Coparenting Beyond Conflict: High-Conflict Divorce and Custody Strategies

A podcast for parents navigating the hardest kind of co-parenting—when every message feels like a minefield, and peace feels out of reach. If you’re stuck in a high-conflict divorce or custody situation, this show is your lifeline. Whether you’re dealing with a narcissistic co-parent, covert manipulation, or the exhaustion of constant conflict, you’re not alone—and you’re not powerless. Coparenting Beyond Conflict gives you practical tools, expert insights, and compassionate support to help you protect your kids, reduce emotional chaos, and find real peace—even if your co-parent refuses to change. https://bestinterest.app/coparenting-podcast 🎧 What You’ll Learn How to de-escalate conflict between co-parents , even in high conflict situations Why parallel parenting may be the best option for your parenting plan or custody schedule How to apply tools like BIFF to reduce miscommunication and minimize drama in text messages Ways to set boundaries in post-divorce life Strategies for navigating high-conflict parenting plans , parenting time , and shared parenting Guidance on mediation, family law , and protecting your kids Tech tools that filter toxic messages 🧠 Why Subscribe You’re tired of feeling drained by your co-parenting challenges You want actionable strategies You feel stuck in constant conflict You’re ready to move toward lasting peace Whether you're co-parenting with a high-conflict co-parent , navigating a divorce or separation , or reevaluating your parenting schedule , this podcast provides the emotional tools and expert insight (such as from Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Wendy Behary, and Tracy Malone) you need to end the conflict. 🎙 About Your Host Sol Kennedy is a co-parent , father of two, and the founder of BestInterest (bestinterest.app)—the first AI-powered co-parenting app built to support families in high-conflict situations. After years of facing the realities of high-conflict co-parenting firsthand, Sol founded this podcast to empower other parents to reclaim control and prioritize healing. 💬 Real Tools. Real Stories. Real Change. From parallel parenting to legal battles, mediation to mental health, you’ll hear from psychologists, divorce coaches , lawyers, and co-parents who’ve been where you are—and made it through. ✅ Subscribe now if you want to: Stop letting conflict dictate your co-parenting journey Find a good divorce coach , or learn what they’d recommend Build confidence, peace, and clarity—even in the most toxic situations Don’t wait. Subscribe to Coparenting Beyond Conflict now —on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your podcasts —and start your journey toward peace. New episodes every other week 📺 Also available on YouTube: https://bestinterest.app/youtube DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not legal or psychological advice. Please consult a licensed attorney, therapist, or family law expert.

Coparenting Beyond Conflict: High-Conflict Divorce and Custody Strategies is a kids podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 48 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Coparenting Beyond Conflict: High-Conflict Divorce and Custody Strategies, a kids show with 48 episodes published.

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  Episode #19

  When Blended Families Get Complicated: Boundaries, Exes & In-Laws with Alicia Krasko

