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In this episode, Hollie is back in the hot seat with Cassie for one of the most emotional and defining conversations yet as she shares the real story behind the launch of the House of H.E.R Hub and why this is so much more than just a platform. What started as a podcast rooted in healing, empowerment and sharing her journey has now evolved into something built for every woman, at every stage, whether you are questioning, stuck, planning to leave, in the middle of leaving, or trying to rebuild your life after. Hollie opens up about what she experienced when she left, the confusion, the trauma bond, the constant questioning of herself, the lack of understanding around why she still missed him and went back, and the overwhelming realisation that whilst awareness of domestic abuse is growing, there is still such a huge gap when it comes to the emotions women are left carrying after it ends. In this episode, they talk about coercive control, trauma bonding, PTSD, the fear that doesn’t just disappear, and the reality that leaving is often the most dangerous and confusing part. Hollie shares how she relied on Google at the time and how isolating and impersonal that felt, and why she became so passionate about creating something that feels relatable, accessible and safe, a place where women can understand what they are going through, learn the terminology they may have never heard before, access support, and feel less alone without judgment. They also talk about the responsibility that comes with sharing stories like this, the emotional weight of holding space for other women, and how turning pain into purpose has become part of Hollie’s healing journey too. This episode is honest, raw and hopeful, and marks the beginning of a new chapter for House of H.E.R as it moves into Heal. Escape. Rebuild. If you have ever felt stuck, confused, scared or like you are losing yourself in a relationship, this episode is for you.

What We Cover In This Episode:

– The rebrand from Healed. Empowered. Rich to Heal. Escape. Rebuild
– Why awareness alone isn’t enough and the gap after leaving abuse
– The emotional reality of trauma bonding and going back
– Feeling “crazy”, confused and questioning yourself
– Why leaving can be the most dangerous time
– The lack of relatable, personalised support when searching for help
– Hollie’s experience of relying on Google and feeling alone
– PTSD, flashbacks and the ongoing impact after abuse
– Turning pain into purpose and building something bigger than yourself
– The vision behind House of H.E.R Hub
– Creating a safe, non-judgmental space for women at every stage
– Why community and shared experience matters in healing
– Fear around the future and life after abuse
– Hope, rebuilding and believing life can get better

Link to access website
https://houseofherhub.com/

You can also save the website directly to your phone so it sits like an app on your home screen, making it quick, private and easy to access whenever you need it. To do this, open the website in your browser, tap the share icon, and select “Add to Home Screen”. For added discretion and safety, it may appear as “Wellness” once saved.

Please note: House of H.E.R Hub is not a replacement for emergency services, professional legal advice, or specialist domestic abuse support services. It is designed to provide guidance, education, resources and support. If you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services or a trusted professional.

House of H.E.R. is a space for women who have lived through abuse, trauma, and relationships that broke them. This podcast exists to tell the truth, raise awareness around domestic abuse, and remind you that you are not alone in what you’re healing from.

Follow @houseofher__ and my personal account @holliedowdingx on Instagram and please share this episode with a woman who might need it 🥀

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In this week’s episode, we are joined by naturopathic practitioner Kia Porter, who works with women to reduce inflammation and regulate their nervous system by addressing both the physical and emotional root causes. This conversation dives into why so many women still feel anxious, overwhelmed, and disconnected after leaving a traumatic or abusive situation, and how our body holds onto that stress long after we’ve physically left. We talk about the impact of food, hormones, and daily habits on your nervous system, why traditional approaches don’t always get to the root of the problem, and how small, realistic changes can begin to bring your body back to safety. This episode is for any woman who feels stuck in fight or flight and is ready to understand her body, reconnect with herself, and start healing properly from the inside out.

What We Cover In This Episode:

• Why you can leave a toxic situation but still not feel “at peace”
• How trauma keeps your nervous system stuck in fight, flight or freeze
• The connection between emotional trauma, inflammation, and physical symptoms
• Why anxiety, brain fog, fatigue and hormonal issues are all linked
• The difference between “coping” and actually healing
• Why doctors often treat symptoms and not root causes
• How food, caffeine and blood sugar impact your mood and nervous system
• The truth about supplements and why not all of them are right for you
• How trauma and suppressed emotions are stored in the body
• The role of energy, gut health, and your internal state in healing
• Why you feel disconnected from yourself after abuse
• Small, simple daily habits to start regulating your nervous system
• The importance of stillness, boundaries, and slowing down
• Rebuilding self-worth and learning to be kind to yourself again
• How to start reconnecting with your body in a safe, realistic way

To get in touch with Kia, you can connect with her on Instagram where she shares education around nervous system regulation, inflammation, and healing from the inside out: https://www.instagram.com/kiaporter_/

You can also find more information about her services, programs, and ways to work with her via the links in her bio.

Supplements Kia spoke about during the episode that can support nervous system regulation:

• Calm Complex – https://healf.com/en-uk/products/biocare-calm-complex?variant=46190027178223&selling_plan=6474727663

• L-Theanine 200mg – https://healf.com/en-uk/products/now-foods-theanine-200mg?variant=44836365795567&selling_plan=6028263663

House of H.E.R. is a space for women who have lived through abuse, trauma, and relationships that broke them. This podcast exists to tell the truth, raise awareness around domestic abuse, and remind you that you are not alone in what you’re healing from.

Follow @houseofher__ and my personal account @holliedowdingx on Instagram and please share this episode with a woman who might need it 🥀

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In this episode, Hollie sits down with Holly, founder of Vera and Vale Private Investigations, to unpack the reality of emotional abuse, coercive control, gut instinct, manipulation, and what happens when your reality has been distorted for so long that you stop trusting yourself.

From the early warning signs of unhealthy behaviour to control disguised as care, this conversation dives into the hidden side of abuse that so many women live through but struggle to name. Holly brings a unique perspective through her lived experience, criminology studies, published research, police background, and investigative work helping women gain clarity when they feel confused, dismissed, or made to feel like they’re going mad.

This episode is honest, insightful, and incredibly validating for anyone who has ever felt like something was wrong but couldn’t fully explain why.

What we cover in this episode:

• what coercive control actually is and why so many women don’t recognise it at first
• the early signs of emotional abuse and “control disguised as care”
• why you feel like you’re going mad in certain relationships
• the difference between gut instinct and trauma after abuse
• how manipulation and gaslighting distort your reality
• why “you’re overthinking” is often used to dismiss what you’re actually noticing
• the link between infidelity, deception and emotional abuse
• how a private investigator can help you gain clarity in confusing situations
• the power of facts vs feelings when you’re stuck in self-doubt
• rebuilding trust in yourself after your reality has been distorted

To get in touch with hollie, please visit her website where you can fill in a contact form: https://veraandvale.co.uk or send her a dm on instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/veraandvalelondon/ X

Support & resources:

if anything discussed in this episode has affected you, please know you are not alone and support is available

• national domestic abuse helpline (uk) – 0808 2000 247 (24/7, free & confidential)
• women’s aid – https://www.womensaid.org.uk
• refuge – https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
• nspcc (for concerns around children) – 0808 800 5000

• clare’s law (the right to ask) – you can apply through your local police force to find out if a partner has a history of abuse
• non-molestation order information – https://www.gov.uk/injunction-domestic-violence

if you are in immediate danger, please call 999

House of H.E.R. is a space for women who have lived through abuse, trauma, and relationships that broke them. This podcast exists to tell the truth, raise awareness around domestic abuse, and remind you that you are not alone in what you’re healing from.

Follow @houseofher__ and my personal account @holliedowdingx on Instagram and please share this episode with a woman who might need it 🥀