
When Strong Is The Only Choice You Have - with Katie Coleman
09/19/24 • 49 min
In this episode I have the honour of chatting with Katie Coleman, who shared her incredible journey after being diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer. Katie opened up about the emotional and physical challenges she faced, navigating the healthcare system, and the profound impact her diagnosis had on her life and marriage. We discussed the importance of self-advocacy, resilience, and finding joy in the little things, even during tough times. Katie’s story is a testament to the power of love, community, and the human spirit. Her memoir, "Too Young for Cancer," offers hope and inspiration to anyone facing adversity in the most unexpected ways.
You can check out Katie's new book, Too Young For Cancer, here!
Want to Kate to come and speak at your event? Visit https://www.theresiliencespeaker.com
Check out Kate's personalised online coaching programs for women: https://www.theresiliencespeaker.com/coaching
For daily inspiration and tips, follow Kate on instagram: @kategladdin
=Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Kate Gladdin introduces the podcast and expresses excitement about the special guest.
Welcome to Katie Coleman (00:01:20) Katie Coleman joins the show, sharing her gratitude for the introduction.
Reflecting on 2020 (00:02:08) Discussion about significant life events in 2020, including marriage and health concerns.
New Year's Eve Diagnosis (00:02:24) Katie recounts the moment she was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer.
Initial Reactions to Diagnosis (00:05:07) Katie describes her surprising relief upon receiving her cancer diagnosis.
The Importance of Being Believed (00:07:54) Discussion on the power of being taken seriously in the healthcare system.
Understanding the Cancer Type (00:09:32) Katie explains the confusion surrounding her cancer diagnosis and its rarity.
Complications from a Bleeding Disorder (00:11:50) Katie shares challenges faced due to an undiagnosed bleeding disorder during treatment.
Resilience Through Treatment (00:13:24) Katie reflects on her determination to keep fighting despite a grim prognosis.
Motivation from Love and Purpose (00:15:36) Katie discusses how love and honoring friends influenced her will to fight.
The Duality of Cancer Experience (00:18:12) Katie emphasizes the complexity of emotions and motivations during her journey.
Reflection on Grief and Purpose (00:19:18) Kate discusses the power of sharing personal stories of grief as a source of strength for others.
The Importance of Community Support (00:20:10) Katie emphasizes how vital community and support groups were in her journey through cancer.
Finding Common Ground in Unique Experiences (00:22:17) Katie shares how connecting with others, despite different experiences, can provide encouragement and hope.
Creating Personal Definitions of Grief (00:23:20) The speakers discuss the importance of forming individual understandings of grief based on personal experiences.
Trusting Intuition in Healthcare (00:24:31) Kate asks Katie about trusting her intuition when facing medical decisions during her treatment.
Overcoming People-Pleasing Tendencies (00:28:08) Katie reflects on her struggles with people-pleasing and how it affects communication with doctors.
Recognizing and Communicating Symptoms (00:30:39) Katie discusses the importance of accurately describing symptoms to healthcare providers for effective treatment.
Fear and Pain as Universal Experiences (00:33:01) Katie explains that fear and pain are relative and can be genuinely felt regardless of the situation's severity.
Advocating for Oneself (00:34:03) Kate and Katie discuss the necessity of self-advocacy in healthcare and everyday interactions.
Living Authentically After Cancer (00:37:31) Katie shares how her cancer experience taught her to live authentically and pursue her passions.
Katie's Birthday Programming (00:39:13) Katie discusses how her diagnosis changed her perspective on enjoying programming on her birthday.
Living True to Yourself (00:40:08) Katie emphasizes the importance of authenticity and pursuing what brings joy, regardless of societal norms.
The Power of Resilience (00:40:20) Kate reflects on resilience, highlighting the significance of responding purposefully to life's challenges.
Sharing Stories of Hope (00:41:03) Kate expresses gratitude for Katie's journey and the inspiration it provides to others facing similar struggles.
In this episode I have the honour of chatting with Katie Coleman, who shared her incredible journey after being diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer. Katie opened up about the emotional and physical challenges she faced, navigating the healthcare system, and the profound impact her diagnosis had on her life and marriage. We discussed the importance of self-advocacy, resilience, and finding joy in the little things, even during tough times. Katie’s story is a testament to the power of love, community, and the human spirit. Her memoir, "Too Young for Cancer," offers hope and inspiration to anyone facing adversity in the most unexpected ways.
