36. Carrie Davis | The Roots That Hold You When the Storm Comes

If you or someone you love has ever faced a diagnosis that stopped time, or if you've simply wondered how anyone finds light in the middle of the darkest kind of news — this conversation will meet you right where you are. Amy and Jenny sit down with their dear friend Carrie Davis, known to many as Carrie Davis Art — a fine artist, mother, wife, and one of the most quietly powerful voices you will ever encounter — who opens up for the first time about her invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis, the year that followed, and the unexpected beauty she found inside it. Carrie walks us through the slow, confusing collection of symptoms that preceded her diagnosis, the surreal moment she received the news, and what it felt like to watch her own life unfold as if from the ceiling — present, but not fully inside her own body. With extraordinary honesty, she shares how she navigated telling her family, leaning on community, and choosing, even on the hardest days, to face life rather than only fear death. In this episode, Carrie shares: The small, seemingly unrelated symptoms she didn't know to look for What it felt like to receive a cancer diagnosis and the strange, disorienting grief that followed in the days after How writing became her survival tool — and how 160 personal excerpts may become something much bigger Why she had to consciously choose to pursue wellness, even when holding onto illness felt safer The power of community, sitting shiva, and what it really means to let people carry you Carrie also speaks beautifully about facing death with curiosity rather than fear, the thin veil between here and heaven, and the moment God asked her a question that changed everything: Do you want to be well? Her Substack, where she continues to share her story with stunning vulnerability and grace, recently landed in the top 10 emerging writers on the platform — and after this episode, you will understand exactly why. We are so honored Carrie trusted us with this story while it is still being written. She is a living reminder that your identity is not your diagnosis, your relationships, or your roles — it is something far deeper, and far more beautiful, than any of us give ourselves credit for. Follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/carriedavisart/ And her Substack here: https://carriejacobsdavis.substack.com/