Samantha Holland
By Samantha Holland
I’m Samantha Holland, a cancer survivor and former Disney VIP Tour Guide sharing real, hopeful conversations about resilience, purpose, and finding meaning through life’s unkn...
Journal
Samantha says [journaling] matters: "I do it every day...it helps me see where my head space is...taking pen to paper is so important."
Grief
Samantha says [grief] matters: "it's something that everybody experiences...the thing that makes grief so difficult is how isolating it is...if we talked about it more, it would take away that scariness."
Journaling
Samantha says [journaling] matters: "I do it every day...it helps me see where my head space is" and "taking pen to paper is so important...it allows you to access a different part of your brain."
Internet Memes
Samantha says [memes] matter: "they're a form of communication" and "sending your friend a meme is like a love language...they are culturally significant...really defined a generation."
Storytelling
Samantha says [storytelling] matters: "sharing what you've been through...opens up the avenue to be able to speak and understand that you are not alone" and "storytelling is a way to build connection."
Social Media
Samantha says [social media] matters because "it provides access for people to share their experiences" and "it matters as a sense of community."
The Walt Disney Company
Samantha says [Disney] matters because "it gives a lot of people hope" and "it matters for the memory making of it."
Artificial Intelligence
Samantha says [artificial intelligence] matters: "it's a tool that could be super, super helpful" and "it really helps with my executive functioning," though she sees "it could be a little bit controversial" in art and writing.
#FindAGuest-BeAGuest
Vegan
Samantha says [veganism] does not matter to her: "I tried to be vegan for three months and I failed miserably...the way I craved a cheeseburger...was wild."
I’m Samantha Holland, a cancer survivor and former Disney VIP Tour Guide sharing real, hopeful conversations about resilience, purpose, and finding meaning through life’s unknowns.
At 34, I was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative breast cancer, a moment that shattered everything I thought I knew about myself, my future, and my strength. But what followed wasn’t just survival it was transformation. That diagnosis became the catalyst for a journey through pain, perspective, and ultimately, purpose. Before cancer, I spent 13 years at The Walt Disney Company, where I designed and led leadership programs focused on teamwork, emotional intelligence, and building a lasting legacy. I facilitated workshops with everyone from elementary school students to college leaders, Disney executives, and even the National Honor Guard. My work centered around helping people understand what it means to lead with purpose, and that mission continues today. Outside of work, I found freedom and strength through aerial arts, a practice that taught me how to trust my body, hold tension with grace, and rise even when everything felt upside down. But life’s challenges didn’t stop with cancer. Like so many, I’ve faced grief, betrayal, trauma, and the quiet ache of rebuilding. That’s what led me to develop the Beyond Negative process — a framework for moving through the before, during, and after of life’s hardest moments. It’s not about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about choosing to rewrite the meaning, even when the story stays the same. Today, I speak, coach, and lead workshops that help people reclaim their voice, reframe their pain, and remember their power. Because you can’t always change the story — but you can change what it means.
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