Stage 4 Cancer & Hollywood Dreams: How to Live Between Treatments

Episode Description

What happens when everything you plan falls apart, but you still have to show up as a parent? 

In this inspiring episode of The Parent Tap, Ryan sits down with Amie Jelich—actress, happiness coach, single mom, and Stage 4 cancer warrior. Amie shares her journey of moving her family from the Midwest to LA to support her kids' big Hollywood dreams, protecting them from the dark side of the entertainment industry without being a "mommager", and how a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis completely redefined her perspective on life. 

Amie opens up about her daughter's five life-changing words—"Live your life between treatments"—and reflects on winning The Price Is Right Showcase Showdown, overcoming childhood bullying, and her upcoming projects, including starring in a Christmas rom-com and launching her new live-audience TV show. 

Key Takeaways:

• How to support creative, high-achieving kids while prioritizing their safety and mental well-being. 
• Navigating life, parenting, and emotional resilience through a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis. 
• The reality of single parenting in high-stakes environments. 
• Choosing gratitude, presence, and joy every single day. 

Connect with Amie Jelich
Instagram @amiejelich

Podcast & Brand Profile: @lovinglife_beauthenticallyyou

TikTok @dreambig11122

Podcast Show: Loving Your Life, Be Authentically You (features on YouTube channels including Luxe Media Studios / Prosperity Network)

Docuseries Channel: Aquire (KWIRE) on YouTube

Website https://thetruehappiness.com

Daughter's Instagram @trueistina

 🔔 Subscribe to The Parent Tap for weekly conversations on modern parenting, resilience, and child safety!

Transcript

Introduction: Meet Amie Jelich

SPEAKER_01 0:00

What happens when everything you plan falls apart, but you still have to show up as a parent? Amy is an actress, happiness coach, single mom, and stage four cancer warrior who moved her family to LA to back her kids' big Hollywood dreams. But right when things were moving, life hit with a painful divorce and a stage four diagnosis. Her daughter gave her five words that changed everything. Live your life between treatments. Today she's here to talk about raising high-achieving kids, staying resilient, and choosing joy when the stakes are the highest.

Moving to LA: Supporting Kids' Hollywood Dreams

SPEAKER_01 0:32

I wanted to start with um you moving your family to LA to support your kids in music and acting. So how did you help them navigate the intense industry without them losing their childhood? I think we've seen some of that with like the Nickelodeon uh specials and whatnot, nefarious stuff going on in the background. So, how did you navigate that and and hopefully you didn't see any craziness, right?

SPEAKER_00 0:54

No, actually, I've honestly been able to protect them really well. So I've been with them to every audition, I've been with them through everything. So I had a really close knit of people that I trusted. And so if my son was going someplace, my daughter was going another place, I always had someone that was there. Um my mom came with me first to California so that I could navigate it with her. That way I wasn't on my own. We lived in Oakwood. And so in Oakwood, there was a lot of resources of people. So there was resources of different things, and I learned the in and ins and outs of it pretty quickly. I watched some documentaries and I was aware. So I it really didn't happen. We were able to navigate it pretty easily. I never really came against those

Protecting Kids in Showbiz & Avoiding the "Mommager" Trap

SPEAKER_00 1:40

parents who were, I don't know, those some of them are like the mom majors. We were always told, don't be a mommager. And it's sometimes hard because you you are the mom of the child, but you have to let them be, but also just allowing them to be, but also keeping them very safe. And so that's exactly what I did.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

Yeah, it it definitely seems like a fine line, though, between letting them pursue their dreams, but also keeping them safe. And it's kind of like maybe sometimes they're like contradicting each other. Um but yeah, I could see how that's that's awesome though, as a parent to support your kids' dreams and to to actually like make that huge life that life change to just to do that. That's I I just gotta give you a uh a commend you for that.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

Thank you. Thank you. Wasn't easy by any means, like at all. I mean, to jump shit. People said I was crazy. I was coming from the Midwest, and people were like, You're crazy for coming. Like, there's no, why are you doing this? You don't have anybody to even lean on. And I said, Well, if it's meant to be, it's gonna happen. And if not, it won't. So I went and I submitted them for tons of things, and then I got some callbacks, and then my daughter did a virtual reality thing with like VR when it first came out. So she did that, and then I ended up getting something on uh it was on American Court with Judge Ross out of the blue. So I was just having fun. I'm like, let's just submit, let's just see what happens. And so I wasn't even thinking anything for me, but it just happened, and so we just had fun, and that's what we loved. And then we did a game show with um, it was part of Disney. So we did a game show, my daughter and I, and it we just had fun. And I said, as long as you're having fun, let's keep going. But as soon as it becomes not fun or a job, I did not want it to be a job. I did not want it to be like you have to make me money. Like that was nothing. I'd heard a lot of parents doing that, and that's not their responsibility.

