In this episode, we take a step back and reflect on a quiet, but busy week. We don't much of an update in kind of a no news is good news fashion, as everything appears to be going well. We share highlights from our Easter weekend, including a meaningful trip back to Slippery Rock, where we had the chance to revisit our alma mater and spend some intentional time together.

From there, the conversation turns more vulnerable. We open up about how a simple, well-meaning phrase: “it’ll get easier” can carry unexpected weight. What starts as a common reassurance about parenting young kids leads us into a deeper, more emotional discussion about fear, uncertainty, and how hard it can be not to project into the future. We talk honestly about what it means to stay present while navigating the unknown, and how easy it is to realize the things we once took for granted.

We close the episode by looking ahead to the upcoming Living Beyond Breast Cancer conference. We share what drew us to attend, highlight a few sessions we’re especially interested in, and talk about what we hope to gain from being in a space with others who truly understand life with metastatic breast cancer.

This episode is a mix of reflection, vulnerability, and cautious hope — and a reminder of just how much can exist in the in-between moments.

This week’s episode comes with a bit of a “podcaster initiation” story — after losing last week’s recording to some truly questionable audio, we’re back for round two and hoping this one sticks.

We kick things off with a much more encouraging update from Kaela. Her latest test results are showing real progress, and she’s not experiencing any side effects that would interfere with staying on her current treatment — something we’re incredibly grateful for.

From there, we get into the emotional side of the in-between moments. Even the “routine” or “minor” tests can carry a lot of weight, and we talk honestly about the stress of waiting for results and what it takes to keep moving forward through that uncertainty.

We also open up about something more personal — learning to trust a body that has given you reasons not to, and how complicated that relationship can become throughout this journey.

Another important conversation we dive into is how to talk about stage IV breast cancer with others—especially when so many people’s understanding is shaped by earlier stages. Navigating those conversations isn’t always easy, and we share what that’s been like for us.

And to close things out on a high note, we’re celebrating a milestone: Episode 10. Double digits feels like a big deal, and we’re so grateful you’re here with us.

This week, we’re talking about something that’s been growing in Kaela’s heart—advocacy. As she navigates life with stage IV breast cancer, she shares why using her voice has become so important, what being an advocate truly means to her, and how she hopes to make a difference for others walking a similar path. We don’t have it all figured out, but this episode is an honest look at the beginning of that journey.

If this episode resonated with you, we’d love for you to share it. Advocacy starts with awareness, and every share helps bring more attention to the realities of stage IV breast cancer. But beyond that, this space is for anyone navigating breast cancer, other cancers, or any life-changing health diagnosis - you’re not alone in this, and your story matters. And if this is a journey you’re on too, your voice matters.

In this segment, Mike sits down with Kaela's longest known friend from her childhood - Lisa.

Take a few minutes to get to know one of Our Story's fiercest supporters and learn how a cancer diagnosis may impact those beyond our immediate support rings.

Support Kaela and her family: https://justshowup.itemorder.com/shop/home/

This week, we start with a really encouraging update.

At Kaela’s latest oncology appointment, her doctor confirmed something we’ve been hoping for — she can already feel the tumors shrinking and was genuinely proud of Kaela’s progress this early in treatment. It’s a moment that gave us a lot of hope, and we’re holding onto and celebrating that!

After a few heavier episodes, we decided to switch things up.

Kaela takes over hosting duties and puts Mike in the hot seat with a “get to know me” game show — asking questions about herself to see how well he really knows her. There were supposed to be points… but let’s just say it quickly turned into one of those situations where everything’s made up and the points don’t matter.

This episode is a mix of relief, laughter, and a reminder that even in the middle of something hard, there’s still room for light moments.

“I’m not the same person I was before I was diagnosed.”

It’s something Kaela has said in previous episodes, and in this conversation we spend time unpacking what that really means.

We talk about the ways cancer has changed her—how her perspective, priorities, and outlook on life have shifted since the diagnosis. But we also explore something just as important: the parts of her that haven’t changed. The core values, the personality, and the person she still is deep down.

Cancer may alter parts of life, but it doesn’t erase who someone truly is.

We wrap the episode as Mike shares an honest admission about how difficult this journey has been for him lately. We talk openly about the grief of missing the life we had before cancer and the reality of learning to live with a future that looks very different than we once imagined.

This episode is a vulnerable conversation about identity, change, and the complicated emotions that come with navigating life after a diagnosis.

How much do you really know about your family’s health history—and could that knowledge change your future?

In this episode, we talk about Kaela’s family history and the genetic testing she underwent after her diagnosis. What started as a medical step quickly became a deeper conversation about what family history can reveal—and why understanding it matters.

We discuss how genetics can influence cancer risk, what we learned through testing, and why knowing your family’s medical history can empower you to advocate for earlier screenings and better care.

Knowledge can’t change the past, and sometimes can feel scary, but it can shape the future. If this episode encourages even one person to ask more questions about their family history or talk to their doctor about screening, it’s a conversation worth having.

In Episode 5, Mike and Kaela open with a mix of funny — and not-so-funny — stories from past appointments. Because sometimes laughter is the only way through the hard days.

Then we turn to one of the most difficult parts of this journey: parenting two young boys through a stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.

We talk about the immediate fear that hits as parents — the quiet panic about how this will shape our kids’ world. We share how our mindset shifted after hearing “stage 4,” the weight of deciding when and how to tell our 8-year-old, and the conversations we struggled through behind closed doors.

We discuss how we hope to involve our boys more as we move forward — not just protecting them, but gently bringing them into the journey in ways that build empathy, resilience, and hopefully one day a passion for causes bigger than themselves.

This episode carries some raw emotion as we face the fear of the worst-case scenario — and admit that we are still very much figuring this out in real time.

We close by sharing our vision for Her Cancer Our Story and our hope to bring future guests on the show — thrivers, survivors, caregivers, and anyone navigating life-altering challenges — because none of us are meant to walk this road alone.

Episode 4 brings some much-needed good news. We talk about finding a new oncologist who feels like a true partner in this fight, the relief of a benign MRI biopsy result, and the practice of celebrating every small victory in the midst of stage 4 breast cancer.

We also share about a weekend away with friends that reminded us that cancer may be part of our story, but it is not the whole story. As Kaela says in this episode, “I’m much more than just the lady with cancer.” Stepping away for a few days helped us breathe, laugh, and remember who we are outside of appointments and scan results.

We close with a conversation about the “rings of support” — how to show up for people in crisis without adding weight to what they’re already carrying, and what healthy support has looked like for our family in this season.

Because sometimes surviving isn’t just about treatment — it’s about connection, identity, and holding onto the parts of yourself that cancer doesn’t get to take.

This episode is one we wish we didn’t have to record.

After weeks of scans, appointments, and uncertainty, we received the diagnosis: stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. In this conversation, we take you into that room with us—the moment we heard the words, the questions that followed, and the weight that settled in.

We share what the following weeks have really looked like: the fear, the tears, the unexpected peace, the support from loved ones, and the strength we’re discovering we didn’t know we had. We also talk about the immediate treatment plan and what the next chapter of this fight will involve.

Our hope is that by sharing this openly, others facing metastatic breast cancer—or any life-altering diagnosis—might feel seen and supported. We’re at the beginning of a road we didn’t choose, but we’re walking it together.