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

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

We reflect on the human side of natural disasters—from the heartbreak in Texas to the slow fire recovery in Los Angeles. Hollie discusses the challenge of keeping empathy alive amid media noise, bureaucracy, and tragedy. A candid conversation about how empathy drives action and why it’s so vital in today’s world. 

Support the show

Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

We explore the unseen fallout of U.S. government cuts abroad. Hollie recounts her recent trip to Taiwan, where she met “Joy,” a local fixer and single mother left unpaid after Voice of America was abruptly shuttered. What began as a reporting trip turned into a window into the lives of those abandoned by American bureaucracy. Hollie and her co-host discuss the deeper consequences of disorganized exits, from failed aid transitions to the systemic neglect of women in developing countries. From Taiwan to Sudan, it’s a powerful reminder that even quiet decisions in Washington can ripple violently through everyday lives around the globe. 

Support the show

Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

We dig into the global consequences of U.S. arms exports. Hollie and Dennis explore a hard-hitting question: When American-made weapons kill civilians abroad, who is responsible? 

Drawing from Hollie’s recent investigative article, the conversation unpacks the vast scale of U.S. arms sales, the legal and ethical frameworks meant to regulate them, and the gaping holes in enforcement and accountability. From Saudi Arabia to Ukraine, from Yemen to Gaza, this episode challenges listeners to confront the gray zones of international weapons deals, the failures of oversight, and the quiet complicity of power. 

Support the show

Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

 In this deeply personal dispatch, Hollie reflects on the unlikely path from a ballet studio in rural Australia to frontlines across the globe. Drawing from her recent article, Hollie opens up about how the discipline, grace, and storytelling of dance shaped her into the journalist she is today. Through stories of her working-class upbringing, early exposure to global narratives through choreography, and a fateful ankle injury that redirected her future, she shares how ballet wasn’t just an artform—but a survival mechanism. 

This episode explores how our formative passions can become our compass, guiding us to unexpected and purposeful lives.

Support the show

Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

Hollie unpacks her latest investigation into the alarming rise of infertility across the United States. From declining fertility rates in women under 20 to plummeting testosterone levels in men, we explore the complex web of environmental toxins, shifting lifestyle patterns, and medical challenges contributing to a nationwide reproductive decline. 

With candid insights and expert perspectives, this dispatch dives deep into what’s happening to human fertility—and why it matters for our future. 

Support the show

Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

In this special Mother’s Day episode of Dispatches, Hollie shares powerful, unfiltered stories of motherhood in conflict zones—from El Salvador’s post-civil war trauma to the ongoing horrors in Darfur. Through intimate accounts like that of Maria, a Salvadoran mother caught between guerrilla fighters and a U.S.-backed regime, and a Darfuri woman surviving unspeakable loss and injury, Hollie reveals the moral complexity, resilience, and heartbreak that define motherhood under siege. 

She contrasts these realities with the safety and privilege often taken for granted in developed nations, urging us to amplify the voices of mothers the world too often ignores. 

Support the show

Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

Hollie and Dennis peel back the curtain on corporate media, exposing the tangled web of ego, pressure, and politics that shape the stories we see—and the ones that quietly disappear. 

From firsthand experiences of censorship while reporting on ISIS to reflections on the vanishing independence of modern journalism, Hollie offers an unfiltered take on what it really means to tell the truth in today’s media landscape. 

The conversation then shifts to motherhood in America: from soaring childcare costs to the cultural blind spots holding families back. With insights shaped by her own experiences as a journalist and new mom, Hollie digs into the systemic failures impacting birth rates, parenting, and gender roles. It’s a thought-provoking conversation about the forces shaping both our headlines and our homes.

Support the show

Visit holliesmckay.substack.com

We journey to the heart of Mexico’s devastating crisis of the disappeared. With over 120,000 people officially missing — and experts estimating the number could be closer to 200,000 — the scale of human loss is staggering. Hollie recounts her recent reporting trip, where she met mothers who have dedicated their lives to finding their children, often at great personal risk and without any government support.

From cartel kidnappings to government complicity, this episode dives into the painful realities of life just south of the U.S. border. We also explore the implications of the U.S. labeling Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations and what, if any, hope that brings for the families left behind.

Heartbreaking, urgent, and often overlooked, this is a story of courage, corruption, and the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of unimaginable loss.

Support the show

Visit holliesmckay.substack.com