Julia D. Pereira is a psychologist and artist who was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) at 32.  In this episode Julia reads her essay “Asymmetry” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Queer” issue. Julia writes beautifully about the theme of uncertainty.  April and Julia will talk about magic caught in moments of uncertainty, finding strength in the unknown, and making important decisions with agency.  They will also discuss finding a space to connect in breast cancer when you are queer. 

More about Julia: https://magicofthewild.substack.com/

More about our episode sponsor Triage Cancer: https://triagecancer.org/

Listen to more episodes from the “Queer” issue:  

Stay Visible with Stephanie Millett

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/bf5a9ce5-4858-43b1-88ff-d4b00cb8623c/

Purchase the “Queer” issue of Wildfire Magazine:  https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/queerincancerland24

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Celebrate three years of The Burn by going behind the scenes with us!  This one-hour episode is our anniversary special. The tables are turned once again on host April Stearns: production assistant Monica Haro takes the mic & asks April all the questions. April reflects on the unexpected truths found in the episodes from the past year. She’ll share what’s coming up for Wildfire and The Burn in the future and advise on writing your own story for both novice and returning writers. 

This podcast emerged as an extension of Wildfire Magazine's storytelling, aiming to bring untold breast cancer stories to life through the voices of the writers themselves and allowing us to dig into the craft of memoir writing through the lens of breast cancer. We’ve learned our listeners have found value in the behind-the-scenes discussions and updates shared in our anniversary episodes. April believes firmly that writing and sharing stories can be a transformative process, offering healing, self-discovery, and connection with others. Sit back, relax, and enjoy learning some perspectives on unexpected truths, tips on writing, and future plans for Wildfire and The Burn that you don’t want to miss! This episode contains explicit language, but like April always says, “Cancer is a salty business, and sometimes salty language is called for!”

More about April: https://www.instagram.com/i_heart_my_life/

More about Monica: https://www.instagram.com/monicawashere/

Listen to the past anniversary episodes:

Cancer’s Lesson (Part 1 of 2): 6 Truths Anniversary Special with April Stearns and Monica Haro: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/fb933a4d-5665-45a8-ab2d-b8326da87602/

Cancer’s Lesson (Part 2 of 2): 6 Truths Anniversary Special with April Stearns and Monica Haro: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ed476337-f8e9-4eb2-b30e-51a61558839d/

Stories of Resilience and Healing - Reflecting on 100 Episodes:  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/882eb9c5-ec7e-48a3-85a8-95f408f8a802/

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Young Survivor Coalition: https://youngsurvival.org/

More about Bay Area Young Survivors: https://bayareayoungsurvivors.org/

Listen to past episode mentioned here:

Together We Are Thriving, Celebrating, and Reflecting with LaTonya Davis & Jayden Holmes

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c2b6cadc-ef03-4191-96c1-bb2ab2384e4f/

The Light Within the Darkness with Sally Joy Wolf

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d995ba03-7cef-4eac-982a-aafecf6c32fd/

Let the Mirror Shatter with Wang Shein

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little summer break from our regular podcast schedule.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from May of 2022 to reshare.  Enjoy!

Julie was 35 when she was diagnosed with DCIS and mucinous carcinoma. She is a park ranger in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, and a co-founder of Wild Homestead Living.  Today, Julie reads her piece “After Death Leaves Its Calling Card” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue.  It’s a piece about a cancer diagnosis meeting you exactly where you are on life’s path and folding into your existing life. Cancer and the loss of Julie’s best friend in an accident 20 years prior become interlinked. That earlier loss is deeply connected to the trauma cancer brings, and Julie finds a breakdown becomes a breakthrough.  April and Julie discuss using writing to recenter, writing as a means to help those close to you understand you better, and finding joy in choosing yourself and realizing your dreams.

More about Julie and Wild Homestead Living: https://wildhomesteadliving.com 

More about Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Purchase the 2022 "Cancer Culture" issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/printcc22

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions 

Tatiana Berger is a former attorney who was diagnosed with breast cancer twice. She is an aspiring writer and hopes to create healing retreats for cancer survivors.  She is a single mom, enjoys an active, outdoor lifestyle traveling back and forth between homes in Newport Beach and Hawaii.  In this episode Tatiana reads her piece “The Chrysalis” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2023 “Five Years & Counting” issue. It is a story about last straws, transformation and healing.  April and Tatiana will discuss first generation cycle breakers, unlearning mindsets that no longer serve us, body and spirit connection, and using journaling to work through trauma.  They will also discuss the unfolding of Tatiana’s healing experiences with EMDR, interesting coincidences, music, and metaphors.

This episode contains references to domestic violence.  If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential support and resources 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also visit their website: https://www.thehotline.org/

More about Tatiana:

https://www.instagram.com/tati_n_hawaii/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=2543714

Tatiana’s The Chrysalis playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/chrysalis/pl.u-LdbqEpjTpqzdy

Purchase Wildfire Magazine’s “Five Years & Counting” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

If you loved Tatiana’s story, you may also enjoy these past episodes of The Burn:

Words to Live By with Nikki Leigh McKean: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0c09c5e8-d311-4ecb-88bf-c714a5970659

What a Pen Name Can Unlock with Jenny Collins:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2e9011c7-6c09-48f1-b712-9c8f10cea72d

First Comes Cancer Then Comes Divorce with Beth Gainer: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/248e279f-1eb2-49c0-87b3-5a39d3fe32d5

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here:

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features April Johnson Stearns reading her essay “How a Foob Saved the Day.”  April Johnson Stearns.  Editor and Founder of WILDFIRE Magazine.  Diagnosed at 35.  IDC, Stage III, HER2+.  Santa Cruz, CA.  @i_heart_my_life

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about April: https://www.instagram.com/i_heart_my_life/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Celebrate 100 with us!  In this one hour special episode, the tables are turned on host April Stearns – production assistant Monica Haro takes the mic & asks April all the questions. April reflects on the journey of The Burn podcast and its growth since 2020 to 100 episodes. The podcast emerged as an extension of the Wildfire Magazine's storytelling, aiming to bring stories to life through the voices of the writers themselves and allowing us to dig into the craft of memoir writing through the lens of breast cancer. Listeners have found value in the behind-the-scenes discussions and updates shared by the writers on The Burn - now we get to hear April’s takeaways on developing a podcast that goes beyond the surface level, exploring how individuals navigate life post-diagnosis and the lessons they learn along the way. April believes firmly that writing and sharing stories can be a transformative process, offering healing, self-discovery, and connection with others. In this special episode, Monica and April open up about their own survivorship, their friendship-turned-colleague-ship, the Wildfire stories that influenced their own journeys, and more! Sit back, relax, and enjoy learning some things about April, Wildfire, and The Burn that you maybe didn't know! 

