Mar 18, 2026
This episode includes discussion around mental health, emotional distress, and suicide risk, particularly for men navigating separation and divorce. Please listen in a way that feels safe for you. If you need support, reach out to someone you trust or a qualified professional.
In this episode I am joined by Dr Eran Magen, Yale Pyschologist and Founder DivorcingDads.org.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why you might look fine on the outside but feel completely destabilised inside
- The loss of identity that can come with separation
- The emotional exhaustion, fear and uncertainty that often go unspoken
- Why there is no quick fix and why that’s actually okay
- A simple way to understand
your energy when everything feels depleted:
Escape. Recharge. Growth. - Why sadness is so difficult to express and how to start
- The fear of opening up and “not being able to close it again”
- Loneliness, withdrawal and why connection matters more than you think
- Suicide risk in men going through divorce and what to look out for
- What actually helps when you feel overwhelmed
- The one place to start: talking to someone
I would like you to take this away -
What you’re feeling makes sense. You’re not weak for struggling. And you don’t have to do this on your own.
Resources & support
If this episode brings anything up for you, please reach out.
Australia
Lifeline — 13 11 14
MensLine — 1300 78 99 78
Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
Host: Nikki Parkinson, TEDx Speaker, Divorce Doula, Coach and Founder of The Divorce and Separation Hub.
The Divorce and Separation Hub Website
The Divorce and Separation Hub Instagram
The Divorce and Separation Hub Facebook
The Divorce and Separation Hub Linkedin
Join our Divorce and Separation community HERE.
Watch Nikki's TEDx Talk HERE.
Guest: Dr Eran Magen, Yale Psychologist and Founder of DivorcingDads.org
Meet Dr Magen - Dr. Eran Magen earned his M.A. in education and Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University, completed post-doctoral training in child psychology and population health, and currently serves as an assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. He is the founder of ParentingForHumans.com and DivorcingDads.org, which support parents in creating strong, collaborative and joyful relationships with their children. He is also the founder of EarlyAlert, which prevents suicide among students and veterans.
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This episode is produced by Dan King of
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This episode is sposnored by Simple Separation, the smarter
way to separate. Simple Separation is an online, fixed-fee
service designed to help Australian couples finalise their divorce
and separation respectfully, collaboratively, and without the
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Disclaimer
I hope you enjoyed the podcast today. The information we discussed today was just that information only. It is not specific advice. If you take action following something you heard today, it is important to make sure you get professional advice about your unique situation before you proceed, whether that advice be legal, financial, accounting, medical or other advice. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or if there’s another topic you’d like explored.