The Divorce Course Podcast

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

⚠️ Disclaimer: General information only, not legal advice. Based on Australian family law. Originally recorded in 2021 – laws may have changed. Always get independent legal advice.
🛟 Thi...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

⚠️ Disclaimer: General information only, not legal advice. Based on Australian family law. Always get independent legal advice for your circumstances.
🛟 This episode discusses manipulative a...

🎧 Listen to this if…

Your ex keeps saying supervised visits are "going well" so it's time for unsupervised

You got a  lawyer letter that says "this won't look good for you in court"

You're being pressured into an agreement your instincts say isn't safe

You've been told "you'll be accused of alienation"

Your ex has done a online course and now claims they've changed

You want to know what the courts are saying about supervised time and safety

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer & Trigger Warning

This is general...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

- Your divorce negotiations have stalled and every message gets "no" or no reply at all - Your ex keeps delaying and you can't work out why - You're stuck arguing over percentages and getting nowhere - Your ex is "sitting pretty" with no reason to settle - You're wondering whether it's time to send that final warning letter

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer This podcast is general information only it is not legal advice. Always consult a qualified family lawyer about your individual circumstances.

🛟 Family Violence Trigger Warning This episode touches on c...

🎧 Listen if you…

Are exhausted from justifying your divorce to everyone around you

Have family pressuring you to "keep it amicable" or reconcile

Suspect your ex has recruited your friends, in-laws or family

Aren't sure your lawyer is actually in your corner

This is general information only, not legal advice always consult a lawyer about your circumstances. This episode discusses family violence and coercive control. In danger? Call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

You can do everything right in your divorce and still be exhausted because of the people standing around you

🎧 LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE IF…

You and your ex wrote something down, signed it, and you think it is sorted

You spent a full day in mediation and signed a heads of agreement

You have a parenting plan sitting in a drawer and you are relying on it

You are about to sign something and you are not sure what it actually means

Your ex agreed to something and has now changed their mind

You want to know how to lock an agreement in so it cannot be undone

You left. So why doesn't it feel over yet?

• You've left, but the healing and closure you expected haven't arrived yet

• You can't tell which parts of your anxiety are trauma and which parts are just you

• Your body still reacts even though it's been months or years

• You're frightened of repeating the pattern with someone new

• You're still second-guessing your own judgment and decisions

• You want to know where to turn for support and what actually helps

Part six, the final episode...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

• Your ex has said they will not discuss money until parenting is agreed

• You are not sure whether to sort property or parenting first, or both together

• You are separated under one roof and nothing is moving

• You have been handed an offer with a 24-hour deadline and it feels like pressure

• Your ex has suddenly started pushing hard for 50/50 after showing little interest

• You are heading into mediation and want to know what to do if they ambush you

General information o...

You know it was abuse. But written down, each moment sounds small. This is the episode about proving it.

Part 5 of our six-part coercive control series with clinical psychologist Krasi Kirova. Mum and I work through your questions on affidavits, evidence, police reports and what the family court is actually looking for.

LISTEN IF YOU...

- Have kept notes for a year and worry they sound petty

- Have been told by a lawyer that coercive control does not matter

- Reported to police and were dismissed because there...

Are you about to separate and have absolutely no idea what happens to the house? Do you keep it? Do you sell it? Do you have to be the one who leaves? And what happens to the mortgage?

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

- You don't know whether you can keep the house or have to sell it, The mortgage is in both names and you're panicking about who pays it, You've been told that if you move out, you lose your claim to the house, Your ex is stalling, sabotaging the sale, or refusing to si...

🎧 LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE IF…

• You're parenting a child with autism, ADHD or suspected neurodivergence through a separation

• You don't know how to tell a literal thinker that their parents are splitting up

• Changeover is falling apart and your child refuses to go to the other house

• Your ex denies the diagnosis, blocks therapy, or says "they're perfect at my place"

• You need the court to understand what your child's daily needs actually look like

• You're heading into a family report and you're dreading it

• You're burnt out, d...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

• You've been told your property pool is "too big" or "too small" to bother negotiating

• You're weighing up whether to accept an offer or go to court, and it doesn't feel fair

• You're a stay-at-home parent worried about how you'll manage on a small settlement

• Your ex keeps saying "just go get a job" and you don't know if the court sees it that way

• You're stuck arguing over a percentage and not sure if the fight is worth the cost

• You want to understan...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

- You've left a coercively controlling relationship and your biggest fear is what it will do to your kids

- You're wondering why your children can't see the abuse, or seem to side with the controlling parent

- Your ex uses the kids as messengers or feeds them misinformation

- You're worried about being accused of "parental alienation" for parenting differently

- You're navigating parenting plans, orders or supervised time with a high-conflict ex

⚠️ This podcast is general information only not legal advice. A...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer This podcast is general information only it is not legal advice. It reflects...

