The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie

Dominique Muhammad
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Mental Health
  • Biweekly

BeastVsZombie is here to inspire and motivate you to beat whatever challenge you're facing in your life right now. The Beast represents you as a person and what is inside of you, the Zombie represents any challenges you're facing in life. Everybody has some type of challenge they're facing in life wether that is health, finance, relationships, or just simply getting out of bed. Find motivation and inspiration here that you can show up for yourself and overcome your Zombies. Be A Beast!!!

  1. 2d ago

    The Voice Of Optimus Prime W/ Garry Chalk #BvsZ EP. 57

    He's voiced one of the most iconic heroes in animation history. But when cancer hit, Garry Chalk was so exhausted he fell asleep between takes, and for weeks he thought he was just "getting too old for this." Then came the day a doctor told him, "You've got cancer." Soon he couldn't walk from his bedroom to the bathroom. In this episode of Beast vs. Zombie, host Dominique Muhammad sits down with actor, musician and cancer survivor Garry Chalk, the English voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers: Armada, Energon and Cybertron, and Optimus Primal in Beast Wars. He opens up about his lymphoma journey, the brutal chemo he nicknamed the "brown bag of death," and what it took to come back. In this episode: ✅ How exhaustion on a movie set became the first warning sign ✅ The PET scan that made him "light up like a Christmas tree" ✅ Six months of chemo, daily self-injections and the "red devil" ✅ Chemo brain, neuropathy and the emotional side effects nobody warns you about ✅ Losing friends to cancer and why survivor's guilt hits so hard ✅ How his wife fought for him in the hospital: "My husband is dying. Let's get with the program." ✅ Dominique shares his own story: diagnosed at 19, two bone marrow transplants ✅ Gary's secrets to a long marriage and a 50-year acting career ✅ Why vulnerability, small steps and "never too late" changed his life ✅ He performs a live Optimus Prime line for the host's dad   You don't know how tough you can be until you're living it. If this story helps even one person, share it.   About Garry Chalk: Born February 17, 1952 in Southampton, England, Garry Chalk moved to Vancouver, Canada at age 5. Trained at Studio 58, he has worked in film, TV and voice acting since the late 1970s. He is known for Cold Squad (two Gemini Awards for Best Supporting Actor), Stargate SG-1, The Fly II, Freddy vs. Jason and Watchmen, plus voice roles in ReBoot, Sonic and many more. He is also a musician who plays live with his band.   🎙 Guest: Garry Chalk 🎙 Host: Dominique Muhammad 📺 Channel: The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie   🛒 Shop: beastvszombie.com (10% of all proceeds go to cancer research and awareness)   ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Hook: Optimus Prime's Voice Actor Fights Cancer 01:25 Intro: A Legend Joins Beast vs. Zombie 02:11 The Experimental Cancer Treatment 02:36 "I Had No Idea I Was Sick" 04:08 "You Got Cancer": The Diagnosis 05:15 First Chemo on December 23rd 06:51 The "Brown Bag of Death" and "Red Devil" 08:32 Dominique's Story: Two Bone Marrow Transplants 11:07 Cancer Is Silent: Too Weak to Walk 12:05 Neuropathy and Learning to Accept It 14:10 Losing Friends to Cancer 15:33 Farrah Fawcett and the Cancers That Win 17:04 His Wife, the "Mama Bear" 20:01 Chemo Brain Explained 22:01 Dominique Diagnosed at 19 27:16 The Key to a Lasting Marriage 33:01 The Rooftop Studio 35:33 50 Years in Acting: Stockbroker to Hollywood 49:25 Voice Acting vs. On-Camera 52:16 Music and "Never Too Late to Learn" 1:00:50 What Trying Your Hardest Really Means 1:06:39 The Open Mic Story: Don't Fear Failure 1:12:59 Audition Wisdom 1:14:47 His Favorite Roles 1:18:59 Improv on Set 1:26:51 The Optimus Prime Line 1:28:07 Upcoming Projects 1:30:39 Closing 🔔 Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.    📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad: https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/ 🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research: https://beastvszombie.com/collections Shop merch at BeatVsZombie.com — 10% of all proceeds goes directly to cancer research ────────── #GarryChalk #OptimusPrime #CancerSurvivor #Transformers #Lymphoma #BeastVsZombie #CancerPodcast

  2. Oct 19

    Hit by a Car, Then Cancer: A Story of Resilience W/ Joanne Greene #BvsZ EP. 56

    She was crossing the street in broad daylight when a truck slammed into the car that had stopped for her. She was thrown onto the hood and flew 50 feet down the road. Two years later, she heard the words "you have cancer." Today, she says she's glad it all happened. In this episode of The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie, Dominique Muhammad sits down with Joanne Green: podcaster, published author, former radio news anchor and talk show host, and cancer survivor. She shares how losing her sister, mother and brother, a near-fatal car accident, and a colon cancer diagnosis shaped the way she lives today. ✅ Why she had stage 1 colon cancer with no symptoms, and why she urges everyone to get screened ✅ The 2012 car accident that left her unable to move, and what it taught her about asking for help ✅ Why "loss compounds loss," and why there are no shortcuts with grief ✅ How gratitude and resilience help her face what she can't control ✅ What forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) is and how she became a nature and forest therapy guide ✅ Dominique's own cancer journey: two bone marrow transplants and a mindset that never gave up ✅ The ancient advice she gives anyone going through a hard time: "This too shall pass"   If you or someone you love is facing cancer, loss or a life-changing challenge, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone.   🎙️ Guest: Joanne Greene –  www.joanne-greene.com 📖 Her book: "By Accident: A Memoir of Letting Go" 🎤 Host: Dominique Muhammad 📺 Channel: The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie   Chapters 0:00 Highlights 1:06 Intro 1:50 Cancer in the family: shaped by loss 4:11 Stage 1 colon cancer: "do the test" 6:44 Why she wrote "By Accident" 10:31 The car accident that changed everything 13:51 Learning to ask for help 15:17 Survivor DNA 21:54 Lessons from Dominique's grandfather 29:06 Forest bathing explained 43:06 Listening, feedback and humility 50:28 Why Dominique started this podcast 53:06 Dominique's cancer journey 1:04:17 "This too shall pass" 1:07:20 Where to find Joanne's book and podcast   🔔 Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.    📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad: https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/ 🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research: https://beastvszombie.com/collections Shop merch at BeatVsZombie.com — 10% of all proceeds goes directly to cancer research ——————————————————————————   #CancerSurvivor #ColonCancer #Resilience #CancerPodcast

  3. Oct 5

    Marine Beat Cancer 3 Times: "He Just Will Not Die" W/ Ivan Servin #BvsZ EP. 55

    Cancer came back. Then it came back again. And this retired Marine still refused to quit. In this episode of Beast vs Zombie, host Dominique Muhammad sits down with retired Marine Ivan Servin, who started with "gym back pain" and ended up fighting cancer three separate times. He tells the full story: the diagnosis, the chemo, the relapse, and the moment he rang the bell.   ✅ How back pain he blamed on the gym turned out to be a pelvic mass and a germ cell tumor diagnosis ✅ Four rounds of BEP chemo, then a relapse in August 2025 that moved him to the tougher TIP chemo ✅ Why he sought a second opinion and what happened at City of Hope ✅ The last day of chemo, when his oncologist came in on his day off to push him through ✅ Back on the jiu-jitsu mats just weeks after chemo, bald and with no eyebrows ✅ The family, friends and diet changes that carried him through ✅ Why he believes "your life prepared you for these moments" ✅ His best advice: spend more time with your family   Cancer fights your body, but the mind decides how you fight back. Ivan's story is proof that you can always get up one more time.   🎙️Guest: Ivan Servin 🎧 Host: Dominique Muhammad 📺 Channel: The Cancer Podcast: Beast vs Zombie   Chapters 0:00 Hook 1:25 Intro 1:48 What it takes to become a Marine 5:23 How the military set him up for success 6:36 The cancer journey begins 9:00 BEP chemo: five days a week for three months 10:17 The relapse 11:42 Second opinion and City of Hope 15:20 The last chemo day and ringing the bell 16:26 Remission and the friends who stayed 23:32 Diet changes during cancer 29:19 His dad, his family and the toll it took 31:05 "He just will not die" 32:15 "Your life prepared you for this" 36:40 Life after the Marines and finding jiu-jitsu 44:05 His "why": the people in his life 46:45 How the "Beast vs Zombie" name was born 51:00 The truth about chemo bone pain 56:57 Daily habits and supplements 1:03:55 Best advice he ever got 🔔 Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.  📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad: https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/ 🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research: https://beastvszombie.com/collections Shop merch at BeatVsZombie.com — 10% of all proceeds goes directly to cancer research ——————————————————————————   #CancerSurvivor #MarineVeteran #CancerPodcast #BeastVsZombie

  4. Sep 21

    No Symptoms, Normal Exam — Only the PSA Test Caught His Cancer W/ Dr. John Bukowski #BvsZ EP. 54

    His PSA kept climbing. His exam was normal. His first biopsy found nothing — but the cancer was there, hiding in just 5% of his prostate. In this episode of The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie, host Dominique Muhammad sits down with Dr. John Bukowski — veterinarian turned public health researcher turned award-winning thriller author — and prostate cancer survivor. He shares how a rising PSA test led to his prostate cancer diagnosis, why he chose robotic nerve-sparing surgery over radiation, and what every man should know before walking into an oncology appointment.   In this episode: ✅ How a rising PSA test exposed prostate cancer with zero symptoms ✅ Why his first biopsy missed it — and how a targeted biopsy found the Gleason 7 tumor ✅ Robotic, nerve-sparing prostatectomy: three small incisions and home the same day ✅ Why he chose surgery over radiation — side effects, recurrence, and what options are left ✅ Life after surgery: annual PSA checks and minor side effects ✅ What to ask your doctor: how aggressive is it, side effects, survival rates ✅ Dominique's own story: lymphoma at 19 and two bone marrow transplants ✅ From vet school to thrillers: his award-winning writing journey, how to get a book published, and AI in writing   Don't panic. Get the test. Ask the questions. Prostate cancer is no longer a death sentence — and as Dr. John says: show up, every single day. Be a Beast. 💪 🎙 Guest: Dr. John Bukowski 🎙 Host: Dominique Muhammad 📺 Channel: The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie   Chapters 00:00 Episode highlights 01:07 Welcome & meet Dr. John Bukowski 01:40 Prostate cancer diagnosis: why he chose surgery 05:36 Robotic nerve-sparing surgery explained 07:19 How to find the right surgeon 08:51 Why the first biopsy missed it (Gleason score) 11:52 What is a PSA test? 13:29 Dominique's lymphoma story at 19 15:57 Side effects & life after surgery 17:36 How a medical background helped 20:23 "Don't panic": what to ask at your appointment 23:11 Do you need a second opinion? 24:57 From medical writer to award-winning novelist 34:57 Medical technology & bone marrow transplants 36:50 AI & the future of writing 47:35 How to get a book published 53:34 The best advice he ever got 56:20 Where to find his books   🔔 Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.  📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad: https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/ 🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research: https://beastvszombie.com/collections Shop merch at BeatVsZombie.com — A percentage of all proceeds goes directly to cancer research 📚 Dr. John's books & website: https://www.jbukowskiauthor.com  —————————————————————————— #ProstateCancer #CancerSurvivor #PSATest #CancerPodcast

  5. Sep 7

    Why Your Past Trauma Could Be Making You Sick W/ Zac Russell #BvsZ EP. 53

    What if everything you're suffering from... is just a story your mind is telling you? In this episode of BeastVsZombie, host Dominique Muhammad sits down with mindset coach Zac Russell to break down why living in the present moment isn't just a feel-good phrase — it might be the key to real healing. ✅ Why childhood trauma rewires your brain for fight-or-flight  ✅ The hidden link between stress, ego, and disease  ✅ How to "put down the backpack" and let go of stories that don't serve you  ✅ Why belief systems can quietly become a form of self-limitation  ✅ The truth about motivation, purpose, and living unapologetically   This conversation will change how you see your past, your health, and who you really are.   🎙️Guest: Zac Russell 🎧Host: Dominique Muhammad 📺Channel: The Cancer Podcast: Beast VS Zombie   Chapters 0:00:00 Hook: Best Moments From This Episode 0:01:10 Intro: Living In The Present Moment 0:02:59 Beating Cancer & Learning To Stay Present 0:05:35 Letting Go: The Backpack Of Emotional Weight 0:06:42 Fight Or Flight: The Biology Of Suffering 0:10:10 How Childhood Conditioning Shapes The Mind 0:16:18 What If Society Became Aware? 0:23:40 Finding Your Gift & Adding Real Value 0:30:40 Breaking Free From Limiting Beliefs 0:41:40 Present Moment Play & Finding Your Vocation 0:45:10 There Is No Outside — Only Your Story 0:55:40 Ego, Winning & Losing In Competition 1:00:57 Awareness, Acceptance, Surrender: Best Advice 1:02:10 Pain Is Natural, Suffering Is A Choice 1:03:10 Where To Find Zac Russell (Outro)   🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.   📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad: https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/ 🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research: https://beastvszombie.com/collections Shop merch at BeatVsZombie.com — 10% of all proceeds goes directly to cancer research —————————————————————————— #BeastVsZombie #CancerSurvivor #MindsetCoach #LivePresent

  6. Aug 24

    Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivor W/ Katie Day #BvsZ EP. 52

