The Divorce Podcast

This week, we want to revisit a particularly helpful episode with Jo Thurston from Parent Talk to discuss why summer holidays can be so tricky for single parents and share some simple tips for making them more manageable and fun. 
Without the school routine and longer days in the sun, it’s an important time to create new memories and enjoy new activities with your children. However, summer as a single parent can be challenging when you’re doing all of this solo. It might involve more schedules, additional childcare and juggling high expectations. 
Kate and Jo start by explaining why summer holidays can be challenging for single parents, and when’s a good time to start planning them. There are also some tips on how not to over-plan! 
Here are some of the points they cover in this episode to help single parents this summer:
How to navigate holiday costs
Where you can look for affordable activities to fit your budget and available time
Communication tips with your co-parent
Staying flexible and willing to adjust your schedule
Why involving your children in holiday planning could be a good idea
Meet Jo Thurston 
Jo is a co-ordinator at Action for Children’s Parent Talk service, which offers free online advice for parents and carers of children aged 0-19, or up to 25 where a young person has special educational needs. Its confidential 1:1 live chat service connects parents and carers directly to an experienced parenting coach for judgement-free practical advice and emotional support, while its online articles answer some of the most common parenting questions.
 Jo first joined Action for Children in 2018 as a Family Support worker in a Children’s Centre. She has a background working in schools and pastoral care and has a particular interest in supporting families impacted by SEND.
More divorce resources
Need expert help right now?
Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. Or explore our Separating with Children Service – a 90-minute joint session with a Co-parenting Specialist tailored to your family’s needs.
Want ongoing support through separation?
Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on co-parenting and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.
Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on co-parenting, with practical guidance on supporting your children's wellbeing, talking to them in age-appropriate ways and 
building a cooperative co-parenting relationship that reduces conflict. Find it on Amazon today.
Want to stay organised as co-parents?
Download our free Parenting Plan template to help you and your co-parent agree on shared goals, routines and decision-making – with your children at the centre.
Try the amicable co-parenting app free for 3 months to share calendars, track expenses and communicate clearly. Open this link on your phone, install the app, create your account, select 'I have a promo code', enter PODCAST and press ‘apply’.
Got a question for a future episode?
Share your thoughts at hello@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.
#Coparenting

Children were once seen as their father's property. So how did we get from there to a family court system that tries – however imperfectly – to put their welfare first?
Kate is joined by Lara Feigel, author and professor at King's College London, to draw a comprehensive timeline of the family courts, from a time when children were seen as their father's property right through to today. 
We talk about:
How the family court developed in England and Wales over the centuries – from a system that treated children as property to one that tries to hear their voice 
How that compares internationally – and why we so often followed rather than led
When the voice of the child started to matter, and how it's heard today
Why the family court should be the last reort for separating couples
This episode is for anyone curious about how the family courts came to be, and why – where it's safe to – staying out of court is so often the kinder, calmer path.
A note before you listen: this episode touches on the death of a child and domestic abuse. Please take care while listening. If you need support, these organisations can help:
Women's Aid – womensaid.org.uk
Refuge – refuge.org.uk
ManKind Initiative – mankind.org.uk
Men's Advice Line – mensadviceline.org.uk
Mind – mind.org.uk
Samaritans – dial 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258
If your life is in danger, dial 999
A note on the word 'custody'
You'll hear the word 'custody' used throughout this episode – both in the historical context Lara explores and in the title of her book. It's also a term many people still use in everyday conversation when talking about their children after separation.
But in England and Wales today, 'custody' isn't actually a legal term. It was replaced under the Children Act 1989, which shifted the focus away from one parent 'winning' and the other 'losing', and towards something more constructive: child arrangements. The language courts use now is 'lives with' and 'spends time with' – because the goal is for children to have meaningful, loving relationships with both parents wherever it's safe to do so.
At amicable, we use 'child arrangements' rather than 'custody' for exactly this reason. The words we use shape how we think – and 'arrangements' puts children's needs at the centre, rather than parents' rights.
About Lara Feigel
Lara Feigel is the author of Custody: The Secret History of Mothers – one of the Economist’s best books of 2026. This is a history of child arrangements from 1800 told through the stories of several families. She is a professor at King’s College London and the author of five other books on cultural history and a novel. 
You can find Lara’s book Custody: The Secret History of Mothers on Amazon and you can read more of her writing on the Right to Equality website.
More divorce resources
Need expert help right now?
Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. Or explore our Separating with Children Service – a 90-minute joint session with a Co-parenting Specialist tailored to your family’s needs.
Want ongoing support through separation?
Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on co-parenting and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.
Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on co-parenting, with practical guidance on supporting your children's wellbeing, talking to them in age-appropriate ways and building a cooperative co-parenting relationship that reduces conflict. Find it on Amazon today.
Want to stay organised as co-parents?
Download our free Parenting Plan template to help you and your co-parent agree on shared goals, routines and decision-making – with your children at the centre.
Try the amicable co-parenting app free for 3 months to share calendars, track expenses and communicate clearly. Open this link on your phone, install the app, create your account, select 'I have a promo code', enter PODCAST and press ‘apply’.
Got a question for a future episode?
Share your thoughts at hello@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.
#Legal