  Sep 24, 202645 minS2

  What happens when you fall in love with someone who already has a family? In this episode, Sol and Louise sit down with stepmom coach and Stepmom Side podcast host Alicia Krasko to explore the realities of blended family life—including the parts nobody prepares you for. Together, they talk about finding your role as a stepparent, navigating exes and in-laws, managing the emotional intensity of custody transitions, and building a strong partnership when conflict from the other household inevitably affects your family. Alicia shares her own journey from feeling overwhelmed and unsure of her place in her stepfamily to finding confidence, setting boundaries, and learning what she could—and couldn’t—control. She explains why connection needs to come before correction, why stepparents don’t need to be best friends with the other parent, and why the strength of the couple relationship is one of the most important foundations of a peaceful blended family. Whether you’re a stepparent, dating someone with children, or trying to understand how blended family dynamics affect your coparenting relationship, this conversation offers an honest look at the challenges—and the possibility of finding peace without needing everything around you to change. Learn more about Alicia Krasko: https://AliciaKrasko.com Listen to the Stepmom Side podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stepmom-side-podcast/id1698216989 Get the BestInterest Coparenting App: https://bestinterest.app/ Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/ Keywords Blended families, stepparenting, stepmom, high-conflict co-parenting, coparenting, stepparent boundaries, family systems, custody transitions, co-parent communication, parenting after divorce, stepmom burnout, in-law boundaries, parental alienation, emotional regulation, blended family dynamics, child wellbeing Highlights Why Alicia prefers “stepmom” over “bonus mom.” The unexpected challenges of entering a family in the middle of its story Why stepparents can feel pressure to immediately love, parent, and fit into an established family system. How insecurity can make ordinary blended-family conflicts feel like emergencies. Why the couple relationship is the foundation of a peaceful blended family How asking “How can I support you?” can change the way partners navigate conflict. Why custody exchanges can be emotionally intense for both children and adults. How children can seem like different people as they transition between households. Why clear house expectations can actually help children feel more secure. The difference between connection and correction—and why connection should come first. Why stepparents shouldn’t take either affection or rejection from their stepchildren personally. How to set boundaries with grandparents and in-laws who undermine parental authority Why you don’t have to be friends with your partner’s ex to have a healthy coparenting relationship How comparing your blended family to seemingly perfect families on social media can create shame. Why trying to control everything can lead to stepmom burnout. How to focus on what you can control when the other household is high conflict. The five-day, five-week, five-year question that can help put conflict into perspective. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Meet Alicia Krasko 02:06 Why “Stepmom” Instead of “Bonus Mom”? 03:12 The Biggest Surprise About Becoming a Stepmom 05:08 Navigating the Ex and Finding Your Role 08:41 What Changes in a High-Conflict Situation? 09:01 Keeping the Couple Relationship Strong 11:14 How Partners Can Support Each Other 13:41 The Emotional Intensity of Custody Transitions 16:36 How Kids Adapt Between Two Households 18:23 House Rules, Structure, and Boundaries 20:26 When a New Stepparent Changes the Family Dynamic 24:29 BestInterest AI Coparenting App 25:11 Grandparents and In-Law Dynamics 29:24 Setting Boundaries With Extended Family 33:16 Alienation and Grandparents Choosing Sides 36:20 Stepmom Lightning Round 36:41 The Biggest Mistake Stepmoms Make 37:28 What to Do When a Stepchild Pushes Back 38:14 Does a Stepmom Need a Relationship With the Biomom? 40:55 How Stepparent Burnout Happens 41:16 Building Connection With a Stepchild 43:08 Alicia’s Advice for Stepparents in the Thick of It 43:48 Where to Find Alicia Krasko 44:18 Closing What if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App . As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond

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  Episode #17

  Bill Eddy on High-Conflict Co-Parenting: Stay Calm, Set Limits & Protect Your Kids

  Aug 27, 202642 minS2

  High-conflict co-parenting can leave you feeling like you’re constantly walking on eggshells—every text message, exchange, or court filing has the potential to pull you into another cycle of conflict. In this episode, Sol sits down with Bill Eddy , co-founder of the High Conflict Institute, therapist, family lawyer, mediator, and creator of the internationally recognized BIFF® communication method. Bill shares four decades of practical wisdom on how to communicate without escalating conflict, why trying to “teach the other parent a lesson” almost always backfires, and how parents can protect their children by modeling emotional regulation instead of getting pulled into reactivity. They also explore the promises and pitfalls of AI in co-parenting communication, Bill’s new SLIC framework for setting boundaries that actually work, and why the skills we teach our children today can help break cycles of conflict for generations to come. Whether you’re navigating a difficult co-parent, supporting clients through family conflict, or simply looking for a more peaceful way forward, this conversation is packed with practical tools you can begin using immediately. Learn more about Bill Eddy and the High Conflict Institute: https://highconflictinstitute.com/ Explore Conflict Influencer and the New Ways for Families program: https://conflictinfluencer.com/ Get the BestInterest Coparenting App: https://bestinterest.app/ Watch this episode on YouTube : https://youtu.be/r_Cktp5OGvk Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/ Keywords Bill Eddy, High Conflict Institute, BIFF method, SLIC, high-conflict co-parenting, difficult co-parent, narcissistic co-parent, parallel parenting, co-parent communication, family court, emotional regulation, boundaries, setting limits, consequences, conflict resolution, AI communication, New Ways for Families, parenting after divorce Key Takeaways The BIFF method (Brief, Informative, Friendly, Firm) helps reduce conflict without expecting the other person to change. One of the biggest communication mistakes is trying to teach the other person a lesson. Avoid the “Three A’s” in high-conflict communication: advice, admonishments, and apologies. Writing your own BIFF responses builds the mental habits that make conflict feel less overwhelming. AI can be a useful editing tool, but it shouldn’t replace developing your own communication skills. Children learn conflict patterns from their parents, including emotional regulation and relationship skills. Hostility and unpredictability are especially damaging for children in high-conflict homes. Teaching children flexible thinking, emotional regulation, moderate behavior, and self-reflection helps build lifelong resilience. Setting boundaries without meaningful consequences rarely changes high-conflict behavior. You’re not responsible for managing another person’s emotions—you are responsible for protecting your own peace. Chapter Highlights 00:00 – Introducing Bill Eddy and the BIFF Method 03:25 – How BIFF Was Created 07:13 – Common BIFF Mistakes and the “Three A’s” 09:56 – AI, Communication, and Building Your BIFF Muscle 16:53 – How High Conflict Affects Children 22:41 – Teaching Kids the Four Big Skills for Life 25:21 – Can High-Conflict People Change? 27:20 – Introducing SLIC: Setting Limits & Imposing Consequences 30:14 – Real Co-Parenting Boundary Examples 34:03 – How Family Court Has Changed Over Four Decades 38:05 – The Future of High-Conflict Family Court 40:14 – Where to Learn More About Bill Eddy What if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App . As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond

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  Episode #16

  The Emotional Divorce Most Parents Never Complete with Dr. Lee Baucom

  Aug 13, 202644 minS2

  What if the legal divorce is over—but the emotional relationship is still running the show? In this episode, Sol sits down with relationship coach, therapist, author, and Save the Marriage podcast host Dr. Lee Baucom to explore why high-conflict dynamics often continue long after a marriage ends. Together, they unpack the hidden emotional systems that keep co-parents stuck in the same painful patterns and explain how lasting change can begin with just one person choosing to respond differently. You’ll learn why reacting to your co-parent often reinforces conflict, how to reclaim your sense of agency even in difficult legal battles, what an “emotional divorce” really means, and why letting go of the need to control your ex can create a healthier future for both you and your children. Whether you’re navigating a high-conflict co-parenting relationship or simply want to build healthier relationships going forward, this conversation offers practical insights and hope. Learn more about Dr. Lee Baucom: http://SaveTheMarriage.com Get the BestInterest Coparenting App: https://bestinterest.app/ Watch this episode on YouTube : https://youtu.be/PB-SEy2dadY Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/ Keywords High-conflict co-parenting, emotional divorce, family systems, co-parent communication, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, relationship dynamics, divorce recovery, family court, forgiveness, trust, parenting after divorce, personal responsibility, child wellbeing Highlights Why divorce doesn’t end the relationship when you share children. The difference between reacting emotionally and responding from your values. How one parent can change the co-parenting dynamic—even if the other doesn’t. The three things you can actually control in a high-conflict relationship. Why trying to control your ex often keeps conflict alive. Understanding “emotional divorce” and why it matters. How resentment and disconnection fuel ongoing conflict. The difference between forgiveness, trust, apology, and reconciliation. What children need most during and after divorce. Practical ways to reduce regret and parent with integrity. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Meet Dr. Lee Baucom 04:45 Why Conflict Continues After Divorce 08:25 Responding vs. Reacting 12:10 Breaking People-Pleasing and Conflict Cycles 13:40 The Three Things You Can Control 15:34 BestInterest AI Co-Parenting App 15:58 Regaining Agency During High-Conflict Divorce 21:00 Family Systems and Emotional Patterns 28:35 Olive Branches, Forgiveness, and Moving Forward 31:00 Rebuilding Trust After Divorce 33:10 Helping Children Through Divorce 37:25 What Emotionally Healthy Co-Parents Do Differently 38:50 What Is an Emotional Divorce? 40:55 Final Advice for Parents Navigating Divorce 42:30 Where to Find Dr. Lee Baucom What if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App . As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond

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  Episode #15

  Why So Many Adult Children Cut Off Their Parents (And How to Prevent It) with Catherine Hickem

