Why did I stay so long?

It’s a question so many women ask themselves… and almost always with shame attached to it.

In this episode, we’re having a different kind of conversation—one that challenges the way you’ve been taught to look at your past.

Because staying isn’t as simple as people make it seem.

And the reasons behind it run deeper than most people are willing to admit.

If you’ve ever questioned your decisions, second-guessed yourself, or felt stuck in guilt… this episode will shift the way you see it.

Not by giving you all the answers—

but by helping you start asking better questions.

In this episode:

• Why leaving isn’t always the obvious choice
• The emotions that keep you tied to something longer than you expected
• What most people don’t understand about staying
• The quiet factors that influence your decisions more than you think

You can book a Free 60-minute Divorce Consultation Call: https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call

Have a question? Ask here!HerdivorceacademyDivorce Hotline

Connect with Raquell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herdivorceacademy/

Have a Dear Raquell question you want answered on the podcast?📩 Email your anonymous story to raquell@raquellbartoncoaching.com

What if the love stories you grew up on weren’t romantic… they were conditioning?

In this episode, I’m taking you deeper into something most women have never stopped to question—how fairytales didn’t just shape what we expected from love, they shaped how we show up in it. And not in a way that serves us.

Because the truth is, you didn’t just believe the story… you became it.

I’m breaking down the patterns so many of us have lived out without even realizing it. The over-functioning. The fixing. The self-abandoning. The waiting. And how those behaviors quietly lead to burnout, resentment, and relationships where you slowly lose yourself.

This isn’t about blaming you. It’s about helping you see clearly—so you can finally move differently.

Because once you understand the script, you stop repeating it.

In this episode:

• How fairy tales subtly taught women to ignore intuition and endure discomfort
• Why stories like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid conditioned women to normalize self-sacrifice
• The belief that love requires suffering — and how that shows up in modern relationships
• How women are socialized to wait, hope, and “be chosen” instead of choosing themselves
• Why many women stay in unhealthy marriages longer than they should
• The connection between fairy tale conditioning and divorce shame
• How recognizing these patterns creates clarity instead of self-blame

Key Takeaway:

You didn’t fail in your relationships—you followed a script you were taught. And now that you see it, you get to choose something different.

You can book a Free 60-minute Divorce Consultation Call: https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call

Have a question? Ask here!

https://herdivorceacademy.com/divorce-hotline

Connect with Raquell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herdivorceacademy/

Have a Dear Raquell question you want answered on the podcast?

📩 Email your anonymous story to raquell@raquellbartoncoaching.com

Ever wonder why you ignored those red flags? Blame Cinderella.

In this episode, certified divorce coach Raquell Barton unpacks the fairytales that shaped how we view love, marriage, and self-worth—and why they set us up for heartbreak. From Cinderella's "stay and endure" message to Beauty and the Beast's dangerous "you can fix him" narrative, these childhood stories taught us how to be chosen, not how to choose wisely.

If you've ever stayed too long, loved too hard, or lost yourself in a relationship, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do differently going forward.

In This Episode:

✨ Why fairytales were warnings disguised as love stories

✨ The 5 biggest lies Disney told us about relationships

✨ How to recognize when you're abandoning yourself for partnership

✨ Why suffering doesn't earn you a happy ending (and what does)

✨ The truth about intuition—and why we're conditioned to ignore it

✨ What real, healthy love actually requires

✨ Raquel's story: knowing her marriage was wrong one week before the wedding

Coming in Part 2:

In the next episode, Raquel connects the dots from fairytales to your real-life relationship patterns—helping you understand the "why" so you can move differently going forward.

You can book a Free 60-minute Divorce Consultation Call: https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call

Have a question? Ask here!

https://herdivorceacademy.com/divorce-hotline

Connect with Raquell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herdivorceacademy/

Have a Dear Raquell question you want answered on the podcast?

📩 Email your anonymous story to raquell@raquellbartoncoaching.com

"I already have a lawyer. Why would I need a divorce coach?" It's the question Raquell hears constantly, and she gets it. Divorce is expensive, and most women don't want to add one more person to the team.

But here's what you need to know: Your lawyer handles the legal divorce. A divorce coach helps you handle the life part. And the life part? That's where 90% of your stress actually lives.

