The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Marry a Younger Man with Caroline Stanbury

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

A divorce after 18 years, getting sued, and losing your business all at once sounds like an inescapable nightmare...but "Ladies of London" and "Real Housewives of Dubai" star Caroline Stanbury went through that and more! Caroline breaks down how women can make money on their own after divorce, how her women's retreats are inspiring others to level up, and why marrying a younger husband in her "I Do Part 2" chapter has been one of her best decisions.Plus, Caroline shares with Jennie what she knows about the status of RHOD and whether fans can expect to see it again. Email us at: [e-mail] or call us at 844-4-I Do Pod (844-443-6763)Follow I Do, Part 2 on Instagram and TikTokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. December 29th, 1975, LaGuardia Airport. The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, everything changed. There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal. Just a chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, terrorism. Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Justice System

On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want or gone.

Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The U.S. Open is here. And on my podcast, good game with Sarah Spain. I'm breaking down the players, the predictions, the pressure. And of course, the honey deuses, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very wonderfully experiential sporting event. To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an IHeart Women's Sports Production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports Network. Culture eats strategy for breakfast, right? On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us, I was joined by Belisha Butterfield, media founder, political strategist, and tech powerhouse for a powerful conversation on storytelling, impact, and the intersections of culture and leadership. I am a free black woman. From the Obama White House to Google to the Grammys, Valicia's journey is a masterclass in shifting culture and using your voice to spark change.

Listen to Culture raises us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just like great shoes, great books take you places through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robeye, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us, on the page and off.

Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's Book Club. Visit apple.c.O. forward slash Reese Apple Books to find out more. It's I Do Part 2, and I'm Jenny Garth, one of your hosts, and today I'm going to jump in with a fascinating woman that has really refined what leveling up can look like in your chapter 2. You know her from Bravo Shows, Ladies of London, and the Real Housewives of Dubai. She also hosts the podcast Uncut and Uncensored.

and she is leading some incredible women's retreats that I can't wait to hear about. So please welcome Caroline Stanberry to the podcast. So Caroline, you know on this podcast, we talk all about finding love again, you know, whether it's after a, whether it's been after a divorce or a loss of a spouse, whatever. But for our listeners, can you just kind of like rewind and tell us a little bit about your major relationship milestones that you've gone through. And yeah, I think we should start with that. I mean, I think, you know, as a divorced woman, I was married for 18 years. I've got, I had three children. I think at that time, they were probably eight or nine when I got divorced years old. And I have twin boys. And then I had a daughter that's slightly, she must have been

12 at the time. And then I'm, I got divorced after 18 years. And I think, After 18 years, you sort of lose yourself. I also, at the same time, managed to sort of lose my business. Both. Yes, get sued by a civil liquidator and get divorced all at the same time, meet a 24-year-old, and marry him two years later. So I went... All in the same year?

No, within three years. So, yeah, it was two years that I married. Yeah, I got divorced the same year I met my now husband. And two years later, we were married. Wow. And the year before I got divorced was when I was started to be sued. So, and everybody said to me, this is a crazy time to get divorced. This is the worst time you could.

And I knew if I stayed, it would be for the wrong reasons. It would be because I was scared of the financial outcome, all of these things. So I literally had the weirdest story because none of it should work. I was 43 and I met a 24-year-old who had lied to me and said he was 31, which was still too young, but I didn't envision myself married to him either. And here we are. So, yeah, we're here with seven years on and I'm not living under a rock or in a council house by myself. So somehow it is just all worked out. And I want to tell whoever's out there and, you know, going through these things that if you push on through these times and the place, the times that you think you will

not make it, the other side's pretty darn good. What do you mean? What do you mean? when you push on through, like, what did you resort to when it came to pushing on through? Like, what did you have to challenge yourself with? Well, I've given you a very, very short version. I was, obviously, I was being sued. So at the same time as getting divorced, you know, my ex-husband hated me, obviously, because I was marrying a 24-year-old. Oh, he wasn't fond of that idea?

Yeah, no. So you're dividing your assets then, but, also, when you're being sued, the only way you can get rid of an asset is in a law case, you know, is giving it to an ex-husband, or to a husband or to a spouse. So you're in these terrible, terrible situation where, you know, you need that money. Actually, I mean, in the end, I won my whole case, but like, that was a lot further on. And I, thank you very much. I had probably $25,000 left to my entire name.

I had rent to pay, mortgage to pay, three kids, a 24. four-year-old who may as well be in another dependence at that stage and just didn't know what I was going to do or how I was going to do it. And I'm a very pragmatic, very, very, you know, strong woman. I've always run everything. I had 86 employees. I was, you know, I'm a business woman. I can normally solve everything. And this was just something I just could not solve. I couldn't pay, I'd paid 1.1 million pounds to lawyers. I have any money left to go to do it. I didn't have any money left from anyone to get from anyone. I could get from anyone. I could. couldn't work because if I went to work, I wasn't getting the money anyway. The lawyers

