The FWD Think Tank

What if the most powerful medicine you need is not another supplement, lab test, or treatment—but your own life?In this deeply transformative episode of the FWD Think Tank Podcast, I sit down with the brilliant and thought-provoking Dr. Cassie Wuthrich for what can only be described as a master class in healing, intuition, and the art of trusting the body's innate wisdom.Unlike a traditional Q&A interview, this conversation unfolds more like a poetic teaching. And I decided to sit back and listen and let this goddess of a human share her magic that can truly transform the way we go about healing. Dr. Cassie shares profound insights on why life itself can be our greatest medicine, and how true healing often begins when we stop chasing endless protocols and start listening to the intelligence already within us.If you've ever felt:Burnt out from trying every supplement, treatment, or wellness trendOverwhelmed by conflicting health advice and "expert" opinionsStuck in analysis paralysis, believing you need more data before you can healExhausted from being on the healing hamster wheel despite doing "everything right"...this episode is for you.Dr. Cassie explores why she no longer relies heavily on supplements in her practice, how each person is truly an N of 1 when it comes to healing, and why wellness is about far more than IV therapies, medications, surgeries, and interventions designed to force the body into a response.Instead, she invites us into a radically different perspective: that the body is not broken—it is communicating.This rich and expansive conversation is filled with storytelling, wisdom, and truth that challenges the modern health paradigm and offers a more intuitive, embodied approach to healing. In this episode, we discuss: Why life itself can be magical medicineThe hidden cost of over-relying on supplements and protocolsHealing burnout and the trap of "doing more"Trusting your body's innate wisdomWhy every individual is an N of 1Moving beyond analysis paralysisIntuition, storytelling, and the deeper meaning of illnessHow to stop forcing healing and start receiving itWhether you're navigating chronic illness, recovering from cancer, struggling with burnout, or simply seeking a more meaningful relationship with your health, this episode will leave you feeling grounded, inspired, and profoundly hopeful.🎧 Tune in and discover how healing may begin not with doing more—but with listening more deeply.

What happens when a routine check-up turns into a life-altering diagnosis?In this deeply personal and powerful episode, I sit down with Lauren Corcoran, a stage 3 lung cancer survivor who was diagnosed at just 38 years old—as a non-smoker and brand new mom to a one-year-old. What she initially thought was a lingering injury from getting back into the gym postpartum ultimately led to the shocking discovery of a tumor in her chest.Lauren shares her full cancer journey—from the moment of diagnosis to navigating treatment, major surgery, and life on the other side. We dive into how she approached building the right medical team, learning to advocate for herself as a new mother, and making deeply personal decisions about her care based on trust, intuition, and individual needs.In this episode, we also explore:The rising trend of lung cancer in non-smokers and younger womenHow Lauren chose a care team aligned with her values and built meaningful relationships with her doctorsWhat it looked like to uproot her life and move overseas to London during such a vulnerable chapterThe reality of undergoing complex surgery and long-term treatmentThe power of support systems, partnership, and community during a health crisisHow motherhood shaped her resilience, perspective, and decision-makingNavigating “scanxiety,” survivorship, and life on ongoing medicationHow losing friends to cancer has reshaped her outlook on life, gratitude, and presenceThe evolution of her marriage and the strength she found in her relationship with her husbandLauren’s story is one of resilience, perspective, and deep appreciation for life. She opens up about what it means to live fully—even in the face of uncertainty—and how she continues to move forward with strength, gratitude, and intention.If you or someone you love is navigating a cancer diagnosis, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—and that your voice, your choices, and your life matter deeply.RESOURCES: Young Lung Cancer Initiative: https://ylci.org/Stamford Hospital Bennett Cancer Center: https://www.stamfordhealth.org/Get in touch with Lauren directly on Instagram @laurencorc

