Bits and Boobs
Bits and Boobs is a candid conversation podcast hosted by friends Dakota Middleby and Bianca Innes, who met through breast cancer in their twenties. It expands beyond cancer into fertility, chronic illness, hormones, mental health, ADHD, endometriosis, body image, sex, relationships, identity, careers, caregiving, and other topics people are often unprepared for. Episodes blend real stories from guests with expert insight and the hosts' own oversharing, laughter, and tears. The show aims to make messy, awkward health and life conversations feel more open and relatable.
Episodes
Dakota’s treatment stopped working, now what? The highs, lows & everything in between | BCAM Wrap Up
What happens when the treatment keeping your cancer under control stops working?Dakota shares the news that her current metastatic breast cancer treatment has stopped working, what progression in her brain means, and the reality of preparing for radiation and a new treatment plan while living with metastatic breast cancer.But this conversation goes well beyond treatment. We talk about the fear of
When Your Daughter Gets Cancer: The One Thing You Can’t Fix | BCAM Series
This week is a little different for episode 3 of our BCAM. Dakota and Bianca sit down with Dakota’s mum Carolyn, to hear the story from the other side - the person standing beside you through the diagnosis, the treatment, the scans, the good news and the news nobody wants to hear.We talk about what it’s really like to be a parent watching your child go through something traumatic, while trying to
*Bonus Ep* Beyond the Pink Ribbon: Support, Advocacy + Real Change | Vicki Durston - Breast Cancer Network Australia
BONUS EP for BCAM <3Today I’m joined by the lovely Vicki from Breast Cancer Network Australia, an organisation that does some incredible work supporting and advocating for Australians affected by breast cancer.Vicki works in policy and advocacy, helping push for better care, better access to treatment and making sure the voices of people affected by breast cancer are actually being heard.We&apo
Who Takes Care Of Mum When She Gets Cancer? Sarah Gale's Story - BCAM Series
Who takes care of Mum when she gets cancer? 🎀Sarah Gale was used to being the strong one. A mum of two, a women's and pelvic health physiotherapist, and someone who had just taken the leap into starting her own business.Then, in November 2025, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.This week on Bits & Boobs, Bianca sits down with Sarah for an honest conversation about what happens when the
She was told she was 'overreacting'. Then came the Diagnosis... w/ Liz
What happens when you know something isn’t right with your body… but you keep being told you’re fine?This week, Dakota sits down with Liz (@breastlizzismore), who was just 30 and three months postpartum when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, after almost a year of pushing for answers.Liz shares how her diagnosis went from being told she was overreacting to Stage 0, and eventually Stage 2B brea
Men's Mental Health: Suicide, Struggling & Asking for Help | Elliott Hagen
What does struggling actually look like when, from the outside, everything seems fine?This week, Dakota sits down with Elliott Hagen for a really honest conversation about men’s mental health and the things that can be incredibly hard to say out loud.We talk about what struggling looked like for him and the role drugs and alcohol played during some of the darker periods of his life.Elliott is on a
Rewriting the Story: Krystal Barter on BRCA1, Prevention, Purpose & Advocating for Yourself
What if knowing your risk could change the course of your life? 🧬💗This week on Bits & Boobs, Bianca sits down with health activist, author and Humanise Health founder Krystal Barter for a conversation that feels particularly full circle.After growing up in a family profoundly impacted by breast and ovarian cancer, Krystal discovered in her early twenties that she carried a BRCA1 gene mutation.
Hormones + Your Nervous System w/ Mackenzie - BHSc Naturopath
What actually is naturopathy? And are all those things we’ve been told are “normal” actually… normal?This week, Dakota sits down with degree-qualified naturopath Kenzie from Naturally Vibrant to talk all things hormones, periods, gut health and understanding what our bodies are trying to tell us.We get into what a naturopath actually does, finding the root cause and the symptoms women might be bru
Chris Barnes: Your Genes, Your Health & Why One Size Doesn't Fit All
Why can your best friend drink three coffees and feel fine, while one has you questioning your entire existence? And how much of your future health is actually written in your DNA?This week, Bianca sits down with Genetic Health Strategist and Epigenetic Coach Chris Barnes to unpack the fascinating world of genetics, epigenetics and why there really is no one-size-fits-all approach to health.They g
Skinny culture, ADHD & getting off your damn phone with Liv Rose
What does being “healthy” actually look like when the internet is constantly telling us we need to be smaller, fitter, more productive and somehow doing more?This week, Dakota sits down with women’s health and fitness coach Liv Rose for a very real conversation about health beyond the before-and-after photos.Liv opens up about her own ADHD diagnosis, the impact medication had on her appetite and t
So... What's Going On With Bits & Boobs?
