Tara Pavlovic is a Gold Coast-based content creator and mum of two who recently announced her separation — and the response from women everywhere made it clear this conversation needed to happen.


Rachel and Tara get into what the lead-up to leaving actually looks like from the inside. The years of therapy. The panic attacks. The couples counselling that didn't save the marriage but mattered anyway. The Fiji holiday they booked because they knew they could still have a good time together. And the moment Tara's body made the decision before her mind was ready to.


They also go somewhere neither of them planned — into what it does to a woman's sense of self when she realises her version of the marriage and his were two completely different realities. And what it means to lose trust in yourself so completely that you can't imagine ever choosing again.

Honest, raw, and at times genuinely surprising. This one will probably make you cry at least once.


In this episode:
Why the hardest part of leaving isn't what comes after — it's the decision itself
What couples counselling actually does when it doesn't save the marriage
How alcohol can hold a relationship together — and what happens when it's gone
The moment the panic attacks became impossible to ignore
Why she doesn't believe anyone will truly love her now
What it feels like to lose all trust in yourself after a marriage ends
What Tara would say to any woman sitting in that dark place right now



Find Tara: @tarapavlovic 

Now What is hosted by Rachel Maksimovic. Follow @rachel.maksimovic & @nowwhat.podcast on Instagram.

Tara Pavlovic is a Gold Coast-based content creator and mum of two who recently announced her separation — and the response from women everywhere made it clear this conversation needed to happen. Rachel and Tara get into what the lead-up to leaving actually looks like from the inside. The years of therapy. The panic attacks. The couples counselling that didn't save the marriage but mattered anyway. The Fiji holiday they booked because they knew they could still have a good time together. And the moment Tara's body made the decision before her mind was ready to. They also go somewhere neither of them planned — into what it does to a woman's sense of self when she realises her version of the marriage and his were two completely different realities. And what it means to lose trust in yourself so completely that you can't imagine ever choosing again.Honest, raw, and at times genuinely surprising. This one will probably make you cry at least once. In this episode:<ul><li>Why the hardest part of leaving isn't what comes after — it's the decision itself</li><li>What couples counselling actually does when it doesn't save the marriage</li><li>How alcohol can hold a relationship together — and what happens when it's gone</li><li>The moment the panic attacks became impossible to ignore</li><li>Why she doesn't believe anyone will truly love her now</li><li>What it feels like to lose all trust in yourself after a marriage ends</li><li>What Tara would say to any woman sitting in that dark place right now</li><li> </li></ul>Find Tara: @tarapavlovic Now What is hosted by Rachel Maksimovic. Follow @rachel.maksimovic & @nowwhat.podcast on Instagram. <hr>

Now What? is a podcast for single mothers, solo mums by choice and women navigating separation, co-parenting, dating again and blended families. Formerly Mothering On My Own, the show has evolved to reflect how single motherhood keeps shifting and reshaping over time. Hosted by Rachel Maksimovic, it’s a space for honest conversations, expert insights and real stories that help you feel less alone as you navigate each new chapter and ask yourself… now what?

Now What? is a podcast for single mothers, solo mums by choice and women navigating separation, co-parenting, dating again and blended families. Formerly Mothering On My Own, the show has evolved to reflect how single motherhood keeps shifting and reshaping over time. Hosted by Rachel Maksimovic, it&rsquo;s a space for honest conversations, expert insights and real stories that help you feel less alone as you navigate each new chapter and ask yourself&hellip; now what?

Now What? is a podcast for single mothers, solo mums by choice and women navigating separation, co-parenting, dating again and blended families.

Now What? Podcast

I am grieving a marriage I needed to leave- with Tara Pavlovic

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/c395f015-daa7-47a8-af47-b482017ce79a/transcript

What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you imagined?

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Jane, creator of Spinal Energetics and author of the new book Your Spine Holds the Answer.

This conversation is about so much more than healing. It's about navigating the gap between the life you thought you'd have and the life you're actually living.

We talk about divorce, recurrent pregnancy loss, single motherhood, getting older, and the quiet grief that can come from watching other people live the life you once imagined for yourself.

We also explore why so many of us understand our attachment style, our triggers and our patterns, yet still find ourselves stuck in the same emotional loops. Why isn't awareness always enough? And what role does the body play in helping us move through experiences that our minds alone can't seem to resolve?

For the single mums listening, we also dive into chronic stress, living in survival mode, the fear of letting your guard down, and whether it's actually possible to feel safe again after life has knocked you around.

This conversation is an invitation to make space for grief without letting it define you, to loosen your grip on how life "should" look, and to remember that a meaningful life isn't reserved for those whose plans worked out.

In this episode we discuss:
• The grief of letting go of the life you imagined
• Divorce, infertility and rebuilding after loss
• The pressure women feel around age and timelines
• Why knowing your patterns isn't always enough to change them
• Chronic stress, survival mode and the nervous system
• Learning to feel safe in your body again
• Opening yourself up to love after heartbreak
• Finding hope when life hasn't gone to plan

Find Dr Sarah Jane:
@drsarahjanechiro
@spinalenergetics
Pre Order her book "Your Spine holds the answer"

Rach:
@rachel.maksimovic

What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you imagined?
In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Jane, creator of Spinal Energetics and author of the new book&nbsp;Your Spine Holds the Answer.
This conversation is about so much more than healing. It's about navigating the gap between the life you thought you'd have and the life you're actually living.
We talk about divorce, recurrent pregnancy loss, single motherhood, getting older, and the quiet grief that can come from watching other people live the life you once imagined for yourself.
We also explore why so many of us understand our attachment style, our triggers and our patterns, yet still find ourselves stuck in the same emotional loops. Why isn't awareness always enough? And what role does the body play in helping us move through experiences that our minds alone can't seem to resolve?
For the single mums listening, we also dive into chronic stress, living in survival mode, the fear of letting your guard down, and whether it's actually possible to feel safe again after life has knocked you around.
This conversation is an invitation to make space for grief without letting it define you, to loosen your grip on how life "should" look, and to remember that a meaningful life isn't reserved for those whose plans worked out.
In this episode we discuss: &bull; The grief of letting go of the life you imagined &bull; Divorce, infertility and rebuilding after loss &bull; The pressure women feel around age and timelines &bull; Why knowing your patterns isn't always enough to change them &bull; Chronic stress, survival mode and the nervous system &bull; Learning to feel safe in your body again &bull; Opening yourself up to love after heartbreak &bull; Finding hope when life hasn't gone to plan
Find Dr Sarah Jane: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drsarahjanechiro/">@drsarahjanechiro </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/spinalenergetics/">@spinalenergetics </a><a href="What%20do%20you%20do%20when%20life%20doesn't%20turn%20out%20the%20way%20you%20imagined?%20%20In%20this%20episode,%20I'm%20joined%20by%20Dr.%20Sarah%20Jane,%20creator%20of%20Spinal%20Energetics%20and%20author%20of%20the%20new%20book%20Your%20Spine%20Holds%20the%20Answer.%20%20This%20conversation%20is%20about%20so%20much%20more%20than%20healing.%20It's%20about%20navigating%20the%20gap%20between%20the%20life%20you%20thought%20you'd%20have%20and%20the%20life%20you're%20actually%20living.%20%20We%20talk%20about%20divorce,%20recurrent%20pregnancy%20loss,%20single%20motherhood,%20getting%20older,%20and%20the%20quiet%20grief%20that%20can%20come%20from%20watching%20other%20people%20live%20the%20life%20you%20once%20imagined%20for%20yourself.%20%20We%20also%20explore%20why%20so%20many%20of%20us%20understand%20our%20attachment%20style,%20our%20triggers%20and%20our%20patterns,%20yet%20still%20find%20ourselves%20stuck%20in%20the%20same%20emotional%20loops.%20Why%20isn't%20awareness%20always%20enough?%20And%20what%20role%20does%20the%20body%20play%20in%20helping%20us%20move%20through%20experiences%20that%20our%20minds%20alone%20can't%20seem%20to%20resolve?%20%20For%20the%20single%20mums%20listening,%20we%20also%20dive%20into%20chronic%20stress,%20living%20in%20survival%20mode,%20the%20fear%20of%20letting%20your%20guard%20down,%20and%20whether%20it's%20actually%20possible%20to%20feel%20safe%20again%20after%20life%20has%20knocked%20you%20around.%20%20This%20conversation%20is%20an%20invitation%20to%20make%20space%20for%20grief%20without%20letting%20it%20define%20you,%20to%20loosen%20your%20grip%20on%20how%20life%20&quot;should&quot;%20look,%20and%20to%20remember%20that%20a%20meaningful%20life%20isn't%20reserved%20for%20those%20whose%20plans%20worked%20out.%20%20In%20this%20episode%20we%20discuss:%20&bull;%20The%20grief%20of%20letting%20go%20of%20the%20life%20you%20imagined%20&bull;%20Divorce,%20infertility%20and%20rebuilding%20after%20loss%20&bull;%20The%20pressure%20women%20feel%20around%20age%20and%20timelines%20&bull;%20Why%20knowing%20your%20patterns%20isn't%20always%20enough%20to%20change%20them%20&bull;%20Chronic%20stress,%20survival%20mode%20and%20the%20nervous%20system%20&bull;%20Learning%20to%20feel%20safe%20in%20your%20body%20again%20&bull;%20Opening%20yourself%20up%20to%20love%20after%20heartbreak%20&bull;%20Finding%20hope%20when%20life%20hasn't%20gone%20to%20plan%20%20Dr%20Sarah%20Jane:%20@drsarahjanechiro%20@spinalenergetics%20Pre%20Order%20her%20book%20&quot;Your%20Spine%20holds%20the%20answer&quot;%20https://www.amazon.com.au/exec/obidos/ASIN/1764372328?tag=simonsayscom">Pre Order her book "Your Spine holds the answer"</a> Rach: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rachel.maksimovic/">@rachel.maksimovic</a>

