Welcome to Compassiviste Dialogues. I'm Ali, your host, and my mission with this podcast is to shed light on critical social and environmental issues worldwide, exploring avenues for positive change. Today I’m joined by Inna Shchepanska young breast cancer survivor, healthtech founder, and the visionary behind Spark and Heal, a platform helping women navigate life after treatment with science-backed tools, community, and compassion. After 11 years in strategy roles at Google, Ina turned her insight and empathy toward survivorship, creating a structured space for what the system too often overlooks: chemo brain, treatment-induced menopause, intimacy, identity, work, and the fear of recurrence no shame, no stigma, just practical support and honest conversation. What began as a personal need became a movement to rebuild confidence, relationships, and daily life one small, sustainable habit at a time. In this episode, we explore how honesty, structure, and community can transform recovery after cancer and how Spark and Heal is helping survivors vent, focus, reconnect, and grow without fear of judgment. ABOUT GUEST: Inna is dedicated to improving the quality of life for women after breast cancer by addressing the often-overlooked gaps in post-treatment care. While survival rates in Western countries reach 90 - 93%, many women still face profound challenges: high rates of PTSD, body-image struggles, treatment-induced menopause, reduced work capacity, mental-health declines, and even financial discrimination. Inna’s work brings these hidden realities to light and advocates for a broader definition of survivorship—one that includes identity, wellbeing, and long-term support. As a speaker and facilitator, she focuses on survivorship, women’s health and FemTech innovation, and resilience in the aftermath of illness. KEY NOTES: The Cliff After Treatment: Why survivorship needs its own medicine. Focus & Memory: How to navigate chemo brain with micro-habits that stick. Intimacy & Identity: Reclaiming libido, body image, and communication. Work as a Hidden Disability: Practical ways to rebuild confidence at the job. Tiny Habits, Big Impact: Journaling, 1-minute calm, and community done right. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Episode Trailer 01:20 Intro 15:25 Ina's Journey: From Survivor to Advocate 32:04 The Need for Holistic Healing 42:30 Transforming Survival into Thriving 44:57 The Burden of Silence: Mental Health Awareness 51:23 Invisible Disabilities: The Unseen Struggles 56:11 Advocacy in Action: The Right to Be Forgotten 01:00:54 From City Life to Countryside: Redefining Success 01:08:33 Spirituality and Survival: The Journey of Healing 01:15:05 Compassion as a Catalyst for Global Harmony THINGS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST: Spark and Heal (platform) www.sparkandheal.com/ Inna's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/innashchepanska%E2%9C%A8/ Inna's Youtube: @mytasteoflife TO LEARN MORE AND STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 Visit our website: https://compassivistedialogues.com/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qt8cYHeIcDmDV8zPKNxMw 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/compassiviste-dialogues/id1735926709 CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Compassiviste/61555898333856/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassiviste/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@compassiviste Twitter: https://twitter.com/compassiviste LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/compassiviste/ Tune in, follow, and embark on this insightful journey with us. Your vision's transformation begins now. 🚀🌟
