Episode 8 | She Left With Nothing — And Built Everything

⚠️ This episode contains discussions of domestic abuse and coercive control. Please take care of yourself while listening.

In this episode, Stacey sits down with Cheryl — a mum of two, accountant-turned-entrepreneur, and domestic abuse survivor — for one of the most honest, important conversations yet on Power To Her.

Cheryl opens up about leaving a coercive and controlling relationship in 2010 — long before coercive control was even a crime in the UK. With two boys under four, no job, and her confidence in pieces, she had no roadmap. What she did have was the will to keep going.

In this conversation, Cheryl shares:

• What coercive control actually looks like (and why so many women don't recognise it at first)
• How post-separation abuse continued long after she left
• The moment a police officer validated her experience — and why that changed everything
• How she built a business from scratch while still healing
• What Claire's Law is and how it could help you or someone you love
• Why she believes the grass really IS greener on the other side — and how she's now helping other women see that too

Cheryl now works with domestic abuse survivors in a local refuge, trains employers to spot the signs, and runs her own programme helping women reclaim their power and their finances.

This episode is for the woman who is in it, just out of it, or supporting someone who is. You are not alone. And there is a life waiting for you on the other side.

Resources mentioned:

• Claire's Law — the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (search your local police force to request a check online, confidentially)
• Your local council and Citizens Advice — more helpful than most people realise
• Cheryl's DMs are open: @iamcherylsharp