When divorce attorney and bestselling author Raiford Palmer sits down for a conversation, he doesn’t hold back.

In this candid and thought-provoking episode, Raif draws from nearly three decades of legal experience to share not only his legal insights in divorce, but also his own journey through divorce. That journey reshaped his legal practice, helping him empathize with clients on a deeper level.

Throughout this conversation, Raif stresses the critical role knowledge and understanding the emotional and financial rollercoaster of divorce plays in navigating divorce effectively. He also shares insider insights on the way divorce really works and the tremendous benefits of alternative dispute resolution.

Raif discusses how to apply a cost-benefit analysis that will keep you from making some of the biggest divorce mistakes that so many people unwittingly make. He also scrutinizes the misconceptions surrounding legal processes, the potential risks versus rewards of trials, and the strategic approaches to avoiding court battles.

If you’re thinking about or facing divorce, this episode is a treasure-trove of practical wisdom that will guide you through your divorce with more control and less conflict and expense.

About Raiford
Raiford Dalton Palmer is an experienced Illinois divorce attorney and the bestselling author of "I Just Want This Done: How Smart, Successful People Get Divorced Without Losing Their Kids, Money, and Minds," named the Best Family Law Book of All Time by BookAuthority. Raiford has been featured in prominent media outlets including The Associated Press, The Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Newsweek, US News, the New York Post, SiriusXM Radio, and WGN Radio AM 720.

With nearly 30 years of experience as a lawyer and mediator, Raiford is the CEO of STG Divorce Law, P.C., a law firm focusing solely on matrimonial law in the Chicago area. He is a Fellow in the Illinois Chapter of The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).

Raif is married to his law partner and AAML Fellow Juli Gumina, and they have a blended family of two sons and two daughters.

Connect with Raiford
You can connect with Raiford on LinkedIn at Raiford Palmer, on Facebook at Raiford Palmer and on Instagram and X @Raiford Palmer. To learn more about Raif’s work visit his website at STG Law Firm and visit his YouTube channel at STG Divorce Law and listen to his podcast at I Just Want This Done Podcast. To easily get the best selling book "I Just Want This Done: How Smart, Successful People Get Divorced Without Losing Their Kids, Money, and Minds" visit I just Want This Done.

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.

What would you do if your personal safety was at risk? Do you even know what you would do?

This podcast episode takes a deep dive into practical safety strategies with Catherine Trimboli, a seasoned law enforcement professional turned personal protection advocate.

Catherine shares how she empowers high-level women to feel secure through situational awareness, safety planning, and discrete security services. With her background as a law enforcement captain with 30 years of experience Catherine is particularly well-poised to share practical advice and real-world tips on everything from avoiding dangerous encounters to safeguarding yourself when traveling, and more.

She also shares how you can empower your children through safety education, without making them feel so bold that they put themselves in harm’s way.

From maintaining privacy about your whereabouts to implementing strategies for safe social interactions, Catherine’s advice is a blueprint for safeguarding peace of mind no matter who or where you are.

About Catherine
Catherine Trimboli - Retired Boss Lady / Personal Protector Concierge. As a retired Law Enforcement Captain with over 30 years of experience, Catherine is now channeling her expertise into launching a personal protection business for your peace of mind. Her focus is on providing discreet, high-level security services tailored to women and children. With a deep understanding and commitment to confidentiality and personalized safety planning, she offers practical solutions to help individuals feel empowered, safe, and secure in their daily lives. As a driven professional with a servant-leadership approach, she leads with purpose, and passion, always striving to uplift and inspire those around her. Her mission is to deliver trusted protection with the same integrity and dedication that guided her law enforcement career.

Connect with Catherine
You can connect with Catherine on LinkedIn at Catherine Trimboli to stay updated on her latest projects, professional insights, and industry expertise. Whether you're looking to network, collaborate, or simply follow her career journey, her profile offers a great opportunity to engage. Don’t hesitate to send her a message or request to connect—she’s always open to meaningful conversations and expanding her professional network.

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.

Is there ever a right time to divorce? Is there such a thing as waiting too long to get a divorce? How do you know if NOW is the right time to go?

In this special episode, we dive into the thorny question of when to divorce by exploring the story of Sue, who faces the heart-wrenching decision of whether to leave her husband, Brad, due to his escalating drinking problem.

Grappling with financial constraints and familial duties, Sue's story is one of emotional turmoil and the heavy burden of pondering life-altering choices.

If you or someone you know is struggling to decide whether to stay married, or when to divorce, this podcast episode can provide you with an eye-opening reality you might not otherwise have considered.

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.

How do you decide whether to keep the house in your divorce?

With your home typically being one of the biggest assets you have, it’s not a simple question. It also has tremendous implications for your future, both from a financial, as well as from an emotional standpoint.

In this podcast episode, real estate expert Maci Chance shares her own journey through divorce and how it led her to specialize in helping women navigate the often-complicated decisions surrounding whether to keep their home in a divorce … or not.

Maci’s practical advice and real-life stories provide critical guidance on a myriad of real estate issues in divorce, including decluttering, staging, and smart pricing tactics. Maci emphasizes the importance of gathering accurate and complete information regarding your home BEFORE making any big decisions about it.

Maci's story serves as a beacon of hope, showing that even though letting go of the family home may seem daunting, it can be the key to unlocking a brighter future.

About Maci
Maci is a Realtor in the Denver, Colorado metro area who is not only skilled at helping anyone with their Real Estate transactions but her own story and professional training has put her on a path to specialize in providing support and guidance for women going through a divorce in need of selling their marital home and finding a home to start their next chapter. Her strengths lie in her ability to transform a process typically filled with fear, uncertainty and monumental challenge to one full of courage, ease and abundant opportunity.

Connect with Maci
You can connect with Maci on LinkedIn at Maci Chance, on Facebook at Maci Chance Realtor and follow Maci on Instagram at Maci Chance Realtor. To learn more about Maci’s work visit her website at Maci Chance where you can also download your copy of 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Deciding Where to Live After Divorce.

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.

Love and intimacy can be complicated, especially when sexual challenges arise in a marriage. In this podcast episode Janelle Orion, an Ivy League-educated life coach, opens up about her unique path from a deeply committed relationship to a sexless marriage to a "divorce in love."

In this candid conversation, Janelle shares how she married for the first time at age 45 and faced unexpected challenges when her husband no longer wanted to have sex with her. Through therapy, Tantra, and personal growth, Janelle embarked on a quest to better understand, not only what was happening in her marriage, but to understand her own desires and boundaries as well.

Janelle's insights into navigating intimacy and having a sexless marriage with someone you deeply love are both profoundly practical and deeply personal.

With her background in non-traditional relationship dynamics, including polyamory and open relationships, Janelle brings a fresh perspective on navigating love, communication, and self-discovery. Her personal journey from marital struggles to "divorcing in love" offers a unique perspective on relationships, personal growth, and unconventional divorce solutions.

About Janelle
As an Ivy-League educated personal growth junkie, entrepreneur and pleasure activator, Janelle knows how to hold space--and the occasional butt plug--for others’ spiritual awakening. Catalysts for her becoming include plant medicines, polyamory and getting married and divorced “in love.” She has been to Burning Man nine times, all seven continents and now lives in the Goddess Temple. With her open heart and radical acceptance, she coaches people to feel wildly alive and gives you permission to live one step closer to your truth.

Connect with Janelle
You can connect with Janelle on LinkedIn at Janelle Orion, on Facebook at Janelle Orion, follow Janelle on X at Feel Wildly Alive and on Instagram at Feel Wildly Alive. To find out more about Janelle’s work visit her website at Feel Wildly Alive and catch her podcast Permission to be Human.

Books referenced on the show:

The Art of Giving and Receiving by Betty Martin, D.C.
Come as You Are by Emily Nagasaki, Ph. D.

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.

What if there was a simple way that you could save time and money in your divorce while also securing your post-divorce financial future too? By creating a divorce financial plan you can do exactly that.

Amy Colton, a wealth advisor, mediator, and the founder of Your Divorce Made Simple LLC, shares her unique approach to divorce financial planning that helps divorcing couples streamline the divorce process without compromising their financial future. Amy guides her clients to make sound financial decisions by creating and using a comprehensive “divorce financial plan.”

Amy has combined her extensive financial expertise with solid mediation skills and a passion for helping those going through divorce. She now helps couples create amicable, cost-effective divorce resolutions that ALSO protect their financial nest egg for the future.

In this podcast episode, we cover a range of financial topics including grey divorce, social security, and understanding the tax implications of a divorce financial settlement.

If you are nervous about your financial future post-divorce, tune in to this episode to discover what you need to know to create financial security for yourself starting now.

About Amy
Amy is a Wealth Advisor with Forefront Wealth Advisors and has devoted her practice to educating and supporting women, especially ones that have gone through major life transitions. She is also the founder Your Divorce Made Simple LLC, where she combines the role of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) and Family Law Mediator helping couples and individuals achieve win-win outcomes during the divorce process.

Connect with Amy
You can connect with Amy on LinkedIn at Amy Colton and on Facebook at Amy Colton and follow Amy on Instagram at Amy Colton. To find out more about how to protect your assets in a divorce and how to work with Amy, visit her website at Your Divorce Made Simple.

Watch for Amy’s new book coming soon. The Kitchen Table Divorce Book.

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.

What do you do when you’re leaning towards getting a divorce and your spouse wants to work on your marriage? That’s the question we dive into today in this discussion with Dr. Ginny Wright, a seasoned clinical psychologist who is certified in discernment therapy (a/k/a discernment counseling.)

Dr. Wright works with couples who are on the brink of divorce to cut through the fog of indecision and come to a decision about their marriage with clarity and confidence. She uses a process developed by Bill Doherty called discernment counseling or discernment therapy. It is a specialized, short-term form of therapy that’s specially made for couples on the brink of divorce.

Traditional marriage counseling presumes a couple wants to save their marriage. Divorce lawyers assume that a couple (or at least one spouse!) wants a divorce. Discernment therapy bridges the gap between those two choices and helps a couple reach clarity about what they each really want so that they can take the path that's most appropriate for them.

If you’re leaning toward divorce while your spouse wants to save your marriage (or vice versa) this podcast episode will provide you with a valuable tool for working through your ambivalence and coming to a decision about your marriage that you feel good about.

To discover more, tune in to this podcast episode and check out this article on discernment counseling.

About Dr. Ginny
Dr. Ginny Wright is a clinical psychologist and certified discernment counselor. She has been in private practice for over 30 years, seeing children, adults, couples and families. Much of her current work is focused on providing discernment counseling services to couples on the brink of divorce, as well as trainings, workshops and professional consultation services to other discernment professionals.

Connect with Dr. Ginny
You can connect with Dr. Ginny on LinkedIn at Ginny Wright Lapporte and on Facebook at LWA Discernment Counseling. To learn more about Discernment Counseling and how to work with Dr. Ginny visit LWA Discernment Counseling.

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.

What happens when a marriage is no longer working, but the couple wants to stay together for the kids? Is there a way that they can continue to co-parent together, pursue romantic relationships outside of their marriage, but also avoid getting a divorce until their kids are grown?

According to therapist and author Susan Pease Gadoua the answer is “Yes.”

Through her work with couples, Susan developed the revolutionary concept of a "parenting marriage" - a compassionate alternative that allows parents to prioritize their children's well-being while redefining their relationship. This innovative type of relationship enables couples to live separately under one roof and maintain their family’s stability while also pursuing their own individual happiness.

While a parenting marriage is not appropriate for every couple, it provides a workable alternative to the traditional "stay together or divorce" dilemma. A parenting marriage can also provide a "soft landing" into divorce or a long-term solution for couples committed to raising their children together.

This podcast episode challenges the conventional notions of marriage and family. Susan’s insights invite us to reconsider what family can look like in the modern world, and how we can truly put children's needs at the forefront of relationship decisions.

About Susan
Susan Pease Gadoua is a therapist in the SF Bay Area and the founder of the Parenting Marriage concept. She works with couples "on the brink" and runs several women's divorce support groups.

As a child of divorced parents, Susan knows first-hand how disruptive an unhappy marriage and subsequent marital dissolution can be. Susan's personal experience, combined with years of working with couples in distress – both in striving to save their marriage or transition out of it – led her to become passionate about offering support to people at perhaps one of the most crucial junctures in their lives.

Susan founded The Changing Marriage Institute and coined the term, “Parenting Marriage” which is now a concept that is known throughout the world.

Connect with Susan
You can connect with Susan on LinkedIn at Susan Pease Gadoua and on Facebook at Parenting Marriage and follow Susan on Instagram at Changing Marriage. For more information about Susan’s work visit Parenting Marriage. The best way to get in touch with Susan is through email at Susan@changingmarriage.com.

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.