Untying The Knot
with Lisa Gu

July 18, 2024 | by Lisa Gu

#6. “Can One Person Change Their Marriage?” with Dave Inglis and Dr. Jennifer Forristal

Four years ago, Dave and Jen welcomed their baby boy, William, while juggling the needs of their two older children. Like many families, Dave worked while Jen stayed home with the kids on maternity leave.

Raising a newborn during COVID, dealing with work stress, and facing other family challenges led to mounting resentment. “That was the toughest time in our 10 years together,” Jen recalls. “We were on the verge of divorce,” Dave adds.

Spoiler alert: sex was definitely off the table then🤷🏻‍♀️

Can you relate?

Today, Dave and Jen are temporarily staying at Jen’s Mom’s house with their two teenagers and toddler, preparing for an exciting year-long adventure in Spain. They are both thriving in their careers, exploring new ventures, writing books, and focusing on nurturing their most important team—their family. 

Oh, and they can’t keep their eyes off each other! 👀😍💘🧑‍❤️‍👩

How did they turn their marriage around? Tune in Episode 6 of Unying the Knot to find out.

We cover:

➡️Conflict repair with your spouse
➡️Aligning visions and regular check-ins
➡️Balancing giving and receiving
➡️What does being right cost your marriage
➡️Creating the conditions where your partner can be who they want to become

Dave also introduces us to many fascinating concepts:

• One Third
• Prehab vs. Rehab
• Family Bootcamp

Curious about what these mean? Grab Dave’s new book, Cheif Family Office, to learn more. 
Learn more about Dave Inglish https://www.daveinglis.ca/
Learn more about Dr. Jennifer Forristal https://umbrellaproject.co/

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July 5, 2024 | by Lisa Gu

#5. “Betting On Myself” with Cindy Cheung

Picture this.

You’ve been married for over 20 years, raised two beautiful girls, bought your dream retirement home, have a good job, and are planning to transition to a more relaxed life with your spouse.

Then, out of nowhere, shortly after selling your matrimonial home to “downsize”, your husband tells you he wants a divorce. Not only that, he had told his family, hired a lawyer, and you were literally the last to know.

As if that wasn’t hard enough, COVID hits. You lose the new job you were so excited about just a couple of months ago.

Now, without the identity of being someone’s wife or having a corporate title, who are you?

This was Cindy Cheung’s reality four years ago.

Today, Cindy lives in her own "castle" with her two daughters—the house she built after her divorce. She left the corporate world, became a professor at a local college, started her own consulting business, and is simply shining her light.

How did Cindy transform her life from shock, betrayal, and pain to incredible growth and love?

Find out in this new episode of Untying The Knot.

In our conversation, this badass queen and I cover:
➡️ It's okay to be angry, sad, or whatever—give space to your intense emotions
➡️ Choosing to channel these emotions to fuel your personal growth
➡️ Rebuilding life with a new vision for yourself and your children
➡️ Finding a sense of freedom and liberation in being single
➡️ Embracing different variations of love in your life

Cindy, the queen of metaphors, also compares marriage to a “bullet train” and introduces us to a new word: “liberosis.”

Don’t know what that means? Listen in to find out.

Connect with Cindy on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cindyjcheung/

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June 26, 2024 | by Lisa Gu

#4. Are You Entitled to 50% of Everything In A Common Law Separation?

Do you have a shared bank account, house, or children with your common-law partner? Ever wondered what rights you have in a common-law relationship? Or how does splitting assets and co-parenting differ from being married?

In this eye-opening episode, I sat down with Phaedra Klodner, an experienced family law lawyer, to unravel the myths and complexities of common law partnerships in Canada.

The best part? Phaedra shared real-life examples! 📔

We cover:

➡️The legal definition of common law in Canada
➡️Legal parenting rights and obligations in a common law separation
➡️Can you claim spousal support when you separate from your common-law partner
➡️The nuances of asset division in common law separations, including houses, debts, capital gains, and pensions
➡️Why a cohabitation agreement could be your best safeguard 

Phaedra also shares her top 3 tips on working effectively with your legal counsel to achieve the desired results. 📜

Whether you’re going through a common law separation, thinking about moving in with someone, or have been in a common law relationship for decades, you will benefit from learning the essential advice in this one-hour conversation.

Tune in and get empowered with the knowledge to protect your rights and navigate your relationship with confidence! 💪

Reach out to Phaedra Klodner’s office for legal advice.
🏠Address: 56 Francis St N, Kitchener, ON N2H 5B5
☎️Phone: (519) 571-4441

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June 13, 2024 | by Lisa Gu

#3. Thriving After High Conflict Divorce with Sarah and Sean

After raising three children and overcoming a life-threatening illness, Sarah faced yet another challenge: her ex-husband's infidelity and numerous lies. Devastated and hiding under her desk, she didn’t know how to crawl out of the mess.

That’s when Sarah and I met. And oh my gosh, am I in awe of her tremendous strength and growth over the past four years? Against all odds, Sarah has emerged stronger than ever. She is now a writer and coach, a rock for her three adult children and three grandchildren, and she’s living life to the fullest.

Then there’s my friend Sean. Three years ago, he was overweight, broke, and exhausted. After his separation, Sean embarked on a journey of deep inner work and has transformed every aspect of his life. He lost 100 pounds, cleaned up his finances, is an engaging father to his two young children, and a dedicated yogi. Sean continues to look within and advocates for doing the work.

In this episode, Sarah and Sean share:

How to deal with a non-communicative ex
Effective co-parenting strategies
The toughest parts of their divorce journeys
The turning point when they realized they would be okay
And more
Tune in to hear their inspiring stories! 

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June 6, 2024 | by Lisa Gu

#2: From Heartache to Hope: Rediscovering Life After Divorce with Jeff

In this episode, my friend Jeff opens up about the profound loneliness he felt in his marriage, his affair, and the complexities of co-parenting. He shares his journey of spiritual growth, rediscovering himself after divorce, and his pursuit of love and happiness.

Jeff also shares the mistakes he made during his divorce settlement and the “bullets he bit” in co-parenting while striving to love, support, and care for his two daughters. 

I am deeply touched and grateful for Jeff’s candour and honoured by his trust. We shared many laughs along the way, too. I hope this episode brings you joy, hope, and peace.

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May 27, 2024 | by Lisa Gu

#1: Heart-Centered Divorce with Lauren Ross

Lauren Ross, a Certified Life Coach, joined me to delve into her transformative divorce journey. We explore:

• In limbo: the dilemma of whether to stay or go
• Heart vs. head: adopting a compassionate approach to divorce
• Scarcity vs. abundance mindsets: shifting perspectives
• Facts vs. emotions: navigating the complexities
• Safety in marriage: finding security and empowerment

So many golden nuggets in this inaugural episode of Untying the Knot. Enjoy!

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