Podcast Summary

Podcast: Travis Makes Money
Episode: INTERVIEW | Make Money by Turning Grief Into Global Impact with Olivia Zhang
Host: Travis Chappell
Guest: Olivia Zhang (Harvard student, founder/CEO of Cancer Kids First)
Date: February 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This inspiring episode features Olivia Zhang, a Harvard student and the founder of Cancer Kids First, the largest youth-led cancer nonprofit in the world. At 14, Olivia transformed her personal experience of grief after losing her grandfather and mentor to cancer into a global movement supporting pediatric cancer patients. She discusses her nonprofit’s growth, how she uses social media for good, her struggles and breakthroughs with imposter syndrome, and her new book Youth, aimed at empowering young people to create social impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Olivia’s Origin Story and Mission

• Personal motivation: Olivia’s immigrant family background and the loss of her grandfather propelled her to want to make a tangible difference in cancer care, especially supporting other children.

  • “My grandfather and elementary school teacher essentially raised me...when I lost my grandfather and teacher to cancer...it was the first time I had also experienced grief, and I really didn't know how to navigate that.” (03:00)

• Early steps: Selling art and jewelry as a child to fund her grandfather’s treatment was her introduction to grassroots fundraising.

What Makes Cancer Kids First Different

• Youth-led model: Leveraging the energy and creativity of young people, especially through TikTok and other social media during the pandemic.

  • “We provide these kids with cancer with friends and people their age who they can talk to, which is something that adult organizations can't necessarily do.” (03:22)

• Low-cost scalability: Many programs run solely on volunteer efforts, making the model sustainable and accessible.

  • “Our model is so sustainable because many...of our service programs can be run...wholly on volunteer efforts.” (03:37)

• Holistic support: Focus in the US is on psychosocial support; internationally, they pair oncologists and deliver equipment to address healthcare disparities.

  • "We've pivoted...to also support with that actual treatment side for patients in low and middle income countries...” (05:34)

Growth & Going Viral

• The organization remained a small school project until exploding on social media during the pandemic.

  • “We didn't really see it becoming more than just a typical...high school community project until like 2022 during the pandemic when we like blew up on social media.” (06:45)

• Host insight: Travis on the power of content creation:

  • “Every post is a lottery ticket. Every post you make could be a post that could quite literally change the course of your life...” (07:21)

Facing and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

• Olivia describes repeated rejections and how she and her team had to learn to pitch themselves, gaining confidence over time.

  • “We relentlessly...emailed every single pediatric cancer hospital across the country...we got over like 70 plus rejections...we took a break...because I was so discouraged...” (08:47)

• Practical tips: Practicing pitches, exposure therapy (regularly putting herself in intimidating situations), and creating a “Worth folder” to remind herself of positive feedback.

  • “I created something called the Worth folder in my camera roll...screenshots of emails from our initial hospital directors who said yes...that always gives me...the needed...kick to get started...” (13:30)

Writing the Book Youth

• Olivia’s motivation: To be the resource she wished she’d had starting out, offering tools, stories, and guidance for young changemakers.

  • “There was no resource out there that thought about how do you mass mobilize from your high school cafeteria if you are a young person...So I pitched this book idea...” (15:00)

• The writing & publishing journey: Facing publisher rejections (170 emails before a yes), finding the editing process tough but instructive.

  • “I cold emailed 170 literary agents before one finally said yes.” (14:54)
  • “My publishing team...made me completely rework the manuscript...that part...was a headache...” (18:35)

On Delusional Optimism and Persistence

• Belief precedes action: Both agree that an “almost delusional” optimism is central to sticking it out through setbacks.

  • Travis: “Everything starts with the belief. Right? Because the action is limited by your belief in the action...it’s the person who has this delusional sense of optimism...who figures out a way to make it happen.” (20:44)

• Memorable metaphor: Olivia: “You have to be, like, crazy enough to believe that you can do it and crazy enough to literally do everything in your power to achieve, like, what you set out to.” (20:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Olivia, on tangible impact:
  “I kind of wanted to do something that was a lot larger than myself and in a way where I could actually see the tangible impact that I was making...” (02:44)

• Olivia, on rejection:
  “We relentlessly...emailed every single pediatric cancer hospital across the country...we got over like 70 plus rejections...we took a break...because I was so discouraged...” (08:47)

• Travis, on the power of making content:
  “Every post is a lottery ticket. Every post you make could be a post that could quite literally change the course of your life, the course of your career...” (07:21)

• Olivia, on her ‘Worth folder’:
  “I created something called the Worth folder in my camera roll...screenshots of emails...saying that the work that I was doing inspires them. Anytime I feel...imposter syndrome...I always go back...” (13:30)

• Travis, on persistence:
  “Most people would have sent three emails to literary agents...You emailed 170 and finally got one to say yes.” (19:07)

• Olivia, on belief and action:
  “You have to be like crazy enough to believe that you can do it, and crazy enough to literally do everything in your power to achieve, like, what you set out to.” (20:20)

• Travis, on optimism and reasoning:
  “You combine those two things together...an analytical mind...yet you also have this...unearned belief that you’re going to figure it out. ...you get a great result.” (22:12)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:55] Olivia’s personal experience and the launch of Cancer Kids First
• [03:22] What sets Cancer Kids First apart (youth-led, sustainable)
• [05:34] Expansion into medical treatment support internationally
• [06:45] Early growth and the impact of going viral on social media
• [08:42] Emailing hospitals, early rejections, overcoming discouragement
• [10:59] Writing Youth to empower other young people
• [13:30] The Worth folder and techniques for overcoming imposter syndrome
• [14:30] Process and purpose behind writing the book Youth
• [18:35] Lessons from editing and working with a publisher
• [20:20] On “delusional optimism” and sticking with goals

Where to Learn More

• Cancer Kids First: cancerkidsfirst.org
• Olivia on Instagram: @oliviazhangofficial

This episode is a heartfelt look at how loss can be catalyzed into global impact, highlighting the unique strengths of young changemakers and offering practical wisdom for overcoming self-doubt and obstacles on the journey to social entrepreneurship.