What Surviving Cancer Taught Me About Living Fully – Edward Miskie’s Transformational Journey

Ten years ago, Edward Miskie wasn’t planning to write a book. He wasn’t thinking about producing musicals or reflecting on life’s messiness with poetic clarity. He was just trying to stay alive.

Diagnosed in his twenties with a rare, aggressive cancer, Edward’s world stopped mid-scene—just as his Broadway dreams were finding centre stage. What followed wasn’t just a health crisis. It was a full-blown identity collapse, tangled in heartbreak, alcohol, creative blocks, and unanswered questions about who he was without the life he’d built.

“I didn’t just lose hair and weight,” Edward shared on Mirror Talk. “I lost myself.”

His new memoir, Cancer, Musical Theatre, & Other Chronic Illnesses, is part fever dream, part therapy, part laugh-out-loud truth bomb. Through it—and in our conversation—Edward reminds us that surviving cancer isn’t just about beating the disease. It’s about confronting what’s been stripped away and daring to piece together a self you never expected to meet.

🧬 The Unexpected Diagnosis

Imagine being in your prime—full of ambition, charisma, and dreams—and then suddenly… cancer. Rare. Aggressive. Unrelenting.

Edward didn’t know what hit him. He describes the diagnosis as a surreal musical theatre number, complete with clumsy choreography and flat notes. Chemo came fast. So did the fear, the isolation, and the messy cocktail of emotions that no one prepares you for.

💔 Sex, Chemo, and Self-Erosion

One of the boldest chapters of Edward’s story is his candour about sex, alcohol, and intimacy during and after cancer.

“No one talks about what happens to you—your sexuality, your desires, your sense of worth—when your body becomes a battleground,” he said.

He describes the experience as being “divorced from himself,” a concept so haunting and relatable that it deserves its own sermon. Cancer stole more than just cells—it rewrote how he saw himself in the mirror.

🎭 The Healing Power of Storytelling

Edward didn’t stop at survival. He turned his story into art.

From producing shows to releasing a dance-pop album (Renaissancing), to now creating a musical episodic series based on his memoir, Edward transformed pain into purpose. His humor is his sword. His transparency, his shield.

💡 Lessons from the Edge of Life

Here are a few things cancer taught Edward:

• Self-advocacy is non-negotiable. Speak up. Fight for your body, your sanity, your life.
• You can’t go back. You’re not who you were before, and that’s okay. Embrace the new.
• Joy is a medicine. Create it. Chase it. Let it light your darkest days.
• Healing isn’t linear. Some days you dance. Some days you cry. It all belongs.
• You’re allowed to laugh. Even when life feels like hell, humour helps you breathe again.

💬 For Anyone Facing Cancer…

Edward offers this simple but soul-shaking message:

“You don’t have to be strong all the time. But you do have to be you. Whoever that becomes.”

Whether you’re in treatment, in remission, or picking up the pieces post-diagnosis, know this: You are not alone. You are allowed to evolve. And you’re more than your illness.

🌱 Final Words: Keep Going, Even If It’s a Different Horse

In Edward’s words, “Get back on the horse—even if it’s a different horse.”

Sometimes we’re forced off our path. But there’s beauty in forging a new one.

So here’s to the brave ones who keep showing up. Who laugh in hospital gowns. Who writes musicals out of misery? Who rebuild themselves—one song, one step, one day at a time.

🎧 Catch the Full Episode Now
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
📘 Grab Edward’s book: Cancer, Musical Theatre, & Other Chronic Illnesses
🔗 Connect: linktr.ee/edwardmiskie

From Barefoot Backpacker to Conscious Leader: Jem Fuller on Flow, Leadership and Resilience – Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations

What does it really mean to live and lead with purpose in today’s complex world?In this episode of Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations, Tobi is joined by leadership coach, author, and facilitator Jem Fuller, whose extraordinary life journey spans barefoot backpacking across the Indian subcontinent and senior leadership roles within multinational organisations. Together, they explore conscious leadership, communication, resilience, and how to create flow, clarity, and meaning in both life and work.Jem shares how travel and cultural immersion shaped his understanding of shared humanity, why communication is the foundation of healthy workplace cultures, and how leaders can build resilience through mindset, mindfulness, and small daily habits. This conversation is a powerful invitation to rethink success, lead with self-awareness, and serve something greater than yourself.In This Episode, You Will DiscoverHow life at the extremes shaped Jem’s leadership philosophyWhy communication is essential for trust, collaboration, and cultureHow diversity strengthens creativity and problem-solvingWhat conscious and servant leadership really meanPractical ways to build resilience through habits and mindsetWhy mindfulness and gratitude enhance leadership presenceHow to discover and evolve your purpose and mission in lifeKey TakeawaysWe share far more in common than we realiseFear often comes from misunderstanding and unfamiliarityCommunication shapes culture and psychological safetyGreat leaders prioritise the greater good over personal gainResilience is built through small, consistent daily practicesMindfulness strengthens clarity, emotional regulation, and flowPurpose is not fixed. It evolves as you growSound Bites“We have far more in common than we think.”“A good leader believes in something greater than themselves.”“Diversity is not optional. It is essential.”“Small habits, practised consistently, change everything.”“You get to create your purpose in life.”Chapters and Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Flow, Success, and Conscious Leadership02:10 Jem’s Life Between Extremes07:20 Lessons from Barefoot Backpacking and Travel12:40 Shared Humanity, Fear, and Difference16:00 Why Communication Shapes Leadership and Culture23:30 Understanding Communication Styles28:50 Creating Thriving Workplace Cultures31:10 What Defines a Good Leader35:00 Building Resilience Through Habits and Mindset41:30 Mindfulness, Gratitude, and Perspective47:00 Finding Purpose and Mission in Life51:20 Jem’s Work, Retreats, and How to ConnectAbout Jem FullerJem Fuller is a leadership coach, author, and facilitator who works with CEOs and senior leaders across government, private, and not-for-profit sectors. He helps leaders develop conscious leadership, resilience, and healthy workplace cultures.Jem is also the founding director of an international leadership retreat company, guiding leaders on Conscious Leader programs in the Indian Himalaya, Bali, the Kimberley, and Costa Rica. His diverse life experiences inform a deeply human and grounded approach to leadership and personal growth.Connect with Jem FullerWebsite: https://jemfuller.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jemfuller/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jemfullerYour transformation begins the moment you decide to look within.Let this book walk with you.👇 Get your copy:US/Intl: https://amzn.to/3Kk5wh4EU: https://amzn.to/48sFnG6Could you support us by becoming a Patreon? Please consider subscribing to one or more of our offerings at http://patreon.com/MirrorTalk We use and trust these podcasting tools, software, and gear. We’ve partnered with amazing platforms to give our Mirror Talk community exclusive deals and discounts: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/best-podcasting-tools/

1. From Barefoot Backpacker to Conscious Leader: Jem Fuller on Flow, Leadership and Resilience 48:35
2. Intentional Living and Lifestyle Stewardship: How to Become an Authorised Wealth Distributor with Larry O’Nan 54:40
3. Healing the Body by Awakening the Kingdom Within with Dr Moshe Daniel Block 44:33
4. Know Yourself to Know God: Enneagram, Identity, and Christian Healing with Heath Davis Havlick 39:29
5. Living the Life Your Soul Intended: Soul Truths on Healing, Purpose, Faith, and Becoming 07:15

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