Cancer Cured Me

This is an encore episode of Cancer Cured Me with the incredible Lisa Johnson - global business strategist, public speaker, Sunday Times bestselling author and host of a number one podcast.Lisa has built a hugely successful multi-million pound business, but her self-belief did not begin there. In this powerful conversation, she shares how she grew up in poverty, was chronically bullied throughout her childhood for being poor and spent years believing the cruel things other people had said about her.What makes Lisa’s story so moving is not just the success she has created, but the inner work it took to get there. She talks openly about bullying, low self-esteem, domestic violence, money mindset, entrepreneurship, online trolling and the moment she decided to ask herself: “What if they’re wrong?”This episode is a beautiful reminder that self-belief is not always something we magically wake up with. Sometimes it is something we rebuild, piece by piece, through action, evidence, purpose and learning to know who we are - even when the world has tried to tell us otherwise.Lisa also shares the practices that helped her build what she calls a rock-solid core of self-belief, including the importance of understanding your money story, finding proof that people like you can succeed and learning to love all parts of yourself - not just the neat, polished, socially acceptable bits.We also talk about why money should be a by-product of impact, why the online business world needs more integrity and why Lisa’s work is now deeply rooted in service, purpose and changing the industry for the better.This is an episode for anyone who has ever felt knocked down by other people’s opinions, held back by old stories or unsure whether they are really capable of the life they secretly want.Because sometimes the most powerful question we can ask is: what if they were wrong?In this episode, we talk about:Lisa Johnson’s childhood experience of being bullied for being poorHow bullying can shape self-esteem and self-beliefThe moment Lisa decided to prove to herself that the bullies were wrongBuilding confidence through action and evidenceMoney mindset and the hidden beliefs that can limit our incomeWhy Lisa talks openly about money and business successHow she built a multi-million pound businessThe emotional reality of entrepreneurshipDealing with online trolling and criticismLisa’s practice for building inner confidence and self-acceptanceWhy external validation can never be the foundation of self-beliefTurning pain into purposeWhy money is a by-product of impactBringing more integrity into the online business spaceLisa’s advice to her younger self: live as if you are already cancelledFind Lisa Johnson at www.lisajohnson.com

This week’s episode is a very special encore with the brilliant Georgie Shears, nervous system strategist and ICF accredited neurosomatics practitioner.I wanted to bring this conversation back because nervous system regulation is one of those things I genuinely believe we all need to understand. Not in a complicated, “add another thing to your already overflowing to-do list” kind of way, but in a deeply human, practical, life-changing way.In this episode, Georgie explains what nervous system regulation actually means, why we are not meant to feel calm all the time and how our bodies learn survival patterns that can keep us stuck in anxiety, panic, people pleasing, overwhelm or shutdown.We talk about fight or flight, rest and digest, the vagus nerve, why mindset alone is not always enough and how simple body-based practices can help us feel safer, calmer and more connected to ourselves.Georgie also shares her own powerful story of anxiety, panic attacks, postnatal depression, health anxiety and the moment she realised she needed to understand what was happening in her body - not just her mind.This is such a useful episode if you have ever felt like you are constantly bracing, overthinking, reacting, people pleasing or living with that low-level hum of anxiety in the background.And as always, this is not about fixing yourself. It is about understanding yourself.In this episode, we talk about:What nervous system regulation really meansWhy you are not meant to be regulated all the timeFight, flight, freeze and shutdownThe difference between the thinking brain and the body’s survival systemWhy anxiety can become a learned survival patternHow stress affects digestion, immunity, sleep and energyWhy nervous system tools need to meet you where you areThe power of nature, grounding and simple sensory practicesThe vagus nerve and why it mattersHow people pleasing can be a nervous system responseSimple practices you can use straight away to come back into the present momentA simple takeaway from the episodeYour body is not working against you. It is trying to protect you.Nervous system work is about gently showing your body that you are safe now, one small moment at a time.Georgie’s simple nervous system toolsIn the episode, Georgie shares two beautifully simple practices you can try:The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 presence practiceA grounding tool using your senses to bring your body back into the present moment.A gentle ear massage to support the vagus nerveA calming practice that can help send signals of safety through the body.As Georgie says, even a 1% shift matters.Connect with GeorgieYou can find Georgie on Instagram: @georgieshearsstrategistGeorgie also shares free resources, tools and ways to work with her through the link in her Instagram bio.Listen if you are searching for:nervous system regulation, anxiety support, fight or flight, vagus nerve, somatic healing, trauma-informed wellbeing, emotional regulation, nervous system tools, burnout recovery, people pleasing, stress relief, rest and digest, grounding practices, women’s wellness, midlife wellbeing, holistic health podcast.Based on the transcript you shared for the Georgie Shears encore episode. 

