Ep. 13: Healing Isn't Feeling Better — It's Feeling Everything

Ep. 19: "My Body Woke Up" — Coming Out and Coming Home to Myself

After 25 years of marriage, Lisa Madsen's body "woke up" — and everything she thought she knew about love, marriage, and who she was came up for question. This is a story about coming out later in life, choosing to stay married while building a life with someone new, and discovering that when it comes to marriage, divorce, and family, there are no rules — you get to make them up. In this episode: * The phone call from her college girlfriend that made her body "wake up" — and the question she couldn't stop asking: "What does this even mean?" * Coming out in her twenties, "un-coming out" when she fell in love with her husband, and coming out again later in life — and what it meant to finally come home to herself * How Lisa told her husband the truth — and the response that surprised everyone * "Husband not husband": why she and her husband never divorced — and stayed close enough to share regular Wednesday dinners * Building a blended family across two states — and why she decided there are no rules except the ones you make About Lisa Madsen: Lisa is a certified life coach and licensed clinical social worker who works with people navigating big relationship transitions — including women coming out later in life — and helps them move forward with clarity and self-trust. After 25 years of marriage, her own life became one of the most unconventional, and loving, answers to the question of what "family" can look like. Learn more at www.lisamadsencoaching.com [http://www.lisamadsencoaching.com] Follow Lisa on Instagram: @lifecoachforcaregivers Find Lisa on Psychology Today: Lisa Madsen, LCSW [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lisa-madsen-lakewood-co/844833] About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thedtalespodcast/] Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com [https://thedtalespodcast.com] This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

Ep. 18: Overcoming Financial Anxiety in Divorce with the 6 Pillars of Intentional Money

Today's conversation with financial advisor and CDFA® Leah Hadley explores what it looks like to rebuild a relationship with money that supports the life you actually want — especially during divorce, when financial anxiety and avoidance can take over. In this episode: * Why divorce creates a real cash-flow shock at every income level — the same income suddenly has to support two households * The 6 pillars of the Intentional Money Method™ — clarity, values, mindset, strategy, action, and support — and how they work together * What “clarity” actually looks like in practice — getting honest about what’s coming in, what’s going out, what you own, and what you owe * Why mindset is often the biggest blocker — the limiting beliefs and old stories running in the background that can shape how we negotiate, earn, save, and spend our money * Why we often have to take action before we feel ready — and how small, intentional steps build confidence over time * Pro tip: How to check your state’s unclaimed property database — and potentially reclaim hundreds or even thousands of dollars! About Leah Hadley: Leah Hadley, AFC®, CDFA®, MAFF®, is the Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor of Intentional Wealth Partners and Intentional Divorce Solutions. With nearly two decades of experience in financial services and her own lived experience of divorce, she specializes in helping women navigate divorce and major life transitions with clarity and confidence. Her new book, Intentional Money, is a practical guide designed to help women take control of their finances and build lasting independence. She is also the author of When It's Just Not Working: A Practical Divorce Guide for Stay-At-Home Moms. Learn more about Intentional Divorce Solutions: https://www.greatlakesdfs.com/ [https://www.greatlakesdfs.com/] Follow Leah on Instagram: @watchherthrive Connect with Leah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahahadley/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahahadley/] Get Leah’s book Intentional Money: https://a.co/d/0ftSboBC [https://a.co/d/0ftSboBC] Episode-Specific Notes: This conversation offers general perspective on divorce-related financial planning and is not personalized financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation. About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thedtalespodcast/] Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com [https://thedtalespodcast.com] This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

