Leap Academy Podcast · Episode 118 · Jul 29, 2025
Dr. Josh Axe: From Healing My Mom of Cancer to Building a Multi-Million-Dollar Health Brand
"Dr. Josh Axe’s passion for health and wellness began when his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis led to chronic health issues after chemotherapy."
52 minutes
Leap PodcastDr. Josh Axe: From Healing My Mom of Cancer to Building a Multi-Million-Dollar Health Brand
Listen
Open this episode in your podcast app
Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr paste this episode title into any podcast app: Dr. Josh Axe: From Healing My Mom of Cancer to Building a Multi-Million-Dollar Health Brand
Show notes
What's in this episode
Dr. Josh Axe’s passion for health and wellness began when his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis led to chronic health issues after chemotherapy. Inspired by this, Josh pursued natural medicine, which helped her make a remarkable recovery when cancer returned. Years later, Josh faced a spinal infection that left him unable to walk. Doctors predicted permanent disability, but using the same healing mindset and natural methods that saved his mom, he defied the odds. In this episode, Josh joins Ilana to discuss the transformative power of belief, the keys to true health and success, and the secrets behind building a powerful personal brand.
Dr. Josh Axe is a physician, entrepreneur, and leadership expert passionate about helping individuals use food and natural remedies to achieve optimal health and wellness. He is the founder of DrAxe.com and The Health Institute and the co-founder of Ancient Nutrition.
In this episode, Ilana and Josh will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:06) The Cancer Battle That Sparked His Health Mission
(05:29) The Role of Belief in Healing, Growth, and Success
(14:34) Building DrAxe.com into a Digital Health Powerhouse
(20:55) The Scary Moment He Almost Lost Everything
(24:05) Overcoming the Fear of Charging What You’re Worth
(26:06) Josh’s Strategies for Building a Scalable Brand
(31:12) Simple Habits for Total Health Transformation
(34:37) From Bedridden to Healed: The Power of Belief
(42:38) Why Character Beats Accomplishments
Dr. Josh Axe is a physician, entrepreneur, and leadership expert passionate about helping individuals use food and natural remedies to achieve optimal health and wellness. He is the founder of DrAxe.com and The Health Institute and the co-founder of Ancient Nutrition. His businesses have ranked among the Inc. 500’s fastest-growing companies. Josh is the host of The Dr. Josh Axe Show and the bestselling author of Eat Dirt, The Keto Diet, and Think This, Not That.
Connect with Josh:
Josh’s Website: draxe.com
Josh’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshaxe
Resources Mentioned:
Josh’s Book, Think This, Not That: 12 Mindshifts to Breakthrough Limiting Beliefs and Become Who You Were Born to Be: https://www.amazon.com/Think-This-Not-That-Breakthrough/dp/1400337844
Josh’s Podcast, The Dr. Josh Axe Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-josh-axe-show/id1700689487
The Health Institute: thehealthinstitute.com
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996
Leap Academy:
Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time.
Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training
Transcript
Full conversation
Transcript coming soon. In the meantime, watch the YouTube version above for closed captions, or listen on Apple Podcasts / Spotify.
About Leap Academy
Where ambitious professionals leap to their next chapter.
Founded by Ilana Golan — Forbes contributor, board director, investor in 100+ companies, and former F-16 flight instructor commander — Leap Academy has helped 70,000 people across 4 continents reinvent their careers and build lasting reputations.
- American Business Awards Startup of the Year, 2023
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company
- Featured on Forbes, Yahoo Finance, NBC, CBS, ABC

Founder & CEO
Ilana Golan
Hosts every episode. Has guided thousands of professionals through career reinventions, leadership leaps, and brand building.
70,000
Lives impacted
$60M
Market value
4
Continents
More episodes
Recent guests on the show
- Leap PodcastRa'anan CohenThe Dark Truth About Venture Capital: Confessions of a Unicorn FounderRa'anan CohenThe Dark Truth About Venture Capital: Confessions of a Unicorn Founder
9x Founder Kim Perell: How I Turned a $10K Loan Into a $235M Company
Jason FriedHow Basecamp's CEO Lost 30% of His Team, Faced Backlash, and Came Back Stronger
Qualcomm CMO Don McGuire: How to Stay Relevant, Resilient, and Ready for Change