-ca5d4b7.jpg/:/rs=w:1209,h:1209)
Episode 130 - maddie syms
130. Behind Closed Doors: Maddie Syms on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and the Road to Healing
Episodes Release from 25th October 2026
Maddie Syms walked away from a harmful relationship for her son, and now she is building a safe place for the people who come after her.
Content warning:
This episode discusses domestic violence, emotional abuse and trauma. Please listen with care.
Support numbers Australia: 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 | Lifeline 13 11 14 United Kingdom: National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 | Samaritans 116 123 United States: National DV Hotline 1-800-799-7233 | Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741
Where It Began
Some stories are hard to hear. This one is also hard to forget. In Episode 130 of Leading Our Own Way, Maddie Syms sits down with Andrew and tells her story with courage, honesty and a strength that is impossible to miss.
The controlling behaviour started in her teenage relationship. She and her partner moved in and out of each other's lives, and the warning signs were easy to explain away. Maddie was young, and she craved validation and love. Over time, emotional abuse built a dependency that made leaving feel impossible. Social media fed the dynamic. Alcohol deepened the damage. When Maddie became pregnant, the abuse began, and it became frequent and physical.
The Moment Everything Changed
After her second knee surgery, her partner tried to break her phone. A friend warned her she could be next. Then came the news that another friend had been killed by her partner when she tried to leave.
Maddie speaks about the trauma bond, the guilt she carried over her son's family life, and parents who knew but struggled to step in. Then came the final incident. It was the breaking point.
"I didn't think I was going to walk out of that room alive."
She walked out. She did it for her son.
Who Am I?
Maddie's story reaches further back. At twelve, she discovered she was adopted. She searched for her birth parents, uncovered family secrets and medical history, and then faced an identity crisis when her ancestry results arrived. Healing, she shows us, is rarely a straight road.
Happy and Falling Apart
Today Maddie is a single mum and an entrepreneur. Her son is inspired by her and is building a business of his own. She rates her mental health a 7 out of 10, and she is honest about what that means: "I'm in the part of my life where I feel like I'm the happiest and most at peace I've ever been, but I'm also like falling apart."
Her first mentee, a man living with severe anxiety and depression, credits Maddie with saving his life. She is now rebranding her business to guide others through healing, and she dreams of creating a safe haven for people leaving harmful relationships, offering the support she never had.
What Maddie Wants You to Know
Share your story, because it might help someone else. Do not let your past define your future. A temporary season should never shape a permanent decision. Take your healing seriously. And turn your darkest moments into a light for others.
"Trust your gut and recognise red flags early."
Listen, Share and Support
Maddie deserves to be heard. Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and catch the Tuesday Truth bitesize episode for her key takeaways.
Follow Leading Our Own Way, leave a five-star review, and share this episode with someone who needs it. It could be the push they have been waiting for.
You can follow Maddie on Instagram @maddie.reclaimed.
Listen to Maddie Syms''s full story on Episode 130 of Leading Our Own Way, available from Sunday 18th October on YouTube,
then the day later on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This is what leading your own way looks like. Raw. Real. Unfiltered.
Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube
Full episodes Monday, Tuesday (Tuesday Truths) & Wednesday this week at 4:00AM AEST
YouTube early release night before at 8:00pm
Tuesday Truths: Now drop with some of the guests important parts from the full episode - Tuesday 4:00AM AEST
Join the Conversation:
Share your thoughts using #LeadingOurOwnWay
Connect with us on social media @LeadingOurOwnWay
Email: Andrew@leadingourownway.com
LOOW - Google, Apple & Spotify Reviews
LOOW wants to hear from you!
We can't wait to share our guests inspiring stories
Leading Our Own Way Podcast | Inspiring Stories of Resilience & Personal Transformation
