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Coparenting Beyond Conflict: High-Conflict Divorce and Custody Strategies

Coparenting Beyond Conflict: High-Conflict Divorce and Custody Strategies

Written by: Sol Kennedy
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A podcast for parents navigating the hardest kind of co-parenting—when every message feels like a minefield and peace feels out of reach. Whether you’re dealing with a narcissistic ex, coercive control, or the exhaustion of family court battles, Coparenting Beyond Conflict is your lifeline. You’re not alone, and you’re not powerless.

Each episode delivers practical strategies, clinical frameworks, and real-world tools to help you protect your kids, disengage from emotional chaos, and establish lasting boundaries—even if your co-parent never changes.

🔗 Learn more & resources: https://bestinterest.app/coparenting-podcast


🎧 What You’ll Learn


  • De-escalation tactics to defuse hostile exchanges and eliminate drama in text messages and emails (including BIFF communication).
  • Parallel parenting strategies designed for high-conflict custody schedules and rigid parenting plans.
  • Legal and mediation navigation to help you make sound decisions alongside family law attorneys and divorce coaches.
  • Boundary frameworks to protect your nervous system and support your children's emotional well-being.
  • Tech tools and AI moderation that filter toxic communication before it reaches you.


You’ll hear actionable guidance from leading clinical experts (including Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Wendy Behary, and Tracy Malone), family law professionals, and parents who have successfully walked this path.


🎙 About Your Hosts


Sol Kennedy is a co-parent, father of two, and the founder of BestInterest (bestinterest.app)—the first AI-powered co-parenting app built to support families in high-conflict situations. After years of facing the realities of high-conflict co-parenting firsthand, Sol founded this podcast to empower other parents to reclaim control and prioritize healing.

Reneé Lee is a co-parent and Emmy Award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience anchoring live broadcasts across major markets including Phoenix, San Diego, and the Pacific Northwest. Skilled at asking incisive questions and navigating high-pressure conversations, she brings her veteran broadcast background to BestInterest as spokesperson for co-parents and co-host of the Coparenting Beyond Conflict podcast, dedicated to helping families cut through noise and foster healthier dynamics.


💬 Real Tools. Real Stories. Real Change.


Subscribe to Coparenting Beyond Conflict on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app to start shifting from constant defense to genuine stability. New episodes drop bi-weekly.

Watch: Full video interviews stream at https://bestinterest.app/youtube


DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, psychological, or medical advice. Please consult a licensed family law attorney or mental health professional regarding your specific situation.

© 2026 Coparenting Beyond Conflict Parenting Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • High Conflict Divorce, or Post-Separation Abuse? with Ksenia Muench

    High Conflict Divorce, or Post-Separation Abuse? with Ksenia Muench
    Oct 8 2026
    What happens when divorce doesn’t actually end the conflict? For some families, the dynamics that made a relationship difficult continue long after separation—through communication, finances, the court system, parenting disagreements, and the children. In this episode of Coparenting Beyond Conflict, Sol sits down with high-conflict divorce coach Ksenia Muench to explore whether what we commonly call “high conflict divorce” is sometimes better understood as post-separation abuse.Ksenia shares her own experience navigating a high-conflict divorce and explains how she learned to move from emotional reactivity toward clarity, discipline, and strategy. She and Sol discuss why traditional advice to “just get along for the kids” can sometimes make things worse, how parallel parenting and strong boundaries can reduce conflict, and why learning to disengage can be one of the most powerful things a parent can do.The conversation also explores the practical realities of high-conflict family court cases, choosing an attorney, the Gray Rock method, and the ways AI can help parents communicate more neutrally—while also creating new risks when AI simply validates each parent’s version of events. Ultimately, Ksenia and Sol return to a powerful idea: you may not be able to change the other parent, but you can change your relationship to the conflict and reclaim your own power.LinksThrive Again Divorce Coaching: ThriveAgainDivorceCoaching.comHigh Conflict Playbook: https://www.HighConflictPlaybook.comUncoupled and Unfiltered podcastBestInterest — the co-parenting app: ⁠BestInterestGet 10% off BestInterest: Use code Beyond10Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/Keywordshigh conflict divorce, post-separation abuse, high conflict co-parenting, parallel parenting, Gray Rock method, divorce, high conflict personality, narcissistic abuse, emotional reactivity, co-parenting communication, family court, divorce attorney, parenting plan, boundaries, financial abuse, child alienation, co-parenting apps, AI and co-parenting, BestInterest, divorce recovery, divorce coaching, Ksenia MuenchKey TakeawaysHigh-conflict dynamics don’t necessarily end when a divorce is finalized. Conflict can continue through communication, finances, parenting disputes, and the court system.What is commonly called “high conflict divorce” can sometimes involve patterns of post-separation abuse and continued attempts to maintain control.One of the most important shifts is moving from being reactive to being strategic.Parallel parenting can sometimes be more appropriate than trying to force collaboration between parents who have a highly conflictual relationship.The Gray Rock method can help reduce conflict by making your communication neutral, brief, and uninteresting to someone seeking an emotional reaction.Strong boundaries and disciplined communication can help parents avoid unnecessarily escalating conflict.Choosing the right attorney matters, particularly when a divorce involves significant conflict or safety concerns.AI can help parents neutralize emotionally charged messages and think through difficult situations—but it can also reinforce a person’s existing perspective if used uncritically.You don’t have to change the other parent to change your experience of high-conflict co-parenting.Healing from a high-conflict relationship can ultimately become an opportunity for personal growth, greater self-awareness, and a different way of living.Chapter Highlights00:00 — Welcome & Meet Ksenia Muench01:11 — Where Ksenia Finds Peace04:06 — Ksenia’s Journey Through Divorce06:22 — Would You Still Get Divorced If You Knew How Hard It Would Be?07:51 — Why Parenting Plans Can Fail Over Time08:44 — Should Parallel Parenting Come First?10:28 — How Ksenia’s Background Helped Her Navigate Divorce12:12 — What Is High-Conflict Divorce, Really?14:15 — How to Become Less Reactive15:58 — How Parents Sabotage Themselves in Court17:26 — When the Mask Starts to Slip19:28 — Choosing the Right Divorce Attorney20:53 — How to Choose an Attorney for a High-Conflict Divorce22:21 — The High Conflict Playbook23:40 — Why the Conflict May Continue After Divorce25:32 — Taking Back Your Power26:46 — The Gray Rock Method28:41 — What Happens When You Stop Reacting?30:18 — Can AI Help With High-Conflict Co-Parenting?32:32 — The Dark Side of AI Validation34:22 — Using AI to See Another Perspective36:45 — Is High-Conflict Divorce Really Abuse?37:05 — What Divorce Changed About Sol37:35 — From Survival to Awakening38:40 — Finding Growth After High-Conflict Divorce39:42 — You’re Not AloneWhat if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App. As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://...
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    42 mins
  • When Blended Families Get Complicated: Boundaries, Exes & In-Laws with Alicia Krasko

