Life After I Left

Cat Dunn
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Welcome to Life After I Left. A podcast about the moments that change us, hosted by Cat Dunn, speaker, mentor, and founder. This is a community where women share the stories they once thought they had to keep hidden. Expect vulnerable conversations, practical insights, dark humour, deep reflections, expert advice, and the kind of honesty that makes you sit in your car after an episode finishes. New stories every Thursday. Remember: Don’t be silent. Be unstoppable.

  1. 6d ago

    77: Karen Dennett on Life After… Undiagnosed ADHD: Unlearning shame, rebuilding self-esteem & creating a business that fits

    What if the “scatty” label you’ve carried your whole life was never a character flaw, but a processing difference no one had the words for? Karen Dennett is an education company founder turned business practice owner, a teacher of 20 years, and the creator of Hello Monday, a business community and skill-building program for women building micro-businesses alongside real life. Diagnosed with ADHD in her 40s after her son went through an assessment, Karen spent decades believing she was disorganised, dippy and not good enough. In this episode, she shares what changed once she finally understood her brain. In this episode, we chat about: Growing up as a Gen X girl with undiagnosed ADHD and being labelled the “naughty” or “scatty” oneThe moment Karen recognised herself while supporting her son through his ADHD assessmentWhy ADHD is a processing challenge, including time blindness and brain fog, not a lack of effortWhy a diagnosis doesn’t magically fix everything, and the therapy and coaching work that followedA simple exercise for rebuilding self-esteem: asking friends to describe you at your best in three wordsWhy Karen closed her education company and built Hello Monday around balance, structure and steady progress instead of hustleHer best advice to her younger self: don’t be your own bully, and stop trying to be liked by everyone Karen’s story is a reminder that so many women are carrying shame that was never theirs to hold. Whether you have a diagnosis or simply feel like you’re failing at keeping up, this conversation shows that understanding yourself, asking for support and being authentically you is where change begins. It takes time, but it is possible, and you don’t have to struggle alone. Connect with Karen Dennett: Website: https://www.karendennett.com/Hello Monday: https://www.karendennett.com/hellomondayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/karendennettmmmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-dennett-868507138 Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list: https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-listLife After I Left Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/Cat’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunnWebsite: https://catlouisedunn.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn Support the show: New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you’re subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else’s). And we’d love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don’t be silent. Be unstoppable.

  2. Oct 21

    76: Amanda Davies on Life After… Insidious Abuse: Why leaving isn’t the end, postnatal depression & finding peace

    Content warning: This episode discusses domestic and family violence. It also includes suicidal thoughts and a suicide note, postnatal depression, intrusive fears about harming a baby, and conflict over children after separation. Please take care when listening, or skip this episode if it feels triggering. Editor note: At the very end of this episode, you may hear the sound of a chirping bird in the background. What do you do when the person who promised you “in sickness and in health” gives you one month to fix your pain, or else? Amanda Davies is a mum of two boys and the woman behind Lunaris, where she helps business owners find the systems and automations that make their back end run smoothly. In this raw and honest conversation, she shares what life looked like inside a marriage where the harm was never about bruises or broken furniture, and what it took to finally say, “I can’t do this anymore.” In this episode, we chat about: Why domestic violence is not always bruises and broken walls, and how insidious control can creep in without you noticingThe red flags Amanda missed early on, and why she wishes she had trusted her intuitionPostnatal depression, the lack of support, and the judgement from other mothers and in-lawsGaslighting and being made to feel unreasonable for wanting more from lifeHer lowest point, writing a suicide note, and the counselling session that showed her the truthWhy leaving doesn't instantly end the abuse, and how post-separation control can filter through the kidsBeing diagnosed with ADHD at 44 after her youngest was assessed, and what she wishes she had known sooner Amanda is clear that leaving is not a magic fix, and she is just as clear that it is worth it. This episode is a reminder that you are not stupid, you are not too much, and wanting more for your life is not unreasonable. If something in these stories sounds like your relationship, trust your gut. There is peace on the other side. Connect with Amanda: Website: https://lunaris.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LunarisHQ/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LunarisHQ/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandadavies-lunaris/ Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list: https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-listLife After I Left Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/Cat’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunnWebsite: https://catlouisedunn.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn If you need urgent support, reach out to one of these incredible services: If you are in immediate danger, call 000. 1800RESPECT - National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7)Text: 0458 737 732Website: https://www.1800respect.org.au Safe Steps - Family violence response centre (Victoria) Phone: 1800 015 188 (24/7)Website: https://safesteps.org.au Lifeline - Crisis support and suicide prevention Phone: 13 11 14 (24/7)Text: 0477 13 11 14Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue - Mental health support for anxiety and depression Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au Support the show: New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you’re subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else’s). And we’d love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don’t be silent. Be unstoppable.