Ep. 17: Loneliness Isn’t Being Alone — It’s Being Disconnected From Yourself

Today’s conversation with holistic performance coach Dr. Brian Paris explores why loneliness isn’t the same thing as being alone — and how coming back to yourself changes everything about how you move through divorce, co-parenting, and love. In this episode: * How Brian’s post-divorce loneliness revealed a deeper fear — “will I be alone forever?” — and what it showed him about self-connection * “I mastered the science of achievement, but I really dropped on the art of fulfillment” — and what it looks like to rebuild from the inside out * Brian’s four-part “human operating system” for coming home to yourself: awareness, embodiment, connection, and flow * What a 10-day silent meditation retreat taught Brian about identity, presence, and creating space between your thoughts and your reactions * A practical reframe for co-parenting and post-divorce communication: empathy, “graceful expression,” and not handing someone a brick when they’re drowning About Dr. Brian Paris: Dr. Brian Paris is a holistic performance coach, speaker, and former chiropractor who helps high-achieving people navigate challenging transitions, including divorce, identity loss, and starting over. After building and leading a successful multidisciplinary healthcare practice for over two decades, Brian’s own experience of burnout, disconnection, and divorce became the catalyst for his deepest work — helping others rebuild from the inside out through neuroscience, somatic awareness, and ancient healing traditions. Learn more at www.drbrianparis.com [http://www.drbrianparis.com] Follow Brian on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @drbrianparis Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbrianparis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbrianparis/] About ManRebuild: ManRebuild is Brian’s program designed to help men rebuild from the inside out during and after divorce — grounding in awareness, embodiment, connection, and purpose. Learn more about ManRebuild: https://drbrianparis.com/manrebuild/ [https://drbrianparis.com/manrebuild/] About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thedtalespodcast/] Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com [https://thedtalespodcast.com] This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

Ep. 16: The Stories We Hide Behind — and the Ones That Set Us Free

This is a story about… stories. The stories we hide behind. The stories we get stuck in. The stories we tell to justify the other stories. And the honest ones that set us free — the kind that allow us to feel seen, connect with others, and unlock true intimacy. In this episode: * Why the "resilience" Renee built at 6 was actually a shield — and how it shaped a marriage where neither she nor her then-husband could be truly seen * The post-divorce dating reckoning — including catching a boyfriend who had lied about everything — that forced her to stop blaming and start questioning "why is my picker so broken?" * "Into-me-you-see" — why the intimacy Renee had been hiding from her whole life was the thing she'd been searching for * What happens when a brand storyteller turns her craft on her own life — and why more honest stories became the throughline of everything that came next * How radical honesty with strangers — Uber drivers, gardeners, first dates — became the unlikely training ground for real intimacy * Why divorce doesn't have to be a tragedy — and the reframe Renee offers anyone going through it: "I'm so sorry and congratulations." About Renee Lynn Frojo: Renee Frojo is a former journalist turned brand storytelling and content strategist who helps founders and solo business owners build brands people actually trust, believe in, and buy from. She works with founders, consultants, and creative entrepreneurs to clarify their message, develop compelling narratives, and turn their ideas into content that attracts the right opportunities. Her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and human connection — helping people not just get seen, but truly understood. * Website: reneelynnfrojo.com [http://reneelynnfrojo.com] * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/renee-lynn-frojo [http://linkedin.com/in/renee-lynn-frojo] * The LinkedIn post that inspired this episode: Read on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/renee-lynn-frojo_my-best-friend-from-college-is-wading-through-activity-7431032244405919745-yWhR] About A Good Reputation: A Good Reputation is Renee's platform dedicated to teaching how stories shape trust, visibility, and ultimately who gets chosen. * Website: agoodreputation.online [http://agoodreputation.online] * Newsletter: Subscribe to A Good Reputation [https://agoodreputation.online/profile] About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thedtalespodcast/] Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com [https://thedtalespodcast.com] This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.

Ep. 15: Dear Diary — The Day I Became Allison Kahler Again

D-Day — your divorce day — can be years in the making and over in minutes. In this second "Dear Diary" solo episode, I revisit my own D-Day through the journal entries I wrote in the days before, during, and after — one of the most life-changing, yet surprisingly anticlimactic, moments of my life. In this episode: * The quote I journaled on my 33rd birthday — 2 days before my divorce was finalized — that still holds 8 years later: "You can miss something and not want it back" * What D-Day actually looked like — a 6am spin class, almost getting stood up by my own lawyer, and the tears that flowed once the judge made it final * The 10 minutes in a courtroom that reduced years of emotional turmoil to a string of yes-or-no questions — and the surprising simplicity of the moment that changes everything * How an unplanned trip to the Art Institute after leaving the courthouse helped me reconnect with my authentic self and the woman I was becoming * The last page of my journal — and the future I dared to imagine through Mary Oliver's words: "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" * Three things I'd tell anyone preparing for their own D-Day — expect nothing and everything, build yourself a plan, and allow yourself to dream what might be possible on the other side About "The D. Tales with Allison Kahler": The D. Tales blends real divorce stories with grounded expert insight — helping you find clarity and courage to move forward on your own terms. Follow The D. Tales wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow along on Instagram: @thedtalespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thedtalespodcast/] Learn more at https://thedtalespodcast.com [https://thedtalespodcast.com] This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, mental health, or financial advice.