Canvas of Courage: How One Mom Transformed Cancer Into Creative Healing | Nerissa Balland

Canvas of Courage: How One Mom Transformed Cancer Into Creative Healing | Nerissa Balland

Author: DJ Valerie B LOVE February 6, 2026 Duration: 1:33:40

Full episode with transcript and show notes: https://www.djvalerieblove.com/post/healing-cancer-art-motherhood-nerissa

In this heart-to-heart, I sit down with Nerissa Balland—two-time cancer survivor, mom of two boys, artist, author, and NLP practitioner—to explore the intersection of creativity, healing, and transformation. Nerissa shares how she was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma while five months pregnant—and how picking up a paintbrush became her medicine. Eight years later, she's cancer-free and on a mission to help young moms facing cancer feel less alone.

We dive deep into her book Canvas of Courage, interviewing over 100 young mothers with cancer, and why she chose the word "facing" instead of "battling." Nerissa unpacks the difference between art therapy and therapeutic arts, empath practices for protecting your energy, and why identity transformation is part of the healing journey—"You will never be the same person you were before. And that's okay." She also shares powerful insights on motherhood as a mirror, reframing failure as feedback, and how grief and gratitude can live together.

https://nerissaballand.com
https://instagram.com/nerissaballandart

Grab a Copy of Nerissa's Book
"Canvas of Courage: The Art of Healing, Hope, and Gratitude for Young Mothers Facing Cancer"
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GJF5DLGW

Support patient access to the book via GoFundMe:
https://gofund.me/9e8632b1c 


The DJ Valerie B LOVE Podcast is a vibrant exploration of modern tools for liberation, hosted by DJ Valerie B LOVE. This isn't your typical self-help or business show; it's a dynamic conversation about what she calls Freedom Technology-the practical and spiritual systems that can unlock a more authentic, powerful, and peaceful life. Each episode features candid discussions with a range of fascinating guests, weaving together seemingly disparate topics like the mechanics of Bitcoin and AI with the profound inner work of meditation, psychedelic exploration, and intentional sobriety. You'll hear concrete ideas about creativity, manifesting goals, and the potent role of music as medicine, all framed within a relentless pursuit of mental wellness and personal growth. At its core, this podcast is an active mission to dismantle the cycles of burnout and people-pleasing that trap so many high-achievers. Valerie steers every conversation back to actionable daily practices rooted in LOVE, a force she treats as both a philosophy and a practical toolkit. Listening feels like joining a gathering of forward-thinking friends who are just as comfortable analyzing digital privacy on NOSTR as they are discussing spiritual authenticity. The result is a uniquely synthesized guide for anyone looking to build outer success without sacrificing their inner peace, making this a truly distinctive voice in the podcast landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

DJ Valerie B LOVE Podcast
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