What if a life-changing diagnosis became the start of your biggest impact?
At just 33, Jessica Baladad found a lump that would set her on an entirely new path. In this powerful and heartfelt episode, host Hayley Bohan sits down with Jessica to hear how she turned a breast cancer diagnosis into a mission-driven business that’s helping people around the world take control of their health.
With no tech background, Jessica taught herself how to build an app, and ended up creating Feel For Your Life, a globally downloaded, free resource for self-exams, reminders, and even AI-powered pathology report support.
This is entrepreneurship rooted in purpose. It's about turning pain into power, and a personal story into a global movement.
Meet Our Guest: Jessica Baladad
Jessica Baladad is a six-year breast cancer survivor, self-taught app developer, and founder of Feel For Your Life — the first self-exam and breast health tracking app built by a patient, for patients. Her app has been downloaded tens of thousands of times across 147+ countries and includes a first-of-its-kind AI feature to help users interpret complex pathology reports.
Jessica has been featured on Good Morning America, USA Today, Upworthy, and more — and has even partnered with the NFL's Crucial Catch Campaign. Beyond the app, she’s become a powerful voice in healthcare advocacy, working on state legislation, speaking before members of Congress, and pushing for access, equity, and transparency in the healthcare system.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✅ How Jessica turned a personal health crisis into a global mission
✅ The origin story of Feel For Your Life — and how it started in the shower
✅ How she taught herself to build an app (and rebuilt it from scratch after a server fire!)
✅ Her mindset shift from “Why me?” to “Use me.”
✅ Why storytelling — not just strategy — was key to media visibility
✅ The AI tool helping patients understand pathology reports ✅ How she keeps the app free through sponsorships and speaking ✅ What to do when someone says “you can’t” (hint: her answer is “watch me”) ✅ Advice for anyone who wants to turn a difficult experience into advocacy or impact ✅ Her personal story of catching a precancerous mole during a recent self-exam
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