Family Feuds: Is estrangement the new normal?

The Beckhams know about it. Hilary Duff's been through it. Harry and Meghan could write a handbook. Family estrangement is brutal, but when there's a rift, can it be repaired? Beyond the celebrity headlines, the "no contact" movement has been gaining traction online as children cut themselves off from their parents, parents find themselves out in the cold and rigid boundaries strain what's left of family bonds. In this episode, Yumi Stynes talks to women who've been through the pain of family estrangement. She finds out what led to the rift and how letting go can be a form of healing. You'll also hear from clinical psychologist Dr Kayla Steele with tips on navigating family break ups – from learning how to move on or figuring out how to mend a broken relationship. This episode will answer questions like: Why does estrangement happen? What should I do if I've been cut off? Is it ok to go "no contact" with a family member? How can I talk to a family member who's estranged? How can I move forward? What to listen to next: Where's my village? Esther Perel on how to build community Emotional labour with Rose Hackman — ABC listen Embracing imperfection was the key to Astrid's success — ABC listen The price of perfectionism — ABC listen You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. What to read next: Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went — ABC News What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like The dark side of being a perfectionist This episode contains references to estrangement, grief, dishonesty, loss, illness, family, depression, anxiety, relationships, arguments, confrontation, isolation, alienation

You can listen to Family Feuds: Is estrangement the new normal? online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Family Feuds: Is estrangement the new normal? is an episode from Ladies, We Need To Talk.

This episode is 0:25:33 long.

This episode was published on Apr 6, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Ladies, We Need To Talk when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.