Alchemy Podcast with Doug Cartwright
Hosted by Doug Cartwright
An author and entrepreneur processes his own terminal brain cancer diagnosis in real-time through intimate conversations with survivors and spiritual thinkers.
A long-form interview show that began as a guide to personal growth and spirituality, but has since transformed into a raw, real-time audio journal. Following his own terminal cancer diagnosis, host Doug Cartwright now dedicates his episodes to exploring mortality, grief, healing, and what it means to live when facing death. The conversations are deeply personal, often with other cancer survivors, and serve as a public processing of his own journey.
“The show's defining feature is the host's profound and public vulnerability. Unlike other podcasts in the space, this is not a retrospective on survival; it is the immediate, ongoing, and uncertain journey of a host living with a terminal diagnosis.”
Who hosts this show
Doug Cartwright is an author and entrepreneur who founded the personal transformation company The Daily Shifts. His podcast, originally focused on general principles of living a full life, took a radical turn in early 2026 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Now, Cartwright uses the show to openly navigate his diagnosis, sharing his journey and speaking with guests who have faced similar profound challenges.
Credentials & credits
- Author of the book "Holy Shit We Are Alive"
- Founder & CEO of The Daily Shifts
- Speaker on personal transformation
Other ventures
- The Daily Shifts (app, master class, blog)
- Alchemy Sales Coaching
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Love Is the Only Religion - ft. Bob PeckJun 11, 2026 · 1h 07m
- 02
- 03You Are Not Your Prognosis - ft. Rebecca DevineMay 14, 2026 · 49 min
- 04From Normal Life to Brain CancerMay 7, 2026 · 52 min
- 05The Clarity That Comes With Mortality - ft. Josh HardmanMay 1, 2026 · 51 min
- 06What Cancer Taught Us - ft. Carli GramppApr 23, 2026 · 59 min
- 07Unlocking Personal Transformation - ft. Mastin KippApr 16, 2026 · 1h 05m
- 08Health Update: A New Perspective On LifeApr 9, 2026 · 31 min
Notable episodes
- 01From Normal Life to Brain Cancer
In this solo episode, the host shares the raw, unfiltered story of his own stage 4 brain cancer diagnosis, marking a pivotal turning point for the podcast.
- 02You Are Not Your Prognosis - ft. Rebecca Devine
Doug speaks with a guest who has the exact same rare brain cancer diagnosis, but is much further along in her journey, offering a powerful and deeply personal look at survival.
- 03Health Update: A New Perspective On Life
The first episode where Doug publicly announces his diagnosis, explaining how facing mortality has profoundly shifted his perspective on what matters.
What you'll be asked on this show
Cartwright begins interviews by establishing a deep, personal link, often revealing his shared brain cancer diagnosis or a familial connection to create immediate rapport. He consistently uses his own vulnerability as a conversational bridge, sharing details of his spiritual experiences, family grief, or his ongoing cancer battle to encourage guests to share their own difficult stories. His questions are direct, open-ended, and probe into complex emotional and philosophical territories like grief, the nature of consciousness, and navigating a terminal diagnosis. He listens more than he talks, acting as a curious student eager to learn from his guest's experience, especially if they are further along a path he is just beginning.
The format is a one-on-one interview, characterized by its intimacy and emotional depth. Cartwright often opens by sharing a piece of his own story—his diagnosis, a spiritual experience, or family history—to create a foundation of trust. He positions himself as a fellow traveler and student, not an expert, which allows for unusually candid conversations.
Questions Doug Cartwright keeps coming back to
11 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Doug Cartwright reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“What has your spiritual journey been like?”
This is a frequent starting point to understand a guest's foundational beliefs and origin story.
backstory
2- Q.01
“Can you walk me through your experience of being diagnosed?”
Since his own diagnosis, he asks this to find common ground and understand the guest's initial battle.
- Q.02
“Have you always been this way, or did something happen that changed you?”
He asks this to pinpoint the pivotal moments of transformation in a guest's life.
relationships
2- Q.01
“How would you describe [a key person in your life] to someone who never met them?”
Used to understand the influential figures who shaped the guest's character and journey.
- Q.02
“What influence did your family have on your confidence and path?”
Probes into the guest's upbringing and how family dynamics shaped their adult life.
personal
3- Q.01
“What was the experience of [a specific trauma or loss] actually like for you?”
Asked with empathy, often after sharing a related personal story, to open the door to vulnerable topics.
- Q.02
“How have you processed and experienced grief?”
A direct inquiry into the guest's relationship with loss, a recurring theme in recent episodes.
- Q.03
“Can you detail the experience of [a psychedelic or mystical moment]?”
He asks for specifics about non-ordinary states of consciousness to understand their impact on the guest.
mindset
1- Q.01
“What's your opinion on [a specific spiritual figure like Jesus or Maharaji]?”
He uses this to explore a guest's specific theological or philosophical perspectives.
advice
1- Q.01
“How do you tell the difference between someone who is authentic versus 'phony holy'?”
This question seeks practical advice for spiritual discernment, a personal interest of the host.
process
1- Q.01
“Were there any symptoms leading up to the diagnosis?”
A practical question he asks fellow survivors to compare experiences and understand the disease's onset.
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
While past guests included a diverse range of entrepreneurs and spiritual teachers, the show now almost exclusively features people who have navigated immense personal challenges. This includes fellow glioblastoma survivors, other cancer patients, trauma experts, and those with profound stories of loss and resilience.
- Bob Peckon Love Is the Only Religion - ft. Bob Peck
- Misty Tripolion The Fitness Expert Living a Double Life: Bulimia, Burnout & How Dance Saved Her - ft. Misty Tripoli
- Rebecca Devineon You Are Not Your Prognosis - ft. Rebecca Devine
- Josh Hardmanon The Clarity That Comes With Mortality - ft. Josh Hardman
- Carli Gramppon What Cancer Taught Us - ft. Carli Grampp
- Mastin Kippon Unlocking Personal Transformation - ft. Mastin Kipp
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The episodes analyzed do not contain any sponsor reads or advertisements.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What happened to the host, Doug Cartwright?
- In early 2026, Doug Cartwright was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, which he announced in his episode "Health Update: A New Perspective On Life".
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, the podcast is active and releases episodes weekly, with the content now heavily focused on the host's journey with cancer.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a long-form interview podcast. Since the host's diagnosis, he primarily speaks with other cancer survivors, trauma experts, and spiritual thinkers about navigating life's greatest challenges.
- What is Doug Cartwright's book?
- Doug Cartwright is the author of the best-selling book "Holy Shit We Are Alive".
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on major platforms like YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and others.
- How can I support the host?
- Doug Cartwright has a GoFundMe page to help cover out-of-pocket medical costs for his cancer treatment, as he does not have traditional health insurance.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Alchemy Podcast with Doug Cartwright on YouTubeyoutube.com
- [02]Alchemy Podcast with Doug Cartwright | RedCircleredcircle.com
- [03]Doug's Fight Against Brain Cancer - GoFundMegofundme.com
- [04]Interview with Authority Magazinemedium.com
- [05]Doug Cartwright: Stage 4 Brain Cancer and the Power of Hope - CASE STUDIESgetpodcast.com
- [06]Doug Cartwright - A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcastatraumasurvivorthriver.com
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