The Scarlet Edit: Infidelity, Divorce, Starting Over.

How Raising My Expectations Ended the Affair

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

This week I'm talking about disappointment and how raising my expectations ended my five-year affair. It's the emotion I see most often in the messages listeners send me about infidelity, the other woman experience, divorce, and relationships that fell apart. Disappointment is the gap between the expectation you had and the reality you're sitting in. Sometimes the other person didn't even know what your expectation was. Sometimes they did and chose not to meet it anyway.

I share a recent experience where someone I respected made comments to me I never saw coming. I fumbled through the moment, processed it hours later in the shower, and felt that burn in my diaphragm that tells you something is really off. The old version of me would have followed up the next day to explain why it didn't sit right. This version of me didn't. Once you know who you are and where your lines are, you don't hand someone the chance to apologize their way back in just because you reached out first.

I also get into how disappointment showed up inside my five-year affair as the other woman. I talk about the bathroom mirror moment a few months after that relationship ended, when I said out loud that I value myself. That was the self-worth shift that changed everything. My expectations started rising, and eventually they rose so high that the married man I was with couldn't meet them anymore. That's when I ended the affair. I didn't want to be the other woman anymore, and he couldn't give me anything different.

Self-worth is the foundation underneath all of this, and it's the work I now do with women one-on-one in my coaching practice. You can't move through disappointment, infidelity, or the end of any relationship until you can name what you're feeling and decide what to do with the information. You control your energy, your time, and who gets access to you. That's the whole game.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Why Women Marry for Potential and End Up Having Affairs (Part 2)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

This is part two of my conversation with Hope, the first woman to come on The Scarlet Edit and share her story as the one who cheated. If you haven't listened to part one yet, go back and start there.

In this episode, Hope gets into why she ended the affair, and what it felt like to realize she was addicted to her affair partner rather than in love with him. We talk about how she got caught, the decision to divorce, and the pressure from people around them to go to counseling for a marriage she already knew was over.

Hope also opens up about something she sees as one of the biggest mistakes she made — marrying her husband based on potential rather than reality. She thought he would grow into the provider and protector she needed, but after six years, that potential never materialized. That disconnect fed the resentment that eventually led to the affair.

After the divorce was finalized, she and her ex-husband tried to make it work again. She gave up her business, her investments, and her financial independence to let him lead. She loved it. But he couldn't stop bringing the affair back into every argument, and eventually she had to draw a line.

We also talk about what pushed her to start sharing her story publicly on Instagram, the response she's gotten from women who needed to hear it, and why healing has to be the goal for everyone involved.

Connect with Hope on Instagram

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

She Cheated on Her Husband — Her Side of the Story (Part 1)

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

This is a first for The Scarlet Edit. Hope was a married woman who cheated on her husband and has been bravely sharing that experience on social media.

In this episode, she sits down with me for her very first podcast and walks through the full story of how her affair started, from the moment at a stoplight where she questioned whether her marriage was all her life would ever be, to the slow unraveling of communication with her husband, to meeting the man she'd eventually cheat with.

Hope vulnerably shares about why she didn't just leave, even though she tried more than once. She talks about the unique trap of being married to a "good guy" when your unhappiness doesn't feel like a valid enough reason to walk away. She even admits she used to fantasize about her husband cheating on her so she'd finally have a reason to leave.

She shares how the affair began through a shared work project, how the emotional connection formed before anything physical happened, and the exact moment it officially crossed the line.

We get into the guilt, the shame, the compartmentalization, and her powerful description of what it actually feels like to live inside an affair while you're still married.

Hope calls it the worst best time of her life. There's no peace when you're living in deception, and no amount of highs can outrun that darkness.

This is part one of a two-part conversation. Come back next week for part 2!

Connect with Hope on Instagram

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Can You Be the Other Woman and Not Feel Guilty?

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

I responded to every YouTube comment I got about my affair. Of the comments I share in this episode, only one person wrote me back. So, let's talk about it!

This week I'm reading eight comments out loud and giving my unfiltered responses. One person told me 90% of men will cheat no matter what. Another called me a toy who was manipulated. Someone told me I need God. And the longest comment asked what I'd do if it happened to me.

I talk about why I don't perform regret for strangers, why I still believe infidelity is a symptom and not the problem, and why none of us actually know what we'd do in a situation until we're living it. I also push back on the idea that being kept a secret means you weren't loved, because I disagree completely.

If you left one of these comments, come back. Let's keep the conversation going.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

The Subconscious Patterns Behind Every Affair

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Why do smart, successful people end up in affairs — and then can't leave? What's actually driving the pattern? And how do you know if you're settling or self-sabotaging?

In this episode, I sit down with Katarina Polonska — behavioral scientist, executive relationship strategist, and someone whose own family was torn apart by infidelity. Katarina watched her father's affair destroy her parents' marriage, then found herself repeating the exact same pattern in her own engagement. That wake-up call led her to build a methodology that's now helped hundreds of high performers break the cycle.

We get into the subconscious fear that keeps high performers trapped in double lives, why traditional therapy kept Katarina going in circles for 15 years, what it actually takes to know whether you should stay or go, and why only about 4% of affair relationships survive the transition — and what the ones that make it have in common.

Whether you're the one being betrayed, the one doing the betraying, or the other woman wondering where you fit in all of this — this conversation will challenge how you think about every relationship you're in.

Guest: Katarina Polonska — Behavioral Scientist, Executive Relationship Strategist, Founder of Successfully in Love®

LinkedIn: Katarina Polonska

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Kristin Cabot Speaks Out — How 90% of the Hate Came From Women

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Kristin Cabot — the woman from the Coldplay Kiss Cam — finally told her side of the story on Oprah's podcast. She was already separated. He told her he was too. But only one of them got death threats, drive-bys, and 500 calls a day.

90% of the hate came from other women. Every single in-person confrontation — a woman.

I talk about what Kristin revealed, the double standard between how she and Andy Byron were treated, why we judge affairs so harshly, and why women tearing down other women is the part of this story that should bother all of us.

This one's a call for collective grace — and a promise to do better.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Do Happy People Cheat? I Don't Think So.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0700

There's a stat that gets cited everywhere in the infidelity space — that 56% of men and 34% of women who cheat rate their marriages as happy.

It shows up in therapy blogs, Reddit threads, podcasts, and articles, and it's used to push the narrative that cheating is random and unpredictable.

I'm calling BS. Not on the data itself, but on what people are doing with it.

In this episode, I break down why self-reporting is flawed, why "happy" has become a dangerously low bar, and why I firmly believe that nobody wakes up and decides to have an affair.

I also tie in data from my Ashley Madison episode, challenge myself on my own belief that happiness is a choice, and share why I think the people who actually do the work in their relationships are the ones who don't end up with cracks. If you've ever heard "it could happen to anyone" and thought that sounded like a cop-out — this one's for you.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Why Choosing Happiness After an Affair Is the Most Radical Thing I Do

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0700

I actively choose happiness and joy every single day — and the more I share that, the more it seems to confuse people.

In this episode, I'm getting into the mindset behind everything I do on The Scarlet Edit. Why positivity is my baseline, how my upbringing shaped me in ways that defy the stereotypes people project onto women like me, and the specific moments in my life — from my divorce at 38 to ending a five-year affair to a situationship that wrecked me — that brought me to the decision to stop letting anyone else dictate my emotions.

I also talk about the moment in a hotel bathroom in Greece where I said "I value myself" out loud, why controlling only what I can control has been the single biggest contributor to my happiness, and the origin story of how The Scarlet Edit came to be — from a rough talk at a retreat in Austin to the lightbulb moment that changed everything.

Plus, I address shame head-on, share a wild YouTube comment exchange, and explain why the expectation that I should feel ashamed says more about society than it does about me.

