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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a horrifying campaign is unfolding—one that targets not soldiers, but children. In this episode, we delve into the heartbreaking reality of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly deported, indoctrinated, and erased from their roots under the guise of "rescue missions."

From mass abductions to forced adoptions and identity erasure, we explore how these acts violate international law—and the deep emotional and cultural scars they leave behind.

We then take a personal and hopeful turn—into the intimate world of modern motherhood. From trauma of war reporting to the quiet magic of a toddler’s first words, we explore the transformative nature of parenting, the joy of watching a child blossom, and the challenges faced by mothers navigating broken systems.

This episode is a meditation on innocence—in peril and in progress—and why protecting children means protecting our shared humanity.

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This episode of "Dispatches with Hollie McKay" delves into the forgotten crisis of the Uyghur Muslim minority in China, detailing their mass disappearances into re-education and labor camps and the global silence, largely due to economic interests.

Dennis and Hollie then discuss a concerning trend of declining empathy worldwide, exacerbated by social media, where indifference is becoming normalized. Finally, they address the disturbing online hostility towards expressions of compassion for suffering children, particularly in conflict zones, highlighting the dangerous politicization of innocent lives.

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