Beauty With A Purpose: Inside Thrive Causemetics with Karissa Bodnar, CEO and Founder of Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare
Release Date: 04/30/2025
Breast Cancer and Weight Gain: What the Scale Doesn’t Tell You with Dr. Krystle Zuniga, Board Certified Oncology Dietician
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
In this very informative episode of Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful, Melissa sits down with Dr. Krystle Zuniga, a Board Certified Oncology Dietitian, to talk about a concern many breast cancer patients face: weight gain during treatment. Dr. Zuniga sheds light on why the number on the scale doesn’t tell the whole story and shares why nutrition combined with resistance training is key to overall health and well-being. Tune in as they explore Dr. Zuniga’s path into oncology nutrition, her research on diet’s impact on cancer prevention and treatment, and practical tips to support muscle health...
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Beyond the BRCA Gene: A Story of Risk Awareness and Breast Cancer Prevention, with Krista Brown, Oncology Nurse Navigator
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
In this compelling episode, host Melissa Berry continues the series "Decoding Destiny: Navigating Breast Cancer with Genetic Insight" with a heartfelt conversation with Krista Brown, also known on Instagram as the Cancer Prevention Coach. Krista, an oncology nurse navigator and breast cancer survivor, shares her journey of living with an ATM gene mutation and the empowering role of genetic testing in her life. Together, they explore the importance of education, nutrition, and self-advocacy in managing hereditary cancer risks. Tune in to discover how Krista's personal experiences have shaped...
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Step Therapy and the Financial Burden: Navigating Co-Pays, Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Financial Aid with Monica Bryant, Esq. Chief Operating Officer of Triage Cancer
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
In this episode of, “Your Voice. Your Health”, we take a closer look at step therapy but this time through a financial lens. I sat down with Monica Bryant, Esq., Chief Mission Officer of Triage Cancer, to talk about how step therapy can create unexpected financial obstacles—from rising co-pays and delayed treatment to challenges with insurance coverage and staying employed during treatment in your health plans, navigating appeals, and accessing financial aid. She also shares practical tips for choosing insurance plans, minimizing out-of-pocket costs, and using tools like Triage...
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The Critical Role of Genetic Counseling in Breast Cancer Prevention with Dena Goldberg, Board Certified Genetic Counselor
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
In this episode of Decoding Destiny: Navigating Breast Cancer with Genetic Insight, I’m joined by Dena Goldberg, board-certified genetic counselor and founder of Malibu Genetics. We talk about the critical role genetic counselors play in assessing breast cancer risk, and how genetic testing can guide treatment and preventive care. Dena also shares how she supports patients through the emotional impact of receiving test results—and how understanding your genetic risk can be both empowering and life-saving. We also look ahead at the future of genetic testing, including the promise of...
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Turning Clinical Trials into a First Choice for Care with LaToya Bolds-Johnson, Physician Associate, Breast Cancer Survivor and Clinical Trials Advocate
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
Host Melissa Berry sits down with LaToya Bolds-Johnson — Physician Associate, triple negative breast cancer survivor, and passionate clinical trials advocate. With her experience as both a healthcare provider and a patient, Latoya offers a meaningful and insightful perspective on clinical trials and how they can transform cancer treatment. In this episode, LaToya shares her personal journey navigating breast cancer treatment and the challenges of finding the right clinical trial. They discuss the critical need for greater diversity in clinical trial participation, and how her involvement...
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Reclaiming Pleasure After Cancer with CBD Intimacy Products with Melissa Eppard, Cancer Thriver, Coach, and Upstate Mary Co-Founder
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
Host Melissa Berry sits down with Melissa Eppard, a triple negative breast cancer survivor and co-founder of Upstate Mary, a wellness brand focused on CBD-infused intimacy products. They talk about Melissa’s personal breast cancer experience and the challenges many patients face with intimacy during and after treatment. Their conversation highlights the importance of addressing issues like vaginal dryness and the need for lubrication, which are often misunderstood, overlooked, and surrounded by shame. Melissa shares how CBD can help improve comfort and sexual wellness, while normalizing...
