What happens when advocating for your health teaches you how to advocate for your entire life?

In this episode of Live Like It Matters, Elissa Kalver sits down with world-class vocalist, breast cancer survivor, and women’s health advocate Jeslyn Gorman.

Jeslyn has performed in sold-out stadiums around the world alongside artists including Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Trainor, Jason Derulo, Nick Jonas, and Rita Ora. But behind the scenes, she was also navigating a breast cancer diagnosis, fertility preservation, chemotherapy, hair loss, and the realities of continuing to perform while undergoing treatment.

Together, Elissa and Jeslyn talk about what happens during—and after—cancer: the realities of survivorship, learning to protect your energy, moving beyond people-pleasing, setting boundaries, and finding the confidence to advocate for yourself both medically and personally.

Connect with Jeslyn

Instagram: @jeslyngorman

For speaking & partnerships: [email protected]

Connect with Elissa

Instagram: @elissakalver

Learn more about We Got This: WeGotThis.org

Follow Live Like It Matters wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that choosing yourself is not selfish—it's necessary.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Listen to Live Like It Matters on YouTube, Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need to hear this conversation. Because when we show up honestly, we give other people permission to do the same.

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when life asks you to become someone you never expected to be?

In this episode of Live Like it Matters, Elissa Kalver sits down with parenting expert, behavioral therapist, and founder of The Parenting Experience, Tatiana Ramos, for a conversation about resilience, advocacy, healing, and navigating life's unexpected turns.

Tatiana shares her journey from overcoming childhood trauma to raising a son with a rare genetic disorder, and the lessons she learned about marriage, caregiving, community, and finding strength in uncertainty.

Together, they explore what it means to advocate fiercely for the people you love while still caring for yourself along the way.

This is a conversation about parenting, purpose, resilience, and the power of building a village when life doesn't go according to plan.

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theparentingexperience

Personal Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/tatak0328

Listen to The Parenting Experience Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elissakalver

Learn more about We Got This:

https://www.wegotthis.org

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you pursue ambitious goals without losing sight of the people and priorities that matter most?

In this episode of Live Like it Matters, Elissa Kalver sits down with Dr. Kari Selander—global policy strategist, mother of two, and creator of the Mutha Life podcast.

Known for building international programs, advising governments, and creating partnerships that drive change around the world, Kari shares a more personal perspective on leadership, ambition, motherhood, and identity.

Together, they explore the realities of balancing meaningful work with family life, the pressure to do it all, and why perfection is often the enemy of purpose.

This is a conversation about impact, parenthood, leadership, and creating a life that reflects your values—even when life doesn't fit neatly into a plan.

📲 Instagram: @mutha.life

🎙️ Mutha Life Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mutha-life/id1765893071

📰 Newsletter: muthalife.substack.com

📧 Contact: [email protected]

📲 Instagram: @elissakalver

Follow Live Like it Matters for more conversations about resilience, purpose, leadership, and living with intention.

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when life changes faster than you’re prepared for?

In this episode of Live Like it Matters, Elissa Kalver speaks with former Marine and cancer advocate Jake Messier about living with stage 4 metastatic male breast cancer — and how the diagnosis reshaped his perspective on life, identity, and purpose.

Jake shares openly about the emotional realities of navigating uncertainty, advocating for awareness around male breast cancer, and choosing to live visibly through difficult circumstances.

This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and what it means to keep showing up when life looks nothing like you expected.

Follow Jake Messier as he shares his journey living with stage 4 metastatic male breast cancer and advocates for greater awareness, research, and inclusivity around male breast cancer.

🌐 Website: https://www.theguywithstage4breastcancer.com/

📲 TikTok & Instagram: @theguywithstage4breastcancer

Jake uses his platform to educate, advocate, and help others feel less alone while navigating cancer, uncertainty, and survivorship.

Follow Elissa Kalver and stay connected with both Live Like it Matters and WE GOT THIS for more conversations about resilience, perspective, healing, and navigating life’s hardest moments together.

📲 Instagram: @elissakalver

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

• Live Like it Matters — available on YouTube and all podcast platforms
• WE GOT THIS — available on YouTube and all podcast platforms

💬 Share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that they’re not alone.

Follow Live Like it Matters for more conversations about the moments that shape us most.

