How to support a friend through separation

In this episode, Kate is joined by Aileen Harvey and Julie Fahy – best friends and hosts of the You Keep Me Sane podcast – to talk about what it really means to support a friend through separation.

A separation story in voice notes

Kate begins by hearing Aileen’s separation story, how her friendship with Julie began and how it became a vital source of comfort. They share how Julie supported Aileen - not by offering solutions, but by simply listening - and why that kind of steady presence from a friend can mean everything. Aileen and Julie also explore what makes a great friend during life’s hardest moments and the surprising power of long voice notes. They finish with their best tips, from both perspectives, on how to show up with care, patience and love when a friend is going through a separation.

Trigger warning: There’s a brief mention of physical injury at the start of this episode.

What we cover:

• Aileen and Julie’s personal stories
• The best ways to support a friend through separation, from both points of view
• Why listening is more powerful than problem-solving
• The surprising power of long voice notes and other simple ways to be there for your friends

Meet the hosts of You Keep Me Sane

Aileen Harvey is a Scottish-born Londoner with a life story shaped by resilience, reinvention and a deep desire to support women through life’s challenges. With a background in the high-pressure world of finance, she spent years navigating a demanding, male-dominated industry before burnout pushed her to reassess what truly mattered. Facing the ups and downs of perimenopause, parenting a teenager and embracing life’s complexities inspired her to co-create her podcast You Keep Me Sane. Through the podcast, Aileen channels her life experience - from growing up in a challenging family dynamic and working in tough environments, to losing her parents and navigating personal growth - to create a space where women feel heard, understood and less alone.

Julie’s journey has always been driven by a search for depth, purpose and connection. Her love for people and their stories led her to a career in documentaries, filming for National Geographic, BBC and Discovery Channel. Yet, despite the dream job, she felt an inner pull toward something deeper. Studying psychology and Kabbalah, becoming a mother and embracing life’s challenges helped her find that missing connection - not through achievements, but through vulnerability and growth. Now based in Melbourne, Julie’s life experiences, from global travels to motherhood, have inspired her to co-create You Keep Me Sane. Through the podcast, she shares her story to help others feel seen, heard and less alone - because true connection often begins where we least expect it.

Follow Aileen and Julie

You can learn more about Aileen, Julie and their podcast You Keep Me Sane here. You can also follow them on Instagram to be the first to hear about new episodes.

More separation resources:

Got a question on divorce, separation or co-parenting you’d like us to cover? Share your thoughts with us at hello@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.

You can also get in touch with amicable for more information on the legal, financial and parenting aspects of separation. Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert today.

We've created amicable space to give you more personalised support. Become a member of amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars, articles and an interactive community. You can share your questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Learn more and sign up here.

Thanks for listening - here’s 3 months of the amicable co-parenting app for free! Open this link on your phone, install the app and create your account. Once that’s done, select 'I have a promo code' when setting up your family, enter PODCAST, press ‘apply’ and enjoy staying organised together.