From Mud

Kidney Cancer Awareness- risk, prevention of cancer/kidney cancer & Justin's early signs/symptoms

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0700

In this episode, I want to spotlight #kidneycancerawareness by sharing some #evidencebased information about risk associated with #cancer in general and #kidneycancer specifically. Alongside this information, I share about our own #cancerstory and the early signs of Justin's #rarecancer - non-clear renal cell carcinoma with Rhabdoid features/differentiation. I also share my own insights as a #healtheducator on #healthylifestyle approaches to prevent and #fightcancer including a diet rich in #plantbasedfoods / high in #fiber as well as avoiding known and probable carcinogens. That and of course learn more about your own risk of cancer including getting genetic testing done to know what you might be at higher risk for.

#widow #widowmom #widowjourney #loveofmylife #sadlovestory #storytime #healthcoach #healthcoaching #healthandwellness #griefandloss #griefjourney #cancerprevention #healthyeating #cancersucks #kidneycancerawarenessmonth

Healthy Relationships Make You Healthier AND Require Resolving Conflict in Positive Ways

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0800

Conflict is a normal part of any close relationship. Whether it is your romantic partnership/marriage, a close friendship, a siblingship, or any other close or working relationship--we all would benefit from being able to face conflict head on in healthy ways.

In this video I share about my personal journey in how I've learned to resolve conflict effectively in my personal life--starting from my observations of conflict and the lack of resolution I witnessed growing up with an abusive alcoholic dad, to my early 20's when I started realizing how whenever conflict would arise, I often became defensive and was unable to take accountability in those moments, to marrying my soul mate and late husband and how we figured it out together. At the end of this audio podcast, I share the framework Justin and I came up with that helped us keep our relationship healthy and helped us resolve conflict without being as apprehensive to face it when issues did (inevitably) arise.

#relationships #marriage #love #friendship #conflictresolution #resolvingconflicts #respect #parenting #griefandloss #widow #widowjourney #widowmom #healthandwellness #healthy #alcoholism #adultchildrenofalcoholics #acoa #adultchildofabuse #cancerstories #cancer #kidneycancer #kidneycancerawareness

Social Support and Wellness: how more community supports your health & wellness- Discussions from health coach/educator & widow mom

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

I share about my own journey having little support after losing my husband to #kidneycancer, raising small children as a #widowmom and compare that to how it is now after moving from Phoenix, AZ to #portlandoregon and gaining a lot more support for me and the kids. I also include a little bit of info I found about how evidence shows that when we feel like we have good social supports around us, we have better #healthandwellness outcomes. I wrap it up with a little #gratitude #mindfulness #meditation

Join me and I'd love to hear from you on how having support or a lack of support is affecting or has affected your quality of life and #wellness!

#widow #widowjourney #grief #griefandloss #cancersucks #cancerstories #kidneycancerawareness #healthcoach #healtheducator #evidencebased #thevillage #millenials #millenialmom #parenting #resilience #lifeishard

iamfrommud.com
IG: @_from_mud_
Podcast: Apple Podcast

Herbalism & how to use herbs to manage stress w/ guest botanist/herbalist, Jasmine Z. from Triple Gem Herbs

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Enjoy this awesome Interview with Botanist and Herbalist Jasmine of Triple Gem Herbs! She shares w/ us some great insights on how to use herbs medicinally such as which herbs and how to use them to manage stress.

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode!
Also find me on instagram: @_from_mud_
website: iamfrommud.com

Find Jasmine here:
Instagram: @triplegemherbs
triplegemherbs.com

Tales of a Widow: The first month after losing my husband; life as a new widow mom to toddlers

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0800

In this episode I share what life was like for me as a new widow in the immediate aftermath of losing my husband. I share about how I prepared my 3 and 1 year old ahead of time as well as when I had to tell them the news of their dad's passing, what helped us in our initial mourning period, and I talk about an unexpected loss in that the people closest to us--my in-laws began distancing from my children and I when we needed them most --and how I coped with it all.

