Two Girls With Cancer

Our guest, Lesley Moffat, is a music educator, author, and speaker who uses her personal health journey as a catalyst for change. Not only did she complete overhaul her own life, but she uses her platform to help other educators around the world.To the outside eye, Lesley looked like a successful band director, running a high-achieving music program. But behind closed doors, she was falling apart...completely breaking down. She lived in a state of chronic stress, constant illness and sheer exhaustion. Her body brought her to a full stop and this became her turning point.Through much research and rebuilding, Lesley was determined to overhaul her life. She uses her story to help others through coaching, speaking engagements, books she's written and her mPowered Music Educator Academy.Her first book is titled "I Love My Job But It's Killing Me: The Teacher's Guide To Conquering Chronic Stress And Sickness".Reach out to her on her website: mPoweredEducator - Teacher Stress Relief, Self-Care & Burnout Prevention

On this episode of TGWC, we meet Liz Rodriguez, a college track star, coach and all around wonderful woman.Liz is a transformation coach who helps former athletes in their 40's break free from all-or-nothing patterns, and to rebuild their strength, energy and confidence through a method she has coined her Strength & Longevity Method. She spent years chasing performance and perfection. When a debilitating back injury became her reality, she faced a turning point not only her fitness journey, but also in her identity. Liz takes mindset coaching, and combines it with smart, sustainable training, nutrition and recovery strategies to help women reconnect with their bodies and redefine what strength looks like in midlife. Her mission is to make health and fitness more accessible, compassionate and empowering, no matter the age, background and ability. Download her free eBook: lizrodriguezcoaching.com/ebook/ Visit her website: lizrodriguezcoaching.comFacebook: facebook.com/lizrodriguezcoaching/Youtube: youtube.com/ ⁨@HealthandWellnessRedefined⁩ 

I am back for part 2 with Sarah Marie Thiessen. If you have not listened to part 1, go and get to know Sarah better on episode 15!Sarah is a local photographer and videographer who was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer at 27 years old. The breast cancer is gone, but she continues to deal with the ROS-1 mutation and was told this could be a lifelong cancer. Through her holistic mindset and the loving support of her partner, Phillip, Sarah continues to fight this disease with optimism and boldness. She speaks to the people who fall victim to the medical system and the fear tactics used to coerce them, and her desire to empower shines through as you listen to her story. Please give her some love on Instagram @wildlovemediahttps://www.instagram.com/wildlovemedia?igsh=MWFlc3RuZzJ2OTFiag==Or on her website, wildlovemedia.com

On today's episode, we talk to Sarah Marie Thiessen, a young entrepreneur, go-getter and all around hustler. Her passion for travel has brought her around the world, until her health brought her back home. Sarah is a destination wedding photographer, filmmaker, and founder of Wild Love Media—but her wildest adventure wasn't on a mountaintop or at a dream elopement in the forest. In February 2021, while traveling in Australia on a study visa for business management and social media marketing, she was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer at just 27 years old. What followed was a whirlwind of chemotherapy, failed surgeries, and ultimately, a cross-continental health journey that brought her back to Canada for answers—and more operations. While the original breast cancer is in remission, an inoperable tumor with the ROS-1 gene mutation was discovered and she is now on lifelong targeted therapy to help prolong her health and manage the disease. Her story is not just about survival—but about listening to the body, advocating for your own care, and finding beauty in the in-between. Today, Sarah channels her fierce, untamed love for life into storytelling—both through her camera and her voice. She believes every soul has a story worth honoring, and that even in the hardest seasons, there is light to be captured.You can follow her on Facebook at Sarah Marie Thiessen (Sarah Wild) ⁠https://www.facebook.com/sarah.wild.3958914 On Instagram @wildlovemedia https://www.instagram.com/wildlovemedia?igsh=MWd1ZXNzcWhlcDJzMw==And check out her portfolio ⁠https://www.wildlovemedia.com/ This is a 2 part episode, due to Sarah's dog getting loose and us needing to break early lol. Make sure you are back next week to hear the end of the story.

