Behind the Bra

“He (my son) will be raised by two women. I’ve seen it happen where someone is raised with two dads, two moms, there is this automatic thought that “Oh no, they’re going to be gay too.” If that’s what he wants, then that’s what he wants.” “Disclaimer with this Pink on Pride Behind the Bra Podcast: There will be a lot of sex talk. Breast cancer is a very sexual diagnosis. Breasts are a part of a sexual being.” - Z She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 34. Five years later, Melissa Barreras-Espinoza considers herself in remission and is looking forward to motherhood with her partner Jaclyn and newborn son, Rogan. To put it proudly, Melissa is a lesbian woman who has a newborn and is in remission from breast cancer. NOTE: I am not 100% sure on the name/spelling of her partner. For our June Beyond the Bra Pink on Pride podcast, Melissa joins CEO and Founder Zionna Hanson to discuss a set list of topics. Get ready for a funny, open, honest, tear-jerking and relatable conversation. There will be many takeaways and learning opportunities but Melissa capped off her conversation with Z with the following message. “I would like to reach out to the men and women (particularly the women listening), who know in themselves they love other women and they are afraid to come out about it,” said Melissa. “You will feel so much better if you live an authentic life. Even if you lose a couple of people, like I said before ‘Peace’. You will meet a lot of other people who in the community, once you allow yourself to be in the community, or just be yourself, you will respect and love yourself so much more. That’s the message I want to close with. Love is love. Your organization accepts everyone as they are and I love that about you guys.” Be sure to subscribe to the Barbells for Boobs YouTube channel to catch this Pink on Pride Behind the Bra podcast fresh off the mic. You can also head to our website and spend some quality time with our entire library of podcasts under the programs menu. If you are taking it on the run, the Behind the Bra podcast can be found at Spotify, Apple, Stitcher, Tunein and wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Aimee is a breast cancer survivor, fur mommy, and a health and beauty publicist from upstate New York. She grew up in New York City and has been in the beauty and fashion industry for nearly 25 years. Life was going smooth for Aimee and her husband when she unexpectedly found a lump on her breast. Soon after, at her regular screening, Aimee would hear the life changing news that she was living with breast cancer.  Join us on this weeks Behind the Bra Podcast as Aimee shares her story, including how she stumbled upon Barbells for Boobs and how her love of fitness has been reignited through the BFB RAD programs.  Aimee's  biggest lesson from breast cancer? "Don't be afraid of the small things; to try something new."  #barbellsforboobs #breastcancer #breastcancersurvivor # BehindtheBra #podcast #SheMovesUs

Kristen is a wife, mom, CrossFit athlete, scuba diver, and veterinarian from New Jersey. She first noticed a lump on her breast shortly after she stopped breast feeding her daughter at the end of 2019, but it wasn't until her husband noticed that Kristen decided to go in for her mammogram. Less than a month later, in January 2020, she heard those life changing words: "You have breast cancer." Tune in to the Behind the Bra Podcast and hear Kristen's incredible story as she shares how she walked through a cancer diagnosis and treatment during a global pandemic, how she got involved with Barbells for Boobs, and how she has learned to be okay living with the unknown.  #barbellsforboobs #BehindTheBra #podcast #breastcancer #inspiration #SheMovesUs

The Behind the Bra Podcast is back!! We are starting 2021 off with an incredible story from Laurianna. She is a mom, friend, athlete, badass firefighter/paramedic, student of life, and a breast cancer survivor. Laurianna grew up involved in athletics, participating in gymnastics and running track in high school and then rowing in college, before she began testing for local fire departments Southern California.  Laurianna reminds us that whether in day to day life or throughout a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, doors will open exactly when they are supposed to. Join us for the Behind the Bra Podcast this week as Laurianna discusses the jaw dropping statistics of cancer in the fire service profession, how she learned to set boundaries in her life and focus only on the things that inspire her, and most importantly, how she learned to be patient with herself.

Kate is a mom, coffee lover, breast cancer survivor, and all-around badass from Houston, Texas. She is a mom to two kids and teaches 8th grade language arts. Kate was first diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2019, just three years after her mom's diagnosis.  In the midst of treatment, Kate had to face her failing marriage, the death of her beloved family dog, as well as all the trauma a cancer diagnosis brings. But in the midst of it all, Kate discusses how these life changing effects refocused her attention to her kids and her schooling and how she is learning to love life through it all. And how she is doing it all with the support of her parents and her RAD BFB family.  In this weeks Behind the Bra Podcast, Kate emphasizes the importance of showing up for yourself and learning to speak up if you feel like you are not getting the help and the care you need; and that being present is what of the best gifts you can give to those around you.

