Friends from Wild Places

Inspiring Stories of Courage and Support

• Shireen Botha/Tanya Scotece ft Barb Herrera • Season 3 • Episode 36

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Join us on a journey of courage and transformation as we welcome Barb, a passionate women who candidly shares her inspiring story of overcoming major health challenges. Barb opens up about her personal battles with weight and its consequential impact on her spine, shedding light on the often-overlooked ramifications of health issues. Despite grappling with overwhelming costs and inequities in accessing crucial medications, Barb remains a beacon of hope, encouraging those who feel trapped by their circumstances to hold on for brighter days and more affordable treatments. Her story is a heartfelt reminder of the power of personal connections and the strength they provide in times of need. Barb's invitation to reach out for support is a testament to his commitment to empowering others in their own fights.

Barb Herrera


The celebration of transformation takes center stage as we recount the joyous moments of visiting Epcot with family post-significant weight loss. Barb's newfound mobility adds layers of joy and freedom to the adventure, a stark contrast to the challenges of the past that included needing extra airplane seats and seatbelt extenders. Amidst the laughter and newfound zest for life, we affirm our dedication to supporting Planned Parenthood and championing women's healthcare rights. We promise a lighter side too, with the fun and laughter of "Two Truths and a Lie," where surprising truths and amusing anecdotes await. This episode is a tapestry of resilience, joy, and advocacy, woven with stories that inspire and encourage listeners to embrace change and support meaningful causes.

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Voiceover:

Tales from the wild, stories from the heart. A journey into the mind and soul of fired up business professionals, where they share their vision for the future and hear from a different non-profit organization every month as they create awareness of their goals and their needs. Dive into a world of untamed passion as we join our host, Shireen Botha, for this month's episode of Friends from Wild Places.

Shireen Botha:

I love that. That's so awesome, Barb. So, Barb, if you could tell the listeners one thing that's listening to your story and is exactly that, just inspired or going through something very similar that you went through and just doesn't feel like there's really much of hope there and, like you said, there's always hope, but I mean obviously, obviously they're in it. So it's very hard to actually see hope when you're actually dead, center in the fire. So I mean, what would you say to them right now?

Barb Herrera:

Well, one of the things that happens with these medications is in the United States they're incredibly expensive. In Europe, they're much less expensive. Expensive In Europe. They're much less expensive. In Japan, they're much less expensive. We have ours are over $1,000 a month. So there's a huge inequity of the availability for people to get the medication. So when I speak, I acknowledge my privilege. My insurance pays for it and I I want to do something to be able to offer hope, even if they have to wait a little while until one they go off patent, which is way too far from now, or when some pills. This is an injection, a once a week injection. So when the pills come out, hopefully next year, prices will go down and the pills will be much less expensive with the same result. So, even if they're not able to access the medications now, that if they hang on just a little bit longer, hopefully they'll be able to get them as well.

Barb Herrera:

But I really, I really, really really never had a belief that I would be mobile again. I thought that I was going to die in bed and then things shifted without my knowledge at all. I you know, again with the trulicity, I had no clue that anything was going to shift my life so dramatically, and even if you're lying in bed and you feel like you're just melting into it with all your flesh, I was there and I want you to know. I really, really, really do know. So email me at health at any cost at gmailcom and I'll send you some pictures to show you. I also have pictures up on my YouTube and also my blog, so you can see me and all my 400 pound glory, and you see me now, wow.

Tanya Scotece:

And Barb, what would you say to our listeners that maybe you know they don't have that doctor sitting there saying to them you know you're going to end up in a nursing home if you don't change your ways? What words of encouragement right now for someone, whether, whatever they're going through, whether it's weight related, something specific like how does one hear a catalyst shift of words to make the change?