Coercive Control While Separated Under One Roof: How to Survive It | The Divorce Course Podcast (Part 2)

🎧 LISTEN IF YOU…

• Are separated but still stuck under one roof

• Were told you "can't leave" without a parenting plan

• Suspect you're being watched through cameras, phone or car

• Are scared to move money or make a move

• Want to plan a safe exit and set real boundaries

⚠️ General education only — not legal or psychological advice. Discusses coercive control, financial & tech abuse. In danger, call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 13 11 14.

Part 2 of our six...

Listen to this episode if…

You keep asking yourself "is it me, or are they controlling?"

The examples online always sound more extreme than what you're living

You're walking on eggshells but second-guessing whether you're allowed to feel that way

You've been told to "just set boundaries" but it only seems to make things worse

You want to understand coercive control from both a psychological and a family-law angle

This is general education – not legal advice or a psychological diagnosis. It discusses coercive control and...

Listen to this episode if…

You feel like you're just reacting to whatever your ex or their lawyer throws at you

You're exhausted, foggy, and making life-changing decisions while running on empty

You can't tell anymore whether your choices come from your intuition or from fear

You find it hard to speak up for yourself in mediation, in court, or even to your own lawyer

You've lost a bit of yourself and want practical ways to feel grounded again

You want to move from just surviving your divorce to ac...

🎧 Listen if… - You've been told you "can't touch anything" until property settlement is finalised - You're scared opening your own account will start a fight - You're watching money vanish from the joint account and can't stop it - You're the lower earner, worried about being left with nothing while you wait - You're paying for everything and scared of being called financially abusive if you stop - You've got a kids' savings or education account and don't know where it fits

Disclaimer: General information and education only, not legal advice. Please consult a family lawyer about...

🎧 Listen If…

Your child has said they don't want to go to the other parent's house

Your ex keeps saying "once they turn [a certain age] they can choose"

You're worried your child is being pressured, coached, or caught in the middle

You're hearing two completely different stories from your kids at handover

You're amicable and thinking of just "letting the kids decide" (please listen first)

You want to understand how children's views actually reach the court

General information only not legal advice. Always consult a qua...

🎧 Listen if you're wondering when you can make an offer, you've received one that floored you, you feel pressured to "be the reasonable one," your ex is high-conflict or controlling, or you've been told you have to go to mediation first.

⚠️ General information only, not legal advice Australian family law. Always consult a family lawyer.

🛟 Discusses coercive control & legal/financial abuse.  Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). ⏱️ Episode Timeline

00:00 – What Is an Offer in a Divorce? 

01:50 – What an Offer Really Is (and What Counteroffers Are)

02:30 – Do You Need a Lawyer to Make an Offer?

03:30 –...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

You're wondering if you actually need a lawyer for your divorce at all

You're worried that spending too much now means you can't afford court later

You're scared that "lawyering up" will make your ex worse

You think it's all-or-nothing and want to know the middle ground

Your ex is high-conflict, avoidant, controlling, or amicable and you need a strategy that fits

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer This podcast is general information only it is not legal advice. It reflects Australian family law and may not apply...

🎧 Listen to This Episode If…

You want a real, plain-English breakdown of divorce process fees

You're terrified to leave because you've heard divorce costs hundreds of thousands of dollars

Your ex is telling you "leave the lawyers out of it" and you're not sure if they're right

You've already started racking up legal fees and you're wondering where it's all going

You want to understand exactly what you can do yourself versus what you actually need a lawyer for

You're heading into mediation and don't know if you n...

🎧 Listen to This Episode If…

You've been told you have to go to mediation and you don't know where to start

Your ex has already chosen a mediator and something feels off

You can't afford the expensive mediator your ex is pushing for

You're going through family violence and worried no mediator will take your matter

You don't know the difference between free mediation and private mediation

You want to know whether your mediator actually needs to be a lawyer

This podcast is general information only it i...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer

This podcast is general information only – it is not legal advic...

🎧 Listen to this episode if:

You want to understand if domestic violence can affect your property or parenting outcome

You've been told by a lawyer to "leave the family violence out" of your case

You're scared raising coercive control or domestic violence will backfire on you in mediation

You're confused by social media saying the courts ignore family violence

Your ex is still using coercive behaviour even after separation

You're heading into mediation or court and don't know how to bring it up

🎧 Listen to this episode if:

You're about to go through property settlement in divorce

You're focused on the percentage but unsure what it actually means

You're dealing with complex finances (trusts, companies, super, shares) or Simple Property Settlement

You want to avoid making a financial mistake that costs you years

You're wondering whether to take the house, cash, super or investments

⚖️ Legal Disclaimer & ⚠️ Family Violence Trigger Warning

This episode contains discussion of family violence, coercive control, and financial control, which may be distressing for some li...

🎧 Listen to this episode if:

You're arguing over furniture or household items in divorce

Your ex has taken everything or won't give anything back

You've been told "you can't take anything if you leave"

You want to avoid wasting money on legal fees over small items

You're trying to work out what's actually fair vs worth fighting for

This episode contains discussion of family violence, coercive control, and separation dynamics, which may be distressing for some listeners.

If you are unsafe, do...