What happens when a Stage 3C HER2+ breast cancer diagnosis forces you to rethink everything you thought you knew about healing?In this episode of the FWD Think Tank Podcast, I sit down with Sara Stratton, Nutrition Oncology Consultant with Remission Nutrition and Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist, to talk about her powerful journey through breast cancer and how she discovered the metabolic approach to cancer while navigating treatment.Sara shares what was happening in her life leading up to her Stage 3C HER2+ breast cancer diagnosis, the early symptoms she experienced, and how she ultimately built a treatment strategy that blended conventional oncology care with integrative therapies.We dive into the growing conversation around metabolic health and cancer, and how Sara used both traditional treatment and lifestyle interventions to support her body through the healing process.One of the most powerful tools she discovered along the way? Exercise.Sara explains why movement and exercise during cancer treatment can play a critical role in recovery, resilience, and long-term health. As a Cancer Exercise Specialist today, she now helps others safely incorporate movement into their healing journey.We also discuss the reality of navigating hormone-blocking therapy after breast cancer, how she manages low hormones post-treatment, and why exercise has become a cornerstone of her personal wellness strategy.Perhaps the most empowering message from Sara’s story is this: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cancer treatment. While doctors and specialists provide guidance, you are ultimately the captain of your own health journey, and finding the right protocol for your body is deeply individualized.If you or someone you love is navigating breast cancer, integrative oncology, metabolic cancer therapies, or lifestyle strategies for healing, this conversation offers both practical insight and powerful perspective.Topics We Cover• Sara’s journey through Stage 3C HER2+ breast cancer• Discovering the metabolic approach to cancer• Combining conventional cancer treatment with integrative therapies• Why exercise during cancer treatment can support healing• The role of movement in cancer recovery• Navigating hormone-blocking therapy after breast cancer• Managing low hormone levels post-treatment• Why cancer treatment must be personalized• How to become the captain of your own health journeyUse code "SARAJAMIE10" at checkout to receive 10% off a Starter Package with Sara at Remission Nutrition. To learn more about Sara and work with her directly, you can find her here : https://remissionnutrition.practicebetter.io/#/5db86b122a83260698517c74/bookings?r=67d843a7720d3d68c2c479aa&step=services

What do you do when you want to give up on your healing journey?When you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, burnt out, and ready to throw in the towel — mentally, emotionally, and physically?In this deeply personal solo episode, I share a raw, honest conversation about the moments in healing that feel impossible. Whether you're navigating chronic illness, recovering from cancer, dealing with chronic symptoms that won’t let up, or supporting a loved one through their health struggle, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone — and you’re not failing.I explore what happens when your mental health dips, when your hope feels thin, and when your body asks more of you than you think you have to give, and offer practical tools and gentle mindset shifts to help you get through the hardest days of the healing process.✨ In this episode, we dive into:What to do when you feel like giving up on your healing journeyThe mental and emotional burnout that comes with chronic illnessHow shifting your focus can regulate your nervous systemBeing gentle with yourself when your energy or symptoms fluctuateCreating micro-moments of joy to interrupt fear and overwhelmReframing your healing by asking better questionsHow to return to possibility when everything feels impossibleSupport for caregivers & loved ones who are equally exhaustedJamie also shares vulnerable moments from her own experience healing from thymoma cancer, and myasthenia gravis, offering insight, compassion, and hope for anyone walking a long-term healing path.🌟 This is your reminder:You can want to give up and still keep going.You can be exhausted and still incredibly strong.You can feel lost and still be healing.If you need a reason to hold on today — let this episode be it.🎧 Listen If You’re Searching For: chronic illness healing, cancer recovery, myasthenia gravis support, mental health during chronic illness, how to stay motivated on your healing journey, what to do when you feel like giving up, chronic fatigue, burnout recovery, emotional resilience, nervous system healing, holistic cancer care, inspiration for tough days, healing mindset shifts, chronic illness podcast, integrative healing tools, trauma and illness connection.It helps this show reach others who are struggling on their healing journey.▶️ If this episode helped you, please subscribe + leave a review!RESOURCES: Use code "JAMIE10" for 10% off Leah Crescenzo's Rewrite: Invisibility Program. Learn more here: https://leahcrescenzo.com/rewrite-invisibility-1Use code "JAMIE5" for 5% off a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber rental with Affordable Hyperbaric Solutions. Learn more here: www.affordablehyperbaricsolutions.com Support the podcast and my road to recovery: https://gofund.me/c9fabfc53

In this episode, I sit down with one of my childhood besties of over two decades, Jen McCormick, a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner who specializes in perimenopause, menopause, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Jen opens up about the personal experience that inspired her to focus on women’s hormonal health — her postpartum journey after her second son and the hormonal shifts that revealed major gaps in care for perimenopausal and menopausal women.Together, we cover everything you need to know about navigating hormonal change with confidence and clarity:What perimenopause really is — and when it startsThe key hormones involved (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) and how they impact mood, sleep, metabolism & libidoThe most common signs and symptoms of perimenopauseWhat bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is, who it’s for, and how it differs from traditional HRTThe different methods of BHRT delivery (creams, pellets, oral, etc.) and how to find the right dose for youWhy transparency with your provider is key for balancing hormones safely and effectivelyWhether you’re in your late 30s, 40s, or beyond, this episode will help you better understand your hormones and empower you to take charge of your health during the perimenopausal transition. Psst: Send this to a girlfriend who may need to hear this!See below for resources to get in touch with Jen: RESOURCES:You can find Jen on instagram at @that_np_jen To book a consult with Jen: https://alignyogaandwellness.com/empowher-np Other menopausal resources Jen mentions in this episode: Dr. Heather Hirsch @heatherhirschmdDr. Mary Clair Haver @drmaryclaire Looking for a hyperbaric oxygen chamber rental? Check out Affordably Hyperbaric Solutions. Mention the code "Jamie5" for 5% off a monthly rental. Support the podcast and my healing journey directly: https://gofund.me/39f585f4

