Beyond the Bestseller

CANCER CURE COVER-UP? Winning the War on Cancer & The Beljanski Story

In this episode of Beyond the Best Seller, host Kelly Schuknecht interviews Sylvie Beljanski, author of 'Winning the War on Cancer.' Sylvie shares her personal journey, the impact of her father's research on natural cancer treatments, and the challenges faced in bringing this knowledge to the public. The conversation explores the importance of integrative medicine, the role of her book in educating others, and the future of cancer treatment and prevention.

We dive into:

• The dramatic story of Dr. Mirko Beljanski and how his research challenged the medical establishment.
• Why Sylvie, a lawyer, gave up her career to ensure this critical knowledge did not disappear.
• How the Beljanski Foundation secured validation of her father’s plant extracts from institutions like Columbia University and Kansas University Medical Center.
• The unique properties of these extracts: working selectively against cancer cells, demonstrating no toxicity, and showing effectiveness in synergy with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
• Insights into how cancer can be linked to long-term exposure to toxic environments, emotional stress, and a tired immune system.
• Practical advice and protocols for an integrative approach that are shared directly in Sylvie’s book, Winning the War on Cancer.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Guest’s Book: Winning the War on Cancer AmznAmazon.com: Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure eBook : Beljanski, Sylvie, DuBeau, Gretchen: Kindle Store
• Beljanski Foundation (Research Archive): beljanski.org
• Maison Beljanski (Products & Coaching): MaisonBeljanski.com
• Sylvie's Podcast: The Beljanski Cancer Talk Show (on Spotify)

How to Heal Deep Trauma and Break Perfectionism with Erica Bonham

What if the things holding you back perfectionism, over-responsibility, and the pressure to achieve aren't character flaws, but rather trauma responses that have become culture?

As business owners and thought leaders, we often focus on the "ascending path" of growth: creating new patterns and positive self-affirmations. But what happens when that work feels hollow? My guest today, Erica Bonham, author of "Always Enough, Never Done", explains why we need to embrace the descending path of deep work the messy, necessary process of healing trauma and decolonizing the way we think about success and self-improvement.

Erica, a therapist, breaks down the concepts of Big T, Little t, and even ancestral trauma, explaining how seemingly innocuous "drips" of unresolved experiences can shape our personality and culture. We also dive into the vital importance of finding a therapist who is attuned to you and why therapy should be an evolution toward equity and community. This is a must-listen if you're writing a book or building a business and realize you need to clear out the root cause of what's keeping you stuck.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why trauma doesn't give a shit what we know and why deep processing is required for true transformation
• The three categories of trauma and how perfectionism, urgency, and individualism are often trauma responses that have become cultural norms.
• Erica's mission to decolonize therapy by emphasizing nuance, emotional safety, and recognizing the client as the expert of their own life.
• Why avoidance and resentment around people-pleasing will ultimately cause harm if you don't look at the root of the issue.

Resources Mentioned:

• Purchase Erica’s book, Always Enough, Never Done: https://a.co/d/0icARnT
• Erica’s Website (for signed copies, workbook, and course packages): avoscounseling.com
• Free Resource: 11 Polyvagal Resources and 6 Guided Meditations: 11 Embodied Practices To Get Out of Overwhelm and Back to Badass
• Benjamin Hardy’s book: Personality Isn’t Permanent

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Erica Bonham's story.

For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

The Secret to Memorable Presentations with Dr. Christie McMullen

Ever feel like your presentations or meetings aren’t landing the way you want? Dr. Christie McMullen shares how to make every interaction memorable using her four-part “Learning Can Stick” framework: Safe, Logical, Fun, and Memorable.

In this episode, we break down how business owners, coaches, and authors can turn any learning moment — from sales calls to team meetings — into engaging experiences that actually stick. Christie also explains neurosignatures (Slinky, Paperclip, Magnifying Glass, Teddy Bear) and how understanding them helps you communicate better and get stronger results from your team. We also dig into “flooding vs. dripping” information and why it matters for marketing your book or message.

What you’ll learn:

• How to make presentations and conversations truly memorable
• The SLFM framework for delivering engaging learning experiences
• Why your personality is your biggest communication superpower
• What neurosignatures reveal about how people learn and respond
• Flooding vs. dripping information in your marketing

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Christie McMullen's Book ➞ Learning Can Stick https://amzn.to/483EELk
• Dr. Christie’s Second Book ➞ Make Work Fun so People Don't Quit https://amzn.to/47JFxHC
• Dr. Christie’s Company ➞ Intentionality Group - http://intentionalitygroup.com
• Dr. Christie’s Podcast ➞ Productive Joy https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@productive_joy⁩ 
• Connect with Dr. Christie on LinkedIn ➞ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christie-mcmullen/
• Join the Author Power Circle ➞ https://kellyschuknecht.com/author-power-circle/

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Dr. Christie McMullen's story.

For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

How to Use Your Book to Become a Thought Leader with Victoria Pelletier

Does your online presence reflect who you really are? Executive and author Victoria Pelletier shares how to build a personal brand that attracts high-level opportunities — from executive roles to eight-figure deals.

In this episode, we unpack the difference between personal branding and thought leadership, the biggest mistakes leaders make on LinkedIn, and how to build a brand rooted in authenticity rather than company posts or corporate polish. Victoria also breaks down the four core elements of a powerful brand and why writing a book is one of the strongest credibility builders for any thought leader.

