What happens when the future you've been planning for suddenly disappears?

After retiring from a 43-year career as a pastor, Dr. Brad Miller expected to spend more time traveling with his wife, enjoying retirement, and becoming a grandfather. Instead, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

In this conversation, we talk about grieving the future you thought you were going to have, the difference between hope and toxic positivity, and why taking even the smallest action can help when life feels completely uncertain.

We also explore the framework Brad developed after his diagnosis—Action, Connection, Thinking, and Service—and why purpose often isn't something you find all at once, but something that slowly emerges through the way you keep showing up.

This episode is about the moments that force us to rethink who we are, what matters, and how we keep moving forward when life doesn't go according to plan.

In this episode:

• Grieving the future you expected
• Why humor became part of Brad's healing
• Action vs. staying stuck
• Hope without toxic positivity
• Separating identity from external validation
• Why serving others can help us heal
• How purpose grows over time instead of arriving all at once

Connect with Dr. Brad Miller

Podcast: Cancer and Comedy

Website: https://cancerandcomedy.com/follow

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About the Podcast

No Map Included documents the process of building stories in real time: from proof of concept to premiere.
Hosted by filmmaker and producer Yessi Sanchez, the podcast explores the work behind the work and the paths that don’t show up on IMDb.