In this episode, Raquell breaks down the top three things a divorce coach helps you with that your lawyer won't, can't, and honestly shouldn't help you with. If you've ever felt like you're drowning in paperwork, reacting instead of planning, or spending way too much money on legal hours—this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• The three life-changing things a divorce coach helps with that lawyers don’t:
• Why lawyers are not equipped (or paid) to provide emotional or logistical support
• How coaching reduces overwhelm, conflict, and legal costs
• How to make decisions from grounded clarity instead of fear
• How to show up prepared and empowered throughout the entire divorce process

You can book a Free 60-minute Divorce Consultation Call: ⁠ ⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call

Have a question? Ask here!

⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/divorce-hotline⁠

Connect with Raquell on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/herdivorceacademy/⁠

Have a Dear Raquell question you want answered on the podcast?

📩 Email your anonymous story to raquell@raquellbartoncoaching.com

Divorce can change everything, especially when it comes to money.

In this episode, we sit down with Myrna Laine-Hyppolite, a wealth strategist, financial wellness coach, and Chief Financial Officer with more than 30 years of experience in the finance industry. As the founder of Empower Financial Wellness, Myrna helps high-achieving women turn their income into long-term wealth and financial independence.

For many women navigating divorce, finances suddenly shift from shared responsibility to something they must manage alone. Myrna explains why this transition can feel overwhelming—and how women can begin rebuilding financial clarity and confidence one step at a time.

Drawing from her own experience in finance and her work with women going through major life transitions, Myrna shares her Five Steps to Financial Wellness, a practical framework designed to help women organize their finances, reduce stress, and create a plan for the future.

Whether you are recently divorced, navigating financial independence after a relationship, or simply want to feel more confident managing money, this episode offers clear guidance and empowering insights.

What listeners will learn:

• The 5 core steps to financial wellness and how to apply them during or after divorce
• Why so many women feel overwhelmed by finances — and how to take back control
• How to begin rebuilding financial identity after a breakup or major life change
• The real reasons women fall behind financially during divorce
• Simple systems to organize money, track expenses, and prepare for long-term stability
• Encouragement for women who feel behind, ashamed, or financially lost

Why this episode matters:

It gives women clarity, direction, and confidence in an area where they often feel the most vulnerable.

Conversation about financial

Free Guide on How to Invest in the Stock Market: https://wealth-codes.com

Myrna's Website: https://empowerfinancialwellness.com

Myrna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowerfinancialwellness

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

High-Yield Savings Accounts

Myrna recommends moving savings into a high-yield savings account instead of leaving money in a traditional bank savings account. These accounts typically offer higher interest rates, helping your savings grow faster. One example she mentions is Marcus by Goldman Sachs, an online bank that offers competitive savings rates.

Bankrate

A useful tool for comparing interest rates across banks. You can use Bankrate to research and find high-yield savings accounts that offer better returns than traditional banks. Bankrate.com

Rocket Money

A budgeting and expense tracking app that helps you see where your money is going each month. Rocket Money can identify recurring subscriptions, spending patterns, and potential “money leaks” so you can make more informed financial decisions.

You can book a Free 60-minute Divorce Consultation Call: ⁠ ⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call

Have a question? Ask here!

⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/divorce-hotline⁠

Connect with Raquell on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/herdivorceacademy/⁠

Have a Dear Raquell question you want answered on the podcast?

📩 Email your anonymous story to raquell@raquellbartoncoaching.com

Dating after divorce is a whole different universe, especially in this day and age. In this episode, Raquel gets real about her own journey reentering the dating world at 48 after nearly two decades of marriage.

This isn't about jumping into dating to fill a void or expecting someone new to fix what your ex broke. It's about doing the emotional work first, showing up authentically, and understanding that healing is non-negotiable if you want a healthy relationship.

Raquell shares her transformation from sending her "representative" on dates in her twenties to showing up at 55 as her fully authentic self—opinions, attitude, beliefs, and yes, even cussing included. If someone doesn't like the real you? That's okay. They're just not your person.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why you can't build a healthy new relationship with unhealed wounds
• The difference between dating divorced men vs. never-married men
• How modern dating (apps, ghosting, breadcrumbing) has completely changed the game
• The importance of taking responsibility for your part in your marriage, without shame or self-blame
• How unhealed trauma shows up in new relationships (jealousy, fear, control, hypervigilance, or emotional shutdown)
• The 4 essential questions to ask yourself before you start dating again
• What it means to show up authentically without shapeshifting for someone new

The truth: If you don't examine who you were in your marriage, you will bring that version of yourself into your next relationship. And you don't want to repeat those cycles.