Meet Chantal McKenzie, engineer turned entrepreneur. She owns That Yoga Place and Phoenix Physical Therapy and Wellness in Spruce Grove, Alberta.Yoga is so inclusive - meaning it doesn't matter what you look like, how active or fit you are, or what is going on for you outside of the studio...everyone is welcome and everyone can do yoga!The studio doesn't just offer yoga, though! It is morphing into a one-stop shop for all things wellness. There are massage therapists on staff, as well as a social work counselor, and an osteopath, focusing on movement healing. They have also started offering signature sculpting buccal massage, red light therapy, and reiki. The buccal massage helps to reduce puffing in the face and acts as a mini (non-invasive!) facelift. There are many other services to come so stay tuned!Our brand here at Two Girls With(out) Cancer is all about supporting local businesses, so we were thrilled to connect with Chantal! The tri-region (Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, and Parkland County) offers many resources without having to go to the city. We look forward to continuing to grow this relationship with That Yoga Place as well as other local establishments helping people achieve their wellness goals.Find That Yoga Place on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thatyogaplace/about Or in person ⁠13-100 King St, Spruce Grove AB T7X 0J6⁠

We are excited to introduce the listeners to Alex Shulman this week. He is a Functional Patterns practitioner and founder of Strong Sapien Systems. He helps people resolve chronic pain, restore energy, and move freely again—without relying on short-term fixes. For years, he had his own battles with chronic pain, fatigue, and inflammation, which led him to develop the ReGen coaching program. Here, he helps others correct the root causes of dysfunction through movement, nervous system regulation, and pro-metabolic lifestyle strategies. He works with clients globally and is known for helping people get back to the things they love, pain-free and with purpose.If you want to follow Alex or find out how he can help you, follow him on Instagram @strongsapien https://www.instagram.com/strongsapien/?igsh=MWc0MHQzN3hqeGJ2NQ%3D%3D#Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlexChenShulman Or by email, strongsapien@gmail.com

Stephen Roehrig joins us this week to discuss the importance of safe water and protecting ourselves from electro magnetic frequencies (EMF's). He believes we need to awaken the teacher inside of ourselves so that all of our experiences can reorient us to live more skillfully in this world. In 2014, Stephen and wife, Jacinta founded Safe Water Canada in Edmonton, Alberta, where they became distributors of Berkey Water purifiers. They wanted to explore ways of attaining better physical and mental health, which led them to discovering EMF's and its effects on people. Their home is now WIFI-free and they have revised their habits around wireless and wired devices. They offer consultations on discovering the harmful influences of EMF's and sell products that help mitigate this. Shungite, an amazing mineral found only in Russia, is one of these products.If you want to lessen the amount of damaging frequencies in your home, and learn how to properly filter your water, then you need to chat with Stephen. He can be contacted on Safe Water Canada's website www.safewatercanada.com

If you feel unwell and can't quite get to the bottom of it, the issue might be mold or CIRS.This weeks guest is a board certified functional health coach, and the owner of Health Coaching by Heather, LLC and Navigating Mold and CIRS, LLC. After a 28 year battle with her own illness, she discovered she had Lyme disease and mold toxicity. Now that she is coming to the end of her health battle, she focuses on giving people hope that they too can reclaim their health from complex chronic conditions. She addresses the root cause and helps to remove any interferences to healing. Heather specializes in regenerative nutrition, detoxification, Lyme disease, mold toxicity, and CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome). Find her on healthcoachingbyheather.com or on Facebook at Heather Sklar Sunderland https://www.facebook.com/heather.s.sunderland

Danielle Vallas is our special guest this week. She is a mental health counselor with 15 years experience specializing in eating disorders, a private clinician, an author, a graduate school professor, the president of a wellness consulting company, providing training and personal development to teams, schools and corporations, the owner of a wellness clothing company, and a trauma-informed yoga instructor. Danielle has a passion for people that shines through when speaking to her. She continues to add to her already impressive resume in the name of helping others. You can follow her on her socials: @dgwellnessconsulting https://www.instagram.com/dgwellnessconsulting?igsh=ZnZ5N2FyYjhiNm16@daniellevallas https://www.instagram.com/daniellevallas?igsh=MWZjdWlnenMwOHk2Zw==@buffalobelieves https://www.instagram.com/buffalobelieves?igsh=MXU0NHdpZWh2c3h1eA==And on her websites:www.dgwellnessconsulting.comwww.daniellevallas.comwww.buffalobelieves.com And find her book here:An Athlete's Pocket Guide to Mental Health: Making your mental health just as important as your physical health, to become a stronger, smarter, more mindful athlete. https://a.co/d/6Yfoq9Q

Dallas is a 16 Hour Coach, emotional baggage handler, author, and speaker.. His experience comes from failing, a lot. He spent 50 years holding onto childhood trauma that led to a few "lucky events" that would break most of us...cancer, addiction, suicidal thoughts, and the loss of his marriage, family, business and home.After going through what he calls the “Year of Life Collapse”, he had to start over from the very bottom at 60 years of age. Today Dallas helps people get out of their story minds to let them focus on the 16 hours they spend awake every day. Grab a copy of his book on Amazon:The Gift is the Present⁠https://a.co/d/3aL8C2XAnd check out his socials!https://www.facebook.com/dallas.collis.33https://www.instagram.com/dallasfit5lifehttps://www.tiktok.com/@dallascollis.com