SPEAKER_01 3:29

Right, right. No, I love that mentality of like, let's just have fun with it, let's see where it goes. But yeah, no pressure.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

On your kids. Yeah, I love that. So um, can you walk us through your diagnosis

The Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis & Mindset Shift

SPEAKER_01 3:42

and just kind of how it changed your world and then like kind of your your your disposition on life? Did it, did it shift it at all? Did do you really like I I know people are like it's cliche, but do you really like take every day as a gift as opposed to maybe like how maybe things were taken for granted before that?

SPEAKER_00 4:01

Yes, yes. 100% of what you're saying is true. I think once you're diagnosed with something, when I was diagnosed with stage four cancer, it hit me out of the blue. Literally, I was walking with a friend and I was in so much pain. I was in Santa Monica Pier, I'll never forget it, and I was just walking and I was in pain. And I thought, well, maybe she's just taller than me. I'm just walking fast. Like I kept thinking it's nothing. So got home in pain, took medicine. Next day, inflammation went down a little bit, so brought her to the airport, no big deal. That next day, I was in so much pain again and I couldn't walk. I couldn't move. I was like, what just happened? And I thought there's something wrong. So a really good friend of mine had gotten me and brought me to the urgent care. I went in there and he actually picked me up. I mean, because like I could not walk. And there's like, you need to go to the ER, I need to go to the hospital. So I was admitted for about a month and a half while they were trying to diagnose what's going on and why. And so I was, and it was cancer that metastasized into my bones. So I had it in my acetabolum, in my hip, my ribs, my spine. And I did not realize this was even going on. And so when they told me you have stage four cancer, it was like, first I was like, okay, well, I'm dying. Like that's it. Like first you think that, right? You're listening, I don't want to hear it. You cry, you're like, oh my gosh. But then I thought, my mom, so my mom, like I said, she's 90. I think she was around 80 something at the time. And I was like, my mom was so scared. And she was just like, You're gonna, Amy, oh my gosh, you're gonna die. Oh my goodness. And I said, Mom, it's like the flu. I just have to take care of it. So I started implementing that into my own self and into my subconscious mind saying, I just have to take care of this like a flu. It's nothing, it's not gonna kill me. Now what am I gonna do with it? And so, first of all, I decided I want to make sure my life is where it needs to be. I needed to forgive people that offended me. I needed to forgive myself. I needed to start fresh. And I needed to take every moment as a blessing, just like you said, every moment as a miracle that I can open my eyes. When I got the hospital, I was in a wheelchair. I had to have surgery because I had to put a screw in my hip because the tumor ate through the bone. So when I walked again, I was like, thank you. I was so excited. I remember going literally to my first class with Brooke Burke, Brooke Burke Body. And I went with her and I met her for the first time and I was working out and I'm just smiling. Everybody's like, this is so hard. I'm like, no, this is great. Like, I mean, I was so happy to be moving. I was so grateful just to be there. And that's how I look at life now. That everything, even being here at this moment, this present moment, when I go in the water and I'm floating in Croatia, it's just like, thank you. Thank you for giving me that opportunity because I wouldn't have even had that. Thank you for being with my parents. Thank you for a cup of coffee, everything. I am literally so grateful for everything. And anybody that comes in our lives, it's just, it's a different kind of mentality of living in the present moment because that's what you have. Because my cancer is atypical and they don't know how long I have. So at that moment, and they they keep telling me that doctors don't know. So I'm like, okay, well, then what am I gonna do with it? Live my life between treatments because that's all I have.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Yeah, that's that's beautiful. Um how you approach that. And so, how did you show up for your kids when you're going through all that? I could see how it would be easy to get maybe down about the diagnosis

Showing Up as a Mom During Health Crises

SPEAKER_01 7:23

or maybe just start focusing on yourself more. But as a parent, that's not really how we're wired, right? Like we're we're always kind of focused on our kids. So, how did you navigate your health and also raising your kids?

