Life After I Left

Cat Dunn
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Welcome to Life After I Left. A space where women share their real stories, including the struggles, the triumphs, and the moments that created change. I’m Cat Dunn - an Online Business Manager, mentor, speaker, and your host. Life After I Left exists to break the silence - to give women a platform to speak up, encourage vulnerability, and remind listeners that they’re not alone. Here you'll find real-life stories, powerful conversations, expert insights, practical tips, and we’ll definitely be having a few laughs as well because you can’t have darkness without the light.

  1. 2D AGO

    40: Adrienne Donnelly on Life After… Rebuilding My Identity: Finding confidence, connection, and the power of community

    Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence. Please take care of yourself, and skip this one if it feels triggering. What does rebuilding look like when leaving was only the first step? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Adrienne Donnelly, founder of Organised by Adrienne, co-founder of the Newcastle Virtual Assistants Network, owner of Seed Virtual Assistants, and President of Gen Collective. For the first time publicly, Adrienne shares her story of leaving a domestic violence relationship in her early twenties, and how that moment became the catalyst for a life dedicated to community, connection, and supporting women. Adrienne speaks candidly about the isolation that often comes with abusive relationships, the quiet clarity of the day she left for good, and the long process of rebuilding confidence, identity, and safety. Today, Adrienne is known for creating spaces where women feel supported, connected, and less isolated, particularly in small businesses and virtual work. In this episode, we chat about: What it’s like to leave a violent relationship more than once before leaving for goodThe role isolation plays in abusive relationships, and why community is often the missing pieceRebuilding friendships, confidence, and identity after leavingHow trauma can change your body, voice, posture, and sense of selfThe importance of family and support networks when leavingFinding and creating the right communities, especially for women in businessNavigating social anxiety, networking overwhelm, and protecting your energyWhy real-life connection matters so deeply in a digital world Adrienne’s story is a reminder that leaving is only the beginning. Healing takes time, support, and space to rebuild confidence, identity, and safety. If you’ve left an abusive relationship, felt alone in the aftermath, or are searching for connection and community as part of your healing, this episode is for you. Connect with Adrienne: Website: www.organisedbyadrienne.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organisedbyadrienne Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/organisedbyadrienne LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennedonnelly   If you are a DV violence survivor or facing a similar situation, I'm here for you. You can connect with me on Instagram ⁠⁠@lifeafterileftpodcast⁠ If you need urgent support, reach out to one of these incredible services: 1800RESPECT – National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7) Text: 0458 737 732 Website: 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 14 Website: 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: 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.

    42 min

  2. FEB 4

    39: Emma Lovell on Life After… A Broken Back: Building a Business Around Travel, Self-Care, and the Bleisure Life

    Can work, travel, and self-care really co-exist without burning out? This week, I’m joined by Emma Lovell, Bleisure Coach, speaker, and author, who helps people harmonise business, travel, and self-care in what she calls the ‘bleisure lifestyle’. She shows how a life designed with purpose, joy, and freedom is possible, even while running a thriving business and traveling the world. Before the books, global audiences, and retreats, Emma experienced a life-changing moment at 22 that set her on a path to building a business around travel, self-care, and purpose. In this conversation, she openly shares the clarity, grief, and growth that shaped her approach to life, business, and the bleisure lifestyle. In this episode, we chat about: The life-changing skiing accident that became a turning point for rest, reflection, and goal-settingStarting a business from zero while recovering from a broken back, and the lessons learned about taking the first stepHow grief, loss, and tragedy shaped her approach to entrepreneurship, self-care, and life designThe evolution from PR and social media to coaching, personal branding, and bleisure coachingUnderstanding the bleisure lifestyle and how to harmonise work, travel, and self-care without burning outHow to identify whether you are taking meaningful steps toward your goals or procrastinatingLessons from running retreats, traveling with family, and integrating creativity, leisure, and business This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating grief, burnout, or the challenge of designing a life they truly love. Emma’s story is a reminder that clarity and growth often come in unexpected ways, and that starting, even imperfectly, is the first step toward a life full of purpose and freedom. Connect with Emma: Website: www.emmalovell.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalovell.au/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalovelly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaLovellAU Podcast: https://emmalovell.au/podcast/ Our live event is back! Life After I Left - the live event - is back in Melbourne on 12 Feb for our 5th unforgettable event. 5 women, sharing 5 raw, powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Grab your ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-the-big-5-tickets-1811765131279 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.

