Shows
Fertility in Focus by Fertility Matters CanadaFrom Genetic Diagnosis to Surrogacy: Andrea Hanson and Allie Reis' Fertility JourneySend us a textIn this compelling episode of Fertility in Focus, we are joined by Andrea Hanson, a fertility patient, and Allie Reis, a traditional surrogate egg donor. Andrea openly shares her complicated and emotional journey with infertility, which began at age 27 after a karyotype test revealed a reciprocal translocation. Facing numerous challenges, Andrea underwent six rounds of IVF, 11 miscarriages, and 12 embryo transfers. Despite these hurdles, she welcomed her daughter in 2020.By the end of 2022, Andrea turned to traditional surrogacy and connected with Allie, who chose to become an egg donor even after having...2025-02-0438 min
Womb Women Podcast27 Following the Nudge with Women's Business Coach Andrea HansonAndrea Hanson is a mom, wife, millennial, introvert, enneagram 3, recovering people pleaser, and serial entrepreneur. She taught high school math for 12 years and absolutely loved it! She loved her job, her students, and her co-workers. Andrea has a master’s degree in education and planned to be a lifer. But God had a sense of humor when He dropped an opportunity her lap right at the height of her teaching career.Episode Highlights:How Andrea went from high school math teacher to serial entrepreneur Andrea's number one question for clients who are struggling with a decisionAndrea sh...2024-04-3033 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™AIP, Healing Inflammation, and MS With Practitioner Becca Benning"Whether it's the stress of a physical illness or the stress of emotional stuff or the stress of moving, it's all going in the same bucket from our body's perspective. I was pouring more and more in there when what I needed was to get a bigger bucket and take some stuff out." - Becca BenningBecca Benning has multiple chronic conditions, but it was her multiple sclerosis diagnosis that made her dive into Terry Wahls' research and the autoimmune protocol diet to find what would ease her symptoms. What Becca found made such a difference in her own...2023-09-1856 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Powerful Communication and Breathing Fire With Author Blaise Hunter”Your words can either heal or hurt. Don't you ever be the prick.”Blaze Hunter is an author, award winning speaker, brand specialist, and maybe most importantly, a communications expert. In this episode, Blaise discusses the connection between emotions and the body, and how it plays a role in autoimmune disease. Blaise was diagnosed in her 20’s with EGPA, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the lungs. At the time she was working as a television broadcaster and her disease tried to take her voice - but she had none of that. Now she literally roars on stage...2023-08-2853 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Is there a positive side to the inner critic?"Learning how to turn off your mind is as important as learning how to work on it." - Andrea HansonThis week I'm doing a little behind the scenes look at what I'm working on right now. My new online course, The 8 Week Mindset Challenge is starting soon, and this week I'm sharing what the challenge is all about - including negative thinking and the surprising ways it impacts us.I'm telling a little of my personal journey when I took a deep dive into my own negative thinking after I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. And...2023-08-2119 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Lyme Disease, Family, and Holistic Healing With Practitioner Amanda Dahl (Replay)"It almost became a puzzle. How can we solve this? What's the next thing?" - Amanda DahlWhen Amanda Dahl and her husband started experiencing strange and debilitating symptoms, they didn’t think they were in for an 18-year journey of mystery and uncertainty. Little did they know that their son's diagnosis of autism and Lyme disease would be the catalyst to discovering the root cause of their struggles - and the unconventional combination of treatments that would eventually bring healing and wholeness to their family.Amanda's own battle with chronic illness and Lyme disease ha...2023-08-1455 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Creating Self Love and a Positive Body Image with Wellness Coach Amy Reinecke (Replay)Amy Reinecke discovered she had Hashimoto’s after having her third child. She is now helping women love their body through healing their mindset. In this week’s podcast, Amy shares her very personal story with growing up in diet culture and developing an eating disorder. And her journey back to loving her body right now, as it is. Amy’s story is so relatable to those of us who grew up dieting and wanting so badly to have the “right” body. She gives inspiration and great tips to stop judging yourself and your body, and learn h...2023-08-0752 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Colorado Bound: Finding the Strength Within With Courtney Bussard“I just trust that even if things don't work out, things are still working out.” -Courtney BussardCourtney Bussard is on her own journey to limitless. From solo travel, to hula hoop performances (and a little fire dancing) - Courtney is determined to not let her chronic illness hold her back.Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2019, her support system lived halfway across the country. Courtney had to trust her gut and fiercely advocate for herself on her own in a system that at first didn’t believe her. By focusing on what brings joy and peace o...2023-07-3153 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Conquering Challenges: The Magic of One Thought at a Time"How we think we're going to feel in the future when we're taking that next step is rarely how we actually feel once we get there." - Andrea HansonJoin me as I talk about a favorite piece of advice that was given to me at a time when I was ready to give up and walk away in the middle of a challenge. Drawing from my experience in a 150 mile bike race, I reveal the simple yet transformative lesson I learned that helped me get up the next day and finish what would be one of my proudest...2023-07-2414 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Embracing New Beginnings: Sarah Jane Smith Lyons on Grief and Building a Fulfilling Life“Life isn't going to look like I wanted it to. I'm not able to have the child that I wanted, but who knows what's next? And it's clear I can't go on like I am. Maybe it's time to find new possibilities.” - Sarah Jane SmithSarah Jane Smith Lyons is an embodiment teacher and mindset coach who helps fellow childless not by choice women integrate grief, amplify agency and embody possibility. During her career as yoga teacher, Sarah Jane taught strength and resilience to her students. When she developed fibroids and had multiple pregnancy losses, Sarah Jane...2023-07-1750 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Breaking Free from Validation: Embracing Authenticity and Self-Love With Career Coach Mayda Poc“Cancer has brought