You Are Not Alone: How to Build Community During Life Transitions

You Are Not Alone: How to Build Community During Life Transitions

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/fan_mail/new] Loneliness is more common than many of us realize, especially during seasons of divorce, grief, caregiving, illness, and other major life transitions.  In this week’s solo episode, I talk about the growing epidemic of loneliness and the ways high-achieving women often unintentionally isolate themselves. Drawing from my own experiences, I share how pride, perfectionism, and the belief that we have to handle everything on our own can keep us from receiving the support we need. Together, we explore the importance of community, the risks of doing life alone, and three practical steps to help you reconnect with others: acknowledge, ask, and allow. This episode is a reminder that you were never meant to carry life's burdens by yourself and that asking for help can be one of the most powerful things you do. Song of the week: You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson Topics Covered:  00:00:00 – Episode snippet  00:01:15 – The epidemic of loneliness  00:03:45 – COVID and social isolation  00:06:18 – The strong woman trap  00:11:19 – We’re not meant to do life alone  00:13:19 – When loneliness is self-created  00:15:34 – The pride behind independence  00:16:29 – People are waiting to support you  00:20:06 – Acknowledge you need help  00:21:41 – Ask for what you need  00:24:13 – Allow others to help  00:26:06 – Join the R&R Collective  00:27:44 – Upcoming podcast anniversary event Key Takeaways: “The power to not be alone is in your hands.” “You have to get comfortable letting people know that you need help.” “There is no shame in needing help.” "Take off the cape and allow people to help you." *Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors reopen.  bit.ly/yncapply [http://bit.ly/yncapply] ☕ Support the podcast here: Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/drnicolepod?utm_source=chatgpt.com]  Episode Sponsors:  * This episode is sponsored by Your Next Chapter LLC. Need a speaker? Book Dr. Nicole, TEDx and keynote speaker, to speak on life transitions, healing, and growth. Email hello@yournextchapter.co [hello@yournextchapter.co] with “Speaker Request” to get started. About Your Host Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE! Connect with Dr. Nicole: Web: https://yournextchapter.co/ [https://yournextchapter.co/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co [https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co] FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co [https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co] Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community [https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community] Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/support]

Do These 5 Things Before Dating After Divorce

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/fan_mail/new] "Dating after divorce can feel complicated, especially when you're trying to figure out who you are outside of the marriage you once thought would last forever." In this week’s solo episode, I share five things I believe are worth considering before stepping back into the dating world after divorce. Drawing from my own experience, I talk about the importance of healing before seeking a new relationship, understanding the real reasons you want to date, and learning how to enjoy your own company first. Together, we explore how therapy, coaching, faith, and self-discovery can help you approach dating with greater clarity. This episode is a reminder that healthy dating starts with knowing yourself, trusting your timing, and building a life you genuinely enjoy before inviting someone else into it. Song of the week: Good Morning Gorgeous by Mary J. Blige Topics Covered: 00:00:00 – Episode snippet 00:02:22 – Reconnecting with yourself before dating 00:04:13 – Becoming your own best date 00:07:39 – Step 1: Commit to your healing 00:16:03 – Step 2: Examine your motives 00:23:27 – Companionship vs Dependency 00:24:25 – Step 3: Date yourself 00:27:08 – Step 4: Surrender your timeline 00:31:22 – Step 5: Reframe dating as data collection 00:35:34 – Avoiding the “20% trap” after divorce 00:41:57 – Gathering data about potential partners 00:48:18 – Keeping a positive mindset while dating 00:50:36 – Final recap Key Takeaways: “When you make decisions out of desperation, you make desperate choices.” “When you approach dating as data, you remove the attachment to the outcomes.” “Commit to your healing. You cannot enter into the dating space with an unhealed heart.” Podcast Episode Mentioned: Episode 40: Me, Myself and I: How to Date Yourself After Divorce [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/me-myself-and-i-how-to-date-yourself-after-divorce/id1775311850?i=1000722490506] Episode 50: Real Love: Lessons from 104 Dates (w/ Heidi Friedman) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-love-lessons-from-104-dates-w-heidi-friedman/id1775311850?i=1000738098151] *Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors reopen.  bit.ly/yncapply [http://bit.ly/yncapply] ☕ Support the podcast here: Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/drnicolepod?utm_source=chatgpt.com]  Episode Sponsors:  * This episode is sponsored by Your Next Chapter LLC. Need a speaker? Book Dr. Nicole, TEDx and keynote speaker, to speak on life transitions, healing, and growth. Email hello@yournextchapter.co [hello@yournextchapter.co] with “Speaker Request” to get started. About Your Host Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE! Connect with Dr. Nicole: Web: https://yournextchapter.co/ [https://yournextchapter.co/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co [https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co] FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co [https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co] Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community [https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community] Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/support]

Reframing Divorce as a Fresh Start (w/ Olivia Howell)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/fan_mail/new] "When a major chapter of life comes to an end, the hardest part is often figuring out who you are on the other side of it." In this week’s conversation, I sat down with Olivia Howell, co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, to talk about divorce, rebuilding, and navigating an unexpected life transition. Olivia shares how her own divorce inspired her and her sister to create a resource that helps people access support, community, and practical tools as they begin again. Together, we discuss the challenges that come with starting over, the importance of asking for help, and what it can look like to rebuild a life that feels authentic and meaningful after a major change. This episode is a reminder that divorce can reshape many parts of your life, but it does not have to define what comes next. While the path forward is rarely easy, it can be an opportunity to rediscover yourself and create a future that reflects who you are now. Song of the week: Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield) Topics Covered: 00:00:00 – Episode snippet 00:01:21 – Introducing our guest, Olivia Howell 00:04:23 – Olivia’s personal divorce journey 00:08:46 – The idea behind a divorce registry 00:13:14 – R&R Collective invitation 00:17:34 – How divorce registries work 00:20:29 – The Registry Fairy program 00:25:48 – Vetting shame-free and inclusive experts 00:29:09 – Building a “hype team” for support 00:35:27 – What’s next for Fresh Starts Registry 00:36:09 – Book: Divorce Happens 00:38:28 – Olivia’s sister’s fresh start love story 00:42:08 – Freedom 00:43:07 – Connect with Olivia Howell Key Takeaways: “Divorce happens and then you fall apart. And you are kind of supposed to fall apart because it is a rebirth.”  “I'd rather have rooms that have no furniture than rooms that have things that remind me of a life that is no longer mine.” *Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors reopen.  bit.ly/yncapply [http://bit.ly/yncapply] ☕ Support the podcast here: Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/drnicolepod?utm_source=chatgpt.com]  Episode Sponsors:  * This episode is sponsored by Your Next Chapter LLC. Need a speaker? Book Dr. Nicole, TEDx and keynote speaker, to speak on life transitions, healing, and growth. Email hello@yournextchapter.co [hello@yournextchapter.co] with “Speaker Request” to get started. About Our Guest: Olivia Howell is a nationally recognized divorce educator, visionary founder, clinical hypnotherapist, and the CEO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, the premier expert-led divorce support network. She is passionate about providing support, resources, and hope for those navigating major life transitions.  Connect with Olivia Howell: Web: https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/ [https://www.freshstartsregistry.com/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/oliviahowell/ [https://www.instagram.com/oliviahowell/] About Your Host Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE! Connect with Dr. Nicole: Web: https://yournextchapter.co/ [https://yournextchapter.co/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co [https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co] FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co [https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co] Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community [https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community] Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/support]

