Returning guest Kate Rowbotham was diagnosed at 47 with de novo Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.  Kate is a Professor and an Assistant Dean of Teaching and Learning. She is learning how to be an empty-nester, and enjoys traveling with her partner to both her daughter’s hockey games and her son’s volleyball games.  In this episode, Kate reads her essay “Finding Purpose in Paradox” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Career” issue.  Kate’s piece is about one woman’s career decisions following her cancer diagnosis. April and Kate will discuss masking, searching for a job during treatment, and what inspired Kate to email April about creating a work themed issue of Wildfire Magazine.

More about Kate: https://www.instagram.com/katerowb/

Purchase the “Work & Career” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body24

Listen to another episode with Kate: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/118270c8-979b-466f-8b7a-53d025106a08/

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

Returning guest Beth Gainer was diagnosed at 39 with breast cancer.  She is now a long-term survivor of 23 years.  Beth is a writer and artist.  In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family and friends, as well as reading, working out at the gym, and going to museums. In this episode, Beth reads her essay “Trading Places” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Work & Cancer” issue.  Beth’s piece is about cancer colliding with her work life. When her employer turned their back following her diagnosis, she took the scary leap into the unknown to change careers. April and Beth will discuss the challenges of survivorship, Beth’s art projects, staying connected to community, and workplace discrimination.  They will also talk about how cancer can motivate us to make changes that turn out better than we could have imagined.

More about Beth: 

https://bethlgainer.substack.com/

Purchase the “Work & Career” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body24

Listen to another episode with Beth: 

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 “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

Stacy Conlon was diagnosed at 42 with Stage IIb lobular breast cancer.  Stacy is a certified mindfulness meditation facilitator and Reiki energy healer. In this episode, Stacy reads her essay “Snip, Surrender, Shine: A Ritual in Resilience” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Stacy’s piece takes us along on an act of intentional ritual when removing her hair before chemo, and giving herself a ceremony container to move through a part of her cancer journey.  April and Stacy will discuss making different spaces to honor experiences or create closure in the breast cancer journey, Stacy’s perspective on resilience, and tips for creating rituals.  They will also talk about Stacy’s upcoming book Breast Cancer Made Easier.

More about Stacy: 

https://www.instagram.com/stacy_conlon_/

https://stacyconlon.com/

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body24

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 week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule to celebrate the New Year.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from December 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy!

Tova Wolking is an attorney from Oakland, California.  She was diagnosed at age 43 with Stage III, hormone positive breast cancer.  She also carries the BRCA2 gene.  In this episode, Tova reads her piece “Swim” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Bay Area Young Survivors” issue. In the wake of Tova’s mom passing away, breast cancer took root in her body. This is the story of one woman asking how to find the key to unlocking her own grief about her breast cancer when her mother took so many of those answers with her when she died.  Note of warning for sensitive listeners, this episode touches upon loss and suicide.  

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

Get the “Bay Area Young Survivors” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-bays21

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 week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little holiday break from our regular podcast schedule.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from October 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy!

In this episode, Laurie Ratliff reads her piece “Where Do You Go When You Don’t Belong Anywhere?” from the 2019 “Social” issue of Wildfire Magazine. We all want to know where we belong, where our people are: where are the ones who understand us and accept us completely? Since her diagnosis at 34 and in the 20+ years she’s lived with metastatic breast cancer, Laurie has navigated many communities within breast cancer, searching for others like herself. At last she found her place in the so-called pink sisterhood. When she found her home, she also found herself in the unexpected role of an advocate for a type of breast reconstruction called aesthetic flat closure. 

More about Laurie:

https://www.tiktok.com/@statisticaloddity

https://www.instagram.com/statisticaloddity/

Get the “Social” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body21

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 week we’re sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little holiday break from our regular podcast schedule.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from December 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy!

Erica Fitch was 12 when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two decades later at 30, she was diagnosed with DCIS: stage 0, estrogen positive breast cancer when her own daughter was 2. She carries the BRCA2 mutation. Her story today is about growing up with intimate knowledge of illness and the parallels when you face it yourself. And how to write about deeply personal stories that have been sewn into the fabric of your identity. Erica reads her piece “Memories in Color: Four Generations” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 “Family” issue, where she uses the structure of color to explore and write the hard stories in our lives. 

More about Erica:  https://www.instagram.com/beeing_erica/

More about color symbolism: https://www.writersdigest.com/prompts/the-color-of-ideas-color-associations-writing-prompt

Get the “Family” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body21

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 

Lorie Kolak is a wife and a stay-at-home mom from Illinois.  She was diagnosed at 41 with Stage II breast cancer, and also carries the pK71 genetic mutation.  Lorie has worked in university libraries, book sales and distribution, copywriting, and copy-editing. When not writing or reading, she enjoys arts and crafts.  In this episode, Lorie reads her essay “Door Marked Danger” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue.  Lorie’s piece slows down to take us into the moments surrounding her nipple tattoo experience following her mastectomy.  April and Lorie will discuss the storytelling fairy tales buried inside of us, cold capping, talking about cancer with children, and the times when you do get to have a choice in the cancer experience.  

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body24

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

Claire Lemiski is an airline pilot who was diagnosed at 36 with Stage III, hormone positive breast cancer. As a captain at a regional airline in Toronto, Claire is passionate about providing mentorship to new and aspiring women pilots.  In this episode, Claire reads her essay “About Damn Time” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue.  Claire’s piece is about breast cancer being a genderless disease, and a bond that was strengthened with her father because of their shared experience of both receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. April and Claire will discuss using a musical container for writing, the treatment contrasts and misconceptions of male breast cancer, reconstruction, and the intersection of career and cancer.  They will also talk about Claire’s lymphedema concerns, and when it’s appropriate to talk about breast cancer when asked about her lymphedema compression sleeve.

More about Claire: https://www.instagram.com/flatpilot/

Purchase the “Family” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/family24

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 week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little fall break from our regular podcast schedule.  Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from September 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy!

When Katie Murray was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was surprised to discover that old traumas she thought she had dealt with were reawakened within her. She turned to writing to ground herself - quite literally on the gurney going into and emerging from surgery - and make sense of all she'd been through, prior to cancer, and then during her cancer treatment. Katie reads a story “Naked Narrative” from the 2021 “Body” issue of Wildfire Magazine.  Trigger warning: this episode includes a mention of miscarriage.

More about Katie:

https://www.instagram.com/1day_2019/

More about our episode sponsor: 

Less Radical Podcast 

https://cancerculture.substack.com/podcast

Get the “Body” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body21

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

Jennifer Bringle is a freelance writer and editor who was diagnosed at 37 with Stage II, hormone positive breast cancer.  She also has the BRCA2 genetic mutation.  Jennifer lives in  North Carolina with her husband, young son and special needs cat.  In this episode, Jennifer reads her essay “Bra Hunting” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Jennifer’s essay is about bra shopping after breast cancer surgery told through the lens of buying bras throughout her life.  April and Jennifer will talk about the possibility of more reconstruction surgeries in the future, cancer stealing the pleasure of dressing your body, and finding new joy in writing about the past.  They will also discuss the people we encounter along the way in our cancer experience.  Jennifer will also share her writing process and tips.  

More about Jennifer:

https://jenniferbringle.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jbhandy78/

More about our episode sponsor: 

Less Radical Podcast 

https://cancerculture.substack.com/podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mMdQpSdVr9kKSGXTfYLmo

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Magazine:  https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body24

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