From Investment Banker to Cancer Thriver: How She Rebuilt Her Body, Mind & Spirit by Design episode artwork

EPISODE · May 26, 2026 · 33 MIN

From Investment Banker to Cancer Thriver: How She Rebuilt Her Body, Mind & Spirit by Design

from Hacks and Hobbies with Junaid Ahmed · host Zoraida Morales

5 key takeaways Surviving ≠ thriving: Zoraida explains the crucial mindset shift from getting through life to intentionally designing it. The three pillars: mental, physical, spiritual — how each pillar rebuilds energy and anchors daily practice. Devotion to self: practical daily rituals (hydration, breathwork, journaling, midday appointments with yourself) that restore capacity to give. Spiritual reclamation: a raw account of losing and rediscovering spiritual trust in the middle of divorce, job loss, and chemo. Practical nutrition + movement tips: reading labels, ditching processed foods, and movement as emotional processing (dance, yoga, walks). Timestamps 00:00 — Episode opener: Why Zoraida’s story matters (from banker to cancer thriver) 01:33 — The diagnosis moment: denial, rain, and picking up the kids — a human snapshot of shock 04:33 — From “Why me?” to “What now?” — the first steps out of grief and into survivorship 08:28 — The pivot to thriving: choosing “peace, love, and joy” and what that looked like in practice 17:03 — The hardest pillar: spiritual rebirth during divorce, COVID, and financial uncertainty 21:05 — Daily devotion to self: Zoraida’s morning rituals, midday reset, and evening anchors 29:31 — Free tool for listeners: “What’s Your Energy Archetype?” — how to map your energy and get actionable practices Guest links Website: https://zoraidamorales.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoraida-morales Instagram: https://instagram.com/z.morales2018 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zoraida.morales.1428/ Featured Books 1. FORGE: Turning Pressure Into Power: Life By Design Not Default: Thriving After Cancer - https://a.co/d/7vneKAx 2. Perspectives on Cancer: Get Ready to Lead a Life By Design Not Default- https://a.co/d/4QQcMm6 3. Soul Parent – Life By Design Not Default - https://a.co/d/5QXBOLk This standalone conversation is a masterclass in converting trauma into tribal wisdom — both gentle and fierce. If you’re rebuilding after loss, illness, or career upheaval, Zoraida gives you a road map: ask the right questions, build rituals that sustain you, and let the heart lead the mind. Links and resources are in the show notes — take the quiz, grab the book, and start designing your life, not living it by default. 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 26, 2026

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This episode will change how you see pain — and power. Zoraida Morales took a diagnosis that could have ended her story and used it to rewrite everything: career, identity, relationships, and daily rituals. A former investment banker turned cancer thriver, coach, and author of Life by Design, Not Default, Zoraida lays out the exact mental, physical, and spiritual practices that helped her move from survival to devotion-to-self — and how those practices can help you reclaim energy, purpose, and joy.

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From Investment Banker to Cancer Thriver: How She Rebuilt Her Body, Mind & Spirit by Design

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This episode was published on May 26, 2026.

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