    41 min

  3. JAN 28

    38: Jemma Haythorne on Life After... Diet Culture: Healing your relationship with food, body confidence, and breaking diet culture cycles

    This week, I’m joined by Jemma Haythorne, body image coach and host of the Finding Freedom podcast. Jemma helps women ditch body shame, rebuild a healthy relationship with food, and embrace their bodies with compassion, confidence, and self-love. Before she was helping women heal their relationship with food, Jemma experienced the very struggles so many of her clients face like confusing diet rules, obsessive weight cycles, and the impossible beauty standards pushed by social media and society. In this conversation, Jemma shares her personal journey through body dissatisfaction, diet culture traps, and self-sabotage, and how she found freedom and empowerment through mindset work, coaching, and self-awareness. She also opens up about her mission to teach children healthy body image from an early age, because the earlier we start, the bigger the impact. In this episode, we chat about: What diet culture actually is and how it impacts body image and self-esteemHow diet culture and body obsession shaped her relationship with food from a young ageThe vicious cycle of strict dieting, binge eating, and disordered eating patternsThe role of parents, partners, and family in shaping children’s body beliefsWhy starting conversations about body acceptance in primary schools can create lifelong confidenceJemma’s thoughts on popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic, and why diet culture is so prevalentHow stripping back to nutrition basics, like protein and regular meals, can transform energy and rebuild an intuitive relationship with foodThis episode is a must-listen for anyone tired of diet culture, struggling with food or body confidence, or for parents wanting to raise children who feel safe, confident, and empowered in their bodies. Connect with Jemma: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejemmarose/ Website: https://www.inspirewellnessau.com.au/ Podcast: https://www.inspirewellnessau.com.au/podcast Our live event is back! Life After I Left - the live event - is back in Melbourne on 12 Feb for our 5th unforgettable event. 5 women, sharing 5 raw, powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Grab your ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-the-big-5-tickets-1811765131279 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.

    49 min

  4. JAN 21

    37: Clare Elizabeth Dea on Life After… Shame: Poland Syndrome, social anxiety, intuition, and learning to feel safe being seen

    What happens when the very thing you’ve spent decades hiding becomes the source of your freedom? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Clare Elizabeth Dea, international performance artist, speaker, author, facilitator, and host of Fuckup Nights Melbourne. Clare shares her deeply personal journey of growing up with Poland Syndrome, the shame she carried around her body for years, and how learning to be seen changed everything. Born without a left pectoral and developing only one breast, Clare spent much of her life hiding, managing intimacy through fear, and chasing success while feeling deeply disconnected from her true self. Despite being a trained performer who loved the stage, she was terrified of being truly seen. Through acting training, therapy, intuition-led decisions, and storytelling, Clare slowly reclaimed her voice, transforming shame into beauty, power, and purpose. Today, she helps others feel safe to be seen - whether that’s on stage, in business, or in their personal lives. In this episode, we chat about: What Poland Syndrome is and how it shaped Clare’s relationship with her body, confidence, and identityGrowing up with shame, hiding parts of yourself, and the cost of staying silentManifesting $15,000 to train in London, and how that overseas experience shaped Clare’s authentic confidence when she returned to MelbourneHow intuition shows up, and what can happen when you ignore itThe difference between telling your story before you’re ready vs when it’s truly integratedCreating safety before visibility through therapy, community, and baby stepsWhy live events and shared stories help people drop the mask and feel less alone This conversation is a wild journey. From Clare’s first experience with entrepreneurship, to overseas dance and acting training, to creating her own live speaking events, Clare’s story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to rush to share everything at once to be worthy of being seen. Safety comes first and, from there, transformation follows. If you’ve ever struggled with shame, social anxiety, body image, or trusting your intuition, this episode is for you. Connect with Clare: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clareelizabeth_dea Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/clare.e.dea Website: https://www.clareelizabethdea.com Our live event is back! Life After I Left - the live event - is back in Melbourne on 12 Feb for our 5th unforgettable event. 5 women, sharing 5 raw, powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Grab your ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-the-big-5-tickets-1811765131279 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.

