Okay, So Here’s The Deal

What if you truly believed you would never feel joy again?
In this deeply personal episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares the moment she told her own mother that joy was no longer possible in her life—and the powerful journey of what it actually took to rediscover it after divorce.
Because here’s the truth:Joy doesn’t just magically return.It has to be rebuilt—intentionally, gently, and over time.
In this episode, we explore the difference between happiness and joy, and how even in your darkest seasons, there may still be a small, protected sliver of joy waiting to be nurtured back to life.
You’ll learn:
Why joy doesn’t automatically return after divorce 
The difference between happiness (an emotion) and joy (a state of being) 
What “glimmers” are and how they help regulate your nervous system 
How small, everyday moments can begin restoring your sense of peace 
What it means to reconnect with your authentic self 
How glimmers grow into your inner sparkle—and eventually your glow up 
This episode is your reminder that healing doesn’t happen all at once. It starts small. Quiet. Almost unnoticeable.
But those small moments?They can bring you all the way back to yourself.
A worksheet is included to help you begin noticing your own glimmers and rebuilding joy—one moment at a time.
Get it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkEa8GxJCuEgdNHzBwQv9df45fYKEQUV/view?usp=drive_link
Buckle up, gorgeous.Your joy isn’t gone… it’s waiting.

Have you ever downloaded a dating app… and immediately felt buyer’s remorse? 😅 In this episode of Here’s the Deal, I’m sharing the very real, very awkward, sometimes hilarious truth about dating after divorce — from my first terrifying experience on the apps to the lessons I learned after interacting with over 200 men online. This episode is honest, funny, uncomfortable at times, and deeply eye-opening for any woman considering dating after leaving a high-conflict, toxic, or narcissistic relationship. We’re talking about: ✨ Why I joined dating apps before I was truly ready ✨ Boundaries, safety, and trusting your gut ✨ Scammers, catfishers, bots, and “everything but sex” first dates 🙃 ✨ What I learned while researching for my book Right Swipe: A Quest for Love ✨ The emotional reality of dating after divorce ✨ Why loneliness and healing matter more than rushing into another relationship ✨ How to recognize red flags in dating profiles and conversations ✨ The “Burn the Haystack” dating method and why it matters This episode is part storytelling, part cautionary tale, part healing conversation — and hopefully a reminder that you are allowed to protect your peace while rediscovering yourself after divorce. 📖 Books Mentioned: • Right Swipe: A Quest for Love by Marilee Grace • Burn the Haystack Dating Method by Jennie Young, PhD 💛 If this episode resonated with you, please like, comment, and subscribe. You are not meant to do this alone. Together, we will continue to rise.

Are you really ready to date after divorce… or are you trying to heal a wound someone else created?
In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace gets brutally honest about dating after a high-conflict divorce, the temptation of dating apps, and why healing has to happen before you start looking for love again.
Because here’s the truth nobody wants to hear:Wanting someone to finally treat you the way you begged your ex to treat you… is not the same thing as being ready to date.
Through personal stories, coaching techniques, and a powerful “Seven Layers / Smoking Gun” exercise, Marilee helps you uncover the real reason you may want to start dating again—and whether it’s coming from curiosity, loneliness, validation, pain, or true readiness.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why “girl math” doesn’t work when it comes to healing after divorce 
How to use the “Smoking Gun” technique to uncover your true motivations 
Why healing takes longer than most people want it to 
What you should focus on during the first 18–24 months after divorce 
How to rebuild your identity, peace, confidence, and joy before inviting someone new into your life 
Why learning to be alone is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself 
The difference between wanting love… and wanting validation 
This episode is honest, validating, funny in places, and deeply grounding for anyone navigating life after divorce.
And if you’ve been tempted to download the apps because your ex moved on quickly?Marilee has thoughts.
Buckle up, gorgeous.Healing is not punishment.It’s preparation for the life you truly deserve.

In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace explores the powerful connection between trauma and high-conflict relationships—and why healing isn’t just emotional… it’s physical, too.
Using a vivid tornado analogy, Marilee breaks down what it feels like to live in constant chaos, unpredictability, and emotional storms—and why your body may still be reacting long after the relationship has ended.
Because here’s the truth:You didn’t just leave the relationship… your body is still learning that it’s safe.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How trauma impacts your nervous system and keeps you stuck in survival mode 
Why high-conflict relationships create long-term emotional and physical responses 
How to recognize where trauma is stored in your body 
A simple but powerful truth to begin your healing: “It was not my fault” 
How to start rebuilding trust with yourself and your body 
Why small, consistent changes create real healing over time 
The importance of grounding techniques while processing trauma 
Why focusing on your healing matters more than analyzing your ex 
This episode is both validating and empowering—reminding you that what you experienced was real, and healing is possible.
Take your time with this one. Pause when you need to. Breathe when it feels heavy.
Buckle up, gorgeous.You’re not just surviving anymore… you’re learning how to heal.

Have you ever felt like your body is constantly on edge—even when everything around you is “fine”?
In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace breaks down what’s really happening inside your body when you’re stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn—and why it’s so common after a high-conflict or toxic relationship.
Because here’s the truth:Leaving the relationship doesn’t mean your nervous system automatically feels safe.
You’ll learn:
The difference between the sympathetic (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) and parasympathetic (rest & digest) nervous systems 
Why your body can stay stuck in survival mode—even after the danger is gone 
How chronic stress and high-conflict environments impact your physical and mental health 
The role cortisol plays in anxiety, fatigue, and burnout 
Why you may feel hypervigilant, exhausted, or unable to relax 
How to begin retraining your body to feel safe again 
If you’ve ever felt like you’re “always on edge,” constantly overthinking, or waiting for the other shoe to drop—this episode will help you understand why.
And more importantly, it will remind you:You are not broken. Your body learned how to survive. Now, you can teach it how to heal.
Be sure to listen to Episode 8 for practical grounding techniques to support your nervous system regulation.
Buckle up, gorgeous.It’s time to move from survival mode into your chill and heal era.