This episode contains explicit language.

More about April: https://www.instagram.com/i_heart_my_life/Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Episodes of The Burn mentioned:

A Journalist Embedded in Cancerland with Aisha Chowdhry: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/644b21d6-eae3-44f3-b133-36b2732912b3

Dating After a Mastectomy with Juni Bucher:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431a

Telling Your Story with a Slant with Elizabeth Reed:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c7791756-9b37-4380-8102-061c39efbe4c

More about Young Survivor Coalition: https://youngsurvival.org/

More about Bay Area Young Survivors: https://bayareayoungsurvivors.org/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Follow Wildfire Magazine on IG and FB:

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Juni Bucher reading her essay “Can I See?.”  Juni Bucher.  Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.  Diagnosed at 41.  Stage I, IDC, ER+.  Portland, OR.  @junibwell

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Juni: https://www.instagram.com/junibwell/

Hear Juni’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431a

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

This is our first episode of The Burn featuring a guided meditation with Justine Egan-Kunicki.  Justine is a breast cancer advocate, social psychologist, professor and yoga teacher diagnosed at 23.  Justine reads her poem “Finding My Breath After Cancer" that was featured on our Instagram in March 2023.  Her piece is about living with implants for 10 years and explanting to an aesthetic flat closure at 33 and reconnecting with her body.  Justine will also guide a meditation she wrote “Observing Your Breath with Loving-Kindness.”  April and Justine will discuss cultivating a richer path of healing after cancer, Justine’s journey to aesthetic flat closure, making decisions under pressure and survivorship.  They will also discuss writing meditations and tips on starting a meditation practice.

More about Justine: https://www.instagram.com/yogawithjus/Read Justine’s poem published on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpsShn0Oatj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

If you loved this episode, check out “Slowing Down to Write One Moment” with Dawn Amodeo: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a082c76d-bd6e-4345-adc5-2b3ac29af98f

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.orgLearn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshopsShop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Follow Wildfire Magazine on IG and FB:

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Meaghan Calcari Campbell reading her essay “Dear One.”  Meaghan Calcari Campbell.  Ocean Conservation Practitioner.  Diagnosed at 32.  IDC, Stage IIB, Triple Positive.  San Francisco, CA.  @calcarious

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Meaghan: https://www.instagram.com/calcarious/

Hear Meaghan’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/07b5270a-2a22-4a73-9abd-ca75b4ae9a75

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for the July 4th holiday. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from December 2021 to re-share. Enjoy!

Our guest today is Jessica Lynne who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 43. After she was diagnosed, she learned certain thoughts and patterns no longer served her. She grew up with a strong family story of independence. An independence worn like armor to protect against life’s bumps and bangs. That is until one day she learned it was the one thing hurting her more than anything else. When she reached out for support during her treatment, she became amazed and grateful.  Today, Jessica is here to read her piece “I Was Alone Until Wasn’t” that appears in Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Community” issue. 

More about Jessica Lynne: https://www.instagram.com/mommajfox/

Purchase the “Community” issue here:  https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/community21

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Natalie Bello Silva reading her essay “Street Light.”  Natalie Bello Silva.  UX Designer and Founder of Scarves For Healing.  Diagnosed at 27.  IDC, Stage II, ER+, PRE+.  Washington, DC. @Scarvesforhealing

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Natalie: https://www.instagram.com/scarvesforhealing/

Hear Natalie’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/be3eac11-978c-4420-8eec-a443e0ad553f

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Di Keen was diagnosed at 36 with Stage IV de novo inflammatory breast cancer in 2014.  She is a mother, wife, daughter, sister, auntie, friend, and lifelong student.  In 2020, Di founded ROOTS & WINGS Charitable Foundation to support complementary integrative wellness care for MBC patients. In this episode Di reads her essay “Impossible” from Wildfire Magazine’s 7th annual MBC issue “Legacy Stories.”  It is a piece about enduring the incurable and flipping the impossible to the possible.  April and Di will talk about finding it possible to renew hope while living with metastatic breast cancer, what Di would tell her newly diagnosed self 9 years earlier, and inflammatory breast cancer.  They will discuss Di’s experience with integrative oncology and how that lead to her forming ROOTS & WINGS Charitable Foundation, and define what integrative oncology is.  

More about Di and ROOTS & WINGS Charitable Foundation:

https://www.rootswingsfoundation.org/

https://www.rootswingsfoundation.org/mivm23

https://www.instagram.com/rootswingsfoundation/

https://www.facebook.com/rootswingsfoundation

https://www.linkedin.com/company/roots-wings-charitable-foundation/

https://twitter.com/CharitableWings

Purchase Wildfire Magazine’s “Legacy Stories” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Stefanie Le Jeunesse reading her essay “My Jiminy Cricket.”  Stefanie is a writer.  Diagnosed at 39.  ILC, Stage IV, ER+, PR+.  Northwestern Washington.  