Katie Sorensen is a nurse practitioner who owns a medical weight loss practice in Colorado and Utah. Her clinic focuses on metabolic health, peptides, health span optimization, etc. Yes, she prescribes the O word...Ozempic. There is so much misinformation on the internet regarding weight loss medications, especially right now with the semaglutide craze. Some of you have heard horror stories. Or perhaps you've seen the recent body changes of Hollywood. Either way, you've surely heard about these drugs! In this interview, Katie tears down the stigma around these medications that fall into the GLP-1 category. If you ever wanted to learn more, then this episode is for you. (GLP-1 is a natural hormone that bodies make after eating. It controls things like hunger and blood sugar levels, in case you were wondering what that word meant!)You can reach Katie on her website www.theWLNP.comand on her Instagram @weightlossnp.co https://www.instagram.com/weightlossnp.co?igsh=eTIwM3VzbWxqYzM2

Marilyn Dellit is a functional medicine practitioner, working with women to overcome their gut and hormone imbalances from a root cause approach. Her clients are experiencing symptoms like bloating, IBS/IBD, irregular bowels, reflux, food sensitivities, infertility, heavy menstrual cycles, to name a few. Through different lab tests like blood, stool and hormone testing, she helps women understand the imbalances in their body, as well as find relief for their symptoms. She can be found on her instagram at @marilyndellitwellnesshttps://www.instagram.com/marilyndellitwellness?igsh=Y2c2ZmYzYjhhdHlwOr on her website www.marilyndellitwellness.com

We are excited to introduce Taimi Lawlor! She was living a life of functioning anxiety in her 20's, plagued by panic attacks, sleepless nights, extreme constipation, and excessive exercise. She did not know how to rest or relax, and spent her time trying to be perfect in an effort to feel good enough. Tired of how she was living, she searched for the root causes of her mental and physical health. This led her to where she is now.Taimi is an Integrative Anxiety Specialist, Certified Health Coach, & RYT500 Yoga Instructor who believes in an integrative approach to healing the body and mind. From bio individualized genetic and cellular testing, to specific lifestyle and nervous system supports, she possess the tools to create tailored programs so her clients have more energy to get on their mat and get the work done! You can find her on her instagram @astretchbeyondyoga https://www.instagram.com/astretchbeyondyoga?igsh=MTE5a2JnbHo0dzVuOQ==

Claudia De Pasquale was only 41 years old and a mom of three small children when she heard the words "you have cancer". She learned throughout her journey with cancer that advocating for herself was a top priority. Since having NED (no evidence of disease), Claudia has become involved in the breast cancer community, helping patients learn to speak up for themselves. She is not only a cancer survivor, but she is also a cancer thriver!She is most active on her Instagram @my_cancerdiaries https://www.instagram.com/my_cancerdiaries?igsh=czZhcGdiaW0xbHA3You can also check out her linktree https://linktr.ee/depasquale.claudia?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5a8943ac-0475-4115-9cc0-200d4d51a372

Parker Nelson is a registered dietitian, working one on one with clients who are seeking weight management advice, as well as at an eating disorder clinic in California. He is also an author of the book Nutrition Nonsense where he debunks food myths that we have all likely heard (and possibly even believe). He looks at deceptive marketing, societal pressures, and social media influences on people and how it affects their relationships with eating. He is active on his Instagram at @nutritionadvocate https://www.instagram.com/nutritionadvocate?igsh=NDEyaWl6bjA2Y3NyYou can find his fantastic book on Amazon https://a.co/d/25W63H7

Meet Silvia Araya, author and expert in panic attacks. Her experience with anxiety and trauma prompted her to focus her psychotherapy education on helping people overcome panic attacks. Since cancer, both of us have started experiencing these attacks, so when the opportunity presented itself to have Silvia as a guest, we jumped at it. Her newest book is titled Is This What I REALLY Want?: How To Go Beyond Trauma Into The Relationship You Deserve.Please visit Silvia on her website at https://silviaaraya.com/ to learn more about her books, or to have a session with her.