    She was a D1 college athlete and state champion. Doctors blamed anxiety and an eating disorder. Then a routine chest x-ray revealed a mass that changed the course of her life.  In this episode of Beast vs Zombie, Katie Day opens up about her journey from unexplained symptoms to a Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma diagnosis as a senior in college — and how surviving cancer completely reshaped who she became.  ✅ Misdiagnosed for months before doctors found the real cause  ✅ Diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma during her final year of college  ✅ How cancer rewired her mindset, confidence, and career path  ✅ Now turning her survival into purpose at Blood Cancer United  A powerful reminder that even in life's darkest chapters, there's always a comeback waiting.    🎙️ Guest: Katie Day 🎧 Host: Dominique Muhammad   Chapters  0:00 - Hook  1:24 - Advice for Facing the Unknown  3:06 - Diagnosed at 21: The Story Begins  5:44 - The Phone Call That Changed Everything  7:25 - What Is Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma?  10:21 - Why More Young People Are Getting Cancer  13:43 - Inside Chemo: Treatment & Side Effects  19:46 - The Cancer Came Back  20:41 - Fighting Cancer During COVID  29:13 - Stem Cell Transplant: Her Dad's Cells  34:00 - New Chapter: Working at Blood Cancer United  45:06 - How to Get Involved & Give Back  49:00 - Best Advice She's Ever Received  58:17 - On Grief, Loss & Letting Go  1:01:48 - Final Thoughts & Where to Follow    📺 Channel: The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie  --------------------------------------------------- 🔔 Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.  📌 Follow Katie Day: https://www.instagram.com/_katieday/ 📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad: https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/  🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research: https://beastvszombie.com/collections  #CancerSurvivor #MentalHealth #HealingJourney #BeastVsZombie #lymphoma

  7. Aug 10

    Surviving Cancer Twice W/ Savio Clemente #BvsZ EP. 51

    In this episode of The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie, host Dominique Muhammad sits down with Savio Clemente — keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, journalist, resilience strategist, and two-time non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor — for a raw conversation about what it really takes to survive cancer, twice.  Savio opens up about his 2014 diagnosis, a decade of remission, and the shocking 2024 relapse that led to a grueling 29-day hospital stay, a stem cell transplant, and a body pushed to its absolute limit.  ✅ Why doctors call it a "medical rebirth" — and why he now has two birthdays  ✅ The physical toll: losing 26 pounds, tachycardia scares, and not being recognized by his own phone ✅ How 20+ years of meditation and metacognition helped him regulate his mind through the pain ✅ Why he refuses to let cancer define who he is — and calls it "one of the best things that happened" to him ✅ The mental framework anyone facing hardship can use to find strength in the struggle  This isn't just a survival story — it's a masterclass in resilience, mindset, and choosing perspective even when your body is falling apart.  If this episode moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it today. ️  🎙️ Guest: Savio Clemente  🎧 Host: Dominique Muhammad 📺 Channel: The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie  --------------------------------------------------- 🔔 Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.  📌 Follow Savio Clemente: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanresolve 📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad: https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/  🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research: https://beastvszombie.com/collections  #CancerSurvivor #MentalHealth #HealingJourney #BeastVsZombie #lymphoma

  8. Jul 27

    She Beat CANCER Twice & Lost Her Leg W/ Armeda Batchler #BvsZ EP. 50

    In this powerful episode of BeastvsZombie, Armeda shares her incredible journey of surviving cancer not once, but twice. From being diagnosed at a young age to becoming a mother while battling cancer, facing chemotherapy, losing her leg, and overcoming a life-threatening diagnosis. Her story is one of strength, resilience, and hope.  Armeda opens up about living as an amputee, surviving rare bone cancer, and finding purpose through life's greatest challenges. This conversation is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are stronger than we realize.    🎙️ Guest: Armeda Batchler Cancer Survivor  🎧 Host: Dominique Muhammad Co-Host: Bree Jones  📺 Channel: The Cancer Podcast: BeastVsZombie  --------------------------------------------------- 🔔 Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations with real cancer survivors, inspiring stories, and life-changing perspectives.  📌 Follow Dominique Muhammad: https://www.instagram.com/beastvszombie/  ✅ Follow Armeda: https://www.instagram.com/ampd_livin/ 🛒 Shop & Support Cancer Research: https://beastvszombie.com/collections  #BreastCancer #CancerSurvivor #MentalHealth #HealingJourney #BeastVsZombie

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BeastVsZombie is here to inspire and motivate you to beat whatever challenge you're facing in your life right now. The Beast represents you as a person and what is inside of you, the Zombie represents any challenges you're facing in life. Everybody has some type of challenge they're facing in life wether that is health, finance, relationships, or just simply getting out of bed. Find motivation and inspiration here that you can show up for yourself and overcome your Zombies. Be A Beast!!!

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