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Stefanie: https://www.instagram.com/cancerforbreakfast/

Hear Stefanie’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c0e2274a-d77b-42cb-8cde-9177a40f5c8b

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

In this episode we welcome returning guest Gretchen Stelter back to The Burn for a second visit.  She is a freelance book editor and writer diagnosed at 39 with Triple Positive breast cancer.  Gretchen reads her essay “Erin go Braugh” from the 2023 “Travel & Adventure” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  Gretchen’s piece is about traveling solo after a breast cancer diagnosis.  April and Gretchen will talk about updates in Gretchen’s life since her last visit, how traveling reoriented Gretchen to herself after cancer, solo travel tips, and being open with your breast cancer story - or not.  They will also discuss tips on writing different pieces of your story.  This episode contains explicit language.  

Connect with Gretchen: https://www.instagram.com/editorstet/

Purchase the “Travel & Adventure” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mbc23

Listen to another episode featuring Gretchen: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9d56eeba-ece9-44bf-87df-0a7caa7d48e1

If you liked this episode, you might like “Quebec Beckons” with Anita Saesing: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/20800b87-9c19-4a15-b7b3-20e06504c695

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Direct episode link: Episode URL for Captivate: 

Roberta Lombardi was diagnosed at 49 with Stage I, Triple Positive breast cancer in 2016.  In 2018 she founded Infinite Strength — a nonprofit which provides financial and emotional support to underrepresented single mothers living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this episode Roberta reads her essay “When Two Worlds Collide” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2023 “Five Years & Counting” issue.  Her piece is about how she transformed into an early stage ally and advocate serving the metastatic breast cancer community.  April and Roberta will discuss the importance of early stage allyship, MBC advocate Lisa Laudico’s impact on Robert’s Infinite Strength work, and lessons learned 5+ years out from a cancer diagnosis.  They will also discuss self-care while working in cancer, and advice for those starting businesses in the advocacy space.

More about Roberta and Infinite Strength:

https://www.infinitestrength.org/

https://www.instagram.com/strengthforhealing/

https://www.facebook.com/strengthforhealing/

https://vimeo.com/infinitestrength

https://twitter.com/InfiniteMBC

Purchase Wildfire Magazine’s “Five Years & Counting” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/5years23

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Listen to another episode of The Burn featuring Lisa Laudico: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/44242953-1bd2-43e3-9d38-c3ef4722d3f0

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Laurie Hessen Pomeranz reading her essay “The Day My Nipple Fell Off.”  Laurie is a psychotherapist in private practice and Director at Beautycounter.  Diagnosed at 42.  IDC and ILC, Stage IIB, ER+, PR+.  San Francisco, CA.  

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Laurie: https://www.instagram.com/lauriepommie/

Hear Laurie’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn:https://player.captivate.fm/episode/decba87d-81f9-4e58-91b0-5ad50d95a7ea

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Lauren Oxenhandler was diagnosed at 30 with triple negative breast cancer. She is a life coach, and identifies as a seeker of connections to the world and other people via travel.  In this episode Lauren reads her essay “Purgatory at Thirty-One” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2018 “Body” issue.  Her piece is about how the aftermath of breast cancer treatment is eerily similar to those middle school and high school years of going through puberty - hair is weird, sex is weird, there’s even acne. April and Lauren will discuss finding connections in the cancer community, how parts of our stories become revealed to ourselves during the writing process, and what it feels like to be seen and heard when you put your story out into the world.  They will also discuss Lauren's work as a trauma informed life coach, reiki practitioner and director of programming with The Breasties.  Lauren’s essay also appears in Wildfire’s book “Igniting the Fire Within.”  

More about Lauren:

https://www.instagram.com/laureneliseox/?hl=en

loxenhandler@gmail.com

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about our episode sponsor: https://www.cancerwarrioress.com/

Read more stories from past “Body” themed issues: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/printbody22

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-body21

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-body2020

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about The Breasties: https://thebreasties.org/

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Tamira Jubber reading her essay “Linda: My Hero, My Tamoxifen Tester.”  Tamira is retired.  Diagnosed at 29.  IDC, Stage III, Triple Positive.  Colorado Springs, CO. 

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Tamira: https://www.instagram.com/meandher2neu/

Hear Tamira’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/cd54b590-654e-493b-ab39-3fdddcf76f2c

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Tamira Jubber Show Notes

Release date: Jun 2, 2023

Title: ITFW: Linda: My Hero, My Tamoxifen Tester with Tamira Jubber

Episode: E04 (Burn E99)

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Tamira Jubber reading her essay “Linda: My Hero, My Tamoxifen Tester.”  Tamira is retired.  Diagnosed at 29.  IDC, Stage III, Triple Positive.  Colorado Springs, CO. 

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Tamira: https://www.instagram.com/meandher2neu/

Hear Tamira’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn:

Meghan McCallum is a freelance writer and French to English translator living in Wisconsin.  She was diagnosed with Stage III Triple Negative breast cancer at 32. In this episode Meghan reads her essay “This Is Cancer” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue.  Her piece is about the surrealness of suddenly finding yourself traveling in the weird world of breast cancer – and discovering that the trappings of a “regular” breast cancer experience doesn’t feel quite right.  April and Erin will discuss the power of vulnerable storytelling, the outlet sharing life’s difficulties provides to sustain one’s sense of self, and regulating yourself when sharing stories while standing in your truth.  They will also discuss the topic of performative breast cancer, and where writing is taking Meghan today. Meghan’s essay also appears in Wildfire’s book “Igniting the Fire Within.”  

More about Meghan: https://www.instagram.com/thriverwriter/

https://www.thriverwriter.com/

Read another story written by Erin in the “Love & Intimacy” issue of Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/love23

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Buy the “Cancer Culture” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/printcc22

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Denise Archer reading her essay “Dynamite for the Dinner Table.”  Denise is a sewist, writer, and part-time school bus driver. Diagnosed at 45. IDC, Stage IIB, Triple Negative.  Portland, OR. 

This episode contains explicit language.

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Denise: https://www.instagram.com/h.o.m.u.n.c.u.l.u.s/

Hear Denise’s stories followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/77ec508a-de6d-47cd-ac05-858e1ea34525

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/18c7e32b-7574-42ed-a7ea-804710a39abf

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* *Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for the Memorial Day holiday. Wildfire team member Angela Firman selected this episode from April 2022 to re-share. Enjoy!