If you've been wondering how to get to the other side of shame, grief, or starting over — this is the episode.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

I Waited for a Married Man to Leave His Wife

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Ashley Madison just rebranded — and 57% of their new users are single. I break down what that means and why dating app fatigue is pushing people toward discretion.

Then I go somewhere I haven’t gone before: the waiting.

What it actually feels like to wait for a married man to leave his wife. The holidays alone, the phone that doesn’t ring, the stories you tell yourself to make it feel normal, and the moment I finally said I’m done.

If you’ve ever Googled “waiting for a married man to leave” and found nothing but shame and judgment, this episode is for you.

I’m sharing my experience — the real version, not the Reddit version. Because you deserve to hear from someone who’s actually been there.

Key Takeaways

Waiting for a married man to leave is one of the most Googled phrases in the affair space — and every top result is shame, judgment, or a sales pitch. This episode exists to change that.
The loneliness of being the other woman isn’t just about being alone on holidays. It’s about having the biggest thing in your life and not being able to share it with anyone.
“Just leave” is the worst advice you can give someone in this situation. Emotional bonds don’t have an off switch. Instead, leave the door open for her to talk without judgment.
The stories we tell ourselves — “he’ll choose me eventually,” “it’s only a matter of time” — feel real because the love feels real. That doesn’t make the situation right for you.
You deserve to be chosen from the start. Not eventually. Not after the kids are older. Not after the holidays. From the start.

Related episode: My conversation with Ashley Madison’s Chief Strategy Officer, Paul Keable

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

I Shared My Biggest Secret — And Still Put Myself in a Box

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0700

A year ago I was struggling with how to share my story with the world — I was the other woman in a five-year relationship with a married man, while I felt no shame, it was the secret I carried for years. And now, a year into The Scarlet Edit, I realized I've unintentionally put myself in a new kind of box.

This episode is me getting honest about that. I talk about what happened after I shared my biggest secret, why I've been struggling with what to post and how to show up, and how a conversation with my business coach helped some things click into place.

I also read the brand new description I wrote for The Scarlet Edit — and honestly, I got emotional reading it. It finally captures who I am, what this show is, and who it's for.

If you've ever felt like you're more than the one chapter of your life people want to define you by — this one's for you.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Affairs That Cost 2 Women Their Lives & How the Other 4 Survived

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Henry VIII had six wives. One wife for 24 years, then five more in the next 11. He was pursuing the next woman while still married to the current one every single time — and he was running an entire country while doing it. So much for "I'm too busy."

In this episode of Affairs Through the Ages, I'm walking through every wife, every affair, and the pattern that never changed. From the annulment that broke England away from the Catholic Church to the teenager who was beheaded at 18, this story is wild. But what really got me is the women — in a world where they had no legal rights, no property, and no ability to say no to a king, they still found a way to play the game. And some of them played it brilliantly.

I also dig into what was actually going on with Henry — the jousting accident that may have caused a traumatic brain injury, the 32-inch waist that became a 52-inch waist, and how unchecked power turned a golden prince into a tyrant.

In This Episode:

Who Henry was before the monster and what changed
His mistresses before the six wives (and why they matter)
All six wives: the affairs, the strategies, and what each one reveals about Henry
The annulment that created the Church of England
Why "if he wanted to, he would" has been true for 500 years

Research for this episode draws on biographical and historical sources including Britannica, Historic Royal Palaces, History.com, Royal Museums Greenwich, and published works by Tracy Borman, Elizabeth Norton, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, David Starkey, and Alison Weir. All commentary and analysis is my own.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Emotional Affairs, Fantasy & Physical Attraction: What Love Is Blind Gets Wrong

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Is Love is Blind actually proving that love IS blind — or is it proving the exact opposite?

After nine completed seasons, the data tells a pretty damning story: 55 engagements, only 14 marriages, and a 43% divorce rate.

In this episode, I break down the surprising parallels between what happens in the pods and how emotional affairs actually work — the deep connections with multiple people, comparing partners, fantasy access, keeping the door cracked open, and what happens when reality finally sets in.

I also unpack why physical attraction matters more than the show wants to admit, call out the double standard between how we judge reality TV behavior vs. real life, and share a raw, unplanned personal revelation about exclusivity in my own past relationship.

Whether you're a Love is Blind fan or not, this episode will make you think differently about emotional connection, fantasy, and what it actually takes for love to survive reality.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

The Jeff Bezos Affair: Why This One Didn’t Fall Apart

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0700

On January 9, 2019, the richest man in the world announced his divorce. One day later, a tabloid story detonated across the internet — exposing a months-long affair between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, complete with leaked texts, private jet travel, and a global media frenzy.

In this episode of Affairs Through the Ages, I break down one of the most infamous modern affairs — not to condone it, and not to judge it — but to examine how it unfolded, why it didn’t collapse immediately, and how it became one of the rare affairs that actually turned into marriage.

This episode explores:

How Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez met through professional aviation work at Amazon Studios
The quiet unraveling of both marriages before the affair became public
The role of National Enquirer, alleged blackmail, and the unprecedented Medium post that exposed it all
The betrayal that came from inside Lauren Sanchez’s own family
Why less than 2% of affairs turn into lasting marriages — and what made this one different

I also examine the broader realities behind affairs that survive public exposure: wealth, timing, maturity, shared interests, clean divorces, and the difference between fantasy and real life once secrecy disappears.

Affairs Through the Ages is a historical and cultural examination of affairs that played out in the public eye — not a defense of infidelity, and not a moral verdict — but an honest look at what actually happens when private relationships collide with power, money, and global scrutiny.

If you’re interested in modern relationships, infidelity, divorce, power dynamics, and what happens after the secret comes out, this series is for you.

Research for this episode includes reporting from The Washington Post, CNN, NBC News, NPR, Fox Business, The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal. Jeff Bezos's Medium post "No Thank You, Mr. Pecker" provided firsthand account of the blackmail attempt. Additional sources include court documents from the Bezos-Scott and Sanchez-Whitesell divorce proceedings, federal prosecutor statements regarding the National Enquirer investigation, and MacKenzie Scott's philanthropic disclosures via her Giving Pledge commitments and Yield Giving website.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

She Called Off Her Wedding on Her Wedding Day

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0700

What do you do when you realize—on your wedding day—that you shouldn’t be getting married?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Emily Kuch, a content creator and Pilates instructor, to talk about one of the bravest decisions a person can make: calling off a wedding at the last possible moment.

After nearly ten years together and months of wedding planning, Emily found herself standing in full hair and makeup, overlooking the ocean in Hawaii, facing a truth she couldn’t ignore. Instead of walking down the aisle, she chose herself.

We talk about:

Knowing something is wrong but feeling trapped by expectations
The pressure of destination weddings, vendors, guests, and sunk costs
Trusting your gut when everyone else’s opinions are louder than your own
What happens after you call everything off
Starting over with no home, no job, and no clear plan
Rebuilding identity after a long-term relationship
Why talk therapy isn’t always the first or best step
Using travel, movement, and discomfort as healing tools
Letting go of shame and outside judgment
Learning how to make decisions on your own again

This is a conversation about courage, self-trust, and redefining what strength actually looks like when your life doesn’t go according to plan.

If you’ve ever questioned a relationship, stayed because it felt too hard to leave, or wondered what would happen if you chose yourself—this episode is for you.

Get in touch with Emily on TikTok & Instagram

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Ava Gardner's Affairs: How She Kept Leaving Until She Found Herself

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0700

By the time Ava Gardner was 30, she'd been married three times. In 1950s America, that meant you were supposed to disappear in shame. But Ava didn't disappear—she became a legend.

In this episode of Affairs Through the Ages, I'm diving into Ava Gardner's story. From dirt-poor farm girl in North Carolina to Hollywood icon, from three marriages before 30 to never marrying again—Ava wrote her own rules when the world wanted to write her off.

