Badass Basic Bitch

Are you actually searching for a new life—or are you searching for permission to become who you already are?
In this episode of Badass Basic Bitch, Brianna sits down with Dr. Sarah Webb, author, channeler, spiritual coach, and internationally recognized expert on colorism, for a powerful conversation about identity, worthiness, self-awareness, spirituality, and learning to distinguish the life you truly want from the one you've been conditioned to live.
Dr. Sarah's path began in academia as an English professor working in the humanities and exploring complex social issues. Her work eventually evolved into a deeper examination of colorism, identity, healing, and spirituality. She is the author of Colorism: The Politics of Skin Tone and How We Get Free and now works with people through channeled coaching and dream journeys, guiding them on a heart-led mission to transform their lives from the inside out.
Brianna and Dr. Sarah explore how much of our identity is consciously chosen versus inherited from our families, cultures, communities, and societal expectations. Dr. Sarah explains why the body can be one of our greatest sources of information when determining whether we're living authentically—and why tension, discomfort, expansion, dreams, and even daydreams deserve our attention.
They also dive into colorism and the ways skin-tone bias can shape identity and worthiness, sometimes without people consciously recognizing its influence. Dr. Sarah shares why healing isn't only about understanding what happened to us, but recognizing the agency we have now to interrupt patterns and prevent pain from continuing into future generations.
This conversation is an invitation to become curious about your own story: How much of your life reflects who you really are—and how much of it was handed to you?
In This Episode, We Discuss:
How to recognize whether you're living your own story or one that was handed to you
The difference between authentic desire and societal expectation
Why your body can reveal whether your life feels aligned
How identity can be both inherited and intentionally created
Why changing your life doesn't always mean completely starting over
Dr. Sarah's journey from English professor to author, channeler, and spiritual coach
How childhood experiences with bullying shaped her compassion and work
Why she became passionate about helping people recognize their unrealized potential
What colorism is and why it's important to talk about it
How skin-tone discrimination can occur within the same racial or ethnic community
Why colorism is a global issue that crosses cultures
The connection between colorism, internalized bias, and worthiness
How societal biases can influence identity without us consciously realizing it
Why healing our relationship with ourselves is foundational
What spirituality means outside of traditional religious definitions
How dreams, daydreams, journaling, and self-reflection can deepen self-awareness
What Dr. Sarah means by a “dream journey”
How dreams can provide information about our emotions, desires, and direction
Using body scans to recognize tension, expansion, and other physical signals
Why noticing patterns is more powerful than analyzing one isolated experience
How inherited and systemic wounds can continue across generations
The role of agency in breaking cycles of trauma and pain
Why becoming more self-aware can change what we pass down to the next generation
Memorable Quote
“Sometimes we don't need to move out of the house. Sometimes we need to renovate.” — Dr. Sarah WebbKey Takeaways
Your Body Knows When Something Doesn't Fit
One of the simplest ways to begin questioning whether you're living authentically is to notice how your life actually feels.
Rather than only asking, Does my life look successful? or Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing?, Dr. Sarah encourages us to pay attention to what happens inside our bodies as we move through our days.
Where do you feel tension? Where do you feel expansive? What drains you? What makes you feel more alive?
Your body can provide information that your conscious mind has learned to ignore.
You Can Honor Your Circumstances Without Being Defined by Them
Not every aspect of our lives is something we consciously chose. We inherit families, cultures, circumstances, expectations, identities, and experiences.
But Dr. Sarah explains that recognizing what we've inherited doesn't mean we have no agency over what happens next.
Sometimes transformation doesn't require abandoning everything and becoming someone completely different. Like renovating a house, we can examine what's already there, decide what still serves us, and intentionally rebuild the parts that don't.
Colorism Is About More Than Skin Tone
Dr. Sarah defines colorism as discrimination based on skin tone, including discrimination that happens among people within the same racial or ethnic group.
But the impact goes deeper than appearance.
Colorism can influence how people are perceived, treated, valued, and how they eventually learn to perceive themselves. Because these messages can become deeply internalized, people may not recognize the role colorism has played in their identity until much later in life.
Worthiness Starts With Your Relationship With Yourself
External biases can eventually become internal beliefs.
