double mastectomy

Episode #146: Scars Don't Mean You're Broken

We all have scars.

The physical ones that we see, and all of the ones that are there that we can’t.

But we feel them. We know them. And, sometimes, we discover we have them years into our adult lives and the shame, the guilt, the overwhelm of processing it all can be all consuming and incredibly fucking daunting to face.

TW: self loathing, body image, medical procedures/needles

In todays episode and in honor of mental health awareness month, Amanda talks about her journey with scars — both physical and beyond. And shares some truth bombs & support around how you can start your own journey in detaching yourself from the shame and guilt of the scars you keep.

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAYS EPISODE:

Episode 144

Amanda’s book, I Chopped Off My Tits

WORK & CONNECT WITH AMANDA:

Patreon - join her “close friends” list on Instagram at the $5+ level

Amanda’s Instagram | Website | Tik Tok

Join her email list for all the important things / future group coaching & teaching announcements

Episode #109: Looking Back on My Three Year Journey With BRCA | A Solo Episode

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (74).png

When I saw that December 3rd 2020 fell on a Thursday — the same day a podcast has dropped into your earbuds almost every day barring season breaks for the last (almost) 3 years, I knew that the Universe knew what was up.

This date will forever go down in history as a reminder of me navigating my preventative double mastectomy for two reasons:

1) On December 3rd, 2018, I went under the knife and had my surgery.

2) On December 3rd, 2019, I released my book I Chopped Off My Tits into the world.

So when I was thinking about how to honor what this day means to me, and, really, what the last almost 3 years of sifting through the fears and feels around all things BRCA — I thought it would be pretty epic to go back to when it all began: February 6th, 2018, two days after my 27th birthday, when I got the call from my doctor that I was, in fact, positive for the BRCA 1 gene and travel through time together via the podcast and my book and current real time expressions.

Fear? Working through the feels? Sifting through anything that impacts our mental health, physical health, relationships, work, sex lives and beyond? It can feel OVERWHELMING AF. Especially because we’re endlessly taught that we need to have our shit together through the mess. The shoulds can be so f*cking suffocating. I know because I was there, love.

And I hope this episode reminds you that no matter what you’re facing, you’re not alone in the mess. I’ve got you. The Live Your F*ck yes community has you. So curl up and let’s go on this journey together.

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAYS EPISODE:

GET YOUR COPY OF I CHOPPED OFF MY TITS HERE!

Episode 6

Episode 44

Episode 78

WORK & CONNECT WITH AMANDA:

Amanda’s Instagram | Website

1:1 coaching — I am accepting 2-3 new coaching clients come Jan 2021. Apply here to set up a call to see if we’re a good fit.

Episode #106: Using Pleasure To Cope With Trauma And Grief - A Conversation with Alyssa Pressman

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (72).png

Hi loves.

Todays episode is different — you may notice that there’s no typical intro music/snippets — because it didn’t feel right today. This week has been heavy. Hell, this year has been a fucking trip. And I wrestled with the idea of not releasing a podcast episode today — I wasn’t sure how we would be experiencing this post election day time. And when I woke up yesterday morning, in a mix of deep feels/sadness and hope for a brighter future in the US, I knew that this conversation, with a soul human of mine, was one that I needed to share with all of you today.

And with that, I’d like to introduce to you my friend and kindred spirit, Alyssa Pressman (she/her).

Alyssa is a Licensed Clinical Therapist & Certified Sex + Relationship Coach. She specializes in pleasure & joy post trauma, grief & with chronic illness. She loves supporting women in moving closer to themselves, to other people and to creating lives that feel in deep alignment with their unique desires. She is a BRCA1 mutation carrier like me, and a person living with chronic illness and pain. Reaching for joy and pleasure has been deeply healing for her. When not working, you can find her dancing, lounging, reading or cooking, usually scantily clad if not naked. She loves talking, learning and sharing on all things sex, relationships, death, healing & dark nights of the soul-you know, all the super casual things.

I invite you to take this one on a walk outside, or curl up with a cup of tea and absorb these words as a way to get away, for a moment, from the chaos. You are so loved.


Things we discuss in todays episode:

  • Alyssa’s wake up call around a chronic illness that made it impossible to have penetrative sex without serious pain in her younger twenties

  • How her work as a sex & relationship coach started to empower her sexually, in a more wholistic way

  • Pelvic floor struggles

  • BRCA and the other piece of the fear with our mutual diagnosis: ovarian cancer

  • Self pleasure practices & building a relationship with your pussy

  • How to claim your sexuality as your own and experience life changing pleasure

  • Redefining what sex and pleasure is

  • How to talk to your partner(s) around how to have more connected intimacy with one another

  • Boobs, the beauty of being un-partnered, using pleasure as a form of self care and beyond

Episode #81: Twenty Nine Lessons I Learned in This Past Year | A Solo Birthday Edition Episode

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (44).png

Happy start to season 4 of the podcast!!