SPEAKER_00 7:34

It was super hard because it was during the COVID time. So my kids barely even got to see me in the hospital. I was there for a month and a half. So they actually, I know it was really hard. The first hospital I was in, um, my friend got it all situated where they could come see me for Mother's Day. That's when I told them about the diagnosis. Second time was my son coming to another hospital. My daughter could not because she didn't have the shot. So I couldn't even see them. When I got home, I was out of it. And so my daughter, I think she was what, 17 at the time. She's she stepped up. She stepped up and she started doing things. And to me, I was, it was really hard for me to see because I wanted to do everything. As a mom, I'm always doing everything. So that was really hard for me. But they knew that they just needed to, we just needed to come together as a family unit. And so we did. We became so close tied and knit where we would just, every moment was special and they never took it for granted. And they would give me the hugs at night and the hugs in the morning, and I love you. And so it became, we got really close that way. But navigating it as a mother was super hard for me because I couldn't do much. Even when I I had friends that stepped up and grateful for that. My gosh, so grateful for that. Actually, one of them was my ex-boyfriend came back in the picture, and he actually helped me through it. Just being there for my kids, helping them to school, helping, making sure that we got the bed, all of those things. And I'm beyond grateful for that. And then other friends stepped up to help with food and different things. So that kind of relieved the pressure. But yeah, it was very difficult for me. Okay. So as a mom, as a mom, I I did feel guilty. I'll be honest, because I couldn't provide what I needed to. And when I think back, I'm just like, I those years that you had that were precious, that are your years as a child, were made into adult years because they had to step up. And to me, that's so hard.

SPEAKER_01 9:29

Yeah, no, definitely. And so how did you um you talked about like how your light was dimmed like earlier in your life? So how did you make sure your kids were able

Homeschooling & Helping Kids Keep Their Light Bright

SPEAKER_01 9:40

to be who they were and didn't have to hide who they were? What I mean, as they as they were growing up and becoming who they ultimately are today.

SPEAKER_00 9:48

That's a good question. Yeah, because for when I was younger, I was bullied. When I was born, I had a great upbringing. I had my siblings were all 20 years older. My my I call it my younger brother, not really 14 years older. So I was like the only child. So I had a really good upbringing. My parents were amazing, and then but I was bullied. And so I started dimming my light. I was a singer, and people would be like, don't sing anymore, don't do this, don't do that, you're too much. And I was the one literally jumping up, going, yay! I was just, I was a very happy kid and just loving my life. And that's who I am. And so when I had my children, my daughter was being bullied and she was telling me, and I was like, I do not want you to lose who you are. I want you to be the creative, brilliant person you are. And whatever that takes, I will do as a mom to protect you. So I started homeschooling her because I didn't want her to lose that. I knew she would probably stop singing, she would probably stop just being the girl she is. And I did not want that to happen for her. So that was one of the reasons that I did. And then when she loved music and loved acting and all of that, and we went to California for World Championship of Performing Arts, she was like, Mom, I love this. This is amazing. And I saw her smile and just be so happy. I was like, let's do what we need to do. So I really tried to keep them, both of my kids, to just be happy in whatever they're doing. That's how I've protected them. And that's how I've really just helped them to not dim their light. No matter what anybody says, she's a singer-songwriter. There's gonna be criticism. And also for my son, he's a little bit smaller than normal. And so there's gonna be criticism. But I said, you need to be true to who you are, and you are made incredible. So no matter what, just be you, because there's only one of you in this world, and you're the one who's gonna make a difference in the world. So I've always really tried to instill that in them. And I believe that with everybody. I believe everybody has a beautiful heart and a soul. Just let it shine. So that, and there's no competition in life. We're all in this together. So that's how I've really tried to help help grow them to be able to just keep their light um shining bright.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Yeah. So did you want to talk about your uh your Christian album and your music in general? My mom, I'll just be honest, my mom is like a huge, like that's all she listens to. And like growing up, that was like

Christian Music Roots & Recording "God's Amazing Grace"

SPEAKER_01 12:15

all I was allowed to listen to was like Christian music. So like Mariah Carey for me was like kind of the outlier there because it was like that was my gateway, a musician, to like to to the world outside of Christian, because it was like that mute that Christmas album of Mariah Carey was like, okay, like I can listen to mainstream music here. And I was like, I felt like a rebel. But no, like that that was like my whole upbringing. It was like, um, I don't know if he's artist, but like Stacy Orico was like my first love in life, was like a Christian artist. But uh anyways, yeah. Did you want to talk about your your music and like uh everything that you've been doing um with with with that and in the Christian roots that you have?

