The Gray Divorce Podcast

Is going to court always the worst outcome in a divorce? Or can the willingness to litigate actually help you avoid a long, expensive legal battle? In this episode of The Gray Divorce Podcast, Andrew Hatherley welcomes Olivia St. Clair Long, founder and principal attorney of Olong Law in Evanston, Illinois. Drawing on her extensive background in commercial litigation and family law, Olivia offers a practical, no-nonsense perspective on navigating divorce, particularly when one spouse is unwilling to cooperate. Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

What can a billionaire's divorce teach someone who's simply trying to keep the house, divide a 401(k), and make retirement work on one income? More than you might think. In this episode of The Gray Divorce Podcast, Andrew Hatherley welcomes Dror Bikel, a Manhattan matrimonial trial attorney with nearly three decades of experience handling high-stakes divorces and prenuptial agreements. Dror is also the author of The 1% Divorce: When Titans Clash, a revealing look at what happens when extraordinary wealth meets the emotional turmoil of divorce. Andrew and Dror explore the world of ultra-high-net-worth divorce, from million-dollar legal battles and complex asset valuations to privacy concerns, family trusts, and prenuptial agreements. But beneath the extraordinary financial stakes lies a surprisingly familiar reality: regardless of wealth, divorce involves the same emotions, fears, and challenges. Their conversation offers valuable lessons for anyone navigating gray divorce, particularly the importance of managing conflict, understanding your finances, protecting your future, and recognizing that even enormous wealth cannot eliminate the emotional cost of divorce. Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

What happens to your health insurance when you divorce before you're eligible for Medicare? For many people navigating gray divorce, health insurance has quietly existed in the background for decades, often through a spouse's employer. Once the divorce is final, that coverage can disappear, leaving someone in their 50s or early 60s facing potentially years of expensive health insurance before Medicare begins at age 65. In this episode of The Gray Divorce Podcast, Andrew Hatherley explains the health insurance "cliff" that can accompany divorce after 50. He breaks down how COBRA works, why its cost can come as such a shock, how health insurance should factor into divorce negotiations, alternatives available through the ACA marketplace and other sources, and an important Medicare rule that may allow you to qualify for premium-free Part A based on an ex-spouse's work history.Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

Divorce doesn't automatically have to mean lengthy litigation, escalating attorney fees, and handing control of your future to a judge. In this episode of The Gray Divorce Podcast, Andrew Hatherley sits down with David Fein, a fourth-generation attorney, certified divorce mediator, and someone who experienced gray divorce himself. After more than 30 years working in the complex legal, regulatory, and public policy side of the energy industry, David expanded his practice into family law and mediation following his own divorce experience. Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, communicate, organize information, and make decisions. But what happens when AI enters the already complicated world of gray divorce? In Episode 103, Andrew Hatherley welcomes back family law attorney Nicole Sodoma. From organizing financial documents and understanding unfamiliar terminology to improving communication with an ex-spouse, AI can be incredibly useful. But lines need to be drawn: AI isn't your attorney, financial advisor, therapist, or decision-maker. Andrew and Nicole also explore privacy concerns, state-specific legal information, AI-generated evidence, and why human judgment remains essential. Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

Mediation can be a faster, less expensive, and less stressful alternative to litigation—but that doesn’t mean walking into the process is easy. In Episode 101, Andrew Hatherley sits down with Lyerly Spongberg, a DCA-certified divorce coach specializing in pre-mediation coaching, to discuss how preparation can dramatically change the mediation experience. From managing fear and emotional triggers to understanding the difference between positions and interests, Lyerly explains how divorcing individuals can enter mediation better prepared to negotiate, communicate, and make decisions that support the life they want after divorce.Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

What have 100 episodes—and nearly a decade since experiencing gray divorce firsthand—taught Andrew Hatherley? In this special milestone episode, Andrew steps away from interviews to reflect on the journey that led to The Gray Divorce Podcast, the lessons he's learned from nearly 100 guests, and the incredible resilience of people rebuilding their lives after divorce. From financial planning and discernment counseling to adult children, alternative divorce processes, and overcoming fear later in life, this episode is both a celebration of how far the podcast has come and a look ahead at the future of gray divorce.  Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

In Episode 99, Andrew Hatherley welcomes Nicole Sodoma, founder of Sodoma Law and one of the Southeast's leading family law attorneys, to discuss one of the most overlooked risks during divorce: social media. From vacation photos and new relationships to LinkedIn profiles, text messages, and even "likes," Nicole explains how your online activity can impact your credibility, increase litigation costs, and complicate negotiations. Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

Episode 98 explores the emotional and financial realities families face when a parent decides to remarry later in life. Why do adult children often react so strongly? How can parents protect both a new spouse and their children? And what estate planning strategies can prevent future conflict? This episode provides practical guidance for families navigating second marriages, blended families, and the difficult—but essential—conversations that can preserve both relationships and legacies.Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!

Gray divorce doesn't just divide assets—it often transfers decades of financial responsibility overnight. In Episode 97, Andrew Hatherley shines a light on a growing issue facing women after divorce: the gap between the financial responsibility they're about to inherit and the financial confidence many have been given the opportunity to develop. Andrew explores the coming Great Wealth Transfer, why women are uniquely impacted by longevity and divorce, and how financial coaching can help transform uncertainty into confidence. He also introduces a new coaching program designed to help women organize, stabilize, protect, and plan for their financial future. Thanks for listening! We'd be very grateful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us 5 stars! Please visit Transcend Retirement or Wiser Divorce Solutions. Follow Andrew on LinkedIn too!