Bershan Shaw is a two-time cancer survivor, so it’s safe to call her a warrior — in her new podcast “Buckle Up with Bershan” she brings her wisdom to the masses in the form of motivational sessions and business coaching, all with a razor-focused objective, and that is to uplift the listener.
A businesswoman and a serial “entrepreneur” Shaw’s one-hour podcast, which she created and hosts, is executive produced by Laurie D. Muslo and can be found on the UBNGO Network.
What should an audience expect from the podcast— “Buckle Up withBershan”? A mature perspective on personal growth. An exploration of how to make your life better and insight from her guests on how they turned their lives around; in short, powerful stuff.
Shaw the warrior hasearned her reputation. Doctors gave her a three to six-month window to live. That was ten years ago. To survive,Bershan summoned her inner courage to conquer the impossible, defy the odds, and beat her illness. Now, she uses her leadership skills to bring a no-nonsense approach to motivate others to reach their potential. She spoke her truth and the world listened. Bershan has taken her message from India to Germany to Switzerland to London to Australia. Keeping her inspirational on track, she was featured in the TV docuseries “Love in the City” on the OWN Network and she is the author of the book “URAWARRIOR, 365 Ways To Challenge You To A Better Life.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month (October) and a few weeks ahead here’s what author and podcast host Bershan Shaw had to share about living your absolute best life.
LOS ANGELES SENTINEL: It’s sad to say but most of us know someone who has or is dealing with cancer. Based on your journey, I call you a warrior.
BERSHAN SHAW: Warrior. Yes, that’s my whole brand. I was given three to six months to live and throughout the entire ordeal Ikept saying ‘I am a warrior.’
LAS: Wait. Did you say that the doctors gave you three to six months, to live? What year was that?
BS: That was 2009.
LAS: Well, they can’t count well.
BS: (laughing) Exactly!
LAS: Excellent. Let’s talk about ‘Buckle Up with Bershan.’ What is this podcast about?
BS: ‘Buckle Up with Bershan’ means it’s time to buckle up. Get your life in order and take action. A lot of times we get stuck. Get busy living or get busy dying. When I got cancer,I decided to live. A lot of times people don’t live their full lives. People stay hesitant. People say I will do this or that after my kids grow up, etc. Time waits for no one. The time is now.
LAS: So, the guests on ‘Buckle Up with Bershan’ reflect this make it happen attitude?
BS: Absolutely. We bring people on the show to share their success stories. To share with people their losses and their wins. Because we don’t get the real story from people. A lot of people think that Beyoncé and JLo [Jennifer Lopez] just made it but the reality is that those women have been doing it since they were four and eight years old. And I will share my journey. I’m a millionaire now, but I didn’t start that way.
LAS: Congratulations on your millionaire status.
BS: Thank you. I’m going toshare more about how I came into my purpose in the podcast and the book.
LAS: Question, how does a person stay motivated?
BS: I love that question. Let me tell you how I stay motivated. I write in my journal. I keep smart goals. If you don’t have goals,you will get stuck. I have a new goal every month.
LAS: Smart. Goals. Explain, please.
BS: Excellent question. In smart goals, you have to make your goals specific. You have to make your goals measurable. Make sure that your goals are attainable, realistic and timely.
LAS: Let’s go back to your cancer diagnosis. A doctor told you—in 2009—that you had three to six months to live. But you decided to make a goal, to live, and at the time that would not have seemed like a realistic goal.
BS: Good point. I told myself if God keeps me alive then I am meant to be here. I remember when the doctor told me, I thought that I had terrible back pain. I didn’t know that I had stage four cancer. I went into the hallway and I had a conversation with God. I told God, ifyou keep me alive then I will motivate and transform the world. I don’t believe in putting your whole life in the hands of doctors. You have one life to live and you must live it.
LAS: Amazing.
BS: I asked God to give me the strength to live and he did. Year one goes by and no cancer. Year two goes by. Year three goes by and I realize that I’m here to stay. It is not time. When you realize that I had the passion to say, ‘what is cancer that’s holding you back?’ What is your fear?
LAS: Fear. As a little girl my father, Mr. Sandoval, told me that fear will kill you. I didn’t understand it then,but I do, now.
BS: Fear. Cancer is a dis-ease. We all have cancer of not living our best life. Fear of failure. Fear of success. That’s cancer. Disease. Cancer woke me up.
LAS: So, your true calling came out while dealing with cancer.
BS: Yes,but I always tell people not to wait untilsomething tragic happens to wake up.
LAS: Amen. Live now.
BS: Live, now. That’s why I am so excited about ‘Buckle Up with Bershan’ real stories about how people got unstuck and became successful in all kinds of professions. The show will be every other week on the UBNGO Network and available on Itunes as well.
LAS: What is your new book ‘The Unstoppable Warrior Woman’ book about?
BS: The book is a project where women share their stories. The Huffington Post did an article on me saying that ‘Bershan is Unstoppable’ but my response is that all women are unstoppable. We [Women] deal with illness, we deal with abuse — sexual, verbal, emotional. As women, we deal with not getting equal pay. As women, we deal with so much and I wanted to do a book for all of us.
LAS: When does the ‘Unstoppable Warrior’ woman come out?
BS: At the end of the year. It will be a hard copy book, an audiobook, a speaking series. ‘Unstoppable Warrior Woman’ will be a movement.
LAS: October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Are you doing anything special to bring awareness in October?
BS: I always do something special around October because of the awareness that the month brings. Statistics say that 1 in 8 people will have cancer. That’s crazy. I will be speaking on panels all around the country to help bring awareness.
LAS: The motivational industry is a billion dollars and growing,but I appreciate that you went through some shit[sic]and as a motivational speaker and author, I can understand you are not just fancy talk.
BS: That’s exactly it. When I am speaking with people, I want to know their journey. Talk is cheap. I was making six figures when I was sitting in the hospital undergoing chemo [chemotherapy].
LAS: That’s worth repeating. You said you were making six figures while you were undergoing chemo. So basically no one has an excuse to be lazy. That’s how I heard it.
BS: (laughing) There it is. There is no reason for being lazy.
To learn more about Bershan Shaw’s new podcast “Buckle Up with Bershan” go to
http://www.bershan.com or follow her on social media: @bershanshaw or on Instagram www.instagram.com/bershanshaw