What you’ll learn:
• How personal branding differs from thought leadership
• The top mistake executives make on LinkedIn
• How to curate a brand with strategic intentionality
• How to get past imposter syndrome when showing up online
• Why a book elevates authority and opens new doors

Resources & Links Mentioned:
• Victoria Pelletier’s book, Influence Unleashed ➞ https://www.amazon.ca/Influence-Unleashed-Forging-Personal-Branding-ebook/dp/B0CRSC48HK
• Victoria’s book, The Power of Whole Human Leadership ➞ https://www.amazon.ca/Power-Whole-Human-Leadership-Managing/dp/B0D9C53NJJ
•Victoria Pelletier's website ➞ https://victoriapelletier.com](https://victoriapelletier.com/

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Victoria Pelletier's story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Trust Yourself Again with Emily Romero

Do you ever feel like you second-guess everything from the small choices to the big ones?

Therapist-turned-author Emily Romero says you’re not alone. In her newest book, You Can Trust Yourself, Emily walks us through the beautiful, lifelong process of reconnecting with your intuition, your body, and ultimately, your truth.

In this episode, Emily joins me to unpack what self-trust really means, why so many women lose it, and how we can begin to build it back one honest promise at a time. We talk about the moment she realized every client’s story traced back to the same root issue, the framework she created to guide women home to themselves, and how entrepreneurship and solo travel became unexpected teachers of trust in her own life.

 

We dive into:

• The story behind You Can Trust Yourself how Emily’s 13 years as a trauma therapist revealed one universal truth about the women she worked with.
• Why we stop trusting ourselves from childhood experiences to gradual erosion over time.
• Emily’s “Compass Framework” for self-trust a lifelong model built around four core directions:
• North: Radical Honesty telling yourself the truth, even when it’s hard.
• East: Keeping Promises following through on your word (and learning when it’s okay to change it).
• South: Regulation calming your nervous system so you can actually hear your intuition.
• West: Knowing Yourself because you can’t trust a stranger, especially when that stranger is you.
• How to start small practical ways to build trust, from setting aligned goals to taking yourself on solo “dates.”
• Entrepreneurship and solo travel as pathways to self-trust how going out on your own (in business or in life) can reveal your most authentic self.

From Overwhelm to Alignment: How to Create a Life You Love

What if the same tools CEOs use to run thriving companies could also help you design a more intentional, joy-filled life?

That’s exactly what today’s guest, Lisa Druxman founder of Fit4Mom and author of Level Up Your Life believes. After more than two decades leading a national fitness company for moms, Lisa realized that the key to avoiding burnout isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing the right things, the ones that truly align with your values.

In this conversation, Lisa and I dig into what it really looks like to:

• Use her Wheel of Life exercise to assess where you are and where you want to be.
• Identify your MITs (Most Important Things) and let those guide your time, energy, and focus.
• Apply the “minimum effective dose” of self-care to stay grounded, even in busy seasons.
• Embrace micro-moments of joy each day so you’re not always waiting for “someday” to feel fulfilled.
• Shift from hustle mode into a sustainable rhythm that honors your health, family, and long-term dreams.

Lisa also shares candidly about her own journey, how she built a business while raising kids, what it looked like when her life and calendar didn’t reflect her values, and how she course-corrected to design a life that feels both purposeful and joyful.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the grind, drowning in your inbox, or like you’re living on autopilot, Lisa’s wisdom will inspire you to make small, powerful shifts that move you closer to the life you really want.

Turning Grief into Purpose with Julie Barth

When life knocks you down, it can feel like the story is over. But what if it’s just the beginning of a new chapter?

In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Kelly sits down with Julie Barth, author of Notes from a Blackberry, to talk about navigating unimaginable loss, raising a child with a rare medical condition, and finding purpose through pain. Julie shares the story of losing her first husband to pancreatic cancer, caring for their four young children—including Tatum, their daughter born with primordial dwarfism—and how documenting everything on her BlackBerry became a lifeline.

This isn’t just a story about tragedy. It’s about resilience. It’s about light in the darkest places. And it’s about how Julie turned her lived experience into advocacy, community, and hope for other women walking through hard seasons.

We dive into:

✨ How Julie processed grief through writing and why she chose to publish her story

✨ What it was like fighting through the medical system for her daughter’s care

✨ The powerful reminder that there is life after unimaginable loss

✨ How she’s helping women in crisis through her nonprofit work

✨ Why her daughter Tatum continues to be a bright light in the world

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Julie’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

The Purpose Myth: Finding Meaning Beyond the 9–5 with Charley Cramer

What if the “dream job” isn’t where you’ll ever find your true purpose?

In this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Charley Cramer, author of The Purpose Myth, to talk about why purpose doesn’t live inside corporate careers, and how you can create it on your own terms.

Charley shares the story behind her nonprofit Crack + Cider, how a coffee in Berlin sparked a global movement, and why corporations that promise to “help you find your purpose” are selling a myth. Together, Kelly and Charley explore:

• Why your 9–5 job isn’t designed to fulfill your life’s purpose
• How side projects can become “purpose projects” that bring meaning (even if they never make money)
• The role guilt, especially for women, often plays in how we give back
• How to identify what truly lights you up by asking, What breaks your heart?
• Why creating psychological safety and alignment at work can itself be a form of purpose
• The evolving journey of purpose and why it often shifts throughout life

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a job that didn’t fulfill you, or wondered how to align your work with what matters most, you’ll find Charley’s perspective both refreshing and empowering.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Connect with Charley on Instagram: @charleycramer
• Get her book: The Purpose Myth
• Learn more about Kelly’s Author Power Circle for women writing their books

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Charley’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.