In this raw, courageous conversation, Howard Little opens up about living with—and outliving—aggressive prostate cancer, dangerous blood clots, and life-altering complications. He could choose bitterness. He chooses laughter. We talk fear, faith, body blows (literal and figurative), the “Brotherhood of the Balloon,” near-death ICU nights, and how a quiet dad’s confidence saved a son at his lowest point. This isn’t toxic positivity. It’s a man refusing to be defined by pain.

What we get into

• The Christmas Eve phone call that changed everything
• Proton therapy vs. traditional radiation (and why he swears by it)
• The “Brotherhood of the Balloon” and the private fears men don’t say out loud
• Side effects no one advertises: hormone therapy, anxiety, and identity
• Blood clots, ICU, and the blessing that kept him here
• The most embarrassing challenge (and why it hit his “man card”)
• Suicidal thoughts, motorcycles, and choosing character over quitting
• Being excommunicated, coming back, and a father’s words that stuck: “You’re going to be okay.”
• Why humor is a survival skill, not a mask

Why listen

If you (or someone you love) is facing cancer, loss of health, or the slow grind of chronic setbacks, this is a blueprint for dignity: tell the truth, ask for help, laugh when you can, and keep walking.

Content note: frank medical detail (prostate procedures), sexual side effects, anxiety, and brief discussion of suicidal ideation.

If this episode hits close to home, you’re not alone. Talk to someone you trust. In the U.S., dial 988 for the Lifeline.

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