This Is Actually Happening

344: What if you spent 7 years in a Thai prison?

Dec 17, 2024
Guest
Holly Deane-Johns
Holly Deane-Johns, a motivational speaker with a profound story of overcoming heroin addiction, shares her harrowing experience of spending seven years in a Thai prison. She vividly describes the brutal conditions of her incarceration and the pivotal friendship she formed with a fellow inmate. Holly reflects on her chaotic upbringing, the trauma of losing her mother to addiction, and her journey to redemption. Now drug-free since 2001, she dedicates her life to helping others confront their own struggles and inspire hope through her powerful narrative.
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ANECDOTE

Childhood and Family Dynamics

  • Holly Deane-Johns grew up in Perth with a strict father and a soft mother.
  • Her parents' volatile relationship and eventual separation deeply affected her childhood.
ANECDOTE

Early Exposure to Adult Themes

  • Holly's mother ran escort agencies from their home, normalizing the concept of sex work for Holly.
  • Heroin entered their lives through her mother's partner, Simon, which also became normalized.
ANECDOTE

Early Addiction and Trauma

  • Holly started using heroin at a young age, initially hiding her addiction.
  • She later revealed being sexually molested as a child by a family member.
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