Hollie Strano Reclaims Her Story in Exclusive Interview Announcing Cleveland 13 Role

CLEVELAND, OH — I sat down with Hollie Strano for a conversation that was months in the making. It was a dialogue centered not just on what happened, but on who she has become and where she is headed next.

Full interview on Youtube here

Right from the jump, Hollie didn’t hide from the past. “I will never not be sorry for what happened,” she told me, looking me straight in the eye.

For over twenty years, Hollie was the morning alarm clock for Northeast Ohio. A John Carroll grad who built her career from campus radio to a 22-year run at WKYC, she wasn’t just a face on a screen, she was part of the family. But in late 2023, that relationship was put to the ultimate test.

The Turning Point

The headlines from Thanksgiving 2023 are well-documented. A serious crash, an OVI arrest, and a very public fall from grace. Looking back, Hollie describes that day as both a rock bottom and a lifeline.

“I can now look back at it and say that it was 100% one of the worst days of my life, but also one of the best,” she said. In the aftermath, she wasn't thinking about her career, she was just trying to keep her head above water. “I was sort of just surviving for a while. My cortisol was high, and I was just existing. I immediately put myself into therapy and chose my own way of recovery.”

A Second, Private Battle

What the public didn’t know at the time was that while Hollie was navigating a high-profile recovery, she was also fighting a silent, physical battle. In the summer of 2024, she started feeling "off." Following a persistent gut instinct, she was hit with a second life-altering diagnosis...ovarian cancer.

The timing was almost cruel. While she was dealing with the legal and professional fallout of her arrest, she was also heading into the operating room. She underwent two major surgeries; one in August and another in September of 2024.

She eventually went public with the news on her podcast, Abruptly Authentic, sharing that she is now cancer-free. She’s turned that scare into a mission, working with groups like OutRun Ovarian Cancer (OROC) to make sure other women don't ignore those small, nagging signs that something is wrong.

The Work of Forgiveness

During our sit-down, we talked about the footage of her arrest. Watching yourself at your lowest point is something few people ever have to do. Her reaction, however, wasn't one of shame, but of distance.

“I forgive her. I give her grace. I feel bad for her, and I'm so glad that I've left that version of me behind,” she explained. She’s also made peace with the "what-ifs" that haunt any OVI case. “What if my kids were in the car? What if I killed somebody? It's an awful thing, and I don't think I'd be human if I didn't have those thoughts. But nobody was hurt, nobody was in the car, and I'm still alive.”

When I asked whose forgiveness mattered most, she didn't mention the viewers or the station. She mentioned her kids, her family, and herself. “The bottom line is I had to forgive me, because once I forgave myself, everything else fell into place.”

Moving Forward on Her Terms

The "comeback" at her old station wasn't the warm welcome many expected. Hollie was candid about the cold shoulder she felt upon her return. “So I'm brought back and forgiven, but then I was ignored by practically everybody. That was a really tough environment for me.”

By September 2024, the same month she was recovering from her second cancer surgery, her 22-year run at WKYC ended. Legal filings and reports have circulated about the circumstances of her departure, and Hollie shared some insight into the reasons she was given for her termination. Even so, she seemed far less focused on the “why” than on the question of “what now.”

She’s no longer waiting for a green light from a producer. She’s forecasting independently, hosting her podcast, and speaking directly to the people of Cleveland.

“My opinion is that we are all craving something that is authentic. I feel like I've been cut from puppet strings and let out of a cage, and it feels really good. I think that that's what not only Northeast Ohio needs, but that's what this country and the world needs... authenticity.”

She’s done hiding the struggle, too. Speaking on her journey of sobriety and healing, she explained: “I was that girl not telling anybody. I was hiding... I was ashamed of myself because deep down I knew it wasn't right...and I won't shut up because it's not about, 'look at me.' It's about helping people who are afraid to speak.”

The Future

Hollie Strano is stepping into the new Cleveland 13 Weather Center not as the person she was, but as the person she fought to become; a cancer survivor, a woman in recovery, and a broadcaster who finally feels free.

As we wrapped up, I asked her how she feels about the road ahead and her outlook on her new journey with Cleveland 13. She just smiled. “The creative part of it is endless, and I love that. I have no limits. I was limited, but not anymore. So stay tuned.”

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For this piece, Cleveland 13 focused on creating space for Hollie to share her perspective and reflect on her journey in her own words. The conversation was intended to center on her experiences, growth, and where she sees her path going next. At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.