Jacqui Smith

Jacqui Smith

Author: Samantha Baines November 17, 2021 Duration: 50:53

‘Sometimes there are things in your life you just have to accept and live with, that you can’t solve, that you can’t put right - a lot of my life is about let’s solve that problem... but this is something, the most important thing in my life and I actually couldn’t control…’ -Jacqui Smith


Former Home Secretary and political commentator Jacqui Smith joins Samantha Baines to talk about divorce and the expenses scandal even gets a mention. Jacqui talks about the importance of counselling and accepting the end of her 32 year marriage. They both discuss different sorts of grief and how to handle their emotions. Jacqui speaks about online dating and the awkwardness of being recognised by her date! They both talk about adapting to life without men in their homes and the sudden need and satisfaction of buying their own toolkits!


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Email: thedivorcesocial@gmail.com



Transcripts can be found at www.thedivorcesocial.com


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Navigating the end of a relationship is often portrayed as purely tragic, but there’s another side to the story-one filled with unexpected laughs, hard-won wisdom, and genuine resilience. That’s the space explored in The Divorce Social, hosted by award-winning author, actor, and broadcaster Samantha Baines. Having been through a divorce herself, she brings a uniquely empathetic and refreshingly light-hearted perspective to a topic that can feel overwhelmingly heavy. This acclaimed podcast, recognized with awards including a bronze at the British Podcast Awards and an International Women’s Podcast Award, sits at the intersection of society, culture, and mental health, treating breakups not as an ending but as a complex human experience worth examining. Each episode feels like a candid conversation with a friend, as Samantha interviews a variety of guests about their own splits. The discussions are penetrative, getting into the real emotional and practical fallout, but they’re also genuinely funny and full of life. You’ll hear stories that cover the full spectrum-from the logistical headaches and emotional turmoil to the surprising moments of liberation and self-discovery. It’s about fitness for your mental health, education on navigating legal and social shifts, and ultimately, the rebuilding of relationships, most importantly the one with yourself. Tuning into this podcast offers a sense of community and a powerful reminder that you’re not alone, all while delivering the kind of honest, comforting, and often hilarious talk that makes the journey a little less daunting.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Samantha Baines Show
Podcast Episodes
Dating mishaps, gifts & roller-skating : Season 6 Round Up! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:44
Host Samantha Baines rounds up the series with her favourite bits of each episode, the gifts she misses at Christmas, the affect of anniversaries on her and the weird dates she's been on - its been a strange year of dati…
Natasha Aujla (TW) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
TW: Baby death/Miscarriage"I called and said I'm going to come back and he said, no you're not, this isn't your house anymore- I'm divorcing you"- Natasha AujlaWriter Natasha Aujla joins Samantha Baines to talk about dea…
Georgia Hirst [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:27
"I knew he was in a really really bad place and I think that's how I forgave a lot of his behaviour" - Georgia HirstVikings actor and activist Georgia Hirst joins Samantha Baines to talk about delaying the healing proces…
Nikki and Ben [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:52
"I came home and there was a ripped up photo of us and his ring next to my sink"- Nikki DeBartoloIn a Divorce Social first, we have a divorced couple on the show together! Nikki DeBartolo and Ben Heldfond both join Saman…
Rosie Wilby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:45
"The break up that triggered all that was when I got dumped by email"- Rosie WilbyComedian and Author of The Breakup Monologues, Rosie Wilby joins Samantha Baines to talk about the major breakdown of her relationship. Ro…
Gilly Da Silva [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:05
"I don't think I could have stopped what happened anyway..." -Gilly Da SilvaGilly Da Silva joins Samantha Baines to talk about being gaslighted and why she set up Mending Hearts Retreat: a unique experience for individua…
Steven Petrow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:21
"What was challenging for me was separating the different threads of grief..."- Steven PetrowAuthor and Columnist at The Washington Post, Steven Petrow joins Samantha Baines to discuss dealing with losing his parents whi…
Sue Atkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
"It was the most horrific experience, I think of my life..."- Sue AtkinsParenting Consultant, author and Broadcaster Sue Atkins joins Samantha Baines to discuss her coping strategies to life's biggest changes, her "F***…
Laura Friedman Williams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:20
"I went out and had tons of sex. I had so much sex with so many different kinds of people..."- Laura Friedman WilliamsAuthor of Available and self declared PTA mum, Laura Friedman Williams joins Samantha Baines to discus…
Micaela Sharp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:11
"It wasn't so much for me the act of cheating on me, it was how he had treated me in that time frame"- Micaela SharpStar of Interior Design Masters and upholsterer, Micaela Sharp joins Samantha Baines to discuss leaving…