Podcast Episode
Removing the Guilt and Shame from Divorce (w/ Bethany Pace and Hillary Livingston of Sincerely Divorced)
Your nEXt Chapter with Dr. Nicole | Healing From Divorce and Traumatic Transitions·Dr. Nicole Rochester·12 September 2026·55 min

About this episode
Send us Fan MailRebuilding isn't about going back to who you were. It's about discovering who you are becoming and having the courage to imagine what's possible next.In this episode, I sat down with Hillary Livingston Giddings and Bethany Pace, co-creators of Sincerely Divorced, a global support community dedicated to breaking the stigma and isolation that often follows divorce. They share how their own experiences with divorce led them to build a community rooted in connection, vulnerability, and hope.Together, we explore what it means to reframe divorce, let go of the version of yourself you thought you had to be, listen to your own voice again, and rebuild a life that actually aligns with who you are now.Topics Covered: 00:00:00 – Episode snippet 00:01:48 – Introducing Hillary Livingston Giddings and Bethany Pace 00:03:37 – The origin story of Sincerely Divorced 00:05:06 – Showing up is enough 00:08:06 – Healing through handwritten encouragement 00:13:54 – Reframing divorce for high-achieving women 00:16:38 – Letting life experience become your teacher 00:20:25 – Pay attention to your voice 00:21:17 – Let go of who you thought you were 00:23:37 – Rebuilding after divorce 00:24:11 – The courage it takes to rebuild 00:30:34 – Healing the trauma of family court 00:36:32 – Dating, unlearning, and discovering yourself after divorce 00:43:19 – Creating a life that actually fits you 00:47:00 – One word of Hillary: Brazen 00:48:09 – One word of Bethany: Imagine 00:49:09 – Embracing the Whimsy 00:49:31 – Connect with Sincerely DivorcedKey Takeaways:“Reframing shifts the view from what I didn't do or the target I did miss to what is next.” - Bethany Pace“Show me a divorced woman and I'll show you the most courageous, most amazing, beautiful, strong person in the world.” – Dr. Nicole“Pay attention to your voice and look for ways to hear yourself.” — Hillary Giddings✨Season 5 Sponsor: Our Season 5 sponsor is FirstLight Home Care of Bowie. They are a Black-woman owned non-medical home care agency serving families throughout Prince George’s County, MD since 2017. They offer specialized in-home care for individuals navigating: Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke Recovery, and Diabetes. Please visit their website or call 301-778-1988 for more information.Join our email list to stay up to date: bit.ly/joinYNC☕ Support the podcast here: Buy Me a Coffee About Our GuestsHillary Livingston Giddings, M.S. and Bethany Pace, M.Ed. are the creators and co-founders of Sincerely, Divorced, a vibrant online and in-person community dedicated to reframing an often-shamed shared experience. Through compassionate advice, humor, research, and education on positive reframing, they help people navigate adversity, rebuild their lives, and find hope after divorce and other major life transitions.Connect with Sincerely, Divorced
Website: https://sincerelydivorced.com/About Your HostDr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!Connect with Dr. Nicole:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/yournextchapYour nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith.Support the show