were. So, you know, it doesn't make you want to go to work because you're not earning it. Someone else is taking it. So that I was as at bottom as I think you could get. Like, I really didn't see a way out. But, you know, I also knew going back wasn't an option for me. Right. You knew that. How did you feel about going forward into a new relationship? relationship and really quickly a new marriage. Like, what was that process? Like, how did you bring yourself into that type of joy? I mean, it wasn't all joy. I mean, I went to hospital twice, I think, with panic attacks. Anyone's, you know, going into a new relationship after an old one, you kind of panic anyway. And you're going, what am I doing? You're in a complete, on the one hand,

it brings joy and lightness. And what I realized was, if I am, that forget the new guy. And that's what I want to say. It's not about the new man. I never left for him, but I had met him at the end of my marriage, right? And what I feel is that if you can have those feelings for someone else and you're getting more, you know, this kind of joy and feelings, then your other relationship isn't the one you should have been in. You can't steal someone that doesn't want to be stolen. I have plenty of married friends whose husbands definitely wouldn't, you know, jump because I said, you know, let's go. that doesn't happen like that You know

It's one of you has to be getable And I think you know What I realized was it wouldn't be fair To stay in my marriage Because I you know Didn't feel like I was feeling with him anymore Regardless whether you know My 24 year old stayed or not

How did you know it was time to get out of your marriage When I was happier out the house and in it Ah That's uh that's yeah That's truth right there Mm-hmm. Yeah. And it's as simple as that. I got to ask that question all the time because I used to have a podcast called Divorce Not Dead, which is now uncut and uncensored. And I named it Divorce Not Dead because everyone goes, oh, I'm so sorry. And actually, no, don't be sorry. I left. You know, and I left for good reason. And actually, you know, it doesn't matter how big your house is. I don't care how many bedrooms you've got and how many cars and stuff and everything like this. If you don't love being in it and you don't love the person that you built it with anymore, then, you know, you You may as well. It doesn't matter if you live in this, you know, tiny room I'm sitting in right now. I'd rather be in this. If you've got, you know, the biggest wealth to me is peace.

Yes. The biggest wealth is peace. That is very true. I like that a lot. What is your, like, how's it been co-parenting with your three kids with your ex? Well, now, now it's perfect. Oh, good. We went through, we went through Helen Bay. You know, obviously, like, he's a Turkish man. He runs a very big business. You know, I did the worst. You know, like, it's the most embarrassing thing that can ever happen to a man.

You know, lots of women, men leave for younger women. Name me a man that, you know, that a woman that's left for a younger man and it's worked out because normally it fails and then everyone go, ha-ha, silly old fool. Right? And so they kind of wait for that. and mine hasn't worked out like that.

And so, you know, I embarrassed him and I get that. I can completely see it. So it took a long time, but he's a very good man. And I think now he realizes we're all in the right place. Good. And our kids are particularly happy and we manage, you know, he's got a girlfriend. And the beginning was very hard because I really tried to do the right thing, which was like, you know, when he was so upset about, you know, obviously I'd be like,

oh, we can still have breakfast together and dinners together. Well, that's ridiculous. No, you can't. You can't do that. You have to cut. Cut ties. You think that's the key. Cut it.

Key. That's worth for me too. Like, I have to actually, like, delete the contact. Like, I don't even want to see the name. Yeah. I mean, I don't mind as much as that. But, I mean, to keep any normalcy cannot, you know, because you're actually lying to yourself, the kids and the everything else.

You just have to rip the bandaid off. I have other friends of mine that were like, they kept their boyfriends or or lovers or the people that they were seeing, you know, even like after they've got separated from their husbands, so away from the children for like a year and they've been going out, you know, going out at night, staying in hotels, making their lives uncomfortable. And actually a year and a half, two years later, the reaction from the kids is exactly as same as mine was day one, except mine's over and now they've got to relive it. And they've, you know, they still haven't really moved on and had their life because they're

sneaking around at night like they're having an affair anyway, even though they're not. yeah you i too am married to a younger man and i too have three daughters um three kids so i can really relate um i was yeah i was ready for something new and i knew i was at a point in my life that i needed like energy and laughter and that zest for life you know and i feel like that he brought that into our home during a kind of because it happened very quickly for me as well that we met and got married. And it was just like, this is, this feels good. This felt good to me.

This felt good to the girls. So I kind of felt like this is the right thing. So I just kept going with it, listening to my instincts. I think that's all you can do. I think that's it. It's the instinct. And the thing is, I mean, you know, look, obviously I do a different type of reality TV and you do, but it's still a weird life for any normal man.

Yes, right. Was he accustomed to that world? Your new husband, Sergio? No, he was a soccer player. So, you know, I mean, he's accustomed to obviously a bit of a crazy world because at Real Madrid at 17. He had like, you know, a lot of fans and things like this. Right. But no, with cameras and living under a microscope and also the horrible things. I mean, as you know, people love to write about you, especially if you're good looking and he's in with an older woman. So that must be crazy. I must have bought him or he's gay. And all of these things. You heard it all, I bet. Yes, everything. So, But, you know, I'm sure you, I thought about it long and hard, like an older man, my age, or older, wouldn't want the life I lead, you know, or the open, you know, the constant scrutiny from people and all of this. And I think, you know, as you said, the one thing that hit home as well, it's just the laughter. I have everything else. I can make everything else work. But I need to giggle and I need to, like, have my friend. And we just, I wasn't friends with my ex. Right. And that's the best feeling.

to when you find your new best friend that you just can't get enough of and you want to stay with and just do all of your life with. I mean, it's exciting. It brings this great excitement into your world. I'm so happy. You found that. You got married six years ago. Is that right? Yeah, six years ago. Six years ago. And your husband, you said, is a professional soccer player. That's very exciting. And I'm sure, yeah, all the headlines must have been bananas with this whole situation. Sex slave was sex slave. I never got that one. I rented him. I don't even know how you do that for that many years, but okay, I would rent him if I could. You know, just loads of things, which is really insulting to women, by the way, because, you know, men do this the whole time.