Health Coach Sessions: Stress Management (bonus: 10 min. body scan meditation at the end)

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0800

In this episode I pull from over 13 years of experience as a clinical and community health educator and share insights on what stress is, what it means to actually manage/relieve stress and tons of practical tips that you can apply immediately. I also threw in a 10 min. body scan meditation at the end. Enjoy!

Bonus: I have the meditation uploaded separately on YouTube as well.

Health Coach Sessions: Setting and Achieving Health & Wellness Goals in 2026 w/ SMART, Mini goals

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800

In this first podcast episode after my first series, I dive right into helping you achieve your health goals for 2026! We will discuss the ways I have helped countless clients over the past 13.5 years to achieve their health and wellness goals by setting SMART, Mini goals. You got this!

Our Family Cancer Journey (series) - Episode 6 - the end of an era

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0800

!!!CONTENT WARNING!!! This episode contains vivid detail of being with someone in their final moments dying from cancer. This may be very upsetting content to listen to. Please consult with your therapist or supports if this becomes too upsetting to hear.

This is the 6th and final episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/giving birth during Justin’s battle with cancer.This episode picks up in May/June 2024 and will walk you through the cascade of health events that led to Justin's quick turn for the worst and how we walked through his final 6 weeks of life as a family. Please continue with care.

Our Family Cancer Journey (series) - Episode 5 - happy days/the end is nigh

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0800

This is the fifth episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/giving birth during Justin’s battle with cancer.

This episode picks up in November 2023 after Justin did his 3 month scans. The scans had positive results. This treatment was working. He continued to improve over the next several months so this is a happy times episode. I go through all the fun we accomplished in the next 9 months including a trip with our toddlers to Mexico.

Our Family Cancer Journey (series) - Episode 4 - new year, new baby, new challenges

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0800

This is the fourth episode in my premier series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer, his two-year battle fighting cancer, and how we navigated our life with our toddler plus me being pregnant/giving birth during Justin’s battle with cancer.

In this episode I share more about our 1st year after cancer diagnosis including our first holiday season after diagnosis, preparing and welcoming in our baby girl, enjoying good times as a family of 4 until about July 2023 when we endured our next major hit from cancer when the second treatment stopped working and the cancer caused several fractures in Justin's spine leading to a slew of other issues and our toughest battle against the cancer beast yet.

Our Family Cancer Journey (series)- Episode 3 (part 2/2)- practical preparations for widow life

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0800

This is the third episode in my series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience with my husband, Justin and his two-year battle with cancer and how we navigated our life with two toddlers and cancer and doing life and all the things.

In this episode I share some of the practical steps we took to prepare for Justin’s life being cut short bc of cancer and to prepare me for life as a widow mom of two toddlers.

Our Family Cancer Journey (series)- Episode 3 (part 1)- Storytime: life is still happening

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0800

This is the third episode (part 1) in my series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience when my husband, Justin, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney cancer and his two-year battle fighting cancer and how we navigated our life with me being pregnant during Justin’s first year with cancer plus parenting our son who was 1.5 yr old when Justin was diagnosed— and just doing life and all the things.

In this episode I share more about Justin’s daily battles with cancer, being pregnant during this crucial time for our family, what life looked like when Cancer happened to us as a “young” family.

Our Family Cancer Journey (series)- Episode 2- kidney cancer facts and our early signs/symptoms

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0700

This is the second episode in my series where I tell the tale (in great detail) of our family’s experience with my husband, Justin and his two-year battle with cancer and how we navigated our life with two toddlers and cancer and doing life and all the things. In this episode I share more about what I’ve learned about kidney cancer and I share our earliest signs of this aggressive cancer that eventually took Justin’s life at age 39 as well as my theories on a connection between anxiety/panic disorders and increased risk of cancer.

Our Family Cancer Journey (series) - Episode 1- Diagnosis/Cancer Year 1

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:00:00 -0700

We found out Justin's cancer diagnosis in June 2022. He passed away in July 2024 at age 39, leaving me (his wife, partner, and friend of the previous 16 years) alone to raise our two babies who were just 3 & 1 at the time of his passing. This episode is the first in my series where I share Justin's cancer journey from diagnosis to his eventual passing 2 years later. This first episode is all about how he came to get diagnosed and the first year of treatment and coping for us as a family.