Cancer advocate and podcast host, Zakariya Frank, joins Two Girls With(out) Cancer to discuss a fantastic resource for people who have experienced this awful disease. Beatcancer.org is a non-profit organization that has been around for 48 years! They connect patients with holistic cancer coaches, offer free personalized counseling and educational programs, and have trained and certified hundreds of cancer coaches throughout the world. You can join an interactive weekly call as a patient, caregiver, health practitioner, coach (or anyone curious!) to learn about holistic health and to be apart of a community. They want to empower through education and let you know that you are not alone in your journey!Make sure you check out https://zakariyafrank.com/podcast-episodes to hear this awesome podcast! And head over to https://beatcancer.org/ to learn more!

After a few month hiatus, we are back and better than ever! We both needed a serious rest to recharge our batteries. In this season, we will be interviewing guests in the health and wellness space, bringing a vast array of knowledge and experience. We are branching out from cancer and opening up our show to anything that falls under the holistic umbrella.

The girls are back with a quick breakthrough episode to update everyone on the future of the podcast. After a few months of hiatus to attend to mental and physical health, the girls are preparing to come back for season 2, with a new name, new branding, and some changes to the format. This episode also gets really candid, talking about insecurities and struggles for both the girls over the last few months.

The girls are back to discuss the alkaline diet. There are studies that suggest that eating an acidic diet may cause many health problems. The girls look at the pros and cons of eating alkaline. YouTube took down the last video on coffee enemas due to medical misinformation. You can find the complete video on Spotify or on Rumble.

Cryotherapy has become incredibly popular lately. While most trending fads are short-lived, there is actually some efficacy to this one. Cold plunging is not a new concept. In fact, it dates back thousands of years. The girls talk about this interesting healing modality and how it can help people with cancer.

This is going to be a controversial topic for sure, but the girls have nothing but good things to say about it. What is a coffee enema, and why is it so good for you? The episode will look at all the benefits of administering these types of enemas, as well as how to do it. It is incredibly intimidating thinking about putting anything (let alone coffee) in there, but it is actually a very relaxing and rejuvenating experience. If you want to get started yourself, you'll need to head to happybumco.com for all your coffee enema needs! Use discount code TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER for 10% off your order.

Holistic health means healing the whole body...ALL of the body, including the parts we don't normally talk about. Though, perhaps a taboo topic, it is still important to investigate all symptoms you have, even if it is awkward. Your body is always talking to you, but you must listen to what it's saying. Things like cancer and yes, even body smells, are symptoms of a bigger issue. Check out our favorite supplements to take - organ pills. Holistic Goddess is Alberta bison, and Primal Queen is Argentinian beef. Both are nutrient-packed, mineral-rich super foods that are high in vitamins, collagen, healthy fats, and protein. A great alternative to iron supplements, as they do not constipate. Use discount code TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER to receive 10% off your order. https://holisticgoddess.com/tupoknjouq http://primalqueen.com/TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER

Why do we believe that our doctor is our saviour? After all, they are just humans...fallible humans. Doctors do amazing things, yes, but they are not God. They do not know the future, therefore, they do not get to dictate how much time we have left. Your body was designed to heal itself! But you may have to go beyond what your doctor tells you and find alternative healing methods that feel right for you. Receive 25% off facial services at Natural Beauty Spa in Spruce Grove, Alberta. Follow her on Instagram @b.naturalbeautyspa and Facebook @naturalbeautyspa

The girls recount moments throughout their sicknesses when "friends" disappeared from their lives. They talk about the importance of people showing up... just being there in times of need. It doesn't mean you need to spend every waking moment with someone sick, but sometimes a thoughtful gesture or a simple hello goes a long way. *We apologize for the sound quality. We have no idea why it did this. And we apologize for going two weeks between episodes. If you're looking to invest in some grounding products, look no further. groundingofficial.com carries all sizes of grounding bed sheets. Use discount code TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER for 15% off your order.

It is so easy to think your medical doctor is God after a life-changing diagnosis. While it is important to hear what your doctor has to say, it is also equally (if not more) important to get second and third opinions from outside practitioners. Unfortunately, when it comes to diseases, conventional medicine is only trying to fix the problem, instead of figuring out why the problem existed in the first place. Healing the whole body, or holistic healing, is crucial when trying to overcome illness. Ever wondered about coffee enemas? Becky can answer your questions! Reach out on any of the platforms, and we will get back to you asap! Buy your enema kit from Happy Bum and use code TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER for 10% off your order. https://happybumco.com/?sca_ref=6246366.k8s0S9JqKN

An episode dedicated to wigs! The girls try on many different styles and talk wig care. This episode is better watched than listened to, as majority of it is visual. Enjoy the chaos

