Still I Rise Podcast

Lisa McKenzie, Founder of You Night Events
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Real stories. Raw truth. Unshakable hope. Hosted by Lisa McKenzie, founder of You Night Empowering Events, The Still I Rise Podcast is a powerful, heartfelt series that shares the voices of women who have fought — or are still fighting — cancer, and the transformative journeys they’ve taken to reclaim joy, identity, and purpose. Each episode highlights inspiring survivor stories, candid conversations with mental health experts, and uplifting insights for anyone facing life after diagnosis. We dive deep into the emotional, spiritual, and psychological layers of healing — reminding every woman that she’s not alone, and that her story matters. Whether you're navigating cancer, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking inspiration and sisterhood, this podcast is for you. Want to share your story, connect with our community, or support our mission? Visit YouNightEmpoweringEvents.com to learn more about our cancer survivor empowerment programs and how you can get involved. #StillIRisePodcast | #CancerSurvivorStories | #WomenWhoFightCancer | #YouNightSisterhood Support women rising. Align your brand with a mission of hope, courage, and transformation. Let’s talk about creating a sponsorship package that meets your goals. Call us at 877-591-5936 x1 or email lisa@younightevents.com  

  1. 3d ago

    Adelia Ramos: How Breast Cancer Taught a Lifelong Caregiver to Finally Choose Herself

    Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is especially meaningful to me because I had the pleasure of getting to know Adelia Ramos in a very personal way. I was one of her coaches during this year's Story Crafting program, where our little group proudly called ourselves the Iron Rebels. And over those weeks together, I had the privilege of watching Adelia begin to unpack a pattern that had shaped almost her entire life: Taking care of everyone except herself. Adelia was only eleven years old when a traumatic injury changed her mother—and her family—forever. Almost overnight, she went from being a child who was cared for to becoming a caretaker herself. And that role followed her into adulthood. Adelia describes her life as an overflowing plate at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Every responsibility, every obligation, every person who needed something went onto that plate. And somehow, she kept finding room for more. Everyone else was being fed. But Adelia was starving herself. Eventually, the plate shattered. At 30, she found the courage to leave a relationship of more than ten years, faced panic attacks, depression and tremendous uncertainty, and began the difficult process of rebuilding her life. Her young son became the catalyst that helped her recognize a cycle she didn't want to repeat—and for perhaps the first time, Adelia began choosing herself. And then came cancer. But remarkably, Adelia says cancer taught her something she hadn't learned through all those years of being the strong one: Grace. Grace to stop carrying everything. Grace to say no. Grace to accept help. And grace to understand that taking care of herself doesn't mean she loves anyone else less. Today, Adelia no longer sees herself as that overflowing plate—or even as the rock that has to hold everything together. She sees herself as a leaf. A leaf doesn't fight every current. It bends. It moves. It trusts. And most importantly, it decides where its energy will go. Her story is called “The Plate Finally Shattered.” And having had the privilege of watching Adelia find the words for this story, I'm especially proud to share her voice with you today. She is a mother, daughter, caregiver, leader, advocate, cancer survivor—and a woman who finally understands that choosing herself is not selfish. For now, and for the future, she chooses to be the leaf. This is Adelia Ramos. Support the show Still I Rise features stories from You Night's STORY CRAFTING COMMUNITY.  To read additional stories, visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YouNightStories.  Would you like to participate in a 6-week Story Crafting small group experience so that you can share your story?  Write to us at teamyounight@gmail.com

    Adelia Ramos: How Breast Cancer Taught a Lifelong Caregiver to Finally Choose Herself