me so many blessings in terms of lessons and rediscovering who I am and what I wanted in life.” - Mayda PocMayda Poc is an international life and career coach for executives in fast paced industries, with a background of over 16 years in the investment banking industry. She’s received multiple certifications and accreditations and speaks four languages.Mayda left investment banking after her diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma - but not right away. After having another life-changing event, she then changed her fast-paced life and started focusing on helping others find fulfillment and purpos...2023-07-1054 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Overcoming Adversity: Ingrid Palmer's Story of Resilience and Adaptability“The intersection of racism and ableism is a high collision zone”- Ingrid PalmerIngrid Palmer is an award-winning speaker, a diversity and inclusion consultant, and the founder and CEO of Focus On Ability - a campaign designed to encourage individuals to triumph over adversity, combat discrimination, and promote universal belonging. From a young age, Ingrid had to navigate a world that never seemed to understand her. Despite experiencing racism, ableism, and sexual abuse, Ingrid remained resilient and resourceful. Ingrid lives with a rare visual condition, retinitis pigmentosa, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Ingrid is sharing her powerful stori...2023-07-0351 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Diagnosed With MSBased on my #1 blog that's been read 1,000's of times, I'm talking about what I wish I knew when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It's been a while since I wrote this, and it's still 100% true. In this episode I talk aboutWhat I pretended to believe, but deep down definitely didn't. Helpful details on how to advocate for yourself when you're getting MRI's and other tests.When we should take the money and run. For more on today's guest and transcripts of this episode, visit: Live Your Life, Not...2023-06-2618 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Using Meditation to Face Life's Challenges With Adam Weber“We want kids to take the time out. As adults, we need a timeout, too.” - Adam WebberAdam Weber is an accomplished speaker, author, and entrepreneur with a personal connection to the world of chronic illness. Living with primary progressive multiple sclerosis for over a decade, Adam has discovered the healing power of meditation in managing stress and maintaining a positive outlook. Drawing on his own experience, he created a user-friendly meditation technique known as Easy to Meditate, and now shares this transformative practice both in-person and online. Adam's genuine and down-to-earth approach has made...2023-06-1950 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Purposeful Storytelling With Shaun Bernstein from The Write Stuff Agency"We all have stories. Our stories are what make us unique. They're what sets us apart." - Shaun BernsteinShaun Bernstein has navigated life with hemophilia since birth. Despite the challenges that come with living with a chronic illness, Shaun has flourished thanks to the support of his parents and their emphasis on normalizing his condition while he grew up. His journey has led him to become a lawyer, a journalist, and eventually, the founder of his own copywriting agency. Shaun's dedication to helping others share their stories, along with his warmth and compassion, make him an...2023-06-1251 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Balancing Life, Love, and Health With Dating Coach Keshia RiceYou only have this one life. You only have this one body. Part of taking care of that body is making sure your mind is right. - Keshia RiceDiagnosed with kidney disease in high school, Keshia has faced her fair share of challenges and has learned the value of setting boundaries and choosing the right people to have in her life. As a preacher's kid, she can relate to the delicate balance between faith and modern dating. Drawing from her own experiences and background in communications, Keshia is provides valuable insights and advice for those seeking fulfilling relationships...2023-06-0553 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Increase Confidence and Self-Compassion: The 4 New Rules of Mindset"Our honest thoughts hold the key to our strongest mindset." - Andrea HansonI believe we judge ourselves entirely too much. This week I'm sharing my four new rules of mindset, designed to help improve self-compassion and confidence. I believe that having a strong mindset means embracing every aspect of our mindset, not just the positive parts. By loving ourselves more and judging our thoughts less, we can achieve and actual positive mindset (no "faking it 'till you make it" needed).In this episode:Embrace a well-rounded mindset for personal growth and success.Cultivate self-compassion while...2023-05-2908 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Ambition, Food, and the French Alps With Nutritional Therapist, Helen Mallaburn (Replay)Helen Mallaburn is a hashimoto’s recovery specialist and nutritional therapist. She lived on the adrenaline of a high stress job, doing lots of sports, working out, and having a very active social life - until her health made her slow down when she developed autoimmune disorders including hashimoto's. She had to reframe her thinking around her health and how to heal herself. She shares her story about how she did it, nutrition - and some really approachable ways to change what we eat - something that can be pretty intimidating. Helen breaks down what sh...2023-05-221h 06Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Embracing Your Weird, Nerdy Self With Author Sarah Bowser"My goal is not to look like the airbrushed Photoshopped models. I just want to be healthy. I want to have energy to play with my kids. "- Sarah BowserSarah Bowser, from That Weird, Nerdy Mom, has transformed her struggle with anxiety and hashimoto's, an autoimmune diagnosis, into a mission to help others find self-love and acceptance. Embracing her weird, nerdy side, Sarah has learned to celebrate her uniqueness and encourages others to do the same. Through her own journey of self-discovery, she has developed a system for cultivating true self-belonging and now shares this...2023-05-1546 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Lyme Disease, Family, and Holistic Healing With Practitioner Amanda Dahl"It almost became a puzzle. How can we solve this? What's the next thing?" - Amanda DahlWhen Amanda Dahl and her husband started experiencing strange and debilitating symptoms, they didn’t think they were in for an 18-year journey of mystery and uncertainty. Little did they know that their son's diagnosis of autism and Lyme disease would be the catalyst to discovering the root cause of their struggles - and the unconventional combination of treatments that would eventually bring healing and wholeness to their family.Amanda's own battle with chronic illness and Lyme disease ha...2023-05-0856 