You can check out Katie's new book, Too Young For Cancer, here!
Want to Kate to come and speak at your event? Visit https://www.theresiliencespeaker.com
Check out Kate's personalised online coaching programs for women: https://www.theresiliencespeaker.com/coaching
For daily inspiration and tips, follow Kate on instagram: @kategladdin
=Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Kate Gladdin introduces the podcast and expresses excitement about the special guest.
Welcome to Katie Coleman (00:01:20) Katie Coleman joins the show, sharing her gratitude for the introduction.
Reflecting on 2020 (00:02:08) Discussion about significant life events in 2020, including marriage and health concerns.
New Year's Eve Diagnosis (00:02:24) Katie recounts the moment she was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer.
Initial Reactions to Diagnosis (00:05:07) Katie describes her surprising relief upon receiving her cancer diagnosis.
The Importance of Being Believed (00:07:54) Discussion on the power of being taken seriously in the healthcare system.
Understanding the Cancer Type (00:09:32) Katie explains the confusion surrounding her cancer diagnosis and its rarity.
Complications from a Bleeding Disorder (00:11:50) Katie shares challenges faced due to an undiagnosed bleeding disorder during treatment.
Resilience Through Treatment (00:13:24) Katie reflects on her determination to keep fighting despite a grim prognosis.
Motivation from Love and Purpose (00:15:36) Katie discusses how love and honoring friends influenced her will to fight.
The Duality of Cancer Experience (00:18:12) Katie emphasizes the complexity of emotions and motivations during her journey.
Reflection on Grief and Purpose (00:19:18) Kate discusses the power of sharing personal stories of grief as a source of strength for others.
The Importance of Community Support (00:20:10) Katie emphasizes how vital community and support groups were in her journey through cancer.
Finding Common Ground in Unique Experiences (00:22:17) Katie shares how connecting with others, despite different experiences, can provide encouragement and hope.
Creating Personal Definitions of Grief (00:23:20) The speakers discuss the importance of forming individual understandings of grief based on personal experiences.
Trusting Intuition in Healthcare (00:24:31) Kate asks Katie about trusting her intuition when facing medical decisions during her treatment.
Overcoming People-Pleasing Tendencies (00:28:08) Katie reflects on her struggles with people-pleasing and how it affects communication with doctors.
Recognizing and Communicating Symptoms (00:30:39) Katie discusses the importance of accurately describing symptoms to healthcare providers for effective treatment.
Fear and Pain as Universal Experiences (00:33:01) Katie explains that fear and pain are relative and can be genuinely felt regardless of the situation's severity.
Advocating for Oneself (00:34:03) Kate and Katie discuss the necessity of self-advocacy in healthcare and everyday interactions.
Living Authentically After Cancer (00:37:31) Katie shares how her cancer experience taught her to live authentically and pursue her passions.
Katie's Birthday Programming (00:39:13) Katie discusses how her diagnosis changed her perspective on enjoying programming on her birthday.
Living True to Yourself (00:40:08) Katie emphasizes the importance of authenticity and pursuing what brings joy, regardless of societal norms.
The Power of Resilience (00:40:20) Kate reflects on resilience, highlighting the significance of responding purposefully to life's challenges.
Sharing Stories of Hope (00:41:03) Kate expresses gratitude for Katie's journey and the inspiration it provides to others facing similar struggles.
Previous Episode

From Anxiety to Calm: Reclaiming Control of Your Mind - With Jacqui Letran
In this episode we delve into the intricacies of the mind with special guest, Jaqui Letran, an award-winning author and mindset mentor. This episode is a treasure trove of insights on personal development, focusing on how our life experiences shape our mindset and the profound impact of our subconscious beliefs.
Jacqui's insights provide practical strategies for reclaiming control over our thoughts and emotions, making this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking personal growth and resilience. By understanding the workings of the subconscious mind and implementing Jackie's practical advice, you can begin to reshape your beliefs and lead a more calm & fulfillling life.
Tune in to learn:
- Understanding the workings of the conscious and subconscious mind.
- The impact of childhood experiences on adult beliefs and mindset.
- The distinction between positive thinking and the underlying mechanisms of the mind.
