MATERNAL DISPATCHES with Hollie McKay

Hollie McKay
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Maternal Dispatches with Hollie McKay is where frontline war reporting meets the stories that matter most: maternal health, human rights, and the human cost of conflict, told from the mother's lens.  Every week, I dive into the headlines that should be making news: the hidden humanitarian crises, the mothers and families too often forgotten, and the extraordinary resilience of people surviving on the margins of war and policy failure. Welcome to Maternal Dispatches — where empathy leads the conversation. Follow Hollie on Instagram and X @holliesmckay Maternal Dispatches is proudly brought to you by holliesmckay.substack.com

  1. 6d ago

    The World Cup Is Here. So Are the Traffickers.

    As millions of fans descend on North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, another group is already getting ready: human traffickers. In this episode, investigative journalist Hollie McKay examines the hidden risks lurking behind the world's biggest sporting event. With an estimated 6.5 million visitors expected across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, experts warn that the tournament could create unprecedented opportunities for trafficking networks, child exploitation, and other forms of abuse. Why do major sporting events attract criminal activity? Are host cities truly prepared? And where does responsibility lie—with local law enforcement, governments, or FIFA itself? Support the show Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

    8 min

  2. Jun 3

    The Loophole Nobody Wants to Close: Child Marriage in America

    Sherry Johnson was 11 years old when she was forced to marry the man who raped her, and it was completely legal. Half a century later, child marriage remains lawful in 34 U.S. states, some with no minimum age whatsoever. In this episode, Hollie breaks down the legal loopholes, the political resistance, and the staggering numbers behind a practice America condemns abroad but quietly permits at home and asks the question reformers have been demanding answered for decades: why won't Congress act?  Support the show Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

    11 min

  3. May 28

    Hundreds of Children Went to a Government Hospital for Care. They Left With HIV.

    A local doctor in Taunsa, a mid-sized city in Pakistan’s Punjab province, first noticed something was wrong in late 2024. Children were showing up at his private clinic HIV-positive, and most had no obvious reason to be. Their parents were testing clean. They were too young for drug use or any of the standard risk factors health officials tend to reach for when a case is inconvenient. What they had in common was simpler and more damning: they had all been treated at the same government hospital. So, what went wrong?  Support the show Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

    10 min

  4. May 20

    How the Law Allows Convicted Child Sex Offenders To Father a Surrogate Babies

    Does this Industry Need More Oversight? A convicted child sex offender is now a legal father. He is not in prison. He is not hiding. He raised money on GoFundMe, found a surrogate through a family friend, and in 2024 walked out of the system holding a baby boy — and the law, in Pennsylvania and in most of the country, lets him. That is not a bug. It is the architecture. Plus some life updates, second pregnancy and seeking suggestions.  Support the show Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

    9 min

  5. Jan 4

    Ask Me Anything Answered: From Minneapolis to the Middle East, Power, War, and the Stories Left in the Dark

    Listener questions drive this candid episode of Dispatches with Hollie McKay, spanning immigration raids in Minneapolis, the roots of Minnesota’s Somali community, NATO’s fractures, and the geopolitical stakes of Greenland and Iran. Hollie explains why closing the Strait of Hormuz could shock the global economy, whether Iran’s unrest could reshape the Middle East, and who benefits when conflicts like Congo stay out of the headlines.  A conversation about power, accountability, and the human cost of decisions made far from public view — plus a personal detour into ballet, discipline, and storytelling under fire. Support the show Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

    32 min

  6. 09/19/2025

    Dispatches: The Jinn of Marrakech and Lessons in Letting Go

    In this episode, journalist and author Hollie McKay reflects on a rare personal journey to Morocco—a trip meant for celebration, but one that also sparked a deeper reckoning with the relentless pull of news, social media, and digital noise. From wandering the mystical streets of Marrakech to confronting the addictive vortex of online life, Hollie shares candid insights on learning to disconnect, redefining her identity beyond breaking news, and rediscovering the creative writer within. Along the way, she explores authenticity, motherhood, and what it means to be truly present in a world that constantly demands our attention.  Support the show Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

    23 min

  7. 08/28/2025

    Dispatches: Journalism in an Age of Risk and Renewal

    Hollie reflects on the perils and purpose of modern journalism. From documenting imprisoned reporters abandoned by U.S.-funded outlets, to navigating the blurred lines between truth-telling and propaganda in a digital storm of influencers, Hollie and Dennis examine the shrinking space for press freedom worldwide.  Hollie also shares how motherhood has reshaped her professional compass, balancing the risks of frontline reporting with the responsibilities of raising a child,  the psychological toll of conflict reporting, and the enduring importance of human-centered storytelling in an era where virality often eclipses truth.   Support the show Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

    29 min

  8. 07/24/2025

    Dispatches: On Pregnancy Loss, Grief, and the Lives We Didn’t Choose

    In this deeply personal conversation, Hollie steps away from conflict zones to speak candidly about a private grief—her recent miscarriage. In a conversation with longtime friend and interviewer Dennis, Hollie reflects on the physical and emotional toll of early pregnancy loss, the unique form of grief it brings, and the silent weight many women carry. They explore the stigmas surrounding miscarriage, the biology of trauma, and how society rushes women to move on before they’ve had time to heal. Hollie also opens up about her evolving identity as a mother, the sacrifices of a life spent in war reporting, and the quiet question that lingers in the aftermath: Was it worth it? Raw, unflinching, and quietly hopeful, this episode is a meditation on loss, legacy, and the courage it takes to share what so often goes unspoken. Support the show Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Maternal Dispatches with Hollie McKay is where frontline war reporting meets the stories that matter most: maternal health, human rights, and the human cost of conflict, told from the mother's lens.  Every week, I dive into the headlines that should be making news: the hidden humanitarian crises, the mothers and families too often forgotten, and the extraordinary resilience of people surviving on the margins of war and policy failure. Welcome to Maternal Dispatches — where empathy leads the conversation. Follow Hollie on Instagram and X @holliesmckay Maternal Dispatches is proudly brought to you by holliesmckay.substack.com

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