  Jul 30, 202635 minS2

  Nearly one in four adult children are estranged from at least one parent—a trend that’s becoming increasingly common, yet rarely discussed. In this episode of Coparenting Beyond Conflict , Sol sits down with parenting expert Catherine Hickem , founder of Parenting Adult Children Today and author of It’s Never Too Late to Be a Great Parent . Together they explore why parent-child relationships break down in adulthood, how divorce impacts family relationships across generations, and what parents can do now to build lasting trust with their children. Whether you’re raising young children, navigating a divorce, or supporting an adult child through one, this conversation offers practical guidance for creating stronger family relationships that endure through life’s biggest transitions. Learn more about Catherine Hickem: https://www.parentingadultchildrentoday.com/ Get Catherine's book, It’s Never Too Late to Be a Great Parent : https://www.amazon.com/Its-Never-Late-Great-Parent/dp/197179502X Get the BestInterest Coparenting App: https://bestinterest.app/ Watch this episode on YouTube : https://youtu.be/H8pqZswdibE Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/ Keywords adult child estrangement, parent-child relationships, parenting adult children, divorce and adult children, family estrangement, co-parenting, high-conflict divorce, grandparents and divorce, family communication, healthy boundaries, unconditional love, relationship repair, emotional safety, parenting after divorce, family healing Key Takeaways Why adult-child estrangement is becoming so common The parenting mistakes that unintentionally push adult children away How divorce affects relationships across multiple generations What adult children really need from their parents during a divorce How grandparents can provide support without making conflict worse Why honesty, curiosity, and respect matter more than taking sides The “Four Pillars” of healthy relationships with adult children How unconditional love creates lifelong trust Chapter Highlights 00:00 Introduction 01:40 The growing epidemic of parent-child estrangement 04:10 The most common reasons adult children cut off parents 08:20 Catherine’s own divorce and what it taught her about parenting 11:55 What adult children need from their parents during divorce 14:55 How grandparents can best support a child going through divorce 19:20 When your adult child asks you to cut off their ex 25:05 The transition from parenting children to parenting adults 25:30 The Four Pillars of healthy relationships with adult children 31:55 How parents can become a safe harbor instead of a source of judgment 33:40 Where to learn more from Catherine Hickem What if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App . As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond

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  Episode #14

  How Dads Can Show Up Better After Divorce with Larry Hagner

  Jul 16, 202631 minS2

  What does it mean to be a “legendary” father—especially when you’re navigating divorce, co-parenting, and the daily pressures of work and life? In this episode of Coparenting Beyond Conflict, Sol interviews Larry Hagner, host of the Dad Edge podcast and author of The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood. Larry shares practical insights on what children truly need from their fathers: presence, emotional safety, and the willingness to repair after mistakes. Larry explains why great parenting is a learnable skill, how staying together “for the kids” can sometimes do more harm than good, and why children often see us in a far more forgiving light than we see ourselves. He also offers concrete tools for becoming more present with your children, regulating your emotions during conflict, and communicating more effectively with both partners and co-parents. Whether you’re a divorced dad carrying guilt, a parent struggling to stay calm under stress, or anyone who wants to create a more peaceful home, this conversation is full of compassionate and practical guidance. Learn more about Larry Hagner and The Dad Edge: https://thedadedge.com/ Get Larry's book, The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood : https://thedadedge.com/legendary-fatherhood-book Get the BestInterest Coparenting App: https://bestinterest.app/ Watch this episode on YouTube : https://youtu.be/yY2JEqn0ses Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/ Keywords legendary fatherhood, divorced dads, co-parenting, emotional regulation, presence, fatherhood skills, repair, psychological safety, parenting after divorce, conflict resolution, The Experience Cube, effective communication, parenting guilt, emotional safety, Dad Edge Key Takeaways Children often see their parents more compassionately than parents see themselves. Great fatherhood is not innate—it is a skill that can be learned and strengthened. Repair after mistakes is one of the most important ways to build trust with children. Staying together “for the kids” is not always healthiest if the relationship is toxic. Kids spell love as T-I-M-E. Presence can be cultivated by fully engaging your senses in the moment. Conflict improves when you focus on what you want, rather than what you don’t want. Unspoken expectations are a major source of resentment. A peaceful home environment supports both parents and children. The quality of your life depends on the quality of the questions you ask yourself. Chapter Highlights 00:00 – Introducing Larry Hagner and Legendary Fatherhood 01:11 – Why Your Kids See You Better Than You See Yourself 04:47 – Should Parents Stay Together for the Kids? 07:45 – Fatherhood as a Learnable Skill 11:39 – The Power of Repair 13:20 – Work Stress and Being Present with Your Kids 19:19 – Navigating Conflict and Emotional Triggers 21:57 – The Experience Cube Communication Tool 26:41 – Why Speaking Up Matters 27:04 – Creating Psychological Safety for Kids 27:58 – One Message for Parents Feeling Defeated 29:08 – Where to Find Larry Hagner What if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App . As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond

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