More Than A Diagnosis is a podcast created by our nonprofit to encourage, support, and empower people navigating chronic illness and cancer.

Join childhood best friends and non profit co founders Den and Jes as they explore the human experience beyond medical labels through honest conversations, inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical resources. Whether you're a patient, survivor, caregiver, or simply supporting someone you love, you'll find hope, connection, and reminders that you are more than your diagnosis.

Learn more and connect with our community at morethanadiagnosis.org because no one should have to face a diagnosis alone.

This Season 2 finale is an honest pause, not a resolution. Jes and Den reflect on what feels steady, what still challenges them, and what they haven't fully figured out yet. This episode explores ongoing questions, unresolved emotions, and the conversations they're still navigating. Den and Jes are leaving space for curiosity, tension, and the promise of more to come in the next season. In the meantime please be sure to connect with the community on our website morethanadiagnosis.org or find us on social media. 

Boundaries are hard and sometimes saying no is even harder. In this episode, Jes and Den explore the ongoing challenge of people-pleasing — why we do it, why it persists, and how illness or long-term health challenges make it even trickier. They share reflections and strategies for recognizing your limits, holding your boundaries, and saying no without guilt. This conversation is for anyone who struggles to put themselves first while staying connected to others.

Support looks different after the crisis ends. In this episode, Den and Jes talk about how relationships shift once treatment is over but the reality of illness remains. We explore the difference between crisis support and long-term presence, what happens when people assume you're "better," and how your needs evolve over time. This conversation is about quiet changes, unspoken recalibrations, and learning to navigate support that doesn't look the way it once did.

Connect with us on our website or find us on social media. 

What happens to femininity after a mastectomy? And why is womanhood so often tied to certain body parts?

In part 2 of the Missing Pieces Series, Jes and Den have an honest conversation about redefining femininity after breast cancer. Jes shares why she chose not to pursue breast reconstruction, the reactions she's received, and how societal expectations often shape the way women are taught to view their bodies after something like breast cancer.

This episode explores body image after breast cancer, identity after mastectomy, and the pressure to "fix" while making space for all valid experiences—grief, acceptance, reconstruction, or going flat.

For anyone diagnosed with breast cancer, for survivors, and anyone questioning traditional ideas of femininity, this conversation is a reminder that missing something doesn't mean you're incomplete and your body doesn't need to be fixed to be worthy.

What happens when the caregiver becomes the one needing care? In this deeply personal episode, Den shares her experience of moving from life as a nurse to life as a patient—navigating illness with both medical knowledge and human vulnerability.

Together, we explore identity shifts, grief, self-advocacy, and what compassionate care truly looks like when you're on the other side of the hospital bed. This conversation isn't about diagnoses or timelines. It's about what illness teaches you when you've spent your life caring for others—and how being cared for can change everything. 

A gentle listen for patients, caregivers, clinicians, and anyone learning how to hold both strength and softness at the same time.

For more resources please visit us at https://morethanadiagnosis.org

What happens when your body can't keep up with a world that glorifies the grind? In this episode, Jes and Den unpack the pressure to "push through" while living with illness and how hustle culture shapes our sense of worth. Together, they explore what it means to rest without guilt, redefine success, and find peace in slower seasons. This conversation is a reminder that you are not your productivity—your value doesn't disappear when your energy does.

💬 Join the Conversation:

We'd love to hear how you're redefining work and rest in your own life. Share your thoughts in our Support Circle on the website morethanadianosis.org or connect with us on TikTok @MoreThanADiagnosis — let's keep unlearning hustle culture together.

In this episode, we talk about self-love in its most honest form: listening to your body, grieving who you used to be, setting boundaries without apology, and redefining worth outside of productivity. We explore what it means to care for yourself when "pushing through" is no longer an option—and why rest, community, and compassion matter just as much as resilience. This conversation is for anyone navigating illness, loss, or a season of life that requires more tenderness than motivation. If you're looking for a space to continue these conversations, you're always welcome in our free Support Circle at morethanadiagnosis.org.

There's a moment that comes after diagnosis — and sometimes after survival — when you realize this might not be temporary. In this episode, Jes and Den talk about what it means to live with chronic illness from two perspectives: navigating long-term illness, and learning to live in a changed body after cancer. They explore the quiet grief no one prepares you for, the pressure to "stay positive," and the slow, honest work of acceptance that doesn't mean giving up. This conversation isn't about fixing or forcing hope. It's about gentleness, honesty, and learning how to build a life that fits the body you're in now. If you're living with chronic illness, cancer, or ongoing uncertainty — or if you're realizing you're not going back to who you were — this episode is for you. If this episode resonated, we'd love for you to share it with someone who might need it. And if you're looking for a space to continue these conversations, you're always welcome in our free Support Circle at morethanadiagnosis.org.

January comes with a lot of pressure to reset, restart, and reinvent yourself. But winter isn't built for urgency, and not everyone has the capacity for big goals or fresh starts right now. In this episode, Jes and Den have a real, honest conversation about letting go of resolutions and embracing a gentler way of entering the new year. They talk about why January often feels so heavy, how rest is not a failure, and the ways they're easing into the new year. This is an episode for anyone living with chronic illness, grief, burnout, or simply feeling behind. A reminder that you don't need to rush, you don't need a full plan, and you're allowed to move at the pace your body and life allow. Winter is not for hustling. You're not behind. And rest counts. Let's continue this conversation over in the support circle at morethanadiagnosis.org