SPEAKER_00 12:54

Yeah, sure. So yeah, my parents were very Christian, so I was raised that way. I'm always going to church, always that kind of thing, and always having faith in God, but also bel I was always very spiritual. I was always believing before seeing. I was always saying, ask you, shall receive, seek you shall find, knock shall be given. Like it's good. Like everything will work out always the way it's supposed to. So that's how I was raised. I was raised with, yes, Christian music. I was raised, I there were some Mariah Carey and things like that that I did listen to, especially in high school. I listened more to it. Now, when I had my kids, my daughter did say this in one of her podcasts. When I had my kids, I was the same. I literally had them listening mostly to Christian music. And so she used to sneak downstairs and listen to pop music, which is funny because now she sings pop, but that's the way I was raised. And I really wanted them to have that instilled in them where they can just have that music that's fulfilling. I wanted it to be something that now again, they have other music and it's fine, it's not a big deal. But that's that's we were raised. And um so when I was asked to, I went to Florida for a meat packing convention. So I sang and this guy comes up to me, Oh, you're a professional singer. And I'm like, Well, not really. I mean, I've sang at weddings and funerals, but I don't consider myself professional. And he's like, Well, I want you to do a Christian CD for me. Would you be willing? I'm like, sure. So he gives me all of this new music, our first game of music that we knew, and that was all copyrighted. So we're like, nope, not that music. So all this other older hymn music that I've never heard of because I was raised kind of differently in a different with different music. And so I'm like, okay, sure. So we go to this church, I'm practicing with these people, and then we go to the studio for three days and we just recorded straight through this whole Christian album called God's Amazing Grace. And I just was, it was such a beautiful thing. Every time I'd sing, I'm like, who is this gonna touch? What is this meant to be? And it was a dream come true to actually be able to sing these Christian hymns. And so it was, yeah, it was amazing. And I always got to do what I really have dreamed of, which was to make a Christian CD.

SPEAKER_01 15:02

That's amazing. I remember being in the choir uh when I was a young kid for for church and and all that stuff. And I I used to have someone of a decent voice, and I'm not sure what happened, but now I'm like literally the worst singer in the world. So I I really um people that can sing, like I'm really I don't know if envious is the right word, but I'm just I admire, I guess, uh from afar that talent because I know that like that's one talent I'll never have, even though I feel like I did as a youth, but once my voice kind of shifted a little bit, I just I lost it completely.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

Well, if you ever need vocal lessons, I'm a vocal coach.

SPEAKER_01 15:36

I do. I I think I do. I need some kind of help. We'll have to we'll have to talk about that. Uh okay, so this is wild. So you won the price is right showcase showdown.

SPEAKER_00 15:47

Is that yes, right? Yes. Yes, I did. And that was a little crazy story. I'll just do the real quick brief thing of it. But I basically had a dream that I was spinning a wheel and we had no TV at the time. Yeah, it was the weirdest thing. And I woke up and I'm like, price is right. It was like the weirdest thing. And then I get a message in my email saying, Do you want to be on the audience? Uh Price is Right. And my mom was coming the next week. I'm like, yeah, that'd be fun. Let's go. Why not? And so I decided to, and I remember we were running late and I wasn't feeling the best. Literally, I know, I shouldn't say this, but I wasn't. And I was like, but that's okay. We're supposed to go. And I didn't know why. So we go, they go, I'm like, everybody, I thought everybody was picked. Like I didn't think this was anything about being picked. It was just gonna be we were gonna be on the audience and I was gonna hoot and holler for somebody. So that's all it was. And so they go through each person. And so when they went to me, they're like, So what do you do? And I'm like, Well, I make guacamole and I sing because that's what I used to do is I used to make guacamole at a Mexican restaurant. That was my little job. And so I literally I said that's all I said. And then people kept going. I'm like, yeah, yeah. I was just so happy for everybody else. And then all of a sudden I'm there and they're like, eh, me, and they throw this sign out, and I was just like, what, what, what? And so I run up there. I'm the first three to go up. Don't get