  3. Oct 14

    75: Marian Aranda Bravo on Life After… Chasing Success: Listening to your body, starting again at 29 & redesigning life abroad

    What if the life that looks like success from the outside is the very thing making you sick? Marian Aranda Bravo is a business mentor and consultant who helps women entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses that support the lives they actually want to live. Originally from Spain, Marian built a career in luxury hospitality in the UK and, by 28, had ticked every box on her version of success. Then her body started shutting down, doctors couldn't find a cause, and she realised the life she'd built no longer felt like hers. In this episode, we chat about: Why the version of success we inherit in our 20s often isn't ours to keepBuilding a luxury hospitality career abroad, and the 12-hour shifts, six days a week, it took to keep itThe unexplained illness and five days alone in a UK hospital that became Marian's biggest wake-up callGoing back to university at almost 29 to study Japanese translationHow COVID derailed her plans to move to Japan and led her into the online business worldHow Marian reads her body (throat vs stomach) when making big decisionsWhy the real risk isn't failure; it's staying where you are because you've convinced yourself it's too late Marian's story is a reminder that success isn't a fixed checklist; it's something you're allowed to redefine as many times as you need to. Whether your body is whispering or shouting, it might be time to stop and ask yourself the question you've been avoiding. What does success look like for you today? Connect with Marian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marian.businesscoach/Website: https://www.itsvirtualfreedom.comBeyond the Offer (the expat entrepreneur edit) - Marian's newsletter with behind-the-scenes business wins and lessons, tips to refine and expand your offers, Spotlight Q&As, and the odd voice note or surprise treat: https://www.itsvirtualfreedom.com/beyond-the-offer/ Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list: https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-listLife After I Left Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/Cat's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunnWebsite: https://catlouisedunn.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn Support the show: New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you're subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we'd love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don't be silent. Be unstoppable.

  4. Oct 7

    74: Teri Busse on Life After… Tragedy: Sobriety, narcissistic abuse & her son Rylee's legacy

    Content warning: This episode discusses domestic violence and narcissistic abuse, alcohol addiction, murder, grief and depression. Please take care when listening, or skip this episode if it feels triggering. What happens when you finally get sober, leave the relationship, and believe the hardest part is behind you, and then the police call looking for your son? Teri Busse is a retired paramedic and fire officer, award-winning author, speaker, psychology student and the host of the 13 Days of Silence podcast. After her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2016, Teri numbed her grief with work and alcohol, then found herself trapped in a relationship with a narcissist. Just six months into her sobriety, her 21-year-old son Rylee was murdered, and what she has built since is nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, we chat about: How losing her husband left Teri raising young children alone, and why alcohol became the way she numbed the painThe love bombing that had her selling her home and moving in with a narcissist within weeksHiding the abuse behind a "Facebook happy" smile, including the injury that ended her paramedic careerGetting sober, then learning her son Rylee had been murdered, and refusing to let alcohol take one more thing from herFinding real love after narcissistic abuse, and how self-sabotage made that harder than anyone admitsWriting her award-winning books, becoming Classic Miss Colorado 2026, and founding the Rylee James Memorial Welding ScholarshipWhy everyone deserves a digital footprint, and the podcast and free tools Teri has created so no griever feels alone Teri is proof that pain may become part of your story, but it does not have to define your future. She holds nothing back, from the drinking to the choices she isn't proud of, because she knows someone out there is sitting in the same shame and thinking they're the only one. If you've ever felt like a failure for not coping "well enough", this conversation is a reminder that you're not alone, and that it is never too late to start again. Connect with Teri: Website: https://teribusse.com Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list: https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-listLife After I Left Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/Cat's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunnWebsite: https://catlouisedunn.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn If you need urgent support: 1800RESPECT - National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling servicePhone: 1800 737 732 (24/7)Text: 0458 737 732Website: https://www.1800respect.org.au Safe Steps - Family violence response centre (Victoria)Phone: 1800 015 188 (24/7)Website: https://safesteps.org.au Lifeline - Crisis support and suicide preventionPhone: 13 11 14 (24/7)Text: 0477 13 11 14Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue - Mental health support for anxiety and depressionPhone: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

  5. Sep 30

    73: Sara Reyes on Life After… Redundancy: Pregnancy, backing yourself & redefining your version of success

    What would you do if you were made redundant at 28 weeks pregnant, in the middle of a pandemic? Sara Reyes is a VA business coach and the founder of Nook Collective, a co-working space on the Sunshine Coast designed for working parents. In 2020, after 14 years thriving as an EA and PA, Sara was made redundant while pregnant with her first child - and that same afternoon, she emailed her employer to say she wouldn't be coming back and started her own VA business. Within four weeks she was fully booked, and within 12 months she had doubled her corporate income. In this episode, we chat about: Losing a job, and an identity, at 28 weeks pregnant during COVIDThe messy middle: undercharging, saying yes to every client and battling imposter syndromeThe skills stay-at-home mums already have, and why you don't need another course to get startedLetting go of misaligned clients, and why Sara eventually let go of all of them to focus on coachingHow motherhood completely redefined Sara's version of successNook Collective, community, and why parents shouldn't have to choose between career and family This episode is a reminder that the hardest season of your life can become the beginning of the life you've been wanting to build. Sara didn't have it all figured out - no contracts, no insurance, just a decision to back herself. If you've been sitting on an idea and waiting to feel ready, this is your sign to just start. Connect with Sara: Website: https://www.assistbysara.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/assistbysara/Nook Collective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nook.collective/The Freedom Kickstart Roadmap: https://sara-reyes.mykajabi.com/the-freedom-kickstart-roadmapLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-reyes-ilton-4a8206122/ Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list: https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-listLife After I Left Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/Cat's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunnWebsite: https://catlouisedunn.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn Support the show: New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you're subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we'd love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don't be silent. Be unstoppable.

  6. Sep 23

    72: Life After… Announcing our Anthology Authors: 10 women, 10 stories & a 2027 book tour

    What happens when ten women decide their stories are too important to stay silent? In this episode, I'm sharing something I've been dreaming about for a long time. We've officially chosen the authors for the very first Life After I Left anthology, and I'm finally announcing who they are. I also share why this book is only the beginning, and how we're taking these stories on the road around Australia in 2027. In this episode, I chat about: Why I'm turning Life After I Left stories into our first anthologySpeaking from the scar, not the wound, and why some women aren't ready to share yetPlans for a Life After I Left book tour across Australia in 2027How you can get involved as a speaker, sponsor, venue or host cityWhy I'm writing a chapter too, and the parts of my story I haven't shared beforeThe big reveal: meet our 10 anthology authors This book was never about me. It's about creating a space where women can say the things they've been told they can't, and trusting that the right person will hear them. Shame dies when we share, and I know storytelling saves lives because it saved mine. The book launches in March 2027, and I want you in the room with us. Meet the Life After I Left Anthology Authors: Tara Lee Scott: https://www.instagram.com/taralee_co/Jemma Haythorne: https://instagram.com/thejemmaroseSarah Rosse: https://instagram.com/sarah_rosse_authorMelissa Gough: https://instagram.com/thebraingamechangerMelissa Omar: https://instagram.com/bodymindflowstudioTrish Burton: https://instagram.com/trishburtoncreativeMichelle Leach: https://instagram.com/michelleleach_Jayde Riana Biffin: https://instagram.com/j.r.biffinJenna Little: https://instagram.com/jennallittleMe: https://instagram.com/catlouisedunn Please give these women a follow and support them on their writing journey. Want to speak, sponsor, offer a venue or tell us where to tour? Email me: hello@catlouisedunn.com Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list: https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-listInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunnWebsite: https://catlouisedunn.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn Support the show: New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you're subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we'd love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don't be silent. Be unstoppable.

