Nancy Haines has launched a recruitment drive for women willing to discuss their life experiences on her recently released podcast focused on confidence and independence.
The show, The Diary of an Independent Woman, aims to create space for honest conversations about personal growth, setbacks and resilience.
Nancy said: “It always came up in conversation I was having with groups of women, about Independence, how it impacted them and how it served them, how it was hindering them, and I thought ‘There are all these women from different backgrounds that are carrying that same badge – why are we not talking about this?
“So, I decided this is going to be a podcast as a witness, taking people into these stories. We get so much thrown at us that sometimes we just want to have a conversation with somebody.”
Having grown up in Los Angeles, she relocated to the UK after several years in Dubai, where she moved to support her husband’s career.
“I met my husband in Los Angeles – a month later he said: “I am moving to Dubai; I got my dream job’. A year into the relationship I left my HR consultancy business behind, sold everything and took a leap of faith,” she said.
“After five years there, I moved to the UK.”
Her experiences abroad led her to reconsider how independence is understood within a partnership.
“Absolutely,” she said. “It is misinformation that now you are married, you lose your independence. Absolutely not – when you are with the right person, each identity gets to grow, and you nurture each other.
“But it is that independence that you get to define. What does that look like for you?”
Adjusting to a new country also challenged her perception of personal value, particularly when her financial position changed.
“I was earning way more than my husband when I first met him – I had never relied on a man.
“I found myself having to rely on him in a country I did not know and where he was already established. I have worked since I was 12, that’s how independent I am, that I started working at 12 so my parents didn’t have to worry about me,” she said.
“And that, for the ego, was the biggest blocker. It knocked my confidence because in that moment I realised my value is tied to how much I earn – but it shouldn’t be.”
These insights now inform her coaching practice, which focuses on helping clients separate self-worth from external measures such as income or status.
The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Player FM and PodBean, and women interested in sharing their stories are encouraged to get in touch at [email protected].
