Episode Details

Women are told to push through, smile, and keep producing—until the body says “enough.” In this Healthy Waves episode, Valerie Pedigo (Renewed Spirit Adventures) and cancer survivor–author Allison Pazuk break down a practical, science-meets-soul path back from burnout and crisis. We cover nervous system regulation you can try today, how community speeds healing, and Allison’s BONKERS framework for self-advocacy during cancer care. If you lead, parent, or perform at a high level and feel the crash coming, this conversation gives you grounded next steps—rooted in breathwork, boundaries, and belonging.

About the guests :

• Valerie Pedigo — Founder, Renewed Spirit Adventures. She helps high-achieving women recover from burnout through retreats, coaching, nervous-system-first tools, and an accessible sisterhood community.

• Allison Pazuk — Former math teacher turned entrepreneur, stage-3 ovarian cancer survivor, and author of Going Bonkers with Cancer. She created the BONKERS framework to help patients become CEOs of their own healing.

Key takeaways:

• Burnout often hides behind “high capacity”; it accelerates when we disconnect from purpose and numb emotions.

• Community heals faster than isolation. Hearing parallel stories softens defenses, regulates breath, and reduces shame.

• Nervous system first: move from survival (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) to parasympathetic (rest/restore) before big decisions.

• Try Valerie’s “I Am Held” breath cycle: Inhale nose 4 (“I am”), hold 4, exhale mouth 8 (“held”). Repeat x3 to create pause and aligned action.

• Identity reclamation is the crux. When women realign with values, work rhythms, relationships, and boundaries change—some things stay, some exit.

• Allison’s BONKERS: Brave questions; Open to research; Non-conforming when needed; Kick-ass self-belief (e.g., “I am enough”); Emotional honesty; Resilience; Self-advocacy as the throughline.

• Be the CEO of your body: bring questions, ask “yeah, but how does this apply to me?”, review data, and decide collaboratively with clinicians.

• Mindset practices that compound: daily meditation, honest journaling, coaching/mentorship, and values-based choices that ripple outward to family and teams.

• Healing isn’t perfection—it’s consistent returns to breath, boundaries, and belonging.

Connect with the guests  

Valerie Pedigo-

Renewed Spirit Adventures — Website: www.renewedspiritadventures.com
Join the free Sisterhood Circle at Renewed Spirit Adventures
Social Media: Connect via Valerie’s website links  

Allison Pazuk-

 Website: https://allisonpazuk.com/ - personal site with book, blog, newsletter     Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn