The Cancer Journey Podcast

In this final episode of our stress response series, we explore two responses that are newer to the research but probably familiar to your lived experience: Fawn and Fib. These responses show up when your nervous system decides the safest way through a situation is to either keep everyone else comfortable or create a more acceptable version of yourself. The goal isn't to eliminate these respon...

When you're facing overwhelming situations during a cancer journey, the flight response shows up in ways that might surprise you. It's not always about physically running away—sometimes it's that internal "no" when your doctor is delivering difficult news, or the complete denial that kicks in during diagnosis. In this episode, we continue our stress response series by explori...

When you're facing a cancer diagnosis, your fight stress response is going to show up whether you want it to or not. That surge of adrenaline, the pounding heart, the feeling like you need to control everything right now—it's your primitive nervous system trying to protect you from what it perceives as a threat. In this episode, we continue our series on stress responses by exploring what...

When you're navigating a cancer journey, stress responses are going to show up whether you want them to or not. But what if the thing we've been taught to judge ourselves for is actually pointing us toward the solution? In this conversation, we explore how these responses are really precursors to emotions—and why that freeze response you might be criticizing yourself for could actually be...

When cancer enters your life, it can feel like a dark veil settles over everything—making joy feel impossible or even inappropriate. But what if everything you've been told about how you're "supposed to feel" during a cancer journey is wrong? Joy isn't something you manufacture or force. It bubbles up naturally when you stop judging yourself for being human. Whether you'r...

Join us for a tender exploration of one of cancer's most unexpected heartbreaks—when the people you thought would be your strongest support quietly step away when you need them most. We create space for the complex emotions that arise when friendships shift during life's most challenging seasons. This isn't about blame or judgment, but about honoring the very real grief that comes when...

Join us for an honest exploration of burnout culture and the profound exhaustion so many of us carry, not just from work, but from a society that profits from our depletion. We create space for the soul-deep tiredness that comes from carrying everyone else's needs while forgetting to include yourself in the equation. Discover why burnout isn't just about being busy, but about moving so far...

Join us for a tender exploration of one of cancer's most disorienting experiences - that moment when you look in the mirror and don't recognize the person staring back. We create space for the profound grief that comes when your sense of self feels foreign, when the roles that defined you no longer fit, when your energy and capacity have shifted beyond recognition. This loss deserves to be...

We open our hearts about the different levels of listening—from those light surface conversations that help us feel connected to the world, to the profound practice of powerful listening that creates spaces where people feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood. Discover why listening goes far beyond hearing words or waiting for your turn to speak. Learn how curiosity, presence, and genuine care...

We open our hearts about what awakens when cancer stops us in our tracks: the discovery that we matter simply for being, the courage to finally put ourselves alongside those we love, the sudden clarity about what truly deserves our precious energy and attention. This isn't about silver linings or toxic positivity. For those in treatment right now, we hold deep space for your struggle. This con...

This gentle conversation explores one of the most misunderstood dimensions of the cancer experience - the spiritual aspect represented by the "S" in our PESH Check-in. We create a spacious, judgment-free space to explore what spirituality really means on the cancer journey - not as a set of beliefs or practices, but as our personal relationship with meaning, connection, and that inner vi...

Join us for a soul-nurturing conversation about our Fundamentals Program – that special 12-week journey where healthcare professionals, cancer thrivers, caregivers, and compassionate souls come together to learn the art of truly seeing, hearing, and understanding each other during the cancer experience. Discover how this program helps you find words for experiences that often go unnamed, and how t...

In this episode of the Cancer Journey Podcast, we explore the transformative power of pausing during a cancer experience. We discuss how slowing down reconnects us with our bodies, regulates our nervous systems, and creates space for healing. We talk about how pausing helps us process emotions and gain clarity, why a cancer diagnosis often creates a sense of urgency that prevents pausing, and the...

When cancer enters our lives, uncertainty becomes our constant companion. In this thoughtful conversation, we explore how to navigate the unknown—from treatment decisions to worrying about outcomes—with greater courage and trust. As we explore in this episode, the unknown isn't something to fear but rather a canvas waiting for our unique brushstrokes. While uncertainty is inevitable on the can...

In this honest conversation, we explore what it truly means to be human while navigating the cancer journey—not the idealized warrior or saint that society often expects, but the full, messy spectrum of our humanity. The reality is that no one receives a cancer diagnosis without feeling deeply about it. This conversation honors the gift of being human—in all its messiness, complexity, and contradi...

In this heartfelt conversation, we explore grief as it arrives on the cancer journey—for patients, survivors, thrivers, and especially caregivers. Building on our discussion of death and dying, we now turn toward those who remain, holding space for both the emptiness and the love that continues. We demonstrate our own process of giving ourselves permission to express everything we're feeling a...

When cancer enters our lives, mortality often moves from abstract concept to tangible presence. In this heartfelt conversation, we create space for the fears, questions, and insights that emerge when we allow ourselves to talk openly about death and dying on the cancer journey. This conversation flows with the same gentleness you'd experience sitting with one of our coaches—no forced positivit...

In this milestone 52nd episode, we pause to celebrate a full year of weekly conversations about navigating the cancer journey with authenticity, emotional intelligence, and community support. We invite you to join our celebration and perhaps consider: What achievement in your own life deserves more acknowledgment than you've given it? As we move into our second year of podcasting, we welcome y...

In this third and final episode of our Emotional Intelligence (EQ) series, we explore the crucial external component—emotional impact and responsibility. Once we develop literacy (knowing our emotions) and agility (feeling our emotions), we must recognize how our emotions affect those around us. Whether you're navigating cancer yourself or supporting someone on their journey, understanding you...

In this special 50th episode celebration, we invite you into the transformative practice of emotional agility — the ability to truly feel and flow with your emotions rather than being consumed by them. Throughout the cancer journey, emotions arise that can feel overwhelming. Together, we explore how developing a heart-centered relationship with ALL your emotions (even the uncomfortable ones!) crea...

In this first episode of our 3-part series on emotional intelligence, we explore the foundation of emotional intelligence: emotional literacy. What if our emotions aren't just reactions but messengers trying to communicate important information? This episode offers a fresh perspective on understanding our emotional landscape and explains why expanding beyond basic "mad, sad, glad" de...

Join us for an intimate exploration of how Cancer Journey Institute's unique approach to coach training creates space for both professional development and personal transformation. Discover why experiencing the work deeply ourselves allows us to show up more authentically for our clients. Ready to learn more about being a Cancer Journey Coach? Learn more here: www.thecancerjourney.com#HeartCen...

Join us for a heart-centered celebration of the remarkable individuals who are transforming cancer support worldwide. From partnering with oncologists to creating innovative programs, our coaches are bringing emotional, mental, and spiritual care to places it's never been before. Join our community: Website:  www.thecancerjourney.com Instagram: @cancerjourneyinstituteEmail: info@thecancerjourney.c...

Discover a transformative approach to emotional intelligence where every feeling - from joy to rage - has wisdom to share. In this heart-centered conversation, we explore why making friends with our full emotional spectrum is key to deeper healing. This episode invites you to embrace your whole emotional journey with fierce love and gentle acceptance. Join our community: Website: www.thecancerjour...

Step into a sacred space where transformation meets understanding. In this heart-centered conversation, we explore how the Thriver Series offers a unique container for authentic growth after cancer - whether you're a survivor, thriver, or caregiver. We look at this through the lens of our Thriver Series - which isn't just another program - it's an invitation to discover who you are at...