This isn't just Frank Sinatra's affair story. This is about what Ava was searching for, why even "the love of her life" wasn't enough to make her stay, and how she became The Scarlet Edit OG before this podcast even existed.

In This Episode:

Ava's journey from Grabtown, North Carolina to MGM at 18
Marriage #1: Mickey Rooney and learning fame ≠ faithfulness
Marriage #2: Artie Shaw and refusing to be someone's project
The Frank Sinatra affair and what it meant to be the other woman
Why she left the "love of her life" and never married again
Living loudly with insecurity and rewriting the narrative

Key Takeaway: Figuring out what you don't want is just as important as figuring out what you do. Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is keep leaving until you find yourself.

Research for this episode draws on biographical sources including Ava Gardner's autobiography, published biographies, and archival interviews. All commentary and analysis is my own.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

Why I Never Called My Boyfriend During Our Entire Affair

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0700

I never randomly called my boyfriend during our entire relationship. Not because he told me not to—it just became normal. I also never saw him on weekends, never brought him around friends, and kept everything secret. These toxic relationship habits felt completely reasonable when I was in the affair.

After it ended, I fell right into a secretive situationship because those patterns had become so familiar. In this episode, I'm sharing how affairs normalize unhealthy relationship behaviors, why power dynamics and age gaps make it worse, and how I finally recognized I deserved more.

If you've ever wondered why certain relationship red flags felt normal or why you accepted less than you deserved, this one's for you.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Monica Lewinsky's Story: Power, Betrayal & Starting Over

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0700

I'm launching my new signature series, Affairs Through the Ages, and I couldn't think of a better way to kick it off than with arguably the biggest affair of the 20th century: Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

This isn't just a retelling of the scandal. I dive deep into Monica's background and uncover something I never knew - she was already involved with a married man before she ever got to Washington. That first affair with her high school drama teacher shaped everything that came after.

I explore how Monica went from a 22-year-old intern to a global punchline, why the power dynamics made this relationship so problematic, and the devastating double standard that left her unable to work for a decade while Clinton remained beloved and powerful.

I also look at where Monica is now, because this is what The Scarlet Edit is all about. She reclaimed her story, launched her own podcast, and is using her experience to help others navigate public shaming and trauma.

This episode asks the hard questions: Was Monica groomed? Could this affair have been prevented? And why did she pay such a devastating price while he walked away unscathed?

Topics discussed:

Monica Lewinsky's affair with her married high school teacher
How past relationship patterns influenced her relationship with Clinton
The 27-year age gap and power imbalance
Linda Tripp's betrayal and secret recordings
The media circus and global public shaming
Clinton's impeachment and acquittal
Monica's PTSD, unemployment, and rebuilding
Her current work in anti-bullying advocacy and podcasting

Rate this episode five stars on Apple Podcasts and let me know what you think of this new series!

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

The Sexual Conversations That Prevent Affairs: Understanding Kink & Communication

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0700

What if the things you want in the bedroom aren't as extreme as you think? Certified sex and relationship coach Amanda Dames breaks down the kink spectrum—from hair pulling to rope bondage—and explains why honest communication about sexual desires is so important for relationships.

Amanda, a former professional dominatrix with over a decade of experience, discusses the crucial difference between kinks, fetishes, and fantasies. She shares why some people who can't discuss their desires with their spouse may look elsewhere, and more importantly, how to have these vulnerable conversations before that happens.

What You'll Learn:

The kink spectrum: What actually counts as "kinky"
The difference between kinks (nice to have) and fetishes (necessary for orgasm)
Why it's hard to share sexual desires with the person who cleans the toilet
How to start conversations about fantasies with your partner
Why rejection of sexual interests creates deeper wounds
The role of shame in preventing honest sexual communication, and why infidelity can stem from this fear
What degradation play, power exchange, and impact play actually mean
Why you should never bring up new desires during sex
How aftercare works in kink relationships

Key Topics Discussed: Sexual communication, kink education, BDSM basics, fetishes vs kinks, power dynamics, consent, relationship shame, how to talk to vanilla partners, core desires, Fifty Shades of Grey's impact, managing sexual incompatibility

Amanda explains why high-powered executives sometimes want to be controlled in the bedroom, how to identify what feeling you're actually seeking through kink, and practical frameworks for opening up vulnerable conversations with your partner. Whether you're curious about exploring kink or just want better sexual communication, this episode provides actionable advice.

Perfect for listeners interested in: Sexual wellness, relationship communication, BDSM education, overcoming shame, couples therapy insights, sexual compatibility, fantasy exploration

Guest: Amanda Dames | The Kink Consultant

Website: amandadames.com

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Dating Separated Men: When Is He Ready After Divorce? (Women in Their 40s Weigh In)

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Should you date a separated man? Is dating during divorce a red flag? How long should someone be single after a long marriage before dating again?

In this episode, I share results from a viral question I posted on Threads that received 141 responses from women in their 40s about whether they'd date men who are separated or going through divorce. The overwhelming answer reveals important truths about healing timelines, self-discovery, and what it really takes to be relationship-ready after ending a long-term marriage.

What You'll Learn:

Why 90% of women over 40 won't date separated men (and what that means for you)
The "Runaway Bride test" - why knowing yourself matters more than relationship status
Real responses from women AND men going through separation and divorce
Why living independently after divorce is essential before a new relationship
How roles in long marriages affect readiness for dating

Plus: I announce an exciting new signature series launching soon and share updates on upcoming anonymous guest episodes where everyday people share their infidelity and divorce stories.

Perfect for: Women navigating dating after divorce, anyone wondering about dating timelines post-separation, or those seeking relationship advice for dating in your 40s and beyond.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? Why This Common Phrase is Wrong

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0700

In this solo episode, I challenge one of the most commonly repeated relationship mantras: "once a cheater, always a cheater."

Drawing from research and my personal experience, I explore why this phrase is not only inaccurate but potentially harmful. I break down the critical difference between serial cheaters and situational affairs, share surprising statistics about infidelity recurrence, and discuss how society weaponizes the "cheater" label—especially against women.

In this episode:

The data behind who cheats again (and who doesn't)
Serial cheaters vs. one-time affairs: key differences
Why people who've been cheated on are 2x more likely to be cheated on again
How "the other woman" gets unfairly labeled
Why I believe people can change (though it's hard)
My personal reflections on being the other woman and growing beyond that identity

If you've ever been affected by infidelity or have strong opinions about cheating, this episode will give you a lot to think about.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Fantasy Access: When Someone Feels Close but Never Shows Up

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Welcome to the first solo episode of 2026 and Season Two of The Scarlet Edit.

In this episode, I’m sharing two important things:

The direction of the podcast in 2026, based entirely on listener data
A powerful dating concept you need to understand this year: Fantasy Access

I break down what the data has made crystal clear. You want honest conversations about affairs, divorce, shame, starting over, and emotional healing. Those episodes resonate because they make people feel seen, less alone, and understood. And in 2026, we’re leaning into them even more.

I also introduce Fantasy Access, a term that explains why certain dating dynamics feel confusing, emotionally draining, and stuck. Fantasy access shows up when someone maintains emotional proximity to you without showing up in real life. Likes, story views, low-effort texts, vague interest — without dates, commitment, or clarity.

In this episode, I explain:

What fantasy access is and how it shows up in modern dating
Why fantasy access benefits emotionally unavailable people
How social media and online dating amplify emotional confusion
Why attention is not the same as intention
How to cut off fantasy access without confrontation
Why neutrality and boundaries are the most powerful response

If you’re single, dating in midlife, navigating divorce, or tired of entertaining emotionally unavailable men, this episode will help you start 2026 with clarity, self-respect, and stronger boundaries.