This week I’m sharing a very special encore episode with the wonderful Adele Wimsett (ignore the early days production values!). I wanted to bring this conversation back because the content is still so valid, so important and so needed. Adele is a women’s health practitioner and cyclical living guide who specialises in perimenopause, ADHD and hormone health, and she has been a hugely important part of my own healing journey. I’m also absolutely thrilled that Adele will be joining us at the Held Retreat in the Cotswolds from 25-28 September, where she’ll be running one of her fantastic workshops for the women attending. For more information www.lalaloves.com In this episode, we talk about why hormones are not just about periods or fertility. They affect your mood, energy, brain, nervous system, sleep, joints, skin, immunity and so much more. Adele explains why progesterone is so important for emotional regulation, why stress can have such an impact on hormone balance and why so many women reach midlife feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious or not quite themselves.We also explore why perimenopause can feel especially intense for women with ADHD, how cyclical living can help us stop expecting ourselves to feel the same every day, and why simple things like morning light, protein at breakfast, blood sugar balance and nervous system tools can make such a difference.This conversation is full of those “oh my goodness, that’s me” moments. It is not about perfection or another impossible wellness routine. It is about understanding your body, working with yourself rather than against yourself and realising that you are not broken.The HELD Retreat 25-28 September 2026Held is a luxury retreat for women who are ready to pause, reset, reconnect and feel deeply supported. Adele’s workshop is such an important part of the retreat because this work is exactly what so many women need - clear, grounded education about their bodies, hormones, nervous systems and how to start feeling more like themselves again.In this episode we talk about:Perimenopause and ADHDWomen’s hormone healthProgesterone, mood and nervous system regulationStress, cortisol and adrenal healthBlood sugar and midlife wellbeingCyclical livingPMDD and PCOSMorning light and protein at breakfastWhy women need to stop pushing through

In this encore episode of Cancer Cured Me, I’m joined by Kristen Carder, host of the I Have ADHD podcast, for a brutally honest and deeply validating conversation about ADHD in women, rejection sensitive dysphoria, emotional regulation, masking, parenting and learning to trust yourself again. We talk about why rejection can feel so painful, why ADHD mothers can be triggered by seeing their own struggles mirrored in their children and why you are not broken, lazy or “too sensitive”. A must-listen for women with ADHD, anyone exploring a late ADHD diagnosis and anyone who wants to understand RSD, nervous system regulation and self-compassion more deeply.In this episode, we talk about:ADHD in women and why so many are diagnosed later in lifeRejection Sensitive Dysphoria, also known as RSDWhy rejection sensitivity can feel so painful and physicalThe link between childhood criticism, masking and adult ADHD shameWhy ADHD parenting can be so triggeringRepairing after you’ve snapped at your childThe difference between ADHD symptoms and everyday strugglesWhy “everyone gets distracted” is not the same as having ADHDEmotional regulation and nervous system supportTherapy, coaching and medication for ADHDSelf-soothing tools for rejection spiralsWhy the first sting of rejection may still happen, even when you’ve done a lot of healingADHD, perfectionism and the pressure to be palatableWhy women with ADHD often lose their voice, their “no” and their sense of selfHow to start building self-trust againKristen’s simple tool for rejection sensitivityKristen suggests:First, honour the sting.Don’t shame yourself for feeling hurt. Don’t tell yourself you’re being ridiculous. Don’t try to bulldoze the feeling away with “positive thinking” or any other nonsense that makes you want to throw a cushion across the room.Let yourself acknowledge it.Then soothe your body.That might be breathing, placing a hand on your chest, asking someone safe for a hug, stepping outside or doing something that helps your nervous system settle.Then, once your body has calmed down, check your thoughts.Ask yourself:Was this an actual rejection?Or have I created a rejection story in my mind?Because sometimes someone really has been unkind or dismissive. But very often, especially with ADHD and RSD, we are reacting to a scenario our brain has created to protect us.It’s clever. It’s exhausting. And it is not always accurate.About Kristen CarderKristen Carder is an ADHD coach, host of the I Have ADHD podcast and founder of Focused, a global coaching programme and community for adults with ADHD.After being diagnosed with ADHD at 21, Kristen spent years learning how ADHD actually affects adult life, relationships, work, parenting, emotional regulation and self-trust. Through her podcast, coaching and community, she helps adults with ADHD feel less alone and learn practical ways to support themselves.You can find Kristen here:Podcast: I Have ADHDInstagram: @i.have.adhd.podcastProgramme: Focused ADHD coaching programmeListen if you’re looking for support with:ADHD in women, adult ADHD, late ADHD diagnosis, rejection sensitive dysphoria, RSD, emotional regulation, nervous system regulation, ADHD parenting, ADHD mothers, ADHD and shame, ADHD and self-trust, masking in women, ADHD coaching, trauma-informed ADHD support, neurodivergence, ADHD relationships and feeling too sensitive.Final words from meThis episode is such a gorgeous reminder that healing doesn’t mean never being triggered again.It doesn’t mean never snapping, spiralling, overthinking or feeling that awful sting of rejection.It means noticing sooner.Repairing quicker.Understanding yourself more gently.And slowly, slowly learning that you are allowed to be human.You are a human being, not a human doing.And if this episode helps you feel even a tiny bit more understood, then I am so glad you’re here.