Before I deep dove into all the juicy content coming your way this season (AND BREAKING OPEN SOME TOPICS THAT WE HAVE NEVER COVERED ON THE POD), I wanted to share my heart with all of you and go back to my annual birthday tradition of sharing all of the lessons I’ve learned in the past year! 2019 was a BIG one my friends.

Spoiler alert: I get super emotional on today’s episode. What’s new.

Welcome to the mess, the shifts, the joy and all the in-between!

Things I cover in today’s episode:

  • The intense awakening I’ve had in the last 3 months and what I’ve been up to since the end of season three

  • 29 lessons I learned in my 29 years on this earth

  • We cover things from relationships to identity to personal growth to health and beyond!

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

Teami blends — use code LYFYL for 20% at checkout!

GET YOUR COPY OF I CHOPPED OFF MY TITS HERE!

If/Then the musical

Shout out the pod on Instagram and tag @amandakatherineloy and don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review on Itunes!

WORK WITH AMANDA:

UNAPOLOGETICALLY CONFIDENT COURSE

Join the Live Your F*ck Yes Life Membership

#74: The F*CK it Method & My Recent Navigation of Trauma and Anxiety | A Solo Episode

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (37).png

The last month and a half have burst me open with so much “stuff”. I’ve been doing some deep healing work and am coming out of the other side feeling so compelled to share because I have a feeling you will resonate deeply with what I’ve been navigating.

Holy balls here we go.

Things I share in today’s episode:

  • The aha moment I had around my own traumas and triggers through therapy

  • My personal journey lately of navigating anxiety and going through the overwhelm

  • Learning to love all parts of my self — the shadow parts, the light and beyond.

  • My personal belief around the words “good” and “bad”

  • The one tool that I use and teach that has changed the MF game for navigating tough shit

WORK WITH AMANDA:

Join the Live Your F*ck Yes Life Membership — use code LYFYL for 10% off!

Book a consult for 1:1 work in emotional/binge eating and mindset

BOMB ASS WAYS TO CONNECT

Shout out the pod on Instagram and tag @amandakatherineloy and don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review on Itunes!

GET ON THE I CHOPPED OFF MY TITS VIP BOOK LIST

Episode #71: What It's Really Like to Live With Breast Cancer and Be A Badass B*tch with Anaono Founder Dana Donofree

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (34).png

Diagnosed with breast cancer at 27, Dana Donofree founded AnaOno out of her own necessity and desire for pretty, sexy, beautiful lingerie. After a bilateral mastectomy with implant reconstruction her own bras no longer fit and she was certain there must be more than just sports bras and camisoles (as nothing in the traditional lingerie market fit her surgically-altered body any more). With a degree in fashion design from Savannah College of Art and Design, and a quite successful fashion industry career, she took her 10+ years experience and put it toward designing, launching and growing AnaOno.

Dana is very active in the breast cancer community and is involved with several non-profits, including Living Beyond Breast Cancer board and she is a Metavivor advocate. Her story has been featured on USA Today, The Today Show, HuffPost, New York Times, INStyle, and many others.

However, she is most proud of being able to make a difference in the lives of women worldwide and is honored to continue to spread her mission of beauty, confidence and empowerment.

Things we talk about on today’s episode:

  • The things we are never told about breast cancer

  • Dealing with an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 27

  • The true stats of breast cancer and the importance of being an advocate for yourself

  • What it’s like to live like you’re dying

  • Navigating being 10 years out of her cancer diagnosis

  • Finding light and creating an impact on the other side of trauma

  • How she melded her love of fashion and design and her diagnosis into a mission that changes so many peoples lives

  • The brilliance of her company AnaOno

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE

Live Your F*ck Yes Life Membership — Use code LYFYL for 10%

GET ON THE I CHOPPED OFF YOUR TITS VIP BOOK LIST

Dana’s Instagram | AnaOno Instagram

Knitted boobs

BOMB ASS WAYS TO CONNECT

Connect with Amanda on Instagram

Shout out the pod on Instagram and tag @amandakatherineloy and don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review on itunes!

Episode #66: I Cried on Today's Episode {Life Updates, Navigating my Sexuality, How I lost 10 lbs and beyond}

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (29).png

Happy start to season 3 of the podcast!!

It’s fucking hard to believe we’re already 3 seasons in — can you believe it?

Before I deep dove into all the juicy content coming your way, so many of you have been asking for a life update on what’s been going on with me the past few months so, in true FUCK YES form, your wish is my command.

Spoiler alert: I get super emotional on today’s episode.

Welcome to the mess, the shifts, the joy and all the in-between!