Topics Covered

Affairs, divorce, shame, and starting over
Emotional availability in dating
Dating after divorce in your 40s
Boundaries and self-worth
Fantasy access and unearned emotional proximity
Why being alone is better than being misled

Listen if you’re ready to stop confusing attention for effort and start choosing yourself.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Best of 2025: Infidelity, Divorce, and the Courage to Start Over

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0700

It’s officially a new year, and instead of predictions or resolutions, I wanted to do something different.

In this episode, I’m sharing a curated Best of 2025 from The Scarlet Edit. Real conversations. Real insights. The moments that stayed with me long after the mic was turned off.

You’ll hear from past guests on topics like:

Why so many women stay in relationships long after they stop working
How limerence, fantasy, and low self-worth keep us stuck
Why sex education fails women and what that costs us later
The quiet ways shame shows up in relationships
The difference between settling and choosing yourself
What happens when you stop outsourcing your worth
Why listening to your inner voice changes everything

This episode is for anyone starting a new year feeling reflective, exhausted, hopeful, hungover, curious, or quietly ready for something more.

If you’re looking for conversations that make you feel less alone, more clear, and more grounded in who you are becoming, this is a powerful place to begin.

Guest Info. (in order of appearance)

Paul Keable, Ashley Madison https://www.ashleymadison.com/

Dr. Zoe Shaw, Psychotherapist https://drzoeshaw.com/

Lisa Johnson, Been There Got Out https://beentheregotout.com/

Leah Marie Mazur, Mindfully Ready https://www.mindfullyready.com/

Mike Messeroff, https://www.mikemesseroff.com/

Christina Ketchen, https://christinaketchen.com/

If this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who might need it right now.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Why You Should Make an Annual Playlist (And How It Can Change the Way You Reflect on Your Life)

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah!

This episode of The Scarlet Edit is here for you whenever you need it — today, next week, or months from now.

In this short and sweet solo episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite end-of-year traditions: creating an annual playlist to capture where I am in my life. Music has a way of holding memory in a way nothing else can. You might forget moments or seasons, but a song can bring you right back — exactly where you were, exactly how you felt.

I talk about how music played a meaningful role in a past relationship, how that evolved into creating yearly playlists, and how those playlists became markers of growth, healing, and new beginnings. From 23 Choosing Me to 24 Do More to 25 New Life, each year left its own soundtrack behind.

I also talk about rest — real rest — and why it’s essential for creativity, clarity, and perspective. Whether or not you think of yourself as creative, you are. Sometimes the best ideas come when we stop trying so hard.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, rest, and maybe even start your own soundtrack for the year ahead.

Thank you for spending part of your Christmas with me. I’m grateful for you, always.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Scarlet Edit Listener Breakup Playlist (available on Apple Music and Spotify)

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Why Infidelity Isn’t About You — A Psychic Medium on Cheating, Energy, and Self-Worth

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In this deeply expansive conversation, I sit down with psychic medium June Edward, whose life was forever changed after a literal death during a medical procedure. June shares what she experienced on the other side, how she chose to come back, and how that moment unlocked her ability to understand energy, vibration, and the soul at a profound level.

We explore how energy impacts every relationship in our lives — romantic, familial, and personal — including affairs, divorce, and emotional attachment. June breaks down the difference between fear-based decision-making and soul-based knowing, why love is the highest vibration, and how raising and balancing your energy can completely change the relationships you attract and maintain.

June also shares her Five Love Lessons, touching on self-worth, trust and communication, unconditional love, money as energy, and balance. We talk about near-death experiences, spiritual signs, angels, meditation, and how to recognize when the universe is trying to redirect you back onto your path — sometimes gently, sometimes not.

This episode is spiritual, grounded, curious, and surprisingly practical — especially if you’re navigating heartbreak, confusion, or a major life transition and searching for meaning beyond logic alone.

Topics We Cover

What actually happens during a near-death experience
Choosing to return to life and how that decision is made
Energy, vibration, and why love is the highest frequency
Why affairs and betrayal are not about the betrayed partner
Fear-based decisions vs soul-based knowing
The Five Love Lessons and how they shape relationships
Self-worth as the foundation of love
Money as energy and why balance matters
Signs, angels, and spiritual messages in everyday life
Why nothing is happening to you — it’s happening for you

Guest

June Edward — Psychic Medium, Energy Teacher, Author, and Relationship Mastery Guide

✨If this episode resonated, please take a moment to rate and review The Scarlet Edit on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find these conversations.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

When Is It My Turn? Navigating Loneliness & Desire | A Real Conversation About Single Life

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0700

The holidays can feel magical… and a little heartbreaking when you’re building a life on your own. In this episode, I’m talking honestly about single season in December — the joy, the gratitude, the longing, and the moments that hit a little harder this time of year.

I share what it’s been like to spend Christmas mornings alone for years, why dating in midlife feels like a sport nobody trained us for, and how those tiny everyday moments (Costco runs, opening a good bottle of wine, watching a new show) can make you miss a person who isn’t in your life yet.

I also talk about the women listening to this show — how often you tell me an episode made you feel less alone — and why that matters so much. And we get into one of my favorite reflections: looking at where you were a year ago and actually giving yourself credit for everything you’ve handled, carried, and created.

If this season feels a little tender… you’re not the only one.

You’re not behind. You’re human. And your story isn’t finished.

Come Get to Know Me!

• Instagram: @the.scarlet.edit

• YouTube: The Scarlet Edit

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Worried About Love and Money? How Prenups Protect Your Future and Peace of Mind.

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Prenuptial agreements get a bad rap — but they shouldn’t.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with California family law attorney and “Prenup Queen” Deveney Wells-Gibson to break down what prenups actually are, why they matter, and why women should be having these conversations long before saying “I do.”

Deveney has seen the same story play out over and over in divorce court — women blindsided by finances they didn’t know existed, outdated state laws that don’t reflect modern relationships, and the emotional and financial fallout that could have been avoided with one conversation.

This episode reframes prenups as a foundation-builder, not a divorce plan, and lays out how women can protect their assets, understand their state’s marital laws, approach money conversations without shame, and decide whether they’re truly aligned with a partner’s financial values.

We talk about:

Why prenups actually benefit the relationship instead of threatening it
How outdated community property laws leave many women vulnerable
What women should ask before getting married at any age
Why financial transparency matters more than romantic optimism
The mindset blocks that keep couples from talking about money
Real courtroom stories that show exactly what’s at stake
How Deveney’s Love Meets Wealth framework helps couples build shared goals
Why measuring your financial progress as a couple matters

If you’re dating, considering marriage or remarriage, or already engaged, this is the conversation you need before you walk down the aisle.

Connect with Deveney:

Instagram: @theprenupqueen

Course: LOVE MEETS WEALTH

If you loved this episode, please rate the show 5 stars on Apple Podcasts — it helps more women find these conversations.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Feeling Drained by Negativity? Here’s How to Reset Your Energy and Thrive in 2026.

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Why I’m Letting Go of Every Negative Thought This Month

In this bonus episode, I talk about what triggered today’s mindset shift, why fear keeps showing up when we’re leveling up, and how editing out negativity can completely reset your energy before 2026.

I talk about what fear is teaching me right now, why I’m doubling down on my goals for 2026, and how our words shape our energy more than we realize.

I share the Q4 challenge I’ve been doing, the real reason I tag Dear Media every day, and why I believe tracking negativity for the next 30 days could change everything.

What You'll Hear:

how negativity drains your momentum and energy
why acknowledging fear can move your life forward
how to map out goals with actual action steps
why tracking negativity for 30 days shifts your subconscious
how to release old energy before the new year

Join the Live Event

I’m hosting a YouTube live on December 30th at 5pm MST — a collective reset to release the negativity before 2026.

This episode is for anyone who’s ready to let go of old stories, clear out the negativity they’ve been carrying, and step into 2026 with stronger energy, clearer goals, and a grounded plan for personal change.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Tired of Settling? Why It’s Okay to Want a Boyfriend Who Truly Values You.

