“Call us. Get into the program and allow us to help you. You need someone there to help you. Cancer is a journey—you’ve got to have a support system.” 

In this eye-opening episode, Steve Cain, CEO of UnitedHealthcare California, joins Joelle Kaufman to reveal how insurance companies are transforming from claims processors into active care partners during the most vulnerable moments of a patient’s life.

They dive deep into:

From eliminating copays to deploying AI for early detection outreach, this is essential listening for anyone navigating cancer—or leading healthcare innovation.

Don’t just survive the system. Make it work for you.

Learn more: kcapodcast.com

“I love the idea of kicking cancer’s ass. It’s what I get up every day to do.”

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, joins Joelle Kaufman to reveal how we’re finally turning the body’s own immune system into cancer’s worst enemy.

They dive deep into:

From cell-based therapies that cure with a single dose to vaccines that train your immune system for life, this is a must-listen for anyone navigating cancer—or working to eliminate it.

Don’t just fight cancer. Outsmart it.

Learn more: kcapodcast.com

Brad Buchanan survived an incurable lymphoma, but the treatment—a stem cell transplant from his brother—almost killed him. His new immune system attacked his body so violently that doctors gave him a 10% survival chance. He went blind for 18 months. His esophagus stopped working. And the paradox? That same immune system is why he’s cancer-free today.

As a former English professor, Brad uses writing and poetry to process what medical science did to his DNA. Now he runs workshops helping other cancer patients—especially men—put their experiences into words.

This episode covers what nobody tells you about life after transplant: the warning signs of graft versus host disease, why you have to educate yourself when doctors dismiss symptoms, where to find actual GVHD experts, and how writing became Brad’s way to reclaim his story.

If you’re considering a stem cell transplant or supporting someone through one, Brad shares the unglamorous truth about what comes after—and how he’s building a life with his brother’s DNA.

Learn more: kcapodcast.com

What happens when a blood test shows circulating cancer DNA—but no doctor can find the tumor? Or when a child spends five years being tested, hospitalized, and medicated for a condition that could have been diagnosed in days?

Pete Martinez has spent 12 years building AI systems that help geneticists and doctors find answers faster. His platform has already helped 162,000 patients get more accurate diagnoses, including rare cancers that would otherwise take years to identify.

In this conversation, Pete breaks down the four critical points where AI is transforming cancer care—from predisposition screening to personalized treatment. He shares the story of a little girl who endured years of biopsies and hospital stays for an “autoimmune liver disease” that was actually solved by changing her diet. And he explains why you should walk away from any doctor who dismisses your request for genetic testing.

If you’ve ever wondered whether AI could help you get answers faster—or felt dismissed when asking for more comprehensive testing—this episode delivers the knowledge you need to advocate for yourself.

You never choose the pitch, but you always choose the swing. After 6 months of interviewing top oncologists, resilient survivors, and even my own family, I’ve aggregated the absolute best strategies to help you stop fighting and start winning.

In this roundup episode of Kicking Cancer’s Ass, we aren’t just looking back; we are building your game plan. From Dr. Mindy Goldman’s advice on navigating the medical system to my son Ben’s raw truth about transparency, this is your cheat sheet for going from powerless to powerful.

We cover:

If you’re ready to build your killer team and crush the curveball, hit play. And don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter atkcapodcast.com for the full “Survivor’s Playbook” breakdown.

In Part 1, we talked about why the current tools fail many women. Why mammograms miss tumors and why we rely on the “smush test.” It was frustrating, but it was validating.

Now, in Part 2, we turn the page from the problem to the solution.

Dr. Peter Kuhn isn’t just analyzing why we miss cancer; he is building the tool to catch it before it even forms a tumor. It’s called The Pink Test, and it relies on liquid biopsies—finding traces of cancer in your blood using high-level physics and AI.

This isn’t just science fiction. It is the roadmap to a world where we don’t wait for a lump to tell us our life is about to change.

In this episode, we cover:

Resources:

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In this emotional and mind-expanding episode, Dr. Peter Kuhn—a physicist turned cancer researcher—joins Joelle Kaufman to talk about his mission: eliminating the surprise of cancer.

They dive deep into:

From personal stories to paradigm-shifting insights, this is a must-listen for anyone touched by cancer—and anyone working to outsmart it.

Don’t just fight cancer. Outsmart it.

What if your worst days didn’t have to be bad? What if you could manufacture a good day, even in the middle of a crisis?

In this episode, host Joelle Kaufman shares the “Happiness Tripwire” methodology—the specific strategy she used to turn 12 rounds of chemotherapy into what she calls her “Cancer Obliteration Days”.

Joelle explains that while we cannot control the treatment or the diagnosis, we can control the environment. By setting “tripwires”—small, planned sparks of joy, connection, and ritual—she transformed a sterile medical experience into a “Power Day”.

If you are going through treatment, or just feeling powerless in a tough situation, this episode will teach you how to stop waiting for happiness to find you, and how to start building it yourself.

In this episode:

Kicking Cancer’s Ass makes facing cancer less scary and more doable—with real stories, cutting-edge science, and proven suggestions.

 When English teacher Lesley Kaminski got the notification “invasive breast cancer” on her Apple Watch mid-class, her world stopped. But what happened next was more than treatment — it was transformation.

In this episode, Lesley shares how she went from collapse to control: reframing chemo from something she had to do into something she got to do. You’ll hear how a compassionate nurse navigator helped her find hope, how her husband lost 90 pounds alongside her healing, and how community and gratitude became her most powerful medicine.

If you’ve ever wondered how to face cancer without feeling crushed by it, this conversation will give you the mindset and tools to move from survival mode to truly living again.

🎙 Hosted by Joelle Kaufman, founder of Kicking Cancer’s Ass — the podcast where we trade whispers and fear for raw honesty, unexpected joy, and real strategies that help you reclaim your power.

Tags: cancer mindset, breast cancer survivor, cancer reframe, fear to power, cancer stories, emotional healing, gratitude, nurse navigator, cancer podcast

If your insurance denies your cancer treatment, it can feel terrifying — but a “no” is not the end.
Most people don’t know that 75% of insurance appeals win. You have more power than you think.

In this episode of Kicking Cancer’s Ass, health advocate and bestselling author Rebecca Bloom explains, in clear and simple steps, how to reverse an insurance denial and get the care you need.

Rebecca shares:

This episode is here to help you feel less afraid, more supported, and more in control during cancer treatment.

Whether you’re facing a denial right now or want to be prepared for the future, this conversation gives you a clear path forward — and real hope.