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™5 Lessons About Boundaries (That I Learned the Hard Way) With Andrea HansonI’m sharing my journey with boundaries - the good, the bad and the ugly. The good news is, I learned a lot from being a terrible boundary maker and am bringing those lessons to the podcast today. Hear my personal train wrecks with boundaries and the five invaluable lessons I’ve learned along the way to make great boundaries that help me with my own self growth. My number one goal is to protect my time, decrease my stress level, and increase my energy. Boundaries help me do that more than anything. Discuss...2023-05-0122 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Navigating the Deaf and Hearing Worlds With Author and Coach Kellina Powell"As the Deaf Queen Boss, my goal is to teach others how to be inclusive and change how we approach mental health among people with disabilities and within the deaf community." - Kellina PowellKellina Powell is an entrepreneur and advocate who specializes in working with young professionals with disabilities on managing depression, anxiety, and improving self-esteem. In her book, Everyday I Am Just Deaf, (available now) she shares her personal stories as a deaf person living in a hearing world. In this episode, Kellina shares her experiences, tips for people living with disabilities, and at...2023-04-2455 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Going from Patient to Person With Author and Musician Susie Schwartz“Yes, some days I'm in bed - others I am at the piano or in a gondola in Venice. Life is hard. Life is GOOD.” - Susie SchwartzSusie Schwartz is a Canadian writer, public speaker and singer-songwriter. In her latest book, Help the Doctor Help You: 31 Secrets and Tips to get the BEST from your appointments (available now), Susie compiles her wisdom from an almost lifetime of being the patient into helping the reader have a strong relationship with their doctors. Susie calls it going from patient to person; making sure we’re not just seen as a n...2023-04-1756 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Stress Release and Sophrology with Practitioner Audrey Zannese“When I decided to take the treatment, I made another decision, which was, now it's going to be my health first. It's going to be my work second. This had never occurred to me before. That was a massive shift.” - Audrey ZanneseAudrey Zannese is the Founder of Step into Sophrology in which she helps anyone, especially women living with chronic pain to take back control of their body, health, and well-being. She was first introduced to Sophrology as a way to help her with her diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis. Audrey had alway...2023-04-1049 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Love, Gratitude, and Podcasting with Lauren Rose from “It Hurts to Mom”"I have to live with these things, but I don't have to suffer from them." -Lauren RoseLauren Rose is an author, coach, and the host of the “It Hurts to Mom” podcast.In this week’s episode she’s speaking about her challenges with pretty severe chronic pain - and how through all of that, she found a loving partner and is raising a kind and compassionate daughter. Lauren is living with several degenerative disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic migraine to name a few. Lauren is sharing a treasure trove of information, resources, and tools...2023-04-0346 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™What’s the Difference Between Mindset, Mindfulness, and Positive Thinking? with Andrea W. HansonWhat’s the difference between mindset, mindfulness, and positive thinking? They all work - and feel great. But there’s a big difference and only one can be managed for life long benefits. Master certified life and mindset coach Andrea W. Hanson is getting clear on what mindset really is, the difference between mindset and positive thinking, and the myths about each. In this episode, Andrea discusses-The difference between mindset, mindfulness, and positive thinkingWhen focusing on positive thinking isn’t actually helpfulListing the benefits and debunking the myths about “staying positive”For more...2023-03-2722 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Activism, Social Justice and the Circus with Confidence Coach Anna HeardinLondon"It's really important with all of the work that I do to be able to offer people a space to be seen and to treat themselves as respected, valued humans. That that their story is not only worthy, but also worth being heard and worth being seen." -Anna HeardinLondonAnna HeardinLondon at her core is an advocate for social justice. She took her love of circus performing and her talent for opening businesses and helped survivors of human trafficking in Nepal. Through her photography she highlights people’s often silenced voices and helps others to fi...2023-03-2056 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™PANS/PANDAS Awareness with Advocate Gabriella TrueGabriella True has not only an inspiring story of overcoming challenges herself, her story also extends to working to bring awareness to a complex and often missed diagnosis of PANS and PANDAS - a neuroimmune disorder affecting children and adults. In fact, after our interview she was getting ready to go to her state’s capital to promote legislation to her local congress. You can hear the passion in her voice -and her expertise as she shares about her own diagnosis of PANS - and ultimately the diagnosis that her two children live with it as well. An...2023-03-1346 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Creating Self Love and a Positive Body Image with Wellness Coach Amy ReineckeAmy Reinecke discovered she had Hashimoto’s after having her third child. She is now helping women love their body through healing their mindset. In this week’s podcast, Amy shares her very personal story with growing up in diet culture and developing an eating disorder. And her journey back to loving her body right now, as it is. Amy’s story is so relatable to those of us who grew up dieting and wanting so badly to have the “right” body. She gives inspiration and great tips to stop judging yourself and your body, and learn how to give it the...2023-03-0653 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Can We Push Ourselves Without Hurting Our Health? with Andrea W. HansonLet’s all be honest. We push ourselves- a lot. Whether it’s because we have to work, have deadlines, or just don’t want to let anyone down - we test our limits. And it’s especially problematic when we’re in a flare up, or are injured, or sick. This week, Andrea explores the concept of pushing it - and if we can do it in a way that doesn’t hurt our health. Navigating her recent injury, Andrea talks about the combination of mindset and specific action that helped her get things done, while looking after...2023-02-2717 min
Excel against the OddsWorking with a Chronic Illness - an interview with Andrea Hanson, a motivational speaker and author living with MSIn this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrea Hanson.