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 16 - What does it actually take to build a creative career? In this episode of Live Like it Matters, Elissa Kalver speaks with writer, director, and performer Alison Flierl about the reality of breaking into Hollywood — and why the path is rarely straightforward. From writing for major TV shows to developing original projects, Alison shares what she’s learned about persistence, rejection, and staying creative through uncertainty. This is a conversation about building something over time — without a clear roadmap — and trusting the process as it unfolds. Follow Live Like it Matters for more conversations about creating a life and career that feels aligned.

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 15 - Can you feel grief and gratitude at the same time?

In this episode of Live Like it Matters, Elissa Kalver sits down with comedian and writer Giulia Rozzi to explore the unexpected overlap between loss, humor, and perspective.

As a breast cancer survivor, Giulia shares how her experience reshaped the way she sees life — and why laughter and grief often live side by side.

This is a conversation about holding multiple truths at once, letting go of how we think healing “should” look, and finding moments of lightness even in difficult seasons.

Follow Live Like it Matters for more conversations about the moments that change how we live.

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What changes when you realize time isn’t guaranteed?

In this episode of Live Like it Matters, Elissa Kalver speaks with Sidney Raskind (Sidney Raz) about the life-shifting experience of being diagnosed with stomach cancer — and how it changed the way he approaches everyday life.

Known for sharing practical advice people wish they learned sooner, Sidney reflects on how those lessons took on a completely different meaning after his diagnosis.

This is a conversation about perspective, priorities, and learning how to live with more intention — not someday, but now.

Follow Live Like it Matters for more conversations about the moments that shape how we live.

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 13 What does it really cost to pretend you’re okay?

In this episode of Live Like it Matters, Elissa Kalver speaks with Mitch Wallis, mental health advocate and founder of Heart On My Sleeve, about the breaking point that changed the trajectory of his life.

From corporate success to a very public battle with depression, Mitch shares what it took to stop performing strength and start telling the truth.

This is a conversation about stigma, silence, and the courage it takes to speak when everything in you wants to hide.

Follow the show for more conversations about the moments that shape who we become.

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 12 In this episode of Live Like it Matters, Elissa Kalver sits down with Vika Victoria, master storyteller and communications coach, to explore what happens after a life-shifting moment — when the old version of you has to reassess and resilience has to be built out of a hard story. This conversation goes beyond storytelling as a skill and into storytelling as a survival tool to learn: How identity shifts after disruption - Why resilience isn’t about “bouncing back” - And how meaning is rebuilt when certainty disappears. If you’ve ever felt like life asked you to rewrite yourself before you were ready this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

🔗 Learn more about Vika: https://bravenewstory.com

📲 Follow Vika on social: @vikatalks

🔗 Learn more about Elissa: https://elissakalver.com

📲 Follow Elissa on social: @ElissaKalver

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations about meaning, resilience, and living like it matters.

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Live as It Matters, I sit down with one of my best friends, photographer, creative, and all-around light-bringer, Billye Breinnesen, the heart behind Billye Donya Photography. Billye naturally thrives behind the camera, pouring her talent into capturing raw, meaningful moments for others. But today, I coaxed her in front of the mic and right outside her comfort zone and straight into my world of content, conversation, and connection. What We Dive Into: Billye’s journey from hobby photographer to building her own brand, Billye Donya Photography. How creativity and courage collide—and what it looks like to stretch yourself in ways that feel both risky and right. The power of friendship in pushing us toward growth, even when it’s uncomfortable. What happens when two different creative worlds meet—hers behind the lens, mine in content and storytelling. Why showing up matters, even when you’re unsure, unprepared, or a little terrified. Why This Episode Matters: This conversation is about more than photography. It’s about saying yes to the moments that nudge us toward growth. It’s about letting the people who love us push us in the best possible ways. And it’s about embracing the awkward, the hilarious, and the beautifully vulnerable parts of trying something new (and sometimes documenting it!)

Billye Breinnesen

Email: [email protected]

Website:  https://www.billyedonya.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billyedonyaphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyeDonyaPhotography

Elissa Kalver 

Email: [email protected]

Website: elissakalver.com

Instagram: @elissakalver

Facebook: Elissa Kalver

TikTok: @elissakalver

Linkedin: Elissa Kalver

Book: We Got This: How I Learned to Thrive with Terminal Cancer 

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.