    57 min

  5. JAN 14

    36: Sophia Salmon on Life After… Psychiatric Care: Toxic workplaces, burnout, mental health exclusion, and rebuilding her confidence through healing and a 100km walk

    Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of mental health and suicide ideation. Please take care of yourself and skip this episode if it feels triggering. What happens when the workplace you once loved becomes the very thing that breaks you? This week, I’m joined by Sophia Salmon, business mentor and founder of Wise Mind Consulting. Sophia helps women step into confidence, self-trust, and authentic visibility through an integrated, no-fluff approach that supports business growth without sacrificing lifestyle. But before the thriving business and clients who adore her, there was a version of Sophia left shattered by a workplace that failed her. Sophia openly shares her journey through burnout, psychiatric care, mental health discrimination, workplace exclusion, a traumatic leave experience, and the devastating realisation that her employer wasn’t going to let her return. In this conversation, she takes us inside the reality of what it’s like to rebuild your identity after a workplace breaks your spirit, and how a 100km charity walk became the symbol of her mental and physical strength returning. In this episode, we chat about: How years of perfectionism and high self-expectations led her to mask her internal strugglesThe moment COVID ended a job she once loved, and the loneliness and loss of identity that followedNavigating psychiatric inpatient and outpatient care, and what a Crisis Assessment Team isThe emotional toll of workplace exclusion, dismissal, and finding out her employer was stopping her from returningHow a long and exhausting legal battle reshaped her understanding of mental health at workWhat a 100km fundraising walk for Beyond Blue taught her about resilience and self-beliefRebuilding her confidence, voice, and purpose, and how that led her into business This episode is a powerful listen for anyone who’s experienced burnout or exclusion in the workplace. It’s a reminder that so many burnout stories start in environments that don’t support their people, and why backing yourself, rather than staying somewhere that doesn’t value you, matters so much. Connect with Sophia: Website: https://www.wisemindconsulting.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisemind.consulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-salmon-abbott Age Article: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/hawthorn-accused-of-mental-health-hypocrisy-20220814-p5b9nt.html    Our live event is back! Life After I Left - the live event - is back in Melbourne on 12 Feb for our 5th unforgettable event. 5 women, sharing 5 raw, powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Grab your ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-the-big-5-tickets-1811765131279 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.

    56 min

  6. JAN 7

    35: Dr. Heena Sinha Cheung on Life After… Childhood Sexual Abuse: Advocating for children, breaking cycles & creating safe spaces

    Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of trauma, sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, and the challenges of leaving unsafe or toxic environments. Please take care of yourself and skip this episode if it feels triggering. Can the pain of your past become the catalyst for protecting the next generation? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Heena Sinha Cheung, a powerful advocate, survivor, and storyteller who has transformed her lived experience into a mission of healing and justice. After leaving behind years of trauma, discrimination, and silence, she rebuilt her life with courage and purpose, emerging as a voice for women, children, and people with disabilities. Today, she works at the intersection of advocacy, policy, and community empowerment, championing safer systems and platforms where survivors can be heard and believed. From surviving abuse in silence to becoming a public advocate, Dr. Cheung has dedicated herself to giving children the vocabulary, tools, and safe spaces they need to express themselves. She is the author of "My Safe Circle: Learning to Protect Ourselves" and the founder of the political movement "Protect Our Children - Jail, Not Bail," which aims to strengthen laws and hold abusers accountable. In this episode, we speak about: Dr. Cheung’s experiences throughout childhood, reaching out for help, and finding that people didn’t know how to support herBeing labelled as lazy, disruptive, and rebellious as a child, when really she was in survival modeFinding a safe, loving relationship with her husband, growing a family, and realising she was never broken or damagedHer journey from trauma to advocacy, and the moment she realised entrepreneurship alone wasn’t enoughHow speaking her truth has empowered others to share their storiesThe creation of My Safe Circle and practical tools to help children protect themselvesHer bold decision to run as an independent for the Senate, and why politics became part of her advocacyThe power of community action and how giving one minute of your time can help protect children and drive systemic changeDr. Cheung's story is a powerful reminder that our past doesn’t define us, but it can inspire change, protect the vulnerable, and create a safer future for children everywhere.   Connect with Dr. Cheung: Jail Not Bail Website: www.jailnotbail.com.au Heena Sinha Cheung Website: www.heenascheung.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heena_sinhacheung/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-heena-sinha/   Our live event is back! Life After I Left - the live event - is back in Melbourne on 12 Feb for our 5th unforgettable event. 5 women, sharing 5 raw, powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Grab your ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-the-big-5-tickets-1811765131279   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.

