Divorced Christian Woman - Natalie Hoffman

Latest Episodes:

Building Healthier Relationships with Adult Children Post-Divorce Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

You've survived the marriage from Hades, signed the divorce papers, and maybe even had your ceremonial "burn the wedding dress" moment.

Your kids are grown, they have opinions (lots of them), and some of those opinions are... not in your favor. If you're wondering how to rebuild, repair, or even just exist in relationship with your adult children post-divorce without losing your mind (or your will to live), this episode is your safe space.

I sit down with my friend and fellow coach, Diana Swillinger, for a conversation about the complex and often heart-wrenching work of parenting adult kids after divorce.

What We Talk About:

How your adult kids might try to parent YOU
Why their black-and-white thinking isn’t your fault, (but also maybe kind of is?)
How we passed on rigid theology and why it complicates everything now
When your child blames YOU for the divorce (hello, Christian programming!)
The fine line between a heartfelt apology and a full-blown grovel-fest
Using cognitive behavioral tools to detach from their drama and stay in your lane
How to hold space for conflicting realities without losing your own mind
Hope for reconciliation, even when it feels lightyears away
What it means to bring the peace (no, not a pumpkin pie. Peace.)

Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This FREE 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

Raising Resilient Kids: Building Connections that Matter Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

Why do your kids act like little angels at their dad’s house and then transform into rabid raccoons the moment they step foot into your kitchen? No, it’s not because you’re failing as a mom (although that voice in your head might say otherwise).

It’s because YOU are the safe one.

In this episode, we unpack all of it: the chaos, the trauma, the meltdowns, and the sacred role you play in raising kids who actually make it out of this mess OK.

I sat down with Diana, Loretta, and Charlotte, three divorced Christian mamas who’ve done the hard work of parenting through PTSD, manipulation, religious confusion, and all the weird stuff your kids’ dad tries to pull post-divorce.

We Talk About:

Why your kids hold it together at Dad’s house and come unglued at yours (hint: it’s not about “respect”)
What Polyvagal Theory has to do with your kid whacking you in the head with a Richard Scarry book
Why “big behavior” ≠ “bad kid”
How Christian parenting culture gets trauma so wrong
What to say (and what NOT to say) when your kid reports their dad’s latest antics
Why curiosity > control when it comes to parenting
Practical boundaries that protect your kids AND your sanity
Reframing fear and people-pleasing
The long game of parenting: trust, patience, and letting your kids learn to think for themselves

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
Contact Loretta at info@mycoachloretta.com

Church Relationships After Divorce: Reclaiming Your Spiritual Community Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Ever wondered what happens to your church relationships when your marriage falls apart and you do the unthinkable (aka, choose not to be miserable for the rest of your life)? In this episode, I sat down with Diana, Stacey, and Marie, to talk about the real fallout that happens not just in marriage, but in the holy halls of church after divorce.

What We Talked About:

How divorce changes everything about how you experience church
What happens when you realize your church was more in love with patriarchy than Jesus
Spiritual deconstruction (a.k.a. following Jesus out of the building)
Learning to hear God’s voice (Head’s up: it’s not your ex, your pastor, or the elder’s wife)
Releasing or renewing relationships after betrayal
Forgiveness: what it is, what it isn’t
How to support your kids spiritually without traumatizing them
Rebuilding community outside of the institution (Zoom counts, y’all)

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Listen to the audiobook for All the Scary Little Gods by yours truly for FREE!
Books mentioned: Freeing Jesus by Diana Butler Bass, The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu, and Faith After Doubt by Brian McLaren.
Connect with Marie on her blog, Live Like it Matters, and website, Spiritual Direction with Marie.
Connect with Stacey and find all her resources on her Linktree.
Check out Diana’s podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast.

Neighbors, Acquaintances, and Small Town Gossip: Living Free in a Fishbowl Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

So you got divorced, and now you’re the scandal of the century in your tiny town (or tight church circle). You’re dodging judgmental glances in the grocery store and wondering if your prayer request just got broadcasted as Christian-sanctified gossip. Sound familiar?

In this episode, I team up with my friend and fellow coach, Diana Swillinger, to talk about how to take your power back when your life becomes the talk of the neighborhood.

