Episode 18

Strength in Gratitude

with James Malinchak

We’re joined by speaker, entrepreneur, and author James Malinchak, who shares his personal journey of grief, resilience, and gratitude following his sister Vicki’s cancer diagnosis. James recounts his upbringing in a small steel mill town, his path as a basketball player, and his transition into a successful business career. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he received a devastating call—his sister Vicki had a brain tumor and only a few months to live.

James opens up about the shock, grief, and anger he experienced, as well as the profound lessons he learned. He describes the pivotal moment when he found solace through a message that reminded him that “tough times never last, but tough people do.” This shift in perspective helped him move from pain to purpose, focusing on gratitude for the time he had with Vicki rather than the loss.

Throughout the conversation, James offers heartfelt insights on cherishing every moment, surrounding yourself with positive influences, and finding strength in adversity. His story is a testament to resilience, the power of perspective, and the impact of choosing gratitude even in the most difficult times.

James and Darcie co-authored Hope in the Face of Cancer: A Collection of Powerful and Uplifting Stories from Cancer Survivors, Caregivers, and Healthcare Professionals.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

About the Guest:

James Malinchak- Best known for his heartfelt appearance on ABC’s Secret Millionaire, James has dedicated his life to uplifting others through his inspiring words and actionable wisdom. He has shared over 2,000 messages of hope and motivation with businesses, schools, and communities worldwide.  James was a caregiver to his older sister, who was diagnosed with brain cancer at just 38 years old.

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Ep 56

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Ep 55

One Diagnosis. 3,000 Women Helped.

with Lyndsay Levingston
How do you turn a life-changing cancer diagnosis into a mission that helps thousands of others? At 37 years old, Lindsay Levingston was building a successful career in television news in New York City when she discovered a lump that would change the course of her life. The diagnosis was stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer. What followed was a journey through treatment, difficult decisions, and unexpected challenges that ultimately led her to a greater sense of purpose. Today, Lindsay is a breast cancer survivor, advocate, speaker, and founder of Survive Her, a nonprofit dedicated to education, support, and empowerment for women affected by breast cancer. As Lindsay reflects on her diagnosis, she shares how faith, family, and community became her foundation. What began as a desire to tell her story during the pandemic grew into Survive Her, a nonprofit dedicated to breast health education, support, screening awareness, and survivorship. She discusses the growing number of young women facing breast cancer, the importance of knowing your family history, and why every survivor's story matters. This conversation is a powerful reminder that hope is medicine, support changes lives, and purpose can emerge from places we never expected. Lindsey's story offers encouragement for anyone facing cancer and a call to use your voice, your experience, and your compassion to help others along the way. Highlights: 1. Learn why knowing your family history can be a critical part of early cancer detection. 2. Discover how support systems can impact both treatment and recovery. 3. Understand the unique challenges younger adults face after a cancer diagnosis. 4. Hear how faith and mindset can help people navigate uncertainty and fear. 5. Learn how personal adversity can become the foundation for meaningful service and advocacy. Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org SurviveHER – https://www.imasurviveher.org/ ‍About the Guest: Lyndsay Levingston is a breast cancer survivor, nonprofit founder, and tireless advocate for women navigating their breast health journey. After her own diagnosis, Lyndsay turned lived experience into lasting impact, building SurviveHER into a vibrant sisterhood offering education, financial assistance, wellness resources, and access to life-saving screenings for uninsured and underinsured women. Since 2020, SurviveHER has supported more than 3,000 women and received national recognition, including acknowledgments from the United States Congress. Her work has been featured in ESSENCE, Oprah Daily, NBC News, and Yahoo!.