Hayley Williamson on Choosing Solo Motherhood, Donor Conception, and Letting Go of the Life She Thought She’d Have

Alicia Stevens on Navigating her Husband’s Rejected Heart Transplant while Building a Groundbreaking Business

In this episode of Her Kind of Brave, Chloe and Kellie sit down with Alicia Stevens, founder of Styld, who shares the deeply personal story behind one of the most defining seasons of her life. Alicia opens up about supporting her husband through a heart transplant and the unexpected rejection phase that followed — a time marked by uncertainty, fear, and the reality of holding her family together while raising four young children. She shares what it looked like to show up every day, manage the emotional weight behind the scenes, and protect her children from the heaviness of what was unfolding. This conversation explores the often unseen role of being the “strong one” — the partner, the mother, the steady presence — and the quiet resilience it takes to keep going when there’s no clear roadmap. Alicia also reflects on how that season shaped her: becoming both softer and stronger, learning to lean into community, and recognising that life moves in seasons. She shares how, after years of prioritising her family, she eventually chose to pursue her own dream — building her business from an idea born in everyday life. Guest Bio: Alicia Stevens is the founder of Styld, a design-led silicone tableware brand created to bring together beauty and practicality for modern families. A mum of four, Alicia built her business after years of navigating a demanding season of life — supporting her husband through a heart transplant and raising her family while holding everything together behind the scenes. Her experience shaped the way she approaches both life and business, with a deep understanding that different seasons require different priorities. Today, Alicia creates products designed for real life — blending functionality, safety, and style — while also sharing her perspective on resilience, motherhood, and choosing yourself when the time is right. Through her story, Alicia reminds women that strength can look quiet, that dreams can wait, and that it’s never too late to build something meaningful. You can find Alicia on Instagram at @styldbyalicia [https://www.instagram.com/styldbyalicia/], explore Styld at @styld.original [https://www.instagram.com/styld.original/], or shop her range at www.styld.net.au [https://www.styld.net.au/] Support the brands that keep these brave conversations going: STYLD @styld.original [https://www.instagram.com/styld.original/?hl=en] www.styld.net.au [http://www.styld.net.au] Discount code STYLD25 (25% off) BESPOKE LONGEVITY bespokelongevity.com.au [http://bespokelongevity.com.au] @bespokelongevity_ [https://www.instagram.com/bespokelongevity_/?hl=en] Mention “Her Kind of Brave” for $50 off any treatment GENEA FERTILITY genea.com.au [https://www.genea.com.au/] @geneafertility [https://www.instagram.com/geneafertility/?hl=en] 1300 361 795 CENTRE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & SURGERY - (Dr Kee Ong) – Call 07 5519 1602 @drkeeong [https://www.instagram.com/drkeeong/?hl=en] IN HER OWN WORDS: IVF, LOSS & MIRACLES BOOK: @Inherownwords_official [https://www.instagram.com/inherownwords_official/?hl=en] https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J [https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J] KOSI kosi.au [https://kosi.au/] @kosi_au [https://www.instagram.com/kosi_au/?hl=en] Use discount code HERKINDOFBRAVE15 for 15% off (exclusions apply) MR CONSISTENT https://www.mrconsistent.com.au/ [http://mrconsistent.com.au] @mrconsistent_ [https://www.instagram.com/mr.consistent_/?hl=en] Where to find us: Be sure to join the chat in our Community Group www.facebook.com/groups/herkindofbrave/ Follow us on Instagram @herkindofbravepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/herkindofbrave_podcast/?hl=en] and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave [https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave] Do you have a brave story, or are you looking to sponsor an upcoming episode? Reach out to us at herkindofbrave@gmail.com [herkindofbrave@gmail.com]

Maddie Burton on surviving a Heart Attack, Navigating Graves AND Endo, plus the Reason She Cancelled her Wedding just Days Before

