Ep. 9 Do You Want Justice… or Do You Want Peace? (Featuring Sam Colletti)

Hannah sits down with Austin family law attorney and mediator Sam Colletti, a trusted colleague and longtime friend, for a ground-level conversation about what mediation actually is, what it isn’t, and why so many people misunderstand their options during divorce.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the divorce process — especially the emotional traps that keep people stuck chasing “justice,” burning money, and handing control of their future to a system that was never designed to heal them.

If you’ve ever said “I don’t want to go to court — I just want mediation,” this conversation is for you.

Hannah and Sam break down:

• why mediation is not the opposite of court (it’s a waypoint),

• how chasing retribution often costs more than it gives,

• where real control actually lives in divorce,

• and how staying curious instead of judgmental can change the outcome of your case — and your life after it.

This is a practical, honest, and human episode about ending a marriage well, protecting your future self, and choosing peace without pretending the pain doesn’t exist.

00:00 – Welcome to Not Saving It for Later
01:00 – Hannah and Sam’s real-life friendship & why this conversation matters
04:30 – What mediation actually is (and why “mediation vs. court” is the wrong question)
08:00 – Why mediation is a waypoint — not a magic alternative
11:45 – The risks of going to court: bells you can’t un-ring
14:00 – Why attorney choice shapes your entire divorce experience
17:00 – The myth of justice in divorce (and what people are really chasing)
21:00 – “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?”
24:00 – Control: where you have it in mediation — and where you lose it in court
28:00 – Why high-conflict cases feel existential (and why that matters)
32:00 – Curiosity vs. judgment: the question that changes mediation outcomes
36:00 – Why compromise isn’t weakness — it’s strategy
39:00 – When trial is the right answer (and when it isn’t)
44:00 – Pre-lawsuit mediation & Sam’s “Mediation for Empowered Uncoupling” model
50:00 – Letting go of revenge without abandoning your needs
54:00 – “Peace is an inside job” — what Hannah learned the hard way
57:00 – Not saving joy, healing, or life for later

• Mediation is not “avoiding court” — it’s a strategic step within the legal process

• Court offers catharsis, not control — and rarely delivers the justice people expect

• Most people aren’t fighting for money; they’re fighting for recognition and fairness

• You cannot outsource peace to a judge, mediator, or legal system

• Staying curious instead of judgmental keeps you aligned with your long-term future

• The goal isn’t to win divorce — it’s to end it without burning your next chapter

Sam Colletti is a Texas family law attorney and mediator focused on helping families resolve divorce with clarity, dignity, and intention.

Connect With Sam Here: https://nmsb-law.com/

Sam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sam_d_colletti/?__d=1

Mentioned In This EpisodeThe Circle — Weekly live coaching + The My Confident Divorce course→ myconfidentdivorce.com/circleHembree Bell Law Firm (Texas)→ hembreebell.comFollow Hannah on Instagram & TikTok → @hannahhembreebell

Not Saving It for Later is the podcast for women navigating divorce and beyond — where we stop whispering about what’s hard and start talking about what’s real.

This show is for education and inspiration only — not legal or mental health advice.
If you are in danger, contact local emergency services or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233).