  2. Sep 23

    Olivia Joly: Surviving Hodgkin Lymphoma, Overcoming Loss & Becoming the Mountain

    Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode is especially meaningful, and before I introduce my guest, I want to dedicate this conversation to someone very special. My guest today is Olivia Joly, a cancer survivor whose story is rooted in family, sacrifice, resilience, and the belief that no matter how deep the valley, we somehow find the strength to keep climbing. Cancer has touched Olivia’s family in a profound way. Two of her sisters have also gone through our program, making this journey one that their family has shared in a way few families ever should. And there is something important I want you to know about when this conversation was recorded. At the time, Olivia’s sister Idalina was fighting for her life against cancer. Since this interview was recorded, Idalina has passed away. And so, with tremendous love and respect for Olivia and her entire family, this episode is dedicated to the memory of Idalina. Olivia's own story begins thousands of miles away on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, where she grew up as one of seven children in a family that had very little materially, but possessed an extraordinary abundance of love. In 1975, her parents brought their seven children to America with a few battered suitcases, no safety net, and an enormous amount of hope. It was her father who taught Olivia one of the greatest lessons of her life: you don't stop in the valley. You keep climbing. And Olivia would need that lesson again and again. Through a failed marriage and single motherhood. Through her diagnosis with Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 50 and a frightening surgery that could have changed her life forever. Through the death of her beloved father. Through watching her mother face Alzheimer's disease. And through losses and fractures within the family she loves so deeply. Yet somehow, Olivia kept climbing. Her story is called “Becoming the Mountain: A Story of Peaks, Valleys, and the Legacy That Carried Me.” Because Olivia eventually realized something extraordinary. For years, she thought her story was about surviving the mountain. But after everything she had endured—the storms, the valleys, the scars, the grief, and every seemingly impossible climb—she realized: She had become the mountain. Weathered. Scarred. Still standing. And beneath every step is the path her father carved before her. Today, we honor Olivia's story—and we honor Idalina, whose life and memory are now forever part of it. This is Olivia Joly. Support the show Still I Rise features stories from You Night's STORY CRAFTING COMMUNITY.  To read additional stories, visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YouNightStories.  Would you like to participate in a 6-week Story Crafting small group experience so that you can share your story?  Write to us at teamyounight@gmail.com

    Olivia Joly: Surviving Hodgkin Lymphoma, Overcoming Loss & Becoming the Mountain

  3. Sep 10

    Jessica Palumbo: Facing Stage 4 Breast Cancer with Faith, Motherhood & Hope

    Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest has spent much of her life learning something the ocean eventually teaches all of us: We cannot control the waves. But we can learn how to keep breathing when they come. Jessica Palumbo dreamed of becoming a mother for as long as she can remember. But before that dream came true, she would face years of infertility, uncertainty, procedures, waiting, and the quiet grief of wondering whether the children she had always imagined would ever arrive. Eventually, the tide turned, and Jessica became the mother of two beautiful boys. But life wasn't finished sending waves. Jessica lost her father to stage 4 cancer. Her mother would later face breast cancer. And then Jessica herself heard the words no one ever wants to hear: You have breast cancer. Initially, she believed it had been caught early. But additional testing revealed a much more aggressive disease. Her treatment became more extensive, and just one year later, another devastating wave arrived: Metastatic breast cancer. This time, Jessica says she felt as though she were drowning. And yet, in the middle of that fear, she began noticing something else—little reminders that perhaps she wasn't navigating these waters alone. Hummingbirds appearing at just the right moment. Dragonflies surrounding her on the beach. And the number 4:44, appearing again and again during some of her most difficult moments. Her Catholic faith became her anchor. Her family became her strength. And her two boys—ironically, passionate surfers who love the very big waves their mother spent so much of her life fearing—became her reason to keep swimming. Jessica's story is called “When the Ocean Waves Come: Finding Strength Beyond a Diagnosis.” She has learned that strength isn't about conquering the ocean. It's about finding joy between the storms, trusting that calm waters will return, and remembering that no single wave defines the entire sea. And just as importantly: No diagnosis defines her. She is still here. Still loving. Still hoping. Still breathing. And still rising. This is Jessica Palumbo. Support the show Still I Rise features stories from You Night's STORY CRAFTING COMMUNITY.  To read additional stories, visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YouNightStories.  Would you like to participate in a 6-week Story Crafting small group experience so that you can share your story?  Write to us at teamyounight@gmail.com

    Jessica Palumbo: Facing Stage 4 Breast Cancer with Faith, Motherhood & Hope

  4. Sep 5

    Amy Benoit: She Fought to Survive Cancer—Then Chose to Truly Live

    Send us Fan Mail Sometimes the thing that threatens to take your life is the very thing that teaches you how much your life is worth. Today’s guest is Amy Benoit, and her story is about breast cancer—but it’s also about something much bigger. It’s about finding the courage to choose yourself after years of believing that keeping everyone else together was your responsibility. Amy grew up surrounded by love, family, laughter, and a beautiful example of what home could feel like. But somewhere along the way, in a marriage increasingly affected by alcoholism, conflict, and emotional turmoil, Amy began to lose herself. She stayed. She carried the family. She tried harder. She made excuses. And little by little, the confident woman she once knew became harder to recognize. Then, in January of 2023, at just 40 years old, Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. And while cancer brought surgeries, chemotherapy, fear, and tremendous physical vulnerability, it also brought Amy something she never expected: clarity. After her tenth round of chemotherapy, emotionally and physically exhausted from yet another devastating argument at home, Amy had a realization that would change the course of her life: She was fighting this hard to stay alive. So why was she fighting so hard to stay in a life that was making her miserable? Amy made the terrifying decision to end her 14-year marriage while she was still undergoing cancer treatment. What followed was incredibly difficult—but somewhere in the middle of cancer, divorce, fear, and uncertainty, Amy began finding herself again. She compares her journey to a lotus flower, which must push its way through darkness and mud before it ever reaches the surface and blooms. Her story is beautifully titled “Rooted in Darkness, Blooming in Light.” Today, the darkness is still part of Amy’s story—but it no longer defines her. Because sometimes surviving isn't simply about staying alive. Sometimes it's about finally deciding to live. This is Amy Benoit. Support the show Still I Rise features stories from You Night's STORY CRAFTING COMMUNITY.  To read additional stories, visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YouNightStories.  Would you like to participate in a 6-week Story Crafting small group experience so that you can share your story?  Write to us at teamyounight@gmail.com

    Amy Benoit: She Fought to Survive Cancer—Then Chose to Truly Live

  5. Aug 27

    Lisa-Jo Mitchell: The Key She Carried All Along — Breast Cancer, Loss & Finding “I Am Enough”

    Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest has spent much of her life being the strong one—the woman who carried the weight, protected everyone else, and learned how to tuck her own pain away where no one could see it. Lisa-Jo Mitchell describes herself as Pandora’s Box: a beautiful, battle-worn treasure chest where, for years, she locked away grief, fear, anger, loss, and the parts of herself she believed she had to hide in order to survive. And Lisa-Jo has survived a lot. She became a mother under extraordinary circumstances while still a teenager. She endured devastating loss, including her brother’s death by suicide, the end of a marriage, struggles with alcohol, and the long journey of recovery. She built a career helping others navigate addiction and eventually learned that she carries Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition that increases the risk of developing certain cancers. And then came breast cancer. But remarkably, cancer became part of something Lisa-Jo never expected: an unlocking. Instead of closing the lid tighter, she began opening it. She allowed people to love her, support her, and see the parts of herself she had spent a lifetime protecting. And she discovered that vulnerability wasn't weakness at all—it was courage. Her story is called “The Key I Carried All Along: Unlocking Hope and Finding the Beauty Within.” And perhaps the most beautiful part of Lisa-Jo’s journey is realizing that the key she spent her life searching for was never somewhere outside of her. She had been carrying it all along. Today, Lisa-Jo no longer defines her scars by what she has lost, but by what she has overcome. And after a lifetime of proving just how strong she could be, she has arrived at three incredibly powerful words: I am enough. It is my honor to introduce you to Lisa-Jo Mitchell. Support the show Still I Rise features stories from You Night's STORY CRAFTING COMMUNITY.  To read additional stories, visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YouNightStories.  Would you like to participate in a 6-week Story Crafting small group experience so that you can share your story?  Write to us at teamyounight@gmail.com

    Lisa-Jo Mitchell: The Key She Carried All Along — Breast Cancer, Loss & Finding “I Am Enough”

  6. Aug 20

    Alisha Malloy: Finding Faith, Grace & Healing Through Breast Cancer and Unimaginable Loss

    Send us Fan Mail Today, I have the privilege of introducing you to a woman whose story reminds us that even when life changes the music, the song is not over. My guest is Alisha Malloy, a member of the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation’s SheROSE Class of 2026. Alisha’s story is one of extraordinary love, unimaginable loss, breast cancer, faith, and ultimately, grace. In 2012, Alisha experienced what no mother should ever have to endure when her beautiful 17-year-old daughter, Ciara Charmayn Malloy — lovingly known as C-Me — was tragically killed in a car accident. In an instant, the rhythm of Alisha’s life changed forever. Years later, cancer would change that rhythm once again. But Alisha discovered something powerful along the way: when life changes the melody we thought we were going to sing, it doesn't mean the music has ended. Through her faith, Alisha has learned to hear God's grace in the pauses, His strength in the broken places, and His presence even in life's most painful movements. She calls her story “The Symphony of Grace and Faith: The Melody, Rhythm, and Harmony.” And I think you're going to understand exactly why. This is not simply a story about grief or cancer. It's a story about what happens when a woman chooses to keep singing — even through tears. It's about scars we no longer need to hide, weakness becoming strength, and believing that the places we never planned to be may be the very places where God is doing His greatest work. It is my honor to introduce you to an incredibly courageous woman and SheROSE, Alisha Malloy. Support the show Still I Rise features stories from You Night's STORY CRAFTING COMMUNITY.  To read additional stories, visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YouNightStories.  Would you like to participate in a 6-week Story Crafting small group experience so that you can share your story?  Write to us at teamyounight@gmail.com

