Divorce is one of those decisions people expect you to explain carefully — preferably once you’ve already figured everything out and no one feels uncomfortable.

In this episode, Lisa Happ and Jolee Vacchi, hosts of the Divorce Detox podcast, talk about what actually keeps people stuck — especially in relationships that are unhealthy, controlling, or quietly exhausting — and why waiting for permission often just means staying longer than you planned.

They get into the parts of divorce that rarely make it into polite conversation: the emotional fog, the financial fear, the repeated attempts to “make it work,” and the slow realization that your partner is unlikely to change this time either.

This conversation isn’t about telling anyone what to do. It’s about naming why the decision itself feels so loaded — and why starting with one small step is often more realistic than waiting for certainty.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why people feel like they need permission to get divorced
• The difference between trying again and staying stuck
• Narcissistic and coercive dynamics — and why “working on it” often doesn’t work
• The emotional and financial fear that keeps decisions on hold
• Why divorce parties are a thing — and what they’re actually celebrating
• How Lisa and Jolee work with clients one step at a time

Listener Takeaways

• Divorce doesn’t require consensus
• Staying is still a decision — even when it’s framed as patience
• Wanting out doesn’t mean you did something wrong
• You don’t have to know every step to take the first one

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✨ Check out Lisa and Jolee on Divorce Detox Podcast

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BONUS: Lisa, Jolee, and I created a Divorce Detox Anthem playlist on Spotify for your divorce party or morning pick me up!