- The role of negative self-talk and its influence on emotions and experiences.
- Identifying and challenging disempowering beliefs.
- Strategies for managing anxiety and negative thoughts.
- The importance of self-awareness in personal development.
- The significance of gratitude in transforming perspectives and experiences.
- Techniques for reprogramming the subconscious mind for positive outcomes.
- The necessity of consistency in practicing positive mental habits.
Check out Jacqui's books for adults here!
Want to Kate to come and speak at your event? Visit https://www.theresiliencespeaker.com
Check out Kate's personalised online coaching programs for women: https://www.theresiliencespeaker.com/coaching
For daily inspiration and tips, follow Kate on instagram: @kategladdin
Next Episode

The #1 Thing To Do Before Your Next Trip Overseas
Do you have a spare $82,000 lying around to pay for the medical bills of sand fly bites on a tropical island? Yeah, me neither. Yet that's the exact cost a traveler had to pay during their trip overseas. While the chances of the unthinkable happening while you're holidaying overseas are slim, it can happen. Unfortunately my family learned the hard way, after my sister was killed in a motorbike accident in Thailand. It shattered us, but there was one thing that helped us out most during those heartbreaking days of bringing Nicole back home - travel insurance.
Tune in to find out why travel insurance is the best financial investment you make towards your next vacation and all the different ways it can help your trip run more smoothly when you face big or small hiccups as you travel overseas. If you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to travel - at all.
Want to Kate to come and speak at your event? Visit https:https://www.kategladdin.com/
Check out Kate's personalised online coaching programs for women: https://www.kategladdin.com/coaching
For daily inspiration and tips, follow Kate on instagram: @kategladdin
Podcast Introduction (00:00:00) Kate welcomes listeners to the episode and introduces the theme of life’s unpredictability.
Recording the Audiobook (00:00:18) Kate shares her excitement about recording her new audiobook and the audition process involved.
Emotional Reflections (00:01:03) She reflects on the emotional journey of reading her book, connecting it to her sister's memorial.
Sister's Legacy (00:01:55) Kate discusses her determination to honor her sister's memory and the resilience learned from her life.
Announcement of Audiobook Release (00:03:43) Kate informs listeners about the release date of her audiobook and paper copy book on November 12th.
Importance of Travel Insurance (00:05:41) Kate introduces the topic of travel insurance, emphasizing its potential to save money and heartache.
Sister’s Tragic Accident (00:06:34) She recounts the tragic circumstances surrounding her sister Nicole's accident while traveling in Thailand.
Travel Safety Message (00:08:31) Kate stresses the importance of safety precautions, particularly wearing helmets while riding motorbikes abroad.
Accessing Travel Insurance (00:10:24) Kate shares her experience of accessing her sister's travel insurance documents after the accident.
Financial Impact of Insurance (00:12:21) She explains how travel insurance saved her family from significant financial burdens following her sister's death.
Support from Insurance Company (00:14:21) Kate recounts the emotional support and assistance her family received from the travel insurance company.
Encouragement to Get Insurance (00:15:27) She urges listeners to obtain travel insurance before traveling to avoid devastating financial consequences.
Cost of Medical Bills Abroad (00:16:42) Kate highlights the high costs of medical treatment overseas and the importance of having insurance coverage.
Navigating Insurance Options (00:18:46) She provides tips on comparing and selecting the right travel insurance policy based on individual needs.
The Importance of Travel Insurance (00:19:43) Kate discusses how travel insurance can cover unexpected costs and emphasizes its necessity for travelers.
Personal Experience with Insurance (00:20:39) Kate shares a personal story about a laptop incident during travel, highlighting the benefits of having insurance.
The Consequences of Not Having Insurance (00:21:54) She recounts Jacob Webster's story, illustrating the severe financial burden of medical bills abroad without insurance.
Encouragement to Get Insured (00:22:42) Kate urges listeners to prioritize travel insurance when planning trips, stressing its critical role in travel safety.
Final Thoughts and Call to Action (00:23:37) She concludes by encouraging listeners to share the message of travel insurance's importance and to reach out with questions.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/okay-now-what-with-kate-gladdin-323806/when-strong-is-the-only-choice-you-have-with-katie-coleman-74140472"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to when strong is the only choice you have - with katie coleman on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy