Are you confusing codependency with love?

After divorce, it's easy to believe that anxiety, constant togetherness, or always needing reassurance are signs of love. But what if they're actually signs of codependency?

In this episode, Erica shares how healing after divorce helped her move from anxious attachment to interdependence, rebuild trust, and reconnect with herself.

Learn the signs of codependency, how your nervous system shapes relationships, and practical steps to create healthier, more secure love.

Together, we'll unpack what codependency really looks like, why healthy relationships can initially feel unfamiliar, and how learning to trust yourself changes everything. If you've ever lost yourself in a relationship or wondered why secure love feels so different, this episode will help you understand what's happening beneath the surface.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

• The difference between codependency, independence, hyper-independence, and interdependence
• Why calm can feel uncomfortable after years of survival mode
• How betrayal and divorce can reinforce old attachment wounds
• The surprising ways we unknowingly abandon ourselves inside relationships
• Why quality time isn't the same as emotional dependence
• How your nervous system influences the stories you tell yourself about love
• Practical ways to become curious instead of reactive when old fears resurface
• Why healing isn't about finding the "right" partner—it's about becoming the healthiest version of yourself

🌟 Resources & Links

The Wild Woman is the monthly space where we practice this work together. Through intentional rituals, nervous system healing, coaching, and a community of women committed to growth, you'll learn to quiet the noise, trust yourself again, and become the woman you were always meant to be.

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/wildwoman

Divorce conflict is inevitable—but constant fighting doesn't have to be. In this episode, Erica sits down with therapist, divorce coach, mediator, and co-parenting expert Jill Kaufman to share practical strategies for reducing conflict, communicating more effectively, and protecting your children during and after divorce.

If conversations with your ex leave you feeling triggered, frustrated, or emotionally exhausted, this episode will help you understand why—and give you simple tools to respond differently.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

• Why conflict is normal—but escalation is optional.
• The biggest emotional triggers that keep exes stuck in unhealthy cycles.
• Why your brain literally goes into "fight, flight, or freeze" during conflict.
• How emotional regulation changes every conversation.
• The communication habits that reduce unnecessary arguments.
• Why email is often better than texting during high-conflict co-parenting.
• How to stop taking your ex's behavior personally.
• Practical breathing and visualization techniques to calm your nervous system.
• Why choosing your battles leads to healthier co-parenting.
• The small shifts that can completely change your relationship over time.

• 
  

🌟 Resources & Links

Join The Club: The Club is your private space to find yourself and your confidence again, stop second guessing every decision, build a badass post-divorce life you’re actually excited to wake up to.

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/theclub

The Shift by Komuso

Micro-calming tools designed to help your reset in real the through the power of a slow exhale.

SAVE 20% WITH MY LINK

Meet This Week's Guest: Jill Kaufman

Jill Kaufman is a Therapist, Divorce Coach, Mediator & Co-parenting Expert. After going through her own difficult divorce, she made it her life’s mission to make the process less overwhelming for others.

Her book, online course and transformational group coaching program help parents navigate the overwhelming process of divorce both emotionally and strategically with less stress, more confidence and a greater sense of peace.

Jill also co-founded Divorce Network Pro, a directory of divorce professionals committed to a low-conflict, family-focused approach.

www.divorcecoachjill.com

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

YOUTUBE

Connect with Erica

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

TIKTOK

A conversation with a listener at the beginning of her divorce journey inspired this deeply personal episode. While packing up her home, preparing to sell, and trying to navigate the overwhelming reality of divorce, she found herself facing another heartbreaking challenge—her child began acting out.The desperation. The loneliness. The fear that you're already carrying more than you can handle—and now your child is hurting too.In this vulnerable episode, Erica shares some of the moments she rarely talks about. The moments that convinced her she was failing as a mother. The bedtime battles. The rage. The isolation. The night she threw a red candle against the wall and sat on the floor believing she had broken her child.Through those stories comes a message every struggling mom needs to hear:Your hardest moments do not define you.Struggling does not make you a bad mom.And you are far less alone than you think.🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways🔑 Why parenting through divorce can feel incredibly isolating🔑 The hidden shame many mothers carry when their children begin acting out🔑 How children's behavior can trigger fears of being a "bad mom"🔑 The emotional toll of carrying your own heartbreak while supporting your child through theirs🔑 The story of the red candle moment and the lesson that changed everything afterward🔑 What Erica's therapist taught her about repair, resilience, and good motherhood🔑 Why community matters when you're navigating divorce and parenting alone🔑 The difference between being a bad mom and being a mom in a hard season🔑 Practical tools for navigating emotional outbursts and difficult transitions🔑 The reminder every struggling mother needs to hear: you're doing better than you think🌟 Resources & LinksThe ClubJoin The Club for weekly live support, coaching, and connection with women who understand the realities of divorce and rebuilding.

