DISPATCHES with Hollie McKay

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

Hollie McKay

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.


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