Fertility Is a Whole-Body Health Issue: Root Causes, IVF, Miscarriage & Hope with Gabriela Rosa EP368

Send us Fan MailFertility is about more than getting pregnant. It can offer important clues about what’s happening throughout the body—and understanding those clues may help women and couples ask better questions and find a more informed path forward.In this episode, I’m joined by Gabriela Rosa, founder of The Rosa Institute and a Harvard-trained fertility specialist. We talk about the often-overlooked factors that can affect reproductive health, why fertility care should include both partners, and how to think about IVF, recurrent miscarriage, and the emotional weight of infertility.Whether you’re trying to conceive, planning for the future, or simply want to understand your body better, this conversation is a reminder that asking why can be an important part of finding support and hope.In this episode, we discuss:What fertility can reveal about whole-body healthWhy fertility challenges may be increasing—and the factors that may play a roleCommon fertility myths that can delay answersWhy both partners belong in the conversationRoot causes that may be overlooked, including thyroid, metabolic, inflammatory, nutrient, and other health factorsWhere IVF may fit and when it may help to investigate furtherRecurrent miscarriage and finding hope after lossThe emotional side of infertility and Gabriela’s research on expressive writingWays to support reproductive health for the futureConnect with Gabriela Rosa and The Rosa Institute:Fertility BreakthroughAbout Gabriela RosaInstagramThe INSPIRE StudyConnect with Cody:Instagram: @codyjeansandersMixhersIf this conversation encouraged you, share it with someone who may need the reminder that they’re not alone—and that asking more questions can be a meaningful next step.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailAre you eating “healthy” and still feeling exhausted, hungry, inflamed, or out of sync with your body? Calories and nourishment aren’t the same thing—and women’s needs can change through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause.I’m joined by Jessica Khourie, founder and CEO of JOVA, to talk about the gap she saw in women’s nutrition and what led her to build a company around practical, whole-food nourishment. After years in the corporate world, Jessica set out to make nourishing choices feel simpler in real life. We talk about what undernourishment can look like, why nutrition needs to evolve through different seasons of life, and how stress, time, and decision fatigue can make healthy eating feel harder than it needs to be. We also get into smoothies: what makes one satisfying and balanced, common mistakes, and how convenience can fit into a nourishing routine.Along the way, we discuss protein, fiber, blood sugar, minerals, muscle, and the difference between feeling full and feeling nourished. And we talk about the bigger picture: nourishment also includes rest, joy, movement, connection, and caring for your nervous system.In this episode, we discuss:Jessica’s journey from Procter & Gamble to founding JOVAWhat it can mean to be well-fed but undernourishedNutrients women commonly overlookHow nutrition needs shift through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopauseProtein, fiber, blood sugar, minerals, and muscle healthWhy healthy eating can feel difficult when life is busyWhat to look for in a balanced smoothieNourishment beyond food: rest, stress, joy, and connectionLinksConnect with Jessica and JOVAJOVAAbout JOVAJessica Khourie on LinkedInUse Code: CODYSANDERS15 for 15% offConnect with CodyInstagram: @codyjeansandersMixhers Work with Cody - Hormone Replacement + PeptidesIf this conversation encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman you love.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailHave you ever left a doctor's appointment feeling like your concerns weren't taken seriously? Maybe you were told your symptoms were normal, that your labs looked fine, or that you were simply stressed.For far too many women, this experience is all too familiar.Women are incredibly resilient. We push through exhaustion, manage the needs of everyone around us, and somehow keep going. But when did being strong become an expectation to suffer in silence?And why are women's symptoms still so often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed?In this episode of It's Hertime, I'm joined by Dr. Vandana Arcot, a physician, global public health leader, and passionate advocate for women's health.With nearly two decades of experience working alongside organizations including UNICEF and the United Nations, Dr. Arcot has helped advance women's health across more than 13 countries. From refugee communities and rural villages to hospitals and international health