There are conversations that stay with you long after the mic turns off. This is one of them.
In this deeply human and unforgettable episode, Mark Sevillano Jr. opens his heart and walks us through the moments that reshaped his life forever from healing after divorce, to rediscovering purpose as a single father, to hearing the words that no one is ever prepared for: “You have cancer.”
Mark shares his raw journey through stage 2 esophageal cancer.. how subtle symptoms turned into a life-threatening diagnosis, the shock of finding out over the phone while alone in a hospital room, and the grueling reality of chemotherapy, surgery, and survivorship. But this is not just a cancer story.
This is a story about resilience, faith, surrender, and redefining what truly matters.
Together, we explore:
What life looked like before cancer and why that context matters
Ignoring symptoms, pushing through pain, and the moment everything changed
Chemotherapy, sepsis shock, and an 8-hour robotic esophagectomy
The emotional weight of telling your parents and children
Hair loss, neuropathy, brain fog, and the realities no one warns you about
Survivorship guilt and the quiet fear of recurrence
Recovery as its own full-time job
Relearning food, energy, stress, and self-compassion
Why joy not hustle is now the priority
How cancer redirected Mark into advocacy, speaking, and service
Mark’s honesty is grounding. His reflections are powerful. And his message is one so many need to hear: You don’t have to stay stuck. There is hope on the other side.
This episode is for anyone navigating cancer, recovery, caregiving, grief, burnout, or a major life reset and for anyone who needs permission to slow down and choose joy again.
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Ireland