Welcome back to Storme Diaries 🤍
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions around domestic abuse, violence, cancer and serious illness. Please listen with care. 🤍
This week's episode is an incredibly powerful, honest and emotional conversation with my 13th guest, the amazing Hollie Dowding.
Hollie is a mum of two, business owner and advocate for domestic abuse awareness. Throughout this conversation, she opens up about some of the most difficult experiences of her life, but also how she has turned so much of that pain into something incredibly powerful to help other women.
Hollie talks about her two children and what co-parenting with two different dads looks like for her. She shares the story of her first partner going to prison when her baby was just six months old and the challenges that came with navigating motherhood through such a difficult time.
We also talk about Hollie's family and the devastating news her mum received when she was diagnosed with cancer. Hollie shares how her mum got up every single day, told herself she was healed and whole, and continued to live her life with incredible strength. Her mum is now 10 years all clear, which makes this part of the conversation incredibly special.
Hollie also opens up about her dad's health journey, including undergoing two kidney transplants, and the impact his health challenges had on their family.
Alongside all of this, we talk about Hollie's career journey, her clothing business, network marketing and the different paths she has taken to build a life and career around her family.
But one of the biggest parts of this conversation is Hollie's experience of domestic abuse. She bravely opens up about the relationship that became abusive, the control and violence she experienced, and ultimately how she found the strength to put her abuser in prison.
What I found so incredibly inspiring about Hollie's story is what she has done with something so traumatic. She has taken one of the darkest chapters of her life and turned it into something so powerful, using her experience to help, educate and support other women.
Hollie has since created House of Her, a trauma-informed hub designed to support women navigating domestic abuse — whether they're questioning their relationship, planning to leave or rebuilding their lives afterwards.
The things we've been through don't have to define us — sometimes they become the very thing that gives us the strength to help someone else.
As always, no Storme Diaries conversation would be complete without talking about everything in between. We dive into motherhood, co-parenting, family, business, resilience, relationships, healing, domestic abuse and finding the strength to rebuild your life after trauma.
In this episode we discuss: • Motherhood and raising two children • Co-parenting with two different dads • Her first partner going to prison when her baby was just six months old • Her mum's cancer diagnosis and now being 10 years all clear • Her dad's health journey and two kidney transplants • The impact of illness on their family • Building her clothing business • Network marketing and her career journey • Her experience of domestic abuse • The control and violence she experienced • Finding the strength to put her abuser in prison • Turning trauma into something powerful • Creating House of Her • Supporting and empowering other women • Healing, resilience, motherhood and everything in between
This conversation is filled with vulnerability, strength, honesty and so many important conversations that need to be heard.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, Hollie has created House of Her to help women navigate their journey, whether they're questioning their relationship, planning to leave or rebuilding their lives afterwards.
You can find Hollie on Instagram and TikTok at @holliedowdingx and follow her domestic abuse awareness platform @houseofher__. You can also find House of Her at www.houseofherhub.com.
If you're in the UK and need support right now, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and open 24/7 on 0808 2000 247. In an emergency, always call 999.
If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe and share it with someone who might need to hear Hollie's story. Your support helps Storme Diaries continue sharing real stories from real people. 🤍