If you're tired of feeling like your healing is public property and you’re ready to walk tall again, even while Sister So-and-So is side-eyeing you from the church pew, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why small communities (and churches) make divorce extra spicy
How gossip can hijack your story, and how to stop handing it over
Practical ways to reclaim your voice, dignity, and narrative
How to respond to those “concerned” (ahem…nosy) comments
What shame does to your soul and how to evict it for good
Why protecting your story is wisdom, not paranoia
Confidence tips to strut your stuff, even when your insides are spaghetti
How to truly stop giving a flying fig about other people’s opinions

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
Listen to Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk and do some power poses.

Professional Relationships After Divorce: Boundaries and Respect in the Workplace Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever been talked over in a meeting, assigned work with no warning, or gotten that oh-so-lovely “Can you just help with this one little thing?” at 4:59 p.m.?

In this episode, I’m joined by Stacey, Diana, Marie, and Grace, all divorced Christian women who are navigating life post-divorce in the workplace. We’re diving deep into how to show up for yourself professionally without selling your soul or compromising your values.

What We Talked About:

How divorce made us braver and more assertive at work
Real-life stories of standing up to toxic bosses and winning (even if your hands are shaking the whole time)
Tips for dealing with mansplaining, micromanagers, and Monday meetings
Knowing when to speak up and when to let it go Elsa-style
Creating unshakeable boundaries around your time, energy, and sanity
How trauma triggers show up in the office, and how we’ve learned to manage them
Why being a “dependable worker” doesn’t mean being everyone’s doormat
Using body language and presence to command respect
The sacred art of saying “no” without apologizing or over-explaining
Gossip: How to shut it down without becoming the HR police

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women who are ready to evolve into the next version of themselves. A version that is more confident, more regulated, and more at peace about all of life.
Connect with Marie on her blog, Live Like it Matters, and website, Spiritual Direction with Marie.
Connect with Stacey and find all her resources on her Linktree.
Check out Diana’s podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast.
Add Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy, Dare to Lead by Brené Brown, and Rich Girl Nation by Katie Gatti Tassin to your library.
Check out Toastmasters.

Family of Origin Wounds: How They Shape Divorce and Healing Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

What if your deepest shame wasn’t actually yours to carry?

If you’ve ever felt the cold shoulder from your Christian family after your divorce, or you’re still untangling the sticky spiderwebs of shame and silence from your upbringing, pull up a chair. This episode is for you.

I sat down with friend and fellow coach, Diana Swillinger, and together we unpacked how family of origin dynamics continue to haunt, shape, and sometimes straight-up sabotage your healing after divorce.

Here’s what we discuss:

What if the heavy load you’ve been dragging around was never yours to begin with?
Could their cutting looks and guilt-trips actually say more about them than about you?
What if boundaries weren’t about controlling others at all but something far more personal?
At what point do parents stop calling the spiritual shots in your life?
Is it possible that saying “no more contact” could actually be a sacred act?
Why does the loss of “what should’ve been” sting almost more than the loss itself?
Can forgiveness bring peace without flinging the door wide open again?

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is a life-changing mentorship program for divorced Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.
Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
Dive into the books recommended in today’s episode, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief and Forgiveness After Trauma. You can also listen to the interview I did with the author of Forgiveness After Trauma on the Flying Free Podcast, Episode 281.

Rebuilding Your Relationship with God After Divorce Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

What if everything you believed about God was actually holding you hostage?

In this episode, I sat down with my friends and fellow coaches Diana Swillinger, Stacey Wynn, and Marie Griffith to get real about what it looks like to rebuild your relationship with God after the spiritual ground beneath your feet crumbles.

We’re talking about spiritual deconstruction, not as a slippery slope into heresy ( it’s actually a slip ‘n slide into FREEDOM), but as a necessary and sacred process of untangling truth from toxic theology. We share our personal stories of excommunication, church hurt, faith unraveling, and finding Jesus outside the four walls of evangelical dogma.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re "getting it wrong" with God or wondered if there’s still a place for you in the Kingdom after divorce, doubt, and deconstruction, this episode is your permission slip to breathe.

