This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy the winter holidays with our loved ones.  Today, Wildfire team member Monica Haro selected this episode from November 2021 to re-share.  Monica loves Nikki’s reading voice, what Nikki had to say about holistic well-being, and navigating cancer with her caretaker-husband. 

Today’s guest is Nikki Leigh McKean from Canada. The piece she is reading is titled “I’ll Meet You in the Field'' from Wildfire Magazine’s 2020 issue “Identity & Aftermath.”  Nikki was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 34.  A second cancer diagnosis came two years later - stage II breast cancer. Nikki describes what it means to throw out the “Cancer Binder,'' to become fully the hero of her own story, and to use inspiring words of others to feel whole. She purged her mind and physical space of the things that no longer served her in a post-cancer world. In the wake of this purge, she is now wildly free and living a life where the main experience is love in a world of endless possibility. She’ll also talk about the difficult role of the caregiver to just be present and bear witness while the person they love is going through cancer.  This episode contains explicit language.

More about Nikki: https://www.nikkimagic.com and https://www.instagram.com/nikkileighmckean/

More about Rethink Breast Cancer: https://rethinkbreastcancer.com

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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

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

This is our first episode focused on poetry featuring two poems written by academic librarian Amy Austin of Florida.  Amy was diagnosed with Stage IV de novo breast cancer at 34 after initially being misdiagnosed with a complex benign cyst. She is the third in a direct family line to be diagnosed with breast cancer without a known genetic link. Today Amy reads two poems.  First is “Lost” from Wildfire’s 2022 “Body” issue, and then “Lines” from the 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  April and Amy talk about what Amy’s mastectomy scars mean to her, the privilege of aging while living with metastatic breast cancer, and writing poetry to tell a part of your story.  They will also discuss Amy’s writing process, and how making lists can be useful to start writing.  April will also share a writing prompt that will inspire you to create your own poem.

More about Amy: https://www.instagram.com/amy_r_austin/

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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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

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

Jessica Fox returns to The Burn for another episode. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 43. Jessica reads her piece “Paying Tolls” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue.  Jessica shares her story of driving by a terrible breast cancer awareness billboard daily with her young but old enough to read children in the back seat.  April and Jessica will talk about how writing this piece dropped Jessica into advocacy, how tolls paid in breast cancer can result in both good and bad things, and teaching kids honestly about cancer in an age appropriate way. They will also discuss the difficulties of Breast Cancer Awareness month and pinkwashing. 

More about Jessica: https://www.instagram.com/mommajfox/

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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

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

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 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 Kelley: https://www.instagram.com/kelleyefranks/

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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

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

This week as we kick back and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday vibes here in the US, we are taking a little break from our regular podcast schedule to re-share with you a favorite episode from the archives.  Today, Wildfire team member Emily Piercell shares that she selected this episode about finally learning how to live in the present because it truly resonated with her.

This episode we are going to hear a story about flipping the script with Jen Pogue.  Jen is an actor and producer living in Toronto, Canada. She was diagnosed at 37 with Stage IV Triple Negative metastatic breast cancer.  She reads her piece “My Life is a Movie” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “MBC: Stage IV Survivorship” issue. What happens when cancer comes along and startles you into a starring role in the movie you never wanted to see much less be in? Jen finds what is beautiful in life: being present, letting your heart take the driver’s seat, and realizing what makes you happy.  April and Jen discuss reclaiming some power that is lost with a cancer diagnosis through writing, and how cancer is represented in film.  Jen’s piece is included in Wildfire’s new book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor.”  

More about Jen:chttps://www.jpoandco.com, https://www.instagram.com/jpo_in_to/, and 

https://www.facebook.com/poguejen/friends

More about Woman On Screen Out Loud podcast: https://www.womenonscreen.ca/wosoutloud

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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

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

Southern California resident Stori Nagel was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer a decade ago at age 38.  She is president and founder of her non-profit, Haus of Volta, which uses classic pin-up photography to promote a healthy body image and self-acceptance.  In this episode, Stori reads her piece “Molting” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2017 “Body” issue.  April and Stori will talk about Stori’s work with Haus of Volta, exploring alter egos as a way to cope, experimenting with clothing and makeup to find happiness, and body dysmorphia. They will also discuss handling loss while working within the cancer community.  This episode contains explicit language.

More about Stori: https://www.instagram.com/hausofvolta/ and https://www.hausofvolta.org/

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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

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

Elizabeth Reed has faced cancer three times, initially being diagnosed with breast cancer at 48.  She is a writer, musician, activist, wife, mom, and traveler. In this episode Elizabeth reads her piece “Breast Cancer Babby” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Body” issue. Elizabeth writes a cancer story with a “slant.” Her slant is that of using an unconventional lens of writing an advertisement to introduce a breast cancer doll.  April and Elizabeth will talk about finding humor in cancer, responding to the dreaded “at least you get a free boob job” comments so many breast cancer patients hear, the sexualization of cancer, and Elizabeth’s view of learning to adjust rather than give up when facing difficulties.  They will also discuss navigating marriage and cancer.  This episode contains explicit language.

More about Elizabeth: https://www.bettyreedwrites.com/

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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Borah Lee is a wife, mom, former journalist and attorney; a recovering perfectionist and a sinner saved by grace. She was diagnosed at 37 and has had multiple recurrences.  In this episode Borah reads her piece “A Beggar in a Red Beret” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Money” issue.  Borah shares the story of her journey to give herself permission in spite of cancer to enjoy a life-changing trip to Paris. April and Borah will discuss contemplating worthiness and receiving, how the gifts of money and time intertwine in her relationships as both a child and a parent, how writing fits into survivorship and healing, and the experience of writer’s block.

More about Borah: https://www.instagram.com/borahtravels/

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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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Joining us for this episode is Jenny Collins - our first guest that has chosen to use a pen name to tell her story.  Jenny was diagnosed Stage II at 37, and then Stage IV MBC at 46.  Today she reads her piece “Cold War” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Family” issue. Jenny takes us deep into the layers of what she experienced when cancer entered her marriage.  April and Jenny will discuss finding the courage to share cancer stories, and how using a pen name gives you a powerful hiding spot to share while helping others feel seen.  They will also discuss feeling alone in a cancer experience and the importance of finding support.  

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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Miami Beach residents LaTonya Davis and her nephson Jayden Holmes share their collaborative piece “Together We Are Thriving, Celebrating, and Reflecting” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue.  It is a reflection about the loved ones they have lost to metastatic breast cancer. LaTonya was diagnosed at 47 with triple negative breast cancer after already losing her mother and sister (Jayden’s mom) to the same disease. LaTonya is a proud NPR How I Built This Fellow and founder of The Breast Talk Ever.  She is raising her musician nephson Jayden.  April, LaTonya and Jayden will discuss survivorship and the realities of dying, survivor’s guilt, and how families carry on after losing their loved ones to cancer.  They will also discuss how LaTonya formed her lifestyle company The Breast Talk Ever by using the mindset of meeting people where they are at in life.

More about LaTonya: https://www.instagram.com/coachlatonya/

More about Jayden:https://www.instagram.com/mask_of_lilith/ and https://www.instagram.com/goodbye_disasterpiece/

More about The Breast Talk Ever: https://www.thebreasttalkever.com/

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* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn