Girl, Wake Up!

Divorce Success Story: The Art of Reinvention

What happens when a woman takes the blank canvas of life after divorce and starts creating something entirely new? In this Divorce Success Story episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with Dee Dee Colabella, a Ridgefield, Connecticut entrepreneur, art gallery owner and owner of 068 Magazine, whose life after divorce became a story of creativity, courage and reinvention. Dee Dee has built a vibrant world around art, beauty, storytelling and community. Through her gallery and magazine, she does more than showcase artists and local voices — she creates spaces where people feel seen, connected and inspired. Her story is a reminder that divorce may close one chapter, but it can also open the door to a life that is more colorful, expressive and aligned with who you were always meant to become. In this episode, Amy and Dee Dee talk about the courage it takes to begin again, the power of creativity after divorce, how women can rediscover themselves outside of marriage and motherhood, and why reinvention often starts with one brave step — not a perfect plan. If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info [http://www.freedomwarrior.info] Learn more about Dee Dee’s work here: https://dcolabellafineart.com [https://dcolabellafineart.com] Follow her on Instagram: @colabellamedia Her RPAC Gallery: @rpacgallery Her RPAC Art Center and Academy: @rpacartcenterandacademy

When Family Court Becomes the Crisis (w/ Attorney & Author Meg Groff)

In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with author Meg Groff for a raw and eye-opening conversation about the realities of family court. Meg’s book pulls back the curtain on a system many women enter believing truth, evidence, and good parenting will be enough — only to discover that family court can become its own crisis. Together, Amy and Meg talk about what happens when the legal process becomes emotionally, financially, and psychologically exhausting, especially for protective mothers and survivors of abuse. They explore the power dynamics at play, the myths women are told about court, and why “the best interests of the child” can look very different in theory than it does in practice. We discuss: • The biggest myths about family court • Why evidence alone may not be enough • How money and power can shape custody battles • Why protective mothers are often labeled “difficult” or “emotional” • The emotional toll of prolonged litigation • How the system can fail to recognize coercive control and abuse • What women need to understand before walking into court If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info [http://www.freedomwarrior.info] Learn more about Meg’s work: www.meggroff.com | Instagram: @meggrofffamilylaw | Facebook: Not If I Can Help It | LinkedIn: Meg Groff

When Abuse Goes Digital (w/ Attorney Lindsay Lieberman)

Digital abuse is not just “online drama.” It can be a form of control, intimidation, blackmail and domestic abuse. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with attorney Lindsay Lieberman, who represents survivors of sexual misconduct, cyber-sex crimes, harassment, sextortion, image-based sexual abuse, blackmail and Title IX violations. Lindsay explains how cyber-abuse often shows up inside relationships and divorce: threats to release private images, stalking through technology, harassment by text or email, fake accounts, intimidation, and attempts to shame or silence survivors. She also breaks down the red flags women should watch for, what rights survivors may have, and why sending a private photo to someone does not mean giving up control over where it ends up. Amy and Lindsay also discuss what high-profile cases like Epstein reveal about power, fear, silence and why survivors often hesitate to come forward. This conversation is about privacy, protection, consent and power — and what women need to know when abuse follows them into their phones, inboxes, workplaces, schools and courtrooms. If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info [http://www.freedomwarrior.info] Learn more about Lindsay’s work: www.lindsaylieberman.com [http://www.lindsaylieberman.com] https://www.instagram.com/lindsayliebermanesq/ [https://www.instagram.com/lindsayliebermanesq/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-lieberman-cyber-abuse-victims-attorney/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-lieberman-cyber-abuse-victims-attorney/]

Don’t Fight Back? Rethinking Women’s Safety (w/ IMPACT Executive Director Meg Stone)

Today’s episode of Girl, Wake Up! drops on publication day for Meg Stone’s new book, Don’t Fight Back: And 10 Other Myths About Crime, Personal Safety, and Gender-Based Violence. Meg, Executive Director of IMPACT Boston, joins Amy for an eye-opening conversation about the sexist safety myths women have been taught for generations–and what real empowerment actually looks like. We talk about fear, gender-based violence, and why the burden of prevention has been placed on women for far too long. In this episode, we cover: * Why so much safety advice for women is rooted in fear * The myths society teaches about crime and personal safety * How sexism shapes the way women are told to prevent violence * Why the burden is so often placed on women instead of perpetrators * What real empowerment and prevention can actually look like ➡️ If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info [http://www.freedomwarrior.info] ➡️ Learn more about empowerment and self-defence on Meg’s website: https://megstone.org/ [https://megstone.org/] ➡️ More about Impact Boston: https://impactboston.org/ [https://impactboston.org/] ➡️Meg’s books: https://www.beacon.org/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=17937&Name=Meg+Stone [https://www.beacon.org/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=17937&Name=Meg+Stone] Episode Timestamp: 00:01 – 00:045 Podcast Intro 00:46 – 02:12 Topic & About Meg Stone 2:13 — 6:44 The 'Don't Fight Back' Myth: Why Forceful Resistance Actually Works 9:23 — 13:12 Policing Women's Behavior vs. Addressing Male Responsibility 13:12 — 18:53 The Invisible Cost of Fear: How Women's Lives Are Restricted 22:06 — 30:11 What is Feminist Self-Defense? Empowerment Through Political Analysis 35:38 — 41:35 Truth or Trap: Is 'Trust Your Intuition' Actually Good Advice?

Fitness in your Fifties & Beyond: A Divorce Success Story (w/ Pro Athlete & Women's Health Expert Linda Stephens)

Divorce can be the best thing that ever happened to you. In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Linda Stephens, a clinical nutritionist, IFBB Pro athlete, and nationally recognized women’s health expert, about how her 2017 divorce became the beginning of a powerful reinvention. What started as a painful life transition became an opportunity to get honest about what she wanted, step into her next chapter and help other women do the same. Amy and Linda discuss what it means for women in midlife to stop accepting outdated messages about aging, hormones and menopause–and start advocating for themselves. This is a conversation about strength, clarity, health and why your 50s and beyond can be one of the most powerful seasons of your life. In this episode, we cover: * Linda’s divorce story and how it became a turning point * Reinventing yourself in midlife * How she got into fitness, nutrition, and women’s health * Why women need to self-advocate in today’s medical system * The problem with outdated standards of care around menopause * How to see menopause as an opportunity, not just a struggle * What’s possible for women in their 50s and beyond If this episode speaks to you, share it with a woman who needs the reminder that it is not too late to become stronger, healthier, and more fully yourself. If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy for a free 15-minute consultation at www.freedomwarrior.info [http://www.freedomwarrior.info] Find out more about Linda Stephens Health & Wellness here: www.lindamstephens.com [http://www.lindamstephens.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindastephensfit/ [https://www.instagram.com/lindastephensfit/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindamstephens [https://www.facebook.com/lindamstephens] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindastephensfit/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindastephensfit/]