    57 min

  7. 12/31/2025

     34: Life After… 2025: Letting go of ‘New Year, new you’, reflecting on what you’ve built, and why safe spaces matter

    The start of a new year can bring up a lot, and it doesn’t all have to look like big goals or fresh starts. It’s just me here today, in this solo New Year’s episode. I’m sharing a reflection on welcoming 2026 in your own way, without needing to feel your best on day one. I reflect on the power of celebrating what you’ve already built, the importance of community and storytelling, and the safe spaces created through the Life After I Left podcast and live events. I also share details about our upcoming Melbourne event on 12 February, and why creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported matters now more than ever. This episode is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and honour yourself for making it here. In this episode, I chat about: Why you don’t need to feel amazing on 1 January for the year to still countLetting go of the ‘New Year, new you’ narrative and embracing change in your own timeReflecting on 2025 and celebrating what you’ve already achievedThe impact of storytelling, community, and creating safe spacesWhat’s coming next for Life After I Left, including our February Melbourne event Thank you for being here, for listening, and for being part of this community.   Our live event is back! Life After I Left - the live event - is back in Melbourne on 12 Feb for our 5th unforgettable event. 5 women, sharing 5 raw, powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Grab your ticket now - and use code LIFE5 to save $5: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-the-big-5-tickets-1811765131279 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.

    16 min

  8. 12/17/2025

    33: Elinor Moshe on Life After… Misalignment: Shadow work, archetypes, and reconnecting with her inner truth after years of living through roles.

    What if the key to your spiritual growth was simply learning to protect your energy, slow down, and trust what feels right in your body? This week, I’m joined by Elinor Moshe, co-founder of Truth of You and a four-time author. She’s built a remarkable public legacy through awards, books, and a respected podcast. Yet beneath that outward success, a fracture grew. Her external achievements and inner world slowly slipped out of alignment, creating a quiet but relentless tension. At 32, while travelling overseas with her parents, Elinor found herself caught in what she later learned as the ‘devouring mother’, where even simple choices felt impossible. That moment sparked a profound awakening. She realised she had been living through masks and roles, disconnected from her own reality, and vowed to reclaim herself through spiritual guidance and grounded practices. Although this story has unfolded only in recent years, her life today looks completely different. This is a deep, expansive conversation that pulls back the curtain on the spiritual space, and it’s packed with so many golden insights you may find yourself listening more than once. In this episode, we chat about: Elinor’s personal journey through shadow work, nervous system healing, and breaking lifelong generational patternsHow she met her now-partner, and what their life together looks like todayWhat energetic protection and spiritual hygiene actually look like, and why they matter before doing any deep healingHow to choose a practitioner or guide with discernment (including red flags to look out for)The importance of reconnecting with intuition and trusting your body’s signalsHow modalities like astrology, shadow work, human design, tarot, and QHHT can support, but never replace, your inner wisdomPractical, accessible first steps for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin Whether you’re deep into your spiritual journey or just taking your first steps, this episode is full of insight and guidance. Elinor’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to force your path; it begins by tuning into what feels true in your body right now. Connect with Elinor: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theelinormoshe/ Website: truthofyou.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elinor-moshe/ Our live event is back! Life After I Left - the live event - is back in Melbourne on 12 Feb for our 5th unforgettable event. 5 women, sharing 5 raw, powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Grab your ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-the-big-5-tickets-1811765131279 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.

    1h 6m
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About

Welcome to Life After I Left. A space where women share their real stories, including the struggles, the triumphs, and the moments that created change. I’m Cat Dunn - an Online Business Manager, mentor, speaker, and your host. Life After I Left exists to break the silence - to give women a platform to speak up, encourage vulnerability, and remind listeners that they’re not alone. Here you'll find real-life stories, powerful conversations, expert insights, practical tips, and we’ll definitely be having a few laughs as well because you can’t have darkness without the light.

Information

  • Creator
    Cat Dunn
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Cat Dunn
  • Show Website
    Life After I Left