Winning The Price Is Right Showcase Showdown

SPEAKER_00 17:02

up the first three though. And the reason I think was because I was trusting these people that they were like, we got you, we know what the price is. And I wasn't trusting myself. Wasn't tracing myself. And and I don't know prices, so it's not like I really could trust myself, but I really, this at this moment was like a learning lesson for me. There was a lot going on within this moment. And I was like, okay, so I don't make it the first three. The next one goes up, they make it. There's two more left. And it was also before this, let me go back a little bit. I was like, I'd love to get a TV for my kids for Christmas. Didn't know how that was gonna happen. And my car was up because the lease was over and I knew I wasn't gonna get a car because I was in the middle of a divorce. So I was like, there's what else am I gonna do? So I was like, but I have a car. It's okay. I mean, I got a car. I just kept saying that I have a car, I want to get a TV, I'd love to go on vacation. Oh my gosh, it would be so amazing to go see the Rockets for the holidays and see the ball drawn. This is all the things I was saying this whole time before this, but I would say it and just like let it go, like, okay, it'd be fun. And so anyway, it was a TV and a DVD player. And I literally, instead of looking at the same people, I was like, okay, who here owns an electronic store? And I just scanned the audience. I was like, he does. And he said the price. I said, that's it. I knew. I was like, that's it. And so yeah, I got up there, got the TV and the DVD player, a Blu-ray player. And then after that was the car. And so with the car, it was like $150 increments. Again, I don't know cars. My dad was a body man. He worked on cars, but I only went and looked at it. I didn't know much about cars. So it was $150 increments. And people are like, stop it, stop it. And so I'm watching the audience and I slam it, I run into Drew Carey. I'm like, like, I'm shaking. I am shaking. And he goes, Oh my gosh, you won the car. So I got the car, and that one was Ford Fiesta. Beautiful, like blue. Was that the Ford Fiesta? Or was that the Mini Cooper? That might have been the Mooney Cooper, actually. But anyway, it was it was one or the other. And I was just like, oh my gosh, I just want a car. So afterwards, I'm sitting and I'm just like, pinch me. Like, this is this is not real. Like, this is not real. And like, okay, well, now you're gonna spin the wheel. And I'm like, this was my dream, spinning the wheel. So I'm like, this is crazy. So if somebody goes, they get like under a dollar. I think it was 85 cents. Another person goes, gets over a dollar, then my turn. So I'm like, okay, say hello to my kids. Yeah, spin the wheel. And I have 90 cents. So now I'm in the showcase showdown. And I'm thinking, this doesn't happen. Like, what is going on? I was shocked. So I get in the showcase showdown, me and this other lady, and they have this African trip with a safari and a wave runner and another car. And I thought, well, I already have a car. I'm not gonna go to Africa because that's too hard for my kids. Like, what would I do with them? Like I was really logically thinking this through. So I'm like, okay, I'll pass. So I pass it to her. She does 33,000, comes back to me, and it's a trip to New York, do your accessories and another car. And I think that one was the Ford Fiesta because it was like a bright, yeah, it was like a bluish color, like a gorgeous teal blue. And I'm like, oh, I just love the color. I don't even know about the car, but I just love the color. So actually it was like that color right there. That's the color.

SPEAKER_01 20:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

Yeah. So pretty. So anyway, what happened was so I was like, okay, so my mom's like 33, and she's saying 33, and that's Jesus' number. So it was like 33 years old, all that, right? And I'm like, okay, mom. I'm like, I'm trusting. So I'm like 33. And I didn't even know really what the other girl said. So yeah, they're like, you got it. And I think I was 6,000 apart and she was 8,000 or something. It was something very close.

SPEAKER_02 20:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

But I want it. And so I ended up going, getting another car, going to New York for the ball drop and the accessories. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:39

It was crazy. Yeah, I watched my wife and I used to watch that all the time in the work, like, because we worked together at home. And we would like that was kind of our background show for a while, was the prices, right? With Drew Carey and like so I'm sure I probably have seen your episode maybe uh un unbeknownst to me and not not even realizing obviously who you were at the time, but um that's crazy. Like I'll have to go back and uh and and and do that. That's that sounds like such a cool story. And yeah, it is one of those things where it's like it sounds like it's too good to be true, like that would never happen in real real life, but that's it it did happen to you, so that's that's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 21:19

Yeah, it was aired New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve, it was aired. So it was on New Year's.

SPEAKER_01 21:28

I'm sorry, New Year's Eve of yeah, okay, you'll have to like put episode 2018. Interesting. And that's like a testament to like just kind of like following through, right? Because you said you weren't feeling good and you you maybe had some wiggle room until they're like, oh no, like let's not do this. But you did, and like it obviously it paid off very nicely with with two cars and all the other goodies.

SPEAKER_00 21:52

Yeah, it was amazing. And but I'll tell you really the truth of the matter was my I won all the stuff, which was great, and it should shows you what's really important in life too at this point because my mom was there and she ended up getting a heart attack. And so when I got out from signing the papers, she was like, she couldn't breathe. So I ended up taking her straight to the hospital. She got a stent put in. And I was like, what? I'm grateful that it happened now that you didn't go on the plane back home and something could have happened. So all of that brought it back to what's truly important. And yes, all of these things were great, but what was important was family. And what was important are the people that you're with. So but I so that was a blessing in disguise that that happened in that way instead of something else that could have been more detrimental.

SPEAKER_01 22:37

Totally. Yeah. I can see how family is just so strong to you with with your parents in their 90s now and your kids kind of being young adults now. And so how did you like what what's the biggest myth about raising creative, ambitious kids as a single parent?

SPEAKER_00 22:54

I think that it's easy. I think I think that's the myth is that it's easy that you're not really doing anything. And you are doing so much. First of all, when you're doing like if you're doing auditions you're constantly submitting you're talking to managers you're talking to agents you're creating meetings you're constantly following up with people. They need some video or you need to quickly do an audition or I pick up my son from school because he did go to school later. I pick him up from school and then be like okay here's a script let's memorize it. We're taking you here I got the clothes let's get you dressed like things like that. And I think people think it's so easy. It's not it's not something that someone can just that's why people give up a lot. They come for pilot season and then they give up. And so you really have to keep going. And then also even with my daughter with singing there was a time when she's like well I don't know and there's because there's a lot of social media and things of that nature where you start comparing yourself. And she kind of got off social media a little bit because of that reason. And so for her to like finally step into it and go, okay, I need to be vulnerable with my song I'm just going to let it be I'm just going to let it come out things like that. And it's hard to navigate a creative because their minds are so different. It's not a nine to five type of mind. It's a creative mind. They're working in the middle of the night she's

Myths of Raising Creative Kids as a Single Parent

SPEAKER_00 24:12

creating a song every single night and sending it to me in the morning. Like that's what she does. So I think the myth is that it's easy and it's really not being a single parent especially because I was constantly going, constantly going to events constantly networking things like that. So I think that's yeah. So on top of being a mom, you're also navigating the career that they've chosen that they've really wanted to do because if they weren't happy then like we're not doing this. But when you're happy then yes I will do everything in my power to help you and to support you because if I don't do it, who will? That's always what I felt.

SPEAKER_01 24:49

Yeah. So true. And yeah I'm a parent of two young kids at this point. And so I I can't imagine being a single parent sometimes because there's so much bestowed upon you. And you being in the entertain entertainment industry and doing like you said all the auditions and all the all the stuff that comes with that can be overwhelming for just if you were just doing it for yourself but you're doing it for your kids too and and and just kind of like taking it upon taking everything upon your own shoulders. Like it's just it's really admirable to to do and and to hear about like how dedicated you are to family. I don't know like it seems like your whole life is has revolved moving to LA and then moving back to Croatia right now, right? With with your parents and and just kind of that's that's amazing. And so that that really speaks volumes about you and and the kind of mom and the kind of daughter and the kind of everything that you are to to these people what you are and that's just amazing. Could you tell us Amy about your podcast podcast plural right and and your TikTok lives I'm I'm so interested I did did in my own first TikTok live and you'll you'll have to show me the robes because it was a little like every time I started to say something like they're gone. So what's the tip?

SPEAKER_00 26:03

Okay so the tip is really on TikTok live is just to talk. I'll get people that because they're watching you they're like should we go on or should we not? Because they can see you as a preview. So you just keep talking. You just keep talking and talking and talking and if something like registered with them they'll click on and then they'll come on. So I call them my TikTok fam because those people are loyal to me. I have my moderators I have people that really just listen and that happened kind of out of the blue that was during the when I first got the cancer diagnosis. I literally went on TikTok I was going on periodically but I went on to tell my story because I thought if you're hurting or you have any pain, go get checked out. That was my whole thing. I have cancer if you have a bone pain just get checked out just in case because it happened so quickly to me. So that's the reason. And then I started realizing I can help people through this and they're like well I have cancer or I have this or I'm a music therapist. That's my degree. So I was like okay in a mental illness or anything you have let's not let it define us. Let's get through it and let's see how we can do things in a to make ourselves happier in our own selves. And so that was the key of what I was trying to do. So I think the key for you is like for TikTok is just really talking and explaining what you do

Connecting with Audiences on TikTok Live & Podcasts

SPEAKER_00 27:19

and people will just click on. They'll just see that like okay okay but you've got to go for a while because the same thing happens like zero, one, five, ten, hundred like it's just it's back and forth. There's so much content on TikTok.

SPEAKER_01 27:32

So it's sometimes very hard to grab their attention but sometimes you can sometimes you can well I could see you could uh you have that energy energy and you're you're going you and like you're doing all the stuff and you got the vocals and so I could see that's that's your venue that's your format. Yeah like I I don't know I was just like oh man this is this is very demoralizing. So I don't know maybe I'll try it later I just just got the access to TikTok last but yeah and then you have podcasts.

SPEAKER_00 28:01

You have multiple podcasts is that right yes yes so my podcast is called Loving Your Life Be Authentically you that is on YouTube and um that I've I've uh talked to celebrities and all different kinds of people so I've oh my gosh it's so amazing and I talk about being authentically yourself. What does it take to become authentically yourself? I think once my cancer diagnosis hit it was like I don't care what people think I'm either your cup of tea or I'm not and it doesn't matter to me. As long as I'm a good person and I know who I am then that's what matters. So that's where I finally kind of hit a boundary I guess right so how do we really step into that and become authentically ourselves with what we do creatively, who we are as a person and that kind of thing. And that's what I really wanted to focus on. So I've auditioned like Brooke Burke I've auditioned or auditioned oh my goodness I'm in the acting world I've uh not auditioned I've I've interviewed Brooke Burke I've interviewed celebrity hypnotists I've interviewed all different kinds of people that really want to make a difference in the world. And so I yeah it was so much fun and then just telling my story. But the exciting news is I just got offered my new show it is called Loving Your Life but it is on Easy Way Network and I will have a live audience. I am so excited and I'm gonna interview so many different people that again are going to talk about loving their life and inspirational stories. And I just hope that everybody can tune in and if you are in the Hollywood area you can come and be in the live audience or if there's someone that you want me to interview I would love to but I am so excited this has been a dream of mine to have my own show and I was just offered it.

SPEAKER_01 29:41

So I'm so excited oh like like so like it like is it like a daytime show like on on a certain network or is it yeah to give it give us more deeds how do we follow along with that and when when can we expect that to premiere?

SPEAKER_00 29:56

So my first episode they're gonna be in October so we're starting in October and it's easy way network. So it's easy way network yes and and they also through the CIE fashions so that's the company that's gonna be on easy way network CIE fashions and yeah it's gonna be I'm so excited I wow I can't even believe it's happening.

SPEAKER_01 30:19

Like I'm what's going on that's awesome and hey I'm not that far I'll have to go check it out and see if I can get in the studio audience or something. Yeah I mean you never know. We go to LA every every so often and be like yeah I mean because you talk about interviewing all these celebrities and stuff like that and and for the parent top

Announcement: New Live-Audience TV Show

SPEAKER_01 30:37

you are the celebrity. So that's what I mean like that's that's kind of the the world that um it's funny how yeah how that works. But yeah I mean because you're like you're talking about like all these you're doing the name dropping and I'm like well I'm actually like interviewing Amy and like that's my name drop so thank you. You have like you and your your website the true happiness like I can just tell that's totally the perfect domain URL for you because it's like that disposition you have that energy that funness and like funness that's not even a word but I'm gonna go with it. And and just like you you could never tell that like you've gone through what you've gone through. I mean on the on the surface and that's there's something amazing about that and a testament to your faith and a testament to just your character and all that because I could see how life would get you down. It would get me down I mean but it's like you are just persevering and and getting through all this and and good things are happening to you as as a result and I'm so happy to hear about all the positive stuff that's on the on the way and I I can't wait to follow all your projects.