This week, we’re back together to chat about the next chapter of Bits & Boobs!Why we’re moving to weekly episodes, taking on our own guests, AND opening the pod up to bigger conversations beyond cancer and giving B&B a little glow-up along the way.But obviously, we couldn’t just stay on topic. We catch up on life lately, what’s been going on with both of us, our current skincare favourites
Talking Sex, Intimacy & Relationships with Isiah McKimmie
This week, Dakota is joined by Isiah McKimmie, one of Australia's leading couples therapists and sexologists.With nearly 20 years of experience, Isiah has helped thousands of individuals and couples build stronger relationships, navigate intimacy, improve communication and better understand desire. In this episode, we dive into the conversations so many of us avoid from body confidence to int
More than a tattoo | Cosmetic & Medical tattoo artist Ash on restoring confidence
More Than a Tattoo is a conversation about healing, confidence and the part of breast cancer recovery that isn't talked about nearly enough.This week, Bianca is joined by Ash from @medicaltattoobyash, who takes us inside the world of cosmetic and medical tattooing and explains why her work is about so much more than recreating a nipple. From scar camouflage and restorative tattooing to rebuil
"Connection Is Medicine” Bianca's Story, Founder of The Yellow Freesia Foundation
Dakota is joined by a different Bianca today! Bianca, the founder of the Yellow Freesia Foundation 💛 Bianca shares her story of being diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer as a brand new mum, after her cancer was found completely by accident. We chat about the shock of a diagnosis, navigating treatment away from family and the friendships that can change when life gets really hard. But this episode
A trip to Canberra & 1st Birthday Giveaways!!
This week on Bits & Boobs we're back for a catch-up episode.Bianca shares her recent trip to Canberra and her time in Parliament House advocating for patients, including why this work continues to be so important to her.We also chat about our latest giveaway, Dakota recaps her trip to Tasmania and we look ahead to some exciting guests and conversations coming to the podcast.A shorter epis
Zoladex news, signs from the universe & We’re turning ONE!
This week, we’re having a good old-fashioned yap about everything that’s been going on lately. Bianca shares why she is heading to Parliament House in Canberra! We chat about the Zoladex news and what it means for so many women, and of course, we get into some of the little spiritual moments that have happened lately that have had us both going “wait… what?!”Plus, we’re celebrating a pretty specia
The reality of living with Stage 4 Breast Cancer - Dakota
This week, Dakota jumps behind the mic solo for a very honest life update on what it's really like living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at 30. From scan anxiety and treatment every 21 days, to trying not to let cancer stop her from booking a trip/travel or living her life, this is a conversation about the messy middle that doesn't often get talked about.Dakota shares the mental l
Claire's post-surgery reality: The good, the hard and everything between.
Claire is back in your ears <3If you’re new here we suggest that you go back to Episode 8 and listen to the first half of Claire’s story.This episode honestly just feels like three girls having a yap on a rainy Sunday afternoon. We chat about the reality of life after a double mastectomy, the emotional rollercoaster of recovery, body image, and the really hard feeling of not getting the patholo
WE BLINKED AND IT'S MAY?!.. An overdue catch up
This week on Bits & Boobs, we’re doing something a little different; a proper catch up between the two of us.We talk about life lately, slowing down after chaos, creativity, motherhood, work, treatment updates, survivorship, the hidden costs of cancer, body confidence after surgery, and the strange little griefs that come with trying to live a “normal” life after diagnosis.A soft reminder that
The many facets of grief we don't talk about w/ Bianca
This week, Bianca takes on her first solo episode and opens up about her experience with grief across different chapters of her life.Losing her mum as a child. Being diagnosed with cancer at 20. And more recently, losing her brother.This isn’t a neat or tidy conversation. It’s an honest reflection on how grief actually feels, how it lingers, and how it can show up when you least expect it.If you’v
This one is for the men: Adam Mckay - Brett's Story
This one is for the men.In this deeply moving episode, Adam shares the story of his brother Brett, a hardworking, big-hearted young man whose life changed from simple back pain to an aggressive cancer diagnosis in a matter of months.Adam opens up about brotherhood, the brutal reality of treatment, and how Brett turned his pain into purpose by sharing his story online to help others. It’s a raw con
Entering a new era, big things coming...