This episode’s guest Erin Weiss returns to The Burn again to read her essay “A Guest Room for MBC” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “MBC: Stage IV Survivorship” issue.  Erin is a mom and psychotherapist who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer following her very first mammogram at 42.  She’s been living with breast cancer since August 2019.  Her piece is about making space for metastatic breast cancer in her life and establishing boundaries for its coexistence. Erin found a way to contain this diagnosis in her life so she can live her life.  April and Erin will discuss the therapeutic writing technique of anthropomorphization, anticipatory grief, and what it’s like moving into a new house with metastatic breast cancer in the back of your mind. Erin’s essay also appears in Wildfire’s book “Igniting the Fire Within.” Please note, this episode contains explicit language.

More about Erin: https://www.instagram.com/emweiss/

Listen to another episode of The Burn featuring Erin: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0facf0f6-8529-4634-bd65-5bed0ce76546

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Buy issues of Wildfire centered on MBC lives here:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-mbc21

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-mbc2020

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-mbc2019

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc2017

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Stephanie Kinkel reading her essay “Permanent.”  Stephanie is a middle school academic dean.  Diagnosed at 39. Stage I, IDC, Triple Positive, DCIS, ATM+.  

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Stephanie: https://www.instagram.com/skinkelstudios/

Hear Stephanie’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b7d01912-1bd1-47c4-9f2a-2c547ed328b9

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Tara Dunsmore Williamson of North Carolina was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago.  She was one of the earliest breast cancer changemakers featured in Wildfire. April wrote a piece spotlighting Tara’s work in the breast cancer community called “Rising From the Ashes: Healing Ink” from the very first “Body” issue of Wildfire Magazine in 2017.  In this episode April will read her essay, and Tara will read an update about her work as a nipple and areola tattoo artist.  April and Tara will discuss the decision to stay in Cancerland through career choice, how Tara came to do this type of work, and dealing with loss in the cancer community.  April and Tara will take a deeper dive on why getting a Pink Ink tattoo is a different and healing experience.  

More about Tara: https://pinkinktattoo.com/

https://www.instagram.com/pink_ink_tattoo/

https://twitter.com/pinkinktattoo1

https://www.facebook.com/PinkInkTattooLLC/

Hear more episodes about breast cancer survivors finding their place within the breast cancer community: 10 Years Learning to Love a New Body with Dana Donofree https://player.captivate.fm/episode/8fd6bcec-e7a4-4137-b280-ff60c02cde5e

Where Do You Go When You Don’t Belong Anywhere? with Laurie Ratliff

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0b9b88ee-02ee-4a40-9ee0-c5510e986ea0

Read the “Changemakers” issue of Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-cm21

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Ann Camden reading her essay “Riding Shotgun.”  Ann is a former communications executive turned advocate.  Diagnosed at 38. Stage III, then diagnosed again at 45.  Stage IV.  ER+, PR+.  Raleigh, NC. 

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Ann: https://www.instagram.com/anncamdennc/

Hear Ann’s stories followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5ce9e575-0744-4515-95e3-14050ca66d8f

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/255cf7db-e5f7-4811-a47d-d59c6af81c3b

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Ann Camden reading her essay “Riding Shotgun.”  Ann is a former communications executive turned advocate.  Diagnosed at 38. Stage III, then diagnosed again at 45.  Stage IV.  ER+, PR+.  Raleigh, NC. 

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Ann: https://www.instagram.com/anncamdennc/

Hear Ann’s stories followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5ce9e575-0744-4515-95e3-14050ca66d8f

Miranda Gonzales was diagnosed at 39 with Stage III IDC.  She now works and volunteers in the breast cancer arena. Miranda reads her essay “Going At It Not So Alone” from the 2019 “Social” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  Miranda’s piece is about finding her people in Cancer Land. April and Miranda will talk about what it’s like for Miranda to read this essay she wrote 5 years ago, on being a long term survivor, finding peer support, and advice on taking small steps to make community connections.  They will also discuss Miranda’s decision to stay working in Cancer Land.

Connect with Miranda: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8SeBDypbJn/?img_index=1

Purchase the “Social” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-social19

More on our MBC Life:  https://www.ourmbclife.org/

If you liked this episode, you might also like:

“Cristina with Marissa Thomas” https://player.captivate.fm/episode/e18ce3bd-15ce-4d89-95fe-eed2c586869c

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

This episode's guest is Wildfire’s own Angela Firman.  She helps edit each issue of the magazine.  Angela was diagnosed initially at 33 with Stage III hormone-positive breast cancer and she is now living with Stage IV metastatic disease. Angela is an avid reader, a closet-cross-stitcher, and a fervent writer. In addition to working at Wildfire Magazine, Angela is an Associate Editor for Yellow Arrow Publishing, and her nonfiction writing has been published in Open Minds Quarterly, You Might Need To Hear This, and Press Pause. Angela reads her piece “Looking Beyond the Veil” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Grief & Acceptance” issue. Her essay is about seeing the world through a new lens after a cancer diagnosis.  April and Angela will discuss Angela’s cancer recurrence, how cancer can be part of your identity working within the community, and finding hope and transformation in the sharing of both metastatic and early-stage breast cancer stories.  They will also discuss tips on writing memoir. 

More about Angela: https://www.instagram.com/angelafirman11/

More about this episode’s sponsor, Infinite Strength: https://www.infinitestrength.org/

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Purchase a copy of the “Grief & Acceptance” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-grief-and-acceptance

Read more of Angela’s Wildfire essays: 

“The Elephant” in the “Identity & Aftermath” issue https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-identity20

“Tuesdays with Melody by The Refiners” in the “MBC: Stage IV Survivorship” issue https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-mbc21

“Good at Waiting Rooms” in the “Social” issue https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-social-2019

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, “Igniting the Fire Within,” we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy! 