    Alisha Malloy: Finding Faith, Grace & Healing Through Breast Cancer and Unimaginable Loss

  7. Aug 15

    After a Two-Month Pause, I’m Ready to Tell This Story by Lisa McKenzie

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to our new season everyone!  Before we post all of the amazing interviews lined up, I have been sitting on my fourth story and pondering if I should share it.  Because Story Crafting allows participants to dive into traumatic experiences and find peace with what they have been through, well - it is only fitting that I took advantage of this platform and opportunity to do the same. I Can Only ImagineWhat happens when the life you thought you were building suddenly becomes the life you have to grieve? In this deeply personal episode of Still I Rise, Lisa McKenzie shares I Can Only Imagine, her fourth story written using the Story Crafting process. Beginning with the childhood heartbreak of watching her family fall apart after her father left, Lisa explores how those early wounds resurfaced decades later when the husband she loved—and trusted because he knew her story—chose to leave their marriage rather than fight for it. But this isn't a story wrapped neatly in a silver lining. It's about the complicated truth of rebuilding a life you never asked to rebuild. It's about learning independence when you never wanted to be independent, finding peace while still being angry about what it took to get there, and grieving the life that might have been. Lisa also wrestles with a question many people carry after betrayal: Would an apology finally make a difference? Or is what we're really longing for something deeper—the acknowledgment that what happened to us mattered? Perhaps healing doesn't require us to be grateful for what broke us. Perhaps we can simply be grateful that we survived it. And perhaps the most powerful thing no one can ever take from us is our ability to tell the truth about our own story. “I can be angry about what happened and peaceful about where I am. I can wish he'd fought for me and know today that I am worth fighting for.” This is I Can Only Imagine. A story about abandonment, betrayal, worth, the life that might have been—and finally realizing: I was worth it. And I am. Support the show Still I Rise features stories from You Night's STORY CRAFTING COMMUNITY.  To read additional stories, visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YouNightStories.  Would you like to participate in a 6-week Story Crafting small group experience so that you can share your story?  Write to us at teamyounight@gmail.com

    After a Two-Month Pause, I’m Ready to Tell This Story by Lisa McKenzie

  8. Jun 22

    We're taking a break! Season 5 launches in August! Have a great summer everyone!

    Send us Fan Mail Hi everyone! We hope you have some fun summer plans!  As we prepare for Season 5, with over 55 new interviews lined up, we wanted to let you know we are taking a small break over the summer until mid August, where we will start releasing all of the new interviews.   If you are new to this channel, please scroll through our past interviews and listen to the amazing interviews!  With over 110 to choose from, we know you'll find stories that will inspire you! Until we gather again in August, have fun!  Go put your toes in the sand if you can and remember to reach out to someone who might be going through a tough time just to let them know you are thinking about them.  Those messages go a long way. Support the show Still I Rise features stories from You Night's STORY CRAFTING COMMUNITY.  To read additional stories, visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/YouNightStories.  Would you like to participate in a 6-week Story Crafting small group experience so that you can share your story?  Write to us at teamyounight@gmail.com

    We're taking a break! Season 5 launches in August! Have a great summer everyone!
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Real stories. Raw truth. Unshakable hope. Hosted by Lisa McKenzie, founder of You Night Empowering Events, The Still I Rise Podcast is a powerful, heartfelt series that shares the voices of women who have fought — or are still fighting — cancer, and the transformative journeys they’ve taken to reclaim joy, identity, and purpose. Each episode highlights inspiring survivor stories, candid conversations with mental health experts, and uplifting insights for anyone facing life after diagnosis. We dive deep into the emotional, spiritual, and psychological layers of healing — reminding every woman that she’s not alone, and that her story matters. Whether you're navigating cancer, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking inspiration and sisterhood, this podcast is for you. Want to share your story, connect with our community, or support our mission? Visit YouNightEmpoweringEvents.com to learn more about our cancer survivor empowerment programs and how you can get involved. #StillIRisePodcast | #CancerSurvivorStories | #WomenWhoFightCancer | #YouNightSisterhood Support women rising. Align your brand with a mission of hope, courage, and transformation. Let’s talk about creating a sponsorship package that meets your goals. Call us at 877-591-5936 x1 or email lisa@younightevents.com  

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa McKenzie, Founder of You Night Events
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Still I Rise Podcast
  • Show Website
    Still I Rise Podcast

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