In this episode of Her Kind of Brave, Chloe and Kellie sit down with Maddie Burton, founder of Your Bliss, who shares the story of calling off her wedding just days before it was meant to happen. At 21, Maddie had moved her entire life to the US to be with her fiancé, only to discover he had been unfaithful throughout their relationship. She opens up about the decision to walk away, the shame of starting over, and the unexpected moments that helped her find her way back home. The conversation also explores Maddie’s journey with chronic illness, including her diagnosis of endometriosis, PCOS, and Graves’ disease. She shares the reality of living with invisible illness, navigating hospitalisation and heart complications, and balancing her health alongside building a business. Maddie also takes us behind the scenes of creating Your Bliss — a low-tox perfume brand born out of her own health challenges — and the mindset shifts required to back herself, go all in, and grow something meaningful without a traditional background. Guest Bio: Maddie Burton is the founder of Your Bliss, a low-tox perfume brand created to support women looking for cleaner alternatives in their everyday routines. After being diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS, Maddie began exploring the impact of products on her health — which ultimately led her to create a business built from personal necessity. More recently, Maddie has also been navigating Graves’ disease, sharing her experience of chronic illness, hospitalisation, and recovery with honesty and openness online. Through her story, Maddie offers a powerful example of resilience — showing that even in the face of heartbreak and ongoing health challenges, it’s possible to rebuild, create, and live a life that feels aligned. You can find Maddie on Instagram @maddieelliseburton [https://www.instagram.com/maddieelliseburton/] You can follow Your Bliss's journey on Instagram @yourbliss_parfum [https://www.instagram.com/yourbliss_parfum/] and on TikTok @yourblissperfume [https://www.tiktok.com/@yourblissperfume?_t=8g1hrZNNoTY&_r=1] Shop Your Bliss at https://www.yourbliss.com.au/ [https://www.yourbliss.com.au/] Support the brands that keep these brave conversations going: STYLD @styld.original [https://www.instagram.com/styld.original/?hl=en] www.styld.net.au [http://www.styld.net.au] Discount code STYLD25 (25% off) BESPOKE LONGEVITY bespokelongevity.com.au [http://bespokelongevity.com.au] @bespokelongevity_ [https://www.instagram.com/bespokelongevity_/?hl=en] Mention “Her Kind of Brave” for $50 off any treatment GENEA FERTILITY genea.com.au [https://www.genea.com.au/] @geneafertility [https://www.instagram.com/geneafertility/?hl=en] 1300 361 795 CENTRE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & SURGERY - (Dr Kee Ong) – Call 07 5519 1602 @drkeeong [https://www.instagram.com/drkeeong/?hl=en] IN HER OWN WORDS: IVF, LOSS & MIRACLES BOOK: @Inherownwords_official [https://www.instagram.com/inherownwords_official/?hl=en] https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J [https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J] KOSI kosi.au [https://kosi.au/] @kosi_au [https://www.instagram.com/kosi_au/?hl=en] Use discount code HERKINDOFBRAVE15 for 15% off (exclusions apply) MR CONSISTENT https://www.mrconsistent.com.au/ [http://mrconsistent.com.au] @mrconsistent_ [https://www.instagram.com/mr.consistent_/?hl=en] Where to find us: Be sure to join the chat in our Community Group www.facebook.com/groups/herkindofbrave/ Follow us on Instagram @herkindofbravepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/herkindofbrave_podcast/?hl=en] and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave [https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave] Do you have a brave story, or are you looking to sponsor an upcoming episode? Reach out to us at herkindofbrave@gmail.com [herkindofbrave@gmail.com]

Hayley Williamson on Choosing Solo Motherhood, Donor Conception, and Letting Go of the Life She Thought She’d Have