This episode features the essay “Ocean” by Leslie Rayment read posthumously by April Stearns.  Leslie was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33. While Leslie was weaning her daughter from breastfeeding, she realized the lump she had long dismissed as a clogged milk duct could be something else and that she should have it looked at. Initially and briefly diagnosed as Stage II IDC, an MRI quickly confirmed the disease had already spread to her liver before she started any therapy. Leslie enjoyed a career as a registered dietitian with a passion for seniors' health and nutrition prior to her diagnosis. She lived in Edmonton AB with her husband Cody, son Elliot, and daughter Alicia.

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Californian Dana Roske is a part-time winery wench, single mother to two girls, and an aspiring writer. She was diagnosed at 34 with not only breast cancer, but also a rare sarcoma called a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST).  Today, Dana reads her piece “Remember Who The F! You Are” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Identity & Aftermath” issue. Her essay is all about navigating sex and intimacy with a changed body after cancer. April and Dana will talk about what it was like for Dana to write an intimate story about sex after cancer and divorce, living in her skin again and feeling at home in her body while being an example to her daughters, and bad-bitch-hot-girl energy.  They will also discuss Dana’s experience writing in a Wildfire group workshop setting.  This episode contains explicit language and sexual content.

More about Dana: https://www.instagram.com/ariela.and.june/

More about this episode’s sponsor, “Life Reconstructed” author Kim Harms: https://kimharms.net

Purchase a copy of the “Identity & Aftermath” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/identity22

If you enjoyed this episode of The Burn, you might also like “Dating After a Mastectomy” with Juni Bucher:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431a

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

This week in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we have selected this episode from March of 2022 to re-share.  It features Melanie Childers sharing her story and feelings around her cancer-induced loss of fertility.  

Certified resilience and leadership coach Melanie Childers was diagnosed at 34 with Stage II, hormone-positive breast cancer.  Today, Melanie reads her piece “No” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2018 “(In)fertility” issue. A decade ago, cancer made Melanie’s fertility choices final. A cancer diagnosis that affects reproductive organs that comes well after menopause is not going to land the same way the same diagnosis will decades prior.  It is heartbreaking, maddening, painful in a way that is hard to articulate.  Melanie wrote her piece 4 years ago, and today has the retrospect of 10 years to share her reflections.  April and Melanie will talk about what processing and grief looks like now and how cancer clarifies life’s path.  They’ll also discuss how writing is a powerful way to process wounds, and allows for a way to revisit previous versions of ourselves when we read our written words later in time.  Melanie’s piece is included in Wildfire’s upcoming book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor.”  This episode contains explicit language.

More about Melanie and The Bad Bitch Entrepreneur podcast: https://www.melaniechilders.com

https://www.instagram.com/the_underbelly/

More about this episode’s sponsor, “Life Reconstructed” author Kim Harms: https://kimharms.net

Purchase a copy of the “(In)Fertility” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-infertility

Ida Sukrungruang’s essay: https://brevitymag.com/issues/issue-49-may-2015-gender/after-the-hysterectomy/

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Anne Ferrier Crook was diagnosed at 48 with Stage I hormone-positive breast cancer. A few years later, cancer came again in the form of Stage Ib melanoma. Anne has worked in many facets of healthcare doing what she calls “holding space for life’s sacred thresholds.” She is a certified integrative health coach, medical interpreter, birth doula, consultant with the Institute for The Study of Birth, Breath, and Death, and a co-founder of The Breast Connection: Prevention & Healing Community.  In this episode, Anne reads her essay “Surviving to Thriving After Breast Cancer” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Identity & Aftermath” issue.  It is a piece about the influence of one woman’s mind on her body following two cancer diagnoses. April and Anne will discuss addressing our inner child with love and kindness to heal, finding opportunities to learn and grow after a cancer diagnosis, and how cancer prompts us to make shifts to slow down and find balance.  They will also discuss how Anne uses writing to get in touch with her inner voice to access her inner healer.

More about Anne: https://integrativeradiance.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-ferrier-crook-471a382b

More about this episode’s sponsor Foobs & Fitness: https://foobsandfitness.com/

Purchase a copy of the “Identity & Aftermath” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-identity20

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org.

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Canadian Kim Angell is a human resources consultant and patient advocate.  Kim was initially diagnosed with Stage IIb, hormone positive lobular breast cancer at 34. At 38, her cancer returned. Kim is now living with Stage IV metastatic triple negative breast cancer. Kim has a passion for advocacy work and has contributed to various breast cancer campaigns over the years.  In this episode, Kim reads her essay “Inviting Conversations About Death” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  It is a thoughtful piece about facing mortality and having hard conversations about death.  April and Kim will discuss the need to talk about death to accommodate logistics, relieving fear and expressing wants.  They’ll touch on finding joyful times while living with terminal breast cancer, the curiosity surrounding death, and the importance of modeling and normalizing talking about mortality.  Kim will also share what writing means to her when it comes to expressing and processing her thoughts to communicate with others.  

More about Kim: https://www.instagram.com/kangell82/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100042887298776

https://smilethroughthefog.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR0if1plpYJ7S-171fIef6I3_XsrltHSKwD5YSsoDBsTEg5yIYGBfZ57ZFI/

More about this episode’s sponsor, Bright Spot Network: https://www.brightspotnetwork.org/

Purchase a copy of the “Legacy Stories” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-identity20

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org.

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

We are taking this week off to enjoy spring break with our loved ones, so we’ve dug through our archives to select a favorite episode from March 2022 to re-share.   We know you’ll enjoy this episode as much as we do! 

Erin Stodola was 28 when she was diagnosed with Stage I Triple Negative breast cancer.  She carries the BRCA1 gene.  Today, Erin reads her piece “The Moments Between” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 “Identity & Aftermath” issue.  Erin never gave her breasts much thought or considered them as part of her identity - until she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Then she thought about them a lot in their natural, reconstructed and absent forms and found a new identity along the way in between each version of her chest.  Erin completed a Masters of Museum Studies program that focused on feminism and anti-colonial curation.  April asks Erin what role, if any, her cancer plays in her museum work when thinking about breasts, identity, beauty standards, and the role of representation in art, academia and popular culture.  Erin’s piece is included in Wildfire’s upcoming book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor.”