  7. Sep 16

    71: Shaye Gundry on Life After… Sibling Loss: Nine years of silent grief, holding everyone together, and rebuilding yourself

    What happens when you lose your brother suddenly and, instead of falling apart, you become the one holding everyone else together? Shaye Gundry is a hairdresser, beauty therapist and mother of three who owns Blossom Hair and Beauty in the Sutherland Shire, Sydney. Ten years ago, at 29, right as she was planning her son's first birthday and her own 30th, Shaye lost her younger brother suddenly; he was only 25. She spent the next nine years holding her family together while quietly falling apart, before finding her way back to herself. In this episode, we chat about: The moment Shaye found out her younger brother had died suddenly at 25Becoming the "organiser" for her whole family while burying her own griefWhy there is almost no support or community for siblings grieving a siblingThe nine years she spent leaning on alcohol to cope with what she did not want to feelThe "flick of a switch" turning point that came 13 months agoRemembering her brother: the uncle who showed up for her kids without being askedRaising two daughters as hairdressing and beauty apprentices inside her own salon Shaye's story is a reminder that grief does not follow a straight line, and it does not come with a manual, especially when it's a sibling you have lost. She spent nine years being strong for everyone else before she let herself fall apart, and it took a flick-of-the-switch moment to find her way back. If you have lost a sibling and felt like there was nowhere to take that grief, this episode is proof you are not as alone as it feels. Connect with Shaye: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaye.gundryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blossomhairandbeautyco/Website: https://www.blossomhairandbeauty.com.au/ Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list: ⁠https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-list⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunnLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunnWebsite: https://catlouisedunn.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn Support the show: Got a topic idea or would love to share your story on the podcast? Connect with me on Instagram @lifeafterileftpodcast — I would love to hear from you. New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you're subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we'd love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don't be silent. Be unstoppable.

  8. Sep 9

    70: Nikki Foord on Life After… Three Burnouts: Endometriosis, medical dismissal, and redesigning your business

    What happens when the identity you built your whole career around no longer has anywhere to live? Nikki Foord is a mentor, speaker, and podcast host who spent two decades pushing herself to 110%; first in elite sport and clinical work, then in business; before three separate burnouts forced her to rebuild from the ground up. Along the way she battled years of dismissed and misdiagnosed endometriosis, was told she'd never have children, and eventually walked away from the very business she'd built her identity around, before retraining as a psychotherapist to help others avoid the same collapse. In this episode, we chat about: Nikki's early career working with professional athletes at Geelong Football Club and why she said yes to everything in her 20sHer first burnout at 23, being flown home from Bali, and the doctor who told her "if you don't change your lifestyle, you'll never work again"Living with undiagnosed, dismissed endometriosis for over a decade; including a doctor who told her it was "all in her head"Being told years later that "women like her" who wanted a career and a family were the problem, and that she was already past her fertility windowHaving a hysterectomy, the infertility diagnosis, and going through it in the middle of COVIDHer third and biggest burnout; losing her business and income overnight and hitting a genuinely dark placeNaming the "identity lag effect"; why we keep operating from outdated versions of ourselvesWhat it actually looks like to build a business and a life that protects your health instead of costing you it Nikki's story is a reminder that burnout isn't a lack of resilience; it's often the body's last resort when everything else has been ignored. This episode is for anyone who has ever been told "it's all in your head," anyone quietly running on empty and calling it ambition, and anyone waiting for permission to build their life differently. You don't have to burn everything to the ground before you're allowed to change it. Connect with Nikki: Website: https://www.nikkifoord.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikki__foord/Podcast: https://www.nikkifoord.com.au/podcast Connect with Cat: Join my mailing list: ⁠https://catlouisedunn.myflodesk.com/mailing-list⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterileftpodcast/⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catlouisedunn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catlouisedunnLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlouisedunnWebsite: https://catlouisedunn.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-i-left/id1815891092YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catlouisedunn Support the show: Got a topic idea or would love to share your story on the podcast? Connect with me on Instagram @lifeafterileftpodcast — I would love to hear from you. New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you're subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's). And we'd love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most. ❤️ Remember: Don't be silent. Be unstoppable.

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About

Welcome to Life After I Left. A podcast about the moments that change us, hosted by Cat Dunn, speaker, mentor, and founder. This is a community where women share the stories they once thought they had to keep hidden. Expect vulnerable conversations, practical insights, dark humour, deep reflections, expert advice, and the kind of honesty that makes you sit in your car after an episode finishes. New stories every Thursday. Remember: Don’t be silent. Be unstoppable.

Information

  • Creator
    Cat Dunn
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Cat Dunn
  • Show Website
    Life After I Left