When life gives you lemons, you don’t make lemonade. As Suzanne Whang says about her three-time battle with breast cancer, “I am kicking the shit out of it and taking names. I’m living it [life] to the fullest and loving every minute of it.”

I met Suzanne Whang in the parking lot of Hugos’ Restaurant in Los Angeles. After a big hello and hug, we sat in her car and shared stories and ideas. Yep, that’s right. We did our interview in her car — in her bright yellow, pimped out Prius.

For you that don’t know, Suzanne is a longtime entertainer; as an actor, TV host, comedian, and writer. Many people may remember her as the host from HGTV’s House Hunters. That’s when I first spotted her and took note. Her credits are long and her talent is big. She’s also much more.

Suzanne is passionate about helping people through her activism and teaching. As I talked with her, it was easy to see how these are true. She thoughtfully shares her enlightened ideas and sage perspectives no matter our topic.

We talked about her beginnings into show business, and then we get deep. We discussed helping others, telling our stories, and why both of those matter, how to change the world by starting locally and with our souls, and of course, we unpack some of her story of thriving through cancer.  In the latter, Suzanne speaks candidly about letting people in, letting go of her cancer secret, and receiving help.

Suzanne’s openness to share her truth is a welcome example for many of us, to stop keeping secrets and to live more freely. Also, her boundary pushing comedic quips with race and stereotypes in our conversation, and in her produced material is a reminder for each of us to stand up for our beliefs and take the power back.

An afternoon hanging out in a parking lot never felt so fun.