From Stage 4 Cancer to Purpose: A Story of Identity, Addiction, and Healing

On this episode of the Cancer and Comedy Podcast, Dr. Brad Miller sits down with Dr. Joshua Carabello, an industrial organizational psychologist and author of I’m Not Dead Yet, to explore a deeply personal journey that began with a life-altering diagnosis at just 18 years old:

What happens when surviving cancer is only the beginning of the battle?

Drawing from his experience with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Joshua opens up about the emotional and spiritual struggles that followed his diagnosis—wrestling with identity, faith, and the belief that his illness was somehow a punishment. Through honesty and reflection, he shares how those internal battles shaped his path toward healing and self-acceptance.

In this powerful, vulnerable, and hope-filled conversation, Brad and Joshua share:

• What it felt like to be diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at 18
• The internal struggle between faith, identity, and self-worth
• Believing illness was punishment—and how that mindset shifted
• Finding unexpected comfort through humor and cartoons
• Life after remission and the hidden struggle with addiction
• The turning point from victim mindset to purpose-driven living
• The PERMA framework and what it means to truly flourish
• Breaking destructive cycles and rebuilding a meaningful life
• Using personal pain as a platform to help others

This episode isn’t just about surviving cancer—it’s about what comes after. It’s a story of falling, rebuilding, and ultimately choosing purpose over pain. If you’ve ever faced a life-altering challenge or struggled to find meaning after hardship, this conversation will remind you:

You are more than what happened to you,

Healing is possible even after the darkest seasons, and

Your story can become someone else’s hope.