In this spontaneous and deeply reflective episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Mandy Cansler for an honest, in the moment conversation recorded during a cruise retreat in Ensenada, Mexico. What begins as an unplanned podcast unfolds into a powerful dialogue about leadership, anxiety, rest, confidence, and the evolving nature of self belief.

Katie and Mandy explore how staying busy can quietly become a coping mechanism, especially for those navigating anxiety, and why slowing down often feels uncomfortable rather than restful. Both reflect on learning to regulate their nervous systems intentionally, redefining rest as a requirement rather than a reward, and recognizing when the body sends warning signs that cannot be ignored.

The conversation also dives into leadership growth and identity. Katie opens up about releasing the belief that she “couldn’t do hard things,” recognizing herself as a leader, and stepping into bold decisions that once felt intimidating, including investing in consulting support for her practice. Mandy shares her own journey of releasing guilt tied to past leadership choices, embracing growth without shame, and learning to lead herself with compassion.

Throughout the episode, themes of presence, confidence, celebration, and alignment emerge. From recognizing leadership in action to celebrating professional milestones, this episode reminds us that growth is not about perfection. It is about awareness, courage, and intentional choice.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is not only about what you do, but about how you care for yourself while doing it.

Rest is a requirement, not a reward Health scares, anxiety, and burnout become wake up calls that sustainable leadership requires rest. It is not something you earn after exhaustion.

Confidence grows when old beliefs are released Letting go of limiting beliefs opens the door to bold decisions, leadership confidence, and personal growth.

Leadership is often unnamed until you see it in action Many people lead long before they ever call themselves leaders. Leadership shows up through decisions, care for teams, and the courage to move forward even when you do not feel ready.

“Rest isn’t a reward. It’s a requirement.” “I had to let go of the belief that I couldn’t do hard things.” “I didn’t realize I was leading until I named it.”

Mandy Hampton Cansler is an Ophthalmic Organizational Consultant and Leadership Expert, keynote speaker, and author in progress with more than 25 years of experience in the eye care industry.

Starting her career as a technician and rising to Chief Clinical Officer, Mandy blends deep clinical expertise with strategic leadership insight to help ophthalmologists, optometrists, and administrators strengthen culture, streamline operations, and build high performing teams.

She holds COMT and COE credentials and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, with a national reputation for guiding practices through organizational clarity, leadership development, and operational transformation. Mandy is known for her transparent, relatable approach and for bringing real world insight that helps leaders move out of overwhelm and into aligned, confident decision making.

Mandy is currently writing her memoir, Not Enough…Until I Was, which explores identity, adoption, overachievement, and the emotional cost of performing for worth. She shares her writing journey openly, using vulnerability and storytelling to connect with leaders navigating their own internal battles.

Her personal journey fuels the way she leads today, with courage, clarity, and deep respect for the human stories behind every role and title.

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandycansler-comt/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mandycanslerclarity/ https://www.instagram.com/mandyhcansler/

Website https://www.mandycanslerconsulting.com/

In this deeply personal episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with her longtime friend Claudia Jimenez for an honest and reflective conversation about friendship, identity, confidence, and the quiet work of becoming who you were always meant to be.

Spanning more than two decades of shared history, Katie and Claudia reflect on meeting as young single mothers, raising daughters side by side, and supporting one another through career shifts, financial loss, divorce, and personal reinvention. Claudia shares her journey from working simply to survive to rediscovering her intelligence, worth, and voice through education, therapy, and courageously stepping outside her comfort zone.

The conversation explores unlearning limiting beliefs passed down through family, culture, and society, particularly around being a woman, self-confidence, and perceived capability. Claudia opens up about staying silent for years in a marriage that no longer aligned with who she was becoming, and how finding her voice ultimately changed the course of her life.

Katie reflects on her own journey of reclaiming confidence, leadership, and faith, including confronting long-held self-doubt around business and ability. Together, they discuss friendship that endures without guilt, the power of community, the importance of modeling growth for their daughters, and why healing often begins when we finally tell ourselves the truth.

This episode is a reminder that strength is often quiet, growth is rarely linear, and finding your voice can change everything.

Unlearning old beliefs is essential to growth. Katie and Claudia reflect on how beliefs formed in youth, about intelligence, capability, and worth, shaped their lives for years. True growth began when they questioned and released those narratives.

Finding your voice may come at a cost, but silence costs more. Claudia shares how staying silent for years affected her identity and relationships, and how reclaiming her voice ultimately led to difficult but necessary change.

Safe friendships allow growth without guilt. Their enduring friendship demonstrates that real connection does not require constant contact. Trust, understanding, and mutual support create space for growth without resentment.

“I stayed silent for ten years. Finding my voice changed everything.”

“I believed I wasn’t smart because that’s what I was told, and I carried that for years.”

“We are our biggest critics. Nobody else sees us the way we see ourselves.”

In this deeply moving episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with Zelene Zaragoza, a police dispatcher and lifelong member of the San Gabriel Valley community, for an emotionally honest conversation about cancer, grief, survival, and the lifelong impact of loss.

Zelene shares the story of losing her mother to stage-four gallbladder cancer when she was just nineteen years old. What followed was a rapid six-month journey that reshaped her understanding of love, strength, and resilience. She reflects on grief as a lasting presence, one that evolves but never fully disappears, and on the importance of speaking her mother’s name and carrying her legacy forward.

Dr. Chu opens up about her own breast cancer diagnosis, the moments of denial and fear, and the profound realization of illness during a solitary MRI appointment. She speaks candidly about body image, identity, and the long journey toward self-acceptance after a double mastectomy, including the transformative moment when her daughters helped her reclaim her sense of beauty and worth.

Together, Katie and Zelene explore the many layers of cancer’s impact, not only on those diagnosed, but also on families, children, and caregivers. They talk about tears, anger, faith, laughter, and the quiet moments of grace that help people continue choosing life even after unimaginable loss.

This episode is a powerful reminder that strength is not the absence of pain. It is the courage to feel deeply, to honor those we’ve lost, and to keep moving forward with intention, compassion, and light.

Strength includes tears, grief, and vulnerability. Katie and Zelene reflect on how true strength comes from allowing emotions to surface rather than suppressing them. Healing begins when we give ourselves permission to feel fully.

Cancer reshapes how we see life, loss, and what matters. Whether surviving cancer or losing someone to it, the experience fundamentally alters perspective. Small frustrations fade, and gratitude, presence, and connection become central.

Legacy lives on through stories, laughter, and purpose. Speaking loved ones’ names, sharing their stories, and embodying the values they lived by keeps their presence alive and gives meaning to continued life.

“Strength isn’t the absence of tears. It’s letting them fall and still choosing life.”

“I think every person cancer touches reaches a crossroads of how they’re going to choose life.”

“Your survival is not an accident. It is purpose, protection, and grace.”

Zelene Zaragoza is a first-generation American born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She works as a police dispatcher and has a deep passion for helping others. After experiencing the loss of her mother to cancer, Zelene draws strength from her family, friends, and faith. In her free time, she enjoys spending meaningful moments with loved ones and giving back to her community.