What happens when divorce doesn’t just end a marriage but reshapes an entire family?
In this episode, Susan Chesnutt sits down with nurse, coach, and podcaster Lisa Sander to uncover how faith, forgiveness, and hard conversations can transform even the most painful family transitions. Together, they dig into the realities of blended families, co-parenting challenges, and what it really takes to break generational cycles through honesty and grace.
If you’ve ever faced the chaos of separation or struggled to hold your family together in the midst of change, this episode will show you what healing can look like. You won’t leave this conversation the same.
In this episode, Susan and Lisa Sander discuss:
Navigating divorce and blended family dynamics
The role of faith in healing and transformation
Communication challenges and breakthroughs in co-parenting
Building supportive family and community systems
Personal growth through vulnerability, therapy, and hard conversations
Key Takeaways:
Graceful Divorce and Co-Parenting (06:20): By keeping her divorce simple and affordable at $1,500, committing to co-parenting promises, and praying with her children, Lisa shows that you can set a foundation of peace and unity from the start.
Hard Conversations with Children (12:24): Lisa found that involving her kids in heated but honest discussions allowed them to give feedback, reinforced love through reconnection, and modeled that avoiding silence breaks harmful cycles — a practice you can adopt in your own family.
Choosing Forgiveness in Family Dynamics (26:13): Even after divorce, Lisa chose to hug her ex-husband’s new partner and continue engaging with his extended family, teaching her children that forgiveness and respect can create a healthier support system — a reminder that you can show grace instead of bitterness.
Letting Children Love Both Parents (41:54): When Lisa’s daughter reminded her, “I’m not divorcing you, I’m just going to Dad’s,” it highlighted the danger of placing guilt on kids; encouraging them to enjoy time with both parents helps them feel safe, loved, and open — something every parent can practice.
“Silence does not help situations. Not having the hard conversations does not help the situation. Hard conversations need to be had to break the generational cycles.”
- Lisa Sander
About Lisa Sander: Lisa Sander is a registered nurse with over 20 years of clinical experience who has transformed her passion for caring into a mission of coaching, speaking, and inspiring others. As co-host of the Our Healer Our Protector podcast and creator of the Healing Chair Talk, Lisa helps individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s most difficult transitions with faith, honesty, and compassion. Drawing from her own journey through divorce, blended family dynamics, and personal growth, she brings a unique combination of clinical wisdom, emotional intuition, and spiritual grounding to her work. Whether guiding women through divorce recovery or helping families strengthen communication, Lisa is committed to breaking generational cycles and fostering resilience. She continues to serve as a nurse leader while empowering others to heal, reconnect, and thrive.
Connect with Lisa Sander:
Website: https://lisasander.com/
Show: Our Healer, Our Protector: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-healer-our-protector/id1812547916
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-sander-80359725a/
Connect with Susan:
Website: https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/
Podcast: https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-chesnutt-27077bb9/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechesnuttlawfirm/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBwfp_IVpeX-YHKpxZ5L0g
Avvo: https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/32960-fl-susan-chesnutt-3330241.html