I don't understand why it's so shocking. I'm like, you know, I'm such a troll that no younger guy would want to be with me. I don't get it. We're great. Older women are amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Because we have so much knowledge now and we've been through so many things and I think we've grown so much because, you know, and then also you, I think you're around the kind of the age that I was when I, you know, a little bit different, but you take stock in what's important in your life because you've had the experience of what didn't work and what didn't feel right and what didn't feel good. And you don't, there's no going back to that once you've gotten through it. No, you know exactly what you want. And I think, you know, like, I look at younger girls and friends of his that are dating younger girls and I'm, he rolls his eyes. Like, you know, I've lost my passport. Can you fix this? You know, they, you know, it's like everything. Oh, I just want a credit card to go to Hermes. You know, that's, that's it. It's like they haven't, there's no chat. There's no, there's no confidence. There's no, like, they're always waiting around for them and the guy and everything's on him to do. Whereas, you know, I think I have such a big life already set up. That's so. exciting. You know, you can go, you can follow it, you can not follow it, you can do, it's just every day something's new. Mm-hmm.

December 29th, 1975, LaGuardia Airport. The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, at 6.33 p.m. Everything changed. There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal. Apparently, the explosion actually impelled metal glass. The injured were being loaded into ambulances, just a chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, and it was here to stay.

Terrorism. Law and order, criminal justice system is back. In season two, we're turning our focus to a threat. that hides in plain sight that's harder to predict and even harder to stop listen to the new season of law and order criminal justice system on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts my boyfriends professor is way too friendly and now i'm seriously suspicious oh wait a minute sam maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit well dakota it's back to school week on the okay story time podcast so we'll find out soon this person right

My boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, and they're the same age.

And it's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his? professor or not. To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just like great shoes, great books

take you places through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us on the page and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TVR pile. Listen to bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's Book Club. Visit Apple.com. to find out more. Hi, my name is Enya Yumanzoor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD...

Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psycho babble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom. Listen now. My name is Ed.

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Onstage stood a comedian with a story that no one expected to hear. Well, 22nd of July 2015, a 23-year-old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house. So what do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? A new podcast called Wisecrack, where stand-up comedy and murder takes center stage. Available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

That first year that you got married, remarried, and you did it quickly, did, were you ever, was there ever a point where you're like, oh my God, what did I just do? Was there ever a point like, maybe this was a mistake? Maybe I rushed into this. No, I mean, not when I got married. I think, you know, after, after, when he kept pushing, no, before, sorry, when he kept pushing before, I was like, okay, everyone told me he was love bombing me. This couldn't be true. You know, all my friends that had been married 18 years or whatever, they were like, you know, in all due respect, you're really great, but like, this is very weird. This guy's flown halfway across the world to live with you. He wants to be with

your kids, you know, all of these things. And then you start overthinking and you're going, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm the silly old idiot. You're right. And then I ended up having, as I said, I hospitalized my 12, myself twice. I was in my hair salon in L.A. and I was at Nikki Lee. Nikki Lee, I had to be taken out literally by ambulance with the things of my hair.

And I waited three months for that. And I was going, I was going leave them in. She goes, she's like, take them out. We'll do it again tomorrow. Oh, my God. You know, and then I'm going, oh, my God, what have I done? You know, I've blown up my whole fucking life and I can't go back to my, what am I going to do?

You know, and then of course, you do think. Everyone's right. I can't be the only one that thinks this is a good idea. No one thought this was a good idea. You know, and everyone goes, he's going to leave you. He's going to leave you. And then I was like, you know, then I just woke up and I was like, well, what do I care? Okay. It's going to leave me. Great. Exactly. My ex-husband could leave me tomorrow. So, so what? It's fine. You'll be fine. I'll be fine. And isn't that the best feeling? Like, as a woman, you stand on your own. It doesn't matter who comes, who goes, who joins in with you who enjoys, you know, the ups and downs of your wild life because it's your life and you're

living it. And, you know, I had to reach that point where, because I was very much more attached to staying and security of the family. And I didn't want to break it, you know, things to change. How long were you married? I was married for 17 years also, like, similar to you. Same story. Yeah. So, but I wasn't, I don't know, I just, I come from a different background. I think has a lot to do with it, where you stayed married. And so that was really hard for me. But afterwards, it was, you know, the realization that, because once you attach, once you, like, cling on to something

and don't want it to end or don't want a situation to change, once it finally turns the corner and you make that change, you make that adjustment, you kind of look back and think, look what I just did. Like, I can do anything. I can get through that. what's next? And you meet a younger guy? He leaves you. So what? Here I am again, with myself. In the meantime, we're having great sex, having fun, we've rediscovered ourselves. Like, you know,

like at the end of most relationships, after that long you think you're asexual, you think you don't even like sex anymore. You're like, okay, I'll live without it for the rest of my life. Yeah, maybe I should try it. Yeah. You never know. Didn't go there yet. But you never know. You never know. You never know. My daughter just told me last night. We were watching how somebody got married that she knows two women. And she was watching their wedding on a video. And she was like, wow, that just looks so nice, so romantic, so beautiful.

Everybody gets to wear dresses. It's like, well, it's always an option, babe, whatever you want. Eventually. Exactly. I come from the same ilk. Like, you know, there was no divorce in my family. My mother's initial reaction is get back in there and you stick it out. Right.

And then, you know, I thought to myself, stick it out. I'm turning, you know, 40, at that time, 45. I'm like, stick it out. I've got another 50 years. Yeah. I'm not going to die tomorrow. You don't want to live the rest of your life unhappy. Like this.

Right. No, for what reason? And then live a lie. Yeah. Sticking it out sounds awful. Lots of people do it. And live the lie. Like they have extramarital affairs, which they keep, to keep their family unit.

And then, you know, like, I don't understand because I always say some of the biggest lies or in the longest marriages. And that isn't a relationship for me. I don't want that. Like, if I have to come home and think about the lie that I've got to tell my husband every night so that he can sleep and I can sleep and I'm the only one not sleeping,

I don't know how people do it. I really truly do not know how you continue that. I honestly don't either. Like, one man is plenty for me to manage. And he says the same thing about me. Like, there's no way he could have an affair because he just wouldn't be able to handle having to do it. women because it's a lot of work being in a relationship, you know, like keeping it good and

growing. What about like, oh, so after you got married and I know this firsthand, there is a difference. There is an age difference. And I, I didn't ever acknowledge that early in my relationship with my husband. I thought, you know, that's ridiculous and I don't feel any difference. But there have been, and we've been married for 10 years. This was our 10 year. We've, you know, we've been through some stuff where I've gone second guess myself and thought like, wow, okay, is this because he just hasn't grown through this period of his life? He hasn't come to these crossroads personally. So he really can't, you know, relate on the way I want or hope he will. I have to kind of meet him where he is. All the time. Of course. Sometimes I literally want to throttle him.

Because sometimes he's a husband, an amazing husband. Other times it's like having a husband. another son, you know, in the weirdest possible, in the nicest possible way without it being weird. Oh my God. But it, you know, it can be because I'm teaching him at the same time, you know, how he, he'd never lived with a woman, you know, I've had many relationships where I lived with someone, compromised with someone, understood what a man has to do in the house, I'll do this, you do that. You know, I'm teaching him from scratch. So, you know, of course, sometimes you oh my god you know but everything i mean i remember lying in bed going oh top gun can't wait and he goes what's top what do you mean what do you mean what's top gun i was like where on earth were you

and he wasn't born i know i'm like oh my god and i have to remind myself of these things so yes i mean i get asked this all the time the the big thing is um how we split finances everybody wants to ask me the sex thing everybody wants to ask me the sex thing everybody wants to ask me and I think, you know, exactly that. The age difference, sometimes the maturity. But, again, what I do do to settle my own head and not go, I haven't made a giant mistake, is I go, oh, look at my friend's husbands, every single one of them. And I'm like, nope, couldn't be with any of them.

Not one. Nope. They're bitter. And then even just getting on the phone to co-parent with my ex-husband, who now has a loving relationship and is in a very good space and we get on quite well now, you know, he still irritates the hebi-jeebies out of me, like really drives me nuts. I'm like, he's a cup is half empty person. You know, my son wanted to go to Texas this year and he says, oh, I'm flying to America all by himself, 25, 20 hours. What if he gets sent home? I'm like, and, you know, so we're so

different. And I'm like, well, if he gets so, the worst case, he doesn't get through the border for whatever he, I mean, he's 15. Why wouldn't he get through? He's got an ester. And, and he's like, it's very difficult to go to the States. And I'm like, okay, so the very worst he gets to, he gets all the way there and has to come back. But if the great, otherwise, it goes to Texas. This is amazing. Yeah. So we're just totally different people. So I'm a doer and he's a, and I don't want to be in a relationship where I'm, where someone sees the rain. My husband sees a rainbow and wants to go dance in the rain. Hmm. What a difference. It is. That's, I'm, I'm so happy for you. Do you feel like, do you ever have your moments of resentment though, where you, when you feel like you're kind of,

living with a boy man? Yes. Yeah, of course I do. And I tell him, you know, like, you've got to step up and do it this way. How does I take that? Like, I'm curious how he as a man takes these kinds of, like, you teaching him lessons or him coming up to the wall and facing, he does. He's very receptive. Okay, that's great.

Very receptive. You're very, that's very good. Very receptive. And actually, we lean into some of the, I mean, it is quite funny sometimes to watch me, because I do feel. get like I'll tap him on the back if I want him to stand straight. And it's like, oh my God, it's a mum move. And I forget, you know, like. And because I, my son's a massive too, by the way.