Barb Herrera:

That's a really good question because, like I said, with the diabetes, I was immune to it and the dying we're all going to die. But one of the things that I wanted to share is that, even though all my health issues have gone, my back is actually crushed from all the weight that I carried. I have eight and possibly nine bulging discs. I've got three almost herniations. So even though on the outside and my labs look so fantastic, my spine has borne literally the weight of all of the issues that have happened, born literally the weight of all of the issues that have happened. So, even if your labs are good, know that things are happening in your body that you may not know about. But the catalyst, one of the things that I that's why I want people to email me is because I know that it can seem hopeless and every person has an individual spot to be able to touch that they may not be able to share in public on either social media or anywhere else, but I want them to feel comfortable and eventually what I'm hoping is going to happen is that I will be able to counsel people. I'm not a therapist, but was a midwife and have been told lots that I should have been a therapist, but I can actually stand side by side with somebody as they're going through the journey as well, so that they can find a life that they also never imagined. Because in my wildest dreams, last month my family got together from around the country and we went to Epcot. And I am a major Disneyphile and I had not actually walked into a Disney park in about 30 years. I always used an electric wheelchair and to be able to walk, and I walked over six miles that day with my family, my, my kids, my grandkids, my son-in-law, and we walked all day long and I was and it's so funny because I was telling somebody my feet didn't hurt they said that's because you were floating on air, and I was like, yeah, that's exactly what it was. So those are the hopeful things that are individualized.

Barb Herrera:

If somebody wants to get on a plane without the seatbelt extender, or I had to buy three seats at times because I was so big and then I quit flying and then, as I started again after I'd lost 100 pounds, I still needed two seats. And now I met Miss Tanya on a plane ride and she saw me in one seat with a seatbelt that had this much left on the seatbelt, had this much left on the seatbelt and it was amazing and I got to share my joy with her about being able to sit and I hate the term normal person but like a regular person who doesn't need so many seats and a big seatbelt Not that there's anything wrong with that. I swear to you I have no judgment about anybody with their weight or with what it is that they want to lose. If they want to do this for losing, do the GLP ones for losing weight. There's no judgment at all because I know viscerally what it feels like. That's awesome.

Shireen Botha:

Thank you for sharing. It's so amazing, such an inspirational story that you have to share with the world, and you know talking about helping others and inspiring others. We do love to support a non-profit every month and mind just sharing with us a little bit about this organization and what it means to you and how we can help Absolutely.

Barb Herrera:

So it is very controversial Planned Parenthood, because they support and assist in terminations of pregnancy abortions. I worked at Planned Parenthood as a care provider for pregnant teens and pregnant migrant women and most of my career as a midwife was as a midwife for migrant women. And in this culture, and you know, we just turned another page of incredible conservatism and abortion is a taboo to even think about. Even here in Florida they just passed a law that said under six weeks they cannot even have an abortion, and I know from the inside what it's like to be 12 and 13 and 14 years old or a mom in an abusive relationship and getting pregnant over and over because their partner wants them to. That terminations are something that our culture should allow. Autonomy of a woman's body this is our body and that's basically what Planned Parenthood does is help to support the autonomy of a body.

Shireen Botha:

That's amazing. Thank you for sharing. So, yes, listeners, if you want to take some time and go to the website plannedparenthoodorg and read up about it, there is a donate button on the top right. So if you want to just donate some of your funds, it doesn't. It's not about the number. The point is you want to give and try and support what this organization stands for.

Shireen Botha:

So, ladies, we have come to the part of the podcast where we're going to have a little bit of a light-hearted game. We're going to play um amongst the three of us. It's called. The game is called two truths and a lie. Have you, ladies, played it before? Yes, yes, yes, yes, awesome. So, basically, for the listeners, you have heard us play this game before, but each person will share two truths and one lie, and the other two will have to guess which one is the lie. This is a great way just to get to know one another a little bit better. Um, tanya and I know each other quite well, so it'll be interesting if she can actually pick out um the lie. So, tanya, do you want to go?

Tanya Scotece:

first, yeah, I just need a second to gather my thoughts. So two. So two truths and a lie, yeah, okay, two truths and a lie, okay, um, so let's see, um, two truths and a lie, okay, um, I love caviar, I have a cat, I love oysters.

Barb Herrera:

Uh Bob you go first.

Tanya Scotece:

Sure, I have a cat, is the truth which one's the lie oh, no, yeah, the oh, which one's a lie, oysters, because they're yucky the lie is I have a cat, I don't have a cat, I don't have a cat. I love oysters and I love caviar Yucky yucky. Favorite foods, both caviar and oysters. I could probably live off of them.