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0700

This week’s solo episode lands on Thanksgiving, and honestly, I’m feeling exceptionally grateful.

The Scarlet Edit has now reached listeners in 52 countries, which blows my mind. Australia, Canada… you’re showing up big, and I appreciate it more than you know.

In this episode, I break down a recent Vogue opinion piece asking a pretty wild question: “Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now?”

As a 47-year-old single woman who has been married, divorced, partnered, and in a very bad situationship… I have thoughts. A lot of them.

Together we explore:

Why calling relationships an “achievement” is bizarre — and honestly a little sad
How our experiences, environment, wants, and needs shape our perceptions (and why that matters)
The pressure women feel to be hyper-independent — and why wanting a boyfriend doesn’t cancel out your strength
The difference between wanting a partner and needing one
Why you’re already whole, even if you’re single
How social media distorts relationship narratives (engagement → wedding → baby… you know the drill)
Why joy shouldn’t be hidden just because dating feels impossible right now
And what it actually means to welcome someone into a life you’ve built on your own terms

By the end, I circle back to one simple truth:

Wanting a relationship doesn’t make you less independent — and being single doesn’t make you less whole.

If this episode resonated, you know what to do:

→ Tap those five stars on Apple Podcasts

→ Come hang with me over on IG: @the.scarlet.edit

→ Share this episode with a friend who’s navigating modern love

Happy Thanksgiving. I’m so grateful for you!

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Reclaiming Your Power After Narcissistic Abuse: Self-Worth, Femininity & Choosing Yourself | Melise Watts

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0700

What does it look like when a woman finally sees the narcissistic abuse she's been living in — and decides she's done?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Melise, whose viral TikTok about watching a family by the pool stopped people in their tracks. But it's the story behind that moment that matters even more — eight years in a relationship with a covert narcissist, the slow erosion of her identity, and the moment she chose to reclaim her life.

This conversation goes deep into what narcissistic abuse actually looks like from the inside, how it disguises itself as love, and what it takes to leave when you've spent years believing the relationship was your fault.

We get into:

The poolside moment that broke something open — and why it resonated with millions of women
Eight years with a covert narcissist — how subtle manipulation, love bombing, and withholding became her normal
The difference between "earning love" and believing you're actually worthy of it
The cycle of self-betrayal in a toxic relationship — how you lose yourself so gradually you don't even notice
The moment she knew she had to leave the relationship and why it wasn't clean or instant
How speaking her truth publicly on TikTok became the catalyst for healing after narcissistic abuse
Reclaiming her femininity and identity after years of emotional abuse
Why purpose shows up the moment you stop serving from lack and finally choose yourself

If you're navigating narcissistic abuse, trapped in a toxic relationship, rebuilding your identity after leaving, or rediscovering who you are on the other side of emotional abuse — this episode will remind you that you are not defined by what someone else did to you. You are not alone in this.

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential support.

Guest: Melise 🌐 tiktok.com/@.melsi.e

Sponsor: Open Voices 🌐 openvoices.co

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

A Very Unplanned Solo Episode Inside My New Studio (And My Brain)

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Welcome to a very unplanned solo episode where I tried to record something polished and instead… well… this happened.

Today I’m coming to you from my brand-new studio!! Dog hair, moving chaos, missing flowers, fake plants I keep thinking are dying (??), and all. I upgraded everything: new desk, new lighting, a mic flag that makes me feel like a news anchor, and wallpaper in my exact brand hex code. Yes, I’m that person now.

This episode is one long stream of consciousness — part studio tour, part interior design commentary, part “am I actually looking into the camera right now?” tech experiment, part manifestation of Dear Media noticing me. Spoiler: I’m still determined.

It’s messy. It’s funny. It’s very me.

And honestly? I’m proud of it.

Inside this episode I get into:

Why peel-and-stick wallpaper is a lie
My continuing relationship with dog hair
The neighbor who accidentally gave me free nightstands
My belief that I will end up on Dear Media
Designing a studio that finally feels like home
The joy of recording with an iPhone + a dream

If you're loving The Scarlet Edit, here’s how to support the show:

• Subscribe on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@thescarletedit

• Leave a 5-star review on Apple ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-scarlet-edit-divorce-affairs-situationships/id1825172881

• Come find me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thescarlet.edit

• And of course, keep listening. You being here means everything.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Why Affairs Happen: Core Wounds, Self-Worth & the Psychology of Infidelity with Christina Ketchen

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Why do people have affairs — even good people in relationships that look fine from the outside? And what happens to everyone involved when infidelity blows a life apart?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with relationship and self-love coach Christina Ketchen for an honest, nuanced conversation about infidelity — what drives it, what it reveals about us, and how it changes everyone it touches.

We unpack how core wounds — our earliest needs to be seen, heard, loved, and safe — lead us to repeat familiar emotional patterns in relationships. Christina has coached hundreds of people through divorce and betrayal, and I reflect on my own experience as the other woman and what that affair taught me about self-worth, shame, and what I actually needed from love.

We explore:

Why most affairs don't begin with bad intentions — and what's really driving the infidelity underneath
The three roles in every affair — the one who cheated, the one who was cheated on, and the other woman — and how each carries their own grief
How shame after infidelity and self-forgiveness are more connected than most people realize
What limerence is, why affair relationships feel so intoxicating, and how to tell the difference between limerence and real love
The difference between setting boundaries in relationships and actually enforcing them
Why some of us are more comfortable in sadness and chaos than in healthy love — and what that says about our core wounds
Reclaiming your self-worth after an affair no matter what role you played

This conversation is about compassion, not judgment. Whether you've had an affair, been cheated on, or been the other woman — your grief is real and your healing matters.

If this episode resonates:

Listen next:

Guest: Christina Ketchen — Relationship and Self-Love Coach

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Widowed with 4 Kids, Then Trapped by a Narcissist

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In this episode, I sit down with Julie Barth, who lost her husband to stage four pancreatic cancer when her four children were still young — the youngest was just six months old. While she was still deep in grief, she met a man who seemed like a fresh start. He wasn't. He was a narcissist who spent years isolating her from her family and friends, manipulating her, stalking her, emotionally abusing her, and threatening to kill her.

Julie shares how she went from being a widow surrounded by community to a woman who had been moved across the country, cut off from everyone she knew, and convinced that she was crazy. We talk about how he used her grief against her, why she stayed as long as she did, the financial abuse that kept her trapped, how he sabotaged every attempt she made to build a life for herself, and the moment she realized she had to get out. We also get into the savior complex — how he presented himself as the man who was saving this poor widow and her kids while behind closed doors he was destroying them.

Julie is now divorced and doing nonprofit work helping other women facing crisis, caregiving burnout, and economic abuse. If you've ever been in a relationship where someone used your pain against you, if you've been gaslit into thinking you were the problem, or if you're a widow or someone going through loss and you're worried about being vulnerable to the wrong person, this conversation is one you need to hear.

Julie’s Website & Art for Charity: juliebarthauthor.com

National Domestic Violence Hotline: thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-SAFE

Support Services for Financial Abuse: nnedv.org

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Dating After Divorce: Deal Breakers, Intimacy & Keeping Love Alive

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0700

I sit down with Dr. Robin Buckley, executive coach, psychologist, and author of Marriage Incorporated, who has been divorced twice herself and now coaches couples and singles on how to approach relationships with the same intentionality we bring to our careers.

We talk about her Ideal Companion Avatar — a concept borrowed from business where you create a detailed profile of what you actually want in a partner, including your non-negotiables and deal breakers, before you start dating. For anyone dating after divorce who keeps ending up with the wrong person, this framework alone is worth the listen. We also get into her system of daily five-minute check-ins, weekly deeper conversations, and quarterly relationship retreats that keep couples connected before things fall apart. Dr. Robin explains why most marriages fail not because of one big event, but because couples stop being intentional about communication, intimacy, and actually checking in on how the relationship is doing.

