Dirty Laundry: The Divorce Podcast

Send us Fan MailPerfectionism can keep women stuck in all-or-nothing thinking, says habit coach Monica Packer, who joins Alex Howard and Amanda Silver to talk about choosing progress over perfection. Monica, host of the About Progress podcast, shares how perfectionism showed up in her own marriage and parenting, and why she says putting yourself on the list matters more than putting yourself first. She also explains why she believes most habit advice was built around men's lives, how starting with a smaller baseline version of a habit can help it stick, and why she says missing the ideal on day 20 is not failing. Alex and Amanda also talk with her about invisible labor and the mental load, and how that pressure can build resentment in a relationship before a divorce. They also talk about her book, Sticky Habits, which she says helps women build habits that fit their time, energy and support.(00:00) Monica's Breaking Point(02:29) The All or Nothing Swing(10:42) Putting Yourself on the List(12:57) The List of 30 Things(17:54) Marriage and Parenting(26:06) Why Habit Advice Misses Women(40:17) Invisible Labor and Divorce(49:36) Build a Habit on Day One🎧 Listen & Subscribe🔹 Apple Podcasts: [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/dirty-laundry-the-divorce-podcast/id1669658042]🔹 Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/show/0oGyOjtGbQoeZ3Vi73ddjd?si=b7c95c80a1c64956]📱 Follow Us🔹 Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dirty.laundry.podcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for More!Don’t miss out on new episodes, expert advice, and exclusive clips! Hit Subscribe and turn on notifications.⭐ Love the Podcast? Leave a 5-Star Review!If you find Dirty Laundry helpful, please rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts & Spotify—it really helps us reach more people going through divorce.📩 Got Questions or Topics You Want Covered? Drop them in the comments or DM us on Instagram!Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. This podcast is for general information and is not legal advice.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode about the Halle Berry custody battle, divorce mediators Alex Howard and Amanda Silver talk about how children can be heard in family court without having to testify in a courtroom. The hosts say they do not know the facts of the case and are not taking sides. They suggest a child mental health professional meet with kids in a neutral setting, and they talk about parallel parenting. One host says joint decision making can cause even more conflict than parenting time. As of November 4, 2026, the case is still before the court. There is no guest this episode.(00:00) A divorce that never seems to end(01:41) Halle Berry’s custody battle(06:00) Children testifying in court(07:22) A neutral way to hear from kids(11:13) Small preferences that matter(17:05) Parallel parenting vs co-parenting(22:50) Joint decision making(25:25) Co-parenting as a business📱 Follow Us🔹 Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dirty.laundry.podcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for More!Don’t miss out on new episodes, expert advice, and exclusive clips! Hit Subscribe and turn on notifications.⭐ Love the Podcast? Leave a 5-Star Review!If you find Dirty Laundry helpful, please rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts & Spotify—it really helps us reach more people going through divorce.📩 Got Questions or Topics You Want Covered? Drop them in the comments or DM us on Instagram!Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailFormer family court judge Michele Locke is back for part two, and this time she joins Alex Howard and Amanda Silver to talk about the Lindsay Clancy case.Michele is a family lawyer in Texas and the host of the lovelustlaw podcast. Together they share their thoughts on why this case has touched so many people, especially women and mothers. They talk about how important it is for new moms to have real support, how hard it can be to make sense of a tragedy, and why we all need to lead with more kindness and less judgment.Michele also shares what she has seen in her years in courtrooms and what she thinks could happen next.Follow Dirty Laundry:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirty.laundry.podcast/Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailFormer family court judge Michele Locke breaks down the Netflix series Death of the Pastor's Wife and the Mica Miller case.Michele is a family lawyer in Texas and hosts the lovelustlaw podcast. She joins divorce mediators Alex Howard and Amanda Silver.Mica Miller died on April 27, 2024, in North Carolina. She was 30. The medical examiner ruled her death a suicide. Her estranged husband, pastor John-Paul Miller, is charged in federal court with cyberstalking her and lying to investigators. He has pleaded not guilty and denies the abuse allegations. His trial is set for January 2027.Michele talks about what control can look like in a marriage, why leaving can be dangerous, why you should keep evidence, and how to help a friend who may be in an abusive relationship.If you are dealing with abuse or feel unsafe: In Canada, call or text 9-8-8. Ontario: Assaulted Women's Helpline 1-866-863-0511 (24/7). In the US: call or text 988, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.Follow Dirty Laundry:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirty.laundry.podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxM73RNPkuk5doIOcqelWA?Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailThe Cornell 7 case got national attention only after the woman at the centre of it filed a civil lawsuit, about two years after the alleged assault.Kathryn Marshall is an employment and human rights lawyer at Marshall Law who represents survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. She joins divorce mediators Alex Howard and Amanda Silver to talk about why cases like Cornell and Hockey Canada often only become public through civil lawsuits.Kathryn is suing the federal government on behalf of 21 survivors whose criminal cases were thrown out because of court delays under the R v Jordan ruling. She says one of her clients has had a no-contact order breached 36 times. She also says women have been told by police that a death threat was too vague to act on.Kathryn wants sexual assault and intimate partner violence cases protected from being thrown out for delay, an end to peace bonds in these cases, and trauma experts in criminal courts. She also talks about Canada adding femicide to the Criminal Code.The allegations in the Cornell lawsuit have not been proven in court, the accused deny wrongdoing, and no criminal charges had been laid as of October 15, 2026. In the Hockey Canada case, all five players were found not guilty in July 2025.If you are dealing with abuse or feel unsafe: In Canada, call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline). Ontario: Assaulted Women's Helpline 1-866-863-0511 (24/7). In the US: National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.Follow Dirty Laundry:Instagram: dirty.laundry.podcastYouTube: DirtyLaundryPodcastDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailIs 50/50 custody really fair? Should you co-parent or parallel parent? In the Season 5 premiere, divorce mediators Alex Howard and Amanda Silver share the divorce myths they believed when they started, and why hundreds of cases changed their minds.Why a 50/50 default can shortchange kids when one parent carried the load, why the conflict often changes instead of ending after divorce, why you don't need cheating or abuse to leave, and why Alex now starts from parallel parenting instead of co-parenting.Alex and Amanda talk about:- Why the person who leaves isn't always the one who ended the marriage- The spouse who pushes you to make the call so they don't have to- Why 50/50 isn't automatically fair, and quality time vs equal time- Why you don't have to answer every message from your ex- Leaving with no cheating and no abuse: "You can literally just be unhappy"- Co-parenting vs parallel parenting: who decides braces and who decides bedtimeIf you are dealing with abuse or feel unsafe: In Canada, call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline). Ontario: Assaulted Women's Helpline 1-866-863-0511 (24/7). In the US: National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.Follow Dirty Laundry:Instagram: dirty.laundry.podcastYouTube: DirtyLaundryPodcastDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailMary Anne Popescu is the Executive Director of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation and a practicing family mediator of over two decades. In this encore episode, she introduces the concept that changed both her practice and her own marriage: the attack-defend loop, and how naming it in real time can stop a conversation from spiraling.She and Alex and Amanda dig into insight mediation, why she prefers the phrase "families experiencing high conflict behavior" over the label "high conflict," and how future-focused questions can unlock genuinely creative solutions for even the most complex blended families. They also talk about the grief that underlies every separation, no matter who initiated it, and why control over how your story ends is often the biggest reason people choose mediation over litigation.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailMost people think the first step after deciding to divorce is calling a lawyer. It isn't — and starting there can cost you time, money, and options you didn't know you had.In this encore episode, Alex and Amanda break down the entire divorce process from the beginning: why taking a beat before making any decisions matters, how to gather information and build the right team, the five different processes available (kitchen table agreements, mediation, collaborative law, lawyer negotiation, and court) and how to choose the right one for your situation, what actually goes into a separation agreement, and the financial disclosure rights every spouse has regardless of how finances were kept during the marriage. They also cover what happens after the agreement is signed, including annual reviews and why you don't have to file for a legal divorce right away.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailYour attachment style shapes everything — how you fight, how you grieve, how you date after divorce, and how you co-parent with someone you're no longer in love with. And most people have no idea what theirs is until something breaks.In this encore episode, Alex and Amanda dig into the four attachment styles with a therapist and attachment expert — anxious, avoidant, disorganized, and secure — and explore how each one shows up in the specific context of divorce and post-divorce life. They cover why secure attachment in a marriage doesn't guarantee secure attachment after it ends, how to recognize your patterns without using them as an excuse, and what the research actually says about whether attachment styles can change.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

Send us Fan MailIn this encore episode, Michelle joins Alex and Amanda to talk about what dating actually looks like as a single mom in New York, the impossible time math of fitting dating into a life that already includes a daughter and a comedy career, why she gave up hiding who she was for men a long time ago, and what three things automatically make someone a red flag. Funny, honest, and deeply relatable.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes.  Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.