“We have to go through dark moments in order to grow. To be better” Sarah is a breast cancer survivor, Functional Medicine Practitioner, and a special needs mom originally from Michigan. She first met her firefighter husband while working as a paramedic and they now live in Ohio with their two daughters. When Sarah was twenty weeks pregnant with her second daughter she was told her daughter might never walk or talk due to a condition called hydrocephalus. The first year of Meghan’s life, Sarah and her husband were living in survival mode: going to three doctor appointments a week, managing their jobs, and raising their older daughter, Addison. Sarah felt a lump in her breast while nursing Meghan and on her first visit to the doctor, she was told it was a milk cyst. Keeping an eye on it, she went back six months later and this time the doctor felt another lump. This time it was breast cancer. Sarah met her diagnosis head-on with her support system right beside her. Tune in to the Behind the Bra Podcast this week and hear how Sarah navigated going through treatment at just 32 years old, all while raising her two young kids. And listen and she shares the GOOD that came from her diagnosis, including how she learned what it means to be healthy.

"When your world is falling apart, is when the healing begins." Sherri is a Breast Cancer survivor, Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, mom and wife from Cleveland, Ohio. She is also an athlete, a yogi, and an avid crossfitter. Sherri grew up involved in athletics, participating in gymnastics through high school and later becoming a dedicated runner. So when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at 21 years old, her world stood still. Sherri's lymphoma treatment consisted of mantle radiation, which put her at an even higher risk for breast cancer, to which she was no stranger; Sherri lost both her grandmother and aunt to breast cancer. In August of 2018, she heard those words 'you have breast cancer.'  On this week's Behind the Bra Podcast, Sherri shares her experience being a two-time cancer survivor, the trauma effects of a cancer diagnosis, and how through it all she has still learned that gratitude is the most important thing to embrace.

Natina was born and raised in San Jose, Ca and after experiencing some childhood trauma she found comfort and control in a world of sports and athletics. She grew up playing soccer, and running track and cross country. Natina found a sense of freedom in fitness and eventually even joined the Marines, serving for five years. Natina now lives in South Carolina with her husband and three sons and continues to crave fitness to help keep her grounded. While the world was entering an unknown chaos back in March of this year, Natina was faced with a fear even more personal, when on March 6th she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. Tune is to episode 3 of The Good Series from the Behind The Bra podcast as Natina discusses navigating her diagnosis and her treatment during a global pandemic and how she was able to find so much GOOD around her this year: including learning the importance of self care and how love might just be the greatest gift received.

"It's ok to take up space in this world and advocate for yourself. Learn how to ask for help." The Behind the Bra Podcast: GOOD series, episode 2 kicks off with Amanda. Originally from Northern California, Amanda bounced around the west coast for about ten years before settling in Temecula. She is no stranger to hard work. Amanda first began pursuing a degree in music performance at California State University Long Beach, but eventually moved back up north to Sacramento, after her mom got sick, where she earned her Masters in Child Development.  While taking care of her mom and working full time, Amanda had a few health scares of her own, before being diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer in March of 2019 at only 32 years old.  Tune in to the Behind the Bra Podcast to hear Amanda's story, how she learned to advocate for her health, and what the GOOD was that came out of her breast cancer diagnosis.

We are kicking off the Behind the Bra Good Series with Wendy Nielsen, a registered dietitian, photographer, and CrossFit athlete from St. Paul, Minnesota.  Wendy was diagnosed with DCIS breast cancer in September of 2018 at the age of 40. Having watched her mom navigate a breast cancer diagnosis 13 years earlier, Wendy opted to have a double mastectomy in order to forgo other treatment options.  It took a while for her to come out of the dust of her diagnosis, and through two surgeries, Wendy admits she was mostly living in survival mode, thinking that she'd forget all about this time of her life once it was all over. But as we've heard from most of the women in our programs, the emotional effects of a diagnosis last a lifetime.  In this first episode of the GOOD series, Wendy discusses all the good that has come from receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, her growing relationship with her family and learning the meaning of self-care. To hear more about the good, tune in to the Behind the Bra Podcast 2.0: The GOOD Series. And to learn more about Wendy's story, check out episode 20 of the Behind the Bra Podcast.