The Brave Table with Dr. Neeta Bhushan 292: Living Bravely Through Diagnosis, Healing, and Community with Darlene Cordero
Hey, loves! This episode is a soul-stirring, deeply inspiring conversation with my dear friend and powerhouse, Darlene Cordero. Darlene is the epitome of resilience and grace, navigating life with stage 4 cancer while building community, writing her heart out, and living her “living list” to the fullest.
We dive into her healing journey, the grief of letting go of past versions of ourselves, and the art of receiving love and support. Her story is one of triumph, connection, and purpose — and a powerful reminder to embrace every moment and show up for our lives, unapologetically. Let’s dive in, Brave Table fam!
What you'll get out of this episode…
- Healing is a co-creation,integrating diagnosis with spirituality, medication, and self-reflection.
- Support systems are transformational.
- Grief is Part of Healing
- Vulnerability in asking for and accepting help is not weakness — it’s strength.
- Living Fully Through Challenges
TIMESTAMPS
00:00: Opening & Affirmation of the Day
01:05: Introducing Darlene Cordero
02:35: Darlene’s Initial Cancer Diagnosis and Healing Journey
04:21: Receiving a Stage 4 Diagnosis
05:50: Grief, Transformation, and Self-Reflection
09:00: The Power of Community in Healing
13:30: Navigating Cultural Stigma and the Art of Receiving
17:00: Practical Healing Practices and the Power of Gratitude
24:20: The Birth of "The Healer’s Playbook"
32:00: Lessons in Living Fully and the “Living List”
38:00: Spill the Chai: Morning Rituals and Braving the Future
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Follow along for more tips, community, and resources to brave a better you!
IG / @neetabhushan
IG / @thebravetable
TIKTOK / @neeta.bhushan
WEB / https://neetabhushan.com
YOUTUBE / @NeetaBhushanOfficial
Connect with today’s guest, Darlene
IG / @meetdarlene
LINKEDIN / https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlenecordero/
The Healer’s Playbook → Amazon link
Want more?
Visit the website and order your copy of “That Sucked, Now What?” → https://thatsuckednowwhat.com/
Take just 2 minutes and find what YOUR emotional type is by taking my FREE quiz here → theemotionalreset.com/quiz
For a weekly dose of my hacks, tools, & tips to emotionally reset, join my newsletter here → yourweeklyreset.com
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Ep.# 265: Healing the Mind, Body, and Spirit with Dr. Christian Gonzalez (Apple | Spotify | YouTube)
Dr. Neeta Bhushan is a 5x Award Winning Author & world-renowned emotional health advocate & human connection expert. She’s written multiple best-selling books including her most recent book, That Sucked, Now What endorsed by Jay Shetty, Host of the Top 50 Mental Health Podcast The Brave Table, & CEO of Highest Self Institute, a coaching organization training coaches to become the highest versions of themselves. She’s been featured on Forbes, LA Weekly, ABC, NBC, CBS, Grazia, Ok! Magazine, Verve Magazine & Tatler.
After realizing how trapped she felt running the million-dollar dental practice she built, Neeta embarked on a journey that led her across 45 countries as she researched blending the intersection of human behavior, ancient wisdom, Eastern philosophy, and therapeutic psychology. That knowledge, along with other life experiences overcoming multiple adversities, which include being orphaned at a young age, surviving an abusive marriage, and extensive loss, contributed to the powerful message of resilience & connection she shares in her work. Neeta is a mother of two young children, wellness junkie & lover of chai.