When we're repeatedly exposed to messages about which appearances, identities, or characteristics are considered more valuable, those ideas can shape our sense of worth—even when we consciously disagree with them.
Healing requires examining not only how the world has treated us, but also the beliefs we've absorbed and the relationship we've developed with ourselves as a result.
Your Dreams May Be Telling You Something
Dream work doesn't have to mean finding a mystical interpretation for every detail of a dream.
Dr. Sarah encourages people to simply begin paying attention.
Keep a journal beside your bed. Write down what you remember. Notice your daydreams too. What were you thinking about? What was happening immediately before it? What emotions came up?
Over time, patterns may emerge that help reveal desires, fears, needs, and possibilities that aren't getting your attention during everyday life.
Self-Awareness Can Start With a Simple Body Scan
You don't need an elaborate spiritual practice to become more connected to yourself.
Pause and scan your body.
Notice your jaw, shoulders, chest, stomach, hands, and legs. Where are you holding tension? Where do you feel relaxed? What happens in your body when you think about certain people, decisions, or areas of your life?
The goal isn't to immediately fix what you notice. It's to start listening.
Healing Gives Us an Opportunity to Break the Cycle
We may inherit wounds, biases, beliefs, behaviors, and coping mechanisms from the people and systems that came before us.
But inheritance doesn't have to equal destiny.
Dr. Sarah emphasizes the importance of recognizing our agency. We may not have chosen what happened to us or what was passed down to us, but becoming conscious of those patterns gives us an opportunity to make different choices—and change what gets passed forward.
A Simple Self-Awareness Practice
If you want to begin exploring some of the ideas from this episode, Dr. Sarah suggests starting small:
Keep a dream journal. Write down what you remember when you wake up, even if it's only a few details.
Pay attention to your daydreams. Notice not only what you're imagining, but what was happening when your mind went there.
Scan your body. Notice tension, discomfort, relaxation, and expansion without immediately trying to change any of it.
Look for patterns. One dream, thought, or sensation may not mean much by itself. Pay attention to what keeps returning.
Get curious about your story. Ask yourself which parts of your life feel consciously chosen and which might reflect expectations or identities you've inherited.
The goal isn't to have all the answers. It's to become more aware of the information you're already receiving.
Connect with Dr. Sarah Webb
Dr. Sarah Webb is an author, channeler, spiritual coach, and internationally recognized expert on colorism. Through channeled coaching and dream journeys, she guides students on a heart-led mission to transform their world from the inside out.
📱 Instagram: @drsarahlwebb
🌐 Website: drsarahlwebb.com
📚 Book: Colorism: The Politics of Skin Tone and How We Get Free
✨ Learn more about Dr. Sarah's coaching, dream journeys, writing, and Dream Studio through her website and social platforms.
Connect with Badass Basic Bitch
📱 Instagram: @badassbasicbitchpodcast
🎙️ Hosted by: Brianna Dunbar-DeMike
If this episode made you question which parts of your life you've consciously chosen—and which parts you've simply inherited—share it with someone who's doing the work of becoming more of who they already are.
Follow and subscribe to Badass Basic Bitch wherever you listen, and leave a review to help more women discover the show.
We'll see you next week!

What if having less could actually give you more—more time, more energy, more creativity, and more freedom?
In this episode of Badass Basic Bitch, Brianna sits down with Courtney Carver, founder of Be More with Less and creator of the Project 333 Challenge, to talk about simplifying your life, letting go of what’s weighing you down, and redefining what “enough” really looks like.
Courtney’s journey toward simplicity began after a life-changing health diagnosis forced her to take a closer look at the stress in her life. What started with addressing debt, clutter, and an overwhelming career eventually became a completely different way of living—and a movement that has inspired people around the world to rethink their relationship with their stuff.
Courtney breaks down her famous Project 333 Challenge: dressing with just 33 items or less for three months. But as Brianna and Courtney explore, this conversation is about much more than cleaning out your closet.
They dive into the emotional reasons we hold onto things, how shopping can become a way of coping with discomfort, the influence of social media and algorithms on consumerism, and the surprising mental freedom that comes from having fewer decisions to make every day.
