Episode 91: A Message of Kindness, Gratitude, and Courage

Hi listeners. It’s that time of year when we all take a few of those precious moments between the holidays and starting the New Year to look back, plan ahead, and savor those moments before heading back to work.

This is the final DiepCJourney® podcast of 2025 and I decided to go solo for the first time since beginning this podcast during the pandemic in January of 2021.

Let’s take a look back at what we have provided courtesy of my outstanding guests. I always say, a podcast is only as good as its guests, and I am so lucky to have met them via my podcast and many I have met in person.

When I had my first podcast with Dr. C in January of 2021, we had been working together in this patient education advocacy space for six years.

That number has now rolled over to 11 years working together and he has been a cherished guest on so many topics on the podcast.

Since that first podcast in January of 2021, I have interviewed surgeons, both microsurgeons and breasts surgeons from across the world. Thank you to each of you for providing such valuable information to the listeners of the podcast.

I set this podcast up originally as a stand-alone platform but now because of changes in social media platforms I am able to share most of the podcast over on the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel. You can find them on the channel listed as Podcasts if you’d like to watch them and actually see my guests. It’s a fun alternative and really what some followers like over listening to the podcast.

With a niche podcast like this, my priority is creating content that truly serves the community—not chasing numbers. In a space as specific as breast reconstruction, I measure success by connection and education rather than statistics. The beauty of a niche podcast is that it reaches exactly who needs it most, so I focus on value over metrics.

Last year in January we kicked off the year with my friend Rory Zura of Foobs and Fitness. Understanding and knowing the research behind the benefits of exercise for breast cancer patients is so important and a topic that is asked about often. Thanks Rory!

She is a survivor with her own unique story. Patients stories matter to many, not only other patients, but healthcare professionals who can improve their communication and protocols for patients based on patient stories.

One of the most listened to podcast of 2025 was from Margaret Tueller Proffit, a young BRCA genetic mutation carrier who started her reconstruction with implants, transitioned to DIEP flap and then graced us with the conclusion of her reconstruction by sharing one of the best quotes I heard from a patient all year, “Go forth with confidence”!

Sensation of the breast always gets a lot of listeners. Our interview with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker was popular.

We tackled diastasis recti and why to repair it during DIEP with Dr. Kesley McClure of Southwest Breast and Aesthetics and found out what other procedures are performed in Phoenix at their facility with her colleague, Dr. Arvind Gowda.

Dr. Craigie shared a very interesting interview with us on the delay procedure, the SIEA, and the TDAP. These alternative methods of using a patients own tissue are very important for patients who don’t always find this information easily.

Nipple reconstruction with Dr. Carpenter at PRMA came out of an in-person meeting we had at a microsurgery summit I attended. Thanks Dr. Carpenter for your warm smile and willingness to spend time with me to educate our audience.

I invite each of you listening to use the search engine to explore all the topics we have talked about with my guest on the link I’ll provide at the end of the episode details. Libsyn has been a great podcast platform for us to use so a shout out to them!

As part of the resources we provide at DiepCFoundation, this podcast being one of them, we also have the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel I mentioned earlier and the DiepCJourney® blog.

I want to leave you with a message from an end of the year blog I wrote just a couple of days ago. Here is the link to read the entire blog. https://diepcjourney.com/kindness-gratitude-courage-my-compass-for-2026/

Here is what I wrote:

As I step into 2026, I find myself returning again and again to three simple words. Those words are kindness, gratitude, and courage. They aren’t new concepts. They aren’t complicated. But they have become the compass points guiding how I want to show up in the world, how I want to lead, and how I want to serve the breast cancer community that has shaped my life in ways I never could have imagined.

These three words have carried me through seasons of uncertainty, moments of profound connection, and the quiet, steady work of advocacy. They have grounded me when the world felt heavy and lifted me when I needed reminding that hope is not naïve. Hope is necessary. And as I look toward the year ahead, they feel more necessary than ever.

Here’s to a year guided by purpose, connection, and the quiet strength that lives within us all.

I cannot wait for you to listen to our guests in 2026, our sixth season.

Thank you for listening and being a part of the Journey!

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