I owe Fearne Cotton an apology.Years ago, I judged her after seeing one tiny moment from the outside. But after hearing her speak so honestly about people pleasing, panic attacks, public scrutiny, losing jobs and the pressure of being liked, I saw her completely differently.In this solo episode, I talk about what Fearne’s words brought up for me, why people pleasing is often a nervous system response, and why so many women reach a point in midlife where they realise they can’t keep saying yes at the expense of themselves.I also share why I’m pausing Cancer Cured Me after 75 episodes, what I’ve learned from creating this first long season, and how I’m putting more energy into The Wellness Collection, my non-profit CIC providing funded retreats and support for people recovering after cancer.A very honest episode about judgement, burnout, boundaries, rest, purpose and knowing when to pause.Please keep messaging while we're on our break - I always love hearing from you and will get back to everyone personally.Big love, La x

To mark Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, I’m joined by the incredible Vikki Feltham - a senior leader, speaker and advocate whose story is one of the most powerful conversations I’ve ever had on Cancer Cured Me.At 34, after almost five years of nosebleeds, pain and being repeatedly told it was nothing serious, Vikki was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma inside her nose. Her life-saving treatment meant losing her nose, followed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a long physical and emotional recovery.But this episode is not only about cancer. It is about identity, visible difference, self-advocacy, motherhood, medical gaslighting, confidence and what happens when life strips you back to the rawest version of yourself.Vikki shares how she went from hiding at home after treatment to using her story on TikTok, speaking publicly, working with cancer organisations and becoming an advocate for earlier diagnosis and better patient-led support.We talk about the loneliness after treatment ends, the cliff edge so many cancer patients face, how visible difference changes the way you move through the world, and why rebuilding after adversity is messy, brave and deeply human.NHS guidance lists persistent one-sided blocked nose, nosebleeds, loss of smell and blood-stained mucus as possible symptoms of nasal and sinus cancer, although these symptoms can also be caused by less serious conditions. If something does not feel right, please keep asking questions and seek medical advice. In this episode, we talk about:The nosebleeds that began years before Vikki’s diagnosisBeing dismissed, misdiagnosed and lost in the systemThe shock of being told she had head and neck cancerLosing her nose as part of life-saving treatmentChemotherapy, radiotherapy and the reality of recoveryThe emotional cliff edge after treatment endsVisible difference, confidence and learning to be seen againHow Vikki used TikTok to help others advocate for themselvesWhy cancer recovery is not just physicalRebuilding identity after traumaMotherhood, purpose and choosing not to shrink your lifeThe power of saying, “If not me, then who?”Connect with Vikki: Click here check out her podcast coming Summer 2026Insta: vikkidotcom