What happens when you find love again after losing your partner - and that second love story ends too? 
Bereavement and divorce are widely cited as the two most stressful life events a person can go through – and Rosie Moss has lived both. Widowed suddenly in her thirties with three young children, Rosie found love again – and then walked through the breakdown of that second marriage. She joins Kate not to talk about how hard it's been, but about what's grown out of it.
Rosie is host of the award-winning podcast Widowed AF and author of the bestselling book Widowed As F**k. Together, Kate and Rosie explore love, loss, dating again and learning to like yourself through it all.
We talk about:
Meeting someone through shared grief - and what happens when a relationship is fast-tracked by loss
Helping children make sense of a step-parent leaving their lives 
Dating again as both a widow and a divorcee
Protecting your peace and discovering the strength you didn't know you had 
This episode is for anyone navigating loss and separation, dating again after divorce or bereavement, or simply trying to make sense of what comes next when life takes a turn you didn't plan for. 
Trigger warning: This episode discusses bereavement, mental health and alcohol use. If you're affected by anything discussed, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, or text SHOUT to 85258.
Meet Rosie Moss
Rosie Moss is the host of the award-winning podcast Widowed AF and author of the bestselling book Widowed As F**k. Widowed suddenly in her thirties with three young children, she found love again - and now speaks openly about what happens when that second relationship doesn't work out, and how hard it is to protect children while everything is shifting around them.
Her work focuses on the overlap between grief, separation and long-term stress, and how these experiences shape decision-making, resilience and recovery - particularly for women balancing it all. Through her podcast and writing, Rosie has built a global community by challenging the clichés around grief and divorce, and focusing on what life actually looks like when you're in the middle of it.
Follow Rosie on Instagram to learn more about her journey. 
More divorce resources
Need expert help right now?
Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. 
Want ongoing support through separation?
Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on co-parenting and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.
Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on emotional readiness and timing, navigating separation with kindness and rebuilding your identity and moving forward with confidence. Find it on Amazon today.
Got a question for a future episode?
Share your thoughts at hello@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.
#SeparationStory

Family court is the part of divorce most people hope to avoid – and for good reason. But if it becomes part of your journey, knowing what to expect can change everything.
Kate is joined by Beth Kirkland from AdviceNow to talk about what happens when court becomes unavoidable, what it actually feels like to walk into one and how to give yourself the best chance if you're representing yourself.
We talk about:
How AdviceNow can help if you're going through a divorce or separation
The reasons couples end up in family court – and why it should be a last resort
What court actually feels like and what the common myths and misconceptions are
Beth's practical advice to anyone facing court without legal representation
This episode is for anyone navigating divorce or separation in England and Wales who wants to understand the family court process – whether court feels close, or you simply want to know your options before things escalate.
A note before you listen: this episode includes references to domestic abuse and coercive control. If you're affected by anything we discuss, you'll find support organisations listed at the bottom of this description.
Support organisations:
Women's Aid – womensaid.org.uk
Refuge – refuge.org.uk
ManKind Initiative – mankind.org.uk
Men's Advice Line – mensadviceline.org.uk
Mind – mind.org.uk
Samaritans – dial 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258
If your life is in danger, dial 999
The statistic Beth references comes from the Everyday Business report, published by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner in October 2025, which found evidence of domestic abuse in 73% of observed family court cases and 87% of case files involving children. Read the full report here. 
About AdviceNow
AdviceNow is a UK-based not-for-profit organisation and charity that increases access to justice by helping people to deal with life's legal problems. They provide legal support, including information, legal self-help tools, and training to help people use the law.
You can access free resources for divorce and separation that Beth mentions in the episode on AdviceNow website, and you can watch a video about the experience of family court with some helpful tips here. 
More divorce resources
Ready to understand your options?
Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.
Want ongoing support through separation?
Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on the legal side of divorce and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.
Kate’s book amicable divorce includes a clear breakdown of the different ways to separate, from solicitor-led routes to mediation to cooperative services like amicable, so you can choose what fits your situation. Find it on Amazon today.
Got a question for a future episode?
Share your thoughts at hello@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.
#Legal

Supporting your children through separation goes so much further than one difficult conversation - but knowing how to keep showing up for them is something many parents struggle with.
Kate is joined by Hannah Strong, therapist, separated mum and founder of My Thriving Child, to explore what children really need from their parents during and after a separation. Drawing on science, psychology and her own lived experience, Hannah shares her framework for helping children not just cope - but thrive.
We talk about:
Why it's not about getting it perfect – and the reassuring research behind that
What's really going on in your child's brain when family life changes
How to spot the signs your child might be struggling, even when they seem fine
Why the first conversation about your separation is just the beginning
The small everyday actions that help your children build security and thrive
This episode is for any parent going through separation who wants to do right by their children - whether they're at the very start of the process or years down the line.
Meet Hannah Strong
Hannah Strong is a therapist, coach and separated mum who specialises in helping parents to support their children in the best way possible through divorce - so their children do not just survive, but genuinely thrive. 
You can learn more about how Hannah can help your family on the My Thriving Child website and you can follow her on Instagram for more helpful tips. 
More divorce resources
Need expert help right now?
Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. Or explore our Separating with Children Service – a 90-minute joint session with a Co-parenting Specialist tailored to your family’s needs.
Want ongoing support through separation?
Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on co-parenting and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.
Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on co-parenting, with practical guidance on supporting your children's wellbeing, talking to them in age-appropriate ways and building a cooperative co-parenting relationship that reduces conflict. Find it on Amazon today.
Want to stay organised as co-parents?
Download our free Parenting Plan template to help you and your co-parent agree on shared goals, routines and decision-making – with your children at the centre.
Try the amicable co-parenting app free for 3 months to share calendars, track expenses and communicate clearly. Open this link on your phone, install the app, create your account, select 'I have a promo code', enter PODCAST and press ‘apply’.
Got a question for a future episode?
Share your thoughts at hello@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.
Sources referenced in this episode
Tronick, E. Z., & Gianino, A. F. (1986). The Transmission of Maternal Disturbance to the Infant. In E. Z. Tronick & T. Field (Eds.), Maternal Depression and Infant Disturbance (New Directions for Child Development, No. 34, pp. 5-11). Jossey-Bass.
Amato, P. R., Loomis, L. S., & Booth, A. (1995). Parental Divorce, Marital Conflict, and Offspring Well-Being During Early Adulthood. Social Forces, 73(3), 895-915.
Kelly, J. B., & Emery, R. E. (2003). Children's Adjustment Following Divorce: Risk and Resilience Perspectives. Family Relations, 52(4), 352-362.
Masten, A. S. (2001). Ordinary Magic: Resilience Processes in Development. American Psychologist, 56(3), 227–238.
Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The Construct of Resilience: A Critical Evaluation and Guidelines for Future Work. Child Development, 71(3), 543–562.
Rutter, M. (2012). Resilience as a Dynamic Concept. Development and Psychopathology, 24(2), 335–344.
Masten, A. S., & Reed, M.-G. J. (2002). Resilience in Development. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 74–88). Oxford University Press.
Werner, E. E., & Smith, R. S. (1992). Overcoming the Odds: High Risk Children from Birth to Adulthood. Cornell University Press.
Bowlby, J. (1969/1982). Attachment and Loss. Vol. 1: Attachment.
Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of Attachment.
Sroufe, L. A., Egeland, B., Carlson, E., & Collins, W. A. (2005). The Development of the Person: The Minnesota Study of Risk and Adaptation from Birth to Adulthood.
van IJzendoorn, M. H., & Sagi-Schwartz, A. (2008). Cross-Cultural Patterns of Attachment: Universal and Contextual Dimensions. In Handbook of Attachment (2nd ed.).
#Coparenting