They're six foot. So the three of them all behind me. And they all borrow each other's clothes. And so I do, it isn't lost on me that, you know, oh my God. But like, you know, on the other hand, please, I don't want it to sound really weird. We do have a husband-wife relationship. What has he taught you? to relax through things so you know that it's never the end of the world like and the safety of

first of all age you know I used to feel older weirdly with my ex-husband like if I got a gray hair you know grays when you're on a holiday and you're like oh my god I need to find you know get my my roots done or um you know he would tell me not on a little bit gray here or whatever I would feel older whereas my my husband now is like we're traveling he's like oh leave it. I love it. You know, it's so weird. The thing is, he helps me in so many ways, right? With the kids, my businesses. So I do these, even like the women's retreats. I wasn't, I started doing women's retreats. I teach financial independence and I teach women life after divorce and investing and things like this, which is really fun. And I wasn't going to have him, but one of my,

because I didn't think he was appropriate. Right. One of the camera guys couldn't come. And then he did it all. And then the women just loved having it. there and he's not in the room when we're doing all our talks and everything but he was on on the island and you know he just he's my partner so like and because he's my husband all the money goes to the same pot obviously and we're running around doing things together which means i don't travel alone and he's just taught me that life i would have told you there's no way on earth i would have worked with my ex-husband ever ever why it would have just been too fructious yeah because i i had a very big business before and I felt like, you know, he would have, we would always, we were quite

competitive with the money we earned and all of these kind of things. Yeah. Yep. And then because he came in as younger and came into my already built train, I feel like he was more able to pick up the slack and do the bits I couldn't do. And that now we're just a team. You're a part, you have a partner. Partnership. So if he does this and if he's doing the work, then great and I've got the kids or he's got the kids and I'm doing the work, but somehow it's all working, right? At the same time and we're doing all the businesses together and we're traveling together because that was the other thing. The distance. I think, you know, my ex-husband traveled for work, then I traveled for work. So then, you know, we just became, there was such a disconnect. Our friends were different.

I wanted to be with my girlfriends all the time. You know, my husband is my girlfriend and he loves being with my girlfriends. So it's just, I don't know, he's taught me so many things, you know, so many things. It's really hard to explain just to chill, you know, to enjoy work rather than just like, I've got to go to work, you know? I love that. It sounds like he's sort of brought you to like a place of being able to sort of step back and smell the roses and like have peace with yourself. Well, you know when they say the work life balance. Come on. There isn't one, right? Not for what we do. That's a lie. It's hard. Yeah. Like if you're filming for three months how how do you separate work in life you can't that it work is your life right so the only

way you can make it work is if your life comes with you or your whole life is so that's the that that's what I feel like my whole life is in this house and this is where I work I work from home I don't have a life life if he's happy with coming along with you and being a part of your big life then go for it like more power to you that's amazing December 29th, 1975, LaGuardia Airport. The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, at 6.33 p.m., everything changed.

There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal. Apparently, the explosion actually impelling. The injured were being loaded into ambulances, just a chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, and it was here to stay. Terrorism. Law and Order Criminal Justice System is back. In season two, we're turning our focus to a threat that hides in plain sight. That's harder to predict and even harder to stop.

Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Justice. system on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam, maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone.

Now hold up, isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, and they're the same age. It's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not?

To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us, on the page and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations

that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's Book Club. Visit apple.com. Visit apple.com forward slash Reese Apple Books to find out more. Hi, my name is Enya Yumanzoor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom.

If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now.

The Super Secret Festi Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy cheesmen. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no, no, we're not doing that this season. Oh, well, this season, we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it.

Get in here! Today, we have a very special guest with us. Our new super secret bestie is The diva of the people. The diva of the people. I'm just like, text your ex. My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot, go and touch it. Go and figure it out for yourself. Okay.

That's us. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship, heartbrates, men, and, of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the My Cultura podcast network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, guys, it's Cheryl Burke. Okay, so I have to put you on to these leggings. I've been so obsessed with lately.

They're from this brand called Tona. And get this, the designer behind them also created Lulu Lemon, so they know exactly what they're doing. These leggings are next level. Think buttery soft, super flattering, and very comfortable. Also, they are supportive in all the right places. I started wearing them for when I take my dog on walks, but now I'm basically living in them.

And here's what makes them even better. Every pair you buy helps fund a mental health counseling session for a teen in need. Tona's on a mission to end teen suicide and self-harm, which we think is so important and incredible. And we've partnered with Tona to give you 20% off your order and free shipping. So head to Tona Active.com and use code IHeart for 20% off and free shipping. I want to know more about the women's retreats, though. This is intriguing to me. I think I heard you have one coming up in November.