Shireen Botha:

That's so funny because I was going to say you do not own a cat. That is a hundred percent a lie.

Barb Herrera:

Who knew that? I know okay, so here we go. Um, bob, do you want to go? Do you want me to? Yeah, no, you go first, because I'm still thinking of one all right.

Shireen Botha:

Two truths and one lie. You have to guess the lie. Here comes the statements. One I put out a fire in the overhead storage in flight. Two I almost stepped on a over three meter python.

Tanya Scotece:

Three I have been bungee jumping, which is the lie the fire tanya I know shereen, so I'm gonna say bungee jumping yes, the bungee jumping is the lie.

Shireen Botha:

I have almost stepped on an over three meter python and I have put out a fire and overestimation flight.

Barb Herrera:

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Okay, so it's my turn. I don't eat pizza anymore. I was in jail once. I have over 30 tattoos.

Tanya Scotece:

Wow, oh, that's let's see. Go ahead, Shereen. What do you think the lie?

Shireen Botha:

is the lie is you have over 30 tattoos.

Tanya Scotece:

Okay, I'm going gonna say the pizza that that's correct is that correct?

Shireen Botha:

okay that's correct because I also love pizza.

Barb Herrera:

The pizza's the lie. Yeah, the pizza's the lie. I only have it about this much, but I do. I do eat it and yes so you have 30 tattoos, barb, I do yeah, my whole leg is covered in my children and my grandchildren's flowers of birth, so I've got beautiful flowers all over my left leg and then. I've got a breast on my back. Blah, blah, blah. And, yes, I was in jail and extradited to san diego. Yeah, I'm in chains on a plane, yeah, so wow.

Shireen Botha:

Bob has a story and a half. Bob, your story is amazing Barb.

Tanya Scotece:

When's the book coming out? You're writing. I know I know you have to.

Barb Herrera:

I know everyone tells me that and I'm actually working on. I read the 12-week year and I'm working on figuring out what my realistic goals are every 12 weeks, and one has to be a book. I wish I had a dime for everybody who said you should write a book about all of this. So yeah, I've had quite the adventurous life, that's for sure.

Shireen Botha:

Hey Bob, yes, you should write a book.

Barb Herrera:

Another dime in my hand.

Tanya Scotece:

Before we close out with Barb this morning, I just, Barb, can you just give us just three tips for people that are looking for hope, three in whatever areas. Just three things that people can, after they get done listening to this podcast, to say you know what? I want to change my ways, I want to do something, whether it's an addiction, whether it's food related. Just what are three things? People could leave hearing you today saying you know what, In honor of Barb, we're going to do something good for ourselves. What would those three things be?

Barb Herrera:

Belief. And then for those who are really big, who think they can't exercise, just lift your arm. That's all you have to do. That's how I started in bed was just lifting my arm and move forward a little every day. And, and you know, like they say, in any, any addiction program is one day at a time. Sometimes it's one minute or 30 seconds at a time, and that's okay too. Just stay in the present and be who it is that you know you are inside.

Tanya Scotece:

Wow, wow, so grateful to have met you, barb Truly.

Barb Herrera:

Thank you. I'm glad we were on the same flight together. How fun was that next to each other, yes, yeah, can I share about the bathroom real quick?

Barb Herrera:

go ahead, go ahead, okay so today, that day was the first day I ever fit in a bathroom on a plane and I was sitting in there and I was like I should get a picture and I thought, no, that's so gross. But then after we were in the very, very back, everybody had left and Shereen said and Tanya said, let me take a picture of you in the bathroom. And I stood in the bathroom just so happy, and she took a picture of me and there's so much room in the bathroom I could spin around. It was crazy. It's just surreal. So many things are just such brand new experiences. They're just so surreal.

Barb Herrera:

So, thank you very much, Ms Tanya, for taking a picture.

