Greater Than with Jen Hoverstad

When people assume that cancer is the worst thing that has ever happened to me, I tell them about Claren, and they quickly realize that a lot of good has come to my life because of my cancer diagnosis.

In today's episode, meet Claren Englebreth. Claren and my paths crossed simply because our oncologist had the foresight (and kindness!) to coordinate our chemotherapy schedules for the same day in hopes that we would meet.

Claren's background is inspiring - an unhealthy marriage, divorce, single parenting, and now a remarried mom of four boys with a successful business that continued to bloom during cancer. I know you're going to love this interview!

In North Carolina, we're headed into week 5 of sheltering in place due to COVID 19, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't find ways to get fresh air and natural sunlight.

In today's Monday Motivation, I give you five reasons why you need to get outside.

Although Michelle Clancy majored in music education at Elon University, her career took an unexpected turn when she was offered a position in public health.

Michelle is one of the professionals behind the scenes helping to protect us from COVID 19, but the basic lessons of preventing the spread of a contagious virus Michelle learned first-hand as the mom of a premature baby who lived in the neonatal intensive care unit for two months.

As a globe, we are going through a pandemic that is unlike anything we've ever experienced as a group of people.

While we follow rules of staying home, keeping a safe social distance when we're around other people, are we maintaining a record of it?

Now, more than ever before, is the time for us to practice journaling. It doesn't have to be sophisticated writing or involve a fancy leather-bound notebook.

In this episode, I help you understand the benefits of journaling, and I read an excerpt from my journal right after I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018.

Susie Silver is an incredible artist, public school teacher, and a member of the LGBTQ community.

In this episode, we discuss what it's like to be outed by someone else and how Susie made it her mission to educate others on ways to be an active ally for the LGBTQ community.

We're living in an unprecedented time where keeping a safe social distance is both accepted and required due to the global pandemic of COVID 19.

Current timelines indicate that we'll be isolated in our homes through April, if not later.

But, humans need connection. We were built for relationships! How do we do that in a time where quarantine is the norm?

In this episode, I give you 10 ways to stay connected from a safe social distance.

On March 28, 2018, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer.

I was 34 years old with a baby, a three-year-old, and a husband of nearly 10 years. My career was on a role, and I had been deemed "healthy" just months prior.

In this episode, I reflect with my husband, Carl, about what it was like for us to receive that diagnosis.

This week, we explore gratitude - the practice of returning kindness. How do we show gratitude? Why should we make it a routine part to our days and weeks?

I recorded this episode prior to thoughts of global quarantine, but how fitting that it's scheduled to be released today. Even from home, we can practice gratitude toward others and to ourselves.

On this week's Monday Motivation, I give you my not-so-secret way to move every single day.

I've had a lot of excuses over the years - law school, career, pregnancy, babies and toddlers - and even now we could blame the Corona Virus (CoVID-19). But each of us can find our own short route to movement, exercise, or a work out!

Listen to the episode to find out how.

In this episode I interview my former University of Tennessee colleague, Tom Satkowiack. In 2000, Tom was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a liver disease that would eventually require a life-saving liver transplant.

Today, Tom is the Assistant Director of Communications for University of Tennessee Athletics and his health, both physically and spiritually, is thriving. Hear how it happened on Greater Than!