The Burn

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Meghan McCallum reading her essay “This is Cancer.”  

Meghan McCallum.  Freelance Writer and French to English Translator.  Diagnosed at 32.  IDC, Stage III, Triple Negative.  Milwaukee, WI.  

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

More about Meghan: https://www.instagram.com/thriverwriter/

Hear Meghan’’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431a

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Follow Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Performance coach and writer Emma Jarrett was diagnosed at 51 with lobular breast cancer. In this episode Emma reads her essay “Traveling With Pets” from the 2023 “Travel & Adventure” issue of Wildfire.  Emma’s story is about those first milestones after a cancer diagnosis, and using humor to cope.  April and Emma will talk about where Emma now stands with her breast prostheses, how numerous conversations and grieving helped her come to terms with losing her breasts, the choices cancer takes away in its immediacy, and the shame Emma felt around losing her breasts.  They will also discuss the writing process of making Emma’s one-woman play Breastless.  Additionally, Emma will share how breast tissue is attached to her body, heart, soul, and intuition experiences.

More about Emma:

https://emmajarrett.substack.com/

https://www.instagram.com/emmajarrettwrites/

https://www.instagram.com/emmajbreastless/

Purchase the “Travel & Adventure” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/travel23

Enjoy more episodes about travel or coming to terms with breast loss:

“Quebec Beckons” with Anita Saesing

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/20800b87-9c19-4a15-b7b3-20e06504c695

“AKA Trouble” with Patti Duncan https://player.captivate.fm/episode/de472041-d1da-4017-a27a-3f3aac2a242d

“The Water Spirit” with Vicki Pedigo

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d12a268d-5d65-42e1-b7b0-1d86e36cea44

“A Eulogy to the Person I Was Before” with Saskia Lightstar https://player.captivate.fm/episode/6ac96dec-585c-4505-95aa-8dcdb1f4e373

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

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features April Stearns reading “Don't Call Me a Survivor” by Brooke Perry.

In memory of Brooke Perry.  Diagnosed at Diagnosed at 30.  IDC, Stage IV de novo, ER+, PR+, BRCA2+.

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

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431a

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Follow Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Ann Camden is a prolific writer and past Burn guest. She was diagnosed Stage III at 38, and then Stage IV at 45.  In this episode Ann reads her essay “Fast Will Make Me Furious” from the 2023 “Body” issue of Wildfire.  Ann’s story is about what happened when she had a severe allergic reaction to chemo.  April and Ann will talk about the mental and physical setbacks of treatment, the immediacy of realizing you might not come home from chemo, and the lessons learned from that reaction.  They will also discuss what a good death would look like, and the importance of having conversations on death and dying. This episode contains explicit language.

More about Ann:

https://www.instagram.com/anncamdennc/

https://www.facebook.com/ann.camden

https://down-not-out.com/

Learn more about episode sponsor Javacia Harris Bowser at

See Jane Write https://seejanewritebham.com/  and

Writeous Babe Podcast https://writeousbabepodcast.podbean.com/

Purchase the “Body” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body23

Listen to past episodes featuring Ann Camden: 

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5ce9e575-0744-4515-95e3-14050ca66d8f

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/255cf7db-e5f7-4811-a47d-d59c6af81c3b

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f93ba369-0d16-42e8-b521-2844f1ef96eb

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 

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Erin Weiss reading her essay “A Guest Room for MBC.”  

Erin Weiss.  Psychotherapist.  Diagnosed at 42.  Stage IV de novo, IDC, ER+, PR+, CHECK2+.  Annapolis, MD.

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

More about Erin: https://www.instagram.com/emweiss/

Hear Erin’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431a

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Follow Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for the winter holidays.  Wildfire team member Emily Piercell selected this episode from December 2021 to reshare.  Enjoy!

In this episode, our guest Dana Donofree reads her piece “10 Years Learning to Love a New Body” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 “Body” issue.  Some of the hardest aspects of being diagnosed with breast cancer come long after chemo, surgeries, or radiation.  For many, the trauma of what was just endured begins to affect our mental health profoundly and needs to be talked about more - like the long term effects of needing to take back the body.  Our guest today is Dana Donofree who was diagnosed with stage I, HER2+ breast cancer at 27.  A decade later she represents those walking around with both mental and physical side-effects. In that time, she has created a business to help others address the difficulties she faced. She is the founder of the brand AnaOno Intimates based in Pennsylvania.  This episode contains explicit language.

More about Dana and AnaOno: 

https://www.instagram.com/daynadono/

https://www.anaono.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnaeNBhCUARIsABEee8V4DHoKmeTpheco3vgcpkMp3LD_oxRqAnMHFXv8Ftml15_TqLs6lMcaAmjuEALw_wcB

Purchase the 2021 "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 

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features Melanie Childers reading her essay “No.”  

Melanie Childers.  Business Coach.  Diagnosed at 34.  Stage II, IDC, ER+, PR+.  Athens, GA.

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

More about Melanie: https://www.instagram.com/melaniechilderscoaching/

Hear Melanie’s story followed by a conversation with April Stearns on The Burn: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2f68419c-85ec-4ce0-8a11-3d9b903f431a

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Follow Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for the winter holidays.  April selected this episode from November 2022 to reshare.  Enjoy!

Kelley Franks is a school social worker from Ohio.  She was diagnosed at 36 with Stage IIb breast cancer, then again at 41 with Stage IV MBC. Kelley has a deep wanderlust, and she loves going on adventures.  In this episode Kelley reads her piece “Slideshow” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Body” issue.  Kelley writes beautifully about snapshots of her cancer experience that flip through her memory like a slideshow.  April and Kelley will talk about how hiking provides mental clarity and perspective, parenting through traumatic lows and lovely highs, and the desire to leave a legacy of parental guidance knowing you have terminal cancer.  They will also discuss the recent journey Kelley had of hiking the Appalachian Trail while living with MBC.

More about Kelly: https://www.instagram.com/kelleyefranks/

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 

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you.  Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!  

This episode features April Stearns reading “Living in the In Between” by Amy Schnitzler.

In memory of Amy Schnitzler.  Diagnosed at 26.  IDC, Stage IV, ER+, PR+.

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 email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

Follow Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for the winter holidays.  Wildfire editor Angela Firman selected this episode from April 2023 to reshare.  Enjoy!

Anne Ferrier Crook was diagnosed at 48 with Stage I hormone-positive breast cancer. A few years later, cancer came again in the form of Stage Ib melanoma. Anne has worked in many facets of healthcare doing what she calls “holding space for life’s sacred thresholds.” She is a certified integrative health coach, medical interpreter, birth doula, consultant with the Institute for The Study of Birth, Breath, and Death, and a co-founder of The Breast Connection: Prevention & Healing Community.  In this episode, Anne reads her essay “Surviving to Thriving After Breast Cancer” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Identity & Aftermath” issue.  It is a piece about the influence of one woman’s mind on her body following two cancer diagnoses. April and Anne will discuss addressing our inner child with love and kindness to heal, finding opportunities to learn and grow after a cancer diagnosis, and how cancer prompts us to make shifts to slow down and find balance.  They will also discuss how Anne uses writing to get in touch with her inner voice to access her inner healer.

More about Anne: https://integrativeradiance.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-ferrier-crook-471a382b

More about this episode’s sponsor Foobs & Fitness: https://foobsandfitness.com/

Purchase a copy of the “Identity & Aftermath” issue: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-identity20

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