Podcast
Modern Arizona
Hosted by Attorney Billie Tarascio · EN
Brought to you by Arizona Divorce Attorney Billie Tarascio of Modern Law, and the Modern Divorce Navigator, our mission is to help all families navigate life and law in Arizona.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Six and a Half Years, Four Attorneys: Surviving a High Conflict Divorce
5d ago00:28:21Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA high conflict divorce can stretch on for years, drain your savings, and leave your children caught in the middle. Glee Nahon spent six and a half years in litigation, worked with four different attorneys, and fought a spouse who hid business assets and refused to settle. She joins family law attorney Billie Tarascio to break down what she wishes she had known before filing.Glee Nahon spent 26 years in a marriage before filing for divorce with five children at home. What followed was six and a half years of litigation, four attorneys, a spouse who emptied their joint accounts and filed for reconciliation as a delay tactic, and a court that found no fraud despite fabricated financial documents. She is not a lawyer or a coach. She is someone who lived it and is willing to say exactly what went wrong.Glee wants listeners to know two things she did not get to say fully on the recording. First, she filed in large part to show her daughters what a strong woman looks like and to teach all five of her children that marriage and family life should not be toxic. Second, she maintains a caring, loving relationship with all five of her children today. The divorce brought them closer, not further apart.What you will learn in this episode:- Recognize when emotional abuse escalates after filing for divorce- Identify the red flags that mean it is time to change attorneys- Interview divorce lawyers properly instead of just telling your story- Build a divorce strategy before you file, not after- Understand why delay tactics and false reconciliation drain your case- Gather financial records before filing, since joint account access disappears fast- Understand how moving out of the marital home affects settlement leverage- Value a spouse's business when they control all the financial records- Decide when to stop chasing hidden assets and negotiate instead- Weigh the real cost of fighting for a fair split versus settling- Protect your children when temporary orders are not in place- Push for court-ordered therapy when co-parents disagree- Understand the limits of child interviews in Arizona family court- Know that court-ordered fee shifting is not always enforced- Build financial and emotional support before litigation startsChapters:00:00 Introduction and Glee's background01:30 Reasons for the divorce and initial challenges02:24 Escalation of conflict during divorce03:36 Living apart and emotional toll04:00 Duration of the divorce and reasons for delay05:20 Outcome and lessons learned from the lengthy process06:10 Litigation tactics and court challenges07:21 Changing lawyers and communication issues08:45 Advice on lawyer selection and red flags10:46 Final strategy and successful lawyer selection12:01 Settlement process and asset discovery13:24 Dealing with dismissive lawyers14:12 Nuancing settlement terms15:07 Impact on children and therapy17:03 Children's relationships post-divorce18:17 Handling hidden assets and financial uncertainty19:50 Acceptance and moving forward20:58 Mediation considerations22:48 Surprises and insights from the process23:41 System flaws and potential improvements24:17 Proposed system changes and child voice25:03 Lessons learned and advice for others27:11 Managing costs and emotional support28:15 Celebrating resilience and family supportIf you are facing a high conflict divorce in Arizona, Modern Law can help you build a strategy before you file. Call 480-649-2905 or visit mymodernlaw.com.
Transcribe →
Plead Guilty, Lose Your Kids? How Criminal & Family Court Collide
2w ago00:33:48Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailCriminal charges and Arizona family court collide more often than most parents realize, and one guilty plea can quietly reshape a custody case. Billie Tarascio sits down with criminal defense attorney Ryan Cummings to break down how DUIs, domestic violence charges, and even a teenager's bad decision online can follow an Arizona family through both courtrooms at once.Ryan Cummings is the founding partner and lead attorney at R&R Law Group, where he focuses exclusively on criminal defense across Arizona. Raised by a 27-year detective, he brings a rare view from both sides of the badge and a mission built on giving clients safety, clarity, and hope through the hardest moments of their lives.What you'll learn:- Why pleading guilty to domestic violence can cost you decision-making over your kids- How the domestic violence "tag" gets added to charges like disorderly conduct or assault- Why a strangulation charge can whittle down to non-DV disorderly conduct, and what that means for custody- How pending criminal charges collide with family court testimony and the Fifth Amendment- Why crime in Arizona runs in seasonal waves tied to heat, holidays, and big events- How marijuana, alcohol, and drug offenses differ in charges and consequences- What the new wave of e-bike and Lime scooter citations means for Arizona kids- Why Snapchat and "deleted" posts keep resurfacing in criminal cases- How AI-generated nude images of classmates can become CSAM charges- What Arizona's Romeo and Juliet laws do and don't protect- How the Maricopa County Attorney decides whether to press charges- The single best conversation to have with your teenager tonightChapters00:26 Meet Ryan Cummings03:04 Balancing Competing Interests in Law04:29 Why Crime Runs in Seasonal Waves08:58 Domestic Violence and the DV Tag11:13 Guilty Pleas, Diversion, and Custody12:14 Criminal Charges Meet Family Court Testimony14:02 E-Bikes, Scooters, and Teen Safety20:02 How the County Decides to Press Charges25:26 What to Tell Your Teenager29:09 Nudes, AI Images, and CSAM Risk33:31 Where to Find RyanIf you're facing a family law matter in Arizona, Modern Law is here to help. Call 480-649-2905 or visit mymodernlaw.com.Connect with Ryan Cummings:- Website: rrlawaz.com- Email: info@rrlawaz.com- Phone: 480-400-1355
Transcribe →
The Attorney Who Lived It: Empathy, AI, and Complex Custody
3w ago00:22:42Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailMost divorce attorneys study the law. Richard Nedlin lived it. The Arizona family law attorney joins Billie Tarascio to talk about how his own custody battle, his years as a prosecutor, and an unconventional path through racing and criminal justice shape the way he handles complex custody and divorce cases today. They also dig into how AI is changing the practice of family law and what it means for clients.Richard Nedlin is a family law attorney at Modern Law who began his legal career as a prosecutor in Colorado before moving to Arizona. He brings rare empathy to divorce and custody work because he has been through it himself, and he handles some of the toughest cases involving children, domestic violence, and high-conflict legal decision-making.What you will learn:- How personal experience builds empathy a casebook never could- Why family law is about reducing harm, not winning- How perspective keeps clients focused on outcomes instead of spiraling- Why separating logic from emotion protects clients- How AI is changing the way family law gets practiced- What makes complex custody and legal decision-making cases different- How judges are weighing mental health and safety in parenting time- Why best interest rulings vary more by judge than by county- How an attorney carries trauma without taking it home- Why there is real hope and a future after a hard divorceChapters: 00:00 The Unconventional Journey of Richard Nedlin 03:20 Life Experience and Empathy in Family Law 06:05 Navigating Divorce: Logic vs. Emotion 08:22 The Role of Technology in Modern Law 11:07 Understanding Complex Custody Cases 13:59 Judicial Discretion in Family Law 16:41 Coping with Trauma in Family Law Practice 19:22 Finding Hope After DivorceIf you are facing divorce or a custody dispute in Arizona, Modern Law is here to help. Call 480-649-2905 or visit mymodernlaw.com.
Transcribe →
The Alec & Lydia Act Explained (Expert Perspectives from Modern Law)
4w ago00:53:25Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailArizona's family law just changed dramatically. In this roundtable, Modern Law's Richard Nedlin and Gina Godbehere — both former prosecutors — break down the Alec & Lydia Act (HB 2995) and what it means for parents navigating domestic violence allegations, custody, and legal decision-making in family court.We cover the new burden-shifting standards, what "coercive control" really means, and how courts will handle presumptions against parenting time. If you have a case touching on this new law, don't navigate it alone.Richard and Gina are taking consultations now - Book below, visit www.mymodernlaw.com or call us at Call 480-649-2905 https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/c941efa0/?categories%5B%5D=Modern%20Law%25%E2%80%A6 #AlecAndLydiaAct #ArizonaFamilyLaw #DomesticViolenceAwareness #ChildCustody #ModernLaw
Transcribe →
How the Alec & Lydia Act is Rewriting Arizona Family Law
Jun 2600:31:09Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailArizona just passed the biggest family law change in two decades. The Alec and Lydia Act reshapes how family court handles domestic violence, coercive control, and child custody, requiring judges to document specific findings before granting parenting time. Billie Tarascio sits down with Hope Hooton, the child safety advocate behind the law, to talk about what failed, what changed, and what it means for Arizona families facing abuse.Hope Hooton is a child safety advocate, author, and podcast host, and the founder of The Alec and Lydia Act. In May 2024, her two children, Alec and Lydia, were murdered by their father during court-ordered parenting time, after a family court granted 50/50 unsupervised custody despite documented lethality risk markers. She turned that loss into landmark legislation now making Arizona one of a small number of states to recognize coercive control in custody decisions.What you will learn:- How Arizona family court granted unsupervised custody despite an order of protection- Why judges are now required to write specific findings in temporary orders- What coercive control is and why it qualifies as a lethality risk- How domestic violence against a partner signals danger to children- The lethality indicators that family courts often overlook- Why Arizona leads the country in family court filicide cases- How the Alec and Lydia Act differs from Cadence Law- What changed in the legislation after concerns about false allegations- Why mental health did not make it into the final bill- How child safety first laws are reducing harm in other states- What this law means for victims afraid to leave abusive relationshipsChapters: 00:00 Introduction to Hope Hooton and Legislative Changes 03:07 Hope's Personal Experience with Family Court 05:50 The Impact of Court Decisions on Children 08:39 The Tragic Outcome and Legislative Response 11:05 Creating the Alec and Lydia Act 13:54 Differences Between Alec and Lydia Act and Cadence Law 16:39 Challenges and Cultural Shifts in Family Court 19:33 Lethality Risks and Child Safety 22:13 Future Legislative Goals and Community SupportConnect with Hope Hooton:Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.comSocials: Hope In The PainPodcast: Voices Against FilicideBook: There's Still Hope: A Journey of Adversity, Tragedy, and Unshakable Faith (available on Amazon in ebook, softcover, and Audible)