organizations, she's witnessed something remarkable: regardless of where women live, they share a fundamental need to be heard, understood, and supported.Together, we're exploring the gaps in women's healthcare, why modern medicine hasn't always accounted for the unique needs of women's bodies, and what needs to change.We also talk about something I believe deserves much more attention: the hidden health cost of being the woman who carries everything.The emotional labor, the constant caregiving, the expectation to be resilient, and the physical toll of putting everyone else's needs before our own.Dr. Arcot also shares how her personal experience becoming a patient changed her perspective on medicine, compassion, and the importance of advocating for yourself.This conversation is about so much more than what's happening inside the doctor's office.It's about recognizing that your experiences matter, your symptoms deserve attention, and you have every right to ask questions, seek answers, and participate in decisions about your health.In This Episode, We Talk About:Why women's symptoms are still frequently dismissed or misunderstoodMedical gaslighting and the gender gap in healthcareWhat Dr. Arcot learned from caring for women across 13+ countriesHow women's physiology has historically been overlooked in medical researchWhy women can experience delays in diagnosis and treatmentThe hidden physical and emotional cost of carrying everyone else's needsWhen resilience becomes survival rather than strengthHow chronic stress and emotional labor can affect women's healthWhat Dr. Arcot learned when she became the patientHow to advocate for yourself when you feel unheard by your doctorWhen to seek a second opinionWhat needs to change to create better healthcare for women everywhereA Reminder for Every Woman ListeningBeing resilient doesn't mean you have to carry everything alone.Being strong doesn't mean ignoring your symptoms.And advocating for your health doesn't make you difficult.You deserve healthcare that sees you as a whole person, listens to your experiences, and respects your voice.Your body is always communicating with you. You deserve to be heard.Connect with Dr. Vandana ArcotWebsite — KOMSELJ:www.komselj.comInstagram — @drvandanaarcot:Follow Dr. Arcot on InstagramLinkedIn:Connect with Dr. ArcotSubstack:Read Dr. Arcot's writingConnect with Cody + It's HertimeFollow Cody on Instagram:@codyjeansandersHormone Health + Peptide Support:Explore Lyv Health with CodyShop Mixhers:Mixhers Hormone-Friendly WellnessUse code CODY for 15% off!Enjoying It's Hertime?Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman who needs the reminder that her voice matters.The more we talk openly about women's health, the more we empower one another to ask better questions, seek meaningful answers, and take ownership of our well-being.Because every woman deserves to be heard, understood, and supported.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailWhat if the answer to feeling better isn’t another quick fix, biohack, wearable, test, or wellness protocol?For so many women, taking care of their health has practically become a full-time job. We’re tracking our sleep, watching our glucose, counting our protein, worrying about toxins, taking handfuls of supplements, trying the latest longevity trends—and somehow still wondering why we’re tired, overwhelmed, and not feeling like ourselves.In this episode of It’s Hertime, Cody is joined by Marina Moiseyeva, founder of Harmonious Life Family Health and author of Harmonious Healing Blueprint: Biohacking, Regeneration, and Health Resilience.Marina has spent more than 16 years working in health and wellness, with an approach that brings together functional, integrative, nutritional, regenerative, and anti-aging medicine. And her message is refreshingly simple: health isn’t about controlling every variable. It’s about building a body that can adapt, recover, and become more resilient.They talk about why women can still feel terrible even when their labs look “normal,” how seemingly healthy habits can become another source of stress, and why more testing, supplements, tracking, and optimization aren’t always the answer.They also get into the foundations that often matter more than the latest biohack—sleep, nourishment, movement, muscle, relationships, nervous-system regulation, hormones, and creating a lifestyle you can actually sustain.Marina and Cody discuss how to recognize when wellness has crossed the line from supportive to obsessive, why resilience may be a better goal than perfection, and how to simplify your approach without feeling like you’re giving up on your health.They also talk about healthy aging, hormones and longevity, environmental exposures, family health, regenerative medicine, and how to decide whether the newest