We also cover when to have uncomfortable conversations about money, sex, and expectations when you're dating someone new, why people don't change after marriage, and the difference between therapy and coaching when your relationship needs help. If you're dating again after divorce, stuck in a marriage that feels like you're roommates, or trying to figure out how to do relationships differently the next time around, this episode gives you a real strategy.

Guest Info.

🌐 https://drrobinbuckley.com/

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

What 15 Months of Solo Travel Taught Me About Love & Self-Worth

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0700

I just moved to Arizona after 15 months of traveling the world solo, and I'm finally building a home studio for The Scarlet Edit. In this solo episode, I talk about what it feels like to settle down after living out of suitcases, why the last 15 months have been the best of my life, and what starting over in a new city looks like when you're doing it completely on your own terms.

I also reflect on past relationships — including a college boyfriend who reached out 20 years later to apologize for how he treated me. That message brought up a memory I hadn't thought about in years, a moment where I realized how little self-worth I had back then and how different things are now. I talk about what it means to look back at who you were in past relationships and finally like who you've become on the other side.

If you're starting over after a divorce, an affair, or a relationship that changed you, or if you're in that season of rebuilding your life and wondering what comes next, this one is a quick check-in that might feel like exactly what you needed to hear.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

20 Years Married to a Narcissist: Serial Cheating, Coercive Control & Getting Out

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0700

I sit down with Lisa Johnson, co-founder of Been There Got Out, a domestic violence advocate and high-conflict divorce strategist who spent 20 years married to a narcissistic serial cheater and sex addict.

Lisa's story starts the way so many do — he was older, seemed stable, made her feel chosen. Within months there were phone numbers in his wallet. He confessed to an affair right after the wedding. He went to therapy and convinced her the therapist said the problem was that she needed to learn how to meet his needs. For 20 years, the cheating never stopped. He was soliciting women from the honeymoon through the end of the marriage, writing scripts for their intimate encounters, controlling what she wore, and threatening to cheat if she didn't comply — all while playing the role of devoted husband and father to the outside world.

We talk about how coercive control works when there's no physical violence, how a narcissist uses intelligence and charm as weapons, why she stayed as long as she did, and what it took to finally leave. Lisa also shares how she represented herself in her high-conflict divorce, ultimately helped change Connecticut law around domestic violence, and now helps other survivors navigate the legal system and rebuild their lives. If you're in a marriage that looks fine on the outside but feels wrong on the inside, or if you've ever wondered whether what you're experiencing is abuse, this episode will hit close to home.

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential support.

Guest Info.

🌐 https://beentheregotout.com/

https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@BeenThereGotOut⁩

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

100 Episodes and Counting: My Round Two Podcast Journey That Led to The Scarlet Edit

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0700

100 episodes. Countless stories. One powerful evolution.

In this special milestone episode, I look back at the journey that started with Round Two and led to The Scarlet Edit — from launching my very first show, to finding my voice, to building a platform where no story is off-limits. I share the lessons I’ve learned about storytelling, self-trust, and showing up authentically, even when it’s uncomfortable.

If you’ve ever dreamed of starting a podcast, pivoting your story, or simply hearing the truth about what it takes to create something that matters, this one’s for you.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

The Role of Shame in Divorce, Affairs, and Betrayal | Dr. Zoe Shaw

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Why does shame after infidelity feel so different from other kinds of shame? Why can't you just "be vulnerable" and make it go away? And why does it keep you stuck in relationships, patterns, and silence long after you know you deserve better?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Dr. Zoe Shaw — psychotherapist, author, and host of Stronger in the Difficult Places — to talk about what she calls complex shame. This isn't garden-variety guilt. Complex shame is the kind that buries itself so deep it becomes part of your identity, and it shows up everywhere — in affairs, in divorce, in being the other woman, in staying in toxic relationships, and in the secrecy that keeps all of it hidden.

Dr. Zoe opens up about her own experience carrying hidden shame and why she coined the term after seeing the same patterns in hundreds of clients. We break down how shame operates differently in infidelity than in other areas of life, and why it has such a grip on women navigating affairs, divorce, and relationships that feel impossible to leave.

We explore:

What complex shame is and how it's different from guilt and ordinary shame
Why shame after affairs, betrayal, and divorce feels so uniquely paralyzing
How shame fuels codependency, secrecy, and the cycle of staying in toxic relationships
The "phantom critic" — the voice in your head that reinforces self-doubt and keeps you stuck
Why so many women confuse unworthiness with love and settle for relationships that don't serve them
How to begin healing from shame after infidelity and reclaiming your self-worth — even when the shame has been there for years

If you've been the other woman and carried that shame in silence, if you're going through a divorce and feel like it defines you, or if you've ever questioned your value because of a relationship that didn't go the way it was supposed to — this episode will change how you think about what you've been carrying.

Guest: Dr. Zoe Shaw — Psychotherapist, Author, Host of Stronger in the Difficult Places 🌐 drzoeshaw.com

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Polyamory Inside a 16-Year Marriage: Jealousy, Freedom & Honesty

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0700

I talk with Mike Messeroff, a personal freedom coach who has been married for 16 years and polyamorous with his wife for the last seven. His wife brought up the idea over breakfast one morning, his initial reaction was no, and now he says it's the best thing that ever happened to their relationship.

We get into what polyamory actually is versus what people assume it is — it's not swinging, it's not an excuse to cheat, and for Mike, it's not even primarily about sex. He talks about how he and his wife were codependent for years, how opening their marriage forced him to confront jealousy, insecurity, and self-worth, and how the freedom that came with it required more honesty and discipline than monogamy ever did. We talk about why he believes one person can't fulfill every need in a relationship, why so many monogamous marriages end in infidelity or quiet resentment, and what it looks like to choose your partner every day without a contract holding you there.

We also get into the spiritual side — non-attachment, unconditional love, and Mike's belief that trying to contain love is what leads to repression and misery. Whether you're curious about polyamory, questioning your own marriage, or just wondering why traditional relationships feel like they don't fit anymore, this conversation challenges everything you've been told about how love is supposed to work.Guest Info.

🌐 https://www.mikemesseroff.com/

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Heartbreak Anthems: Music for Moving On | The Scarlet Edit Listener's Breakup Playlist

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

I couldn’t resist dropping a bonus episode today because our community created something amazing. I asked listeners on Instagram for their favorite breakup songs, and the result is The Scarlet Edit Listener’s Breakup Playlist, now live on Spotify and Apple Music.

In this episode, I share my love of lyrics, why music feels like poetry set to sound, and how certain songs transport us back to pivotal moments in our relationships. I talk about building playlists during my own breakup, the songs that carried me through heartbreak, and how music connects us to one another’s stories.

If you’ve ever put a song on repeat after a breakup, this episode is for you.

🎶 Playlist links are linked Spotify and Apple Music!

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Divorced 3 Times: Shame, Stigma & Starting Over with Leah Mazur

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

I sit down with Leah Mazur, founder of Mindfully Ready and The Next Chapter, who has been divorced three times — and instead of hiding from that, she built a community helping women release the guilt and shame around divorce and start rebuilding on their own terms.

We get into why society still treats divorce like a failure, especially for women, and the hidden emotional and financial costs that nobody warns you about. Leah opens up about how childhood abandonment shaped her relationship patterns for years and the turning point after her second divorce that finally made her break the cycle. We talk about boundaries, the shift from people-pleasing to actually valuing yourself, and what dating after divorce looks like when you refuse to settle out of loneliness or desperation.

We also talk about navigating divorce with kids — how to handle the shame and fear that comes with that — and the idea that some relationships are for a reason, some for a season, and some for a lifetime. If you're going through a divorce, stuck in a marriage that isn't working, or trying to figure out what love looks like in your next chapter, this one is for you.

Guest Info.

