From Mud

In this episode, I want to spotlight #kidneycancerawareness  by sharing some #evidencebased information about risk associated with #cancer in general and #kidneycancer specifically. Alongside this information, I share about our own #cancerstory and the early signs of Justin's #rarecancer - non-clear renal cell carcinoma with Rhabdoid features/differentiation. I also share my own insights as a #healtheducator on #healthylifestyle approaches to prevent and #fightcancer including a diet rich in #plantbasedfoods / high in #fiber as well as avoiding known and probable carcinogens. That and of course learn more about your own risk of cancer including getting genetic testing done to k...

Conflict is a normal part of any close relationship. Whether it is your romantic partnership/marriage, a close friendship, a siblingship, or any other close or working relationship--we all would benefit from being able to face conflict head on in healthy ways. 

In this video I share about my personal journey in how I've learned to resolve conflict effectively in my personal life--starting from my observations of conflict and the lack of resolution I witnessed growing up with an abusive alcoholic dad, to my early 20's when I started realizing how whenever conflict would arise, I often b...

I share about my own journey having little support after losing my husband to #kidneycancer, raising small children as a #widowmom and compare that to how it is now after moving from Phoenix, AZ to #portlandoregon and gaining a lot more support for me and the kids. I also include a little bit of info I found about how evidence shows that when we feel like we have good social supports around us, we have better #healthandwellness outcomes. I wrap it up with a little #gratitude #mindfulness #meditation 

Join me and I'd love to hear from you o...

Enjoy this awesome Interview with Botanist and Herbalist Jasmine of Triple Gem Herbs! She shares w/ us some great insights on how to use herbs medicinally such as which herbs and how to use them to manage stress. 

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Also find me on instagram: @_from_mud_
website: iamfrommud.com

Find Jasmine here:
Instagram: @triplegemherbs
triplegemherbs.com

In this episode I share what life was like for me as a new widow in the immediate aftermath of losing my husband. I share about how I prepared my 3 and 1 year old ahead of time as well as when I had to tell them the news of their dad's passing, what helped us in our initial mourning period, and I talk about an unexpected loss in that the people closest to us--my in-laws began distancing from my children and I when we needed them most --and how I coped with it all. 

In this episode I pull from over 13 years of experience as a clinical and community health educator and share insights on what stress is, what it means to actually manage/relieve stress and tons of practical tips that you can apply immediately. I also threw in a 10 min. body scan meditation at the end. Enjoy!

Bonus: I have the meditation uploaded separately on YouTube as well.  

In this first podcast episode after my first series, I dive right into helping you achieve your health goals for 2026! We will discuss the ways I have helped countless clients over the past 13.5 years to achieve their health and wellness goals by setting SMART, Mini goals. You got this!

!!!CONTENT WARNING!!! This episode contains vivid detail of being with someone in their final moments dying from cancer. This may be very upsetting content to listen to. Please consult with your therapist or supports if this becomes too upsetting to hear.

This is the 6th and final episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/gi...

This is the fifth episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/giving birth during Justin’s battle with cancer.

This episode picks up in November 2023 after Justin did his 3 month scans. The scans had positive results. This treatment was working. He continued to improve over the next several months so this is a happy times epis...

This is the fourth episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/giving birth during Justin’s battle with cancer.

In this episode I share more about our 1st year after cancer diagnosis including our first holiday season after diagnosis, preparing and welcoming in our baby girl, enjoying good times as a family of 4 until about July...

This is the third episode (part 1) in my series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer and his two-year battle fighting cancer and how we navigated our life with me being pregnant during Justin’s first year with cancer plus parenting our son who was 1.5 yr old when Justin was diagnosed— and just doing life and all the things. 

In this episode I share more about Justin’s daily battles with cancer, being pregnant during this crucial time for our f...

This is the third episode in my series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience with my husband, Justin and his two-year battle with cancer and how we navigated our life with two toddlers and cancer and doing life and all the things. 

In this episode I share  some of the practical steps we took to prepare for Justin’s life being cut short bc of cancer and to prepare me for life as a widow mom of two toddlers.

This is the second episode in my series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience with my husband, Justin and his two-year battle with cancer and how we navigated our life with two toddlers and cancer and doing life and all the things. In this episode I share more about what I’ve learned about kidney cancer and I share our earliest signs of this aggressive cancer that eventually took Justin’s life at age 39 as well as my theories on a connection between anxiety/panic disorders and increased risk of cancer. 

We found out Justin's cancer diagnosis in June 2022. He passed away in July 2024 at age 39, leaving me (his wife, partner, and friend of the previous 16 years) alone to raise our two babies who were just 3 & 1 at the time of his passing. This episode is the first in my series where I share Justin's cancer journey from diagnosis to his eventual passing 2 years later. This first episode is all about how he came to get diagnosed and the first year of treatment and coping for us as a family.