Transcribe →
From Public Safety to Public Trust: Beth Goulden on Gilbert's Future
May 2800:26:22Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailGilbert, Arizona has a reputation problem, and residents know it. From skyrocketing water bills to transparency failures to the lingering shadow of the Gilbert Goons scandal, trust between the town council and the people it represents has broken down. This July, Gilbert voters have a chance to change that, and one candidate is making accountability the centerpiece of her campaign.Beth Goulden is a lifelong Gilbert resident and Arizona native who spent 25 years in public safety, building her career at the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department supervising serious sex offense cases and eventually managing thousands of cases across the East Valley. After retiring, she founded BHG Consulting Group and went on to co-spearhead one of the most significant criminal justice bills in recent Arizona history, bringing the state's first Sex Offender Management Board into existence. She now chairs that board and is running for Gilbert Town Council this July.What you will learn in this episode:Why Beth says Gilbert feels heavy right now, and what she believes is driving the disconnect between residents and their elected officialsHow the Gilbert Goons scandal exposed a pattern of elected officials dismissing legitimate public concern rather than owning their decisionsWhy she is challenging three incumbent council members who she believes are part of what broke Gilbert's culture of transparencyWhat a ballooning town budget with infrastructure gaps says about misplaced priorities at the council levelWhy Gilbert residents who show up angry at council meetings are not the problem and how simply being heard could change the dynamicHow the Colorado River crisis and rising water costs land directly on local government, and what a town council can actually do about itWhy Gilbert's image has shifted from a source of pride to a punchline, and what restoring it would takeHow independents in Arizona must request a partisan ballot to participate in the July 21st primary, including Gilbert Town Council racesWhy younger people and working parents are structurally locked out of local office, and what that costs communities over timeWhat red flags residents should watch for when council members appear to act as victims of their own votesHow to get involved, request a yard sign, or host a meet-and-greet with Beth before the July electionConnect with Beth Goulden: Website: bethgoulden.com Instagram: @bethgouldenforgilbert | @bethgoulden
Transcribe →
The SRP Shockwave: Turning Point USA, 400% Turnout, and the Future of Arizona Energy
May 1400:44:35Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThe SRP election caught most Arizonans completely off guard, and then it became one of the most-watched utility board races in state history. What started as a sleepy, low-turnout local election turned into a four-times-higher-than-normal turnout event the moment Turning Point USA put its logo on candidate signs, and the fallout is still rippling through Arizona energy policy, water politics, and the 2026 election cycle.Chuck Coughlin is the CEO and President of HighGround Inc., Arizona's longest continuously operating public affairs firm. A five-time winner of Arizona's Best Political Operative award from the Arizona Capital Times, Chuck has run gubernatorial and congressional campaigns, worked alongside Senator John McCain, and has been a strategist and lobbyist for clients including the City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, and the Salt River Project itself. If anyone can break down what actually happened and what it means, it is him.What you will learn in this episode:Why most Arizonans had never heard of an SRP election before this year, and why that changed overnightHow SRP's voting structure works, including the acreage-based system that traces back to 1903 federal lawWhy SRP territory residents have essentially no water insecurity, and how electricity revenue subsidizes that water supplyWhat actually separated the two slates, including the real policy debate over natural gas as a peak-power resourceHow Turning Point's logo on candidate signs triggered a partisan wave in a nonpartisan election and produced historic turnoutWhy the new board majority could create friction with SRP management and what that means for rate stabilityHow Arizona utilities are expected to double their generating capacity in the next decade to meet data center demandWhy SRP, APS, and Tucson Electric are all requiring data centers to sign base-load contracts so ratepayers are not on the hookThe key structural difference between SRP as a not-for-profit federal franchise and APS as a for-profit investor-owned utility regulated by the Arizona Corporation CommissionWhat Attorney General Kris Mayes taking on APS over rate increases could mean for Arizona consumersWhat the Project Blue data center fight in Tucson reveals about how communities can push back and winWhy Chuck believes open primaries are the only structural fix for a political system he sees as built to oppose rather than governConnect with Chuck Coughlin:Email: info@azhighground.com Facebook: facebook.com/AZHighGround LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/azhighground Instagram: instagram.com/azhighground
