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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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
-------------------
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:

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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:

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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/
Website: www.yvestmukanya.com

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

In this first part of my conversation with Andrew Irby — entrepreneur, husband, father, and now political candidate — we go beyond titles to understand the man behind the brand.

Andrew opens up about what it was like growing up in a divorced home, watching his parents argue, and trying to make sense of love and loyalty as a child caught between two worlds. He shares how those early wounds shaped his views on fatherhood, relationships, and emotional responsibility — and how years later, he found healing through honest conversations with his wife and father.

We talk about:

• Growing up between two households and learning what not to repeat as a parent
• Healing old family wounds and finding closure through honesty and compassion
• Co-parenting with intention in today’s world of distractions and technology
• Blending families and building trust with his children after divorce
• Balancing fatherhood and business without losing what matters most
• Meditation, belief, and mental health as tools for peace and clarity

This is a raw, reflective look at how a man learns to break generational cycles — not through perfection, but through progress.

If you’ve ever questioned how to rebuild after brokenness, how to be present for your kids while chasing success, or how to find peace when life feels heavy… this episode is for you.

🎧 Watch Part 1 now, and stay tuned for Part 2, where Andrew talks about stepping into politics, leadership, and serving his community with empathy and purpose.

Guest: Andrew Irby

https://www.instagram.com/andrewirbyforselectman/

https://www.instagram.com/mr_irbysr/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewirby/

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 Part 2 of Rebuilding from the Rubble: A Father’s Journey from Divorce to Purpose, Ange Mukadi shares his powerful story of life after divorce for fathers, navigating co-parenting challenges, and rebuilding identity while raising kids as a single dad. This episode is a raw, honest look at how men heal after divorce, balance fatherhood with career demands, and open their hearts to love again.

You’ll hear how Ange balanced fatherhood and a paycheck—why he chose family first even when it cost him a job, and what “doing the right thing” looked like day-to-day. He reveals the counterintuitive emotional strategy that helped him heal—“act” the happiness you’re aiming for until it grows roots. You’ll gain a new way to see divorce—not as an ending, but as a hard pivot that changes (not erases) relationships.

We also cover:

The turning point when his 12-year-old son moved in and reignited his desire to build a partnership again.

Opening his heart to a second marriage—how shared culture and years of friendship made it feel easy this time.

What vulnerability really means—and why he sees marriage as armor, not exposure.

The behind-the-scenes work: spiritual realignment, community support, and leadership.

His wider mission to unite and inspire the Congolese community through “Community Dreammakers.”

This episode is a must-listen for divorced fathers, Black men navigating co-parenting, and anyone seeking hope and direction after a painful ending.

📌 Part 1 focused on navigating divorce, co-parenting, and protecting your children’s emotional well-being.
📌 Part 2 dives into what comes after—love, purpose, and legacy.


Leave a comment, share with someone who needs this, and remember:

Guest: Ange Mukadi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amukadi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angemukadi/

CHAPTERS
-------------------

00:00 Intro
03:14 Career Under Pressure
20:32 The Moment of Shift
27: 27 Love After Loss
56:07 Wisdom for the Wounded
57:25 Congolese Community
01:13:31 Outro

-------------------

Follow me:

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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/
Website: www.yvestmukanya.com

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

What does it really take to rebuild your life after losing everything?

In this powerful Part One of our two-part series, we sit down with Ange Mukadi—a father of three, tech professional, and Congolese community leader—who shares his raw, honest journey of navigating divorce, single fatherhood, and rediscovering his purpose.

In this episode, Ange opens up about:

• The emotional and mental toll of divorce after 15+ years of marriage
• How he stayed present for his kids through the pain
• His fears of starting over, and what helped him keep going
• The impact on his identity as a man, father, and Congolese immigrant
• What healing looked like on a day-to-day basis

Ange doesn’t sugarcoat it. This is real, vulnerable, and deeply human.

If you're a man silently struggling with the aftermath of divorce, questioning your worth, your future, or your role as a father—this conversation is for you.

Make sure to subscribe—because Part Two is coming very soon, where Ange reveals how he rebuilt trust, found love again, and stepped into leadership with confidence and clarity.

Leave a comment, share with someone who needs this, and remember:
You’re not broken. You’re becoming.

Guest: Ange Mukadi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amukadi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angemukadi/

Chapters:

00:00: Episode Intro

00:36: Guest Introduction

05:39: Navigating Divorce

06:21: Rediscovering Identity After Divorce

11:58: Support System

14:11: Embracing his emotional side

16:18: Cultural Perspectives on Divorce

19:42: Family Court Experience

37:46: Transactional Side of Marriage

42:08: The Impact Of Divorce Onn Children

47:53: Fatherhood And Connection

56:32: The Importance of Presence in Parenting

Follow me:

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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 powerful and vulnerable conversation, Amy Dawns takes us on a journey through pain, healing, and profound self-discovery. She opens up about the hardships she faced after her son’s birth—including severe health complications and a crumbling marriage—and how those experiences forced her to confront shame, anxiety, and a fractured sense of self-worth.

Through that adversity, Amy found her way to healing—not through a straight line, but through creativity, spirituality, and radical self-responsibility. She shares how writing and painting became tools for emotional liberation, leading to the creation of the True Colors Body Painting process—a transformational experience that helps individuals, especially men, reconnect with themselves and their truth.

Together, we explore the deep connection between parent and child, the emotional weight of co-parenting after divorce, and the silent battle many face around vulnerability and identity. Amy sheds light on post-traumatic growth and how even the darkest seasons can become the soil for deep personal transformation.

This episode is a call to remember: your pain doesn't define you—it prepares you. And healing begins when we stop running and start honoring the truth of who we are.

Guest: Amy Dawns

Website: https://⁠www.amydawns.com⁠

The Broken Man Poem: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1jizqNmFdjQTRT4oi9Yeim?si=XJ2OOsaKS8SXLI0deWX_kw&nd=1&dlsi=a748af6c4ee24672

Follow me:

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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.

This is Part two of our conversation with Ann Marie Thrives.

Here, Ann Marie opens up about her remarkable journey through life-altering challenges, including paralysis and cancer—experiences that have deeply influenced her approach as a coach. She shares how these hardships shaped her passion for helping others transform their lives through mindset shifts, self-care, and an understanding of the five stages of grief.

Together with host Yves, Ann Marie dives into the multifaceted journey that divorced fathers face as they work to rebuild confidence, rediscover purpose, and redefine their identity. She emphasizes the vital role of effective communication and emotional presence in nurturing strong relationships with children after divorce.

Throughout the conversation, Ann Marie highlights the evolving nature of purpose and encourages men to reconnect with their values and strengths, even in the face of failure or emotional setbacks. Practical tools such as self-assessment, mindfulness, and daily habits like affirmations, gratitude, and goal-setting offer a roadmap for healing and growth.

Yves and Ann Marie also unpack the emotional complexity of life after divorce—navigating anger, loneliness, and grief—while stressing the importance of building a healthy environment for children and preparing for future relationships with clarity and self-awareness. From balancing career demands to cultivating community support, this dialogue offers both inspiration and tangible strategies for fathers ready to grow through adversity and reclaim their lives.

Follow me:

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Website: www.yvestmukanya.com