From designer handbags and kids’ clutter to online shopping and decision fatigue, this episode will have you looking around your house—and maybe opening your closet—the second it’s over.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
How Courtney’s journey toward simplicity began
Why reducing stress became the catalyst for changing her life
The creation of Be More with Less and Project 333
How the Project 333 Challenge works
What is—and isn’t—included in your 33 items
Why Project 333 isn’t about deprivation or suffering
How having less helps redefine what “enough” actually means
The emotional attachment we develop to clothes, handbags, and possessions
A simple trick for letting go of items you’re emotionally attached to
Brianna’s experience letting go of designer bags and simplifying her wardrobe
How shopping can become a coping mechanism when other parts of life feel outside our control
Why clutter isn’t always made up of things we dislike
The challenge of managing clutter when you have kids
How fewer choices can benefit children, too
Reducing decision fatigue through a simplified wardrobe
Why fewer possessions can create more room for creativity
Managing your energy instead of constantly trying to manage your time
Using services like Rent the Runway without falling back into overconsumption
How Instagram, TikTok, algorithms, and online shopping influence what we think we need
Why Courtney intentionally reduced her own social media consumption
The surprising realization that most people aren’t paying attention to what you wear
How simplifying one area of your life can inspire changes everywhere else
Memorable Quote
“One of the biggest benefits is realizing that nobody notices what you’re doing.” — Courtney CarverKey Takeaways
Simplicity Isn’t About Deprivation
Project 333 isn't designed to make you suffer through three months with nothing to wear. The challenge is an experiment in discovering how much you actually need.
By choosing 33 items—including clothing, jewelry, shoes, and accessories—and living with them for three months, you get the opportunity to step away from the constant cycle of wanting more and discover what you genuinely enjoy wearing.
Sometimes You Need Space Before You Can Let Go
Getting rid of something can feel surprisingly emotional, especially when the item represents a memory, identity, accomplishment, or version of yourself.
Courtney suggests removing items from sight before deciding whether to permanently let them go. Creating distance can weaken the emotional connection and help you recognize whether you actually miss the item—or simply felt uncomfortable getting rid of it.
Clutter Costs More Than Money
Everything we own requires something from us. We have to organize it, clean it, maintain it, store it, think about it, or decide what to do with it.
Reducing what you own isn't simply about having a cleaner closet. It can reduce decision fatigue and free up mental energy for creativity, relationships, work, problem-solving, and the things that matter more.
Shopping Can Give Us the Illusion of Control
When something painful or stressful is happening outside of our control, focusing on something we can control—like what we buy—can feel comforting.
But that temporary relief can eventually create another source of stress through clutter, spending, and the constant pressure to acquire more. Recognizing why you're reaching for something can be just as important as deciding whether to buy it.
Social Media Is Constantly Telling Us We Need More
Instagram, TikTok, online shopping, and personalized algorithms have created an environment where we're constantly being introduced to the next thing we're supposed to want.
Courtney shares why she's intentionally reduced her own time on certain platforms and why becoming more conscious about what we're consuming digitally can help change what we consume physically.
Fewer Decisions Can Create More Creativity
When you remove dozens of unnecessary decisions from your day, that energy doesn't disappear—it becomes available for something else.
Courtney has found that simplifying areas like her wardrobe gives her more capacity for writing, business, problem-solving, and creativity. Sometimes creating more space in your life literally begins by removing things from it.
Nobody Is Paying as Much Attention as You Think
One of the unexpected lessons from Project 333 is discovering how little other people notice what you're wearing.
The fear that someone will notice you repeating an outfit or wearing fewer things is often much bigger in our minds than it is in reality. Letting go of that perceived judgment can create freedom far beyond your closet.
Ready to Try Project 333?
For three months, dress with 33 items or less, including:
Clothing
Jewelry
Accessories
Shoes
Items such as underwear, sleepwear, workout clothing used specifically for exercise, and special-occasion pieces aren't included in the 33.
The goal isn't to find the perfect 33 pieces. It's to experiment with less and pay attention to what changes—your mornings, your decisions, your spending, your energy, and potentially much more.
