Episode Details

Our Divorce Crash Course was designed to hold your hand through the process and help you avoid major and expensive mistakes. Learn more here: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/divorce-crash-course

In this episode on How Not to Suck at Divorce, Morgan and Andrea welcome Renee Swanson, host of the Covert Narcissism podcast, for a powerful conversation about planning your way out of an emotionally abusive marriage. Renee shares how she reclaimed her identity, protected her children, and gathered strength before initiating divorce — all while still living under the same roof as her husband. It's an episode full of actionable guidance, healing truths, and hope for anyone feeling stuck, exhausted, and unsure of their next move.

What you’ll learn:

• How to emotionally prepare before leaving a toxic relationship
• The power of “baby steps” and small daily actions that build long-term momentum
• Ways to gather legal and emotional information to reduce overwhelm
• How to communicate safely and reclaim your dignity while still in the marriage
• Tools and strategies for coexisting with a high-conflict partner during separation
• Why there’s never a perfect time to divorce — and why that’s okay

Questions answered in this episode:

• Can you begin healing while still in an emotionally abusive marriage?
• What does a practical, step-by-step divorce exit plan look like?
• How do you manage sharing a home with someone who triggers or controls you?
• How do you know when it’s really time to leave?
• What legal steps should you take while you’re still deciding?
• How do you stop reacting and start protecting your peace?

Our Family Wizard is another fantastic resource for those who need help navigating the "fun" world of coparenting. Head to this landing page to see how we work closely with them to support our listeners! http://www.ourfamilywizard.com/notsuck

Friends, slide into our DMs, we love love love hearing from you. We are always here to listen and help in any way we can. You've got this and we've got you.

Connect with our guest, Renee:

https://www.covertnarcissism.com/podcast

Instagram: @hownotosuckatdivorce

Follow Andrea: @theandrearappaport

Follow Morgan: @divorceattorneychicago

Mentioned in this episode:

Guided Divorce Meditations

For the moments when you're about to lose your sh$t. We've got you, baby. Just press play and you'll be calmer. https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/guides/p/divorce-guided-meditations

Guided Meditations

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it