Marrisa Axelrod, RN, BSN, MPH, CPT

Personal Details

Bio

Marrisa Axelrod is a transformational speaker, Integrative Wellness Coach, and cancer survivor with 24+ years of sobriety. A registered nurse with a Master’s in Public Health, she has spent over two decades on the frontlines—serving unhoused communities, supporting cancer survivors, and guiding women through life’s most painful transitions.

Her story is one of radical resilience: addiction, cancer, pregnancy loss, heartbreak, and the path to healing. Marrisa now uses her voice to ignite growth, offering science-backed, soul-led tools like breathwork, Reiki, and mindset work. She’s spoken to audiences as large as 900+, led hundreds of workshops and panels, and brings truth, healing, and transformation to every stage she steps on.

Current position (1)

Integrative Wellness Coach | Inspirational Speaker

Live Free Wellness

Degrees (3)

Masters of Public Health

Grand Canyon University

2015 to 2017

Bachelors of Nursing

Grand Canyon University

2010 to 2011

Nursing

Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health

2005 to 2006

Presentations

Presentations (6)

The Resilient Nurse:

The Resilient Nurse: Prioritizing Self-Care for Personal and Professional Well-Being

Unfiltered: The Raw Reality of Addiction and the Power to Rise

In this honest and heart-opening talk, Marrisa shares her real-life journey growing up in a loving home and stepping into heroin addiction and homelessness then finding her way to healing, recovery, and purpose. Speaking directly to teens with unflinching truth and deep compassion, she sheds light on the choices and consequences she endured, and the courage it takes to rebuild a life. This is more than a story—it’s a reminder that no matter how far you fall, there’s always a way back.

Health and Social Service Related Topics

Guest speaker at multiple locations

USC Keck School of Medicine
USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness
Malibu Task Force on Homelessness
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
UCLA Ronald Regan Medical Center
UCLA School of Nursing
UCLA Extensions
St John's Medical Center
Kaiser Permanente
Southern California Hospital Association
Multiple Hospice Organizations
Speaker on Multiple panels (including local and national meetings)

12-Step Recovery Meetings

Delivered 100+ motivational talks at 12-step recovery meetings, sharing my personal journey and tools for transformation.

Safe Hospital Discharges

Served as the Master trainer on safe hospital discharges, training 100s of social workers and case managers from Los Angeles County hospitals, Kaiser facilities and the Southern California Hospital Association on best practices for working with individuals experiencing homelessness.

Health Related Topics

Spoken multiple times at the California State Capitol to advocate for policy change and address health disparities impacting underserved communities.

Past talks (1)

Alumni Speaker

Beit T' Shuvah Gala

Beverly Hills, CA

January 26, 2025