Connect with Courtney Carver
Courtney Carver is the founder of Be More with Less and creator of the Project 333 Challenge. Through her books, writing, courses, and The Simplicity Space Community, Courtney helps people live with less and let go of what's weighing them down.
📱 Instagram: @bemorewithless
🌐 Website: bemorewithless.com
📚 Explore Courtney’s books, blog, Project 333 resources, courses, and The Simplicity Space Community through Be More with Less.
Connect with Badass Basic Bitch
📱 Instagram: @badassbasicbitchpodcast
🎙️ Hosted by: Brianna Dunbar-DeMike
If this episode has you staring at your closet thinking, Okay, maybe I don't need all of this, send it to the friend who needs a decluttering intervention too.
Follow and subscribe to Badass Basic Bitch wherever you listen, and leave a review to help more women discover the show.
We'll see you next week!

What happens when a random creative idea turns into a viral series, a thriving online community, a book, a podcast, and eventually an entire business?
In this episode of Badass Basic Bitch, Brianna sits down with Christa Innis, an author, podcast host, content creator, wife, and toddler mom who has built a community around storytelling, humor, and navigating some of life's messiest moments.
Christa is the author of Here Comes the Drama and host of the Here Comes the Drama podcast, where she dives into relationships, family dynamics, and the stories that remind us we're never alone in our chaos. Through her viral skits and relatable content, Christa encourages women to set boundaries, embrace authenticity, and find laughter even in the drama.
Christa's journey started with a seemingly random idea for a wedding skit on TikTok. What began as a creative outlet while she was on maternity leave quickly took off, eventually becoming multiple seasons of viral content and inspiring an entirely new chapter of her career.
Brianna and Christa talk about what it really takes to turn content creation into a business, grow an engaged audience, stay authentic online, and protect your personal life when your job exists on your phone. Christa also takes us behind the scenes of writing and self-publishing Here Comes the Drama, what she learned from doing it herself, and what's next as she continues writing the series.
They also get into the reality of building a business while being a wife and working mom—and why success isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about knowing what matters, creating boundaries, staying consistent, and being willing to put yourself out there before you know exactly where it's going.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
How a spontaneous wedding skit turned into viral content and an unexpected career
Starting to create content while on maternity leave
Christa's background in social media marketing and how it influenced her approach
Why she initially kept her growing TikTok account a secret
The moment she realized content creation could become a legitimate business
Growing an audience through consistency, authenticity, and genuine engagement
Building a community instead of simply chasing followers
Why relatable, imperfect content can be more powerful than polished production
What actually happens behind the scenes of scripting, filming, editing, and posting viral content
Turning a creative outlet into a full-time business
Expanding into brand partnerships and social media coaching
Balancing entrepreneurship, content creation, marriage, and motherhood
Creating boundaries when your entire business lives on your phone
Protecting family time and keeping parts of your life offline
Turning viral wedding drama into her book, Here Comes the Drama
Why Christa decided to self-publish her first book
What nobody tells you about writing, editing, publishing, and marketing your own book
The importance of having multiple people review your work before publishing
What Christa learned from self-publishing and how she's applying it to her next book
Her advice for aspiring creators, authors, and entrepreneurs who are afraid to start
Memorable Quote
"Don't overcomplicate it. Focus on what you're passionate about, stay authentic, and keep showing up consistently." — Christa InnisKey Takeaways
You Don't Need to Know Where an Idea Will Lead
Christa didn't start making wedding skits because she had a perfectly constructed business plan. She had an idea, followed her creativity, and gave herself permission to experiment. That one decision eventually grew into an audience, business, podcast, and book.
Sometimes you don't need to know what step ten looks like. You just need to be willing to take step one.
Authenticity Will Take You Further Than Perfection
You don't need the perfect camera, elaborate production, or meticulously curated life to connect with people online. Christa's success reinforces something creators often forget: people connect with people.
Relatable, authentic content gives your audience a reason to see themselves in your stories—and a reason to keep coming back.
Build a Community, Not Just a Following
Growing on social media isn't only about posting consistently. Christa actively engages with the people consuming her content, responds to comments, listens to feedback, and makes her audience feel like they're part of the experience.
