s husband refuses to pay for divorce or refinancing costs, leaving Caitlin to navigate loan assumptions, separation agreements, and the terrifying prospect of going it alone financially. But in this coaching session, she discovers she has more options and negotiating power than she realized.

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.

The moment you’re begging over a $72 reimbursement is the moment you realize the paperwork isn’t the problem—the power dynamic is. That’s exactly what Samantha Boss, high-conflict parenting coach and mediator, discovered. Four years, three attorneys, five judges, and over $100k+ later Samantha’s initial “this is just paperwork” mindset morphed into years of litigation and financial abuse. Now, Samantha helps other moms who are battling high conflict divorces design airtight high conflict parenting plans built for conflict, not fantasy.

The difference between “standard parenting plans” and a high-conflict one isn't just a few extra pages. While typical parenting plans run from 4 -10 pages with a lot of vague, boilerplate language, Samantha’s detailed plans span 18-30 pages and cover everything from "diapers to diplomas."

In this podcast episode Samantha reveals the psychology behind negotiating with difficult exes, how to choose a lawyer who really understands high conflict divorce, and how to choose your divorce process intentionally.

If you’re embroiled in a high conflict divorce, and you have children, this episode is pure gold.

About Samantha

As a certified divorce mediator and coach, Samantha empowers moms to protect themselves and their children's future by providing expert guidance on parenting plans and navigating high-conflict exes.

Connect with Samantha

You can connect with Samantha on LinkedIn at Samantha Boss and on Facebook at The Ugly Truth of Divorce. You can follow Samantha on YouTube at The Ugly Truth of Divorce, on Instagram at The Ugly Truth of Divorce and on her podcast Divorce with Sam and Leah. You can find out how to work with Samantha at Samantha Boss.

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.

Roxanne had listened to her husband's money threats for years, but when he mentioned creating trusts to cut her out, something inside her snapped. She filed for divorce the next day.

Yet, after 33 years of marriage, leaving is still hard – in spite of the fact that her marriage has been over for years. Unfortunately, Roxanne’s husband refuses to accept reality, leaving her to navigate the treacherous waters of a gray divorce while trying to protect herself both financially and physically.

What makes Roxanne's situation particularly complex is that her husband is an alcoholic and is in complete denial about the divorce. With guns in the house and her 30-year-old son serving as an unintentional buffer, Roxanne must carefully balance her safety with the practical challenges of untangling decades of separate finances and preparing for a battle over assets.

Her story reveals the hidden struggles many face when leaving a long-term marriage, especially when one spouse will do anything to maintain the status quo.

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 your financial world gets turned upside down, the last thing you want is to feel powerless. That’s why Lauren Connelly, a wealth advisor with over a decade of experience, devotes her career to helping women and families navigate major life transitions like divorce, retirement, and estate planning so that they have enough money after divorce to live comfortably.

Growing up with a single mother who worked tirelessly to rebuild after divorce, Lauren brings both professional expertise and personal insight into why financial clarity and confidence matter so much during times of change, particularly divorce.

Lauren explains how she first saw the power of financial education while working in retirement planning, where she met countless people—especially women—who were suddenly forced to take charge of money decisions they’d never handled before. She makes it clear that understanding the basics, even if you’re not “a numbers person,” can transform fear into empowerment.

Lauren stresses that financial planning isn’t just about numbers—it’s about your life goals. Whether you’re figuring out if you can sustain yourself after divorce, planning to retire comfortably, or simply wanting a second opinion, she emphasizes the value of asking the right questions and finding an advisor who truly fits you. Most importantly, she shows how financial planning, done right, helps you build a future that supports not just your wealth, but your freedom and peace of mind.

About Lauren

Lauren Connelly is a Wealth Management Advisor at Vestor Capital with 10+ years of experience. Lauren is dedicated to assisting clients in growing and protecting their assets so they can achieve what matters most to them.

Lauren, a CFP® professional, believes that fear drives financial decisions too often. She is dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and businesses to identify and realize financial success. Through unbiased and carefully considered guidance, she works with clients as their personal "CFO" and reviews all aspects of their financial lives to help develop, implement, and continuously refine a detailed road map for success.

Connect with Lauren

You can connect with Lauren on LinkedIn at Vestor Capital, email Lauren at lconnelly@vestorcapital.com, and visit her website at Vestor Capital.

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.

Imagine carrying the weight of someone else’s happiness for so long that you forget what it feels like to breathe. Robin has spent the last ten of her 26 years together with her husband slowly suffocating as she's become her husband's caretaker instead of his partner.

While he battles depression and anxiety with little progress despite years of treatment, Robin finds herself drowning in guilt over wanting something she can barely admit: freedom.

Four sessions into couples therapy with her husband, she's finally confronting a devastating truth: she's been building a rich, fulfilling life that deliberately excludes the man sleeping next to her every night.

Now she wonders whether the small cosmetic changes happening in therapy can address the deeper disconnection that's been festering for years, or if it's time to finally have the conversation she's been avoiding about what she truly needs.

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.

"Your divorce doesn't define you." These powerful words from divorce recovery coach Leah Marie Mazur capture the essence of her transformative approach to healing after divorce. Leah Marie brings raw authenticity to the table, sharing how her own journey through three divorces led to profound self-discovery and eventually, to her calling to help other women, especially moms, to rebuild self-esteem, set boundaries, and navigate both divorce recovery and co-parenting with confidence.

Leah Marie emphasizes that divorce recovery isn't just about getting over the end of your marriage. It's about understanding your patterns, taking ownership of your role, and learning to meet your own needs so you don't rely on others to fill emotional voids.

Leah Marie and co-founder Samantha Boss also created the Next Chapter membership, a private community and resource hub specifically for women dealing with high-conflict divorces and co-parenting struggles. The platform offers practical tools, compassionate support, and the reminder that divorce is not who you are, it’s just one chapter in your story.

About Leah

Leah Marie Mazur is a Certified Divorce Recovery Coach, and the founder of Mindfully Ready and co-creator of The Next Chapter membership. She specializes in helping divorced moms heal, rebuild self-esteem, and co-parent with confidence after high-conflict breakups. Through coaching, courses, and community, Leah empowers women to set boundaries, prioritize themselves, and create fulfilling new chapters in life. Her own experience of navigating three divorces fuels her passion for guiding women through recovery with compassion and proven strategies.

Connect with Leah

You can connect with Leah Marie on LinkedIn at Mindfully Ready and on Facebook at Mindfully Ready. You can follow Leah Marie on TikTok @mindfullyReady, on Instagram at Mindfully Ready and on YouTube at @mindfullyready. To find out more about Leah Marie’s work, visit her website at Mindfully Ready.

Just Launched!

The New Woman Within: Empowered Moms, Empowered Kids. A self-paced program designed to help divorced moms heal, rebuild confidence, and create a life they genuinely love—while modeling healthy coping and boundaries for their children.

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.