In this episode of Trigger Proof with Mikki Bey: An Emotional Regulation Podcast, Mikki sits down with Daniel Rodriguez—speaker, coach, cancer warrior, and advocate for mental and emotional resilience—to explore what happens when life forces you into the present and how emotional regulation becomes the key to surviving and transforming through crisis.

Daniel shares his deeply personal journey of receiving a life-changing cancer diagnosis at a young age, and how that moment pushed him from fear into radical presence. Instead of waiting for “someday,” Daniel chose to live boldly, pursue adventure, and build a new relationship with his nervous system, his identity, and his purpose.

Through raw storytelling and grounded wisdom, Daniel and Mikki dive into:

• The emotional impact of receiving a cancer diagnosis

• How fear, uncertainty, and survival mode reshape identity

• What “living urgently” actually looks like

• The power of emotional regulation during medical, personal, and relational trauma

• How journaling, gratitude, and breathwork became life-saving tools

• Why even experts, coaches, and leaders must seek support

• The shame of suffering in silence—and how to break that pattern