Plus, Divorce Hotline Q&A:

Raquel answers a listener question about how to organize proof of coercive control so it's heard in divorce court. Her advice? Stop telling the entire story at once. Courts respond to patterns, not narratives. Learn her simple system for documenting control in a way that's legible and credible.

You can book a Free 60-minute Divorce Consultation Call: ⁠ ⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call

Have a question? Ask here!

⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/divorce-hotline⁠

Connect with Raquell on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/herdivorceacademy/⁠

Have a Dear Raquell question you want answered on the podcast?

📩 Email your anonymous story to raquell@raquellbartoncoaching.com

Divorce is often portrayed as chaotic, devastating, and emotionally brutal, especially for women. But what if that narrative isn’t always true?

In this episode Raquell Barton challenges one of the most deeply held beliefs about divorce: that it must be an all-out war. Drawing from her own experience and her work as a certified divorce coach, Raquel breaks down why some divorces feel like business negotiations while others turn into emotional battlegrounds and what actually makes the difference.

This conversation is about separating fear from facts, emotions from logistics, and reclaiming your power during a process that doesn’t have to break you.

In This Episode, Raquell Covers:

• Why divorce itself isn’t inherently chaotic — emotional disregulation is
• The hard truth about how courts really make decisions (and what they don’t care about)
• Why trying to get emotional validation from the legal system usually backfires
• The difference between fair and equitable in divorce law
• How unrealistic expectations make divorce more painful than it needs to be
• Why you can “win” a divorce without getting everything you want
• The importance of separating emotional healing from legal strategy

• 
  

Dear Raquell: Divorce EditionA new recurring segment inspired by “Dear Abby” — but for divorce.

In this episode, Raquell responds to real, anonymous scenarios women are asking online, offering compassionate, honest, and grounded perspective without shame or judgment.

Questions include:

• “My ex wants 50/50 custody, but I did all the parenting during the marriage. Why should he get equal time?”
• “I want to keep the house because I raised my kids here, but I can’t afford the mortgage on my own. Is that unfair?”
• “He cheated. Shouldn’t I get more money?”

Raquell breaks down each situation by separating emotional truth from legal reality — and explains why clarity, not conflict, is often the most powerful move.

You can book a Free 60-minute Divorce Consultation Call: ⁠ ⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call

Have a question? Ask here!

⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/divorce-hotline⁠

Connect with Raquell on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/herdivorceacademy/⁠

Have a Dear Raquell question you want answered on the podcast?

📩 Email your anonymous story to raquell@raquellbartoncoaching.com

Welcome to When the Fairytale Ends—a podcast for women navigating divorce, separation, and life after marriage.

In this first episode, certified divorce coach Raquell Barton shares her personal story of surviving two divorces, including ending a 19-year marriage at age 48, and how she rebuilt her life with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

In This Episode:

• Her 7-month first marriage and the intuition she ignored
• Ending her 19-year second marriage at 48 with three kids
• The immediate fears: finances, kids, body image, and finding joy again
• How a Facebook support group changed her perspective
• Transitioning from virtual assistant to certified divorce coach

What's Coming This Season:

• Why marriages really end (beyond the surface issues)
• Healing and self-awareness after divorce
• Dating after divorce in midlife
• How men and women approach love differently
• Breaking toxic relationship patterns
• Co-parenting strategies that work
• Financial independence after separation

About Your Host:

Raquell Barton is a certified divorce coach, mom of three, and survivor of two divorces. Her mission: helping women navigate divorce with more clarity, support, and dignity than she had—proving that your story doesn't end when your marriage does.

You can book a Free 60-minute Divorce Consultation Call: ⁠ ⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call

Have a question? Ask here!

⁠https://herdivorceacademy.com/divorce-hotline⁠

Connect with Raquell on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/herdivorceacademy/⁠

Have a Dear Raquell question you want answered on the podcast?

📩 Email your anonymous story to raquell@raquellbartoncoaching.com