Followers are a number. Community is a relationship.
Your Business Needs Boundaries Too
When your career revolves around social media, your workplace is always within reach. There is no office door to close at the end of the day.
As a wife and toddler mom, Christa has had to intentionally establish boundaries between her work, content, and family life. Building something successful shouldn't require sacrificing your ability to actually be present for the life you're building it around.
Writing the Book Is Only Part of Self-Publishing
Christa chose to self-publish Here Comes the Drama, giving her firsthand experience with everything that happens after the manuscript is written.
Editing, feedback, marketing, promotion, and getting the book in front of readers all matter. One of her biggest lessons is the importance of having multiple eyes on your work and recognizing that a great book still needs a strong strategy behind it.
Stop Overcomplicating Content Creation
For anyone waiting for the right idea, equipment, strategy, or moment to start creating, Christa's advice is simple: focus on what you genuinely care about and start.
Consistency matters. Authenticity matters. Connecting with your audience matters. Perfection doesn't.
And when you need a break? Take one.
Connect with Christa Innis
📱 Instagram: @HeyChristaInnis
🎵 TikTok: @HeyChristaInnis
▶️ YouTube: @HeyChristaInnis
🌐 Website: christainnis.com
🎙️ Podcast: Here Comes the Drama
📚 Book: Here Comes the Drama
Follow Christa for viral skits, storytelling, humor, relationship and family drama, behind-the-scenes content, and updates on what's coming next.
Connect with Badass Basic Bitch
📱 Instagram: @badassbasicbitchpodcast
🎙️ Hosted by: Brianna Dunbar-DeMike
If this episode resonated with you—or you've been sitting on an idea because you're waiting until everything is perfectly figured out—send this episode to someone who needs the reminder to just start.
Follow and subscribe to Badass Basic Bitch wherever you listen, and don't forget to leave a review. We'll see you next week!

In this thought-provoking episode of Badass Basic Bitch, Brianna sits down with Karolina Rzadkowolska, alcohol-free empowerment expert, bestselling author of Euphoric, and founder of Euphoric AF, to explore why so many of today’s highest performers are choosing to live alcohol-free—and how that decision is transforming every area of their lives.
Karolina shares her own journey from climbing the corporate ladder while feeling deeply unfulfilled to building a thriving business after questioning her relationship with alcohol. Together, she and Brianna unpack the surprising connection between alcohol, purpose, confidence, entrepreneurship, and neuroplasticity, revealing why removing alcohol often unlocks clarity, creativity, and the courage to pursue the life you actually want.
Whether you drink regularly, occasionally, or are simply curious about your relationship with alcohol, this episode isn’t about labels or shame—it’s about asking a powerful question: Is alcohol helping you become the person you’re meant to be?
In This Episode, We Discuss:
✨ Why so many successful entrepreneurs and high performers choose not to drink
✨ The surprising connection between alcohol and purpose
✨ How alcohol impacts neuroplasticity, creativity, and decision-making
✨ Why “taking the edge off” may actually be keeping you stuck
✨ The difference between wanting a drink and needing one
✨ How alcohol can mask dissatisfaction with your career or life
✨ Why confidence is built—not poured into a glass
✨ The science behind why alcohol-free living can feel euphoric
✨ How taking a break from alcohol can unlock new ideas, passions, and opportunities
✨ Why questioning your relationship with alcohol doesn’t mean you have a drinking problem
Memorable Quote
“Alcohol never solved it. If anything, it only made the problem worse.” — Karolina Rzadkowolska
Key Takeaways
High Performance Thrives on Clarity
Many of today’s most successful entrepreneurs, authors, and thought leaders have one thing in common—they’ve minimized or eliminated alcohol. Operating at your highest level requires energy, creativity, and mental clarity that alcohol often quietly steals.
Alcohol Can Become a Band-Aid for a Bigger Problem
Whether it’s stress, burnout, insecurity, or feeling disconnected from your purpose, alcohol often numbs emotions instead of resolving them. Lasting fulfillment comes from addressing what’s underneath—not escaping it.
Confidence Comes From Keeping Promises to Yourself
One of the greatest transformations people experience during an alcohol-free journey isn’t simply feeling healthier—it’s rebuilding self-trust. Every decision to honor your goals strengthens your confidence and reinforces the belief that you’re capable of creating meaningful change.
Your Brain Is More Powerful Than You Think
Karolina explains how taking a break from alcohol creates a unique window of neuroplasticity, allowing your brain to form new habits, challenge limiting beliefs, and become more open to pursuing opportunities that once felt impossible.
You Don’t Have to Quit Forever to Learn Something New
Questioning your relationship with alcohol isn’t about labels or restrictions. Sometimes the most valuable first step is simply taking a break long enough to discover how you think, feel, create, and connect without it.
Connect with Karolina Rzadkowolska
📱 Instagram:
@euphoric.af
🎵 TikTok:
@euphoric.af
🌐 Website:
www.euphoricaf.com
📚 Book:
Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You
🎁 Free Resource:
Visit EuphoricAF.com to download Karolina’s free guide to exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle.
Connect with Badass Basic Bitch
📱 Instagram:
@badassbasicbitchpodcast
🎙 Hosted by:
Brianna Dunbar-DeMike

What happens when a nurse who has spent her career caring for patients suddenly becomes the patient herself?
In this deeply personal episode of Badass Basic Bitch, Brianna sits down with Natasha Parker, a nurse, breast cancer thriver, mother of four, speaker, author, and founder of Radiant Transformations. After being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 37 years old, Natasha experienced healthcare from both sides of the stethoscope—and discovered firsthand just how powerful patient advocacy can be.
After finding a lump during a self-exam, Natasha underwent her first mammogram and ultrasound and was ultimately diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. What followed was an intense treatment journey that included 16 rounds of IV chemotherapy, 17 rounds of IV immunotherapy, a double mastectomy, and 25 rounds of radiation.
Today, Natasha is cancer-free and using both her 20 years of nursing experience and her lived experience as a patient to help others navigate cancer with more knowledge, confidence, and support.
Brianna and Natasha have an honest conversation about what it means to truly advocate for yourself within the healthcare system. They discuss why patients shouldn't be afraid to ask questions, request second opinions, research their options, or even find a new provider when they don't feel heard.
They also explore the parts of cancer that extend far beyond treatment: telling your children you're sick, accepting help when you're used to caring for everyone else, navigating survivorship, dealing with unexpected emotional triggers, and learning how to move forward after your entire perspective on life has changed.
Through Radiant Transformations and her upcoming book, In Full Support, Natasha is now transforming one of the hardest experiences of her life into resources designed to make someone else's cancer journey a little less overwhelming.
This episode is ultimately about one of the most powerful tools every patient already has: their voice.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 37 years old
How Natasha discovered the lump that led to her diagnosis
Understanding triple-negative breast cancer
Undergoing 16 rounds of IV chemotherapy and 17 rounds of IV immunotherapy
Her double mastectomy and 25 rounds of radiation
Experiencing healthcare from both sides of the stethoscope
How being a nurse changed Natasha's experience as a cancer patient
Why even healthcare professionals have to advocate for themselves
Knowing your body and trusting yourself when something feels wrong
Why asking questions doesn't make you a difficult patient
The importance of seeking a second opinion
Why it's okay to change providers when you don't feel heard
Researching treatment options while working collaboratively with your medical team
How rapidly cancer research and treatment options can evolve
Why old statistics shouldn't automatically determine your outlook
The importance of individualized, patient-centered healthcare
Navigating breast cancer treatment while raising four daughters
The emotional reality of telling your children you have cancer
How Natasha's family supported her throughout treatment
Learning to accept help when you're accustomed to taking care of everyone else
Communicating honestly with children while protecting their sense of stability
Why survivorship can bring an entirely new set of emotional challenges
The cancer-related triggers people may encounter unexpectedly in everyday life
Why Natasha founded Radiant Transformations
Turning her nursing knowledge and patient experience into resources for others
Supporting patients, breasties, survivors, and previvors through education and advocacy
The inspiration behind her upcoming book, In Full Support
Creating a future resource to help people identify cancer-related triggers in books, movies, and television
Turning a life-changing diagnosis into a mission to help others use their voices
Memorable Quote
“Know your body. If something feels off, advocate for yourself.” — Natasha ParkerKey Takeaways
Your Voice Is One of Your Most Powerful Tools in Healthcare
Natasha spent years working within healthcare before suddenly finding herself on the other side of it.
That experience reinforced something every patient needs to hear: you are an active participant in your own care.
Ask questions. Ask why a treatment is being recommended. Ask about alternatives. Ask what the research says. Ask what happens next.
You don't need a medical degree to deserve an explanation you understand.
You Know Your Body
Natasha's diagnosis began because she noticed something different and acted on it.
If something in your body changes or simply doesn't feel right, don't dismiss your concern because you're young, healthy, busy, or don't fit the picture you have in your mind of someone who could become seriously ill.
Pay attention. Speak up. Keep asking until you feel like your concern has been appropriately addressed.
A Second Opinion Is Part of Advocacy
Seeking another medical opinion doesn't mean you're disrespecting or betraying your current provider.
It means you're gathering information before making decisions about your health.
Natasha encourages patients to seek additional perspectives when necessary and remember that they're also allowed to change providers entirely if they don't feel heard, respected, or comfortable with their care.
Being a Healthcare Professional Doesn't Make Being a Patient Easy
Natasha understood medical terminology, knew how healthcare systems operated, and had spent approximately two decades caring for other people.
None of that eliminated the fear or emotional weight of becoming a cancer patient herself.
Her experience gave her a unique understanding of the gap that can exist between knowing healthcare professionally and experiencing it personally.
Being a Mom Doesn't Stop When You Become a Patient
Some of Natasha's hardest moments weren't treatments or procedures. They were conversations with her children.
As a mother of four, she had to navigate how much to tell her daughters, how to prepare them for what they might see, and how to remain emotionally present while going through an incredibly difficult experience herself.
She also had to learn something many mothers struggle with: allowing other people to help.
Cancer-Free Doesn't Mean the Experience Is Over
Survivorship can be complicated.
When active treatment ends, everyone around you may be ready to celebrate and move forward. But the person who experienced cancer may still be processing fear, uncertainty, physical changes, emotional triggers, and the reality of what happened.
Natasha's story reminds us that support shouldn't automatically end when treatment does.
Medical Information Changes—Stay Informed
Cancer research and treatment continue to evolve.
Natasha encourages patients to stay informed, ask their medical teams about current research and treatment options, and be cautious about allowing outdated information or statistics to define their expectations for the future.
Hope and information can coexist.
Advocacy Isn't Only for Yourself
Natasha's experience ultimately expanded her definition of advocacy.
Today, she's using what she learned as both a nurse and patient to support other patients, breasties, survivors, previvors, and families navigating their own journeys.
Sometimes using your voice begins with advocating for yourself. Eventually, it can become a way of making the system easier to navigate for the people coming behind you.
About Radiant Transformations
Natasha founded Radiant Transformations to combine her professional healthcare experience with everything she learned personally while navigating breast cancer.
Through education, storytelling, and practical resources, she's helping patients and families better understand the realities of treatment, advocate for themselves, and feel less alone throughout the process.
Natasha is also developing a website/app resource designed to help users identify cancer-related triggers in books, television shows, and movies—something inspired by her own experiences encountering unexpected cancer content during treatment and survivorship.
Coming Soon: In Full Support
Natasha is currently writing In Full Support, an upcoming resource guide for cancer patients and their families.
Drawing from her experiences on both sides of the stethoscope, the book is designed to provide practical guidance and support for people navigating the realities of diagnosis and treatment.
In Full Support is planned for 2027, and we'll share more with the Badass Basic Bitch community as the official release approaches.
Connect with Natasha Parker
Natasha Parker is a nurse, breast cancer thriver, mother of four, speaker, author, and founder of Radiant Transformations. After being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37, Natasha experienced healthcare from both sides of the stethoscope.
📱 Instagram: @radianttransformations
🌐 Website: Radiant-tramsformations.com
📚 Upcoming Book: In Full Support
Follow Natasha and Radiant Transformations for patient advocacy, breast cancer education, survivorship conversations, practical resources, and updates on In Full Support and the additi