Breast Cancer Book Shelf

Guideposts for Life

In this episode we discuss what to cultivate more of, and what to let go of. 💖

Rules for Life

In this episode we explore journal questions for the Four Agreements. 

Burnout and Self Compassion

In this episode we explore how a lack of self compassion leads to burnout. 

Honest Inventory

In this episode, I’m talking about Good Enough by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie — and why the idea of “good enough” can feel both comforting and deeply uncomfortable after cancer.
 
We live in a world obsessed with optimization, productivity, healing journeys, and silver linings. But what happens when you’re exhausted? When you can’t hustle your way into peace? When surviving changes you in ways that don’t fit the inspirational narrative?
 
I’m sharing my thoughts on perfectionism, survivorship, toxic positivity, and the pressure to constantly improve ourselves — plus why “good enough” might actually be a radical act of self-compassion.
 
If you’ve ever felt behind, burnt out, emotionally messy, or like you’re failing at healing, this episode is for you.

Feel it, Don’t Feed it

There’s a difference between allowing your emotions and setting up permanent residence inside them. In this episode, I’m talking about the fine line between healthy processing and getting trapped in negative thought loops that keep us stuck. Especially after cancer, grief, trauma, or major life changes, it’s easy to confuse spiraling with healing. But feeling your emotions doesn’t have to mean drowning in them. We’ll talk about self-pity, self-compassion, emotional honesty, and how to let hard feelings move through you without letting them take over your life.

Say This, Not That

There are moments in life when words just… fail.
In this episode, I’m diving into a powerful idea from Kate Bowler: that in seasons of deep grief, the English language simply reaches its limit. She calls it “inarticulate sorrow”—that feeling when what you’re experiencing is so big, so disorienting, that nothing you say feels accurate.
That’s when swearing becomes caring. 

The Rainbow of Emotions

We can’t be honest with ourselves if we don’t feel all the feels! 

Self Reflecting on Our Conditioning

In this episode, we dive into that question—the one that feels both simple and wildly uncomfortable. The roles we’ve taken on, the expectations we’ve absorbed, the identities we’ve performed… and what happens when we start peeling them back.
 
This isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who you were before you learned to edit yourself.

Is toxic positivity a grey area?

In this episode of Breast Cancer Book Shelf, we’re talking about a powerful idea from Kara Loewentheil’s Take Back Your Brain: forcing positivity doesn’t heal pain—it often makes it worse.
 
For cancer patients and survivors, “just stay positive” can create guilt, shame, and the feeling that difficult emotions are something to fix or avoid. This conversation explores why allowing fear, sadness, anger, and grief is not weakness—it’s part of healing. You don’t need to think your way out of trauma. You’re allowed to feel it without drowning in it.
 
This podcast discusses books for educational and commentary purposes. All excerpts and references are used under fair use.

Relationship With Body

More Than a Body: When Your Body Is Good—Even If You Don’t Like It
 
In this episode of Breast Cancer Book Shelf, we’re talking about a powerful reframe from More Than a Body by Lexie and Lindsay Kite: “Positive body image isn’t believing your body looks good, but knowing your body is good regardless of how it looks.”
 
For cancer patients and survivors, body image isn’t just about confidence—it’s about loss, change, discomfort, and learning how to live in a body that no longer feels familiar. This conversation explores why you don’t have to love your body, feel grateful for it, or see it as “beautiful” to treat it with care. Your body is good—even on hard days, even when it’s changed.
 
This podcast discusses books for educational and commentary purposes. All excerpts and references are used under fair use.