Check out the wonder woman technique here
You’re doing the work. You’re building your peace.But what happens when something—or someone—tests it?
In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares simple, effective grounding techniques you can use in real-time when anxiety, stress, or high-conflict situations threaten your sense of calm.
Because let’s be honest—you can’t always avoid the event, the holiday, or the interaction. But you can learn how to stay anchored within yourself.
You’ll learn:
What grounding techniques are and why they work 
How to calm your body when you feel triggered or overwhelmed 
Simple, subtle techniques you can use anywhere—even in a room full of people 
Breathwork for immediate emotional regulation 
How to use your senses to reconnect to safety and stability 
The power of humming, movement, and self-touch (Havening) 
How journaling and gratitude can help you reset after a stressful day 
Whether you’re navigating holidays, co-parenting exchanges, difficult conversations, or unexpected emotional triggers, these tools will help you stay present, grounded, and in control of your response.
This episode is your reminder:You don’t have to lose your peace just because the situation gets chaotic.
Buckle up, gorgeous.You’re learning how to stay steady—no matter what surrounds you.

What if you truly believed you would never feel joy again?
In this deeply personal episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares the moment she told her own mother that joy was no longer possible in her life—and the powerful journey of what it actually took to rediscover it after divorce.
Because here’s the truth:Joy doesn’t just magically return.It has to be rebuilt—intentionally, gently, and over time.
In this episode, we explore the difference between happiness and joy, and how even in your darkest seasons, there may still be a small, protected sliver of joy waiting to be nurtured back to life.
You’ll learn:
Why joy doesn’t automatically return after divorce 
The difference between happiness (an emotion) and joy (a state of being) 
What “glimmers” are and how they help regulate your nervous system 
How small, everyday moments can begin restoring your sense of peace 
What it means to reconnect with your authentic self 
How glimmers grow into your inner sparkle—and eventually your glow up 
This episode is your reminder that healing doesn’t happen all at once. It starts small. Quiet. Almost unnoticeable.
But those small moments?They can bring you all the way back to yourself.
A worksheet is included to help you begin noticing your own glimmers and rebuilding joy—one moment at a time.
check it out here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkEa8GxJCuEgdNHzBwQv9df45fYKEQUV/view?usp=drive_link
Buckle up, gorgeous.Your joy isn’t gone… it’s waiting.

What day is it really? Sure, it’s Friday the 13th—but in February, that means Galentine’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating female friendships and the women who walk beside us through every season of life.
In today’s episode, Marilee Grace dives into the origin of Galentine’s Day (yes, it started on Parks and Recreation thanks to Amy Poehler), and why celebrating our gal pals matters more than ever—especially as adults and especially after divorce.
We talk about why friendships are easier to make when we’re young, why they require more intentionality as adults, and how marriage, life transitions, and divorce can deeply impact our circle. If your friendships have changed—or if you’re rebuilding community after loss—this episode is a reminder that it’s not too late, and it’s absolutely worth the effort.
Plus, a gentle reminder for those who may find Valentine’s Day triggering, and how to create peace and new traditions instead.
This episode is a love letter to sisterhood, platonic love, and the women who laugh with us, cry with us, and help us move forward—literally and figuratively.

Have you ever felt physically uncomfortable just thinking about being assertive? If you’re a people pleaser, a peacekeeper, or someone whose boundaries have always been… flexible… this episode is for you.
In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, we’re talking about boundaries—what they actually are, why so many women struggle to hold them, and how learning to protect yourself is an essential part of healing after divorce.
I share how I used to be “boundary fluid,” why keeping the peace at the expense of myself wasn’t worth it, and how setting boundaries transformed the way I show up as a woman, mother, professional, and friend.
You’ll learn:
What boundaries really are (and what they’re not)
Why boundaries are about your behavior—not controlling someone else
The 3 C’s of boundaries: Clear, Consistent, and Communicated
How to practice boundaries without guilt, over-explaining, or fear
What to do when someone tests your boundary
If you’re ready to stop abandoning yourself to keep others comfortable—and start choosing peace, self-respect, and emotional safety—this episode is your reminder.
Your boundaries don’t make you mean. They make you whole.

Did anyone ever say this to you after your divorce? “You’re going to be lonely.” “Do you really want to be alone for the rest of your life?” “The grass isn’t always greener.” “What if you don’t find someone else?”
In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, we’re unpacking one of the most misunderstood—and weaponized—ideas women face after divorce: being alone vs. being lonely.
Alone is a physical state. Lonely is an emotional experience. And the two are not the same thing.
I break down why so many women felt lonelier inside their marriage than they ever do after leaving it—and how learning to be alone can actually lead to peace, self-trust, and deeper connection. We’ll also talk honestly about those moments when loneliness does show up, including how I navigated the emotional aftermath of my ex’s remarriage.
You’ll learn:
The real difference between being alone and being lonely
Why solitude after divorce can be healing—not scary
How to sit with difficult emotions without judging yourself
A simple journaling practice to help you process loneliness when it arises
If you’re learning how to find yourself again after divorce—and wondering whether peace is possible—this episode is for you.
Buckle up, gorgeous. You’re not broken. You’re becoming.