Episode 9

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

Published on: 26th March, 2026

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

Support the brands that keep these brave conversations going:

STYLD

@styld.original

www.styld.net.au

Discount code STYLD25 (25% off)

BESPOKE LONGEVITY

bespokelongevity.com.au

@bespokelongevity_

Mention “Her Kind of Brave” for $50 off any treatment

GENEA FERTILITY

genea.com.au

@geneafertility

1300 361 795

CENTRE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & SURGERY - (Dr Kee Ong) –

Call 07 5519 1602

@drkeeong

IN HER OWN WORDS: IVF, LOSS & MIRACLES BOOK:

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KOSI

kosi.au

@kosi_au

Use discount code HERKINDOFBRAVE15 for 15% off (exclusions apply)

MR CONSISTENT

https://www.mrconsistent.com.au/

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Where to find us:

Be sure to join the chat in our Community Group www.facebook.com/groups/herkindofbrave/

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Do you have a brave story, or are you looking to sponsor an upcoming episode? Reach out to us at herkindofbrave@gmail.com

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About the Podcast

Her Kind of Brave
Messy. Real. Braver than she thinks.
Her Kind of Brave is a podcast for women who know that the hardest parts of life rarely make it to the highlight reel — and that bravery often lives in the quiet, unseen moments.

Hosted by Chloe Davidson and Kellie Johnson, this show goes behind the glossy endings and into the real stories. The backstories. The messy middles. The chapters we live through before things make sense.

Each episode features raw, thoughtful conversations with women who have faced loss, illness, identity shifts, motherhood, ambition, grief, rebuilding, and becoming — and kept going anyway. These are stories of building businesses while breaking inside, navigating bodies that don’t cooperate, grieving what was hoped for, and creating meaningful lives alongside uncertainty.

Chloe and Kellie don’t show up as experts with all the answers. They show up as women in it — walking their own hard roads while holding space for others to tell the truth about theirs. Together, they create a warm, honest space where nothing needs to be wrapped in a bow and listeners are invited to simply be human.

This is a podcast for anyone who has ever wondered if they’re the only one struggling behind the scenes. For anyone navigating the space between who they were and who they’re becoming. For anyone who wants to feel less alone in the hard stuff — and more connected to the strength it takes to keep showing up.

Her Kind of Brave isn’t about perfect endings.
It’s about courage in real time.
And the power of sharing the story while you’re still living it.

If you’re craving honesty, depth, and conversations that feel like a hand on your back saying me too — this is your place.

About your host

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Chloe & Kellie

Chloe Davidson and Kellie Johnson are the voices behind Her Kind of Brave — a podcast built on honesty, depth, and the courage to tell the stories that usually stay hidden.

Chloe is a writer, podcaster, and business owner, and the co-owner of Mr Consistent. She is also the curator of the anthology In Her Own Words: IVF, Loss & Miracles. Through her work, Chloe explores womanhood, identity, grief, fertility, ambition, and the emotional load women carry — especially in the spaces between who they were and who they’re becoming.

Kellie is a mum, entrepreneur, and the founder of Kosi, a 360° wearable heat pack created from her lived experience with stage four endometriosis. A passionate advocate for women’s health, Kellie brings strength, warmth, and lived credibility shaped by miscarriage, birth trauma, chronic pain, and rebuilding life alongside illness.

Together, Chloe and Kellie create a space where women feel seen, understood, and less alone. Her Kind of Brave is rooted in real conversations — honouring the hard seasons, celebrating resilience, and reminding women that bravery doesn’t require a polished ending, only the courage to keep showing up.