Liz Dwyer on When the System Keeps You Married

About this episode

Liz Dwyer discusses the challenges of being stuck in a lengthy divorce process in Ireland and the coping mechanisms she employed during this time.

🎧 Episode Description Liz Dwyer joins the podcast to discuss what life looks like when separation doesn’t bring closure. Still legally married six years on, she reflects on the gaps in Ireland’s divorce process and the contradictions of being asked to co-parent calmly while fighting legal battles behind the scenes. Beyond the courtroom, Liz talks about the coping tools that kept her going, from the books that helped her make sense of what she was living through to the unexpected fun of dating again. Liz also speaks about later marriage and family-building in Ireland, and her work on the Future Fertility Show, which focuses on education, access, and support around fertility and reproductive health.  Key Points Honest discussion about cosmetic and pelvic health treatments — what works and what doesn’t Why pelvic floor strength matters more than cosmetic procedures How Ireland’s divorce system is slow, opaque, and outdated The emotional and financial toll of being stuck in long-term legal limbo Lack of transparency and consistency in family court decisions Being forced to co-parent while legally positioned as adversaries Total absence of structured support for people going…

People in this episode

Host: Laura Dowling

Guest: Liz Dwyer

Topics covered

• divorce process
• co-parenting
• mental health
• fertility
• legal battles
• dating after separation

Keywords

• divorce
• co-parenting
• Ireland
• fertility
• legal battles
• mental health
• dating
• support networks

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Future Fertility Show

Books & works: Broken Open

Places: Ireland

More episodes of The Laura Dowling Experience

• Dr Fadi | Why Are So Many Women Living with Incontinence? #173 · June 11, 2026 · 50 min
• Bitesize Moment: "She Wasn't Lazy. She Was Drowning." — Dr Sarah Carty on ADHD in girls · June 9, 2026 · 7 min
• Dr Caoimhe Hartley | What Menopause Care Should Really Look Like #172 · June 4, 2026 · 58 min
• Bitesize Moment: "We Cured Your Cancer. You Should Be Grateful." — Dr Deirdre Lundy on HRT after breast cancer · June 2, 2026 · 8 min
• Pamela Deasy | Trusting Her Gut: A Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Story #171 · May 28, 2026 · 53 min
• Bitesize Moment: "The Second Christmas Nearly Broke Me." — Dr Mary Ryan on grief · May 26, 2026 · 6 min