SEASON 2! Join us for our first episode of a new season as we give a brief insight into what's been happening for us both and how Dakota's treatment and mindset are travelling entering into 2026. We're coming in fresh for the new year with big ideas to take the podcast beyond the microphone and make a change. As well as dopamine lists, a HGL (listen to find out) and mindset shifts a
25 things we learnt this year (and what we’re carrying into 2026)
To wrap up Season One, we’re hitting pause and having a proper look back.In this episode, we share 25 things we learnt in 2025, the tough lessons, the small wins, the “did that really just happen?” moments, and the stuff no one tells you when life goes sideways.We also chat about what we’re taking into 2026 - personally and professionally, what we’re leaving behind, what we’re holding onto, and wh
Perspective, presence & the power to keep going w/ Cass Miller
In today’s episode, I sat down with the incredible Cass Miller, a woman whose strength hits you the second she starts speaking. Diagnosed with incurable cancer at 36 with three young kids, Cass has turned fear, uncertainty and the absolute chaos of her life into purpose, presence, and the most beautiful perspective.This conversation feels like a warm, grounding therapy session. We talk about walki
The other side of cancer... being the support person - Dakota & Alex
This week on Bits and Boobs, we’re doing something a little different - I finally convinced my partner, Alex to jump on the mic and share what it’s actually like being the support person through cancer, the fear, the grief, and the quiet strength that holds everything together. Whether you’re going through treatment yourself or love someone who is, this one’s for the support people who often sit i
The update we never imagined we’d have to share
After an incredible October filled with powerful conversations for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dakota and Bianca are sitting down for an honest life update.In this raw and emotional episode, the girls open up about grief, loss, resilience, and navigating curveballs, from Bianca losing her brother and juggling motherhood to Dakota’s devastating news that her cancer has returned, now metastatic.T
Married, miscarriage, and cancer, the year that everything changed for Tessa
At 29, Tessa’s world flipped overnight. She was planning her future - newly married, dreaming of motherhood and then… a lump. What followed was a whirlwind no one prepares you for: a miscarriage of two little bubs, chemo, and fear. In this episode, Tessa opens up about this year, the year that changed everything, and how she found strength, softness, and perspective in the mess, alongside her beau
The cancer came back, but so did she! w/ Emily Harrison-Suhr
5 years ago, at just 26, Emily found a lump in the shower. What followed was a stage 3 diagnosis, months of chemo, and later, the news no one ever wants to hear, it’s back, and it’s metastatic.In this episode, Emily shares what life really looks like beyond the whirlwind, the egg-freezing, the long hospital days, the moments when hope feels far away, and the strength it takes to keep showing up an
When the big C arrives at 38 years old. From School runs to chemo with Claire
Kicking off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a story that will stay with you.Claire, a 38-year-old beautiful mother of two, joins us to share the raw, real journey from finding a lump to navigating diagnosis, chemo, and motherhood through it all. She opens up about those first terrifying weeks, the power of acceptance, and how she explained everything to her little girls with honesty and heart.I
Letters I wish I could have sent myself before the mess...
This week, Dakota sits down solo to share the advice she wishes she could give her pre-diagnosis self. From the shock of hearing the words “you have cancer” to navigating appointments, treatment side effects, emotions, and relationships. She breaks down the raw, messy, and surprising truths of the early days.Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, love someone who has, or simply want to understand wha
FUCA! w/ Jess Armstrong: From chemo skin to self-love, FUCA was born
We apologise for a few glitches in this episode! Thanks for bearing with us! <3When breast cancer left Jess Armstrong’s skin raw and reactive, she decided to flip the script. What started as a desperate hunt for products she could actually use during treatment became FUCA. A skincare made for sensitive, irritated skin. And now? It’s sitting proudly on the shelves at MECCA.In this episode, we ch
Drains, pain meds & proud moments two weeks on post surgery
Two weeks after her mastectomy, Dakota sits down with Bianca to unpack the part of recovery most people don’t talk about: drains that snag, sleep that won’t come, pain meds you think you won’t need (then absolutely do), and the odd reality of a beautiful new breast you can’t quite feel yet. She also shares the shaky first hours after surgery, the small kindnesses that made a difference, and why th
Two and a half tits between us - Mastectomy and Lumpectomy
In this raw and unfiltered episode of Bits & Boobs, Bianca and Dakota open up about the surgeries that changed their lives—mastectomy and lumpectomy. From the emotional weight of writing a “goodbye letter” to your breast, to the practical realities no one warns you about—drains, compression bras, pain management, and the mental prep before going under—this is the conversation you didn’t know y
Products we wish knew + boob hotline Q's and gifts that actually help
In this episode, we share the products, tips, and thoughtful gestures that made a real difference during treatment. From the skincare we wish we’d known about earlier, to honest conversations about intimacy and comfort, and the kinds of gifts that genuinely help – nothing is off the table.We cover:Products we wish we knew about sooner – the practical items that became everyday essentials.The Boob
Dude, where's my hair?!
Strap in for a real, raw, and a unexpectedly hilarious deep-dive into one of the most confronting parts of cancer treatment: saying goodbye to your hair (and brows... and lashes... yep, those too).In this episode, Bianca and Dakota share their deeply personal — and at times, wildly relatable — experiences with hair loss. From the emotional gut-punch of that first clump falling out to the empowerin
They said we were too young for that?!
Join hosts Dakota and Bianca as they open up about being diagnosed with breast cancer in their 20s — the shock, the emotional chaos, and why early checks matter; regardless of your age. From identity loss to the power of shared experience, this is the honest conversation we wish was available to us. Raw, real, and made for women who want to feel seen. Get in touch with us! 🎧 Follow the journey on
Welcome to Bits & Boobs
Ever wished someone would just say the rogue, messy thoughts that bounce around your head after a cancer diagnosis out loud? That’s us.We’re Dakota Middleby and Bianca Innes, your hosts of Bits and Boobs, a podcast that’s anything but your average cancer story. Think raw chats, WTF moments, rogue thoughts, and the kind of unfiltered honesty we all crave but rarely hear..This is your space for the