    When Blended Families Get Complicated: Boundaries, Exes & In-Laws with Alicia Krasko
    Sep 24 2026
    What happens when you fall in love with someone who already has a family?In this episode, Sol and Louise sit down with stepmom coach and Stepmom Side podcast host Alicia Krasko to explore the realities of blended family life—including the parts nobody prepares you for. Together, they talk about finding your role as a stepparent, navigating exes and in-laws, managing the emotional intensity of custody transitions, and building a strong partnership when conflict from the other household inevitably affects your family.Alicia shares her own journey from feeling overwhelmed and unsure of her place in her stepfamily to finding confidence, setting boundaries, and learning what she could—and couldn’t—control. She explains why connection needs to come before correction, why stepparents don’t need to be best friends with the other parent, and why the strength of the couple relationship is one of the most important foundations of a peaceful blended family.Whether you’re a stepparent, dating someone with children, or trying to understand how blended family dynamics affect your coparenting relationship, this conversation offers an honest look at the challenges—and the possibility of finding peace without needing everything around you to change.Learn more about Alicia Krasko: https://AliciaKrasko.comListen to the Stepmom Side podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stepmom-side-podcast/id1698216989Get the BestInterest Coparenting App: https://bestinterest.app/Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/KeywordsBlended families, stepparenting, stepmom, high-conflict co-parenting, coparenting, stepparent boundaries, family systems, custody transitions, co-parent communication, parenting after divorce, stepmom burnout, in-law boundaries, parental alienation, emotional regulation, blended family dynamics, child wellbeingHighlightsWhy Alicia prefers “stepmom” over “bonus mom.” The unexpected challenges of entering a family in the middle of its storyWhy stepparents can feel pressure to immediately love, parent, and fit into an established family system.How insecurity can make ordinary blended-family conflicts feel like emergencies.Why the couple relationship is the foundation of a peaceful blended familyHow asking “How can I support you?” can change the way partners navigate conflict.Why custody exchanges can be emotionally intense for both children and adults.How children can seem like different people as they transition between households.Why clear house expectations can actually help children feel more secure.The difference between connection and correction—and why connection should come first.Why stepparents shouldn’t take either affection or rejection from their stepchildren personally.How to set boundaries with grandparents and in-laws who undermine parental authorityWhy you don’t have to be friends with your partner’s ex to have a healthy coparenting relationshipHow comparing your blended family to seemingly perfect families on social media can create shame.Why trying to control everything can lead to stepmom burnout.How to focus on what you can control when the other household is high conflict.The five-day, five-week, five-year question that can help put conflict into perspective.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:07 Meet Alicia Krasko02:06 Why “Stepmom” Instead of “Bonus Mom”?03:12 The Biggest Surprise About Becoming a Stepmom05:08 Navigating the Ex and Finding Your Role08:41 What Changes in a High-Conflict Situation?09:01 Keeping the Couple Relationship Strong11:14 How Partners Can Support Each Other13:41 The Emotional Intensity of Custody Transitions16:36 How Kids Adapt Between Two Households18:23 House Rules, Structure, and Boundaries20:26 When a New Stepparent Changes the Family Dynamic24:29 BestInterest AI Coparenting App25:11 Grandparents and In-Law Dynamics29:24 Setting Boundaries With Extended Family33:16 Alienation and Grandparents Choosing Sides36:20 Stepmom Lightning Round36:41 The Biggest Mistake Stepmoms Make37:28 What to Do When a Stepchild Pushes Back38:14 Does a Stepmom Need a Relationship With the Biomom?40:55 How Stepparent Burnout Happens41:16 Building Connection With a Stepchild 43:08 Alicia’s Advice for Stepparents in the Thick of It43:48 Where to Find Alicia Krasko44:18 ClosingWhat if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App. As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond
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    45 mins
  • When One Parent Is High Conflict: How to Protect Your Kids with Hallie Strauss and Kate Alcamo