peptide, supplement, therapy, or wellness trend is actually worth your time and money.Because the goal isn’t to live in a perfectly controlled bubble.The goal is to build a body that can handle real life.In this episode, they talk about:Why “normal” labs don’t always mean you’re functioning optimallyThe difference between addressing root causes and endlessly chasing symptomsHow wellness itself can become a source of stressWhy doing more isn’t always the answerResilience vs. optimization—and why the distinction mattersThe foundational habits that give you the biggest returnHow stress, digestion, blood sugar, hormones, sleep, and detoxification intersectBuilding healthier families without creating fear around food or toxinsMuscle, hormones, recovery, and healthy agingWhen advanced testing and therapies can be useful—and when they may be unnecessaryHow to evaluate supplements, peptides, biohacks, and longevity trendsHow to measure progress without obsessing over your wearableThe simple changes that help your body become more adaptable and resilientConnect with MarinaHarmonious Life Family HealthMarina on Instagram — @liveharmoniouslifeMarina on LinkedInHarmonious Healing Blueprint: Biohacking, Regeneration, and Health ResilienceConnect with Cody Follow Cody on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/codyjeansanders/Hormone + peptide support with Codyhttps://www.lyvcare.com/partners/codysandersShop Mixhers:www.mixhers.comDid you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailWhy do so many of us feel tired, even when we’re trying to take care of ourselves? In this episode of It’s Hertime, Cody talks with Tim James, founder of Chemical Free Body, about how the body creates energy and what may get in the way.They explore cellular energy, the difference between supporting energy and relying on stimulants, and everyday habits that can support how the body functions. Tim also shares his personal health journey and perspective on detoxification and environmental toxins. The conversation touches on fasting, too, including his experience with a 40-day juice fast and why fasting may not be the right starting point for everyone—especially women in perimenopause and menopause who are already feeling fatigued or undernourished.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Tim’s health journey and the changes that shifted his pathWhat cellular energy means and why you may still feel tiredThe difference between creating energy and stimulating it with caffeineEveryday habits that support energy and the body’s natural detoxificationWhat “detox” means and common misconceptionsSimple ways to reduce exposure to environmental toxinsTim’s 40-day juice fast and what it taught himHow to think about fasting when energy is already lowA practical first step for listeners who feel exhaustedAbout Tim JamesTim James is the founder of Chemical Free Body. After a serious decline in his own health, he transformed his lifestyle and has spent the past decade helping people explore nutrition, detoxification strategies, and daily habits that may support better energy.Connect with Tim:Chemical Free Body⁠Instagram⁠YouTube⁠TikTok⁠Tim James Unleashed podcast⁠This conversation is for educational purposes and isn’t a substitute for individualized medical advice. Your health history, nutrition, stress, sleep, and other factors can affect what approach is right for you.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when the life you worked so hard to build begins costing you your health?Teresa Reile was a successful entrepreneur accustomed to pushing forward and making things happen. But after facing cancer, major surgery, personal loss, and another frightening health scare, she was forced to reconsider what success really means—and whether achievement matters if your body can no longer sustain the life you’ve created.In this episode of It’s Hertime, Teresa shares how those experiences changed her relationship with her body, her purpose, and her own well-being. She also explains how her search for answers led her to study hypoxia—the lack of adequate oxygen within the tissues—and eventually build a new mission around oxygen, resilience, and vitality. Cody and Teresa also explore the deeper meaning behind the familiar instruction to “put your own oxygen mask on first.” Because caring for yourself isn’t selfish. It’s what creates the capacity to keep showing up for the people, purpose, and life you love.In this episode, you’ll hear:How Teresa’s cancer journey transformed her definition of successWhat happened when years of pushing through finally caught up with herWhy a health crisis can cause us to question everything we thought matteredHow Teresa became interested in hypoxia, cellular health, and oxygenThe difference between surviving a difficult season and rebuilding your capacity to thriveWhy women often wait until their bodies force them to slow downWhat it really means to put your own oxygen mask on firstHow hope, purpose, and perspective can support us through adversityWhy healing may require creating an entirely new way of livingWhether you’re facing a health challenge, recovering from burnout, or realizing that your current pace is no longer sustainable, this conversation is an invitation to pause and ask:Is the life I’m building also supporting the person who has to live it?Sometimes healing doesn’t begin with doing more. It begins with listening to your body, restoring what has been depleted, and giving yourself permission to breathe again.Connect with Teresa ReileTeresa’s Website⁠Teresa on Instagram⁠Patriox⁠Teresa on LinkedIn⁠From Tumor to Triumph: My Oxygen AwakeningConnect With CodyFollow Cody on Instagram: @codyjeansandersShop Mixhers: mixhers.com and use code CODY for 15% offInterested in hormones, labs, or peptides? Get started with Cody ⁠If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe to It’s Hertime, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need the reminder that caring for themselves isn’t selfish—it’s essential.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailLongevity is everywhere right now—but aging well isn’t simply about adding more years to your life. It’s about protecting your strength, energy, brain health, metabolic health, and ability to fully participate in the life you love.In this episode of It’s Hertime, Cody is joined by Dr. Jennifer Timmons, MD, a longevity physician and the Founder and Medical Director of Timmons Wellness. Dr. Timmons combines traditional primary care, functional medicine, precision testing, and longevity medicine to help her patients extend not only their lifespan, but their healthspan.Together, they explore what actually happens inside a woman’s body as she ages—and why menopause may be one of the most important longevity transitions of her life.Dr. Timmons explains how declining estrogen can influence cardiovascular health, bone density, muscle mass, metabolism, brain health, and immune resilience. They also discuss the biological systems that help determine how well we age, including mitochondrial function, metabolic flexibility, inflammation, hormonal communication, and muscle.This conversation goes beyond expensive biohacks and complicated wellness routines. It’s about understanding which foundational habits, health screenings, biomarkers, and personalized decisions can help your body continue to adapt, recover, repair, and support the life you want to live.In this episode, we cover:• The difference between lifespan and healthspan• What healthy aging actually looks like inside the body• Why menopause is an important longevity transition• How estrogen affects the brain, heart, bones, muscles, metabolism, and immune system• What separates a vibrant 75-year-old from someone struggling at 55• Why muscle is one of the most important organs for women’s longevity• How chronic stress affects hormones, repair, recovery, and metabolic health• The roles of mitochondrial health, inflammation, and metabolic flexibility• How genetics, lifestyle, environment, and hormones influence aging• Important longevity biomarkers, including ApoB, lipoprotein(a), fasting insulin, and hs-CRP• What DEXA scans, coronary calcium scores, grip strength, and VO₂ max can reveal• Which longevity tests may be useful—and which may be oversold• What biohacking gets right and where it can become unnecessarily complicated• Why the fundamentals still matter more than any supplement, wearable, peptide, or wellness trend• The choices women can begin making today to support a longer, stronger, and healthier lifeAging isn’t something we need to fear. It’s something we can thoughtfully prepare for.The choices we make today help shape not only how long we live, but how strong, capable, connected, and fully alive we feel throughout those years.CONNECT WITH DR. JENNIFER TIMMONS:Website: https://timmonswellnessmd.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifertimmonsmd/CONNECT WITH CODY:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codyjeansanders/Learn more about personalized hormone and peptide support:https://www.lyvcare.com/partners/codysandersFollow Mixhers:https://www.instagram.com/mixhers/If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a woman you love. Be sure to follow It’s Hertime, leave a review, and join us next week as we continue helping women build healthier, happier, and more colorful lives—one conversation at a time.This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or replace individualized medical care.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailPeptides are everywhere right now—but are they truly the future of women’s health, or just another wellness trend?In this episode of It’s Hertime, Cody is joined once again by Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, women’s hormone expert, and peptide educator Bria Gadd. Together, we break down what peptides actually are, how they work in the body, and how to know whether they may be the right tool for you.Together they talk about GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and Retatrutide—and why using them well involves so much more than simply losing weight. We also explore peptides being used for healing and recovery, mitochondrial health, healthy aging, skin, hair, libido, and hormone support.Most importantly, this conversation isn’t about finding another shortcut. Peptides can be powerful tools, but they cannot replace nourishing your body, protecting your muscle, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and building a lifestyle that supports your health.In this episode, we cover:• What peptides are and why they’re suddenly everywhere• How peptides differ from hormones and traditional medications• Who may—or may not—be a good candidate• Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and Retatrutide beyond weight loss• How to protect muscle while using a GLP-1• Peptides for recovery, longevity, skin, hair, and libido• Why lifestyle and nervous-system regulation still matter• Potential risks, side effects, and the importance of medical supervision• How to recognize a trustworthy provider and high-quality source• Where peptide therapy may be headed next in women’s medicineCurious about peptides and want personalized guidance? You can learn more about working with Cody here.Want to connect with Bria and learn more from her? Visit Bria’s website, follow her on Instagram at @bria_period_whisperer, and explore her coaching programs. You can also listen and subscribe to The Period Whisperer Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace individualized medical care.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailWhat if you’re doing all the “right” things for your health—eating well, exercising, taking supplements—and you’re still tired, inflamed, foggy, or struggling to recover?The missing piece might be more fundamental than another supplement or wellness protocol.It might be oxygen.In this episode of It’s Hertime, Cody sits down with Brad Pitzele, founder of One Thousand Roads, to explore the connection between oxygen, mitochondrial function, cellular energy, inflammation, recovery, and healthy aging.Brad didn’t come to this work because he was looking for his next business idea. He was trying to get his life back.After facing autoimmune arthritis, Lyme disease, Bartonella, debilitating fatigue, brain fog, chronic pain, and malignant melanoma, Brad began looking beyond symptom management and became deeply interested in what was happening at the cellular level. His journey eventually led him to Exercise With Oxygen Therapy (EWOT) and red and near-infrared light therapy—and ultimately to founding One Thousand Roads. (One Thousand Roads)In this conversation, Cody and Brad break down something most of us rarely think about: it’s not enough to simply breathe oxygen. Our bodies also have to deliver it and our cells have to be able to use it.They explore how oxygen participates in mitochondrial energy production, why someone can have a normal pulse-ox reading while still asking different questions about oxygen delivery and utilization, and what chronic inflammation, circulation, aging, and metabolic health may have to do with the bigger picture.Brad also explains EWOT—Exercise With Oxygen Therapy, which combines exercise with breathing concentrated oxygen to increase oxygen delivery during increased metabolic demand. (Dr. Haley)In this episode, we talk about:• Brad’s personal journey through autoimmune disease, Lyme, Bartonella, melanoma, chronic pain, and fatigue• Why oxygen is so important for mitochondrial function and ATP production• The difference between blood oxygen saturation and cellular oxygen utilization• Why you can have a “normal” pulse oximeter reading and still have more to consider about cellular energy• What EWOT is and what an actual session looks like• Why exercise is paired with concentrated oxygen• EWOT vs. hyperbaric oxygen therapy• How red and near-infrared light interact with mitochondrial pathways• Why Brad combines red light therapy with EWOT• Oxygen, circulation, inflammation, recovery, and healthy aging• The potential relevance for women dealing with fatigue, metabolic changes, exercise intolerance, perimenopause, and menopause• What researchers are learning about hypoxia and the tumor microenvironment—and why supportive therapies should never be confused with cancer treatment• Where EWOT fits alongside sauna, cold exposure, breathwork, exercise, red light, and other popular biohacking tools• Simple