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 90-minute Divorce Strategy Call: 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

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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 90-minute Divorce Strategy Call: 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.

Ready for Support?

Book a Divorce Strategy Call with Raquell: https://herdivorceacademy.com/program/book-a-coaching-fit-call