Ryan Lochte and Kayla Reid are "not in a good place"

She told PEOPLE: "Obviously, we're not in a good place. I really pray that he becomes the father our kids deserve. "I wish him well [but] we try to have minimal interaction."

Kayla and Ryan are currently "parallel parenting" son Caiden, eight, and daughters Liv, six and Georgia, two, and she is looking forward to the day her divorce to Lochte goes through.

She said: "It could be a long road ahead still. I would love to be divorced. I look back, and I'm like, 'Oh, my gosh, this year, I can't believe what I made it through. I have said it a thousand times, but I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have my girlfriends and my family. They have carried me on their backs this past year."

While Ryan has moved on with new girlfriend Molly Gillihan, Kayla is happy to stay single and focus on the kids.

She said: "I'm single. I've dated, but right now I'm choosing to remain single. My focus is on my kids and building the life I envision for our future.

"They're doing okay. They have a great community of friends, and great school.

"Obviously, they have their little struggles, and they have their confusion, because they are wondering what's going on."

Kayla has launched a new podcast, The Comeback Era, with friend Caroline Lunny, who has been helping her through the divorce.

Caroline said: "Kayla and I can yap about everything for hours on end.

"I had a front row seat to some things with her ex and for her divorce, and some other pretty awful things she's dealt with behind the scenes lately ... I feel like it really helped to deepen our friendship.

"It's nice to have a friend and business partner to lean on on the days you can't seem to put one foot in front of the other. And I hope as we navigate this broad spectrum of emotions life throws our way, our listeners can see themselves in our stories and maybe feel a little inspired to remember who tf they are too."