Hearing that you're at high risk for breast cancer can be scary. But knowing you're high risk doesn't automatically tell you what to do next.

In this episode of Healthier & Happier with Jess Cording, I'm talking about where to start, based on both my years working in breast oncology and my own experience with high-risk screening.

We'll talk about understanding your individual risk, what to ask your healthcare team, whether your screening plan may need to change, and where lifestyle fits into the picture without making yourself crazy trying to do everything perfectly.

I also get into some of the confusing advice that's out there around food, stress, alcohol, supplements, personal care products, and other everyday choices. Some of that information can be useful. Some of it can make an already stressful situation feel even more overwhelming.

Because once you know your risk, the next step isn't to panic or overhaul your entire life. It's to figure out what actually makes sense for you and your health.

• What to do after learning you're at high risk for breast cancer

• Why understanding your individual risk is an important first step

• Questions to ask your healthcare team about screening and risk management

• How genetic counseling or updated genetic testing may fit into the conversation

• Lifestyle habits that may help support overall health and reduce risk

• Why lifestyle matters without being a guarantee

• Common breast cancer risk myths and fear-based wellness advice

• Why realistic, sustainable changes matter more than trying to do everything at once

• How to stay informed without letting your risk profile take over your life

If you've recently learned that you're at increased risk for breast cancer, or you've been navigating high-risk screening for a while, I hope this episode gives you a clearer idea of what questions to ask and where to focus your energy.

And once you've gotten the information you need and made the choices that make sense for you, remember: you are more than your risk profile.

🎙️ Listen to Episode 253: What to Do If You're at High Risk for Breast Cancer on Healthier & Happier with Jess Cording.

YouTube link 👉 https://youtu.be/V8pwA4Ecjno

If you like what you hear, leave a 5-star review on Apple podcasts HERE. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healthier-happier-with-jess-cording/id1460384072

Stay connected with me on Instagram @jesscording and over on Substack at jessicacording.substack.com

You can also find my tarot work on Instagram at @tea_and_oranges_tarot and on Substack at substack.com/@teaandorangestarot

Episode Description:

Welcome to Episode 250—and a new chapter of the podcast.

Drama-Free Healthy Living is now Healthier & Happier with Jess Cording. In this episode, I'm sharing what inspired the evolution of the show and why this new name feels like the right fit for where I am now.

As a registered dietitian, health coach, author, and speaker, I've spent years talking about nutrition, fitness, sleep, stress management, and healthy habits. But over time, I've come to see health in a much broader way—one that also includes the experiences, challenges, and changes that shape how we care for ourselves.

That's what Healthier & Happier is making space for.

Alongside practical, evidence-based guidance, we'll have honest conversations about women's health, midlife health, body image, and what it can look like to pursue wellness without expecting ourselves to do everything perfectly.

Key Points

• Why Drama-Free Healthy Living is evolving into Healthier & Happier

• What inspired this next chapter of the podcast

• How my perspective on health has changed over the years

• Why wellness is about more than food, fitness, and healthy routines

• What you can expect from the conversations ahead

Press play and come along for this next chapter.

If you like what you hear, leave a 5-star review on apple podcasts HERE.

Stay connected with me on Instagram @jesscording and over on Substack at jessicacording.substack.com

You can also find my tarot work on Instagram at @tea_and_oranges_tarot and on Substack at substack.com/@teaandorangestarot

YouTube link 👉 https://youtu.be/DYpRDOcJvjk

Episode Description:

Choosing to have a preventive mastectomy was never something I imagined I would do. And it definitely wasn't a decision I made overnight.

In this episode of Healthier & Happier with Jess Cording, I'm sharing the personal story behind that decision—what led me there, what years of breast screening and uncertainty were really like, and why something that once felt incredibly drastic eventually started to feel very different.

I also talk about something I think gets missed in a lot of wellness conversations: you can take great care of yourself and still face health situations you never expected. Healthy habits matter, but they don't give us complete control over what happens to our bodies.

This is not an episode about telling anyone else what decision to make. Preventive surgery is deeply personal, and there is no single right choice for everyone. This is simply my experience and some of what I considered as I figured out what felt right for me.

Key Points

• What brought preventive mastectomy into the conversation for me

• The emotional side of living with ongoing breast screening and uncertainty

• How I thought about risk, lifestyle, and the limits of what healthy habits can control

• Why a major health decision can look very different from one person to another

• Questions worth considering when navigating your own breast health choices with your healthcare team

If you're navigating elevated breast cancer risk, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about what can go into a decision like this, I hope sharing my experience makes you feel a little less alone in the uncertainty.

Listen to Why I Chose a Mastectomy on Healthier & Happier with Jess Cording.

