Starting over after abuse, separation, illness, or financial uncertainty is not a single decision. It is a series of choices made when life may feel least predictable: getting through the day, asking for help, putting one foot in front of the other, and slowly trusting yourself again. In this episode of The Divorce Circle, host and mortgage broker Sabeena Bubber, Mortgage Broker for Xeva Mortgage speaks with strength and nutrition coach Michelle Troll about leaving an abusive marriage, arriving in Canada with her young daughter and very limited resources, living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and rebuilding a life grounded in physical and emotional strength. Their conversation offers a compassionate reminder that recovery does not have to look dramatic to be real. Often, it begins with one small promise kept to yourself. 

Divorce does not have to begin with a courtroom battle. For many families, the most important question is not, "How do I win?" It is, "How do I reach a fair resolution while protecting my children, finances, privacy, and future?" In this episode of The Divorce Circle, host Sabeena Bubber, Mortgage Broker for Xeva Mortgage speaks with Russell Alexander, founder of Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers. Russell has practised family law for more than 25 years, is a trained collaborative family lawyer, and is the host of Family Law Now. 

ivorce changes more than your relationship status. It can change your retirement plan, your housing goals, your investment strategy, and your sense of what is possible. When shared assets are divided and the future you planned for changes course, the financial decisions can feel overwhelming.

One of the most emotionally charged decisions in any divorce is the question of the family home. For many people — especially parents — keeping the house feels like the right thing to do. It represents stability, continuity, and a sense that not everything has to change at once. But wanting to keep the house and being able to keep it — financially and strategically — are two very different things.

In a recent episode of The Divorce Circle podcast, host Sabeena Bubber, Mortgage Broker with Xeva Mortgage sat down with Pawan Rai, a highly experienced family lawyer based in Surrey, B.C. and a partner at WLG Lawyers. Pawan specializes in helping women navigate difficult divorce situations, with a significant focus on the South Asian community.

Divorce is one of the most emotionally and financially devastating events a person can go through. It is a time characterized by massive upheaval, logistical nightmares, and intense emotional pain. Yet, it is exactly during this period of maximum stress that you are expected to make some of the most consequential financial decisions of your life.

Divorce doesn't just break a marriage; it often shatters your self-image. When the life you planned falls apart, it is common to feel fragmented, stuck in survival mode, and unable to trust yourself or others. Many high achievers try to speed through the pain, hoping to reach the "next thing" as quickly as possible. But what if rushing the process is exactly what keeps you stuck?

Big conversations are coming to The Divorce Circle. Behind the scenes, we’ve been busy recording powerful conversations with experts who are helping people navigate one of life’s most challenging transitions — separation and divorce.