In this episode of Her Kind of Brave, Chloe and Kellie sit down with Hayley Williamson, a photographer and solo mum who chose to have her daughter through donor conception. Hayley shares the turning point that led her to stop waiting for the “right” partner and start exploring motherhood on her own. She walks through the reality of the donor conception process, including choosing a donor, navigating IUI, and the emotional highs and lows that come with fertility treatment. This conversation also explores the mental and emotional side of pregnancy and postpartum — including miscarriage, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the pressure of doing it all alone. Hayley speaks openly about the moments that challenged her most, from pregnancy uncertainty to the realities of solo parenting without a partner to share the load. She also reflects on how becoming a mother shifted her relationship with herself, removed the pressure of finding “the one,” and allowed her to build a life that feels aligned and deeply her own. Guest Bio: Hayley Williamson is a photographer and the founder of Beloved Stories, where she captures intimate, connected moments for families and mothers. At 38, Hayley made the decision to become a solo mum through donor conception, welcoming her daughter Nive into the world. Since then, she has navigated the realities of single motherhood alongside running her business, while openly sharing her experience to help other women feel less alone. Through her story, Hayley offers a grounded and honest perspective on choosing a different path — one shaped by self-trust, resilience, and the willingness to build a life that feels true. Find her at: Instagram: @_belovedstories Website: https://www.belovedstories.au/home [https://www.belovedstories.au/home] Support the brands that keep these brave conversations going: STYLD @styld.original [https://www.instagram.com/styld.original/?hl=en] www.styld.net.au [http://www.styld.net.au] Discount code STYLD25 (25% off) BESPOKE LONGEVITY bespokelongevity.com.au [http://bespokelongevity.com.au] @bespokelongevity_ [https://www.instagram.com/bespokelongevity_/?hl=en] Mention “Her Kind of Brave” for $50 off any treatment GENEA FERTILITY genea.com.au [https://www.genea.com.au/] @geneafertility [https://www.instagram.com/geneafertility/?hl=en] 1300 361 795 CENTRE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & SURGERY - (Dr Kee Ong) – Call 07 5519 1602 @drkeeong [https://www.instagram.com/drkeeong/?hl=en] IN HER OWN WORDS: IVF, LOSS & MIRACLES BOOK: @Inherownwords_official [https://www.instagram.com/inherownwords_official/?hl=en] https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J [https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J] KOSI kosi.au [https://kosi.au/] @kosi_au [https://www.instagram.com/kosi_au/?hl=en] Use discount code HERKINDOFBRAVE15 for 15% off (exclusions apply) MR CONSISTENT https://www.mrconsistent.com.au/ [http://mrconsistent.com.au] @mrconsistent_ [https://www.instagram.com/mr.consistent_/?hl=en] Where to find us: Be sure to join the chat in our Community Group www.facebook.com/groups/herkindofbrave/ Follow us on Instagram @herkindofbravepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/herkindofbrave_podcast/?hl=en] and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave [https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave] Do you have a brave story, or are you looking to sponsor an upcoming episode? Reach out to us at herkindofbrave@gmail.com [herkindofbrave@gmail.com]

Paige McLeoud on Finding Herself after Love Ends, and What It’s Really like Living Life as a Perpetual Traveller

In this episode of Her Kind of Brave, Chloe and Kellie sit down with Paige McLeoud, the creative entrepreneur behind Prism & Flur, who shares the story of leaving a long-term relationship and stepping into a completely different chapter of life. Paige opens up about the moment she realised the life she had been building no longer felt aligned — and the courage it took to get on a plane anyway. What followed was a year of travel through Bali, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, and Europe, where she navigated the reality of running a business remotely while confronting loneliness, identity shifts, and the freedom that comes with living life on your own terms. This conversation explores the hidden side of entrepreneurship and digital nomad life, including the mental load of being solely responsible for your work, the pressure of constant decision-making, and the emotional growth that can come from stepping away from everything familiar. Paige also shares the spiritual and practical tools that have supported her along the way, including meditation, journaling, and honest self-reflection. She reflects on learning to reconnect with her feminine energy after years of operating in survival mode, letting go of material possessions, and redefining what success and freedom look like. Guest Bio: Paige McLeod is the founder of Prism & Flur, a creative and spiritual brand blending art, mindfulness and design. After launching her first tarot deck through a successful crowdfunding campaign, Paige built a global business creating spiritual tools, journals and artwork designed to help people reconnect with themselves. Over the past several years, Paige has lived a nomadic lifestyle, travelling through Bali, Europe and the Middle East while continuing to grow her creative business. Through her work, she explores themes of spirituality, creativity, autonomy and personal reinvention — encouraging others to trust their intuition and design lives that feel deeply aligned with who they truly are. You can find her @paigelillian and her beautiful business @prism.and.fleur Support the brands that keep these brave conversations going: STYLD @styld.original [https://www.instagram.com/styld.original/?hl=en] www.styld.net.au [http://www.styld.net.au] Discount code STYLD25 (25% off) BESPOKE LONGEVITY bespokelongevity.com.au [http://bespokelongevity.com.au] @bespokelongevity_ [https://www.instagram.com/bespokelongevity_/?hl=en] Mention “Her Kind of Brave” for $50 off any treatment GENEA FERTILITY genea.com.au [https://www.genea.com.au/] @geneafertility [https://www.instagram.com/geneafertility/?hl=en] 1300 361 795 CENTRE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & SURGERY - (Dr Kee Ong) – Call 07 5519 1602 @drkeeong [https://www.instagram.com/drkeeong/?hl=en] IN HER OWN WORDS: IVF, LOSS & MIRACLES BOOK: @Inherownwords_official [https://www.instagram.com/inherownwords_official/?hl=en] https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J [https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J] KOSI kosi.au [https://kosi.au/] @kosi_au [https://www.instagram.com/kosi_au/?hl=en] Use discount code HERKINDOFBRAVE15 for 15% off (exclusions apply) MR CONSISTENT https://www.mrconsistent.com.au/ [http://mrconsistent.com.au] @mrconsistent_ [https://www.instagram.com/mr.consistent_/?hl=en] Where to find us: Be sure to join the chat in our Community Group www.facebook.com/groups/herkindofbrave/ Follow us on Instagram @herkindofbravepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/herkindofbrave_podcast/?hl=en] and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave [https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave] Do you have a brave story, or are you looking to sponsor an upcoming episode? Reach out to us at herkindofbrave@gmail.com [herkindofbrave@gmail.com]

Jaymee Hughes on Loving Noah Through Zellweger Syndrome, Saying Goodbye, and Learning to Live with Grief

In this episode of Her Kind of Brave, Chloe and Kellie sit down with Jaymee Hughes, mum to Noah, who was born with a rare genetic condition called Zellweger syndrome. Jaymee shares the story of Noah’s life from the beginning — the excitement of falling pregnant, the subtle signs that something wasn’t quite right, and the long weeks of testing that eventually led to a life-limiting diagnosis when Noah was just four months old. She speaks candidly about caring for a child with complex medical needs, navigating the emotional reality of being told your baby may not live past their first birthday, and the delicate balance of preparing for loss while still making the most of the time you have. This episode also explores life after loss — returning home to a quiet house, learning how to carry grief while continuing to live, and the quiet ways Jaymee now honours Noah’s life every day. Guess Bio: Jaymee Hughes is a mum and advocate sharing the life and legacy of her son Noah, who was born with Zellweger syndrome — a rare genetic condition that affects multiple organs and is life-limiting. Through her honesty, Jaymee hopes to help other families navigating loss feel less alone — and to keep Noah’s story alive through the love he left behind. You can follow Jaymee’s story on Instagram at @the_hughes_journey Support the brands that keep these brave conversations going: STYLD @styld.original [https://www.instagram.com/styld.original/?hl=en] www.styld.net.au [http://www.styld.net.au] Discount code STYLD25 (25% off) BESPOKE LONGEVITY bespokelongevity.com.au [http://bespokelongevity.com.au] @bespokelongevity_ [https://www.instagram.com/bespokelongevity_/?hl=en] Mention “Her Kind of Brave” for $50 off any treatment GENEA FERTILITY genea.com.au [https://www.genea.com.au/] @geneafertility [https://www.instagram.com/geneafertility/?hl=en] 1300 361 795 CENTRE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & SURGERY - (Dr Kee Ong) – Call 07 5519 1602 @drkeeong [https://www.instagram.com/drkeeong/?hl=en] IN HER OWN WORDS: IVF, LOSS & MIRACLES BOOK: @Inherownwords_official [https://www.instagram.com/inherownwords_official/?hl=en] https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J [https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J] KOSI kosi.au [https://kosi.au/] @kosi_au [https://www.instagram.com/kosi_au/?hl=en] Use discount code HERKINDOFBRAVE15 for 15% off (exclusions apply) MR CONSISTENT https://www.mrconsistent.com.au/ [http://mrconsistent.com.au] @mrconsistent_ [https://www.instagram.com/mr.consistent_/?hl=en] Where to find us: Be sure to join the chat in our Community Group www.facebook.com/groups/herkindofbrave/ Follow us on Instagram @herkindofbravepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/herkindofbrave_podcast/?hl=en] and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave [https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave] Do you have a brave story, or are you looking to sponsor an upcoming episode? Reach out to us at herkindofbrave@gmail.com [herkindofbrave@gmail.com]