Healing from Cancer, Wild Water Swimming, and the Power of Purpose with Dean Hall
In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh sits down with Dean Hall, a licensed therapist and success coach with over 35 years of experience. A two-time cancer survivor and two-time world record-setting extreme distance swimmer, he is the first person in history to swim the entire 187-mile length of Oregon’s longest river, the Willamette River, which he completed as an active cancer patient, and Ireland’s longest river, the River Shannon, measuring 180 miles. These swims were not only physical feats but also marked spiritual and emotional turning points that led to an unexpected remission and ignited a powerful new calling.
Dean shares the extraordinary story of how the death of his beloved wife Mary and his own repeated brushes with mortality catalyzed a profound transformation in his understanding of healing. Instead of following the conventional advice to "fight cancer," Dean began to question the cultural conditioning around illness and realized that staying in a chronic state of fight-or-flight was preventing true healing. Inspired by a shift in perspective—from battling disease to loving life—Dean embraced the healing power of nature and purpose, leading to an unexpected remission and the founding of his initiative, Wild Cure Way, to help individuals leave behind the confines of concrete jungles and digital distractions to rediscover the transformative healing power of nature through his nature-based approach.
Throughout the episode, Dean and Dr. Singh explore how becoming one’s own best advocate, reclaiming agency, and reconnecting with nature can lead to physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Dean reflects on how his fight against cancer evolved into a practice of surrender, presence, and purpose—urging coaches and healthcare providers alike to walk alongside patients with humility, grace, and deep listening. His story is not only a testament to the resilience of the human spirit but also a reminder that healing is not merely about pursuing a cure; it’s about reclaiming meaning and connection during the time we have.
Dean and Dr. Singh explore how purpose, immersion in nature, and mindset shifts can foster profound healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Dean also shares how he reframed his fight with cancer by choosing to love life rather than fight disease, and how this shift in perspective empowered his transformation.
This episode is a powerful testament to the power of purpose, the impact of nature on health and healing, and how coaches and healthcare providers can support individuals during their most defining moments through deep listening and by encouraging reconnection with what matters most.
For detailed show notes, resources, and information to connect with Dean Hall, visit: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/blog/healing-from-cancer-wild-water-swimming-and-the-power-of-purpose-with-dean-hall
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Resources Mentioned in This Episode
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Turner, Kelly A. Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds. HarperOne, 2014.
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Turner, Kelly A. Radical Hope: 10 Key Healing Factors from Exceptional Survivors of Cancer and Other Diseases. Hay House, 2020.
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Hall, Dean. The Wild Cure Way. 2023
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Radical Remission Project. Radical Remission Project. https://radicalremission.com
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Li, Qing. Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness. Viking, 2018.
Timestamps
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 3:23 - Dean's Healing Journey
- 15:14 - Turning Points
- 33:05 - Swimming Toward Legacy: How Deans' Dream Led to Unexpected Healing and Remission
- 39:46 - Trading Fighting Cancer for Loving Life
- 42:36 - Be Your Own Best Advocate
- 48:40 - Takeaways