When Life Doesn't Turn Out the Way You Planned- with Dr. Sarah Jane

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/0373dcd0-c2fb-445b-b213-b48e00e0f9d6/transcript

When she became a single mum, Jen made a promise to herself: she was not going to live a smaller, harder life just because a relationship had ended. Years later, that promise turned into a "mommune" — a shared home in New York City with her best friend Annabelle, also a single mum, where they split rent, share dinners, divide the mental load of parenting, and raise their kids as one family unit. No romantic partners live in the house. No calendars or chore charts either. Just two women who decided that trust, presence and showing up for each other beats waiting around for a man to do it.


In this conversation, Jen unpacks how the mommune actually started (hint: it wasn't a business decision, it was years of shared play dates and swapped babysitting), how she and Annabelle split money and domestic labour without ever discussing finances directly, how dating still fits into her life without ever entering the home, and why she believes isolation, not money, is often the real crisis facing single mums.


This episode is for anyone who has ever sat alone on a Friday night after the kids are asleep and wondered if there's another way to build a home, a family and a life that doesn't hinge on finding "the one."


In this episode:



How a years-long friendship turned into a shared household
Splitting rent, groceries and bills without pooling finances
Why trust replaced micromanaging once a man was out of the equation
The "no men in the home" rule, and how dating still works around it
The moment Jen realised the mommune had given her her mental space back
Advice for anyone wanting to build this kind of support system, with or without moving in together

When she became a single mum, Jen made a promise to herself: she was not going to live a smaller, harder life just because a relationship had ended. Years later, that promise turned into a "mommune" — a shared home in New York City with her best friend Annabelle, also a single mum, where they split rent, share dinners, divide the mental load of parenting, and raise their kids as one family unit. No romantic partners live in the house. No calendars or chore charts either. Just two women who decided that trust, presence and showing up for each other beats waiting around for a man to do it. In this conversation, Jen unpacks how the mommune actually started (hint: it wasn't a business decision, it was years of shared play dates and swapped babysitting), how she and Annabelle split money and domestic labour without ever discussing finances directly, how dating still fits into her life without ever entering the home, and why she believes isolation, not money, is often the real crisis facing single mums. This episode is for anyone who has ever sat alone on a Friday night after the kids are asleep and wondered if there's another way to build a home, a family and a life that doesn't hinge on finding "the one." In this episode: <ul><li>How a years-long friendship turned into a shared household</li><li>Splitting rent, groceries and bills without pooling finances</li><li>Why trust replaced micromanaging once a man was out of the equation</li><li>The "no men in the home" rule, and how dating still works around it</li><li>The moment Jen realised the mommune had given her her mental space back</li><li>Advice for anyone wanting to build this kind of support system, with or without moving in together</li></ul> <hr>

The Mommune: Inside the Household Where Two Single Mums Raise Their Kids Together- with Bernie Sinclair

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/d914a279-4f21-4952-9579-b482017ce64e/transcript

Jemima found out she was pregnant at 39. The father made it clear from the beginning — if she continued, she was on her own. She continued.


This conversation covers what nobody prepares you for when you're doing it completely alone from the start — the shame of a pregnancy you're hiding in plain sight, the identity shift that hits harder when there's no one to hand the baby to, the sleep deprivation, the finances, the friendships that quietly disappear, and the strange grief of losing a spontaneous life you didn't realise you'd miss.


Jemima is two years in, finally back at work, newly dating, and still figuring out who she is on the other side of it. She doesn't sugarcoat any of it — and that's exactly why this one is worth a listen.

Jemima found out she was pregnant at 39. The father made it clear from the beginning — if she continued, she was on her own. She continued. This conversation covers what nobody prepares you for when you're doing it completely alone from the start — the shame of a pregnancy you're hiding in plain sight, the identity shift that hits harder when there's no one to hand the baby to, the sleep deprivation, the finances, the friendships that quietly disappear, and the strange grief of losing a spontaneous life you didn't realise you'd miss. Jemima is two years in, finally back at work, newly dating, and still figuring out who she is on the other side of it. She doesn't sugarcoat any of it — and that's exactly why this one is worth a listen. <hr>

What Nobody Tells You About Doing It Completely Alone- With Jemima Fallows

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/66917ec3-1680-404d-b134-b482017ce67c/transcript

I am grieving a marriage I needed to leave- with Tara Pavlovic

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