Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, or recovery comes with complex decisions, unpredictable side effects, and daily challenges—but it doesn’t have to feel completely heavy or overwhelming. The Cancer Pod is an integrative oncology podcast designed to provide patients, survivors, and caregivers with practical, evidence-based tools, honest conversations, and just the right amount of humor to keep things grounded.
Hosted by Leah Sherman, ND, FMCP-M, RYT, the show bridges the gap between conventional cancer care and natural medicine. Drawing on her clinical expertise working in integrative cancer centers as a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, alongside her own personal experience, Leah delivers science-backed guidance to help manage side effects, navigate cancer survivorship, and debunk popular health myths. Episode range from interviews with experts in their field, practical health strategies, and real, relatable perspectives from #cancerinsiders, everyday people who have used their own diagnosis to inform, advocate for, and support others.
No matter where you are on the cancer continuum, The Cancer Pod offers a lighthearted, supportive space with the evidence, insights, and community you need to navigate the road ahead with clarity and confidence.
Support the podcast and join our community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecancerpod
Disclaimer: This podcast is for education, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Do not apply any of this information without first speaking to your doctor. The views and opinions expressed on this podcast by the hosts and their guests are solely their own.
Leah’s dream job as a naturopathic doctor was to work at an integrative cancer center. She never figured she would also become a patient. She’s the #cancerinsider of The Cancer Pod, offering her insight on the podcast as both patient and doctor.
Dr. Kaczor always been “the sciency one.” Hard-wired to seek an understanding about how things work, she’s a naturopathic doctor with a deep understanding of molecular biology. She has practiced naturopathic oncology since 2000. She’s the editor of the first textbook of naturopathic oncology, and enjoys demystifying cancer from ever angle. The Cancer Pod is her outlet to engage a limitless number of people.
Beth Blakey is the CEO of Cancer Hope Network, the nation’s premier organization providing free, one-on-one peer mentorship to patients and caregivers impacted by cancer. Under her leadership, the organization expands national partnerships, drives program innovation, and strengthens the role of lived-experience support within oncology care.
Beth’s commitment is deeply personal. Having served as a caregiver to her mother—a two-time survivor—while raising young children and running a business, she experienced firsthand the isolation and gaps in psychosocial support families face. Today, she is dedicated to ensuring no one navigates cancer alone, connecting thousands with trained mentors who offer empathy, encouragement, and hope.
Dr. Chad Levitt is a board-certified radiation oncologist with over 25 years of experience in cancer treatment. Dr. Levitt has held leadership roles in oncology practices across the country and is the founder of Radiotherapy Associates of Forsyth and ONCare MD. He is recognized nationally for his expertise in cancer care, with numerous speaking engagements and published research in oncology journals. Dr. Levitt has also served on national advisory boards and as a principal investigator for clinical research trials, staying at the forefront of cancer treatment innovations.
After decades of practicing oncology, Dr. Levitt realized the existing gaps in the current systems and the need for a truly patient centered approach to cancer care. To address the often fragmented care between multiple providers, incentivized by multiple interests, Dr. Levitt founded ONCARE MD to put the patients back at the center of their cancer care.
Charlotte Bayala is a leading voice in the cancer caregiver community, known for transforming the invisible labor of caregiving into powerful conversations, tools, and practices that help caregivers stay grounded even in the hardest moments. As the host of The Cancer Caregiver Podcast, which has received three Women Who Podcast Magazine awards and was shortlisted for an International Women’s Podcast Award, Charlotte reaches thousands of caregivers with stories and strategies that speak directly to their lived experience. She blends the emotional honesty of personal storytelling with practical techniques like breathwork and boundary-setting. Grounded in compassion, mindfulness, and real-world caregiving insight, Charlotte helps listeners not only feel seen but also be equipped to take care of themselves while caring for someone else.
Claire Rumore is an intimacy educator and founder of Cancer and Intimacy, a platform dedicated to redefining survivorship through whole-person care. After navigating colon and pancreatic cancer, she began advocating for intimacy-informed cancer care — addressing sexuality, body image, grief, and connection as essential components of healing. Her work bridges patient support, clinician education, and systems change.
Dr. David Grew is a board-certified radiation oncologist with a longstanding commitment to patient education and innovation in cancer care. He earned his MPH and MD from Tulane University, where his early work on disaster recovery in post-Katrina New Orleans earned national recognition and federal support. He completed his residency at NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Grew currently practices at Johnson Memorial Cancer Center and St. Francis Hospital in Connecticut, where he also serves as Co-Chair of the Cancer Committee.
In 2020, Dr. Grew founded PRIMR, a digital health company focused on reducing physician burnout and improving patient understanding through video-based education. His mission is to make complex medical conversations easier for patients to absorb and retain, ultimately empowering them throughout their cancer journey.
Outside of work, Dr. Grew enjoys spending time with his wife and 4 daughters. Together, they are avid skiers, bikers and boaters.
Trained Naturopathic Primary Care doc, end of life educator, patient advocate, death doula, and nature lover
Dr. Abernethy has nearly twenty years as an advocate for health equity and patient access to care. She has led nonprofits, worked with WHO work groups in setting standards, helped establish an international patient centered outcome organization.
She is a former hospice volunteer, INELDA certified End of Life Doula and has worked with numerous families through the death process.
Gila Pfeffer is a humor writer, breast cancer previvor, survivor and prevention advocate. Her award winning memoir NEARLY DEPARTED: Adventures in Loss, Cancer and Other Inconveniences has been described as heartbreakingly hilarious and lifesaving complimentary copies of which are on your table to take home and enjoy. Her FEEL IT ON THE FIRST campaign uses tongue-in-cheek humor to remind people to prioritize their breast health in an empowering, non-scary way. These posts have directly led to earlier diagnoses and treatment for some very grateful women. She's passionate about the power of genetic testing and risk profile assessment and is, herself, a BRCA1 gene mutation carrier. Gila’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, Today.com, Oprah Daily, Tablet Magazine and more. She's is a mom to four grown and flown kids who reluctantly admit that she's cool.
Dr. Holly Lucille, ND, RN, ONC is a nationally recognized and licensed naturopathic doctor, educator, natural products consultant, and television and radio host. She is also the author of several books including Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Women’s Guide to Safe, Natural, Hormone Health and The Healing Power of Trauma Comfrey.
An acclaimed expert in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Lucille lectures on a variety of natural health topics. She is regularly quoted in both consumer and peer journals, and was listed in Time magazine’s “Alt List” as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People.”
Dr. Lucille believes in the science, art and mystery of healing and has a heartfelt passion for the individual wellness of all people. Her private practice focuses on comprehensive naturopathic medicine and individualized care.
Jeff Stewart’s stomach cancer was discovered when he tried to donate a kidney. His book, “LIVING: Inspiration from a Father with Cancer” is his inspiring cancer journey peppered with life advice for his seven kids.
Stewart had a varied life: molecular biologist, healthcare consultant, award-winning playwright, and Jeopardy champion.
At the time of this interview, his stomach cancer was stage four with a poor prognosis. The episode was released after his death on August 25, 2025.
After navigating her own experience with cancer, Maria transformed that journey into a passion-fueled career dedicated to improving the lives of others through advocacy, research, and systems-level change in psychosocial oncology care. Maria is a certified Leader in Oncology Navigation (LION) through the American Cancer Society, an After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Mentor, and a Tigerlily Foundation ANGEL Advocate. She serves as co-chair of the Patient & Family Advisory Council at Siteman Cancer Center, where she partners with leadership to ensure that patient and caregiver perspectives are embedded in strategic planning and decision-making. She also volunteers with Cancer Support Community to support individuals impacted by cancer whenever possible. Whether walking alongside individuals facing cancer or helping organizations clarify their values and culture, she finds purpose in elevating both personal and collective well-being.
Dr. Natalie Godbee graduated from Howard University in Washington D.C., where she received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. She went on to earn her Doctor of Medicine from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia Campus in Suwanee, Georgia. She was then Chief Resident and completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, Michigan. Dr. Godbee completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Wellspan York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. She currently works at City of Hope in Atlanta, GA.
Outside of practicing medicine, Dr. Godbee enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also likes to cook and try out new recipes.
Natasha Ewa is a wife, and mom to two toddler boys. She also is a psychotherapist and owner of I Thrive Therapy and Wellness. Natasha is passionate about helping others navigate life’s hardest moments.
At 29, she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer (ER+ HER2–), which led to a bilateral mastectomy chemotherapy and several reconstruction surgeries, the most recent being a DIEP flap in October 2025. That experience further shaped how she lives, loves, and shows up in the world.
She is a true crime enthusiast (featured 3x on a TV ONE true crime show), a heavy coffee drinker, and most at home outside, gardening, traveling, writing poetry, and capturing beauty through photography.