Divorce with Sam and Leah

Why do narcissists seem to move on instantly after a breakup or divorce?
In this episode, Sam and Leah break down the psychology behind “monkey branching” — a common narcissistic relationship pattern where someone lines up a new partner before leaving the current relationship. For many women, watching their ex jump into a new relationship immediately can feel deeply personal, confusing, and incredibly painful.
But the truth is, this behavior has far more to do with narcissistic supply, control, and avoiding emotional accountability than it does with your worth.
Sam and Leah discuss:
What monkey branching actually is

Why narcissists rarely stay single

The role of narcissistic supply and dopamine chasing

Why the new relationship often happens so quickly

How narcissists rewrite the history of the relationship

Why this behavior creates trauma bonds and deep confusion

How to stop personalizing their actions and start healing

If you're navigating divorce or co-parenting with a narcissistic ex, understanding these patterns can help you regain clarity, protect your peace, and start rebuilding your life with confidence.
If you’re looking for deeper support, tools, and community while navigating divorce and high-conflict co-parenting, check out The Next Chapter membership. Inside, we help moms heal, set boundaries, regulate their nervous systems, and rebuild their confidence after toxic relationships.
💙 Learn more about The Next Chapter: https://www.samandleah.com/services

If you’re navigating high-conflict divorce or co-parenting and feel constantly overwhelmed, triggered, or angry… your nervous system is likely stuck in survival mode.
In this episode, we break down simple, practical tools like box breathing and basic meditation to help you regulate your nervous system, reduce reactivity, think more clearly, and protect your peace. You’ll learn how these techniques improve your mental clarity, emotional control, sleep, stress levels, and even how you show up for your kids.
This is especially powerful for divorced moms dealing with high-conflict dynamics, manipulation, or constant stress. When you regulate your nervous system, you stop reacting emotionally and start responding strategically.
If you’re ready for deeper support, live coaching, and practical tools to help you heal, regulate, and co-parent with confidence, join us inside The Next Chapter membership. This is where we do the real work together. 💙https://www.samandleah.com/services

When your ex starts bringing a new girlfriend around your kids, it can hit in a way you weren’t prepared for. Even if you don’t want him back. Even if you’re the one who filed.
In this episode, we’re talking about why it feels so triggering when your ex moves on — especially when he’s not “doing it alone” and your kids are suddenly around another woman. We unpack the jealousy, the anger, the curiosity, the spiraling thoughts… and what’s actually underneath all of it.
You’ll learn:
Why this dynamic activates your nervous system

The real reason you feel so mad (even if you don’t want him)

How to stop obsessing over her

How to regulate yourself before reacting

How to protect your peace while co-parenting

If you’re navigating high-conflict co-parenting or struggling with your ex introducing a new partner, this conversation will help you feel grounded, validated, and back in control.
💙 If you want deeper support, live coaching, and a private community of moms who truly get it, join us inside The Next Chapter membership. We help divorced moms regulate their nervous system, set boundaries, rebuild confidence, and co-parent with clarity.
👉 Learn more and join here: https://www.samandleah.com/services
#DivorceRecovery #CoParenting #HighConflictDivorce #SingleMomLife #DivorcedMoms #HealingAfterDivorce #BlendedFamily #WomenEmpowerment

Divorced moms are some of the strongest women we know… and also the hardest on themselves.
In this episode, we’re talking about the silent guilt, shame, and self-criticism so many moms carry after divorce — especially when navigating high-conflict co-parenting.
If you’ve ever thought:
“I broke my family.”

“I should handle this better.”

“A good mom wouldn’t get so triggered.”

“I should’ve known better.”

This episode is for you.
We’re breaking down why self-blame skyrockets after divorce, how nervous system triggers get mistaken for weakness, and the practical steps you can take to stop attacking yourself and start rebuilding real confidence.
You’ll learn:
Why emotional reactivity doesn’t make you a bad mom

How to separate responsibility from shame

A simple nervous system reset you can use during co-parenting triggers

How to build confidence through small self-trust wins

How to give yourself grace without lowering your standards

You are not failing. You are rebuilding.
If you’re ready for deeper support, live coaching, and real tools to help you heal, regulate your nervous system, set boundaries, and co-parent with confidence — that’s exactly what we do inside The Next Chapter.
👉 Join The Next Chapter here: https://www.samandleah.com/services
You don’t have to do this alone. 💙
#DivorceRecovery #DivorcedMoms #HighConflictCoparenting #HealingAfterDivorce #SingleMomLife #CoparentingStruggles #MomGuilt #RebuildingAfterDivorce #WomenEmpowerment #TheNextChapter

If your child comes home from their other parent’s house and suddenly you’re getting attitude, shutdown, coldness, or full-blown emotional explosions… this episode is for you.
Before you spiral and assume you’re failing, we need you to hear this clearly:
It doesn’t mean your child doesn’t love you.It often means you’re the safe parent.
In this episode, we break down why kids in high-conflict co-parenting dynamics often hold it together at one house… and then unload everything onto mom. We talk about nervous system crashes, loyalty binds, displacement, control-seeking behavior, and why testing limits can actually be a test of unconditional love — not defiance.
You’ll walk away understanding what’s really happening underneath the behavior — so you can stop taking it personally, regulate yourself first, and respond in a way that protects your peace and your relationship with your child.
If this dynamic feels painfully familiar, you do not have to navigate it alone. Inside The Next Chapter, we give you weekly coaching, practical tools, and real support from women who get it — so you can stay steady even in high-conflict chaos.
Join us inside The Next Chapter 💙https://www.samandleah.com/services
#HighConflictCoparenting #DivorceRecovery #CoparentingSupport #SafeParent #CustodyTransitions #SingleMomLife #EmotionalRegulation #HealingAfterDivorce