In this episode of Uncomfortable Growth® Uncut, Tracy Hall, former CMO of Afterpay, keynote speaker, and author, shares the deeply personal story of how she fell in love with a man who never truly existed.
In 2016, after her marriage ended, Tracy found herself navigating the world of dating as a single mother in her forties. That’s when she met Max Tevita, a charismatic Bondi surfer and chief investment officer. He was everything she was looking for: smart, kind, adventurous, and seemingly trustworthy. Over 16 months, they built a life together, sharing dreams, values, and an undeniable connection.
Then, in July 2017, her world collapsed. Max Tevita wasn’t real. He was actually Hamish McLaren, one of Australia’s most notorious conmen, who had swindled millions from multiple victims. The man she had trusted with her heart, and her financial future, was arrested for his crimes. In a single moment, the life she had built with him disintegrated.
Losing her savings was devastating, but the deeper wound was emotional. “The person I was in love with didn’t actually exist” Tracy recalls.
Her journey to healing wasn’t just about rebuilding finances, it was about reclaiming her sense of self. The betrayal forced her to face the reality of coercive control and how manipulators slowly weave themselves into their victims’ lives. “It’s not like he asked for my life savings overnight. It was hundreds of conversations, careful planning, fake documentation, it was methodical.”
Through heartbreak, Tracy found resilience. She fought to regain her financial footing, navigated the legal system, and continued showing up as a mother and professional. More importantly, she learned self-compassion. “The human spirit has an incredible capacity to endure,” she says.
Now, Tracy uses her experience to advocate for other victims of fraud and coercive control, sharing her story so the warning signs can be recognised. Her journey is a testament to the power of self-compassion and rebuilding self-belief when trust has been irrevocably broken.
Listen to Tracy’s incredible story on Uncomfortable Growth® Uncut. It’s a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends.
Learn more about Uncomfortable Growth® & Rowena here.
The world doesn’t need more stories of success; it needs honest conversations about hard challenges, vulnerability, and proof that trials can ultimately become triumphs.
That’s why the Uncomfortable Growth® Uncut podcast was born. It’s a reminder that struggle and success are intrinsically linked, that growth is rarely easy, and that the moments we feel most uncomfortable are where our greatest breakthroughs lie.