Andrea W. Hanson is a motivational speaker and the author of two books about having a positive mindset while living with a diagnosis; "Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis" and "Stop Carrying The Weight of Your MS''. She's also a master certified life & mindset coach who's lived with multiple sclerosis for over two decades. Her podcast, "Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis" features conversations with people who are creating extraordinary lives while living with chronic illness.
Andrea teaches...2023-01-0149 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Peak Performance and Personal Growth with Ali Flynn (replay)Ali is the host of the hit international podcast “Challenges That Change Us”. She was running three successful businesses and raising 3 little girls when she suffered a major stroke at age 30. Her fortitude and ‘find what works’ attitude helped her recover, which included learning to read and write again. It also helped her weather life’s many other ups and downs that came after. Ali’s stories will make your jaw drop - and then minutes later she’ll make you laugh. Ali shares many strategies that she uses daily- and walks you through how to stand back up when you’re in...2022-12-261h 04Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Gratitude Addict with Lauren Zalewski (replay)Lauren Zalewski and I are talking about one of my favorite subjects - gratitude. I feel like gratitude has become somewhat of a cliche recently - which is not where it belongs. Gratitude is so powerful, when it’s done right. There are less effective ways to use gratitude - I’m sure you’ve heard people say things like “you should be grateful for this” or “Just be grateful this worse thing over here didn’t happen” You’ve heard those I’m sure. That’s not the gratitude we’re talking about. Lauren is the self described gr...2022-12-1950 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™A Simple Cure for End of Year Overwhelm with Andrea HansonThe end of the year is here. Cue the joy, the laughter, the parties, and…the overwhelm. Because let’s get real. The end of the year can bring a lot of baggage - and getting it all done by the 31st (or sooner) can make us a bit crazy. Today, I’m teaching my go-to tool that I use whenever I’m overwhelmed and have roughly one million things to do in a week. This easy to use tool helps to relieve that feeling of rushing to get everything done. This also helps to conserve your energy an...2022-12-1217 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™The Undeniable Power of Giving and Receiving With Lee KilbornLee Kilborn is one of those special people that devote their lives to family and service to community. Finding her passion - and absolute talent - early on as a professional volunteer coordinator, Lee made the jump from corporate to work in non-profit. Through her decades in service, she accumulated a volunteer “army” of 1,000’s that would do anything she asked - I know, because I was one of those volunteers. While giving so much of herself to her community, her journey also includes diagnoses, a 100+ pound weight loss, and receiving multiple organ transplants. Throughout all of this, Lee’s focus...2022-12-051h 03Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Corporate Life, Chronic Stress, and Healing Your Body With Integrative Health Coach Michelle LeottaIntegrative health coach Michelle Leotta takes us on her story of being a stressed out kid to being a stressed out adult and how the burnout in her life led her to a whole new career. She talks about the frustration of knowing that something was going on with her body, but not getting the answers she needed. Until she finally connected all the dots. She took her frustrations with her health and burnout and created a new career to both figure out what was going on with her health and then to help other women figure out what’s...2022-11-281h 04Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Caregiving, Self-Love, and Boundaries With Therapist Dr. Francesca OwooDr. Francesca Owoo is back on the podcast, sharing her knowledge as a therapist and as someone living with a chronic illness who is a caregiver to family members. Dr. Owoo brings her signature straight talk mixed with humor to give us great advice on how to make caregiving relationships much healthier. She also discusses breaking the cultural and generational cycles of feeling like you have to give all of yourself to the people you’re caring for, often leaving no time or energy for yourself. This episode is packed with useful tips and ways to create boundaries as th...2022-11-211h 15
Eat Well, Think Well, Live WellYour Inner Critic with Andrea Hanson [Ep. 17]Do you have an inner mean girl? We pretty much all do so don't feel bad in the least if you answered yes! In this episode, my guest Andrea Hanson and I dive into what is going on with that inner critic, where does it come from and what to do about it. This is such a great topic for all women, and especially for those that are trying to make health changes in their lives. Andrea W. Hanson is a motivational speaker and the author of two books about having a positive mindset while living with...2022-11-1650 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Ambition, Food, and the French Alps With Nutritional Therapist, Helen MallaburnHelen Mallaburn is a hashimoto’s recovery specialist and nutritional therapist. She lived on the adrenaline of a high stress job, doing lots of sports, working out, and having a very active social life - until her health made her slow down when she developed autoimmune disorders including hashimoto's. She had to reframe her thinking around her health and how to heal herself. She shares her story about how she did it, nutrition - and some really approachable ways to change what we eat - something that can be pretty intimidating. Helen breaks down what she learned about inflammation an...2022-11-141h 06Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Treating Symptoms Vs. Getting to the Root of the Problem With Dr. Lj JohnsonDr. Lj Johnson is a women’s hormone coach, specializing in endometriosis, PCOS and fibroids. She’s living with endometriosis herself, and has worked in the health and fitness industry for over 20 years. She’s got quite a story - including being a peppy morning news fitness coach (while feeling like her body was out of control) - and working on The Biggest Loser reality show. She’s got stories and a lot of wisdom to share- and her energy is contagious. She shares information, tips and ways you can help yourself not just treat the symptoms, but get to the r...2022-11-0755 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Trauma and Chronic Illness With Elizabeth GuthrieElizabeth Guthrie is a board certified wellness practitioner who is living with PTSD and Long Covid. She’s an expert in Trauma and helps people use natural wellness as part of a trauma recovery program. There are so many questions around trauma - what it really is, do we have to address all of it, do we even have to know why we have it? She gets into the nitty gritty and helps clear up quite a few myths about trauma- and also talks about