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How Genetic Testing Can Help You and Your Family Prevent Breast Cancer with Kathy Baker, Patient Advocate and Founder of My Faulty Gene
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
In this episode, we continue with a special series close to my heart: Decoding Destiny: Navigating Breast Cancer with Genetic Insight. I’m joined by Kathy Baker, patient advocate and founder of My Faulty Gene to explore the power of genetic testing—particularly cascade testing—and how it can help both you and your family take control of your breast cancer risk. Kathy shares her compelling personal story and how it inspired her to launch My Faulty Gene, a nonprofit organization that provides education, emotional support, and financial assistance for genetic testing. You’ll learn all...
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How Diversity in Clinical Trials Can Save Lives with Dr. Sara Horton, Strategic Clinical Trials Access and Partnerships, Lead - Quantum Leap Healthcare
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
Today is Clinical Trials Awareness Day, making it the perfect time to spotlight a powerful conversation about access, equity, and the future of cancer research. Host Melissa Berry is joined by Dr. Sara Horton, Strategic Clinical Trials Access and Partnerships Lead at Quantum Leap Healthcare to have an insightful and empowering conversation about clinical trials. Dr. Horton is deeply committed to improving access to clinical trials and ensuring diversity in cancer research—an essential step toward creating treatments that truly work for everyone. In this episode, we explore why representation...
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From Survivor to Founder: Redefining Swimwear with Post Swim with Lauren Yerkes, Breast Cancer Survivor and Founder of Post Swim
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
From Survivor to Founder: Redefining Swimwear with Post Swim with Lauren Yerkes, Breast Cancer Survivor and Founder of Post Swim In this episode of Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful, host Melissa Berry sits down with Lauren Yerkes, a triple negative breast cancer survivor and founder of Post Swim, a new swimwear brand designed to solve the difficult challenges we face when finding the right swimsuit after a mastectomy. Lauren shares her personal journey through diagnosis, treatment, and how her struggles with swimwear post-surgery inspired her to create a line that combines comfort, style, and...
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Beauty With A Purpose: Inside Thrive Causemetics with Karissa Bodnar, CEO and Founder of Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare
Dear Cancer, I'm Beautiful
In this episode of Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful, we’re talking about beauty, confidence, and self-care with Karissa Bodnar, CEO and Founder of Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare. Her mission goes way beyond makeup—Karissa has created a brand that champions clean beauty, uplifts those affected by cancer, and helps women feel like themselves again. As a breast cancer survivor, I know how powerful beauty and self-care can be during and after treatment. Karissa opens up about the deeply personal reason she started Thrive Causemetics: her friend Kristy, while undergoing cancer...
info_outlineIn this episode of Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful, we’re talking about beauty, confidence, and self-care with Karissa Bodnar, CEO and Founder of Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare.
Her mission goes way beyond makeup—Karissa has created a brand that champions clean beauty, uplifts those affected by cancer, and helps women feel like themselves again.
As a breast cancer survivor, I know how powerful beauty and self-care can be during and after treatment. Karissa opens up about the deeply personal reason she started Thrive Causemetics: her friend Kristy, while undergoing cancer treatment, was advised by her oncologist to avoid wearing makeup.
That moment sparked the creation of the now-iconic Kristy Faux lashes— perfect for women who’ve lost their lashes and want to regain a sense of confidence and normalcy.
We’ll celebrate the 10-year anniversary of those lashes, talk about why clean beauty matters (especially for those of us going through treatment), how to spot harmful ingredients, and the incredible ways that Thrive Causemetics is giving back to the cancer community—including naming products after survivors.
To learn more, follow:
@karissabodnar
@thrivecausemetics
@biggerthanbeautyskincare
Use code CANCERFASHIONISTA at checkout for 20% off your first Thrive Causemetics order.