Key Takeaways:

Deconstruction ≠ Losing Faith. It’s not rebellion, it’s reconstruction. It’s spiritual adulthood. It’s what happens when you stop obeying blindly and start seeking bravely.
Jesus Is Still Here. Even when your theology implodes and your church unfriends you. Especially then.
Faith Isn’t Fragile. If asking honest questions makes your faith crumble, maybe it was more fear than faith to begin with.
Slippery Slopes Are FUN. Turns out that “slippery slope” we were warned about? It leads to love, liberation, and disco dance parties with the Holy Spirit.

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.
Connect with Marie on her blog, Live Like it Matters, and website, Spiritual Direction with Marie.
Connect with Stacey and find all her resources on her Linktree.
Check out Diana’s podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast.

Your Ex, His Family, His Girlfriend, Heck, His Entire Orbit Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

Is being "nice" to your ex keeping you stuck in his orbit? In this episode, my friend and fellow coach Diana Swillinger and I peel back the layers on everything related to your ex.

We tackle the sticky, icky, post-divorce drama: how to set boundaries, why you don't owe him or his people anything, and how to stay in your lane.

If you've ever wondered:

Am I being mean for not giving a crap about his new wife?
Is it bad to limit contact with his family?
Should I let my kids like the girlfriend? (Um. You can’t stop them. Sorry.)
Am I a monster for offering him the fine china after he got legally dubbed an abuser?

...then welcome. Pull up a chair.

Laundry List of Scenarios We Cover:

When your ex still wants to be your BFF
When his mom keeps bringing up the marriage
When his new girlfriend is too nice and your kids love her
When his lawyer won’t quit
When triangulation sucks you in, and you need to say, “I’m out”

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.
Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

Christian Women Dating After Divorce Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

Let’s be honest. If you've escaped from a destructive marriage, the idea of dating again might feel less like butterflies and more like plunging into shark-infested waters wearing a meat dress.

But what if dating didn’t have to feel like impending doom? What if you could approach it with courage, confidence, and an actual strategy?

In this episode, I invited three of my friends and fellow coaches, Stacey Wynn, Diana Swillinger, and Marie Griffith to join me for a frank discussion about dating after divorce as a Christian woman.

Some Key Takeaways:

Dating again? Terrifying. And also, you can do it!
High standards are IT. You’re not picky. You’re just done with nonsense.
Burn the haystack. Swipe left like it’s your sacred duty (thank you, Jennie Young).
Polite is not required. Block. Burn. Bounce. Bless and release.
Your gut is smarter than your mom, pastor, and therapist combined. Trust it.
Emotions are dashboard lights, not detours.

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.
Connect with Marie on her blog, Live Like it Matters, and website, Spiritual Direction with Marie.
Connect with Stacey and find all her resources on her Linktree.
Check out Diana’s podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast.
And here are some resources we mentioned within the episode: the Burned Haystack Method by Jennie Young, the Dare to Lead List of Values from Brené Brown, the Personal Values Test, and the Personal Values Card Sort by Dr. Jennie Shields.

Our Relationships with Mentors, Coaches, and Therapists Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

What if the person you're turning to for healing is actually keeping you stuck? (Cue dramatic music and flashbacks to church lady "counseling" that made you question your entire existence.)

Welcome to Season 2 of the Divorced Christian Woman Podcast! I’m kicking things off with my friend and fellow coach, Diana Swillinger. We’re diving headfirst into the sometimes-healing, sometimes-horrifying world of mentors, coaches, and therapists.

Not all helpers are created equal, my friend. And no, your cousin’s youth group leader who “feels called” to counsel probably isn’t qualified to help you unravel years of spiritual abuse.

This episode is your guide to sorting through the noise, finding the right kind of help for the season you're in, and learning how to trust your own gut again, especially after years of being told it was “deceitfully wicked.” (eye-roll)

What We Covered:

Mentors, coaches, therapists, and how to know the difference
Red flags in helping relationships
Green flags in helping relationships
What to do if you believe you are “too broken” or “not broken enough”
The process of healing
How community plays a role in our healing

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

Flying Higher (https://joinflyinghigher.com) is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence, emotional management, relational health and empowered self-development.
Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.
Check out Diana’s website and explore some resources, listen to her podcast, The Renew Your Mind Podcast, and finally, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.