great tools (like being kind to yourself) that can help in any tr...2022-10-311h 04Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Owning Your Own Business While Protecting Your Health With Sarah BerthonMany business owners are living with a chronic illness. It makes sense - you can work on your own time, put your health first- you don’t have anyone to answer to you. Except then a lot of us realize that we’re not the best bosses, either. And our new beautiful business can tax our health just as much as working in corporate. Sarah Berthon is going to help us with that. As a business owner living with with several chronic illnesses (PoTS, Ehlers Danlos, ME and chronic migraine), she realized she had to create strategies to protect her...2022-10-241h 03Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Cultural Differences and the Importance of Community While Searching for a Diagnosis With Dr Francesca OwooDr. Francesca Owoo is a therapist who focuses on couples and families navigating the complex world of chronic illness. She is passionate about working with this population due to several chronic illnesses within her family. While working on her Ph.D., she was diagnosed with fibroids, stage 4 endometriosis, and adenomyosis. She has 14 years of experience using systemic-based therapies and a culturally-sensitive model when working with marginalized populations in a variety of settings such as psychiatric and medical facilities, community mental health agencies, university clinic settings, and within the school system. In this episode she shares her story and her...2022-10-171h 14Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Incorporating Mind, Body, and Spirit in the Intuitive Healing Journey With Dr. Maryska TaylorDr. Maryska Taylor is a Naturopathic Doctor, Mind-Body Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Intuitive Healer. She’s living with Psoriasis and practices the same healing methods that she teaches her patients. This episode is a masterclass in what the mind-body connection is all about and how to incorporate intuition and spiritual practice into your healing journey. There’s also a fascinating discussion about how slowing down when we need to can actually enhance our success. For more on today's guest and transcripts of this episode, visit: Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis PodcastCo...2022-10-101h 03Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Overcoming the Odds With Dana Baker-WilliamsDana Baker-Williams is a Parent and Teen Coach specializing in ADHD and Anxiety, and mom of two. She’s living with Lupus as well as Sjogrens and Raynaud's. But the very sickness that made her have to learn how to walk again also allowed her to be with her kids and see that her daughter was struggling. A whole new career and a thriving daughter came from having to go on disability. Listen to Dana’s amazing story, and hear her honest take on what helped her through the tough times - and how she’s moving forward with a new...2022-10-0357 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Refusing to Stay Down With Therease WeaverArmy Veteran, mother of two daughters, and positive mindset master. Therease Weaver, who is living with multiple sclerosis, went from feeling total defeat from her MS for years to finding her own solutions to create a fulfilling life. This is a must listen if you have some struggles and need inspiration from someone who refuses to stay down and shares the many ways she doesn’t let her chronic illness win. Therease’s no nonsense style with a good dose of love will leave you knowing you can do anything. For more on today's guest and trans...2022-09-2655 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Peak Performance and Personal Growth With Ali FlynnAli is the host of the hit international podcast “Challenges That Change Us”. She was running three successful businesses and raising 3 little girls when she suffered a major stroke at age 30. Her fortitude and ‘find what works’ attitude helped her recover, which included learning to read and write again. It also helped her weather life’s many other ups and downs that came after. Ali’s stories will make your jaw drop - and then minutes later she’ll make you laugh. Ali shares many strategies that she uses daily- and walks you through how to stand back up when you’re in...2022-09-191h 02Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Rejecting Hustle Culture with Caitlin FisherCaitlin Fisher is an anti-capitalist creativity coach, author, and podcaster, on a mission to help people in the neurodivergent, disabled, and queer communities get in touch with their dreams and break the rules that tell us we have to hustle. Saying no thank you themself to the daily grind, Caitlin shares about navigating the corporate world as a person living with a chronic illness - and their journey leaving corporate and opening their own business that supports their needs - both physically and emotionally. Caitlin also shares about having the courage to leave an abusive marriage, and how they...2022-09-1255 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™How to Travel the World With a Chronic Illness- With Abigail CummingsEverything has a solution - even in a foreign country when you don’t speak the language and your body is going haywire. You can find what you need, move forward - and still have a great vacation. Abigail Cummings proves that having a rare genetic condition (Bardet-Biedl Syndrome) doesn’t stop you from experiencing everything from going to college, traveling abroad with classmates and traveling solo. If you’ve shied away from travel because of your chronic illness, let Abigail guide you through it. She has great tips for travel logistics - and for having a strong travel mindset...2022-09-0548 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Gratitude Addict with Lauren ZalewskiLauren Zalewski and I are talking about one of my favorite subjects - gratitude. I feel like gratitude has become somewhat of a cliche recently - which is not where it belongs. Gratitude is so powerful, when it’s done right. There are less effective ways to use gratitude - I’m sure you’ve heard people say things like “you should be grateful for this” or “Just be grateful this worse thing over here didn’t happen” You’ve heard those I’m sure. That’s not the gratitude we’re talking about. Lauren is the self described gratitude addict and she...2022-08-2950 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™A Caregiver's Perspective with Author Mindy WilsonSo many of the resources about chronic illness are for the adults - but how do you explain things to a child with chronic illness? Our guest today wrote a children’s book aimed at explaining the concept of chronic illness to a child - in a beautifully inclusive way that encourages bravery and confidence for both the child and caregiver. Mindy is also sharing with us the honest, vulnerable, and loving side of the story from the caregiver’s perspective. This look behind the scenes of what the parent, or partner, or friend is going through when they love...2022-08-2242 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Rock Climbing and Road Signs with Valerie BachinskyValerie Bachinsky was diagnosed with osteoarthritis at 27. She was an avid hiker who started having pain when walking downhill - so she decided to go up. Her rock climbing passion began 17 years ago and she hasn’t slowed down since. Valerie is also a nurse who chats with us about surprising causes of inflammation, why a good night’s sleep starts the minute you wake up, and what pain in our bodies really means. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation full of tips to help you feel your best - and maybe become a rock climber yourself. For...2022-08-1552 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Who Am I Now That I Have A Chronic Illness? With Dr. Morgan April MorleyWhen we’re diagnosed with a chronic illness, no one talks about how we go through a bit of an identity crisis. How do we create an identity that’s not centered around our illness, yet is different than before because we now have a diagnosis? I explore these questions in a fascinating discussion with Dr. Morgan April Morley about what makes up our self concept. Diagnosed with Lupus, she had to deal with unique circumstances that affected how she looked at herself and her own identity. Then she decided to research the phenomenon as it relates to all peop...2022-08-0857 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™How To Write Your Own Story (Even When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going) with Paul ForchionePick up your pen and start writing your own story - before someone writes it for you. Paul Forchione brings his own inspiring story about learning to walk when all his doctors said he never would due to his Cerebral Palsy. He catapulted his determination and grit into a business helping others write their stories - no matter how big and impossible they seem. And don’t miss his surprising way to get anyone out to the comparison game. Today’s discussion will give you a big dose of happiness and inspiration. For more on today's gues...2022-08-0153 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™How to have hard conversations about your diagnosis (without losing your cool) with Cyndi Lynne LamarucciolaCyndi Lynne Lamarucciola talks about navigating work culture when it’s more acceptable to leave early to go walk your dog than for a doctor’s visit. How to successfully leave the corporate world behind. Feeling embarrassed as a nurse who “should have known what was going on” when it came to her own diagnosis.Gracefully handling chronic illness in the workplace, The real way to “stay in your own lane” when dealing with what other people think of us- without it blowing up in our face. Why we need to be our own PR department, the secret to asking and r...2022-07-2556 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Olympic Lifting, Six Businesses, And Putting Art on the Moon with Justine MartinWinning strongman competitions as a woman with disabilities is only one small part of Justine Martin’s amazing story. She talks about the invaluable role of art in her recovery from a serious illness and how she’s blossomed her passions into multiple businesses that help others. Justine takes us behind the scenes for everything from how she creates all of her goals so she hits just about every one, to how she runs her booming businesses. Listen to one of the most down to earth people you will ever meet talk about her amazing productivity and the steps we c...2022-07-181h 00Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™A Quick Podcast Intro- Meet Andrea HansonHi, it's Andrea. I can’t wait for you to dive into the new podcast episodes in season 2. But before you do, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself, tell you a little bit about my own story of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and why I think the guests on this podcast are so important.Learn how I’m taking everything I’ve learned through having MS for over two decades, being a master certified coach, author, workshop leader and more - and bringing it to you with the help of powerful guests to help y...2022-07-1817 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Season 2 TrailerHear inspiring discussions with people living with chronic illness. These guests went after their passions and goals -even when everyone told them they couldn't. Listen to stories of resilience and gratitude in the face of uncertainty. Hosted by Andrea W. Hanson, Author, Motivational Speaker, and Autoimmune Rebel living with multiple sclerosis. You’ll not only fall in love with these guests, but you’ll soak up powerful mindset tips and ideas to find your own unique path to success.Please note I'm not a healthcare professional and I'm not promoting any specific therapy. So please use your disc...2022-07-1103 min
Design Your LegacyWomen and Legacies: A Chat With Andrea HansonBecoming The Woman Who Designs Her Legacy - Start By Claiming Your Birthright Now. When it comes to your own personal legacy and experiencing actions in alignment to that, do you feel like you are up against historic as well as hidden obstacles? Even if you are educated and domicile in a forward-thinking culture, you might still wake up feeling unsupported, uninvited or with the imposter syndrome. Know that the experience is common through time zones and age demographics. Too many women give up on their own personal legacies before they even start. But in this “Designing Your Legacy” conversation with...2022-01-1558 min
This Might Get UncomfortableTemper Tantrums And Invisible Illness With Andrea HansonIt's okay to have a temper tantrum every once in a while. By having a temper tantrum, you're releasing all of your pent-up emotions. These are the negative thoughts and anger that could potentially eat you up from the inside. Learn how to fight your inner critic with self-trust and self-acceptance. Join your hosts, Jason Wrobel and Whitney Lauritsen, as they talk to Andrea Hanson on temper tantrums and invisible illnesses like MS. Andrea is an author and a master certified mindset coach. Learn from her personal experience how to deal with judgment and vulnerability. Discover how she fought t...2021-10-221h 04