Transcribe →
Navigating Mental Health Crises in Arizona Family Court
Apr 3000:25:35Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailArizona families navigating divorce or custody disputes often face an issue no one talks about: what happens when a spouse, parent, or loved one is in a mental health crisis and refusing treatment. Under Arizona Title 36, there is a legal process that allows family members to petition for a court-ordered mental health evaluation, and in some cases, court-ordered treatment. Knowing how this process works, when it applies, and how it intersects with family law can be critical for parents trying to protect their children.Modern Law attorney Emily Palomino brings a perspective most family law attorneys do not have. Before joining Modern Law, Emily served as a mental health defense attorney in Arizona, representing patients who had been detained under Title 36 petitions at facilities including Palo Verde and Banner South. She worked inside the court-ordered evaluation and treatment system every day, and she knows exactly how it works from both sides.Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Meet Emily Palomino00:49 Emily's Path from Disney World to Law School03:43 What Is a Mental Health Defense Attorney in Arizona05:27 How to File a Title 36 Petition for a Loved One06:34 The Ex Parte Nature of the Evaluation Process08:19 Medical Privacy and What the Petitioner Gets Access To09:50 When Title 36 Gets Weaponized in Family Court11:07 The Right to Legal Representation in Mental Health Cases18:39 When Court-Ordered Treatment Actually Works19:51 Title 36 and Minors: What Age Does This Apply20:46 Recommended Arizona Treatment Centers21:36 Substance Abuse and the Mental Health System22:35 What Happens If You Violate Court-Ordered Treatment23:24 Emily Joins Modern Law: What She Is Looking Forward ToIf you or someone you love is facing a mental health crisis that is affecting a family law case in Arizona, the attorneys at Modern Law can help you understand your options. Call 480-649-2905 or visit mymodernlaw.com to schedule a consultation with our team.
Transcribe →
Adapt or Atrophy: Why Law Firms Have 12 Months to Master AI
Apr 1600:33:51Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIf you are a solo or small firm attorney trying to figure out where AI fits in your practice, this episode of LawLabs (a special series from the Modern Arizona Podcast) is your starting point. Carolyn Elefant breaks down exactly how to begin with AI tools, why most lawyers are evaluating them in the wrong order, and what the real risks look like when AI gets citations wrong. She also shares an honest prediction of where the profession is headed and why firms that are not adopting now will find themselves in a very difficult position within the year.Carolyn Elefant is the founder of the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant and the creator of MyShingle.com, the longest-running blog dedicated to solo and small firm practice. A Cornell grad who started her firm in 1993, she has spent over two decades consulting, writing, and advocating for independent lawyers and is currently traveling the country speaking to attorneys about AI and its real-world impact on their practices.Topics discussed:Where lawyers should actually start with AI tools and what to avoid firstWhy you need to learn general AI tools before legal-specific onesHow to protect yourself from hallucinated and mischaracterized case citationsWhat the legal profession looks like in one year and in fiveWhy firms that are not using AI are running out of time to catch upFind Carolyn: MyShingle.com
Transcribe →
Divorce Isn't Failure: Finding Miracles in the Midlife Storm
Apr 900:29:46Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, attorney Billie Tarascio sits down with Lisa Sander, nurse, life coach, and podcast host, to talk about what really happens when a marriage ends in midlife. Lisa shares her own story of leaving a 23-year marriage, how her faith carried her through, and why divorce doesn't have to mean failure. From gender dynamics and loneliness to downsizing and finding yourself again after 50, this conversation is honest, warm, and packed with hard-won perspective.Lisa Sander is a Registered Nurse of 26 years and the CEO of Our Healer, Our Protector LLC, where she coaches women between 40 and 55 who feel stuck and are ready to figure out what comes next. Alongside her partner Ryan, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, she co-hosts Our Healer, Our Protector, a Christian podcast on divorce and healthy relationships. Lisa is based in Minnesota and works with clients nationwide. What we cover in this episode:How faith and divorce can coexist and why God's forgiveness matters more than the stigmaThe midlife dip in happiness and why so many people reassess their marriages between 40 and 55What it really means when one partner grows and the other doesn'tWhy women are taking on the masculine role in relationships and burning out because of itThe loneliness epidemic and how to actually build community after divorceEnabling patterns in marriage and how to break them earlyWhy your five love languages probably change every few yearsHow downsizing your life can open up more freedom than you expectedFinding miracles in everyday moments and why that mindset shift changes everythingConnect with Lisa:You can book a free 30-minute session at LisaSander.com. and check out https://ourhealerourprotector.com/ for help today!
Transcribe →