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/theclubThe Wild Woman: A Sacred Rhythm to Build the Life You Lovehttps://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/wildwomanConnect with Ericahttps://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecrazyexwivesclub/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecrazyexwivesclub/

Have you ever felt like you're working harder than everyone else, yet still not getting where you want to go?

What if the problem isn't your effort—but the fact that you've been trying to force a path that was never designed for you?

In this episode, Erica sits down with Human Design expert, business strategist, and entrepreneur Karla Maree to explore how understanding your unique energetic blueprint can help you discover your purpose, make aligned decisions, and stop fighting against yourself.

Karla shares how Human Design became a catalyst for her own transformation after a major life transition, helping her rebuild her confidence, trust herself again, and create a thriving seven-figure business by working with her natural strengths instead of against them.

They also dive into the surprising intersection of Human Design and AI, and how technology can make personal growth, self-awareness, and clarity more accessible than ever before.

Whether you're navigating a life transition, feeling burned out, questioning your next step, or simply curious about Human Design, this conversation will leave you with a new perspective on who you are—and what's possible when you start honoring your design.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

🔑 Why self-awareness is the foundation for creating a life that actually fits you

🔑 What Human Design is—and how to start using it without feeling overwhelmed

🔑 The difference between forcing outcomes and creating alignment

🔑 How burnout often happens when we're operating against our natural energy

🔑 Why major life transitions can become catalysts for personal growth

🔑 The connection between self-trust, confidence, and purpose

🔑 How AI is transforming the way people learn and apply Human Design

🔑 Practical ways to use your Human Design to make better decisions

🔑 Understanding your strengths, patterns, and blind spots

🔑 How embracing who you are creates more ease in life, business, and relationships

🌟 Resources & Links

The Club: Turn heartbreak into your comeback with coaching, community, and a roadmap to the life you truly want

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/theclub

The Wild Woman: A Sacred Rhythm to Build the Life You Love

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/wildwoman

The New You Blueprint: Define Who You Want to Become After Divorce

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com/blueprint

Featured Guest: Karla Maree

Karla Maree is a business strategist, Human Design expert, and creator of AI-powered tools designed to help women understand themselves, discover their purpose, and build businesses aligned with who they naturally are. Her work combines Human Design, astrology, self-awareness, and technology to make personal growth more accessible and actionable.

GET YOUR PERSONALIZED BLUEPRINT 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

7 Figure Business Blueprint: Discover Your Human Design & Purpose

https://www.karlamaree.co/a/2148105783/TncuVWtDhttps://www.karlamaree.co

Connect with Erica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecrazyexwivesclub/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecrazyexwivesclub/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecrazyexwivesclub

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com

Blended families are often portrayed as heartwarming success stories—but what happens when the reality feels far more complicated?

In this deeply honest episode, Erica shares the challenges of step-parenting in a blended family.

She opens up about the grief, triggers, expectations, and personal growth that come with choosing a life that looks very different than what she originally imagined.

Rather than offering a polished "everything works out" narrative, Erica explores what it means to choose love anyway—and how grace, self-awareness, and intentional support can help you navigate the hardest parts of blended family life.

Key Themes & Takeaways

• Why blended families are fundamentally different from first families
• The hidden grief of letting go of what you thought family life would look like
• How step-parenting can trigger unresolved wounds, expectations, and "mama bear" instincts
• The reality of parenting children with complex medical needs
• Why love in step-parenting is often a conscious choice, not an automatic feeling
• The importance of proactive communication with your partner
• How to stop focusing on what you can't control and start influencing what you can
• Why self-care isn't optional in blended family dynamics
• The power of measuring progress instead of perfection
• What it means to truly choose your partner—and everything that comes with them

What You'll Learn

• How to recognize when you're emotionally bracing for conflict before it even happens
• Why resentment grows when expectations go unexamined
• The three questions Erica asks herself before reacting to difficult situations
• How blended families can create meaningful connections even when relationships don't look the way you imagined
• Practical ways to support yourself during challenging parenting and co-parenting seasons

Resources & Links

Join The Club for weekly support, coaching, and community with women navigating divorce, co-parenting, blended families, and rebuilding themselves after heartbreak.

Read the Blog

You Can't Pick the Conditions

Stop hoping and start creating your next chapter with The Wild Woman. Set intentions, regulate your system and clear the ish that is holding you back from the life you want.

Connect with Erica

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com

Instagram

Facebook

Most people think estate planning is something you worry about later—when you're older, wealthier, or have a complicated financial portfolio.

The truth? Estate planning is one of the most important financial protection tools available to everyday families.

In this episode, Erica sits down with estate planning attorney Lauren Klein to unpack the biggest misconceptions surrounding trusts, wills, probate, and protecting your loved ones.