This is Your Season (w/ Dr. Sherita Gaskins-Tillett)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/fan_mail/new] “Life does not always unfold according to our plans, but that does not mean we are headed in the wrong direction.” In this week’s conversation, I sat down with Dr. Sherita Gaskins-Tillett to talk about expectations, reinvention, and the unexpected turns that often shape our lives. Dr. Sherita shares her journey of building a successful medical career and becoming a wife and mother later than expected, only to realize that success alone was not enough to create a fulfilling life.  Together, we explore the gap between expectations and reality, the courage to let go of identities that no longer fit, and the power of asking yourself what you truly want. This episode is a reminder that nothing is wasted, every season has purpose, and sometimes the path you never planned leads exactly where you need to be. Song of the week: It's Working (This Is My Season) by William Murphy Topics Covered: 00:00:00 – Episode snippet 00:01:21 – Introducing our guest, Dr. Sherita Gaskins Tillette 00:03:18 – When life unfolds differently than planned  00:07:31 – The sacrifices behind a successful career  00:12:23 – Choosing wellness over achievement  00:18:02 – Challenging your own assumptions  00:20:46 – You can have it all, but...  00:22:12 – Asking yourself the hard questions 00:26:15 – Nothing is wasted  00:30:55 – A Weekend for Me: reconnect, redefine, reclaim  00:32:40 – The five reasons women stay stuck 00:36:37 – Ask 00:38:05 – Connect with Dr. Sherita Gaskins-Tillett *Special offer 🎉: Enter code NXTCHAPT for $250 off your A Weekend for Me retreat registration Key Takeaways: “I was trying to be everything to everybody. I honestly got to the point where I felt like I was failing at everything.” “Sometimes when we are stuck, it's because we have made ourselves stuck.” “You can have it all, but you have to decide what your ‘all’ looks like.” *Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors reopen.  bit.ly/yncapply [http://bit.ly/yncapply] ☕ Support the podcast here: Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/drnicolepod?utm_source=chatgpt.com]  Episode Sponsors:  * This episode is sponsored by Your Next Chapter LLC. Need a speaker? Book Dr. Nicole, TEDx and keynote speaker, to speak on life transitions, healing, and growth. Email hello@yournextchapter.co [hello@yournextchapter.co] with “Speaker Request” to get started. About Our Guest: Dr. Sherita Gaskins-Tillett is a board-certified OB/GYN, personal development coach, speaker, and founder of Boss Lady Dream Builders. Through coaching, speaking, and her signature retreat, A Weekend For Me, she helps high-achieving women reconnect with themselves, redefine success, and step confidently into their next chapter. Connect with Dr. Sherita: Web: https://bossladydreambuilders.com/ [https://bossladydreambuilders.com/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/drsheritadgtob/ [https://www.instagram.com/drsheritadgtob/] About Your Host Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE! Connect with Dr. Nicole: Web: https://yournextchapter.co/ [https://yournextchapter.co/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co [https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co] FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co [https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co] Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community [https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community] Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/support]

It Ain't Over- Navigating Life's Dark Seasons

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/fan_mail/new] “One of the hardest parts of healing is continuing to believe that better days are still possible while you are living through the heavy ones.” In this week’s solo episode, I share an honest conversation about trials, heartbreak, and the seasons that can leave you feeling exhausted and ready to give up. Reflecting on my own journey through divorce, grief, disappointment, and rebuilding, I talk about what it looked like to keep going even when the future felt uncertain and the pain felt overwhelming. This episode is for anyone carrying heavy burdens and wondering when their breakthrough will come.  My hope is that this conversation reminds you that even the hardest chapters can still produce growth, strength, faith, and hope. Song of the week: It Ain’t Over by Maurette Brown Clark Topics Covered: 00:00:00 – Episode snippet 00:02:45 – Finding joy while still carrying unanswered prayers 00:03:44 – “It Ain’t Over.” 00:06:25 – What trials really teach us 00:10:01 – Trials do not last forever 00:11:13 – The purpose of testing seasons 00:15:19 – Learning to surrender control 00:16:23 – Giving up can cost you your breakthrough 00:21:12 – “God wink.” 00:22:04 – Read your bible 00:23:04 – Be in community with like-hearted people 00:26:40 – Understanding your “faith bank” 00:29:26 – Remember what God has done for you 00:31:12 – “It ain’t over until God says it’s over.” Key Takeaways: “No matter how bad things look, things are gonna get better.” “The only way that I have been able to navigate my trials is because of God.” “Your story could be the catalyst for someone else’s breakthrough.” “My greatest lessons have always come on the other side of a trial.” “Your breakthrough is right on the other side of a season where you almost gave up. Our job is to keep the faith.” *Want to join our membership community, the R&R Collective™? Apply today and get on the waitlist for when the doors reopen.  bit.ly/yncapply [http://bit.ly/yncapply] ☕ Support the podcast here: Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/drnicolepod?utm_source=chatgpt.com]  Mentioned in the episode: Dr. Nicole’s healthcare company, Your GPS Doc, LLC [https://www.yourgpsdoc.com] Episode Sponsors:  * This episode is sponsored by Your Next Chapter LLC. Need a speaker? Book Dr. Nicole, TEDx and keynote speaker, to speak on life transitions, healing, and growth. Email hello@yournextchapter.co [hello@yournextchapter.co] with “Speaker Request” to get started. About Your Host Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE! Connect with Dr. Nicole: Web: https://yournextchapter.co/ [https://yournextchapter.co/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co [https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co] FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co [https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co] Join our email community:  https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community [https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/community] Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411613/support]