Divorce doesn’t have to be a war—and it doesn’t have to drag your kids through the fallout.

In this episode of Divorcing Strong, Becky Sampson (Bulldog Becky Brochovich) is joined by Liz Vaz, a New York–based collaborative divorce attorney and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, for a practical conversation about choosing peace over combat—and how to build a divorce process that protects your children, your finances, and your future.

Liz shares how growing up in the crossfire of a contentious divorce shaped her life’s work: helping families avoid courtroom chaos and move through separation with clarity, dignity, and full financial transparency. Together, Becky and Liz unpack what mediation and collaborative divorce actually look like, how to prepare financially and emotionally, and how to recognize when a process is working—or when it’s time to pivot.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The difference between mediation, collaborative divorce, and litigation—and how to tell what fits your situation Why Liz says to start with the assumption that you can work it out (even if you don’t agree yet) The non-negotiables for mediation to work: good faith + full disclosure How to avoid wasting money in “presumptive” court-ordered mediation when documents aren’t produced What to gather before mediation: tax returns, bank accounts, retirement, credit cards, mortgage/leases, crypto, and more Why a divorce coach/therapist can be crucial so you don’t process emotions in negotiations How to define a “bottom line” and negotiate from stability (and when to bring in a CDFA) Why “neutral” matters: what a mediator can and can’t do—and why clients often try to pull mediators to their side How mediation logistics work (virtual sessions, caucusing in separate rooms, attorney participation) Liz’s blunt reminder: most contested divorces settle anyway—so don’t start in court unless you have to

Divorce can feel overwhelming, isolating, and confusing—especially when you don’t even know what questions to ask yet. In this episode of Divorcing Strong, Becky Sampson (Bulldog Becky Brochovich) sits down with Rob, a divorced dad of three and the founder of WTF Divorce—a fast-growing online community and directory built to help people feel less alone and find trusted divorce resources in one place.

Rob shares how his own divorce (with three young kids and the world shutting down during the pandemic) pushed him from “I have no idea what I’m doing” into becoming a connector—curating professionals, bite-sized Q&A podcast episodes, and relatable content that uses humor as a bridge to support people through divorce, co-parenting, and dating after divorce.

Becky and Rob also talk candidly about why divorce often hits men differently, what many women experience in the “do I stay or do I leave?” stage, and why self-care, boundaries, and community matter more than ever during this season.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Rob went from poker pro / marketing guy → building WTF Divorce after his own divorce Why divorce can feel so isolating (and why “your married friends don’t get it”) How humor helps people cope and connect—and then find real help when they need it What most people are really searching for at the start: answers, speed, clarity, and not feeling alone Why divorce can be emotionally harder for men (support gaps, fewer outlets, feeling blindsided) Co-parenting with young kids: recalibrating expectations and learning on the fly The post-divorce growth muscles: boundaries, discomfort tolerance, and hard conversations Why having a directory of vetted pros + short video intros makes it easier to choose support

Mentioned in the episode:

WTF Divorce Directory: wtfdirectory.com (also referenced as “the WTF directory”) Rob created it so people can watch quick videos, get a feel for a professional, and reach out for consults—without spending hours researching.

Divorce doesn’t have to destroy your family—but conflict can.

In this episode of Divorcing Strong, Becky Sampson (Bulldog Becky Brochovich) sits down with Jill Kaufman, a divorce coach who brings uncommon depth to the table: she’s a licensed therapist, certified mediator, co-parenting expert, and parenting educator who has helped families rebuild for over two decades. Jill also shares the hard-earned truth behind her work—during her own divorce, even as a therapist, she “did everything wrong,” felt isolated, and learned firsthand how easy it is to lose your voice when attorneys do all the communicating.

This conversation is all about helping parents move through divorce with less damage, more dignity, and a clearer path forward—especially when kids are involved. Jill breaks down why research shows the biggest predictor of how kids do isn’t divorce itself, but the relationship between parents, and how to shift from surviving to truly thriving after divorce.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why going straight to attorneys can put both spouses on defense (and drive up costs)

How Jill finally settled her own divorce by advocating directly and focusing on what mattered most

The #1 truth about kids and divorce: conflict is what harms them most

A myth to drop: the relationship with your co-parent won’t magically improve after divorce

How to handle two different parenting styles across two homes (and what you can control)

What kids’ emotional outbursts really mean—and why not taking it personally matters

Why it’s worth doing the work to be in the same room again someday (for kids and grandkids)

Jill’s definition of “thriving” and how to know when you’ve turned the corner