Cruz through HTX

How does a nurse and two-time cancer survivor become a guiding light for others battling the disease?

Ashma Moosa's journey from nurse to cancer coach demonstrates resilience and empathy. She faced both thyroid and breast cancer, the latter leading her to an intense path of chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy. After overcoming her struggles, she now utilizes meditation and compassionate coaching to support and inspire cancer patients.

Key Takeaways

1. Breast Cancer Advocacy and Support:
   • Main Conceptual Takeaway: Ashma underscores the importance of supporting organizations like the Rose, highlighting how their missions help uninsured women receive necessary medical care. This emphasizes the pivotal role of community and support systems in healthcare access and resource distribution.
2. Personal Cancer Journey:
   • Main Conceptual Takeaway: Ashma shares her personal experience with breast cancer and thyroid cancer, noting the decisions she made regarding treatment options such as bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy. Her story illustrates the importance of informed decision-making and personal agency in managing one's health journey.
3. Emotional and Mental Outlook in Health:
   • Main Conceptual Takeaway: The psychological and emotional outlook of patients, according to Ashma, significantly impacts their physical response to cancer treatment. A positive and proactive mindset can improve overall outcomes and survival rates, highlighting the interplay between mental health and physical health in disease management.
4. Role of Spirituality:
   • Main Conceptual Takeaway: Spirituality played a crucial role in helping Ashma cope with her cancer diagnosis and treatment. It provided her peace and acceptance, framing her health challenges as tests to endure with faith. This demonstrates how spiritual beliefs can offer emotional resilience and support during difficult health journeys.
5. Meditation and Coaching:
   • Main Conceptual Takeaway: Ashma's exploration of meditation and subsequent coaching of cancer patients and others highlights the benefits of mindfulness and self-care. By advocating for meditation, Ashma underscores its effectiveness in reducing mental clutter, fostering emotional well-being, and improving overall quality of life.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Unexpected call hinted at serious health news.

03:54 HER2 positive cancer detected beyond margins.

08:49 Strong will maintained health during chemotherapy.

10:59 Diagnosis challenges family resilience and unity together.

14:35 Understanding death's inevitability is a parental priority.

18:38 Learned meditation through silent 10-day retreat.

21:35 Silence provides clarity and essential self-care.

25:38 Coaching teaches; listening deeply is transformative.

26:39 Listening briefly can reveal valuable insights.

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Freddy is joined by his longtime friend Cortney Cole-Hall.

Cortney's a former corporate executive turned real estate agent. They met through Pink Door Nonprofit, which she founded in honor of her mother, who passed from bone cancer.

Now, Courtney is running for Miss Texas USA. They talk about why she's running, who she's running for, what she's learned about herself and how you, the listener, can learn from the experience.

Key Takeaways

1.) The Miss Texas USA pageant has opened its doors to women of all ages.

2.) Cortney emphasizes the importance of self-care, not just physical but also mental and emotional.

3.) Cortney's journey in preparing for the pageant involved rigorous physical training and meticulous attention to nutrition.

4.) Through her pageant journey, Cortney has also committed to philanthropy by donating part of her sponsorship funds to various organizations like The Rose, Texas Center for the Missing, and Dress for Success.

5.) Cortney learned and rediscovered her inner strength and resilience through the pageant process, which helped her push through challenges and self-doubt.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Miss Texas USA pageant open to everyone.
04:31 Often forget self-care in daily routines.
06:51 Overcoming self doubt and staying focused on goals.
11:52 Utilize bands for different muscle training; nutrition crucial.
14:35 Donating funds raised for sponsorships to charity.
16:50 Parisian catwalk coach brings laughter and improvement.
22:38 Categories include interview, swimsuit, and evening gown.
23:58 Want to win in honor of mother.

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We’re gonna Cruz to the southwest side of town to one of the greatest bookstores in the world, Murder by the Book, where you’ll hear my conversation with legendary storyteller Terry Hayes. You’ll know him as the guy who wrote Mad Max 2 & 3, as well as I am Pilgrim. Terry’s new novel is The Year of the Locust and it took him ten years to complete it.

During this conversation, we talk about the persona experiences that shaped his commitment to writing. He emphasizes the importance of not being afraid and finding dignity in the face of challenges. Terry’s life took an unfortunate turn for the worse when in a short period of time, he lost his brother to cancer, his father to an unforeseen illness, and his mother, who he says may have died of a broken heart. Yet he continued to write as a tribute to those who shared his dream of being an author.

At seven-hundred pages, The Year of the Locust is a monster of a book and it’s on-sale now.
Special thanks to Murder by the Book for allowing me to crash their party for this episode. Be sure to check them out at murderbooks.com.

Heads up that there were some technical issues with Terry’s mic and I made as many adjustments as I could. And you’ll hear a phone go off a couple times. This kind of stuff happens in a live setting. At the end of the day, this is a powerful conversation for those who love thrillers, and those who wish to learn from the giants whose shoulders we stand on.

If you enjoy this episode as much as I did putting it together for you, please share with your family and friends and subscribe to the show from my website, cruzthroughhtx.com. This ensures we continue to score high profile guests like Terry. Thank you.

Takeaways

Writing is a journey that requires dedication and hard work.

The editing process may involve discarding a significant amount of words, but it is part of the journey to create the best work possible.

Childhood dreams can shape one's career path and provide motivation to achieve success.

Personal loss can inspire a deeper commitment to writing and a focus on family.

Courage is shown in facing difficult circumstances with dignity and grace.

The power of stories lies in their ability to connect with readers on an emotional level.

Finding the melody and emotion in writing is essential to engage readers.

First and last sentences of books can set the tone and leave a lasting impact on readers.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Writing

03:04 Future of the Edited Work

05:22 The Process of Writing

08:13 Childhood Dream of Becoming a Writer

09:08 Personal Loss and Commitment to Writing

12:54 Prioritizing Family and Career

13:52 Overcoming Challenges and Being Courageous

15:20 The Power of Stories and Not Being Afraid

17:56 Finding Dignity and Grace in Difficult Circumstances

19:44 The Significance of First and Last Sentences

22:17 The Melody and Emotion of Writing

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William Garay is the other half of Charlie Mike: The Podcast. He also hosts The Business Coffee Hour.

During this episode, we dive into his life after serving in the military, running a small business, and of course, his family's business Snowy Jeba, a shaved ice truck named after his wife Jessica.

William made mention of the phrase he uses, "you're worth it," when responding to people who thank him for his service. I've thought a lot about that moment since that day.

As always, if you enjoy these episodes as much as I did putting them together, please leave a review on your podcast platform of choice and/or share with a friend. It's how we grow the show.

Also, I'm about to launch a series of podcast courses. If you'd like to host your own show but have no idea how to get started, then reply to this email to receive a free spot. The price will eventually increase and I'm offering freebies to a small number of trusted friends (like you).

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This episode is from a podcast appearance on Patrick Greenwood's Writers on Writers Over a Triple Espresso.

Give us a listen and learn how/why I wrote my third novel Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas.

Hit up Patrick HERE.

Grab your copy of Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas HERE.

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