19 - Thriving after Cancer with Brynn Barale

Thriving After Cancer: Reclaiming Your Body & Life with RN Health Coach Brynn Barale

In this episode of the Wellness in Asheville Podcast, host Travis Richardson sits down with Brynn Barale, a registered nurse, holistic health coach, and 18-year breast cancer thriver who empowers survivors to trust their bodies and live a “kick-ass life after cancer” through Wildflower Health Coaching. 

Together they explore what happens after treatment ends—the identity shifts, body image changes, and emotional whiplash that so many women experience in survivorship. Brynn shares how her own diagnosis reshaped her life, why traditional after-care often misses the mark, and how nervous system awareness, gentle movement, and community can help survivors move beyond overwhelm into a vibrant, self-honoring life.​

Listeners will hear about Brynn’s weekly online Reiki and healing circle for women, practical practices for reconnecting with a post-cancer body, and how to rebuild confidence when scars, fatigue, and fear of recurrence are part of daily life. This conversation is for anyone navigating life after cancer—or who loves someone who is—and for providers who want to better understand the unique landscape of survivorship.​​

Key talking points:

• Brynn’s story as an 18-year breast cancer thriver and what “thriving” actually looks like day to day​
• The gap between “ringing the bell” and feeling supported in survivorship
• Rebuilding trust with a body that feels like it has betrayed you
• Body image, weight changes, and embracing a new shape after surgery and treatment
• How holistic health coaching weaves together nutrition, movement, mindset, and nervous system regulation for cancer survivors​
• Brynn’s weekly online Reiki and healing circle for women after cancer and how energy work can support emotional healing​
• Practical daily grounding practices for anxiety, fear of recurrence, and medical trauma

Timestamps:
00:00 – 03:00 | Welcome to Wellness in Asheville & Travis’ reflections on being humbled by cancer thrivers
03:00 – 08:00 | Brynn’s diagnosis story and what 18 years of survivorship have taught her
08:00 – 14:00 | The emotional crash after treatment ends and why survivorship can feel lonelier than active treatment
14:00 – 20:00 | Rebuilding trust with your body and navigating body image after surgery and weight changes
20:00 – 27:00 | Holistic health coaching pillars: nutrition, movement, mindset, and nervous system support for cancer survivors​
27:00 – 33:00 | Community, group support, and Brynn’s weekly Reiki & healing circle for women after cancer​
33:00 – 40:00 | Practical tools for grounding, managing fear of recurrence, and returning to everyday life
40:00 – 47:00 | What Brynn wishes every provider knew about life after cancer and her message to current survivors
47:00 – 50:00 | How to work with Brynn, links, and Travis’ closing thoughts:

Episode Links:

• Wildflower Health Coaching: https://www.wildflowerhealthcoaching.com​
• About Brynn:  https://www.wildflowerhealthcoaching.com/about​
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildflowerHealthCoaching
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com

The Wellness in Asheville podcast is produced by Be Well Asheville, your local news source covering health + wellness news + events in Asheville. Get the latest at bewellasheville.com or follow @bewellasheville.

Transcript

Brynn Barale

Thiving after Cancer

 [00:00:00] 

Speaker: Welcome to the Wellness in Asheville Podcast, where we shine a light on the people practices, and places that make this city one of the most inspiring wellness communities in the country. I'm your host, Travis Richardson, founder of Be Well Asheville, your local news source for health, wellness, and community events.

All right. Today's guest is Bryn Burrell, a registered nurse health coach, an 18 year breast cancer thriver. Through her work at Wildflower Health Coaching, Bryn helps women cancer survivors move beyond overwhelm, reconnect with their bodies and reclaim of vibrant life, rooted in confidence, clarity, and healing.

She also hosts a weekly community reiki and healing circle for women navigating life after cancer and Wow. You know, I was actually. A [00:01:00] surprise at my re reaction to, uh, meeting Bryn and then just being in her presence because I would just, I just feel so humbled. I don't know why, but like when people have been through things like what she has with cancer and have come out the other side and then they move, go on, uh, to.

Sort of embody that experience and be able to teach others through what they've embodied and the knowledge and the wisdom that they've gained. I, I just, I, I don't have stories like that myself. And although I've coached people for decades, I've had a gym where I had tons of fitness minded folks looking to lose weight and, and, and be healthier.

I haven't, myself been through such a thing like cancer and then come out the other side to teach people. And I, I feel like. This is, this makes this episode and Bryn very special and I encourage all the listeners here if you know somebody struggling with, with, uh, especially a woman, uh, struggling with, [00:02:00] with breast cancer or.

And going through that process of maybe they're getting ready to go through chemo or maybe their post You, you know, they're, they're, they're just trying to get their life back together after having went through a procedure or a process. Uh, which is what brand's role specialty is, is sort of that post, um, healing, you know, getting, reclaiming your body and owning the new figure that you are in, the new body that you're in and, and being proud of it.

Um, then forward this on to, to that particular woman or person interested in, in learning more about this work because I think it's so important. Uh, without further ado, let's just get right in and hear it straight from Bryn.

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You've been listening to the Wellness Nashville Podcast to learn more about Brim Bealle and her work with cancer survivors through Wild Flower Health Coaching visit. Www Wildflower health coaching.com to join her weekly online community reiki and Healing Circle. Check the link in our show notes or follow her on Instagram at your kick ass Life After Cancer.

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You can catch the next episode while on your way up to visit Mount Mitchell or cruising down I 26 or on your way to catch a nice sunset view over at the Black Balsam Knob. You can check out more Asheville Wellness News and Events and join our newsletter@bewellasheville.com. Thank you for being the best part of our [00:51:00] wellness community and until next time, be well.

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