Ep. 8 – Julia Johns

In this week’s special episode of Live Like It Matters, Elissa Kalver sits down with her friend Julia Johns — a standup comedian, writer, and breast cancer survivor whom she met through the cancer community.

Julia shares her remarkable journey from being a teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio, to moving to New York to pursue her dream in comedy. Along the way, she transformed her breast cancer experience into a one-woman show, A Tale of Two Titties, using humor to process pain and connect with others.

Together, Elissa and Julia explore:

• The therapeutic power of humor in healing
• Their shared experiences in the cancer community
• The challenges of navigating cancer treatment
• The importance of having a supportive medical team
• How storytelling can break down stigma and spark connection

This heartfelt and hilarious conversation reminds us that laughter can coexist with loss — and that thriving often begins with telling the truth, no matter how hard or funny it may be.

Tune in for an inspiring and entertaining discussion filled with laughter, insight, and camaraderie.

Julia Johns

Email: johnsjm1@gmail.com

Website: www.juliajohns.com

Instagram: @heyjuliajohns

Linkedin: Julia Johns

IMDB: Julia Johns IMDb

Youtube: @heyjuliajohns

Elissa Kalver

Email: elissa@wegotthis.org

Website: elissakalver.com

Instagram: @elissakalver

Facebook: Elissa Kalver

TikTok: @elissakalver

Linkedin: Elissa Kalver

Book: We Got This: How I Learned to Thrive with Terminal Cancer

Where storytelling meets spontaneity. No script. No rules. Just raw, honest, and often ridiculous conversations about life, loss, healing, and hope. These are the messy, magical moments that make life worth showing up for, even when it’s hard. Elissa sits down with friends, specialists, fellow cancer thrivers, and sometimes whoever happens to wander in on recording day. With no script, expect raw laughter, real tears, and unexpectedly deep conversations. Every episode is a reminder that authenticity is messy, beautiful, and worth sharing. And remember to Live Like It Matters

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