Tanya Scotece:

Of course, of course, and I'm just so grateful to have you, you know, on the show with Shereen here and being able to, you know, just, you know again inspire others, share your journey. And you know, on the show with Shereen here and being able to, you know, just, you know again, inspire others, share your journey. And you know, especially as we navigate together through 2025, you know, everyone's in a different place, in a different time, different time zone, but wherever anyone is listening out there, there's always hope, there's always some belief, even if it's just one little thought at a time. So those are my words this morning I love that, thank you.

Shireen Botha:

Thank you, bob and tanya. We have come to the end of our wonderful time together. But let me just say something about those aircraft toilets, bob, they are my new. I can barely fit in it, so you know. I'm just saying like I'm not even going to give credit to those bathrooms, because those bathrooms are just ridiculous. They might need to just redesign them a little bit and make them a little bit bigger, because I've been small over the years. Anyway, bob, please go ahead. I know that there's people listening that be inspired by your story. So if you don't mind just sharing with the listeners where they can go to find you if they want to reach out.

Barb Herrera:

Absolutely. My email is health at any cost. Sorry, let's start again Health at any cost at gmailcom. My blog is healthatanycostcom, and you can find my YouTube channel at YouTube, at Health at Any Cost. And here I am, and if you have any questions, just feel free to email. I'm hoping one of the things on my list is to get a LinkedIn as well. I was told to get a LinkedIn, so I'm going to do that too.

Tanya Scotece:

So I'll help you. I volunteer that project. Okay, I live on LinkedIn, so we'll help you, barb, we'll zoom together.

Barb Herrera:

Yes, Thank you.

Tanya Scotece:

Yes, and I just want to ask you Shireen and I, with our friends from wild places podcast, are looking at getting some promotional marketing material for ourselves. Do you have anything that you are inspired? You know, a hats, t-shirts, any swag of any sort? Are you anything on the horizon for you or no?

Barb Herrera:

Not that I know of a book. Y'all are insisting on a book. I can't be doing swag Okay wait a minute.

Tanya Scotece:

Wait, what was the shirt? I think we had talked about a shirt that you were wearing. What was the shirt?

Barb Herrera:

Oh, that was at Disney, yes, yes, yes At Disney. That day I wrote Disney's Magic and GLP-1s on the front in big bold letters. And then on the back it said I've lost 255 pounds, because at the time it was 255 pounds and I had people coming at me pointing and smiling about the GLP-1s. There's such a stigma with taking GLP-1s in the United States that I'm trying to push down that stigma and let people be healthy. It's not the easy way out. I promise it's easier and it helps to regulate everything. And then on the back I had people tapping my shoulder and telling me their weight loss stories. It was so amazing. Oh, I'm so proud of you, congratulations. Let me tell you I've tried to lose 20 pounds for 50 years, etc. Etc. So it was really fun to do that.

Tanya Scotece:

All right, you want to be the first enlist when you get some promotional material. Okay, okay.

Shireen Botha:

Tanya where can the listeners find you?

Tanya Scotece:

So I live on LinkedIn. I like Barb don, who can no longer live alone, with assisted living communities on the east and west coast of Florida and I serve as an expert witness for funeral and cemetery wrongdoing. So that's my wheelhouse everything related to death care.

Shireen Botha:

Awesome. Yes, listeners. So you can find friends from wild places at friends from wild places dot buzz brav dot com. We are also on YouTube friends from wild places buzzsproutcom. We are also on youtube friends from wild places. Please take some time to go and like, comment and subscribe. Remember, if you want that extra content for five dollars a month, it's you just have to subscribe. So go to any of the platforms we're on all of them and you'll find the ones that are locked. So if you just click on them, it'll take you straight to our website, friendsfromwildplacesbuzzsproutcom, where you can go and subscribe and get all of that extra content. But in any way, please still comment, tell us how you feel, what did you like, what did you not like? We appreciate all the comments. So thank you very much for listening and we'll see you next time, guys, and remember you got this and stay wild. Bye guys, bye-bye.

Voiceover:

You've been listening to Friends from Wild Places with Shireen Botha. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast from the links to catch every episode and unleash your passion.

People on this episode

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Shireen Botha

Host
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Tanya Scotece

Co-host
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Barb Herrera

Guest

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