When Pushing Harder Stops Working, with Nancy Deyo

Send us Fan Mail Your body can end an argument your ambition has been winning for years.  Nancy Deyo knows that moment intimately. She went from being a hard-driving Silicon Valley CEO to collapsing during a Mount Kilimanjaro climb, then spending years lost in misdiagnosis, chronic pain, and opioid dependence. What followed wasn’t a neat comeback story. It was the messy middle where identity breaks, friendships thin out, and “push through it” turns from a strategy into a threat. We dig into the myth of endurance and why high performers often believe the body is something to command. Nancy shares what resilience looks like when bouncing back is not on the menu: listening to your body, accepting reality without approving of it, and building momentum through small steps that actually fit your capacity. We talk about disability and the loneliness of a life lived lying down, plus the surprisingly practical choices that helped her move forward, including attending graduate school on a portable cot and learning how to travel and work while managing pain. If you’re navigating chronic illness, burnout, a health crisis, or the slow collapse of a life you thought you’d have, you’ll hear a steady message you can hold onto: you are not your pain, and there are different versions of you that can emerge from this. Follow Nancy’s writing on Substack, Life Inside Pain, and if this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. Connect With Nancy Deyo: Substack: Life Inside Pain with Nancy Deyo — https://nancydeyo.substack.com Forthcoming memoir: Perilous Ascent Friending, Inc Offer: 15% off our coffee as stated above | Code: Podcast10 Find friends in real-life in a verified Wake up ltd Self Mental Healthcare/Stress Relief Practices - Buddha way, backed by science | Code: healthymind Vegout Voyage Offer: 15% off all personalized Armchair Iceland merch | Code: ICELANDGEAR15 AEtherbal Offer: 20% off | Code: Tryfor20 Avita Yoga Free Avita Yoga class and exclusive interview with Jeff: Know Your Constitution The Yielding Warrior Offer: Free book just pay for shipping | Code: TYW Emotional Musings Offer: Mention this ad listing & receive $15 off your 1st session | Code: Healthy mind/Healthy life Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? 👉  DM me on PodMatch  💬 Want to come on the show? Be a Guest  🌐 Explore the full network  | 📨 Newsletter | 👥 LinkedIn Community This isn't self-help. It's self-honesty. 💼 Sponsor Our Show | 🎬 Check Our Services 📌 Disclaimer This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. Guest views are personal and do not represent the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify or endorse guest statements. Nothing here is medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional. Engage critically. Third-party content referenced under fair use. Guests are responsible for their own statements. Concerns? Contact us | Full disclaimer. By listening, you accept this disclaimer in full.