Yes, November. Okay, tell, tell. So it kind of started by. I told you I had this podcast called Divorce Not Dead, which I changed because it was so niche, but actually I probably shouldn't have changed the name. I love it. Anyway, so I just thought I used to get written to all the time, like how, you know, the transition through divorce and women, I know very, very wealthy women, or not wealthy women, women that were married to very wealthy men. You know, and there's always sort of this smugness about wealthy

women who've married well, and they go, you know, well, I'm fine. Well, you know, you're not. put it in your account. So let me just tell you that right now. Um, you know, it's amazing how poor they are the day you get divorced. Um, yeah. So, so, no, beyond true. And I trust me, I live in the Middle East. I see it every day. I'm sure. Um, literally every day. My, it's, it's nuts and they end up with nothing. Wow. And I had like a, a girlfriend of mine. She had 17 homes before she was married. She was married 20 years. She got nothing. She doesn't even own an apartment. I mean, it's insane. So the little money she did get, you know, the little money

she did get, now she sits on it in the bank, right? Because she's too scared. She's like, it's all I've got. She doesn't want to let it go. And that is a disaster for women. And I think women have to understand because I run multiple businesses and they come out all the time. So I have a project in Bali, I have the

podcasts. I have, you know, Airbnb's here. I built the house. But this is, by the way, after four years of like almost going bankrupt, right? I built all this back. I don't know how if I really think about it, but that's why I started these retreats. Because if I had been scared for a minute, I wouldn't have been able to do or build the wealth I have back at all. And I don't know why I wasn't scared, but only that in the other way, you have no choice. If you don't go on and build it, what are you going to do? You're going to sit on

the piddly little amount you've got left and just waits for someone to pay you a salary. you have to make your money work for you today or you'll always work for somebody. That's right. And that's it. And I'm thinking about I'm 50. I need to be, I need passive income when I'm old. Yeah, you need that security because no one's going to give it to you at this point. It's all on you. Right. I think I had that realization too where I was like, this is my life. And I've, I've been an independent my entire life, never lived, you know, never accepted money from a husband or anything like that, but I can absolutely put myself in the shoes of a woman who has, and I thought about that a lot. And, you know, when I realized, this is it, I am on my own,

no matter what, I've got to figure it all out, or there is really no or that there's only that option. There's no or. And, you know, other women just sit there going, well, someone else is going to come along. Yeah. Well, you know, today with the way the world is, there's such a disconnect between men and women, they may not. And you should be prepared either way. It shouldn't matter. You can't depend on someone else for your life, basically. And I teach that.

And so when these women, I started doing these dinners first, and I wanted to see who would show up. And I had no idea. I was like, I did one in New York. I was like, God knows who's going to show up. And the first person that came, I see this little old lady coming across the road. And I'm going, okay. And she goes, Caroline, waving at me. And I'm like, oh, God, this is going to be a nightmare.

Wait, how did she find out? How did she find out? Because I put it on my, I put it on my, this was a dinner. It started as a dinner. You could pay a ticket and come to the dinner. I put it on my Instagram. Who's in New York? Loved, you know, I'm hosting a VIP dinner.

So anyway, the first woman comes and she sits down and she sold her business to Warren Buffett. Okay. Yes, okay. She then made so much money. She bought it back. she was living in Mustique she's about I think she was 76

when she came to the dinner this is a few years ago now and another another woman came she'd sold a business for I don't know three 400 million Australian which is like

200 million dollars it was the weirdest lasers getting divorced and these powerful women came and I was like I mean I was the poorest person at the table by far

and least successful so I'm going why are all these women here Why are they listening to me? Yes. And then I understood. Women want to find like-minded women. Okay?

At this age, they want to connect with women. They want purpose. They don't need to make money. You know, they don't need to make money, but they need to do something. They want the next thing they've done. They've already made the money.

You know, some other women came, of course, hadn't made that kind of money. But they'd made a nice amount of money. Some of them had grown up in small towns, made a bit of money. And, you know,

the people around them now resented. them, right? Because they became a little bit bigger than them. They wanted to connect with like-minded women. And it was the weirdest thing. And it became quite powerful. And then I did this other one in Texas. And one was running for Congress. Another woman was two, one went to Princeton. One had like all these treatment centers in LA, like amazing, beautiful women. And they've all kept in contact with each other. And I said, I actually doing something quite powerful here. These women wanted to do business with each other. They want to connect with each other. They're now doing a reunion. I'm on a group chat with them. And I can see, I take everybody's CVs before they come to the retreat. So I can

see, like, on this new one, I've got quite a lot of people who are in real estate coming. Because real estate's really quite an easy business for somebody who's starting out to invest and doesn't know how to invest their money. And that is probably the easiest way for a woman to build wealth with not much, you know, not much education. Can I pause for you for a second? Say I'm one of those women that doesn't have any money. Like my husband wasn't wealthy. We're divorced. Now I'm still not wealthy. And I'm on my own. So how do I even start? Well, I always tell the women, because I do, you know, I tell you look around the house and see what you can sell. Liquidate as much as you can. And, you know, if you've got jewelry, assets, any asset, get rid of it. And put it into a down payment because all you need to do is get on. that ladder. And you can start with, you know, it doesn't, a one bedroom tiny. I started with

one bedroom apartment. And then I started to build and to remortgage and to get my next one and my next one. And I got six. And I don't know how. So you bought an apartment and then you flipped it, rented it out. Rented it out. Renovated it to much as I could. Remortaged it. Use that mortgage payment to do the next one and did the same and started building. Beautiful. This is not hard. That's not hard. It's not hard. No one has ever broken that down for me. Like no one has ever, here's here's step one, here's step two, here's step three. Yes. If you want to follow this plan. Yes. And we, that's what I do. So we sit there until you actually can't walk away. The whole point of the retreat is you walk away with an answer. And also the women that are in there, some are, as I said,

some are super successful and some aren't and don't have the money. but they want to learn, right? So everybody sits there and you actually get each other's opinion. I mean, that's what happens when women come together, any kind of woman. A weak, strong, doesn't even matter.

The energy just changes everybody's energy. The energy in that room was insane. Yeah. But when I break it down like that to you, and I didn't have any money left. I didn't. I told you, I had $25,000, and maybe that's still, for some people,

a lot of money, I don't know. But that wasn't, I wasn't sitting on a pile of cash. I have six. I have six and somehow I bought this house. You can talk yourself into anything. My last apartment, I spent zero because I refinanced the others. I didn't put a pound down, not one pound. And I think it sounds so complicated that we overcomplicate, right? But once you get going, it's truly not. You know, and you'd be surprised how much money.

if we're really talking about you as sitting in your home in probably bags, clothes, car. I could think of quite a few things. You can buy them back later when you're when you've built a portfolio. I remember when I am I have a mortgage guy here who was helping me and I said, I've got no money left. I've got no cash left. And he goes, well, we've been here before, haven't we? Except you now have a property portfolio. And I looked around and went, I do. you say it's label breaking like about breaking the labels it's about you know

breaking the mystery i think people like to overcomplicate business right yeah i've achieved this but i you know because you're seeing the end you're seeing me at six or seven but you don't see where i started right everyone wants the end but they don't know what the beginning was the beginning you know i've never started a business where i haven't literally had to beg somebody for money to start, right, except for the property business.

I didn't beg anyone. I just literally said, okay, you know, I'll save this. The mortgage, in fact, your deposits are even less than we have to do here. In America, you can put very little down. Yeah. Okay. I looked at the states too. Yes, much less.

So, you know, and there are so many good business plans out there. Like I wanted to do Section 8 housing in America. because I just thought that was just such a great business. And I've looked at all of it. You know, you want to do, in America, you want to do the things that are unsexy. Right. The businesses no one else wants to do in our genre

are the businesses that you want to take. Those are the ones that make money. Car washes, no joke. Laundry mats, no joke. Very little up front. So unglomerous. So unglomerous. But it's a problem.

they are also what do you call it my head's gone proof recession proof they're recession proof and that's what you're looking for and then when you can build it up

and you want to do something glamorous later go for it but you know I don't care about glamour I mean you know I always said that I would do the I would do the depends the nappy you know the one for women's incontinence that they want to pay for me

someone else take you to it yeah exactly I know but like I'll take the sexy jobs. They pay. It's so interesting your perspective. And I love that it's coming from this strong female financial, you know, I can make this happen for myself. And that's such an important message to women, especially women that don't come from wealth, that finding, you know, they're finding themselves kind of starting over. And it is very scary. It is scary,

but you should take other people and let them inspire you instead of let them threaten you. Yes, absolutely. Big pivot for me was looking at other women who have more than me, who are smarter than me, who have just, you know, had more success than me. I want to surround myself with those women because I want to learn how they did it. I want to, I want to see what that looks like. That is the most important thing. You want to be the most dumb person in the room. If you're not change rooms. Because you're not going to learn anything in that room, right? that's the thing. Nothing. And that's the most important thing. I don't think, you know, look, use it. Use it. Listen to people that have been through it. Because, you know, again, as you said, no one's coming to save you. It is so easy when you break it down. And it's not as scary. And a woman that's already there that's achieved something from nothing. And a lot of the people that have, you know, really successful women today have come from nothing. Look at people like Emma Grady. Look at, look at all. these women who have hard graft to get to where they are, right? They will give you a leg up. They

will give you their secrets. It's the ones that haven't had to work for it that don't. Right. You know, when I was building my first business, I was doing like a Netta Porte online, but for gifts. I remember the founder of Netta Porte, one of the first investors, she gave me her packaging company, her tissue paper company, her gifting, you know, the rib, everything. And everyone was going, stop asking her. And she's like, no, no, there's room for everybody in this business. That's great. You know, if you're a confident woman, there is room for everybody. I'm not giving you my secret. It's no secret. There's no secret. Yeah, there's no secret. The secret is, the secret is I'm doing it. Yeah, hard work. Get up and do it. Just get up and do it. If you can't

afford to do it in your country, there are other countries that you can afford to get to do it in. I've just started doing it in Bali now. I'd never mean to Bali before. Oh my gosh. I heard And you and your husband are opening a retreat, a hotel, a boutique hotel. I don't know how. I was so dead against it. I've been to Bali once in my life. I didn't really like it. I'm like, why am I going there?

This was years ago. Now I quite like it. We bought the land. Then I'm like, I don't know how we're going to pay for the rest of it. And like, just slowly, slowly. And then people see your dream. They join you. And it's happening.

It is being built. I've done all the foundations. it's all there. The big build's starting. We've just got a huge partner. It's coming because we're doing it. We took the step. We just did it. And there is like Dubai. You get like, you know, this is something that I can run for the rest of my life. I don't need to look pretty. I don't need to look. I don't need to really know what I'm doing because it's a boutique hotel. Everyone's going to come because they're going to want to like either meet us or see see if it's good. See if it's rubbish. Yeah. You know, but they're going to come. I'll come. I'll come.

It sounds, I mean, I'm so excited for you. That sounds like such a fun chapter two to do with your new husband. Like, has it been working with him? Well, he's been doing that. It's great. We don't argue at all because we do different things. I think the best thing is just to separate your roles and don't tread on each other's toes. Communication, it sounds like. Yes. And if you're working for the same thing, which is your retirement together, right? Then you're excited. Like, it's the same thing. I think a lot of people do. bed and breakfast in in America now and things like this like just jobs or businesses that don't that you could run for the rest of your life that don't really require you to look a certain way and that you can keep the room rates going and you it's just an easy fun business and you get to meet nice people and you know i love this i'm so excited about this chapter in your life uh i think that a lot of women are going to be really inspired by your strength your knowledge, you know, I didn't know you before this interview. I just met you. I'm not a watcher of any of the housewives. Don't why, you won't learn anything. You were on Dubai, right?

Yeah. Which I can imagine was very glamorous because like I said, I never saw it. But it sounds like such a wild ride. Is there going to be another, are there going to be more episodes of the next Dubai housewives? I actually don't know. We are paused at the moment. I think I'm quite a very few of them. So I have no idea. Again, you know, TV, you never know. That's why you can't rely on it. Why did they pause it? They can pause it for a million reasons, I guess, but... I don't know. I think Dubai is quite hard. You know, first of all, it's very foreign for them. You know, like, it's very expensive to come over here all the way from the States. It's a very foreign place to film. You've got to get a lot more permits. They're not used to having... We were the first

reality show here, so they've never had anything like that. I mean, it's funny because I did Ladies of London in England and we were the first reality show there too and it was just as hard you know because everyone didn't understand what we were trying to do and it was called real housewives of Dubai and then the Dubai government were like well they're not like real housewives of Dubai that's not what real housewives of Dubai looks like you know this so it was it's just it's a different very foreign town to do it but I think they're getting their head round it now okay well would you do it again I don't know is the answer right now I'm very happy out of it Like, I'm a very happy, positive person, and these shows, you know, require you to go head to head with a lot of women.

And I think you can see that I'm not that. I like to build women. I love it. Maybe the shows need to kind of pivot their focus, but maybe that won't be as fun for people to watch. I don't know. If it were me producing it, I would absolutely be pivoting to women supporting women. And meeting women like you today who are like, let me tell you by manufacturer's name. Let me tell you where to take your money.

I love that about you. you are a giver to other women. And that's awesome. Thank you. Thank you. I mean, and I, it should be glorified. Like, I would love a show like this, too. So I would love to do building Bali and things like this. You can still have the conflict and the fun because obviously there's things that are going to be going wrong. Right. But, you know, or whatever, or any business show with women, right? It is, everybody's learning and everybody's trying to get ahead. And we all are in the same position. Today, most women are divorced and looking for their next chapter. And that is if women came together and helped other women feel secure in what their next chapter looked like, the world would be a very different

place. Well, they can look to you. So, and to me. Yeah, and to you. We've all got something to say. Yeah, we've all got examples. So I say definitely surround yourself with with stronger women, stronger women that have been through more and learned more. That will give you strength. Well, thank you so much for chatting with me today. I really, really enjoyed it. Thank you for having me. It's been amazing. Who knew we had such parallel lives. I know. It's weird when you talk to someone you've never met before and things like that happen. I love it. Yeah. Well, good luck with your resort, retreat. What should I call it? Retreat. Retreat. Retreat. Oh, your retreat. And your hotel, you've got a lot going on. Well, I'm two years away from that, but I'm in the middle of it all.

Love it. Keep going. You're doing great. Thank you. All right. Have a great thing. So nice to meet you. Bye. This conversation has been so incredible. Thank you, Caroline, for joining me on the pod. If you're ready to level up your chapter two, call us or email us. All the info is in the show notes. Follow us on socials. Make sure to rate and review the podcast.

I do part two and IHeartRadio podcast where falling in love is the main objective. December 29th, 1975, LaGuardia Airport. The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, everything changed. There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal, just a chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, terrorism. Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Change. Justice System on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime Podcasts and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Culture eats strategy for breakfast, right? On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us, I was joined by Belisha Butterfield, Media Founder, Political Strategist, and Tech Powerhouse for a powerful conversation on storytelling, impact, and the intersections of culture and leadership. I am a free black woman. From the Obama White House to Google to the Grammys, Valicia's journey is a masterclass in shifting culture and using your voice to spark change. Listen to Culture raises us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The U.S. Open is here, and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain. I'm breaking down the players, the predictions, the pressure, and, of course, the honey deuses, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very wonderfully experiential sporting event. To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain and IHeart Women's Sports Production

in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports Network. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget.

I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of, like, butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay. and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us, on the page, and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars,

and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's Book Club. Visit apple.co forward slash

Reese Apple Books to find out more. This is an IHeart podcast.