ways to support oxygen delivery and cardiovascular health without buying any equipmentOne of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that sometimes we become so focused on finding the next supplement, medication, biohack, or protocol that we overlook the foundational systems our bodies depend on every second of every day.Because before your body can repair, recover, adapt, or create energy, your cells need the raw materials—and the ability to use them.This conversation will make you think about energy and healing in an entirely different way.CONNECT WITH BRAD + ONE THOUSAND ROADSSpecial offer for the It’s Hertime community:Access the One Thousand Roads listener offerWatch + learn more from Brad:One Thousand Roads on YouTubeLearn more about One Thousand Roads:One Thousand RoadsLearn more about EWOT + Red Light Therapy:One Thousand Roads Education HubThis episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. EWOT and red light therapy should be considered supportive wellness modalities, not replacements for appropriate medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider before beginning oxygen-based therapies, particularly if you have cardiovascular, respiratory, or other medical conditions.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you survive the thing that changed your life—but no longer recognize the woman on the other side?In this episode of It’s Hertime, Cody sits down with artist, author, and therapeutic arts practitioner Nerissa Balland, whose life changed when she was diagnosed with cancer while five months pregnant.During treatment, survival became the priority. But when treatment ended, another kind of healing began: figuring out who she was now.That experience eventually led Nerissa to speak with more than 100 young mothers facing cancer. Their stories became the inspiration for her book, Canvas of Courage: The Art of Healing, Hope, and Gratitude for Young Mothers Facing Cancer, which brings together 19 personal stories, research, lived experience, and original artwork. But this conversation is about more than cancer.Cody and Nerissa explore what happens to our identity when life changes us, why functioning and healing aren’t necessarily the same thing, and how creativity can help us express and process experiences we may not have words for.They talk about survivorship, motherhood, fear, resilience, grief, gratitude, and the strange question so many women eventually find themselves asking:Who am I now?Because cancer isn’t the only thing that can change us.Motherhood changes us. Hormones change us. Relationships change us. Loss changes us. Our bodies change. Life changes.And perhaps healing isn’t always about getting back to the woman we used to be.Sometimes it’s about discovering who we’re becoming.In this episode, you’ll hear about Nerissa’s experience of navigating cancer while pregnant, what she learned from interviewing more than 100 mothers, why the end of medical treatment doesn’t necessarily mean the end of healing, how illness and major life transitions can disrupt identity, why creative expression can reach places conversation sometimes cannot, and how to better support someone we love through cancer or another life-altering diagnosis.Nerissa’s work today sits at the intersection of creativity, resilience, identity, and therapeutic arts, using creative practices to help people process difficult experiences and reconnect with themselves. CONNECT WITH NERISSAExplore Nerissa’s artwork, books, workshops and speaking: NerissaBalland.comLearn more about Canvas of Courage: Canvas of CourageFREE RESOURCES🎧 Free Canvas of Courage Audiobook Promo Code: LN7UF7TH6T8C8Redeem the audiobook on Audible🎨 Free Creative Reset GuideNerissa created this free guide with five simple creative practices to help you pause, process and reconnect with yourself. The exercises take about 5–10 minutes and include drawing, movement, reflection, mindfulness and future-self journaling—no artistic experience required. Download Nerissa’s Free Creative Reset GuideIf this episode made you think of someone walking through cancer, illness, grief or simply a season where she no longer feels like herself, send it to her.You don’t have to become the woman you once were.Sometimes your greatest strength is becoming the woman you’re meant to be.Did you learn something new today? Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share this episode with all the girls you love. We would appreciate it if you'd also leave us a rating and review on iTunes.Want to join our Mixhers Girl community and keep this conversation going? We'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings and experiences! Join us HERE!Join Mixhers email list and be the first to have access to new products and be the girl in the know!Follow Cody Instagram:@codyjeansanders