🌐 https://www.mindfullyready.com/

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

The Courage to Leave: Divorce, Affairs & Starting Over

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In this bonus episode, I talk about courage — not the inspirational poster version, but the kind that doesn't feel brave while you're living it. I share how a coworker told me I was courageous for going through my divorce and how that word caught me off guard because I wasn't feeling courageous. I was just sad and doing what I had to do.

I get into what courage has looked like across my own life — ending my marriage, walking away from a five-year relationship as the other woman, traveling the world solo, and starting this podcast where I told my deepest secret to anyone who would listen. I talk about why I'd never be the other woman again but why I wouldn't change my past, how ending that relationship meant giving up someone who loved and supported me and choosing myself anyway, and the loneliness that hit six weeks after it ended.

I also dig into the research — what Brene Brown says about courage being a skill you can practice, why fear is always part of the equation, and the moral dimension of courage that gets complicated when your story doesn't fit into a neat box. This one is for anyone sitting on the edge of a decision that scares them, whether that's leaving a relationship, starting over after divorce, or just choosing to stop being quiet about who you really are.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

The Truth About Affairs: Sexless Marriages, Emotional Validation, and Modern Love

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Why do people cheat? And what happens when an entire company is built around making it easier?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Paul Keable, Chief Strategy Officer of Ashley Madison — the website known worldwide for its tagline "Life is short. Have an affair." Paul has spent over a decade at Ashley Madison and brings research and real member stories that flip everything you think you know about infidelity on its head.

We talk about:

Why people have affairs — and how the reasons are different for men and women. Women more often seek affairs because of sexless marriages while men more often seek emotional validation
The communication breakdowns in marriages and long-term relationships that drive people toward infidelity
Who actually uses Ashley Madison — it's not just married people. Singles, polyamorous couples, and people in open relationships are all on the platform
Real member stories — from affairs born of loneliness to "compassionate affairs" during caregiving for a sick spouse
How secrecy, discretion, and unmet needs fuel modern affairs and why the demand for a platform like Ashley Madison keeps growing
Why the stereotypes around cheating are wrong and what people actually want when they step outside their relationship

This episode challenges everything you've been told about infidelity and opens up a conversation about why people cheat that goes far beyond the usual moral judgment. Whether you've had an affair, are considering one, or just want to understand why infidelity happens — this is the honest conversation most people are too afraid to have.

Guest: Paul Keable — Chief Strategy Officer, Ashley Madison

🌐 linkedin.com/in/paul-keable-9bb7222/

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Unity, Division, and the America We’ve Become | Remembering 9/11 & Charlie Kirk

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

I was 24 years old on 9/11. Like so many Americans, I’ll never forget where I was, what I saw, or how it felt to come together with neighbors and strangers in a moment of shared grief. That unity shaped me — and I’ve carried it with me ever since.

This year, remembrance collided with tragedy as news broke of Charlie Kirk’s murder. I didn’t know him personally, but I followed his work for years, and I broke down in tears at the senselessness of his death.

In this episode, I reflect on both: the unity after 9/11, and the devastating division we face today. I share my heartbreak, my outrage, and my belief that we must return to compassion, conversation, and critical thinking.

Because this isn’t about left vs right. It’s about humanity. It’s about America. And it’s about the future we’re building together.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

The Friendship Breakup Guide: Letting Go & Moving On

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Friendships evolve, change, and sometimes end — and it can hit harder than we expect. In this bonus episode of The Scarlet Edit, I share my reflections on losing friends, navigating seasonal relationships, and how to honor the value you bring while letting go with grace.

I explore why friendships come and go, the difference between reason, season, and lifetime friends, and what it means to truly understand the ebb and flow of your social connections.

Drawing from my own experiences and insights from friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson, I uncover why we often mislabel friendships, how to reframe endings, and why knowing your worth makes letting go easier.

Whether you’ve been ghosted, phased out, or just feel the shift in your circles, this episode helps you navigate the complexity of female friendships without shame or guilt.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

How to Date Again After Divorce, Heartbreak & Starting Over

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Jonathon Aslay, a relationship coach who works primarily with women navigating dating after divorce, heartbreak, and long-term relationships. We talk about what it actually takes to build real emotional connection when you're starting over — and why leading with friendship instead of romance might be the move that changes everything.

Jonathon shares how losing his son reshaped his entire approach to relationships and coaching, and how he met his own girlfriend by putting friendship and emotional foundation first. We also get into his girlfriend's "Enchanted Journal" method — a journaling practice she used to get clear on what she actually wanted before they ever met.

We talk about why your dating mindset matters more than your dating profile, what men and women both need to feel in a relationship (safe, seen, heard, accepted, loved, desired), and how to handle rejection and heartbreak without letting it make you bitter. If you're dating again after divorce or after a toxic relationship and you're tired of the apps and the games, this one's for you.

Guest Info.

https://www.jonathonaslay.com/

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Fix Your Relationship: Secrets to Reignite Attraction, Intimacy & Desire

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Paul, a relationship expert and author, to uncover the real strategies couples can use to reignite intimacy, maintain attraction, and keep desire alive in long-term relationships.

We talk about why some couples thrive while others struggle, diving into topics like:

How hormones like testosterone and estrogen influence desire
The role of physical, mental, and emotional attraction in sustaining connection
Practical tips for taking responsibility for your own happiness and attractiveness
Common pitfalls that lead to loss of intimacy and frustration
Recommended books and resources for improving relationships and sexual connection

Paul shares actionable advice for both men and women to enhance intimacy, strengthen communication, and rekindle romance. Whether you’re married, in a long-term partnership, or navigating modern dating, this episode will give you the tools to create a more connected and passionate relationship.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Paul’s books: Get Her to F You Again, B is For…, Keep Your Bitch (upcoming)
Keys to the Kingdom by Alison Armstrong
Free resources and consultations at comeonmanpod.com

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Taylor Swift Engaged to Travis Kelce – Red Alert Bonus Episode on Love & Relationships

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

Taylor Swift is engaged to Travis Kelce!!! In the first Red Alert Bonus Episode of The Scarlet Edit, I am sharing my thoughts as she enters into her new era of fiance.

As a Swiftie and a fan of relationships, I’m diving into how Taylor’s relationship history, songwriting, and this exciting engagement can teach us all about love, heartbreak, and choosing the life you deserve. From private romances to public love, Taylor’s journey reminds us that past heartbreak doesn’t define our future, and that finding the right partner can happen when you least expect it.

We’ll cover:

How Taylor Swift’s songs reflect real-life relationships and emotional growth
Lessons we can take from her relationship journey with Travis Kelce
Why it’s okay to enter a relationship completely unfamiliar with your partner’s world
What we can learn about love, self-worth, and being chosen

If you love celebrity insights tied to real relationship lessons, this episode is for you.

Bonus episodes like this one are designed to give you quick, relatable, and thought-provoking commentary on the stories everyone is talking about, while staying true to The Scarlet Edit’s mission: no shame, no judgment, all truth.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

No Regrets, No Shame: My Truth About Being the Other Woman

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

What is a long-term affair actually like beyond the sex and the secrecy? What does the day-to-day look like when you're the other woman for years — not weeks, not months, but years?

In this solo episode of The Scarlet Edit, I answer the questions listeners have been asking since the first episode. I go deeper into my five-year affair with a married man — the real connection we had, the friendship and emotional intimacy we built, and the love that felt as easy as breathing even though it came with a cost I didn't fully understand at the time.

