Encore: Making Comedy from Adversity: Mallori DeSalle’s Real Talk on Cancer, Family, and Fleas

Mallori DeSalle is a licensed mental health counselor, certified humor professional, professor at Indiana University’s School of Public Health, and a trainer of motivational interviewing. She is also an Oreo connoisseur who has tasted more than 150 flavors from around the world — and a recent breast cancer patient who uses humor as her most powerful coping tool. In this episode, Mallori shares how she faced the fears, uncertainty, and emotional strain of her cancer diagnosis with authenticity, honesty, and laughter. She talks openly about going from a routine mammogram to a callback, to a biopsy, and then to the life-changing news of ductal carcinoma. Even through surgery, reconstruction decisions, and difficult conversations with doctors, Mallori found ways to stay grounded through human connection and humor — including joking with nurses, bonding with strangers in hospital gowns, and even turning awkward family moments into healing laughter. Mallori also dives into more profound adversity she was navigating during the same season, including the pain of a divorce and the challenge of being believed when dealing with something as simple — and stressful — as a flea infestation. Yet each experience reinforced her belief that humor is a lifeline, not a distraction. But in Mallori’s case, you could say: “Cancer messed with the wrong girl.” Because Mallori declares that humor is not just her coping mechanism — it is her strength, her identity, and her way of reclaiming control in moments that feel overwhelming. Mallori speaks with Dr. Brad and Deb about how her story shaped her work as a therapist, speaker, educator, and advocate, and how both her book-in-progress and her creative work (including her hilarious Oreo taste-test videos) grew out of her mission to help people navigate the most complex parts of life with more connection and compassion. Beyond her personal journey, Mallori shares wisdom from her counseling background about what humor does emotionally and neurologically, when it’s helpful, when it’s harmful, and how the right kind of laughter can soften fear, build trust, and transform the cancer experience. All of this led Mallori to embrace a life centered on empathy, authenticity, and purposeful humor — a life where adversity becomes a teacher, connection becomes medicine, and laughter becomes holy ground. Mallori DeSalle’s story is moving, vulnerable, and deeply human — a powerful testament of someone who confronted her diagnosis, her personal storms, and the people who doubted or dismissed her, and still emerged as a woman marked by courage, clarity, and joy. This episode of The Cancer and Comedy Podcast is a must-listen for anyone coping with illness, supporting a loved one through treatment, or seeking an uplifting, hope-filled story of resilience shaped by humor and heart. The Cancer and Comedy Podcast with Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier is published to inspire, encourage, and help people cope with hope, humor, and healing as they navigate life’s toughest challenges. Connect with Mallori DeSalle: Website: MalloriDeSalle.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Mallori DeSalle Facebook: Mallori DeSalle