SPEAKER_00 31:43

Is there anything else that the viewer should know uh about Amy's world that we should follow and keep keep track of before you start your uh live audience show yes absolutely so on acquire a k-w-i-r-e on youtube there was a seven episode show called Loving Your Life that's just the name and it was actually my cancer journey but it's a TV show. So it's unscripted my kids are in it my daughter True Eastina who is the singer songwriter she's in it she's done some music in it and stuff but it is my journey of how I dealt with the cancer behind the scenes. So yes I have that happy disposition and yes I really am grateful for everything but there are days that are not great like as everybody there really isn't but I really try to focus on the positive even if I'm in pain I'm like you know what I'm not in a wheelchair. Okay and things like that. So you'll see some of those real moments within that show and that's called Loving Your Life. So like I said we have seven episodes we are going to reboot it again. So it's coming back. Yay I'm so excited Keyshawn Blackstone's the director and they he's amazing incredible director and it's just it's like I said real it's gonna it's gonna hit your heartstrikes because I'm being really vulnerable in what's happening in a TV show way but really vulnerable like I it's me. It really is me. So you can really see kind of the behind the scenes my daughter wanted to do that actually she said mom I think people need to see also the hard moments the moments where yes you can get through it but how are you getting through it? They see the happy disposition but what is it that you're doing so that's why we decided to create that TV show. So so cool.

Behind the Scenes: Unscripted TV & Upcoming Christmas Rom-Com

SPEAKER_01 33:26

Yeah yeah I love it I'm so sorry. Yeah I was gonna say the behind the scenes with it that sounds like a great premise of to actually kind of do the day in the life so to speak of Amy and see how you navigate everything and and with such a good positive attitude and that's awesome. Yeah so I'm gonna have to reach out to to to your publicist and get all these links and and compile it all in the description and then when we when we put this on YouTube and all the podcast networks so that we people can follow all your projects because you have more than most people that I interview. So I want to make sure that we're all like following along and and we can we can uh keep posted on what's what's going on in your world and I'm I'm super excited to have um interviewed you and met you and I just want to thank you for giving me can I say one more thing yeah no go ahead for sure sorry to because this no no it's okay this is one's exciting so I've always wanted to be in a rom com.

SPEAKER_00 34:20

So I am actually starring in a rom-com called Jack in the Box that will be airing in December and I am so so so excited. The actors were amazing. We had Swan Harris, Tanji Ambrose, Rhonda it was amazing the people that we had Keyshawn Blackstone directed it and we had a full crew cast I had Naughty and nice uh doing my makeup I had Vietta styling me like it was amazing. And so that is coming out in December. And so it's a Christmas rom-com and that's always been a dream of mine too. Like all these dreams are coming true and it's never too late never too late to dream never too late to believe never too late and just love your life love every second of it. That's what I really what I believe.

SPEAKER_01 35:03

Oh my gosh that's powerful and and just see everything come different way it's like what else like what else come on that that can't be it right you're only you're only doing like 10 different projects right now.

SPEAKER_00 35:14

That's that's amazing and my daughter True Istina is singing and songwriting and she just did another music video that's coming out. Her album's coming out in October and her music is amazing. I'm so proud of her and just so vulnerable and real and so that's also something that I love and I love yeah that's on my playlist. I get to hear all her music before it comes out. So I have it on my files so I get to listen to it while I'm at the beach.

SPEAKER_01 35:41

Yeah that is so cool. Yeah. Wow very talented family but just awesome attitude it's it's really infectious. Like it just it gets me um because I think the world wants to beat you down sometimes and I'm kind of going through my own little stuff here um recently but it's like what I I think being around people like you or even just watching your show could really boost people's attitude and just change their disposition on life. And so for me personally I feel like I'm in a better spot today after listening to what you've just said for 50 minutes. So I hope the audience the viewers can can relate to that in some manner and and and really gravitate towards you and be like hey look this is the positivity I need in my life because there's so much that's like so much negativity out there right now social media and stuff. So thank you for bringing the positive light, the the good vibes, all that stuff because it's sorely needed. It's it's just it's a very dark

Final Words of Wisdom & Living in the Present

SPEAKER_01 36:38

world right now but but thank you for bringing that light.

SPEAKER_00 36:40

It is I think the biggest thing is to love love yourself and be present in the moment and look at everything that you have not in the outer but what you have now and when you really focus on that then you can truly love everything. And so the more that you're loving things the more yes things are coming and all these amazing things are happening for me. Yes. But it's also just loving waking up in the morning hearing the birds sing, just those little things and really when you focus on that you can't but know that this is a gift. It's a miracle you're in this world. So why don't we live it in that way and then make the world a better place because we are doing that.

SPEAKER_01 37:20

Yeah man that's that's poetic. I yeah I don't even know what to say I can't top what you just said. So maybe we just end it there.