More about Erin: https://www.instagram.com/erinstodola/

More about this episode’s sponsor, “Life Reconstructed” author Kim Harms: https://kimharms.net

Purchase a copy of the “Identity & Aftermath” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-identity20

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org.

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Beth Gainer is an author who is an educator, as well as a professional writer and editor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39, and is now 22 years out from her diagnosis. In this episode she reads her piece “First Comes Cancer Then Comes Divorce” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2016 “Love & Intimacy” issue.  Beth’s essay is about how cancer affected her marriage.  April and Beth will talk about writing from a scar vs. a wound, Beth’s cancer induced infertility and subsequent adoption, and Beth gives advice and hope for those whose partners don’t show up for them when cancer comes.  April and Beth will also discuss the complicated feelings of wanting to move on from the cancer community.

More about Beth: bethlgainer@gmail.com

For another episode about cancer and marriage listen to Jenny Collin’s episode “What a Pen Name Can Unlock”: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2e9011c7-6c09-48f1-b712-9c8f10cea72d

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Gretchen Stelter is a freelance book editor & writer from Madison, Wisconsin.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39.  She has volunteered with Girls, Inc. for nine years and co-chaired the Safety & Security Committee for ThrillerFest, which is a conference for thriller writers.  In this episode, Gretchen reads her piece “Let Me Hear Your Body Talk” from the Wildfire book, “Igniting the Fire Within” and which was originally published in our 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue.  Gretchen’s essay is about the ways we share our body by choice - or not.  April and Gretchen will discuss the ways our bodies are objectified sexually and medically, reconciling receiving unwanted body attention pre-cancer to becoming invisible sometimes after a cancer diagnosis, and the loneliness that can come with breast cancer both inside and outside the cancer community.  They will also talk about choosing when to step out of the cancer closet and the possibility of when sharing can backfire.  

More about Gretchen:

 https://twitter.com/editorStet

https://www.instagram.com/editorstet/

https://www.facebook.com/GretchenSWriterEditor/

https://www.gretchenstelter.com/

Purchase a copy of the “Cancer Culture” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/printcc22

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

This week in honor of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Awareness Month, we have selected this episode from February 2022 to re-share.  It features Whitney O’Connor who discovered her link to Li-Fraumeni Syndrome when diagnosed with breast cancer.   Li-Fraumeni Syndrome is just one of the many genetic mutations that can lead to a breast cancer diagnosis.  

Whitney was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer twice – the first time at 30 and then again at 32.  While her diagnosis of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome provided the hint to a cancer mystery, it also gave Whitney a built-in support system because the gene ran in her family. In this episode, Whitney reads from her piece “The Cancer Gene” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Family” issue.  Her essay is included in the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within.”

More about Whitney: https://www.instagram.com/boobiequeenchronicles/

More about Li-Fraumeni Syndrome: https://www.lfsassociation.org/what-is-lfs/

More about The Boobie Queen Company: https://www.boobiecrowns.com and  https://www.facebook.com/boobiequeenchronicles

Purchase a digital copy of the “Family” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-family2020

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org.

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Mardi Kaplan was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 37.  She is now living with Stage V MBC.  In this episode, Mardi reads her essay “You Were There” from the 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue of Wildfire.  Mardi’s piece is about  friendship and the ones that go before us at each step of the cancer road, paving the way.   April and Mardi talk about having conversations about death, living in joy while embracing mortality, the skewed perceptions of what illness may or may not look like, and friendship found in community.  They will also discuss the choice of being private or public about cancer after a diagnosis.  This episode contains explicit language.

Connect with Mardi: 

https://www.instagram.com/mardi.gras12/

https://www.caringbridge.org/public/mardikaplan

Purchase the “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mbc23

If you liked this episode, you might like this one “My Cancer Jiminy Cricket with Stefanie Lejeunesse”: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c0e2274a-d77b-42cb-8cde-9177a40f5c8b

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

April Renn is a student, and an eccentric mother of one.  She was diagnosed at 36 with Stage II breast cancer and carries the PALB2 gene.  April is a long-term survivor being 5+ years out from diagnosis.  In this episode she reads her piece “From Mom I Got Strength, Led Zeppelin and PALB2” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2019 “Genetics” issue.  April’s essay is about being sandwiched between her mother and her young daughter, with breast cancer swirling all around. April and April Renn will talk about long-term survivorship topics: not being currently active in the breast cancer community, long-term side effects of treatment, and feeling freedom in really seeing yourself when accepting and facing mortality.  They will also discuss raising and teaching daughters about breast health and genetic predispositions.  April Renn shares about a novel she is working on and how the free Wildfire journal she downloaded helped her to return to writing.  Her essay is included in the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within.”

Purchase a digital copy of the “Genetics” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-genetics19

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Jamil Rivers is a powerhouse.  Diagnosed at 39 with Stage IV de novo metastatic breast cancer (MBC), she is a CEO, devoted mama, wife and passionate advocate.  Since diagnosis, Jamil has become an advocate using her cancer experiences to advance legislative policy, medical research and customize support to better meet the needs of individuals impacted by breast cancer, particularly metastatic and African-American patients. She launched The Chrysalis Initiative which provides mentoring, resource navigation, and outreach for African-American women.  In this episode Jamil reads her essay “Fighting for Equality in an Unequal Society” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  Her essay is about using one’s story to advocate for deep change within a system that has been broken and biased for a long time.  April and Jamil will discuss the meaning behind The Chrysalis Initiative name, how cancer revealed Jamil as a leader to help others, and creating an equitable healthcare space in a landscape of discrimination and substandard support.  Jamil gives advice for others living with MBC that want to start new projects, and talks about when she knew her advocacy work was impacting lives.