Things I cover in today’s episode:

  • Why I took a break from the podcast

  • The updates around my sexuality and navigating all of that

  • The specific hormonal shifts I made to help me lose 10 lbs and shift my hormonal weight gain post double mastectomy

  • Adventures I had in the break

  • What my soul sistah human is — are you her?

  • My huge shifts in my business and finances

Episode #44: What It's Like To Get a Double Mastectomy At the Age of 27 | A Solo Episode

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (8).png

EPISODE SNEAK PEEK

“I lost an entire six hours of my day. One minute I was holding my husbands finger and the next minute I was blinking half awake in the ICU saying I was nauseous.”

Happy season 2 my Live Your F*ck Yes Lifers!

Holy balls, it’s good to be back. I’ve missed you guys.

Season 2 is about to be incredible so hold onto your hats — the lineup of conversations are seriously so juicy and amazing and I can’t wait for you guys to hear them.

But before we get there, I thought it was only fitting to kick off the start of season 2 with the true tell all about my preventative double mastectomy and what it’s really been like.

So many of you have been asking about the nitty gritty deets so today, we get into all of that and more.


Things I cover in today’s episode.

  • Navigating trauma and facing your fears head on

  • Fears I had heading into surgery, body dysmorphia and sex

  • Breast cancer awareness, the BRCA gene, major surgery

  • What I did to prep for it

  • The nitty gritty of my personal choices

  • What recovery has really looked like

Episode #39: What you need to know about the BRCA gene

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (32).png

EPISODE SNEAK PEEK

“When you have a mutation of one of these genes, that’s when you have a significant risk of developing one of those cancers in your lifetime.”

I was so honored to share my full story about the BRCA gene and my decision to get a preventative double mastectomy later this year on my friend Jen Wille’s podcast a few weeks back and I knew I needed to share this conversation with all of you.

This is the most vulnerable I’ve felt all year. And I would not be me if I didn’t share that with you.

So here goes. Dig in, and if you have any questions about anything I talk about, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am always here for you.

Here are a few things we discuss in todays episode:

  • My one non negotiable to start my day every day

  • The power (and fear) attached to sharing stories while navigating it in real time

  • My intention word of 2018 and the irony of it all

  • The ins and outs of the BRCA gene and how it impacts women vs. men

  • Navigating the idea of having kids now

  • The options for reducing your risk when you have the gene

  • Facing things you’re absolutely terrified of head on

  • Talking about my BOOBS in detail

  • The exact surgery I’m getting

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE

TEAMI BLENDS TEAS — use code LYFYL for 15% off your purchase

Episode 21: Having the courage to live life with intention, radical self care and growing up in foster care with Jen Wille

Previous podcast episodes where I touch on BRCA // Episode 10: Finding strength in unexpected places & Episode 6: Facing Fear Head On

Jen’s podcast First & Foremost

FORCE

BOMB ASS WAYS TO CONNECT

Join our community where we chat all things real talk, and you get the inside scoop on guests, a chance to ask questions & be surrounded by a tribe of ladies who GET you!

Shout out the pod on Instagram and tag @liveyourfuckyeslife or leave a review on itunes to get featured on the podcast! 

Episode #19: The Power of Community and finding your Breast Friends with Paige MORE

PODCAST BLOG PHOTO (12).png

EPISODE SNEAK PEEK

"I knew I didn't want to live like that for the rest of my life.  I wanted to be a warrior, not a worrier."

Paige is a three time Emmy award winning producer who describes herself as everybody’s new breast friend. In 2017, Paige had a preventative double mastectomy after discovering she carried the BRCA 1 genetic mutation. After feeling alone during her entire decision making process, Paige decided to start sharing her story on Instagram to give other women the hope that they too could become warriors not worriers. After building a community online, Paige decided to start putting together free events for women who have been affected by cancer and The Breasties was born.

The Breasties is a 501(c)(3) organization that puts together free events and free weekend wellness retreats for young women who have been affected by cancer. Her along with the three other cofounders of The Breasties are helping women move mountains around the world. 

Here are some things we discuss in todays episode:

  • Her story of how she found out she had the BRCA 1 mutation and her journey since that moment.
  • The power of social media and finding your community
  • How our perspective shifts after going through something challenging in our lives
  • What you didn't know about BRCA
  • The path to making a difficult decision
  • Showing up as your authentic self

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAYS EPISODE

Paige's Instagram | Website 

JUNE 2018 CHICAGO BREASTIE EVENT

My first solo episode of the pod

 

BOMB ASS WAYS TO CONNECT

Join our community where we chat all things real talk, and you get the inside scoop on guests, a chance to ask questions & be surrounded by a tribe of ladies who GET you!

Shout out the pod on Instagram and tag @liveyourfuckyeslife or leave a review on itunes to get featured on the podcast! 

photos by Kyle Wilson , Zeke D and Cam Frontain