It Is Not the Divorce That Breaks People. It Is the Years Leading Up to It with Erin Levine, Founder of Hello Divorce on Divorce & Beyond #414

About this episode

This episode discusses the emotional challenges faced before making the decision to divorce, featuring insights from Erin Levine of Hello Divorce.

When most people think about divorce, they picture the legal process. They imagine paperwork, lawyers, and courtrooms. But the reality is that divorce often begins long before any legal step is taken. In this episode, Susan Guthrie sits down with Erin Levine, founder of Hello Divorce, to talk about the stage of divorce that almost no one talks about: the years of uncertainty before a decision is ever made. For many people, the hardest part of divorce is not the legal process itself. It is the emotional limbo that happens beforehand. The sleepless nights. The constant questioning. The fear about what life might look like on the other side. Susan and Erin explore why so many people spend years wrestling with the decision to leave a marriage, what happens emotionally during that time, and how having the right information and support can dramatically change the experience. If you are currently wondering whether to stay or go, this episode will help you understand that what you are feeling is incredibly common and that there are ways to move forward with more clarity and less fear. What You Will Learn • Why many people contemplate divorce for three to five years before taking action •…

People in this episode

Host: Susan Guthrie

Guest: Erin Levine

Topics covered

• divorce
• emotional uncertainty
• decision making
• support
• mediation
• legal process

Keywords

• divorce
• emotional limbo
• uncertainty
• mediation
• legal process
• support
• decision to leave

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hello Divorce

More episodes of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast with Susan Guthrie, Esq.

• What Losing Her Son Taught One Divorce Coach About Co-Parenting Conflict with Kelly Myers on Divorce & Beyond #424 · June 1, 2026 · 1h 8m
• From the Archive: It’s All About the House – What You Need to Know Before You Decide to Keep It with Tami Wollensak on Divorce & Beyond #423 · May 25, 2026 · 48 min
• Easier Now, Harder Later: Parenting Plans That Actually Work with Gabrielle Hartley on Divorce & Beyond #422 · May 18, 2026 · 47 min
• From the Archive: What You Need to Know About Your Money When You Start a Divorce from Hollis Hardiman, CDFA #421 · May 11, 2026 · 40 min
• When Your Partner Becomes a Stranger: Renowned Divorce Attorney Marilyn Chinitz Reveals the Red Flags You Didn’t See Coming on Divorce & Beyond #420 · May 4, 2026 · 55 min
• This Isn’t a Bad Divorce. It’s Domestic Violence. And We Need to Stop Getting It Wrong with Susan Guthrie on Divorce & Beyond #419 · April 27, 2026 · 25 min