If you like the episode, I would love to hear from you.

Divorce court is not what most men think it is.

In this episode of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, I sit down with family-law attorney and mediator Mac-Arthur Pierre-Louis to talk honestly about divorce court, child support, custody, and why so many fathers feel shocked and unprepared when decisions are made.

Many men believe that telling the truth about what they lived through will lead to fair outcomes. But as Mac explains, court isn’t built around emotional truth — it’s built around proof. And that gap is where many men get hurt financially, emotionally, and mentally.

We talk about child support, retroactive support, custody, mediation, and the mental health toll divorce takes on men. More importantly, we talk about how fathers can prepare themselves and stay present for their children through the process.

This episode isn’t about blaming the system.
It’s about helping men see divorce court clearly, prepare wisely, and protect their future — and their kids.

If you’re a father dealing with divorce or family court, this conversation is for you.

#DivorceCourt #MensDivorce #FamilyLaw #ChildSupport #FathersRights #MensMentalHealth #DivorcedFathers #FamilyCourt #LifeAfterDivorce #TheRisingAndThrivingPodcast

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Guest: Mac-Arthur Pierre-Louis
Link: https://use1.link/macpierrelouis

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CHAPTERS
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00:00 Divorce Court Reality for Men (Intro)
02:43 Why Men Expect Divorce Court to Deliver Justice
06:51 How Family Court Decides Child Support, Custody, and Visitation
10:26 Why Judges Don’t Care How Toxic Your Marriage Was
16:26 Discovery Explained: The Divorce Investigation Most Men Don’t Expect
18:19 Mediation vs Court: Which Is Better in Divorce?
21:34 Divorce Costs Explained: Court vs Mediation
23:09 Why Divorce Court Feels Cold and Transactional to Men
31:18 Why Mac-Arthur Pierre-Louis Chose Family Law
46:18 Biggest Divorce Mistakes Men Make Early On
51:28 Child Support Shock: Retroactive Support Explained
56:33 How Men Can Protect Themselves From Back Child Support
58:32 Legal Tech and Divorce: Tools That Reduce Conflict and Stress
1:04:10 High Earners and Child Support: What Men Need to Know
1:11:30 Divorce and Men’s Mental Health: Guilt, Anger, and Shame
1:18:04 Why Men Experience Divorce in Isolation
1:27:01 Co-Parenting After Divorce: How Fathers Stay Strong and Present
1:31:06 Co-Parenting Communication Tools Every Divorced Father Should Use
1:34:00 How Fathers Stop Feeling Like ‘Weekend Dads’
1:37:52 Technology and Fatherhood: Staying Connected After Divorce
1:41:21 Where to Find Legal Help and Mediation Resources
1:46:19 Message to Divorced Fathers: Rebuilding After Court (Outro)

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Follow me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/your_neighberhood_therapist/
Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@urneighberhoodtherapist
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/
Website: www.yvestmukanya.com

If you like the episode, I would love to hear from you.

Child safety, body education, Congolese parenting, trauma healing, and faith-based learning — in this episode, Maman Jeanine Banza breaks the silence around how we teach and protect our children.

We explore her new course “God’s Gift of Your Body: A Multicultural Faith-Based Approach” for children ages 3–5, and her powerful book “Harmonies de Mélancolie,” inspired by real stories of war, trauma, and survival.

She shares why early education is crucial, how cultural taboos harm children, why presence matters more than correction, and how parents can rebuild trust and emotional safety in the home.

👉 Enroll in the course: https://jeanine-s-site-2f0c.thinkific.com
👉 Find the book on Amazon: Release Date To be announced

If this conversation resonates, like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes on parenting, culture, and emotional healing.

Guest: Jeanne Banza

CHAPTERS
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00:00 Intro
02:026 Who is Jeanine Banza
03:03 Why Start Teaching Body Safety at Ages 3–5?
21:21 Blending Faith, Culture, and Protection
33:42 The Pain Behind the Pages of “Harmonies de Mélancolie”
38:00 The Meaning Behind the Title “Harmonies de Mélancolie”
40:31 The One Chapter She Wants Every Reader to Remember
44:47 How to Enroll in the Course & Get the Book
45:37 Her Message To Future Generations
46:38 Closing Thoughts
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#ChildSafety #BodyEducation #EarlyChildhoodEducation #FaithBasedParenting #CongoleseCommunity #AfricanParenting #traumahealing #protectourchildren #parentingeducation #ParentingConversations #MulticulturalParenting #EmotionalSafety #breakthesilence #immigration #africandiaspora

Follow me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/your_neighberhood_therapist/
Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@urneighberhoodtherapist
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/
Website: www.yvestmukanya.com

If you like the episode, I would love to hear from you.

In this second part of my conversation with Andrew Irby — entrepreneur, father, and candidate for First Selectman in Thompson, Connecticut — we dive deep into what it truly means to lead, serve, and rebuild a community from the inside out.

Andrew Irby opens up about his political campaign, his mission to bring accountability, communication, and unity back to local government, and how his experiences as a son, father, and businessman shaped the leader he’s becoming. From volunteering at Adult & Teen Challenge of Southern New England to mentoring foster youth and running multiple businesses, Andrew shares why he believes public service is more than politics — it’s a calling.

We also talk about fatherhood, mental health, and the power of vulnerability — how showing your humanity doesn’t weaken leadership, it strengthens it. Andrew’s message to men, fathers, and community leaders is clear: stop waiting for permission to lead; start building the change you wish to see.

#fatherhood #mensmentalhealth #coparenting #healingjourney #leadership #RisingAndThrivingPodcast

Guest: Andrew Irby
https://www.instagram.com/andrewirbyforselectman/
https://www.instagram.com/mr_irbysr/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewirby/

CHAPTERS

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00:00 Intro

04:07 Building & Balancing Business with Family

12:28 Transition Into Politics (Personal → Vision)

32:24 Legacy & Mental Health

40:47 Closing

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Follow me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/your_neighberhood_therapist/
Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@urneighberhoodtherapist
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/
Website: www.yvestmukanya.com