For many women, the family home feels like the heart of the family–the place tied to stability, memories and the future they imagined.

But in divorce, decisions about the house can quickly become complicated, emotional, and financially risky.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Divorce Coach Amy Polacko is joined by mortgage advisor and Certified Divorce Lending Professional John Marroni to talk about what divorcing women need to know before deciding whether to keep the home, sell it, or start over somewhere new. Because what looks good in a divorce agreement still has to work in real life.

This episode covers:

• Why keeping the house is not always as simple as being awarded it in divorce

• The difference between emotional attachment and financial reality

• How buyouts work and what women need to understand before agreeing to one

• Whether you can take over an existing mortgage• How HELOCs and other debts can complicate the picture

• When selling the family home may actually be the smartest move

• The importance of getting answers early, before a settlement is signed

If you’re navigating divorce and trying to make smart, strategic decisions, connect with Amy for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info

John's info:

Website: https://www.divorcelendingassociation.com/offices/john-marroni.cfm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmarroni/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnmarronidkmc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marronijohn/

#girlwakeup #podcast #takeyourpowerback #divorcesupport #financialeducation

Too many women enter divorce believing family court will be the place where fairness finally shows up. Instead, many find a system that is expensive, exhausting, slow and often blind to power imbalances playing out behind closed doors.

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with Chicago divorce attorney and mediator Kimberly Cook for a candid conversation about why family court so often does not feel fair-and what women need to understand before they enter it.

Kimberly shares what shifted for her after the pandemic, when she began moving away from litigation and toward mediation.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why so many women walk away from family court feeling shocked and disillusioned
• What Kimberly saw in litigation that led to her own professional wakeup call
• How the pandemic changed the way she viewed divorce and dispute resolution
• What mediation can do well — and where it can fall short
• When mediation is not safe, balanced or appropriate
• How women can better prepare themselves before stepping into divorce or family court

Learn more about Kimberly A. Cook:

Schiller DuCanto Fleck: https://sdflaw.com/team/detail/kimberly-a-cook

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyjohnsoncook

Instagram: @growngirldivorce

Podcast: available on iTunes, Spotify, IHeartRadio, Audible

How to connect with Amy Polacko:

Book a free Divorce or Life Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here.

Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

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0:00 - 00:45 Podcast Intro: Girl Wake Up

00:45 - 02:43 Episode Overview: Family Court Realities | Introducing Kimberly Cook

2:44 - 6:36 The Disconnect Between TV and Reality | Expectations vs. Experience | The 5% Trial Myth

6:37 - 14:08 Litigation vs. Mediation

14:09 - 17:30 Navigating Power Imbalances | Financial Abuse and Mediation Concerns | Creating Balance with Attorney Assistance

17:31 - 21:41 Strategic Preparation for Divorce | Educating Yourself on Legal Basics | Uncovering Hidden Financial Knowledge | The Reality Show Timeline Strategy | Modern Trends in Divorce Settlements |

21:42 - 27:54 The High Cost of Legal Conflict High Conflict Case Options | The Reality of Legal Billing The Role of a Divorce Coach

27:55 - 37:37 Listener Advice: Truth, Traps, and Tactics | Truth or Trap: Flexibility in Court Letter: Feeling Scrutinized by the System | Reframing the Narrative for Judges | Battles vs. The Long Game Strategy

37:37 Conclusion and Resources

Betrayal doesn’t just break your heart, it can break your sense of reality. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, we’re unpacking betrayal trauma–why it’s so uniquely devastating and what it actually does to your mind and body when trust is shattered.

Amy is joined by Dr. Jill Manning, a leading expert in betrayal trauma, to talk about the real impact of infidelity, secrecy and hidden behaviors–and why so many women feel destabilized after discovering the truth.

We also explore how pornography is shaping both young people and adult relationships in ways many aren’t talking about.

We cover:

• What makes betrayal trauma different from typical heartbreak

• The psychological impact of infidelity and deception

• Why women often feel confused, anxious or “crazy” after betrayal

• How pornography is influencing expectations, intimacy and trust

• Where healing begins after your reality has been shaken

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Website: https://drjillmanning.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjillmanning/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjillmanning/

Two-Day Intensives: https://drjillmanning.com/intensives/

Digital Downloads: https://drjillmanning.com/digital-downloads/ Directory of Betrayal Trauma experts: www.APSATS.org

Book a free Divorce or Life Coaching Consultation with Amy Polacko here. Follow Amy on Instagram: @freedomwarriortribe

Watch and Subscribe to Girl, Wake Up! On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyfreedomwarrior/podcasts

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Episode Timestamp:

00:01 - 00:45 Girl Wake Up! Intro

00:46 - 02:44 Introduction to Betrayal Trauma & guest Dr. Jill Manning

02:45 - 06:04 The "Wake Up" that changed the course of Dr. Manning's career path

07:53 - 10:12 Betrayal Trauma Explained (This isn't just "heart break"– it's neurological)

11:21 - 11:58 Secondary Trauma & the psychological & physiological effects

13:16 - 13:54 Gaslighting is commonly involved in Betrayal Trauma

13:55 - 14:31 Why your support & surroundings matter during trauma

14:57 - 17:40 How does your brain + body respond when your partner cheats?

18:08 - 21:37 Your nervous system is on fire – fight or flight -vs- freeze response & getting help

21:45 - 26:50 Betrayal Trauma & Gaslighting

26:54 - 28:25 The three phases of navigating betrayal

28:26 - 30:55 Betrayal Trauma & making good decisions in the divorce process

32:33 - 35:16 Why specialize care matters in life & divorce

37:28 - 41:06 Truth or Trap: Is pornography harmless as long as it doesn't involve cheating?

41:38 - 43:30 Sexual Ethics & Values as a metric

50:00 - 50:36 Final thoughts

50:37 - 50:58 GIRL, WAKE UP! outro