This week I had the honor of sitting down with the delightful Nitika Chopra — founder of Chronicon and The Chronicon Foundation, a pioneering platform and nonprofit uplifting those living with chronic illness through community, advocacy, and education. A seasoned host, speaker, and entrepreneur, she’s collaborated with brands like Google, Microsoft, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, hosted a globally distributed talk show, and now leads Truth Talks via her publication The Truth Today.Her mission: to create healing spaces where people are empowered to live fully and thrive—on their terms, and truly a beautiful human who has navigated most of her life living with multiple (and at times debilitating) chronic illnesses — to discuss her journey navigating these health challenges, how her pain turned to purpose in her work, and why she believes your challenges in life are not the WHOLE truth of who you are. Nitika shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with psoriasis at a young age, later developing psoriatic arthritis, and most recently, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, including symptoms she was experiencing and how her diagnosis She opens up about the early symptoms she experienced, how she’s learned to listen to her body, and the healing practices that have supported her — from therapy and learning about nervous system regulation to creating safe, empowering spaces for others through her foundation, Chronicon. We explore how her struggles led her to create Chronicon, a movement and community for people living with chronic illness, and her Life Mastery program that helps individuals reclaim joy, purpose, and connection even in the midst of health challenges. We also discuss the importance of the relationships in her life and how those have helped her persevere during challenges with her health and the hard days. Whether you live with chronic illness yourself or support someone who does, this conversation is filled with wisdom, compassion, and hope.This conversation touched my heart personally, as Nitika was the first person I have interviewed who has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune condition that has also affected me the last two years. She is a true inspiration and example that so much goodness is possible despite our challenges we face. See below resources for how to get in touch with Nitika. For nearly two decades, Nitika has paved the way as a changemaker in both the wellness and chronic illness landscapes. Her work transcends diagnosis—offering space, strategy, and spirit for anyone seeking to live a more liberated and meaningful life--RESOURCES: Book a discovery call with Nitika Subscribe to Nitika's Substack ---To rent or buy a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber (HBOT) visit https://affordablehyperbaricsolutions.com/ and mention Jamie Mazza when inquiring. To support the podcast and my healing journey: https://gofund.me/5a8764f20

At just 26 years old, Lauren Jeffrey survived what doctors call “the Widow Maker” — a massive heart attack that very few people live to tell about. In this powerful episode we dive deep into her life-saving experience, the warning signs and symptoms of heart attacks in women, and the critical steps to take if you think you’re having one.Lauren opens up about the moment she realized something was wrong, how she drove herself to the hospital, advocated for herself in the ER, and what her health scare and recovery journey has taught her about self-awareness, relationships, given her a unique perspective on life, and taught her not to sweat the small stuff.Whether you’re passionate about heart health, have a family history of cardiovascular disease, or simply want to learn how to protect yourself and others, this conversation is a must-listen.In this episode, we cover:Early warning signs of a heart attack in womenHow to recognize and respond to cardiac distressEmotional and physical recovery after a heart attackLife perspective shifts and healing through gratitude and resilienceThe importance of women’s heart health awareness and self-advocacy--RESOURCES: Support the podcast + road to recovery: https://gofund.me/5a8764f20