The K CutEp 11 - When In Film, Do As The Film DoesThis episode, our hosts discuss films that inspired them in real life pursuits. Films that inspired:1. Spotlight (2015) - Directed by Tom McCarthy; Starring Mark Ruffalo2. 8 Mile (2002) - Directed by Curtis Hanson; Starring Eminem3. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011) - Directed by David Fincher; Starring Rooney Mara Question Round Picks:Film's with an unexpected twist - 1. Blue Velvet (1986) - Written & Directed by David Lynch2. Parasite (2019) - Directed by Bong Joon-ho; Written by Bong Joon-ho & Han Jin-wan3. Saw (2005) - D...2021-02-2347 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Can a Little Stress Be Helpful?We know what stress does to our body - sickness, systemic and hormonal problems, not to mention generally feeling like a basket case. But do you know what it does to your brain? There are big changes that happen to our brains under stress that hinder our progress - I'm talking all about those changes and how they hold us back. I hear from a lot of people who swear by a little stress to get them moving. But there's a fine line between a little push for motivation and chronic, bad for you stress. This week, I'm looking...2017-05-2525 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™What Getting the Flu Taught Me About HealthIs there a sick mindset? This week I came face to face with just that. Getting sick is frustrating. But it happens because, life happens. And sometimes we find ourselves tired, cranky, feverish and snotty. That was me for the past few weeks. But, as I do, I learned from being sick. I learned not just about health, but also about limiting factors that stand in the way of you and your highest success in health, wealth and life. But don't take my word for it - hear my take what The Big Leap author Gay Hendricks says about...2017-05-1820 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™The Sneaky Reason Why We Return to Old HabitsWhen we want to make lifestyle changes to get healthier, there's nothing more frustrating that falling back into old habits. We all have them. The ones that keep us on the couch instead of the gym, or keep us giving into cravings instead of opting for something healthier. Those old habits are frustrating because we know they push back that day that we arrive at our natural weight and live an effortless healthy life. Those habits are ultra annoying because we know we don't want them in our lives anymore. So what gives?This week...2017-05-1124 min
Age Less / Live More253: Multiple Sclerosis: Surviving & ThrivingWhat if your immune system went haywire and starting attacking your body's nervous system affecting your vision, your sensations, your mobility, or other bodily functions? Auto-immune conditions are extremely common, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the more devastating diseases in this category. Whether you or someone you know has MS or not, you can learn a great deal about myelin health, proper nutrition, and balanced living from people who do—because for them, it can be a question of life or death. On this week's show, you'll meet an author, coach and expert, Andrea Hanson who is th...2017-05-0450 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™The Real Reason Diet Is a Four Letter WordThis is the last podcast in a three-part series where I talk about my book, Stop Carrying the Weight of Your MS. In this podcast I talk about my personal struggles with diet, why finding an MS diet is so tough. And I reveal the real reason why diet has become a four letter word for all of us. Find out why what we eat is so important (it's more than you think) and why it's completely possible to create a diet you love AND will be motivated to stick with for the long-run. Because why should we go...2017-05-0423 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Why Your Expectations Are CrucialWhat we expect to happen in our lives is super important. Our expectations play a huge role not only in what our future looks like, but also in how fast we get started on our goals now. Learn about the subtle cues your mind will pick up on, making changes for better health seamless. This is a must listen to podcast if you're wondering how you can more easily manifest better health. In this second in a three-part podcast series, Andrea shares behind the scenes gossip about what inspired Chapter 2 of her book, Stop Carrying the Weight...2017-04-2721 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Stop Carrying the Weight of Your DiagnosisThis is the first in a three-part series of podcasts where I talk about the first three chapters in my new book, Stop Carrying the Weight of Your MS. In this week's episode, I talk about the behind the scenes of Chapter 1 and then read the entire chapter. Learn why this book isn't only for people with MS. The character in this chapter is modeled after me and my struggle with weight loss when I was first diagnosed, but it goes so much farther than that. Why being in the age of information and having...2017-04-2026 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Listener Questions: AnsweredAndrea answers listener questions in this information packed episode of the Health Mindset Podcast. We're covering everything from how to explain to someone that you're sick - when you look just fine to how to have fun with creating a health totem. We're also talking about how to have healthy boundaries with your health, and easy tips to using the Law of Attraction for your health. There's also a bonus on turning Mountain Dew into vitamins (straight from a listener's question). In this episode, you will learn- -Why it feels hard to explain...2017-04-1322 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™How to Stop OvercommittingDo you feel like you're overcommitting your life away? The top reasons we don't go 100% in on our health are a lack of time and energy. The reason we feel time and energy are slipping away is because we're spread way too thin. There are many good reasons why we do this- family, friends, and work being a few. In this episode I pin down three reasons why we commit to things we don't want to do, and how to say no while feeling good about it. Leaving us more time and energy to devote to what we're probably sa...2017-04-0622 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Are Cheat Days Okay?Are you committed to your weight loss if you take cheat days? This episode, we talk about how to know if you're truly 100% committed to your weight loss or if you're sliding a bit. Your first reaction may be like mine was - "of course I'm 100% committed." Duh. But I had a big wake up call that caused me to change my answer. My new outlook on committing helps me dial in my health and catapults my results. It's not bad to be 90% or 80% committed to your health - we have busy lives and less energy to focus than we...2017-03-3122 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™3 Ways to a Killer Manifesting MindsetThe health mindset is all about creating the health you want by redesigning your mind. Your mindset is the key to losing weight, living a happy life, and coming out ahead when faced with a diagnosis. Our mindset is everything. When we don’t have a health mindset, we find ourselves on autopilot, realizing we just ate something we swore we wouldn’t. We decide that there’s something more important than getting in that workout. Not having a health mindset means we don’t change, don’t lose weight, don’t get healthy. We need to purposefully create that health...2017-03-2323 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Am I Doing Enough to Lose Weight?My bet is this question runs though your head a few (million) times a week. "Am I doing enough to lose weight?" We all ask ourselves if we're eating the right things, fasting enough, working out enough, doing cardio enough. Whatever it is that you're doing to lose weight, you can wonder if it's enough. Especially when the scale doesn't move. This question, "Am I doing enough?" and the answer, "I don't know," are motivational killers. They put you into a state of confusion about what your body really needs, and then you fear that what you're doing will...2017-03-1622 