YouTube link 👉 https://youtu.be/gpZ8sz2-uz4

If you like what you hear, leave a 5-star review on Apple podcasts HERE.

Stay connected with me on Instagram @jesscording and over on Substack at jessicacording.substack.com

You can also find my tarot work on Instagram at @tea_and_oranges_tarot and on Substack at substack.com/@teaandorangestarot

Episode Description:

If you've been feeling a little… maxed out lately—and you can tell you're still doing things out of momentum, not meaning—this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, I'm sharing why I'm hitting pause on the podcast for now. Not because I don't love it, and not because it didn't matter. But because my life has changed so much since I started this show in 2019, and I'm realizing I need space. The kind of space where you can actually hear yourself again—without forcing the next step just to keep things moving.

I talk about the fear of being seen as a quitter, the pressure to keep producing even when something's quietly draining you, and that very real "does anyone even care?" voice that shows up right when you're trying to make a change. I also share what helped me get honest about what feels aligned right now—and why a pause can be a grounded, intentional choice… not a failure.

Take a breath, come hang with me, and if you've been needing permission to stop pushing so hard, I hope this gives you a little of that. Press play—and if it resonates, send it to a friend who's been carrying too much and calling it "fine."
Because sometimes the most productive thing you can do isn't more effort—it's more honesty.

If there's something you've been holding onto out of fear, guilt, or habit, I hope this episode reminds you: you're allowed to pause before you burn out. You're allowed to make space. And you're allowed to trust that what's meant for you will still be there when you're ready.

If you like what you hear, leave a 5-star review on apple podcasts HERE.

Stay connected with me on Instagram @jesscording and over on Substack at jessicacording.substack.com

You can also find my tarot work on Instagram at @tea_and_oranges_tarot and on Substack at substack.com/@teaandorangestarot

YouTube link 👉 https://youtu.be/c_M2VWRE7do

Episode Description:

If you're heading into 2026 feeling a little stretched thin—like you're carrying too much, trying too hard, or overthinking every next step—this episode is for you.

Today's conversation is all about release, not in a dramatic "new year, new you" way, but in a practical, gentle, real-life way. Because sometimes the most supportive thing you can do for your health, your energy, and your goals… is let go of the habits, beliefs, and pressures that quietly drain you.

We're talking about perfectionism, comparison, guilt around rest, the all-or-nothing mindset, and overcommitting out of obligation—plus a few powerful mindset shifts to help you feel lighter, more grounded, and more intentional in how you move through the year.

Grab a cup of tea, take a deep breath, and let's make room for you in 2026.

If you're craving a fresh start that doesn't involve burning yourself out, press play. And if this resonates, share it with a friend who could use the same reminder.

If you like what you hear, leave a 5-star review on apple podcasts HERE. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drama-free-healthy-living-with-jess-cording/id1460384072

Stay connected with me on Instagram @jesscording and over on Substack at jessicacording.substack.com

YouTube link 👉 https://youtu.be/1zRCKWpBMTo

In this solo episode, we're unpacking what really happens to your metabolism during the holidays and why it's not as dramatic or disastrous as the internet makes it seem. Instead of stressing over travel, late nights, celebrations, and all the festive food, we'll look at how small, doable habits can help you feel steady, nourished, and grounded through the season.

You'll get a clearer understanding of how sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition influence your energy, along with realistic ways to support yourself without giving up the joy of the holidays. No restriction. No guilt. Just simple shifts that help your body feel cared for, even when life feels busier than usual.

If you've ever wished you could enjoy the season and feel good in your body at the same time, this episode will help you find that middle ground.

Key Points:

• Understand what "holiday metabolism" actually refers to and why your energy may feel different.

• Learn how protein-rich meals—especially earlier in the day—help stabilize blood sugar and support muscle.

• See why skipping meals or "saving calories" can slow metabolism and lead to overeating.

• Explore simple ways movement supports metabolic health.

• Learn how hydration plays a role in cravings, hunger cues, and energy levels.

• Understand how sleep disruption affects hunger hormones and digestion.

• Discover how chronic stress impacts blood sugar and midsection weight gain, plus ways to soften that stress.

• And many more…

As you move through the season, notice what actually helps you feel like yourself. Maybe it's a real meal before a party, a quick walk after dinner, or choosing sleep over one more thing on the to-do list. Maybe it's just giving yourself permission to enjoy what you enjoy without overthinking it.

Your metabolism isn't asking for perfection — it's asking for care. And you're allowed to give yourself that, even in the middle of the holiday chaos.

YouTube Link 👉 https://youtu.be/b1IJLnsp6sc

I've included a sleep-related episode here, in case you want extra support:

Episode 228: The Connection Between Sleep and Weight Management

If you like what you hear, leave a 5-star review on apple podcasts HERE.

Connect with me on IG @jesscording