Survival, Strength and a Shitload of Growth

Ever looked back at a relationship and thought, “How the hell did I get myself into that mess?”

And that’s exactly what my guest Sarah Fowler (or as I call her, Fowler) and I talk about in this raw-as-guts episode. Thirty-two years of friendship means no filter, no sugarcoating, and a whole lotta laughter between the heavy stuff.

We go from stealing letterboxes in our teenage years (yep, we were feral) to Fowler’s wild journey across the world. From being a phlebotomist and naturopath to living in South America, falling in love, and getting trapped in a terrifying, abusive relationship that nearly broke her. What she went through… it’s the kind of story that makes you stop scrolling, settle in, and just listen.

She opens up about survival, finding her voice again, and what it’s really like to rebuild yourself after you’ve been completely stripped down, mentally, physically and emotionally. It’s not polished. It’s not pretty. But it’s bloody powerful.

If you’ve ever been in something that didn’t feel right but you stayed because you hoped it would get better, this one’s for you. It’s a reminder that walking away isn’t weakness… it’s strength in disguise.

Have you ever ignored a red flag because your heart wanted to believe the best in someone? Tell me in the DMs or over on Insta, I’d genuinely love to know your thoughts: @officiallyemmayoung

In this episode we cover:

• Emma introduces her oldest friend, Sarah Fowler, and their 32 years of chaos
• The infamous letterbox-stealing story from their teens
• Fowler’s background growing up in Geraldton, country life, and early jobs
• Her work as a phlebotomist and naturopath and what those jobs involve
• Moving from WA to Queensland at 26 for a complete life reset
• Owning her own business, then burning out and booking a one-way ticket to South America
• Life working in Nicaragua and Guatemala: DJing, hostel life, total freedom
• Meeting Milo: the charming Taekwondo athlete who became abusive and controlling
• How the relationship turned violent and frightening
• The moment she realised she needed to escape
• Her dramatic getaway: packing bags, throwing them out the window, running for safety
• Getting violently ill on the way to the airport and having to call him for help
• Finally making it home to Australia, where her friend Vashti helped her rebuild
• Reflections on survival, shame, and strength
• Rapid-fire questions
• Dating a polyamorous performer back in WA; six months open, then choosing monogamy together for the next four years
• The crack in that relationship: discovery of cheating, counselling, talk of marriage and kids, then a breakup after his studies with some hurtful parting words
• Most recent relationship: a much younger guy for about 18 months; easy, fun, felt safe but lacked depth, ultimately a ‘placeholder’ while she figured out what she truly wants
• Recognising her pattern of losing herself in relationships and setting a new non-negotiable: to feel safe, be her full self, and not perform for love
• Rapid-fire: her inspirational woman, the decade she’d relive, travel dreams, karaoke picks, and a shout-out to Vashti

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Instagram: @officiallyemmayoung
• Emma the Celebrant