Jesi Stracham was in a motor cycle accident over a decade ago causing a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed and using a wheelchair. And she refused to let that disability define her by society's standards- she continues to redefine living with limitations and it is truly remarkable. In this episode, Jesi and I dive deep into her journey living with a spinal cord injury; from finding God the night before her accident , why she believes it's important for wheelchair users to take care of themselves emotionally, physically and spiritually and how that has a SIGNIFICANT impact on your independence, how she uses holistic recovery therapies to heal her body, what it's like to author a book where she can unapologetically herself, and how working through her own BS and empowering herself to be better led her to find a loving relationship she never dreamed possible. She is a HUGE advocate of mental health and shares mental health tips for people who are learning to live with a disability, why it's necessary to communicate with your support system during healing, and so much more. This woman blows me away by her transparency on this journey and how authentically she shares the ups and downs of life with a disability on her social channels. In fact, she discovered by sharing a Youtube video having a meltdown on the floor in a hotel room where she was struggling with her disability just how powerful her voice is in this world. This moment changed everything. Being able to sit with Jesi and share our struggles together and how we've overcome these situations and chosen to pivot and empower ourselves was something I didn't know my soul needed. Jesi is a HUGE inspiration to me, and I know will be for all of you. Jesi Stracham is a soon to be author of her memoir Roll With Me, releasing in November 2025, and is a speaker, entrepreneur and advocate of transforming lives. She is the cofounder of Freedom Longevity + Wellness LKN, a co-developer of Wheel With me Adapt Fit, an adaptive fitness app for wheelchair users and she has an INCREDIBLY inspiring social media platform where she shares the raw and real truths of her healing journey. RESOURCES: Jesi Stracham Contact- 704-736-3222jesi@Jesistracham.comCoaching Inquiry https://link.arfunnel.io/widget/form/3u5NY5Mg3rdwZ1HpUkeD?notrack=trueJesi StrachamPower in the Roll Book Presale https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/power-in-the-rollwww.jesistracham.comwww.facebook.com/jesistrachamwww.instagram.com/jesistrachamwww.linkedin.com/jesistrachamwww.threads.com/jesistrachamwww.tiktok.com/jesistrachamWheel With Me Adapt FitLink to the app- http://onelink.to/wheelwithmeFacebook community- https://www.facebook.com/share/qXWN5vZ7cWfsuLHN/?mibextid=K35XfPwww.instagram.com/wheelwithmeadaptfitwww.wheelwithmeadaptfit.comWheel With Me Foundationwww.wheelwithmefoundation.orgwww.facebook.com/wheelwithmewww.twitter.com/wheelwithmeFreedom LKN The Facilityhttps://www.freedomlkn.comhttps://www.instagram.com/freedomlkn

Do you feel better when your home is tidy? Does bringing in flowers, colors or scents into your home change your mood? There is a psychology and science behind that. This week, I bring Hoda Jaludi to the podcast- a Design Psychology Expert, Lifestyle Designer & Coach, and author of her brand new book: A Retreat Within: A self-help guide to find the retreat within you. Hoda and I discuss how she works with clients to help them create spaces that nurture healing, bring comfort and peace to the eye and also to the soul. We discuss the importance of creating a space based on the five sensorial experiences, and how colors, scents, sounds and tangible items you can touch can create healing, harmony and a safe space to let your feelings out and create that retreat within your home. Hoda and I also discuss the importance of taking social media breaks, and how the modern world is altering our psyche, the importance of real human connection and so much more. To learn more about Hoda, connect with her and find her new book, see the resources listed below: RESOURCES: https://karamabyhoda.com/Retreat Within on AmazonRetreat Within on Barnes & Noble Get 15% off your order of Woolly Clothing with Code JAMIEM15 at checkout woolly.clothingGet 40% off your first order at Thrive Market with this link: http://thrv.me/MYEWaD

Ever feel like you're living in Ground Hog's Day? You find yourself falling into the same types of relationships, hitting the glass ceiling in your career or earning potential, or find yourself in the same emotional patterns mentally. It's not your fault- it's the subconscious programming we're running! Learn how Hypnotherapy can help to break through those repeat patterns and rewrite our subconscious programming with my friend, Hypnotherapist and Coach Leah Crescenzo. Leah dives deep into the subconscious mind and how our limiting belief systems keep us stuck in autopilot, and keeps us from reaching our full potential and living a life that we love. In this episode, Leah shares more about what Hypnotherapy is and how she landed in this career, what it's like to work with her as a coach and hypnotherapist, and the types of situations that hypnotherapy can help. Leah is an INCREDIBLE practitioner and helps her clients create their dream lives by uncovering, healing and reprogramming their subconscious thought patterns. We also discuss how our thoughts can manifest as physical sensations and ailments in our body, how we are walking around disconnected as a society, and ways to connect to our subconscious by reconnecting with our bodies. RESOURCES: GET $50 off your 30 Day Private Hypnotherapy + RTT Experience with Leah: www.heyleahc.com Get 15% off your order of Woolly Clothing with Code JAMIEM15 at checkout woolly.clothingGet 40% off your first order at Thrive Market with this link: http://thrv.me/MYEWaD

Did you know your emotions correspond to different organs in the body, and there are specific times of day in which those organs are recharging? Fascinating, right? In this episode, I sit down with my Acupuncturist, Dr. Erin Kumpf and pick her brain on all things Chinese Medicine. Chinese Medicine is an Eastern way of treating and viewing the body and is all encompassing- it doesn't just look at one specific ailment or symptom, but instead it aims to connect different areas of the body and helps get to the root cause by rebalancing and restoring Qi, our life force in the body. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have helped me COUNTLESS times between balancing my hormones, reducing pain and inflammation in the body, helping rebalance my digestion, heal post-surgery, restore my nervous system and so much more, so I was ECSTATIC to sit with Erin and have this conversation. We discuss ways in which our emotions can have an impact on our organs, the way these organ systems also relate to the different elements, how we can balance our symptoms with food, energy, and we even go through a breathing technique using QiGong practices that rebalance the organ systems with sound and color. This episode is truly fascinating and I cannot wait for you to see why I love Erin OH so much. Dr. Erin Kumpf is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine (D.A.C.M), Licensed Acupuncturist (L. Ac) and Herbalist, and is one of my most treasured and beloved doctors and healers on this journey. I have had the honor of working with Erin for over six years. She focuses on women's health and reproductive health, and is TRULY a miracle worker. RESOURCES: To learn more about Erin and her services, visit her website: www.ekahlife.com Find Erin's practice on Instagram @erinkumpfacupunctureherbs---Get 15% off your order of Woolly Clothing with Code JAMIEM15 at checkout woolly.clothingGet 40% off your first order at Thrive Market with this link: http://thrv.me/MYEWaD

Struggling with digestive issues, bloating, migraines, late night snacking and mystery symptoms you can't get to the bottom of? It MIGHT be a parasite. This week, I am joined by Alicia Hickson, a Physician's Assistant and the Founder of Rayma Health - an integrative medical practice that specializes in cancer care, metabolic disease, autoimmune issues, cognitive health and so much more. In this episode, Alicia breaks down signs and symptoms of parasites, what we can do to support our body's inner ecosystem or "terrain" to reduce these infections, and the connection between cancer and parasites and how they can co-exist in a diagnosis. What's beautiful about this episode, is we also dive deep into the EMOTIONAL healing component of a cancering diagnosis, and why it is extremely important to heal that part of you and not ignore if you want true, full healing. Alicia is BRILLIANT and has training from both a metabolic/integrative lens, working with Dr. Nasha, Dr. Seyfried and parasite training with Dr. Yu; and she also has experience in the conventional cancer care setting having trained in the mecca of cancer centers at MD Anderson. Alicia is a breath of fresh air, a truly kind soul, and a brilliant practitioner who helps her patients get to the root cause of their health issues so that they can enjoy and live life to the fullest. ---RESOURCES: Get $50 off your first Educational Visit with Alicia by mentioning the FWD Think Tank Podcast. Offer valid thru 7/1/25Get in touch with Alicia through her practice's website: ⁠https://www.raymahealth.com/⁠or email info@raymahealth.com Book a FREE consult with my Naturopathic Oncologist Dr. Lori Bouchard HEREGet 15% off your first order of Woolly Gear with code "JAMIEM15" at checkout at woolly.clothing

When you receive a cancer diagnosis, the whole world as you knew it gets turned upside down. There are numerous lessons learns, heartbreaks, moments of weakness and strength and confusion and all the emotions in between. In this episode, I discuss the Top 10 most important life lessons I've learned after receiving this diagnosis. Topics include the importance of trusting your gut with decisions, why rest is not weakness and how slowing down in life is absolutely necessary to heal your body, the importance of boundaries in your healing journey, why you are SO much more than your physical body as you go through changes during a health diagnosis like this, finding room for joy, the need to manage your STRESS, and so much more. When we can step outside of ourselves and begin to see the life lessons we can learn and grow from in this experience, things become richer. Priorities shift. The little things become the big things and the things we once worried about fade away. I hope that even if you do not have a diagnosis like this, you can begin to change your perspective on things in life that we worry about and focus on, and find ways to loosen the grip on your stress, support your mental health, enjoy life and find beauty in the little things. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, make sure to FOLLOW the FWD Think Tank on Spotify to get alerted when new episodes release, leave a 5 star review or a comment, and share with a friend who may need to hear this message! It means the absolute WORLD to me! RESOURCES: Book a FREE 30 Minute Strategy Call with my Naturopathic Oncologist, Dr. Lori Bouchard: https://l.bttr.to/41o7PUse code "JAMIEM15" for 15% off your first purchase of Merino Wool clothing at woolly.clothing Support my healing journey: https://gofund.me/4e3ffb57