Yeast can wreak havoc in our bodies, especially left untreated. Candida overgrowth can lead to issues like anxiety and depression, leaky gut, and skin conditions. It is extremely important to deal with yeast before it takes over. Eradicating it can be extremely tough, though, and often, drastic measures need to be taken to deal with it completely. The girls share their personal experiences with yeast and, as usual, get very candid(a). www.namawell.com discount code: LACOSSE10 for 10% off www.wishbonewellness.ca discount code: TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER for 10% off

Herxheimer...it's so much more than a funny word. It can make you feel sicker than ever! Your doctor doesn't know what it is and says they can't find what's wrong with you. You start to feel crazy! But you know you feel off, even though you can't articulate what off means. Is it the flu? Is it a migraine? Am I dehydrated? Tired? Hungry? Cancer returning? Maybe I'm just a hypochondriac? You may be going through a healing crisis, also known as the herxheimer reaction. The girls explain what this means and how you can get through it.

The girls talk self-care in this episode. Taking time for yourself is harder than it should be, especially as a mom. We tend to put everyone else's needs before our own. But how can you take care of others if you're not taken care of? The girls look at the importance of resting, forgiveness, and being kind to yourself. In the Edmonton area and interested in Wishbone Wellness Broth? Check out wishbonewellness.ca and use discount code TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER for 10% off your orders. Want bone broth but not in the Edmonton area? Try Broya Bone Both. Use discount code TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER for 10% off. https://broyaliving.com/GETLACOSSED

Grounding, also known as earthing, is a popular [but under-studied] technique for healing your body. It is as simple as touching bare skin to the earth, and it comes with many benefits. It may seem too simple or like a silly concept, but the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to grounding. Try it and see what good it can do for your health. https://groundingofficial.com?bg_ref=lrvrbubczv•use discount code TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER for 15% off grounding sheets https://holisticgoddess.com/tupoknjouq•use discount code TWOGIRLSWITHCANCER for 10% off bison organ supplements

What can we say? The topic comes up a lot! Obviously, we're human, and obviously, we love a TMI moment. Getting sick will humble even the proudest of people. Join us as we give a run down of what's going on in our lives these days. From ER visits to last-ever treatments, the topic of

The girls get a little fired up this week as they discuss the things on their minds. Emotions are high as they recount some of the hurtful things said by others about having cancer. And when it comes to parenting, the girls wish they had more energy and could make up for lost time with their kids. It's frustrating when they see parents having the opportunity to be with their child and not taking it. Straight to the point: Do Better!

Just because a person gets cancer, it doesn't mean that their life stops. Being a parent is exhausting as it is and having an illness on top of it is so mentally and physically draining. And then there's dating. As if being a single mom in your 30's wasn't hard enough! The girls get raw and candid in this episode.

Back with part 2 of this supplement series, the ladies go through Ashley's daily regime of pills, elixirs, powders, etc. Since she takes so many, this is a more condensed version than Becky's episode, merely because there would be no time to go into the same detail. A complete posting of Ashley's products will be posted on the Two Girls With Cancer social media pages. Please research them to see if they are right for you.

If you have ever wondered what the girls do EVERY day to fight cancer, here is a deep look into that. Becky details her daily vitamins and supplements as prescribed by her holistic doctors. Episode 6 will feature Ashley's daily regimen.

Nutrition is important for any one, regardless of your health status. But when you are diagnosed with cancer, you have to change everything you are doing, especially your eating habits. Some scientists and health professionals say that sugar does not feed cancer, that it simply causes weight gain which puts you at risk for cancer. But Ashley and Becky disagree with [parts of] that statement. Both ladies dramatically changed their lifestyles upon diagnosis and share the details of that in this episode.

The girls talk about the stigma of looking like a cancer patient and the judgment that comes along with that. Hollywood has made us believe that everyone with cancer looks ill, but what does a sick person actually look like? Some cancers are apparent; you lose hair in chemo, you have visible body parts removed. But what about those whose cancer is hidden? Or patients who try to look good in public? Does it mean they're better? Does it mean you should make assumptions about them?

Ashley and Becky get candid about their individual cancer journeys. Both girls recount the events leading up to their diagnosis and explain how they knew they were sick. **The microphone malfunctioned...aka...forgot to be plugged in, so please excuse the sound quality in this episode! **At 36:27, Becky says mastectomy but meant to say mammogram. Sorry! The cancer brain fog is real!

Ashley and Becky met shortly after both being diagnosed with cancer in 2023. They were living in the same small town, had tons of mutual friends, and were the same age, but they had somehow never met. Their shared new reality brought them together and they became fast friends. Now, over a year later, the girls decided it was time to tell their stories in hopes of reaching others who are trying to navigate the cancer world.