Episode #49
Janelle Brown After Sister Wives: Finding Herself & Starting Over After Divorce
What happens when the life you thought would last forever comes to an end—and you have to figure out who you are all over again? In this special episode of Bent Not Broken: Starting Over After Divorce , Coach Deborah shares a powerful conversation originally featured on the Get Obsessed podcast with Janelle Brown of TLC’s Sister Wives . For years, viewers watched Janelle navigate plural marriage, motherhood, family dynamics, jealousy, public scrutiny, and the challenges of living much of her personal life in front of television cameras. But behind the headlines is a woman who eventually found herself asking a question so many women face after divorce: Who am I now—and what do I want for the rest of my life? Janelle opens up about the realities of plural marriage, learning to recognize her own value, and why understanding that she didn't have to compare herself to other women helped strengthen her self-esteem. She also talks candidly about the breakdown of her marriage, the difficult realization that she was ready to leave, and why starting over can feel frightening—even when you know something in your life needs to change. The conversation takes an especially heartfelt turn as Janelle discusses the loss of her son Garrison, her family's grief, and the importance of having honest conversations about mental health. Today, Janelle is building an entirely different life—one filled with independence, family, coaching, her farm in North Carolina, and the freedom to discover what she wants this next chapter to become. In this episode, you'll hear about: • Life behind the scenes of Sister Wives and plural marriage • How comparison and jealousy can affect self-worth • Learning to separate other people's opinions from your identity • Recognizing when a marriage has changed • Finding the courage to consider leaving and starting over • Grief, mental health, and Garrison's lasting legacy • Rediscovering yourself after decades of marriage and motherhood • Why Janelle isn't rushing to find another relationship • Rebuilding confidence and independence after divorce • Creating a fulfilling second chapter later in life • Why you don't need to have your entire future figured out before taking the first step One of the most powerful messages from Janelle's story is that starting over doesn't mean you failed . Sometimes starting over means finally giving yourself permission to ask: What do I want now? After divorce or the end of a long-term relationship, it's easy to feel lost when so much of your identity has been wrapped up in being a wife, mother, caregiver, or the person everyone depends on. But your story isn't finished. You can rebuild your confidence. You can rediscover who you are. You can create new dreams. And you can write a completely different next chapter—even if you can't see exactly what that chapter looks like yet. As Janelle reminds us, change can be scary because it's unfamiliar. But sometimes simply allowing yourself to imagine a different life is where transformation begins. A special thank you to the Get Obsessed podcast for allowing Bent Not Broken to share this conversation with Janelle Brown. A Question to Take With You If you stopped worrying about who you used to be—or who everyone else expected you to be— what would you want the next version of your life to look like? Maybe it's time to find out. Enjoyed this episode of Bent Not Broken: Life After Divorce with Deborah Griffiths? Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so more people searching for life after divorce, divorce recovery, co-parenting, dating after divorce, and healing from gaslighting can discover this empowering podcast. Every review helps others find hope, inspiration, and practical tools for thriving after divorce. Explore more resources : Visit BrokenToBoldness.com for coaching, workshops, and guidance on divorce recovery and life transitions. Follow Deborah Griffiths for daily empowerment and support: Instagram: @BrokenToBoldness Facebook: Broken to Boldness LinkedIn: Broken to Boldness Remember: divorce may bend you, but it does not break you. You are stronger than you think, and your bold new chapter starts now. Disclaimer: The commentary and opinions available on this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal or psychological advice. You should contact an attorney, coach, or therapist in your state to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.
