Okay, So Here’s The Deal

 In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, we’re talking about Trigger Days those holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, or special events that bring up unexpected emotions after leaving a high-conflict marriage.
Many women find that joyful occasions feel tainted because of past trauma. Even when the marriage or relationship is over, memories and triggers can sneak up sometimes when you least expect it. I share my personal experience of being blindsided by emotions on the anniversary of leaving my marriage, and how I turned that moment into a learning and healing opportunity.
I also introduce the Trigger Day Toolkit, a step-by-step method to retrain your nervous system. By proactively identifying potential triggers on your calendar and planning positive, intentional experiences—solo, with family, or with friends you can replace painful memories with joyful ones.
This episode is about taking back control of your emotional calendar, honoring your feelings, and creating space for happiness—even on the days you’ve dreaded for years.
You’re not alone. You can reclaim your joy.

Even after leaving a high-conflict or narcissistic relationship, many women continue to operate in survival mode, reacting to situations as if everyone is out to manipulate them.
In this episode, I unpack why reactivity and hyper-sensitivity linger after divorce and share strategies to shift from automatic responses to intentional, peaceful reactions.
I also show how to use the 7-step goal-setting method from Episode 1 to retrain your nervous system and create calm, clarity, and emotional control.
This episode is perfect for women healing after toxic relationships, looking to reclaim self-trust, and ready to move from survival mode into their You 2.0 self.

Okay, So Here’s the Deal - Quitter’s Day and Self Trust: Stop Setting Yourself Up to FailIn this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, we’re talking about Quitter’s Day—the second Friday in January, when nearly a quarter of all New Year’s resolutions are abandoned.If you’ve ever set a resolution with the best intentions only to feel defeated weeks later, this episode is for you. We unpack why resolutions often fail, how an all-or-nothing mindset sets us up for disappointment, and why goals and intentions—backed by a real plan—create lasting change.I walk you through my 7-step method for achieving goals, a system I’ve used during divorce, healing, and rebuilding my life to create more peace, clarity, and self-trust. This approach works for any goal—whether you’re focused on self-care, healing after divorce, or becoming your You 2.0 self.You are not a quitter. You’re learning how to succeed—intentionally.Progress over perfection, always. Buckle up, beautiful. It’s time to rise.

You’re not broken.You’re becoming.Welcome to Here’s the Deal — a podcast for women navigating divorce, heartbreak, toxic relationships, motherhood, and the messy, beautiful process of coming back to themselves.I’m Marilee Grace.I’ve lived the breakdown.I’ve loved a narcissist.I’ve lost myself.And I’ve learned — slowly and imperfectly — how to heal.This podcast isn’t about having it all figured out.It’s about becoming — one honest conversation at a time.Here, I share the lessons I learned the hard way, in real time — not as an expert talking at you, but as a friend walking beside you. Not ahead of you.Not above you.Because life doesn’t fall apart neatly.Healing doesn’t happen in straight lines.And transformation is rarely graceful while it’s happening.
Weekly podcast episodes
Real conversations and lessons learned
Honest reflections on divorce, healing, and rebuilding your identity
Gentle journaling invitations (never homework)
Free writing resources
A growing community of women who get it
Divorce and starting over
Loving a narcissist and untangling emotional manipulation
Toxic family and friendship dynamics
Motherhood in the middle of heartbreak
Learning self-love after years of self-abandonment
If you’ve ever felt like a beautiful disaster — strong, emotional, growing, and still healing — you’re in the right place.Writing saved me when my life felt loud, confusing, and overwhelming.Not to be poetic — but to survive.To tell myself the truth.To come home to who I was becoming.In this space, writing is a lifeline.You’ll never be told what to write — only invited. New episodes weekly Many episodes include reflection + journaling prompts Healing through honesty, not perfectionListen on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyWatch on YouTubeYou’re not alone.You belong here. ♡