I talk about:

What a long-term affair actually looks like beyond the stereotypes — the friendship, the support, the emotional intimacy that made it feel like a real relationship
Being the other woman for five years and how I reconciled loving someone who was married
The secret relationship dynamics that no one talks about — how you build a life with someone who already has one
Why I walked away from the affair and how it was both devastating and liberating at the same time
The boundaries I set for myself after the affair ended and how infidelity reshaped what I expect from relationships now
Why I tell this story without shame and without regret — because being the other woman doesn't make you less worthy of love

If you've been the other woman, if you're in an affair right now and wondering what comes next, or if you've ever loved someone you weren't supposed to and carried that secret alone — this episode is the conversation no one else is having. No judgment. Just truth.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Modern Dating Post-Divorce: Lessons Learned & Green Flags

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

What does dating after divorce actually look like in your 40s? When the apps have completely changed, the rules feel different, and you're trying to figure out who you even are outside of the marriage you just left?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Elizabeth Rowan — yoga teacher, fellow divorcee, and someone who has been in the trenches of midlife dating right alongside me. We swap real stories, real mistakes, and the hard-earned lessons that only come from navigating relationships after divorce.

We talk about:

What dating after divorce in midlife actually looks like — the overwhelm, the learning curve, and the moments that surprise you
How dating apps have changed and the new terminology you need to know as a newly single woman in her 40s
Setting boundaries after a long-term marriage and learning to trust your own judgment again
Why the vulnerability of putting yourself out there after divorce is terrifying and necessary at the same time
The evolution of self-worth after divorce — how to stop settling and become more intentional about what you want in a relationship
Rituals and self-reflection that helped us process the end of our marriages before jumping into something new

This episode is for anyone who has been through a divorce and is trying to figure out how to date again with intention and confidence — whether you're newly single, still healing, or just wondering what modern dating after a long relationship really looks like.

Guest: Elizabeth Rowan — Yoga teacher and divorce survivor 🌐 elizabethrowanyoga.com

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

The Truth About Narcissistic Partners: Gaslighting, Red Flags, and Breaking Free

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

How do you know when love is actually emotional abuse? When the person you're with says all the right things, looks perfect to everyone on the outside, but is quietly dismantling your confidence one subtle comment at a time?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Laura, who lived through a long-term relationship with a narcissist and is sharing her story so other women can recognize what she didn't see for years.

We talk about:

How love bombing pulls you into a narcissistic relationship — and why it can happen to anyone who is open to love
What emotional abuse actually looks like inside a marriage that appears completely normal from the outside
Gaslighting, trauma bonds, isolation, and the slow loss of identity that comes with narcissistic abuse
Why so many smart, capable women stay in toxic relationships for too long — and why leaving is never as simple as people think it should be
How Laura found the strength to leave, rebuilt herself from the ground up, and came out stronger and more self-aware on the other side
The difference between a difficult relationship and an abusive one — and how to trust yourself when self-doubt has become your default

Laura's willingness to be vulnerable about what it means to survive a relationship that looked fine on the outside while it was destroying her on the inside is something every woman in a toxic relationship needs to hear.

If you've ever questioned whether your relationship was healthy, stayed too long because you hoped it would change, or wondered whether what you're experiencing is actually narcissistic abuse — this episode is your validation. You are not alone.

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential support.

Guest: Laura Bolton 🌐 linkedin.com/in/the-laura-bolton/

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

I Had an Affair: How It Feels to Tell the World You Were the Other Woman

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

I knew starting The Scarlet Edit by telling the story of my five-year affair as the other woman would turn heads. I didn't expect the sense of freedom that came with finally saying it out loud.

In this episode, I'm reflecting on what happened after I shared the truth about my affair — why I chose to lead with it, what the aftermath felt like, and the questions that have come in since. This is the raw, behind-the-scenes side of going public with a story most people would have buried forever.

I talk about:

Why I launched a podcast about infidelity by sharing my own affair story first
What it actually felt like to press publish on my biggest secret — the relief, the fear, and the shame that tried to creep back in
Whether I ever believed he would leave his marriage for me
How it feels knowing he might be listening now
The emotional weight of being the other woman in public after being the other woman in secret for five years
Why I built the Patreon community and what it's meant to connect with women who have lived through the same thing

If you've ever carried a secret relationship, wondered what it would feel like to finally own your story without shame, or needed to hear that being the other woman doesn't define your worth — this one is for you.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Honest Conversations on Affairs, How to Talk to Friends Considering Infidelity, and How to Let Go of Shame

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

What happens when a friend confesses she's having an affair? When someone you love is in a relationship that doesn't fit the script — and you've been the other woman yourself? How do you hold space without judgment when you know exactly what that gray area feels like?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I open up about what it means to love people who make choices the world judges, to sit with friends in the middle of their affairs and complicated relationships, and to reflect on my own experience as the other woman in a long-term affair. There are no easy answers here — only layers of truth.

This episode covers:

What it actually looks like to support a friend who is having an affair — without judgment and without pretending it's simple
How my own experience with infidelity changed the way I show up for people in messy relationships
Dating after divorce and what I've learned about what I actually want in love now
The shift that happened when I stopped over-explaining my past affair and started owning my story
Letting go of shame after infidelity and finding clarity in the chaos of modern dating
Why the judgment around affairs and cheating shows up even from the people closest to you — and how to navigate it
What healing after heartbreak actually looks like when your relationship history doesn't fit the mold

If you've been the other woman, if you're dating after divorce, or if you're trying to figure out how to trust yourself again after an affair — this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Your story belongs here.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

I Had to Walk Away: Ending a Long-Term Affair and the Pain of Being the Other Woman

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

What happens when your person has full access to your world but you're a ghost in theirs? He met my parents, shared holidays with my family, showed up in photos with my closest friends — and I never met a single person from his life. That's what being the other woman looked like for five years.

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I share what it really means to be completely known in your own world while remaining invisible in his. I open up about the emotional weight of a secret relationship, the lopsided intimacy of an affair, and what it feels like to grieve a relationship that most people never knew existed.

This episode covers:

The reality of being the other woman in a long-term affair — the invisibility, the imbalance, and what it does to your sense of self
How my friends and family responded when they found out about the affair
Why women and infidelity are still judged differently than men and infidelity
The unique grief of ending a secret relationship — mourning something you were never allowed to talk about openly
What trust in relationships looks like when only one side of the affair is visible
Dating in your 40s and rewriting what love and relationships are supposed to look like after infidelity
Why healing after an affair is possible even when shame tells you it shouldn't be

If you've been the other woman, if you're carrying the weight of a secret relationship no one knows about, or if you're navigating the grief and healing that comes after an affair ends — this one is for you. You're not alone in this.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

I Was in a 5-Year Affair: Here's What It Taught Me About Emotional Intimacy and Healing After Heartbreak

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

I was the other woman for five years. He was married. It wasn't part of the plan — I wasn't chasing chaos. But it happened, and that affair shaped everything about who I am and why this podcast exists.

In this first episode of The Scarlet Edit, I share the full story of my affair — without filters and without shame. How it started, how it evolved, how COVID became a turning point, and why leaving a man I loved was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

This episode covers:

How I fell into a relationship with a married man and why it felt more real than anything before it
What being the other woman actually looks like day to day — the secrecy, the loneliness, the emotional intimacy that keeps you staying
The reality of loving someone you can't fully claim and the toll that takes on your identity
How COVID exposed what the affair actually was — and wasn't
Navigating affair recovery and the messy, painful process of walking away from an affair that defined five years of my life
Why taboo relationships still carry so much shame and what no one tells you about healing after infidelity

If you've ever been the other woman, if you've been in a secret relationship you couldn't explain to anyone, if you're quietly carrying the weight of an affair and wondering whether your story makes you less worthy of love — it doesn't. You're not alone. This is the episode where it all begins.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: teamnikkicorbett@gmail.com

Trailer: Welcome to The Scarlet Edit

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0700

Welcome to The Scarlet Edit. ❤️‍🔥

I’m Nikki, and I created this show for the women who have lived the stories nobody wants to talk about—the affairs, the divorces, the cheating, and the starting over.

If you’ve ever wondered if you’re the only one, you aren’t.

Join us every Thursday for new episodes.

Subscribe so new episodes are ready when you are.