Leaning In with Liz Baron Cohen: Cancer, Joy & Joining Worlds

Guest: Liz Baron Cohen — acupuncturist, psychotherapist (transpersonal), Five Rhythms teacher, author, plant-medicine facilitator, trauma-informed therapist… and one of the kindest humans I know. Episode theme: How Liz is meeting a stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis with courage, curiosity, and a mission: to build a bridge between Western oncology and complementary care—and to reclaim joy along the way. Donate here: GoFundMe — Aliza’s Healing Journey Quick Take Liz spent her first year post-diagnosis pursuing non-medical routes; the tumours grew (didn’t spread). She then started chemotherapy—and feels stronger on it than expected. She’s fundraising to rent a home hyperbaric oxygen chamber (£1,300–£1,500/month; purchase can be £48k–£100k). Having it at home means daily use for Liz and opening her doors so local cancer patients who can’t afford clinic sessions (£150 each, ~3x/week) can benefit too. Core insight: it’s not “alternative versus” Western—it’s both/and. Let’s get the two worlds holding hands for patients. Deep work: reclaiming her name (“Elisa” = joy), learning to let love in, setting boundaries for empathy, and living for herself—beyond titles and roles. Listen Highlights (Chapters) 00:00 – Why this conversation matters; introducing Liz. 01:09 – Diagnosis (June; ~14 months in). What she tried first, and why. 03:14 – Starting chemo—and the surprise: “I actually feel really good on it.” 03:45 – Why hyperbaric oxygen? Costs of clinics vs. home rental; sharing access. 05:20 – Work on pause, reality of bills, and pouring inheritance into healing. 06:26 – Liz’s mum, a pioneer (70s aerobics, early whole-foods); family history. 07:27 – Chemo fears, misinformation, and nuance beyond Instagram hot takes. 08:31 – The dream: integrating complementary & Western medicine. 10:15 – BLISS in Notting Hill: a creative health centre (healing meets culture). 12:21 – Pete’s story about Hannah: “Draw Your Future” & envisioning outcomes. 13:30 – Liz’s north star: reclaiming joy (and what joy really is). 16:45 – Alignment: the projected self vs. the inner world. 17:52 – Radical generosity & being part of each other’s stories. 20:39 – “Alternative” vs. “complementary” and why labels get in the way. 21:43 – Hitting emotional bottom; grief, daily tears, and what moved through. 23:17 – The warrior in her; Jewish ancestry and survival threads. 24:22 – From fighting to surrendering; allowing support. 24:52 – The true cost: £150k+ spent; redefining luxury (to sit, walk, eat). 27:59 – Family constellations: restoring the flow of love in systems. 29:05 – Who am I without titles? Identity after stopping work. 33:14 – “When you’re ill you have one problem.” Perspective reset. 34:18 – “I can see the spirit in your eyes.” What that means to Liz. 35:20 – Spirit having a human experience? Indigenous circles & being heard. 38:00 – Realising spirit is there to help her, too. 39:07 – Why telling our stories matters (and stops sleepwalking). 40:12 – Sitting with the underdog; human connection as medicine. 41:49 – Trust issues, patriarchy, Western medicine—and choosing chemo. 43:26 – Chemo-sensitivity testing (~£5,000) and personalising treatment. 49:20 – “Empathy without boundaries is self-harm.” 51:08 – What the cancer taught her: joy, trust, letting love in. 52:13 – How to reach Liz & how we can help (together). 📝 Note: Timestamps are approximate to guide your skim & re-listens. Key Ideas & Quotes Both/And Healing: “The only people who suffer when the two worlds split are the patients. My dream is to get them holding hands.” Joy as a Practice: “My name, Elisa, means joy. I’m reclaiming my name.” Receiving Love: “I knew spirit existed to help others through me. I didn’t realise spirit existed to help me, too.” Boundaried Empathy: “Empathy without boundaries is self-harm.” Perspective: “When you’re well, you’ve a thousand problems; when you’re ill, you’ve one.” How You Can Help Liz (and Others) Donate to the Hyperbaric Fund: Help rent a home chamber so Liz can use it daily and offer sessions to local cancer patients who can’t afford clinic prices. Goal: cover a 6-month minimum rental (est. £1,300–£1,500/month). Donate here: GoFundMe — Aliza’s Healing Journey Bridge-Builders Wanted: If you’re an oncologist, nurse, researcher, integrative clinician, or complementary practitioner, reach out to help convene a joint event/working group for practical collaboration. Resources & Contacts Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliza_bc/ GoFundMe: Aliza’s Healing Journey Mentioned in the Conversation Family Constellations  Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy  Infrared Sauna, Vitamin C IVs, Diet & Supplements  Chemo-sensitivity/biomarker testing (~£5,000) to personalise treatment “Draw Your Future” (Patti Dobrowolski TED talk) Ideas from Louise Hay, Caroline Myss, Candace Pert; Five Rhythms; indigenous circle practices Medical disclaimer: This episode shares personal experiences and perspectives. It is not medical advice. Always consult qualified professionals for diagnosis and treatment. About Liz Baron Cohen Clinician, movement teacher, facilitator, space-maker. Liz has spent decades helping others heal. Now she’s inviting healing to help her—and using her journey to model integrated care, community support, and a return to joy.

Future Self is the person who you will be years from now. It is the person you intend to be. Do you know who your future self is, or better yet, have you decided who you are going to be in the future without thinking of any limitations? Is he or she a healthier, wealthier, happier, better person than you are today, or would he be the same as the person you are today, only physically older? Why is it important to know the person you are becoming and, more significantly, is it possible for you to have a relationship with your future self? If so, what good would it do? Tune in and let me inspire and show you how to be the person you have been eyeing to be, and realize the endless possibilities that you can have for yourself. Have a relationship with your future self and be the best person you can be, be the change the world wants you to be. Highlights: ⚡️ We are driven by pain and our view of the future and what we do today impacts tomorrow. ⚡️ When people identify with the person they want to become, they become that person. ⚡️ We must believe that our future self already exists and have a relationship with him and be guided by him. ⚡️ Failing to be the person you want to be results in depression, anxiety, and frustration. ⚡️ Reasons why most people are living a future they do not want: pursuing the ideals of somebody else and not who they want to become choosing exactly who they are today because that is who they think they are failing to prospect, losing the ability to be a free thinker, and not realizing the choices they have do not have a relationship with and empathy for their future self not getting in the game they do not see the benefit of doing something despite the challenges Important stories: 🎯 6:40. Meg Jay talks about the empathy gap 🎯 9:01 Hal Hershfield on future self as another person 🎯 10:47. Dr. Benjamin Hardy explains prospection 🎯 11:58 A conversation with my future self 🎯 15:22 Matthew McConaughey on who is my hero, chasing my hero (2013) 🎯 18:00 Daniel Goldstein discusses resisting temptation 🎯 22:20 Daniel Gilbert the ease of remembering vs difficulty of imagining 🎯 30:40 Jimmy Donaldson aka Mr. Beast as another example of someone who has a connection with his future self