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Can the Law of Attraction Help You Lose Weight?I'm celebrating this first podcast milestone by talking about something I practice every day for my health, but haven't taught yet on this podcast - the Law of Attraction. This is a weight loss tool every bit as big as eating the right foods, working out, getting quality sleep and decreasing stress. If you've practiced it before in your life, you know how fast it works. But you may also know that the fun and games of attracting good parking spots can get tricky when you try apply them to get better health. Our health is the most personal to...2017-03-1028 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Avoid This Hidden Hazard to Your Weight LossHave you ever wondered if something is wrong with you because you don't get the results that everyone else seems to get? Have you ever caught yourself asking "what's wrong with me? Why can't I just do this?" You're not alone - not by a long shot. There's no shame in asking yourself these questions. We all go there when we're frustrated that results aren't happening as quickly as we want. The problem is, these questions aren't very helpful for your long-term (or even short term) health. There are some common traps that we all fall into on our q...2017-03-0322 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Join the Rebellion for Your HealthLet's talk about rebelling. Whether you come by it naturally (like me) or are someone who's just now learning to speak out for themselves, adding a little rebellion can give you that edge on weight loss and health for life. I'll share what rebelling for your health means (and doesn't mean) and how to get the most out of it. You'll learn everything from what white coat syndrome is and how it can devastate your health to how to have the most empowered, freeing feeling ever (and how chocolate lava cake fits into all of it). In this episode, yo...2017-02-2324 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™The Infamous Work/Life Balance and How to Get ItThe work/life balance is something everyone wants. Whether it's too much work and not enough personal time or wanting badly to get back to work but life keeps getting in the way. Feeling like there's an imbalance to life is a big problem that I see everywhere in our culture. What balance is means something different to each of us, but all of us can agree that once we have this balance, life would be satisfying and secure. Who doesn't want that? But the problem is, many don't feel like they have this balance. The work/life balance i...2017-02-1621 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Do We Have to Be Grateful All the Time?Gratitude. Is it the magic pill that everyone says it is? Can it instantly turn around your day and make something stressful disappear? Maybe. Sometimes. Not always. That answer will get me deleted from a few coach lists. And I'm glad. Because it's been misrepresented for a while now and it's time to set the record straight. Good people are trying it out only to find that gratitude doesn't make all the bad stuff go away. That practices to make them feel grateful only make them feel good when they try really hard not to think about what is...2017-02-1019 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™What’s Your Energy Type? (And Is It Working?)What’s your energy type? Do you know? On this episode I’m talking all about energy – not the kind that gives you pep, but the type of energy you use and if it’s working for you. We all have energy that we give off. I’m sure you’ve noticed when a person […]Mentioned in this episode:Like the podcast? Get the books! My books, Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis and Stop Carrying the Weight of Your MS are available now, wherever books are sold. 2017-02-0321 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™How Not to Sabotage Your GoalsHealth Mindset Podcast, Episode 4 This week on the Health Mindset Podcast, we’re talking about the main reason why even the most doable goals don’t get done. We think we’re sabotaged by unexpected cake, we don’t have time, and just can’t “get on board” with the changes we want to make. Nothing could be farther […]The post 004: How Not to Sabotage Your Goals appeared first on Andrea Hanson Coaching.Mentioned in this episode:Like the podcast? Get the books! My books, Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis and Stop Carrying the Wei...2017-01-2621 minLive Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Why You Shouldn’t Make a New Year ResolutionThe Health Mindset Podcast, Episode 3 This episode is something that I’ve been talking about in my practice for years. Resolutions don’t work. That’s nothing new- the vast majority of people will fail at completing their resolutions by the third week in January (right about now). If you’ve made a resolution for 2017 and are […]The post 003: Why You Shouldn’t Make a New Year Resolution appeared first on Andrea Hanson Coaching.Mentioned in this episode:Like the podcast? Get the books! My books, Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis and Stop Carryin...2017-01-1828 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™Finding Motivation That Actually WorksWe’re doing a deep dive into what motivates us. I mean REALLY motivates us to actually do something that gets us the results we want. Too often we get super inspired or feel like we’re motivated only to have the effects […]The post 002: Finding Motivation That Actually Works appeared first on Andrea Hanson Coaching.Mentioned in this episode:Like the podcast? Get the books! My books, Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis and Stop Carrying the Weight of Your MS are available now, wherever books are sold. 2017-01-1822 min
Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis™What Is the Health Mindset and How Can It Help You with Your Health?Welcome to the Health Mindset Podcast! This podcast is here to help you not only lose weight, but live a healthy life. I’m discussing where your health actually happens (it’s not in those huge goals) and how a health mindset will get you there. I also talk about who […]The post 001 : What Is the Health Mindset and How Can It Help You with Your Health? appeared first on Andrea Hanson Coaching.Mentioned in this episode:Like the podcast? Get the books! My books, Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis and Stop Carryi...2017-01-1733 min
Beyond The Basics Health Academy PodcastPodcast 164: Stop Carrying the Weight of Your Multiple Sclerosis with Andrea Hanson Today we welcome Andrea Wildenthal Hanson to the show. She is a speaker, bestselling author, and master certified life coach. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000, Andrea empowers people to become their own wellness hero, instead of the victim of a disease. Andrea combines her experience from five years of life coaching and 16+ years of living with MS to teach her audience how to create a customized approach to health that includes life balance, mindset tune-ups, and stress management so that they can feel in control of a life they love. Andrea Hanson has two bookS: 1. "Live Your Life, N...2016-08-1929 min