    When One Parent Is High Conflict: How to Protect Your Kids with Hallie Strauss and Kate Alcamo
    Sep 10 2026
    What happens when the conflict between co-parents becomes the center of family life—and the kids get caught in the middle? In this episode, Sol sits down with Hallie Strauss and Kate Alcamo, co-founders of The Co-Parent Collective, to explore how parents can reduce conflict, protect their children’s emotional wellbeing, and build healthier post-divorce family dynamics.Hallie brings the perspective of a psychologist, parenting coordinator, custody evaluator, and mediator who works with families navigating high-conflict dynamics. Kate is a licensed marriage and family therapist and child specialist who helps parents understand divorce from the child’s perspective. Together, they offer complementary insights into everything from parenting coordination and parallel parenting to communication, identity shifts, and the ways children experience parental conflict.They discuss why “spouse mind” can keep parents stuck in old relationship dynamics, why parallel parenting can sometimes be a healthy stepping stone rather than a failure, and how one parent de-escalating can dramatically change the temperature of a co-parenting relationship. They also share practical communication strategies, including BIFF (Brief, Informative, Friendly, Firm), writing messages as though a judge—or your child—might read them, and using technology to create boundaries around difficult communication.The conversation also explores AI and co-parenting, the growing role of parenting coordinators, when professional teams can help support families, and The Co-Parent Collective’s Child-Centered Divorce Playbook.LinksWatch the full episode on YouTubeLearn more about the Co-Parent Collective: ⁠thecoparentcollective.comFollow the Co-Parent Collective on Instagram: ⁠@TheCoparentCollectiveBestInterest — the co-parenting app: ⁠BestInterestGet 10% off BestInterest: Use code Beyond10Coparenting Beyond Conflict: ⁠CoparentingBeyondConflict.comSubscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/Keywordsco-parenting, high-conflict co-parenting, divorce, parenting coordination, parenting coordinator, parallel parenting, collaborative parenting, child-centered divorce, child specialist, custody evaluation, co-parenting communication, BIFF communication, spouse mind, parent mind, emotional regulation, divorce and children, co-parenting apps, AI and co-parenting, identity shifts after divorce, conflict de-escalation, parenting plansKey TakeawaysKids are affected more by how parents navigate divorce than by divorce itself. Shift from spouse mind to parent mind. Parallel parenting isn’t necessarily a failure. You don’t have to engage in every conflict. De-escalation can start with one parent. Write every message as if someone else will read it. BIFF can help keep communication focused: Regulate before you respond.Children may know more than parents realize. Children have their own divorce timeline.Parenting coordinators can provide structure and help keep professionals out of the conflict.Acceptance can be empowering. When a child shares something alarming, start with validation. Self-regulation and connection are powerful first steps. Chapter Highlights00:00 — Welcome to Coparenting Beyond Conflict01:04 — Finding Moments of Peace02:10 — How Hallie and Kate Found Their Way Into Divorce Work05:28 — What Does a Parenting Coordinator Do?07:46 — Building a Professional Team Around High-Conflict Families08:17 — Managing Triangulation in High-Conflict Cases10:04 — When Does a Parenting Coordinator Have Binding Authority?11:15 — How High Conflict Impacts Children13:04 — Does It Take Two to Tango?14:37 — The Power of De-Escalation15:30 — Separating the Court Battle From the Co-Parenting Relationship17:33 — How Parental Conflict Affects Kids Over Time18:53 — Parallel Parenting vs. Collaborative Parenting21:21 — Rebuilding Trust After Divorce21:37 — The Identity Shifts of Divorce22:37 — When You’re Afraid Everything Will Be Used Against You23:49 — How to Communicate Without Escalating Conflict25:36 — Write It as If Your Child Will Read It26:27 — AI and the Future of Co-Parenting Communication28:03 — The Child-Centered Divorce Playbook30:02 — Lightning Round: The Biggest Co-Parenting Lessons31:36 — The Three H’s: Hugged, Heard, or Helped?32:28 — When Co-Parenting With a High-Conflict Ex Gets Easier33:28 — What You Can Do Today34:20 — Connect With The Co-Parent CollectiveWhat if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App. As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
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