More about Jamil: https://www.instagram.com/truejamilkali/

More on The Chrysalis Initiative:

1 (800) 929-4979

https://thechrysalisinitiative.org/

https://www.instagram.com/chrysalisinitiative/

https://www.facebook.com/chrysalisinitiative/

https://twitter.com/chrysalisinit

https://www.linkedin.com/company/chrysalis-initiative

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs-NCZTCIXspPb3Q44XFzxQ

More about BC Navi: https://www.bcnavi.com/s/

National Comprehensive Cancer Network: https://www.nccn.org/business-policy/business/academy

Purchase a print or digital copy of the “Legacy Stories” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young...

Stephanie is a retired hair stylist, writer, and advocate for AdvancedBreastCancer.net. Stephanie was diagnosed stage IIIa at 25, and then stage IV at 31. In this episode Stephanie reads their essay “My Life and Being Wrong” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  Stephanie’s unusual cancer story is about a very unexpected pregnancy.  Stephanie and April will discuss the importance of using your story for advocacy, reasons for being private with your cancer story, and being an example to our children when it comes to cancer.  They will also talk about Stephanie’s future plans to write a book with helpful tips on how to get started. 

More about Stephanie: https://www.instagram.com/_the_radiatedlizard/

Purchase a print or digital copy of the “Legacy Stories” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

More breast cancer stories from LBGTQIA2S+ community members: “Slowing Down to Write One Moment with Dawn Amodeo” https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a082c76d-bd6e-4345-adc5-2b3ac29af98f

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

Bright Spot Network https://www.brightspotnetwork.org/

Mighty and Bright https://mightyandbright.com/

Camp Kesem https://www.kesem.org/

AdvancedBreastCancer.net https://advancedbreastcancer.net/

We are delighted to welcome Ann Camden back for another episode of The Burn. Ann was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer at 38. She then had a Stage IV recurrence at 45. More recently, she was diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease - fluid of the brain, spine and many other organs. Ann is a mother of twin teenage girls and married to her college sweetheart, Jeff. In this episode Ann reads her piece “A Three-Prong Legacy Effort” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue. Ann’s story is about creating the tangible things you pass down.  April and Ann discuss where you spend time and energy on creating a legacy to remember, leaving legacy journals intended for loved ones to read after passing on, and being human, messy and unfinished while building legacy.  They will also discuss what we actively choose to pass on to our children, and normalizing conversations about cancer with them.  Ann’s essay is included in Wildfire’s book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor” out now.  

More about Ann: https://www.instagram.com/anncamdennc/ and https://down-not-out.com

Purchase a print or digital copy of the “Legacy Stories” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

Enjoy listening to “Rooting Stories in Music: Riding Shotgun” also featuring Ann Camden: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5ce9e575-0744-4515-95e3-14050ca66d8f

More about the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: https://www.sabcs.org/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Holly Taylor was a sergeant in the US Army National Guard, and then became a kindergarten teacher.  She was diagnosed at 37 with stage IV breast cancer after earlier breast health concerns were dismissed.  She is now a stay-at-home mom. In this episode Holly reads her stirring piece “I Want” for Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue where she expresses all her wants that she desires for her young daughter.  April and Holly will talk about what it was like for Holly to write and read this essay to her daughter, getting your wishes out of your body through writing, and how Holly keeps a memory legacy box for her daughter while living with metastatic disease.  They will also discuss teaching breast health and self-advocacy with your children.

More about Holly: https://www.instagram.com/crazycurlyholly/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Ashely Blair Doyle is a retired newspaper worker, graphic designer, artist, and advocate.  She was initially diagnosed at 28 with early stage breast cancer, and then at 34 with stage IV MBC.  She carries the PALB2, exon 9 & 10 deletion gene mutation.  In this episode Ashley’s mom Victoria reads Ashley’s poem “You and I” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  Ashley’s piece is a powerful love letter to her husband.  April and Ashley will talk about finding what you want to express through the act of writing, sharing space in a marriage with metastatic breast cancer, honoring caregivers, and Ashley’s PALB2 gene advocacy. April will also ask Victoria what it was like to read Ashley’s poem for this episode.  

More about Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyblairdoyle/ and http://ashleykickingcancer.blogspot.com/p/about.html

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Kim Harms is an author and librarian who was diagnosed at 40 with breast cancer.  In this episode Kim reads her piece “When the Return on Your Dollar is Intangible” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Money & Cancer” issue.  She shares the value of choosing to spend money on making memories with her family.  April and Kim will discuss the complexities of financial decisions in light of a cancer diagnosis, figuring out what we need and finding ways to reach a money goal, and the emotional release of storytelling.  They will also talk about Kim’s book and the intersection of writing and cancer.

More about Kim: https://www.instagram.com/kimharmslifereconstructed/ and http://kimharms.net/

Order Kim’s book:  https://www.amazon.com/Life-Reconstructed-Kim-Harms/dp/1641705671/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JXJVM6TDTZ8R&dchild=1&keywords=life+reconstructed+kim+harms&qid=1617629917&sprefix=life+reconstru%2Caps%2C276&sr=8-1

Rrequest free mastectomy pillows: http://kimharms.net/free-mastectomy-pillows/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Advocate Ricki Fairley was diagnosed at 55 with Stage IIIa, Triple Negative breast cancer.  She is the CEO and co-founder of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance.  She is a marketing veteran, and serves on the board of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and the Center for Healthcare Innovation. In this episode Ricki reads her essay “When We Tri(al): A Movement to Advance Breast Cancer Science for Black Women'' from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Body” issue.  April and Ricki will discuss how Ricki focused on black breast cancer to form TOUCH, folding your own story into advocacy, and advice on seeking second opinions. They will also discuss using writing to think through thoughts and form opinions. This episode contains explicit language.

