Brainy Blonde Podcast cover art

Brainy Blonde Podcast

Brainy Blonde Podcast

By: Rebecca Devine
Listen for free

About this listen

Cancer saved my life. Sometimes the worst news can make you look at life in a whole new way. I've been both a caregiver and now a survivor, actually an outlier, having beaten one of the deadliest cancers, so I'm here to provide hope and inspiration to all of you. We'll talk to experts, share survivor stories, reflect on the meaning of life...and have fun doing it!

© 2025 Brainy Blonde Podcast
Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Special Holiday Episode with Keto Queen Maria Emmerich
    Dec 18 2025

    It is almost the holidays, which is absolutely my favorite time of the year. We just go all out for Christmas around here and it is so fun! The reason I wanted to bring today’s guest on was for all of you today too realize that even if you have a diagnosis which limits what you normally would eat during the holidays, there are options for you so you can stay on track.

    I’m a huge food as medicine person, as you know - and medicine as medicine, which is why I have talked to so many experts - but today I want to introduce you to Maria Emmerich. I think of her as the Keto Queen.

    Now full disclaimer Maria Emma Emmerich is not on the show as a cancer expert. She started the ketogenic diet for very different reasons of her own, but I think I think her story is so important as it emphasizes the power of food to heal. And her story is the perfect example of life, when you allow it to be what it is, not what you thought it was going to be, can be so much more beautiful and meaningful.

    Also, for any of you considering a ketogenic diet for cancer, you will be so glad to be connected with Maria. She has been creating keto recipes for decades - before it was trendy weight loss diet and certainly before I ever heard of the ketogenic diet as a way to beat brain cancer. Maria has thousands and thousands of free recipes available for you .

    I just want all of you to be able to celebrate the holidays with your friends and families eat food that you enjoy food that feels familiar and warm and fuzzy - but that won’t mess up your goals if you’re really trying to stay on a keto path for your brain cancer

    I hope you find this helpful and I hope you all have a wonderful safe holiday holidays. I just love all of you and I’m so grateful for all the connections I’ve made this year.

    Maria's Website

    https://mariamindbodyhealth.com


    Buy Maria’s books here (and support GBM):

    https://www.amazon.com/shop/thatbrainyblonde/list/FU821IVU34MV?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_SHZD1BJTX892R57FKB1Z

    Support the show

    I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
    Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
    Love you, Rebecca

    https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
    https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Main Character Moment: Emmy Winning Documentary Filmmaker Justin Johnson Shares his Story about Documenting His Mom's Cancer Journey Right before Getting Diagnosed with Brain Cancer Himself
    Dec 13 2025

    Survivor Series Continues with a story inside a story. Today I’m talking with Justin Johnson. You all know I believe that things happen for a reason - even if the reason isn’t something we understand or fully appreciate at the time. And I’m pretty sure Justin feels the same way. As an Emmy winning documentary filmmaker, Justin lived across the country from his family and got pretty busy with his career, so busy he barely felt connected them, only being pulled back in when his mom was diagnosed with cancer. I bet he never thought he’d be filming a documentary about his own family! But that time together ended up being such a gift. Even more surprising was that shortly after wrapping up his film, Justin was diagnosed with a brain tumor himself. His attitude, his bravery in trying a new treatment, and his remarkable story are so inspiring. I can’t wait for you to listen to Justin’s story. Will we be getting a documentary on Justin’s brain cancer journey? I guess we’ll have to see….

    Justin's Film about his parents:

    https://www.nipplefactoryfilm.com/

    Justin's Treatment:

    https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/voranigo

    "The Bean Queen"

    https://www.karenhurd.com

    Support the show

    I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
    Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
    Love you, Rebecca

    https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
    https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • A Rocky Start to Adulthood: Janice Armbrust Climbs Mountains, Battles Cancer and has Written a Practical Guide to Supporting Young Adults with Cancer
    Nov 6 2025

    Continuing our Survivor Series with inspiration for young people with cancer and anyone who knows someone facing a scary diagnosis. I used to say I avoided the “tilted head” friends, the ones who looked at me with big eyes and a sad face because they just didn’t know how to act when they saw me. And years later I have much more compassion for that and even recognize my own struggles with knowing exactly what to do and say sometimes when someone you know is going through a hard time.

    So today’s episode is going to be so helpful for all of us . Four-year survivor Janice Armbrust was only 25 when diagnosed with GBM and felt very much alone as a younger adult with a terminal illness. While most of her friends considering where they wanted to live, getting settled in their careers, thinking about marriage and starting a family she was unsure of how to move forward. She wrote a book specifically for younger cancer warriors and their friends with clear advice on how best to support someone in this unique situation and I know it will be helpful to so many of you.

    Buy Janice's Book

    https://amzn.to/4nST9qg

    Follow Janice on Instagram

    https://www.instagram.com/janicearmbrust?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

    Support the show

    I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
    Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
    Love you, Rebecca

    https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
    https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.