Whether you're rebuilding after divorce, raising children, growing your savings, or simply trying to get your financial house in order, Lauren explains why estate planning isn't reserved for the wealthy—and why waiting can cost your family time, money, and unnecessary stress.

Lauren shares practical guidance on protecting your children, avoiding probate, choosing the right legal documents, and creating a plan that ensures your wishes are honored no matter what life brings.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

• Why estate planning is for everyday people—not just the wealthy
• The difference between a trust and a will
• How trusts help protect children and future generations
• Why minor children cannot directly inherit assets
• How estate planning can help divorced parents maintain control over their legacy
• The hidden costs and delays of probate
• Common mistakes people make with beneficiaries and account ownership
• Questions to ask when hiring an estate planning attorney
• How to overcome the fear and overwhelm that often prevents people from getting started
• Why estate planning is an important part of overall financial wellness

🌟 Resources & Links

Divorce is hard enough—don't do it alone. Join The Crazy Ex-Wives Club for support, strategy, and a community that gets it.

Looking to Connect with This Week's Guest: Lauren Klein

Lauren, a Florida native, has spent her 12+ year specializing in estate and tax planning, elder law, and probate administration.

https://flourishlawgroup.com/

Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Erica

https://www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com

Instagram| Facebook | YouTube If this episode helped demystify estate planning, share it with a friend or family member who has been putting it off.

Remember: estate planning isn't about how much money you have—it's about protecting the people you love and creating clarity when it matters most.

What does love really look like after divorce, kids, exes, and blended families enter the picture?

In this deeply honest episode, Erica shares what she learned after officiating a wedding for two people finding love later in life — and why mature love isn’t about butterflies or potential… it’s about conscious choice.

From navigating stepfamily dynamics to rebuilding appreciation in relationships, this episode explores the hard, beautiful truth about what it means to genuinely love someone exactly as they are.

If you’ve ever struggled with resentment, blended family stress, or wondering whether your relationship can survive real life, this conversation will hit home.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

• Why “loving potential” creates resentment in relationships
• The difference between young love and intentional love later in life
• How blended families challenge even strong relationships
• Navigating stepkids, co-parenting, and ex-partner dynamics
• Why gratitude is one of the most powerful relationship tools
• How resentment grows when appreciation disappears
• The truth about choosing love daily — even when it’s hard
• Two practical exercises to rebuild connection and emotional alignment

🌟 Resources & Links

Join The Club community for support around divorce, healing, co-parenting, and blended family life.

Work 1:1 with Erica for personalized transformation in under 30 days.

Ratings, Reviews and Followers mean the world to us at The Crazy Ex-Wives Club.

Click Follow/Subscribe for weekly episodes.

Share with a friend.

Leave a review on your favorite episode.

We love hearing from you AND it helps other women find the support they are searching for.

What happens when the divorce is decided… but your life still feels frozen?

In this deeply honest episode, Erica shares how to navigate the exhausting “in-between” phase of divorce — when the paperwork isn’t final, emotions are running high, and your nervous system feels stuck in survival mode.

Inspired by a listener DM, this conversation explores how to stay grounded when everything feels uncertain.

From nervous system regulation and boundaries to dreaming about your next chapter before it officially begins, Erica offers practical tools and emotional support for anyone waiting for life to move forward.

If you feel trapped in the gap between what’s ending and what’s next, this episode is for you.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

• Why the “waiting season” of divorce can feel harder than the divorce itself
• How your nervous system responds to uncertainty and unresolved change
• The airplane metaphor that completely reframes feeling “stuck”
• Why extending grace to yourself (and even your ex) creates emotional freedom
• The difference between boundaries and trying to control someone else
• How to stop spiraling during anxiety spikes and return to the present moment
• Erica’s favorite nervous system regulation tool: The Shift
• Why dreaming about your future matters before your divorce is finalized
• How long-term visioning creates clarity and alignment for your next chapter
• The hidden gift inside seasons that feel unbearably slow

• 
  

🌟 Resources & Links

• Join The Wild Woman for monthly tools to regulate, clear the path and move on with your wild and crazy dreams

• Start to regulate your system with The Shift by Komuso:

• use the link below to save 20%

  https://www.komusodesign.com/ERICABENNETT

• Want to learn more about how fear controls you? Stream “The Other F Word” podcast episode today.

Apple

Spotify

Connect with Erica and learn more about The Crazy Ex-Wives Club at www.thecrazyexwivesclub.com

If this episode spoke to you, share it with another woman navigating divorce, separation, or rebuilding after heartbreak.

Your support helps more women find the tools, language, and encouragement they need during the hardest seasons of life.

Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and join The Wild Woman for deeper support, nervous system healing, and monthly practices designed to help you reconnect with yourself and your next chapter.