Punch Today in the Face: A Story of Purpose After Cancer - Ray Hartjen

Have a question or thought for Mista Yu? Text or leave a voicemail for the show and he’ll answer it personally on the Inspiration Station or They Call Me Mista Yu. With your Permission, We'll even play your message live on the air!What would change if you truly believed today mattered more than tomorrow?In this episode of They Call Me Mista Yu, I sit down with Ray Hartjen—author, musician, storyteller, and multiple myeloma survivor—for a deeply personal conversation about purpose, resilience, and making every day count.After receiving a life-changing cancer diagnosis in 2019, Ray discovered that the greatest lesson wasn't simply about surviving illness—it was about refusing to take time, relationships, and opportunities for granted.Since then, he's become the author of five books, a patient advocate, and a passionate believer in living with urgency, creativity, and intention.In this episode, we explore:How cancer transformed Ray's perspective on lifeWhy "If Not Now, When?" became his guiding principleThe importance of relationships over accomplishmentsStorytelling as a path to healing and connectionFinding purpose through adversityLiving intentionally instead of waiting for "someday"Why every day deserves our very bestWhether you're navigating adversity, chasing a dream, or simply wanting to live more intentionally, this conversation will encourage you to stop postponing what matters most.Connect with Ray Hartjen: https://rayhartjen.comOur team will choose random (but timely) episodes from our previous three seasons (which are our most popular ever!) to share with our listeners during the slower parts of a long podcast season. We think you will enjoy them! Thanks for listening!Coffee aficionados and Health Conscious listeners, our show has some new sponsors and they’re offering you the best discounts their stores have. Links are below. Start saving now!Quantum Squares: Support the showAre you a guest with a message of hope and faith, overcome tragedy and addiction, creativity, invention, or you just have questions about society and culture? The “They Can Me Mista Yu” brand of podcasts is looking for guests!Book your interview today: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/theycallmemistayuGive the shows a listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/they-call-me-mista-yu/id1535535535Faith. Society & Culture. Your Inspirational Stories. Mental Health. Entrepreneurship. We talk about what matters to you! Join Mista Yu across our shows:🎙 Inspiration Station🎙 They Call Me Mista Yu🎙 One on One With Mista Yu🎙 The Men’s Roundtable Series / MRTS Interview SpotlightIf you would like to support the show, here’s how you can do that: https://www.patreon.com/cw/theycallmemistayu and https://buymeacoffee.com/theycallmemistayu