🎧 Listen to this episode if:

You or your ex has a serious illness or disability

You've been a carer during the relationship

You have ongoing medical expenses

You're worried about future financial support after separation

You want to understand how courts assess health in property settlement

⚖️ Legal Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general information about Australian family law. It is not legal advice. Every situation is different, and you should seek independent professional guidance for your circumstances.

🎧 Listen to this episode if:

You feel like your ex knows things they shouldn't

You suspect you're being tracked, monitored, or watched

You're going through separation and worried about digital safety

Your ex had access to your devices, passwords, or accounts

You want to protect yourself and your children from tech-based abuse

What if your ex knew where you were… who you were talking to… and what you were saying — without you ever telling them?

In this episode, we're joined by Catherine Plunkett, Director of Safety Net Australia...

🎧 Listen to this episode if:

You've been told to attend mediation but feel unsafe agreeing to child care arrangements

Your ex is pushing for 50/50 care and you don't believe it's appropriate for the kids

You're dealing with substance abuse, family violence, or safety concerns and your child's safety

You feel pressured to compromise at mediation when you don't want to

You want to understand your options without giving in on safety

Have you been told you need to go to mediation, but you're worried about the outcome because you sim...

🎧 Listen to this episode if:

You are about to negotiate parenting orders or a parenting plan

Your coparent is high conflict, manipulative or controlling

You're worried they will twist agreements or exploit loopholes

You're preparing for mediation or family court for parenting orders

You want parenting orders that actually reduce future arguments

This episode contains discussion of family conflict and family violence which may be distressing for some listeners.If you are experiencing family violence or feel unsafe, please contact 1800 RESPECT (Australia) or your local dom...

🎧 Listen to this episode if:

You are separated but still living under the same roof as your ex

You feel stuck in the house and don't know how to move forward

You want to know what an ouster order is

You want to understand sole occupancy

Someone told you if you leave the house you will lose your rights to it

You want to understand what you can legally do to create space after separation

Your ex refuses to move out and you don't know what your opt...

🎧 Listen to this episode if: You're unsure whether what you experienced was abuse You've heard the term "coercive control" but don't fully understand it You feel confused, guilty or constantly off balance in your relationship Negotiations during separation feel manipulative rather than constructive You're worried about how coercive control affects children You want clarity and validation around your experience This episode discusses family violence and may be triggering for some listeners. If you need support, please reach out to 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline (13 11 14). This discussion is general education only and not psychological or legal advice. ⏱️ Episode Timeline: When It's Not Just Conflic...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

● Your ex's parents or extended family are texting, pressuring or negotiating on their behalf ● Grandparents are demanding time with your children ● You're being accused of owing money that was supposedly a "gift" ● You're dealing with coercive control through third parties ● You feel like you're negotiating with an entire extended family ● You're unsure what you legally have to respond to ● Your mediation agreements change after your ex speaks to their family ● You want clear boundaries and practical guidance during separation

If you are going through separation or divorce and suddenly your ex's family has becom...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

You feel overwhelmed and don't know what the steps of the divorce process are

You're separated (or thinking about separating) and want clarity on what happens next

You're stuck in negotiations or dealing with a stonewalling, avoidant or controlling ex

You want to understand mediation, arbitration, court filings, interim hearings and trials

You're self-represented and need a clear, realistic roadmap of the family law process

You want to feel calmer, in control, and informed about the journey ahead

You're already in th...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

You feel stuck and unable to move forward after separating

You're separated under one roof and nothing is changing

Your stuck deciding whether to go to court next or just give up

You're overwhelmed by the emotional load and decision fatigue

You don't know whether to start with the house, the money, the kids or the legal steps

You're waiting for the "right time" but it never seems to come

You want clarity about why you feel frozen and what to do...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

You're confused about why your divorce feels so hard

You're not sure how to communicate or negotiate with your ex

You suspect you're dealing with avoidance, conflict, or control or you are a people pleaser.

You're tired of being blindsided and want clarity

You want a divorce strategy that matches the actual dynamic you're in

You want a downloadable, printable version of the quiz

You love practical tools that help you feel calm, informed, and back in control

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

You're worried your custody or property case might end up eventually in court.

You are preparing for Family Court or worried your case might escalate

You want to avoid mistakes that judges hate seeing in parenting or property matters

You're dealing with a high-conflict ex or coercive control

You're self-represented and want to understand what the court looks for

You want to protect your credibility and stay child-focused

You feel overwhelmed and want to understand how to present better in court

Yo...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

You're going through DV, coercive control, divorce or separation

You feel alone, isolated, or unsure where to turn

You want to hear about real support available for women in crisis

You've lost hope and need to know good people still exist

You want to understand what homelessness really looks like for women

You want to connect with a service that listens without judgment

You've wondered where to get help if you d...

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

You're selling the family home during divorce or de facto separation

A real estate agent has told you to renovate or stage before selling

Your ex wants to delay settlement until renovations are finished

You're stuck with a half-renovated or unfinished house

You've already spent money on renovations and want to know if it "counts"

Your ex is demanding reimbursement for renovations

Parents or in-laws contributed money to renovations

You're deciding whether to keep the house, sell it, or buy your...