Podcast thumbnail for Girl, Wake Up!

Girl, Wake Up!

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by Amy Polacko

23 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview

Girl, Wake Up! is the no-nonsense divorce and life coaching podcast for women who are ready to stop surviving and start strategizing. Hosted by Amy Polacko — Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS), award-winning television journalist, founder of Freedom Warrior Coaching, speaker, and single mom — this show was built on one defining belief: the women who come through divorce with their finances intact, their children protected, and their sense of self stronger than before didn't get lucky. They got strategic. Amy knows this firsthand. She navigated divorce not once but twice, overcame narcissistic abuse, rebuilt her career and finances from scratch as a single working mom, and spent 12 years coaching hundreds of women through every stage of the process — before filing, through family court, and into the next chapter. A Columbia Journalism School graduate who began her career on a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting team, Amy brings the same investigative precision to divorce strategy that she brought to breaking news: facts over fear, preparation over panic, and clarity over chaos. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the realities of family court, divorce law, financial independence, high-conflict and narcissistic relationships, custody strategy, and the emotional and logistical work of rebuilding your life — with candor, expertise, and the kind of warmth that only comes from someone who has been exactly where you are. Subscribe, share with a woman who needs it, and visit freedomwarrior.info to work with Amy directly.

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Publishing Since

12/15/2025

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Winning After Toxic Love: Rewiring Your Brain & Reclaiming Your Life (w/ Jackie Miller)

July 14, 2026

Winning After Toxic Love: Rewiring Your Brain & Reclaiming Your Life (w/ Jackie Miller)

<p>Leaving a toxic relationship does not always bring the freedom you expect. </p><p>Even after it ends, your brain and nervous system may still be stuck in survival mode-replaying the conflict, bracing for the next attack and struggling to trust yourself again.</p><p>In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Jackie Miller, author of Winning: Rewiring Your Brain and Reclaiming Your Life After Toxic Love. Jackie explains what emotional control and psychological abuse can do to the brain and body, why healing often takes longer than outsiders understand and how survivors can begin moving from chaos toward calm.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><ul><li>Why leaving does not automatically make you feel free</li><li>How toxic relationships affect the brain and nervous system</li><li>Why survivors may miss someone they do not want back</li><li>How manipulation erodes confidence and self-trust</li><li>What it means to make calm your new normal</li><li>Practical ways to disengage from toxic dynamics</li></ul><br/><p>If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at <strong><u><a href="http://www.freedomwarrior.info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.freedomwarrior.info</a></u></strong></p><p>Learn more about Jackie Miller and her book, Winning: Rewiring Your Brain and Reclaiming Your Life After Toxic Love, at <u><a href="http://www.jackie-miller.com/book" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.jackie-miller.com/book</a></u></p><p></p>

Episode thumbnail for Who Pays for College After Divorce? (w/ author of 'College Planning for Divorced & Widowed Parents' Vicki Vollweiler)

June 30, 2026

Who Pays for College After Divorce? (w/ author of 'College Planning for Divorced & Widowed Parents' Vicki Vollweiler)

<p>College planning is stressful for any family–but when parents are divorced, separated, remarried, widowed or parenting on their own, the process can get even more complicated.</p><p>In this episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy talks with Vicki Vollweiler, founder of College Financial Prep and author of College Planning for Divorced &amp; Widowed Parents, about what families need to know before the tuition bills arrive. Amy shares how her own divorce decrees left out important details about college, and why parents need to think ahead before FAFSA forms, college visits, deadlines, deposits and disagreements begin.</p><p>Vicki explains the biggest mistakes divorced parents make, why vague language like “we’ll split college costs” can create problems, and how families can reduce stress with better planning, clearer communication, and a realistic strategy.</p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><ul><li>Why college planning is different after divorce</li><li>What parents should address before senior year</li><li>How FAFSA and financial aid can become more complicated</li><li>Why court may not be a quick fix if one parent refuses to pay</li><li>How to protect your child from being caught in the middle</li></ul><br/><p>If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at <strong><u><a href="http://www.freedomwarrior.info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.freedomwarrior.info</a></u></strong></p><p>Learn more about Vicki’s work:</p><p>Website: <u><a href="https://www.collegefinancialprep.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.CollegeFinancialPrep.com </a></u></p><p>Email: Vicki@CollegeFinancialPrep.com</p><p>Facebook: <u><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CollegeFinancialPrep" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.Facebook.com/CollegeFinancialPrep </a></u></p><p>Instagram: <u><a href="https://www.instagram.com/CollegeFinancialPrep" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.Instagram.com/CollegeFinancialPrep </a></u></p><p>YouTube<u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@collegefinancialprep" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">: https://www.youtube.com/@collegefinancialprep </a></u></p><p>LinkedIn: <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-vollweiler/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-vollweiler/</a></u></p>

Episode thumbnail for Divorce Success Story: The Art of Reinvention

June 16, 2026

Divorce Success Story: The Art of Reinvention

<p>What happens when a woman takes the blank canvas of life after divorce and starts creating something entirely new? </p><p>In this Divorce Success Story episode of Girl, Wake Up!, Amy sits down with Dee Dee Colabella, a Ridgefield, Connecticut entrepreneur, art gallery owner and owner of 068 Magazine, whose life after divorce became a story of creativity, courage and reinvention.</p><p>Dee Dee has built a vibrant world around art, beauty, storytelling and community. Through her gallery and magazine, she does more than showcase artists and local voices — she creates spaces where people feel seen, connected and inspired. Her story is a reminder that divorce may close one chapter, but it can also open the door to a life that is more colorful, expressive and aligned with who you were always meant to become.</p><p>In this episode, Amy and Dee Dee talk about the courage it takes to begin again, the power of creativity after divorce, how women can rediscover themselves outside of marriage and motherhood, and why reinvention often starts with one brave step — not a perfect plan.</p><p>If you’re navigating divorce or thinking about it, connect with Amy Polacko for a free 15-minute consultation at <strong><u><a href="http://www.freedomwarrior.info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.freedomwarrior.info</a></u></strong></p><p>Learn more about Dee Dee’s work here: <u><a href="https://dcolabellafineart.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dcolabellafineart.com</a></u></p><p>Follow her on Instagram: @colabellamedia</p><p>Her RPAC Gallery: @rpacgallery</p><p>Her RPAC Art Center and Academy: @rpacartcenterandacademy </p><p></p>

23 total episodes available with 1 transcripts

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Girl, Wake Up!?

Girl, Wake Up! is the no-nonsense divorce and life coaching podcast for women who are ready to stop surviving and start strategizing.

Hosted by Amy Polacko — Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS), award-winning television journalist, founder of Freedom Warrior Coaching, speaker, and single mom — this show was built on one defining belief: the women who come through divorce with their finances intact, their children protected, and their sense of self stronger than before didn't get lucky. They got strategic.

Amy knows this firsthand. She navigated divorce not once but twice, overcame narcissistic abuse, rebuilt her career and finances from scratch as a single working mom, and spent 12 years coaching hundreds of women through every stage of the process — before filing, through family court, and into the next chapter. A Columbia Journalism School graduate who began her career on a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting team, Amy brings the same investigative precision to divorce strategy that she brought to breaking news: facts over fear, preparation over panic, and clarity over chaos.

Each episode pulls back the curtain on the realities of family court, divorce law, financial independence, high-conflict and narcissistic relationships, custody strategy, and the emotional and logistical work of rebuilding your life — with candor, expertise, and the kind of warmth that only comes from someone who has been exactly where you are.

Subscribe, share with a woman who needs it, and visit freedomwarrior.info to work with Amy directly.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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