Life & Work with Kristen Caldwell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Caldwell.

Hi Kristen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I am Kristen and I live in Northwest Austin with my husband Mark (of 18 years) and my 2 teenage daughters (14 & 16). My life took a drastic turn of events in 2013. It was just a normal hot Texas Monday in July..July 1st at 2:30 to be exact. I remember where I was, what I was wearing and the smell in the air….When I heard the three words that no one ever wants to hear….IT IS CANCER. I didn’t cry, I didn’t panic, I only thought of my family but especially….how am I going to tell my mom? Up until that moment my thought about Breast Cancer was something that happened to older women not someone like myself…I was only 38 and a mom of two very young beautiful girls. After the dust settled and the doctor appointments were set I went into “fight for my life,” my family’s life and for the future.

The next year and half consisted of chemo, radiation and 3 different surgeries.

Over the past 8 years I have developed my brand: The Cancer Babe. What started as a space to educate, motivate and invite others to regain their physical health after cancer has evolved into so much more today. After breast cancer I believed that the way for me to be “healthy” was working on my physical health…get me “back to normal” BUT what I know today is I needed to build a NEW NORMAL by focusing on both physical and mental health.

Everyday life is such an amazing process that can be easily taken for granted. Being able to get out of bed, fix breakfast, shower or even just get dressed. Simple activities that we do without even thinking. Smiling at a co-worker….I mean smiling at yourself in the mirror.

On social media under the brand of The Cancer Babe…I have the pleasure of having a space that allows me to share my passion for nutrition that boosts your mood and whole body health. To share different products that work for me, books that I am reading, podcasts that motivate, everyday mom life to provide wellness coaching to those that want it.

It is truly fascinating to think of little me changing lives just by being myself!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the biggest obstacle and challenge is the perception of and being in direct sales. I do not own a brick and mortar front….my store front is social media and when I see these statements all the time…makes you stop and pause.

We have all seen others looking for recommendations and then end it with, BUT NO DIRECT SALES PLEASE.

And it always leaves me with the question of why? I can’t answer for anyone else but I can say for myself personally….I would rather support a friend, family member or even a stranger than buy from a big store. True, it may not work for you, the eyeshadow may not be your color…etc…but when you are looking at the options at the store…you don’t know that either.

Regardless of how one feels about direct sales almost EVERY single business is built on the same strategies.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At the beginning of 2022 I partnered with the first ever Mental Wellness Company: Amare Global. As a wellness partner. I am able to listen to others, digest what they are saying and offer a holistic solution to their needs. This approach of finding root causes, healing the body naturally by focusing on the gut-mind connection…it truly is fascinating! Amare is paving the path to help others through a holistic approach with anxiety, brain fog, depression, ADD/ADHD, weight management, mood and motivation. I am not a medical professional but our products are backed by clinical trials.

After breast cancer I believed that the way for me to be “healthy” was working on my physical health…that was going to fix everything. But what I failed to realize was that being “healthy” meant also focusing on my mental health. Everyday life is such an amazing process that can be easily taken for granted. Being able to get out of bed, fix breakfast, shower or even just get dressed. Simple activities that we do without even thinking. Smiling at a co-worker….I mean smiling at yourself in the mirror.

Let me tell a story. This one stands out to me….Have you ever heard of “chemo brain”? If not, that is ok….it is a side effect from the life saving treatments that I received. It made being a mom on most days hard. It left me years of forgetfulness, anxiety, frustration, blank stares, and roaming around my house with not a clue. I know that everyone’s experience is different and this is not a medical claim but after weeks of taking our Fundamentals pack (which is a 3 part system that focuses on the gut mind connection)…I didn’t have to tell my girls to text me something so I would remember to do it. The “brain fog” was mild and I could function…no more walking into a room and having to retrace my steps because I forgot why I was there.

Think about this…Each one of us is dealing with some sort of pressure, anxiety, confidence, sleep, overall health…you say it someone is dealing with it. That issue possibly has gotten to the point of “this is how it is”…but that isn’t the case. Everyone deserves to feel good in the space that they are in.

In today’s world unfortunately it is heavy on the pharmaceutical industry. We all hear the commercials that list out the possible side effects and think…why would that be the first option that is presented. Let’s look at the mental health space…which I have experience in. When I first arrived at my doctors office (first visit) I was asked a series of questions (all surface questions) and was prescribed a high dose antidepressant. Not once was I asked about my nutrition, daily activity or even was I getting out in the natural sun.

This question is so tricky for me…what I think I am known for and what others might say could be completely different (Hee! Hee!). I think that I am known for the goofy laugh (that I got from my dad), I, 99% of the time have a smile on my face…very inviting in a way that makes me a good listener. I encourage others to show up when they don’t feel like it…and that I give others the optimism that everything is going to be ok even during a storm!

HMMMM…what sets me apart from others…well…I personally have been through a lot…challenges that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. From breast cancer, to watching Mark have the stroke and recover, to my own mental health issues to experiencing family members and friends deal with mental health. I absorbed all the trials, opened my mind and heart to learning new things and helping others in a genuine way. As tears flow from my eyes….I can say I wholeheartedly want to help others because I know how it feels not to be ok. Not wanting to get out of bed, not to be a mom, a wife or a friend and that type of crap sucks….I know that there is someone going through all or a piece of what I went through and not feeling good….I WANT THAT PERSON TO FEEL BETTER, I WANT THAT PERSON TO GET UP EVERYDAY AND SMILE AND KNOW THAT IS GOING TO BE OK AND GOOD!!!

What am I most proud of…this one was a little easier to answer: I am most proud of the physical and mental space that I am in right now. Through the work that I have devoted to myself gives me a clear and open mind to help my two teenage daughters navigate through this world. With so much comparison, social media, pressure from school, having to decide right now what your “forever” life will be, the pandemic to being able to take care of themselves and I owe that to all the storms, ups and downs and triumphs! Being able to pay that forward not only to my family but others.

*Please don’t take this as medical advice, it is merely my observation and experience.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are so many people to thank for where I am today and the person that is here…first, I have to give all the credit to my husband Mark. He has stood by side through it all…I mean all the crazy ideas to the sickness…to building a business. My girls for allowing me space to fumble through “mothering” and loving me for it! I love watching them grow into the amazing, smart and beautiful souls they are! Of course, I would like to thank my parents, my mom and dad are awesome! Such giving and caring people! They’ve done so much for me and my family!! My brother, Brent, my best friend just seeing all that he has gone through all life’s tribulations and challenges and to see him thriving right now just gives hope to everybody!

To my friends:

Crystal Heffernan: for being there from day 1 and never leaving my side!

Sally Beran: for her friendship and doing life side by side!

Nikki Zimmerman: for always knowing what to say to me when I need it!

Kim Clapp: My mentor…Thank you for listening to me in the coffee shop and opening my eyes, mind and heart to what is possible in the world of holistic health!

Amare Global which I am so proud and blessed to be partnered with!

Contact Info:

• Email: coachkristencaldwell@gmail.com
• Website: https://amare.com/g10/91766
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristen.m.caldwell/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristenbradford.caldwell
• Other: https://msha.ke/kristenmcaldwell/