More about TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance: https://touchbbca.org/

More about When We Tri(al): https://www.whenwetrial.org/

More on The Wisdom Study: https://www.thewisdomstudy.org/

More on Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation: https://tnbcfoundation.org/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Western Pennsylvania resident Pye Pajewski is a hesitant writer serving the public as a library staffer. Pye is thriving after two breast cancer diagnoses at ages 37 and 59.  In this episode Pye reads her poem “Ink” from Wildfire Magazine's 2022 “Body” issue.  Her poem shares scenes throughout her life told through ink on skin and paper.  April and Pye will discuss the experience of necessary medical tattoos and voluntary illustrative tattoos, Pye’s perspective of being diagnosed with cancer young and again two decades later in life, and the difference of support received within the breast cancer community versus support from outside the cancer community.  April and Pye will also discuss how it feels to write both anonymously and with your actual name.

More about Pye: https://www.blogforthegirls.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/blog.forthegirls/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about the Wildfire Body & Mind Luxurious Healing Arts Retreat Series: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops/next-chapter-writing-retreat

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy the winter holidays with our loved ones.  Today April has selected this episode from September 2021 to re-share.  April chose this episode because it was one of her favorites to record because of the story behind the story.  April shares what happened behind the scenes when recording this episode about survivorship and fertility with an amazing multi-tasking mom.  

When Meghan Koziel was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was dating and knew she wanted a family someday. She was diagnosed at 26 with stage II, estrogen and progesterone positive breast cancer. Like many women diagnosed in their childbearing years, Meghan underwent fertility preserving measures. There are few heartaches like the one of holding space in your heart for a child that hasn’t yet, or can’t, come. Fortunately, there are women like Meghan who have been able to go on and welcome children after diagnosis. Ultimately today’s story is about one woman asking if she can trust her body again, and wondering if she can find something joyful in a body that had become the source of so much heartbreak. Today, Meghan is here to read a piece she wrote for Wildfire Magazine’s 2018 “Parenting With Cancer” issue, “She Sparkles On: Pregnancy After Cancer.” 

More about Meghan: https://shesparkleson.com and https://www.instagram.com/meghankoziel/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Nature lover Cheri Henderson lives along Lake Superior in Minnesota and was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 39.  She in now living with Stage IV MBC.  In this episode, Cheri reads her essay “Scan, Treat, Repeat” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire.  Cheri’s piece is about living alongside cancer - but not letting it take over everything.  April and Cheri talk about find your footing after a cancer diagnosis, holding both fear and joy while living with metastatic disease, finding community, and the dualities of early stage and late stage breast cancer.  Cheri will share her writing process for her essay, and about the cycles of nature.

Connect with Cheri: 

https://www.instagram.com/chender1/

https://www.facebook.com/cheri.henderson.31

Cheri’s resources mentioned:

Better Than Before Breast Cancer podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6O1n0AC2tuK5SaFFHCK13j?si=oHIG26JzRQWSNTbEQGjf-g&preview=coverart&nd=1&dlsi=7c2a806021c74794

More on Laura MacGregor: https://laramacgregor.com/

Purchase the “New Normal” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mbc23

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

If you liked this episode, you might like this one too:

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy the winter holidays with our loved ones.  Today, Wildfire team member Angela Firman selected this episode from December 2021 to re-share.  Angela just wanted to hear the voice of her dearly missed friend Lisa Laudico who the cancer community lost this year, and what Lisa has to say about cancer’s legacy surrounding ourselves and our loved ones. 

Today we are going to hear a piece about legacy. Breast cancer as legacy, storytelling as legacy. Whether it is a gift received or a gift given, something passed knowingly or subconsciously.  The power of storytelling as legacy is important for the teller and the recipient.  Our guest is Lisa Laudico, reading her piece “Legacy” from the 2020 “Family” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  In the summer of 2017, Lisa became the 4th generation in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer but the only one to be diagnosed at Stage IV de novo.   Lisa lives with her family in Connecticut.  She is the creator of Our MBC Life Podcast. 

More about Our MBC Life https://www.ourmbclife.org/about.  

More about SHARE Cancer https://www.sharecancersupport.org.

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy the winter holidays with our loved ones.  Today, Wildfire team member Monica Haro selected this episode from November 2021 to re-share.  Monica loves Nikki’s reading voice, what Nikki had to say about holistic well-being, and navigating cancer with her caretaker-husband. 

Today’s guest is Nikki Leigh McKean from Canada. The piece she is reading is titled “I’ll Meet You in the Field'' from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 issue “Identity & Aftermath.”  Nikki was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 34.  A second cancer diagnosis came two years later - stage II breast cancer. Nikki describes what it means to throw out the “Cancer Binder,'' to become fully the hero of her own story, and to use inspiring words of others to feel whole. She purged her mind and physical space of the things that no longer served her in a post-cancer world. In the wake of this purge, she is now wildly free and living a life where the main experience is love in a world of endless possibility. She’ll also talk about the difficult role of the caregiver to just be present and bear witness while the person they love is going through cancer.  This episode contains explicit language.

More about Nikki: https://www.nikkimagic.com and https://www.instagram.com/nikkileighmckean/

More about Rethink Breast Cancer: https://rethinkbreastcancer.com

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

This is our first episode focused on poetry featuring two poems written by academic librarian Amy Austin of Florida.  Amy was diagnosed with Stage IV de novo breast cancer at 34 after initially being misdiagnosed with a complex benign cyst. She is the third in a direct family line to be diagnosed with breast cancer without a known genetic link. Today Amy reads two poems.  First is “Lost” from Wildfire’s 2022 “Body” issue, and then “Lines” from the 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  April and Amy talk about what Amy’s mastectomy scars mean to her, the privilege of aging while living with metastatic breast cancer, and writing poetry to tell a part of your story.  They will also discuss Amy’s writing process, and how making lists can be useful to start writing.  April will also share a writing prompt that will inspire you to create your own poem.

More about Amy: https://www.instagram.com/amy_r_austin/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to editor@wildfirecommunity.org

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860